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Lil’ Guardsman

Lil’ Guardsman charms players with its witty humor, whimsical world, and quirky characters. The game features engaging “Papers, Please”-inspired gameplay, a heartwarming story, and excellent voice acting. While the story is somewhat predictable and the difficulty uneven, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, making Lil’ Guardsman a delightful adventure worth checking out.

Game Info

Imagine you’re a 12 year old, suddenly in charge of the guard shed at the castle gate, where you decide if elves, goblins and 100+ other characters should be admitted. It’s a wonderful combination of deduction, narrative and puzzle games.

Recommended

Average Score

Total Reviews: 21

Silver TIER

42% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100

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Ratings & Reviews

21

Critic Reviews

85

Average Critic Score

Where to Play

All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.

High Score

100%

Median Score

85%

Low Score

70%

What did you think of Lil’ Guardsman?

Player Reviews0 Votes

Cosmin Vasile (Softpedia)

January 24, 2024

9.5/10

Lil’ Guardsman is a fun game that expertly combines story and gameplay. It’s built around a loveable central character who finds herself at the core of an interesting although familiar narrative. The deduction mechanics require players to pay attention, but the game also smartly gives them a rewind ability if they want to retcon some choices.

Sebastian Hawden (PlayStation Universe)

January 29, 2024

9/10

Unique, funny and so entertaining, Lil’ Guardsman has all the traits I want from games in my old age. Lil’ Guardsman is like nothing else on the market, it’s beautiful and so well written that its world will swallow you whole. It’s not often you get to play a game that makes you smile from start to finish but Lil’ Guardsman stole a Lil’ piece of my heart. I cannot recommend it enough.

Aran Suddi (TheSixthAxis)

January 23, 2024

8/10

Lil Guardsman’s mix of border control and adventure is a whole heap of fun, with genuine comedic moments combined with great acting. There are a few issues with the story, with the occasional inconsistency or predictable moment, but all in all this is a great addition to the genre.

