Overview
Boxman presents itself as a minimalist shooting experience that struggles to justify its existence beyond a brief distraction. Early impressions reveal a game so fundamentally sparse that it barely registers as a complete experience. The core concept—shooting box-shaped targets—lacks any meaningful depth or progression, resulting in an experience that overstays its welcome within minutes of starting. While the simplicity might offer momentary amusement, the complete absence of variety or purpose leaves players questioning the game's raison d'être.
Bare-Bones Gameplay with No Substance
The entire gameplay loop consists of shooting box-shaped figures as they traverse a single, unchanging environment. Targets alternate between close-range (easily dispatched) and distant (slightly more challenging) positions, creating a rudimentary difficulty curve that fails to evolve. There are no power-ups, scoring systems, enemy variations, or environmental interactions—just static shooting against identical foes in a lonely void. The lack of mechanics beyond aiming and firing reduces the experience to a tech demo rather than a fleshed-out game.
Replayability is nonexistent, as players exhaust everything Boxman offers within their first session. No unlockables, difficulty settings, or alternate modes exist to encourage return visits. The static backdrop—described as the game's sole environment—further emphasizes the crushing lack of ambition. What begins as a mildly amusing diversion quickly reveals itself as an empty shell with nothing beneath its surface.
As far as I can tell there is only one backdrop in the game, but its fun for a few minutes.
Zero
Verdict
Empty shooting gallery with no lasting appeal