The Gunk

 PC
The Gunk Image
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 73 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Gunk is a game about two friends who run a small scavenging outfit together, and who travel from one space rock to another in search for resources they can harvest and sell. One day they land on a planet that looks dead from a distance, turns out to be unlike any other they’ve set footThe Gunk is a game about two friends who run a small scavenging outfit together, and who travel from one space rock to another in search for resources they can harvest and sell. One day they land on a planet that looks dead from a distance, turns out to be unlike any other they’ve set foot on. A slimy parasite­ — or gunk — covers vast areas and seems to corrupt the otherwise vibrant nature and wildlife. It’s clear that they must fight this gunk to understand what’s happened and to save the dying planet. But this also creates a rift between them; on one hand, the planet will die if we don’t rid the planet of the gunk. On the other, we’ve got problems of our own and surely this isn’t our fight to begin with. So, who cares… right? Do we have to? [Thunderful Group]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 30, 2024
    80
    The unassuming act hides a few hours of pleasant, soothing fun, where you don't have to stress with difficult enemies or overly complex puzzles. [Issue#317]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Worth Playing
    Dec 20, 2021
    75
    It doesn't hit the highs of the SteamWorld series, but The Gunk is enjoyable. When you break things down, the game doesn't offer up a plethora of things to do, but it remains enjoyable thanks to how satisfying it is to clean up gunk. There's payoff for the curious in the form of extra materials to power up your arm faster, and even though it is familiar, the story remains satisfying. Its short length makes it perfect for the Game Pass service, but it is also a worthy purchase if you like brisk, uncomplicated adventures.
  3. SECTOR.sk
    Jan 24, 2022
    75
    The Gunk is a little-big surprise. It is an unconventional platforming game with puzzle elements and interesting gameplay aspects. It offers a strange world, fun game mechanics, although it doesn't have many fights and its story is a bit clumsy.
  4. Hardcore Gamer
    Dec 16, 2021
    70
    There’s a lot to love about The Gunk even if the core gameplay rarely rises above being pretty OK. It’s a good adventure through a unique and pretty alien world, filled with character and life. Rani and Beck are a good team and their dialogue is great fun, even as the pressures mount on their relationship. The story of the alien civilization makes sense, and it’s good to play a game where the mysteries have clear solutions rather than get lost in heavy-handed world building. If the platforming and combat had lived up to everything else then The Gunk would be top-tier gaming, but even so it ends up being a playable adventure that will keep you invested to the final credit roll.
  5. Checkpoint Gaming
    Dec 19, 2021
    70
    I really, really enjoyed my time with The Gunk; a fleetingly brief experience that left me feeling tranquil and at peace. It is rare a game can have an effect like that on me – what with the smorgasbord of violent games and intensity on offer around every corner. Do not let the quirky name put you off, The Gunk is more than deserving of a play during a lazy summer (or winter for you northern hemisphere dwelling folk) afternoon. Bugs and minor flaws do prove to be an inconvenience, although Image & Form Games have still managed to deliver a solid 3D platformer that’s worth a look.
  6. Jeuxvideo.com
    Dec 17, 2021
    65
    More seductive in its first part, The Gunk offers a pleasant exploration in sumptuous settings which lose their luster a little over the course of the journey; it also fails to renew itself in the challenges and puzzles it houses. This short adventure of 6 to 7 hours only is appreciated in the tranquility of its experience, its narrative potential and its beautiful dubbing. But difficult to be fully excited after spending long hours sucking up to abundant parasites.
  7. TheGamer
    Dec 17, 2021
    40
    The Gunk is not a disastrous game. I enjoyed turning my brain off for five hours and exploring this strange and mysterious planet. It’s okay for games to just be empty calories sometimes, and I wouldn’t knock The Gunk for just being a generic popcorn flick. The Gunk aspires to be more than that though, and it falls considerably short. The quality of the SteamWorld games gavethe expectation that this would be a fresh take on the third-person adventure genre, but The Gunk is too shallow for me to recommend - even in the slow December months. If you’re looking for character-driven action-adventure games on Game Pass, Lake and Firewatch were both added earlier this week. Give those a look and leave The Gunk in the gutter.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 25
  3. Negative: 11 out of 25
  1. marcinek74
    Jun 28, 2022
    10
    Great graphics and art style, nice music and simple story but the game play was very, very satisfying.
    I did not expect so great experience    Great graphics and art style, nice music and simple story but the game play was very, very satisfying.
    I did not expect so great experience from this game : started at the evening and finished next day at night (or in the morning - depending on how you look at).
    It's a pity that so few languages ​​are supported, MS could support the team in this matter. But anyway great game, now, one of my favourite.    … Expand
  2. ItsDigi
    Dec 21, 2021
    8
    Haven't played much of it, but can Russians just kindly F**k Off? 'Disregard'? Who cares about your localization? And you blame the developerHaven't played much of it, but can Russians just kindly F**k Off? 'Disregard'? Who cares about your localization? And you blame the developer with an Xbox hashtag?
    Must be too much vodka making you all retarded.
    I'm from Hungary, last time we had localized voice in a big game was like 15 years ago, and even today, we need to download fan made localizations for every game because nobody cares about us, even though we're in the heart of Europe. My girlfriend can't speak English, so I can hardly play anything with her, without those fan made locals.
    So, 0 points cause you can't hear your own voice in a game? Let me tell you, no person on earth wants more voices other than English.    … Expand
  4. ANTtheKNEEEE
    Dec 27, 2021
    7
    Very pretty game, I like the platforming and the characters. It's just a bit repetative.
  5. 3t3rnal
    Apr 9, 2022
    5
    Fun casual platformer (and perhaps at times too easy) with a story that tries, but utterly fails, to tackle a very complex topic. The graphicsFun casual platformer (and perhaps at times too easy) with a story that tries, but utterly fails, to tackle a very complex topic. The graphics style and design is pretty good, but technical aspects - especially low texture resolution, are worse, which goes contrary to the surprisingly high minimum required graphics card.

    The platforming works pretty well for the most part, and the game does have a couple mechanics to spice it up a bit, but it reveals its hand a bit too soon and becomes a bit repetitive, despite being relatively short. The "power cleaner simulator" part of it is also a bit unbalanced in some parts of the game and turns it into a bit of a chore.

    An okay experience on gamepass or heavily discounted, but nothing special, if you are looking for a really good platformer, you'll have to look elsewhere.    … Expand
  6. vgav995
    Dec 22, 2021
    3
    Highly tedious, uninteresting story and somehow even less interesting characters
  7. kruci
    Jan 6, 2022
    3
    Symulator zbierania gnoju w akompaniamencie męczących lesbijek. Okrutnie liniowy. Całą rozgrywka opiera się na parciu po prostej ścieżce,Symulator zbierania gnoju w akompaniamencie męczących lesbijek. Okrutnie liniowy. Całą rozgrywka opiera się na parciu po prostej ścieżce, czasem podskakując. Nudny, nieciekawy - fabuła nie angażuję a rozgrywka jest tak ninjaka że w połowie gry mam wrażenie że nawet twórcy nie chcieli kombinować tylko już jak najszybciej skończyć… Expand
  8. Anton161Rus
    Dec 17, 2021
    0
    #XboxNeedsRussianVoice
    0 points for the lack of localization in this game into Russian

See all 25 User Reviews

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84
#84 Most Discussed PC Game of 2021

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