This is Gunfred

Gunfred is a challenging pixel art run-and-gun game inspired by classics like Turrican, Probotector, Metroid and Mega Man. Step into the boots of Fred Frost and blast your way through relentless enemy hordes. Upgrade your arsenal, unlock powerful tactical weapons, and conquer three brutal difficulty levels.

Packed with hidden secrets, speedrun-friendly mechanics, and roguelike elements, Gunfred delivers an intense retro experience for hardcore fans and newcomers alike.

Gunfred's Arsenal

Gunfred has access to four distinct shot types, each of which can be upgraded across nine levels. Additionally, attributes like Attack Speed, Critical Chance, and Critical Damage can be enhanced in multiple stages.

Supersonic fires homing missiles in addition to its main shot – the higher the level, the more missiles are launched.
Multiple can ignite enemies, causing burn damage over time.
Laser pierces through enemies, hitting multiple targets in a line.
Plasma explodes into several projectiles at the end of its flight path.

Beyond these shot types, Fred also has access to powerful abilities:
He can activate the Genkiblast, a devastating area-of-effect attack; unleash the 360° Beam, a directional attack that requires him to stand still and rotate in 32 precise steps using the analog stick; deploy Mines for strategic control; and transform into a rolling wheel, making him temporarily invulnerable.

Achievements & Rewards

In Gunfred, you can unlock a wide range of achievements — from straightforward challenges like completing a level or collecting all diamonds, to hidden and particularly tough tasks that demand sharp reflexes and a keen eye for secrets.

Many of these achievements come with exclusive rewards: alternate skins for the Genkiblast and the 360°, new UI styles and color modes, additional player skins, and more. These unlockables not only add visual variety, but also celebrate your skill and sense of exploration.

From Concept to Controller

The Vision

Gunfred began as a passion project with a clear vision: a pixel art run-and-gun inspired by classics like Turrican, Probotector, Metroid and Mega Man. The goal was not just fast-paced shooting, but also rewarding players for exploring each level with precision and curiosity.

More Space, More Enemies, More Action

To intensify the action, I chose an unusually high resolution:
960×540 pixels – a format rarely used in pixel art games.

This decision brings several advantages:

Enemies can have more health without overwhelming the player.
More enemies can appear on screen simultaneously.
Fred still has enough space to dodge and react.

The result: dynamic, tactical battles, where Fred often faces multiple enemies at once – and for longer durations.

High Score with Depth

Gunfred is designed with a strong focus on the highscore and the timescore.

With a playtime of around 1.5 hours (for experienced players), it was important to me that scoring goes beyond simply finishing the game — it’s about clever, precise, and strategic gameplay.

The better you play, the more you're rewarded.

I’ve built in a variety of mechanics that allow skilled players to earn significantly higher scores through smart decisions and perfect timing — not just survival.

Difficulty

Challenge Accepted – Difficulty Levels in Gunfred

Normal Mode

Gunfred is no walk in the park – even in Normal Mode, you're in for an intense, action-packed experience with a high level of challenge. You could almost call it a Roguelite mode: Fred starts with 3 lives, but can find a lot more additional lives throughout a run – if you explore the levels thoroughly.

But be warned: when Fred dies, he loses all upgrades of the currently equipped weapon. You’ll have to switch to one of the other three – hopefully well-upgraded – weapons. If you die again shortly after, your arsenal quickly shrinks, and progressing becomes much harder.

Especially if you don’t know the levels well or where to find the next hidden bonus blocks to re-equip.

Hardfred Mode

Things get even tougher in Hardfred Mode: Fred only has the 3 starting lives. Any additional lives you find won’t give you extra attempts – instead, they reward you with points. These points are exclusive to Hardfred Mode, making it especially appealing for high score hunters.

Nightfred Mode

Nightfred Mode is the ultimate challenge:
Fred starts with just one life – and that’s all you get. Every mistake is fatal.

Only the most skilled players will survive this mode. But if you do… it’ll be worth it.

Customizable Controls

In addition to the usual options for adapting the game to your monitor, as well as optional features such as damage numbers and controller vibration, Gunfred also allows you to fully customize both gamepad and keyboard controls.

Every button and key can be freely assigned to match your preferred setup.