Time Extension (Damien McFerran, 6 Mar 2024; score raised from 7 to 8 after v1.2). "an interesting and challenging take on the genre for a handheld that feels like it really shouldn't be able to run something this impressive."
https://www.timeextension.com/reviews/playdate/gun-trailsGames / Catalog / Gun Trails
OverviewCatalog
Gun Trails
ActionCrank: none$4
1 · official Catalog GIF (1-bit still: screen-1-still.png)
2 · official Catalog GIF (1-bit still: screen-2-still.png)
3 · official Catalog GIF (1-bit still: screen-3-still.png)1 · official Catalog GIF (1-bit still: screen-1-still.png)2 · official Catalog GIF (1-bit still: screen-2-still.png)3 · official Catalog GIF (1-bit still: screen-3-still.png)Overview. Not yet reviewed. No score. Checked 12 Oct 2026. Built from official and press sources.
What it is
Gun Trails is a vertical shoot-'em-up: "three stages of thrilling action, heart-pounding music, and score-chasing-delight" through "intricate bullet patterns and larger-than-life bosses". It "runs at the device's maximum display speed", and it plays on the D-pad and buttons only, with no crank. Online scoreboards and an aggressive arcade presentation (Engadget notes it shouts its own name at boot) make it a high-score game. Version 1.2 (5 Mar 2024) added a Novice mode with reduced difficulty.
It's by Yoyogi Games and came to the Catalog in July 2023 for $4. The store links an original soundtrack, art prints and a "Making of Gun Trails" blog post. Panic lists it among its "Monochrome Masterworks", and its staff note reads: "Unbelievably fast. Brutally hard. Jaw-droppingly impressive."
Who made it
What others are saying
Engadget, "The best Playdate games" (updated 12 May 2025). "This high-speed shmup goes from zero to 100 before you have a chance to register what's happening."
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-playdate-games-190049201.htmlPanic staff note (Catalog page). "No Playdate game this year raised our blood pressures this high."
https://play.date/games/gun-trails/Callout (?): No review yet. We haven't reviewed Gun Trails yet. This page is an overview built from official and press sources.
Sources
Checked 12 Oct 2026.
- Official Catalog page (description, credits, size, dates, content/AI/accessibility notes). https://play.date/games/gun-trails/
- Time Extension review, Damien McFerran, 6 Mar 2024. https://www.timeextension.com/reviews/playdate/gun-trails
- Engadget, "The best Playdate games" (updated 12 May 2025). https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-playdate-games-190049201.html
OverviewNo score
Overview
Not yet reviewed.
No score. This page is built from official and press sources.
On the card
Three stages of intricate bullet patterns, huge bosses and pounding music at the device's top display speed, now with a Novice mode.
From the sources
