We played Lil’ Guardsman, a comedic puzzle game similar to Papers, Please where you decide who goes in the glorious kingdom of Sprawl. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn’t do well, and if it’s worth your time and money.
Lil' Guardsman Review Overview
Lil' Guardsman Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Simple Gameplay, Challenging Choices Fun Interactions with Quirky Characters Amusing Story |
There’s a "Right Way" to Do Things It’s Easy To Accidentally Skip Dialogue |
Lil' Guardsman Overall Score - 86/100
Playing Lil’ Guardsman makes you feel like you’re the main character of an absurd adult sitcom where you meet a cast of quirky characters on a daily basis. It’s a game where your decisions affect the grand scheme of things and alter certain parts of the story. The game is well-designed, as evidenced by the full and praiseworthy voice-acting, beautiful and vibrant art style, and fleshed out story. Each interaction is different from the last, which leads to a very fun gameplay loop of meeting unique characters.
Lil' Guardsman Story - 8/10
Don’t let Lil’ Guardsman’s absurdity and cartoonish art style fool you because the game features a great storyline that tackles serious issues like war and discrimination, and rewards you with emotional payoffs.
Lil' Guardsman Gameplay - 9/10
Manning the guardshed is simple. You’re afforded only three turns to either question the person, use tools to dig deeper, or call one of three royal advisors for advice. It’s a point-and-click game executed well in a narrative-driven comedy. While the game’s controls and objectives are simple, making the right calls can be challenging. The balance between simplicity and difficult choices make for a great decision-based game.
Lil' Guardsman Visuals - 8/10
Lil’ Guardsman features a beautiful hand-drawn art style that reminds me of adult cartoons like Total Drama, and an entire cast of well-designed interesting characters. The character models, map designs, and overall visual appeal are great, and is very impressive considering it was made by just a small studio.
Lil' Guardsman Audio - 9/10
Each interaction in Lil’ Guardsman is fully-voiced by Toronto-based theater, TV, and comedy actors, who each deliver praiseworthy performances. Moreover, the game features a fun, original soundtrack composed by Scott Christian, which the developers described as one that "blends medieval and classical influences with electronic and low-fi, hip-hop flavors."
Lil' Guardsman Value for Money - 9/10
Lil’ Guardsman is only $19.99. For a game that I’ve already praised a lot and don’t have much negative to say about, that’s a very good deal.
Lil' Guardsman Review | Who Knew Being a Guard was This Fun?
Lil’ Guardsman is about Lil’, a 12-year-old girl who covers for her dad, Hamish, a guard for the thriving kingdom of Sprawl. The job mainly involves manning the guard shed and deciding whether or not people should be admitted into the kingdom, denied entry, or thrown in jail. You’ll have three turns during each screening, which you can use to talk to the subject, use a tool to find out if they’re hiding something, or call one of three royal advisors, who may or may not be of any help.
Each subsequent interaction is completely unique from the last, with each character having their own unique story, appearance, voice, and behavior. For example, one could be a laid back wizard on drugs, while another could be two goblins stacked on top of each other pretending to be a human in a trench coat. Some interactions could be wholesome, while some undoubtedly aren’t. I genuinely enjoyed the time I spent at the guardshed meeting all these interesting characters and hearing their stories.
Outside the guard shed, you could explore different areas of the kingdom after your shift and interact with the different NPCs. You’ll often come across the people you personally admitted into the kingdom. After each day, you’ll have a rundown on how the characters you’ve encountered turned out.
Since each decision you make affects the grand scheme of things, you should tread carefully. Maybe the guy you just threw in jail is an important diplomat, possibly starting a war between your nation and theirs. Alternatively, the goblin you just granted entry to might be a murderer, inciting chaos in the village. In this game, the decisions you make matter, and there are 60 unique paths you could be on.
The game’s basic point-and-click features and the goal of the game is simple. However, decision-making gives the game a unique challenge, and sometimes you’d be torn between following your heart or following orders.
