I’m a big fan of both firearms and simulation games, so pair the two together, and you should have a winning combination in my eyes. But when all is said and done, does Gunsmith Simulator stand up to the countless other simulation games on the market? Let’s find out how this recently released title holds up under scrutiny with our Gunsmith Simulator review!
Note: The developer/publisher was kind enough to send us a copy, but it in no way influences the opinion or outcome of this review!
Furthermore, it should be noted that Gunsmith Simulator is still in Early Access on Steam and, as such, subject to change. We’ll revisit the game in the future as new content is added and bugs are squashed.
Gunsmith Simulator Gameplay
Let’s start by focusing on what’s most important to all of us: gameplay!
As a simulator, Gunsmith Simulator will obviously place us in the shoes of a professional with a very specific skill set. In this case, firearms. As the players, we run a small shop built around building, cleaning, repairing, and customizing firearms of all types, from AKMs to civilian handguns and beyond.
With such a confined gameplay loop, how does it hold up? Overall, pretty well. There’s a bit of indie jank around the edges, but not in a bad way. For instance, controls can feel a little cumbersome at times, like when rotating the camera to take apart the trigger or firing components—relatively minuscule pieces—can be tough to get a acquire good field of view.
But with that cumbersomeness also comes clarity. Gunsmith Simulator is extremely detailed, down to the nuts and bolts of every piece within a firearm. I can highly appreciate this level of detail.
Players will start by accepting jobs on the computer, then unboxing the selected firearm before moving to the disassembly table. Here, we’ll take apart every component, set aside pieces for cleaning, purchase new pieces for installation, and then customize the gun depending on the customer’s request.
From there, players can take the firearm to the range of CQB House to further test the weapon personally, adding in a little distraction from the shop scene.
How Are the Graphics?
Graphically speaking, Gunsmith Simulator is quite detailed where it matters most: in the firearms. The firearm designs are intricate, down to the smallest detail. You can visually see the screws holding together the body and frame of an AKM. You can see the grooves and stippling in a grip.
Some textures elsewhere can look and feel muddy, though. For instance, unimportant aspects around the shop, like the walls, look old. Not old as in aesthetically, but old as in outdated graphics. Then, we have certain machines, like the machining system, which can appear low-quality at times.
But hey, we’re here to focus on the firearms, as the name would suggest.
Replay Value?
As of right now, unless you’re a diehard fan of firearms as a whole, there isn’t a ton of replay value involved with Gunsmith Simulator. Sure, you could theoretically reset your progress and work through the same set of firearms, but the overall process is the exact same. You take apart the gun, clean it, built it, customize it, ship it off for the client.
As of right now, I can recommend Gunsmith Simulator to diehard simulation gaming fans, but few others. I don’t see anyone casual picking this up on a whim, and that’s okay. Not every game or genre is for everyone.
We’ll keep an eye on Gunsmith Simulator (Steam) as it progresses through Early Access!