By Aimee Rogers 
Most roguelikes ask players to save kingdoms, slay monsters, or survive impossible odds. Rock, Paper, Scissors, SHOOT! asks them to win a hand game.
That’s the premise, and honestly, it’s difficult not to be curious about it.
The hand-drawn indie roguelike follows Fred as he enters a series of increasingly strange tournaments in an attempt to make money. The catch is that success comes down to one of the simplest games ever invented, Rock, Paper, Scissors.
However, beneath that deceptively simple idea sits a roguelike structure filled with upgrades, risk-reward decisions, bizarre opponents, and branching choices that can dramatically alter a run. Winning isn’t just about guessing correctly, it’s building advantages, pushing your luck, and surviving long enough to reach the next challenge.
That’s what makes the concept more interesting than it first appears.
After all, some of the best roguelikes are built around a single idea taken to its logical extreme. The question isn’t whether rock, paper, scissors is a simple game, it’s how much depth the developers can create around it.
The hand-drawn art style certainly helps the game stand out, but it’s the commitment to the premise that really catches the eye. There are no sprawling fantasy worlds or elaborate combat systems here. Just Fred, a tournament full of questionable characters, and a surprising amount riding on a few hand gestures.
Whether Rock, Paper, Scissors, SHOOT! can turn a playground game into a compelling roguelike remains to be seen.
Still, you have to admire the confidence of a game willing to build an entire run around three possible choices.
Steven Andrew
Allrogues_Editor