The Gunk

 Xbox Series X
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 175 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 175
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 175
  3. Negative: 33 out of 175

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  1. Yourmumsbills
    Dec 26, 2021
    0
    This was one of those games i had been keeping an eye on, with hopes that it would be another interesting and enjoyable indie title. Sadly The Gunk is neither interesting or enjoyable. The best way to describe it would be, Bland. It's not bad as such but it's just boring. The environments look pretty but there is very little to do in them, the two main characters are incredibly dull to theThis was one of those games i had been keeping an eye on, with hopes that it would be another interesting and enjoyable indie title. Sadly The Gunk is neither interesting or enjoyable. The best way to describe it would be, Bland. It's not bad as such but it's just boring. The environments look pretty but there is very little to do in them, the two main characters are incredibly dull to the point that you very quickly stop caring about anything they are saying. And the gameplay is just repetitive, unoriginal and dull.… Expand
  2. Dima_cherkasov
    Dec 17, 2021
    0
    Нет русской локализации!!!! Как я в это должен играть? #xboxneedsrussianvoice
  3. Steyraus
    Dec 17, 2021
    1
    Boring and Cringy..The graphics are ugly and so are the character and world design..There is no map leading to constant back tracking...It's just boring, you solve basic suck up stuff puzzles and get lost... Main character is cringe to listen to and gross to look at, her hair looks like logs of poop and her skin is bruised and greasy.. Artisticly, overall this game is incredibly ugly andBoring and Cringy..The graphics are ugly and so are the character and world design..There is no map leading to constant back tracking...It's just boring, you solve basic suck up stuff puzzles and get lost... Main character is cringe to listen to and gross to look at, her hair looks like logs of poop and her skin is bruised and greasy.. Artisticly, overall this game is incredibly ugly and off putting. Well there goes another great studio that once made great games until they partnered with Xbox and their games became junk...I think there is an issues with studios getting to do whatever they want and not needing to impress players to make money that ruins these studios...All Xbox wants is Game Pass fodder and the security of being already paid and under the Microsoft bank blanket means these people don't have to try, they get paid and keep their jobs weather their game is good or bad.… Expand
  4. Plovunec
    Dec 17, 2021
    2
    Don't have Russian language. Pls we want!!! Пожалуйста добавьте русский язык, хватит игнорировать наш рынок. Нам уже очень надоело играть в игры что без субтитров, что без озвучки #XboxNeedsRussianVoice
  5. MetaPlayer6969
    Dec 17, 2021
    0
    Boring
    Rebarbative
    Ugly
    Empty
    Annoying OST

    Not even worth the gamepass sub
  6. Badger1990
    Dec 21, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. #XboxNeedsRussianVoice no Russian localization, the game is not complete. I do not know English.
    No russian localization in 2021?!! Seriasly?    … Expand
  7. metaknightmare
    Dec 20, 2021
    3
    Mediocre platformer with eye candy. It's just a point-A-to-point-B run and jump game with very easy puzzles and combat. As soon as it starts to get a little challenging, the game ends. No exporation, no openness and no side activities. Dialogue and story can be written by a high schooler or younger. Some people are saying this game is relaxing. I couldn't relax once I realized the entireMediocre platformer with eye candy. It's just a point-A-to-point-B run and jump game with very easy puzzles and combat. As soon as it starts to get a little challenging, the game ends. No exporation, no openness and no side activities. Dialogue and story can be written by a high schooler or younger. Some people are saying this game is relaxing. I couldn't relax once I realized the entire game is centered around a pagan, anti-God theme. SPOILER ALERT: The "Gardener" (metaphor for God) comes to a planet with smaller inhabitants who he promises comfort and stability to with the use of the "Geist" (metaphor for Holy Ghost/Spirit). They follow and believe him and he puts them in pods and the Geist moves through them. Their faith is the source of corruption and results in releasing the Gunk into the world which sucks the life out of everything in nature. The main character must free the people from their "blind" faith to stop the Gardener and restore nature.

    Give me a break.    … Expand
  8. Stan_Osbourne
    Jun 1, 2022
    4
    One of those games, the release of which was waiting for a long time, but when it came out and I played it, I was extremely disappointed. On the one hand, everything looks very nice and the optimization did not let us down. But here's the plot and gameplay - complete darkness. Two friends, and the one for whom we play, and the one that the captain of the ship are boring and not at allOne of those games, the release of which was waiting for a long time, but when it came out and I played it, I was extremely disappointed. On the one hand, everything looks very nice and the optimization did not let us down. But here's the plot and gameplay - complete darkness. Two friends, and the one for whom we play, and the one that the captain of the ship are boring and not at all interesting, the general plot of the game is dull, and the gameplay ... Well, we run, we routinely clean it from dirt, we fight with very rare opponents. Zero variety and dynamics.

    Of course, indie projects are good, especially when budgets go to optimization and graphics, but why do I need a game without good gameplay - I don't understand. I do not recommend it. Glory to Ukraine!    … Expand
  9. dynamiczero
    Jan 25, 2022
    4
    The Gunk feels like a mid-point game to get some cash between the really important games. It's really beautiful, yes, and that's it. The gameplay is nothing new and the only cool unique mechanic is never used for anything groundbreaking. The characters are the blandest space-scrappers you can find out there, and neither them nor the world is even half as interesting as the one found in anyThe Gunk feels like a mid-point game to get some cash between the really important games. It's really beautiful, yes, and that's it. The gameplay is nothing new and the only cool unique mechanic is never used for anything groundbreaking. The characters are the blandest space-scrappers you can find out there, and neither them nor the world is even half as interesting as the one found in any of the Steamworld games. A bit buggy and very boring. Also, some animations in the environment look weird, and the facial animation is the worst I've seen in years, it doesn't feel even fully functional.

    It's a game. Not a good one, not a really bad one. Just meh. Mediocre.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Best Xbox Series X Game of 2021
21
#21 Most Discussed Xbox Series X Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 41
  3. Negative: 1 out of 41
  1. Movies Games and Tech
    May 6, 2022
    60
    What I experienced was a fun but short and undercooked title. It needed much more depth and a greater range of difficulty. None of the aliens will test you and this undermines the difficulty. I wish the developers had worked on the resource management and upgrade system some more. If this had been explored, the gameplay would be exponentially better. All things considered, I enjoyed it, but I wanted much more.
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  2. CGMagazine
    Feb 2, 2022
    75
    Though it doesn't have all the perks and features of bigger games, The Gunk remains gorgeous and engaging. A short but sweet adventure full of puzzles and fantastic scenery.
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  3. Games.cz
    Jan 13, 2022
    70
    The creators of the Steamworld universe stepped out of their comfort zone for the first time - and it’s a solid step indeed. The Gunk is visually stunning and its central mechanism, vacuuming the titular substance off the ground, is really well done. The combat, though, is disappointing, as is the progression system.
    Read full review
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