Shard Squad Review (Xbox)

In the ever-growing sea of Vampire Survivors-inspired "bullet heaven" games, it takes more than hordes of enemies and endless levelling to stand out. Shard Squad understands this well, putting a clever creature-collecting twist on the formula that makes every run feel a little more strategic than simply stacking the strongest upgrades and watching the screen explode with effects. Developed by The Root Studios and published by Nuntius Games, this colourful roguelite blends monster collecting, team building and survival action into an experience that's easy to pick up but surprisingly difficult to put down.

Set in the fantasy world of Mellunia, players command a growing squad of elemental creatures known as Shards. Rather than controlling a lone hero, you're constantly expanding your team by defeating bosses and recruiting new creatures to your cause. Fire, Water, Electric, Nature and Crystal Shards each bring their own strengths, weaknesses and passive abilities to the battlefield, encouraging experimentation instead of relying on a single overpowered strategy.

Where Shard Squad truly distinguishes itself from its competitors is through its synergy system. Every creature possesses unique traits, and combining certain Shards unlocks increasingly powerful bonuses and abilities. Building an effective team becomes almost as important as surviving the endless waves themselves. You'll constantly be evaluating new recruits, deciding whether they're worth adding to your squad or whether they might disrupt a carefully assembled combination. It creates a layer of decision-making that keeps each run engaging long after the novelty of mowing through hundreds of enemies wears off.

The roguelite progression is further enhanced by a huge collection of relics that dramatically alter how your team performs. Combining relic effects with Shard synergies opens the door to countless builds, and discovering overpowered combinations becomes part of the fun. Even after several successful runs, there's always the temptation to jump back in and see what other combinations you can discover. With over 20 playable Shards, expanded further through the Prime Evolution system, there is plenty of room for experimentation.

Visually, Shard Squad is charming from start to finish. The pixel art strikes a nice balance between colourful and readable, which is no small achievement in a genre that often turns into a chaotic fireworks display during later stages. Even when the battlefield becomes packed with enemies, projectiles and ability effects, it's generally easy to keep track of what's happening. The adorable creature designs also give the game a personality that many genre competitors lack, making it easy to become attached to your favourite Shards rather than viewing them purely as stat boosts.

The challenge curve feels well judged too. Boss encounters regularly shake up the action, forcing players to adapt rather than mindlessly circle enemies. The constant stream of unlocks, new creatures and evolving strategies ensures progression remains rewarding throughout the campaign. Local co-op support is also a welcome addition, turning the already chaotic action into an enjoyable couch co-op experience.

That said, Shard Squad isn't entirely free from genre limitations. Players who have spent hundreds of hours with similar bullet heaven titles will recognise many familiar systems and progression loops. While the synergy mechanics add depth, the moment-to-moment gameplay can occasionally feel repetitive during longer sessions. Some players may also wish there were even greater environmental variety between runs.

Still, these are relatively minor complaints in what is otherwise a polished and highly enjoyable package. By focusing on squad composition and meaningful synergies rather than pure spectacle, Shard Squad manages to carve out its own identity in an increasingly crowded genre.

Pros

• Deep and rewarding squad-building mechanics

• Excellent synergy system encourages experimentation

• Charming pixel art and creature designs

• Huge variety of Shards, relics and build combinations

• Local co-op support adds extra replayability

• Accessible while still offering strategic depth

Cons

• Familiar gameplay loop may feel repetitive for genre veterans

• Some maps could offer more visual variety

• Doesn't radically reinvent the bullet heaven formula

Shard Squad takes a familiar roguelite foundation and strengthens it with clever team-building mechanics that make every decision matter. The combination of adorable creature collecting, strategic synergies and addictive progression creates an experience that's easy to recommend for both newcomers and bullet heaven veterans. While it may not completely reinvent the genre, it has enough personality and depth to earn a place among its better entries.

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (GOLD)

Shard Squad is available now!