Pros of Lil' Guardsman
| Things Lil' Guardsman Got Right |
|---|
|
Simple Gameplay, Challenging Choices Fun Interactions with Quirky Characters Amusing Story |
Simple Gameplay, Complex Choices
Drawing inspiration from puzzle sim game, Papers, Please, the game’s mechanics are simple and very easy to get the hang of. However, it’s making the right decisions that is difficult. Each encounter you make at the guard shed is a puzzle, with you having the means to milk out as much information you need out of every interaction. Don’t worry too much about it though, since you’ll have the ability to re-do any encounter with the Chronometer3000, the time machine you’re given early on in the game.
The decisions you make get harder as the game goes on. For example, if a man requests entry into the kingdom to propose to one of the residents but the memo says ‘strictly no more visitors’, would you stand in the way of true love in order to follow orders, or would you let him cook and bear the risk of your superior finding out?
Fun Interactions with Quirky Characters
The beings you encounter are all so unique, with each one being well-designed and complete with voice-acted lines. Each one behaves differently from the rest, and all have their own unique stories and motivations for entering the kingdom. This leads to a lot of fun interactions with endless possibilities. In one instance, I met a strange man who wanted to enter Sprawl because he was on a quest to look for the fanciest hat. I let him in, and frequently saw him with a new hat each time, claiming it was not good enough and that he needed to find a better one. Another example is when I met a woman who was clearly deranged and covered in specks of blood. I didn’t like something she said to me so I tried using the whip on her, which angered her and caused her to throw a molotov in my guardshed. That was when I first found out that you, a 12-year-old substitute guard, could die in this game.
Amusing Story
You’re not just limited to the guardshed as, in between your shifts, you could explore the kingdom of Sprawl. This is where you mostly see the effects of your actions, and where a lot of the exposition cutscenes occur. The story is captivating and really surpassed my expectations. It’s hard to discuss it any further without spoiling anything, but let's just say you’ll get involved in some spicy court intrigue, conspiracy, and diplomacy.
Cons of Lil' Guardsman
| Things That Lil' Guardsman Can Improve |
|---|
|
There’s a "Right Way" to Do Things It’s Easy To Accidentally Skip Dialogue |
There’s a "Right Way" to Do Things
Let me get this straight first, how you play is entirely up to you. In fact, the game encourages it by possibly unlocking different outcomes when you follow your gut and disregard the rules. However, not getting 3 or 4 stars in an encounter because you didn’t follow the rules really bothered me, making me contemplate whether I should use the Chronometer3000 to redo the encounter or not. Most people would probably be fine with this, but will surely annoy perfectionists who are always aiming for 3 stars regardless of what they’re playing.
It’s Easy To Accidentally Skip Dialogue
It’s easy to accidentally click the text as you’re reading, which makes it easy to miss important information about the encounter. Of course, you could use the Chronometer3000, but remember that you could only use it 5 times each shift. It’s annoying to have to use it just because you missed something in the dialogue.
Is Lil' Guardsman Worth It?
Big Yes for Lil’ Guardsman
Lil’ Guardsman is a solid indie where you meet tons of fun and odd NPCs, which make for memorable interactions and laugh-out-loud moments. It’s a well-produced game that features a fun art style, a good soundtrack, great writing, and excellent voice acting. For $19.99, this game is a steal.
Lil' Guardsman Overview & Premise
Lil' Guardsman lets you play as Lil', a 12-year-old girl reluctantly covering for her dad's shift at the kingdom's guardshed as he bets on Goblinball matches. As a guardsman, you'll be in charge of who gets to go into the kingdom, who doesn't, and who is thrown in jail. Be careful though, as your decisions matter and affect the kingdom's wellbeing.
Lil' Guardsman FAQ
Do the stars matter in Lil’ Guardsman?
The more stars you get on average, the more money you’re paid. However, averaging 2 stars or less will result in you getting fired. You could play how you want, and even 1 or 2-star ratings may award you with new outcomes.
What languages does Lil’ Guardsman come in?
Only English audio is available, but there are Spanish, German, and Chinese versions that will have a UI and subtitles in those languages.
Lil' Guardsman Product Information
 |
|
| Title | LIL’ GUARDSMAN |
|---|---|
| Release Date | January 23, 2024 |
| Developer | Hilltop Studios |
| Publisher | Versus Evil |
| Supported Platforms | PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch |
| Genre | Adventure, Puzzle, Indie |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| ESRB Rating | Teen |
| Official Website | Lil' Guardsman Website |
