Forced Showdown
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About Forced Showdown
Forced Showdown is a deckbuilding RPG with bullet hell combat from BetaDwarf, released in 2016. You play a contestant in a chaotic game show, battling waves of enemies using customizable card decks that alter your abilities in each fight. The game blends strategic card choices with fast-paced action, offering 81 achievements and a Metacritic score of 67. It runs on PC, Linux, and Mac, catering to fans of challenging, niche strategy games. The premise is simple: survive deadly stages, upgrade your deck, and become the show’s top star.
Gameplay
Each battle revolves around selecting a deck of cards that grant abilities like fireball whirlwinds or shield barriers. You manage resources mid-fight, dodging projectiles while chaining card effects to overwhelm enemies. The bullet hell mechanics demand precise movement, while the RPG elements let you unlock new cards and synergies over time. Sessions typically last 15, 30 minutes per stage, with difficulty scaling sharply. Controls are keyboard/mouse based, prioritizing quick reflexes and tactical planning. The game’s single-player mode lacks hand-holding, forcing players to experiment with deck builds and adapt to increasingly aggressive enemy patterns.
What Players Think
PlayPile users average 12.5 hours played, with 22% completing the game. Only 17.5% of achievements are unlocked on average, highlighting its difficulty. The rarest achievement, “Uncaged,” sits at 1.6% unlock rate, likely tied to a hidden endgame mechanic. Community moods are split: 45% call it “frustrating but fair,” while 30% praise its depth. Metacritic’s 67/100 reflects polarized reviews, with one user noting, “It punishes mistakes but rewards creativity,” and another criticizing “spiky difficulty curves.”
PlayPile's Take
Forced Showdown appeals to dedicated RPG and deckbuilder fans willing to grind through its punishing learning curve. With 81 achievements and a price tag of $19.99 at launch (now often discounted), it’s a niche pick for strategy enthusiasts. However, its steep difficulty and lack of tutorials may alienate casual players. Stick with it if you enjoy optimizing card combos and thrive in high-risk, high-reward scenarios.
Game Modes
Single player
IGDB Rating
73.8
RAWG Rating
3.1
Videos
1Screenshots
5Achievements
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