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Score Ranges

Read the Reviews (21 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
GameBlast	Carlos França Júnior	8.5 / 10	01-23-2024	Lil’ Guardsman’s witty humor and laid-back style make an investigation and puzzle title fun and leave the player eager to receive the next decree and continue with their interrogations, which could decide the future of Sprawl. Even without subtitles in Portuguese, it is a great recommendation for those who want a challenge to complete without rushing while having a lot of laughs.	Read review
GameLuster	Jordan Dube	10 / 10	01-31-2024	Witty banter, evocative storytelling, whimsical art, and spot-on voice acting makes Lil’ Guardsman a game not to be missed. Is it too soon to give it my Game of the Year?	Read review
GamesCreed	Mariella Deadman	4.6FALSE	01-23-2024	Lil’ Guardsman is a fantastic, fun story with a whimsical tone that allows the voice acting and art direction to shine in the fully developed world that has been created. The gameplay is polished, although there is a little confusion about how certain characters should be questioned. If you are a fan of characters full of life and fun, a story with choices that have lasting effects, and a fascinating cast of characters, then Lil’ Guardsman is undoubtedly a game for you.	Read review
GameSpew	Becca Smith	8 / 10	01-23-2024	Lil’ Guardsman is so much fun to play. Players will be laughing out loud from the very beginning and will enjoy the fun references and silly jokes throughout. And those that like to play games multiple times will be able to see all of the different options and outcomes.	Read review
God is a Geek	Lyle Carr	8.5 / 10	01-23-2024	Lil’ Guardsman is a truly wonderful comedy game, with Papers, Please style border guarding gameplay in a charming fantasy setting.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Kyle LeClair	4.5 / 5 stars	02-06-2024	Set in the quirky fantasy kingdom of the Sprawl, the 12-year-old Lil finds themselves covering for their dad one day, taking over for his duties as guardsman. Now this one gig will help set off a chain of events that could determine the Sprawl’s outcome, in this Papers, Please-inspired comedy adventure game.	Read review
Kakuchopurei	Alisha Alix	90 / 100	01-23-2024	Simply put, Lil’ Guardsman is undoubtedly a remarkable title that provides players with a one-of-a-kind gaming experience. Its blend of comedy, cozy adventure, puzzles, and fantasy offers a refreshing take on an indie comedy adventure.	Read review
LadiesGamers.com	Kalina Mikova	Recommended	01-23-2024	I thoroughly enjoyed Lil’ Guardsman, and I’ll enjoy it for a while longer while I get more endings. Meanwhile, I’ll recommend it several times to the same people until they finally decide enough is enough and try it themselves. It’s that good	Read review
Nintendo Life	Roland Ingram	8 / 10	01-23-2024	With so many fleshed-out characters to get to know through its Papers-Please-lite gameplay, there’s good reason to grant Lil’ Guardsman entry to your Switch.	Read review
NoobFeed	Jay Claassen	95 / 100	01-23-2024	Lil’ Guardsman is one of the better deduction games that takes on a very cozy approach with its art style and voice acting, but it keeps you hooked on its story. Fans of social deduction games will definitely enjoy this strange release for its incredibly strange and whacky events, but they’ll also be pleasantly surprised at just how deceiving looks can be.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Sebastian Hawden	9 / 10	01-29-2024	Unique, funny and so entertaining, Lil’ Guardsman has all the traits I want from games in my old age. Lil’ Guardsman is like nothing else on the market, it’s beautiful and so well written that its world will swallow you whole. It’s not often you get to play a game that makes you smile from start to finish but Lil’ Guardsman stole a Lil’ piece of my heart. I cannot recommend it enough.	Read review
Pure Dead Gaming	Craig	8.5 / 10	01-23-2024	Lil Guardsman is a point-and-click adventure where you interview people, almost always resulting in funny situations and dialogue. If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you may not enjoy the game. But if you have ever enjoyed a game in a similar vein to this I highly recommend checking it out. Hilltop Studios has created a fun, endearing and funny adventure that I won’t soon forget.	Read review
Rectify Gaming	Will “Fncwill”	7 / 10	01-23-2024	Lil’ Gaurdsman is a game that offers a unique and enjoyable experience, with a lot of replay value. It is a game that will make you laugh, think, and feel, as you explore the world of the Sprawl and its inhabitants. , and is a game that will appeal to fans of Papers Please, or anyone who likes games that involve decision-making, storytelling, and fantasy, but may make some players confused on how to play with a lack of proper tutorial and instructions on how to use the tools in the game.	Read review
RPG Fan	Audra Bowling	90 / 100	01-23-2024	Lil’ Guardsman is an entertainingly hilarious heartfelt adventure.	Read review
Siliconera	Jenni Lada	9 / 10	01-23-2024	Lil Guardsman absolutely surprised me with its detail, depth, humor, and heart.	Read review
Softpedia	Cosmin Vasile	9.5 / 10	01-24-2024	Lil’ Guardsman is a fun game that expertly combines story and gameplay. It’s built around a loveable central character who finds herself at the core of an interesting although familiar narrative. The deduction mechanics require players to pay attention, but the game also smartly gives them a rewind ability if they want to retcon some choices.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Aran Suddi	8 / 10	01-23-2024	Lil Guardsman’s mix of border control and adventure is a whole heap of fun, with genuine comedic moments combined with great acting. There are a few issues with the story, with the occasional inconsistency or predictable moment, but all in all this is a great addition to the genre.	Read review
Use a Potion	Unknown	8.5 / 10	01-24-2024	Lil’ Guardsman adds a fantasy-fuelled, Saturday morning cartoon twist to the Paper’s, Please formula, and believe me, it’s a whole lotta fun. I loved using every trick at my disposal to learn the intentions of the bizarre folk trying to make their way into the city, whilst there was nothing better than getting the perfect score in each interrogation. Add to that the funny little side tasks, the wonderful visuals that make up the charming world, and the excellent voice acting that brings each interrogation to life, and you’ll quickly find that this quirky puzzler definitely deserves your attention.	Read review
VGChartz	Evan Norris	7.5 / 10	01-26-2024	Combining the rules of Papers, Please with the whimsical sensibility of classic LucasArts games is far from an obvious choice, but the results speak for themselves. Lil’ Guardsman is a lovely adventure game that succeeds mechanically, creatively, and comically.	Read review
Video Chums	Mary Billington	7.3 / 10	01-25-2024	If you’ve ever thought that operating a guard post sounds like a mundane job then check out Lil’ Guardsman where every person you admit or deny has a big impact on the fate of the city. This hilariously silly indie has heart, making the most tedious of jobs entertaining. 💂	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Heidi Hawes	8.5 / 10	01-25-2024	Yes, it’s completely filled with silliness, often times taking clear inspiration from games like Return to Monkey Island, but there’s a lot more to it than just zany humor. At times it has real heart, especially when it comes to the relationship between Lil and her father. Not every sinister looking monster is truly a villain, some are just poor, misunderstood creatures looking for some compassion. Lil’ Guardsman is absolutely delightful to play, and you should allow it entry into your life.	Read review
XboxEra	Jesse Norris	8.2 / 10	01-23-2024	Lil Guardsman is funny, occasionally heartwarming, and a ton of fun. It takes a simple premise and builds it into a unique and excellent video game.	Read review

Lil’ Guardsman Credits

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Time to Beat

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COMPLETIONIST

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Developed by Hilltop Studios. All titles, content, brand names, trademarks, logos, artwork, and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of their respective owners. © All rights reserved.

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Lil’ Guardsman

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Silver TIER

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Ratings & Reviews

21

85

Where to Play

Embracer Group CEO Takes Responsibility for Restructuring, Announces Major Company Split

Assassin’s Creed Jade Release Likely Delayed to 2025 as Tencent Shifts Focus

PlayStation 5 Pro: Leaked Specs Reveal a Major Upgrade, Release Hinted for Holiday 2024

Xbox Games Hit New Platforms: Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded Coming to Other Platforms

Xbox Reaches Beyond Consoles: 4 Games to Rival Platforms, and What It Means

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