Gunbound
Gunbound is a classic turn-based artillery strategy game where you pick from a roster of quirky combat “Mobiles” and try to outshoot (or outsmart) the other side with careful aiming, terrain play, and a bit of wind-reading.
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Publisher: Softnyx Playerbase: Shut Down Type: Artillery Strategy Release Date: March 28, 2007 Pros: +Big selection of distinct Mobiles to master. +Deep avatar fashion and build options. +Winning is heavily skill-based. Cons: -Very small population leading up to closure. -Audio presentation is serviceable rather than memorable. -Cheaters (including aim assistance) could spoil matches. |
Gunbound Overview
Softnyx’s Gunbound is a turn-based artillery battler built around careful positioning and precision shots. In each match, players control a Mobile (often called a Bot) and alternate turns to move, use items, and fire across a side-on battlefield. The twist is that maps are not just flat arenas; terrain, elevation, and weather (especially wind) can drastically change how reliable a shot is, which makes every turn a small puzzle.
A big part of Gunbound’s appeal is the variety in its 28 Mobiles. Each one handles differently, has its own strengths, and comes with three distinct attacks. That means learning your favorite Bot is only half the game; understanding what the enemy is piloting matters just as much. Beyond the core battles, Gunbound also leans into long-term progression through avatar customization, with a shop offering battle items, equipment, and even pets. Social and meta systems (guilds, an enchant, jewel, and level setup, plus custom rooms) round out the package. Visually, it mixes cute 2D character art with 3D map geometry to sell the playful sci-fi conflicts on the planet Lond.
Gunbound Key Features:
- Weather and Wind Matter – each map’s conditions influence movement and aiming, so adjusting to wind strength and direction is part of landing consistent hits.
- Avatar and Gear Customization – mix cosmetic pieces with stat-altering equipment to create a look, and a build, that feels personal.
- 28 Mobile Machines – pick from a wide roster of Bots, each with its own shot patterns and tactical role.
- Five Different Game Modes – rotate modes to keep matches from feeling repetitive, including options like Tag that let you swap between two Bots.
- Create or Join a Guild – group up for community play, earn points, and climb rankings together.
Gunbound Screenshots
Gunbound Featured Video
Gunbound Review
Gunbound works best as a “drop in, play a few rounds” kind of strategy game. Matches are easy to understand at a glance, but the moment-to-moment decisions can get surprisingly involved once you start accounting for wind, terrain angles, and the way different Mobiles arc their shots. If you have ever enjoyed the Worms series, the rhythm will feel familiar: take your turn, line up an angle, commit to a shot, and live with the result.
At its core, the win condition is straightforward: reduce the opposing side’s HP to zero. However, Gunbound encourages creative victories too, since map geometry can be destroyed or exploited. Knocking enemies off platforms or collapsing ground beneath them can end fights quickly, especially when the other team is positioned carelessly.
A roster that changes how the game plays
Variety is one of Gunbound’s strongest qualities, because the Mobile you choose heavily influences your options. The game’s lineup includes 21 named Mobiles: Armor, Mage, Nak, Lightning, JD, A.Sate, J.Frog, Kalsiddon, Trico, Bigfoot, Boomer, Ice, Turtle, Grub, Raon Launcher, Aduka, Maya, Wolf, Phoenix, Dragon, and Knight. Each has its own feel, with different shot behaviors and practical strengths.
In general, the hardest-hitting Mobiles tend to demand more precision; high damage often comes with tricky trajectories or awkward shot timing. Meanwhile, Bots that excel at reshaping the map can be less about direct damage and more about forcing bad positions, denying safe terrain, or setting up ring-outs. Dragon and Knight sit at the top end of the power curve, but they are not simply selectable; you only get them by setting your Mobile choice to random and getting lucky, which keeps them from dominating every lobby.
Gunbound also supports five modes to vary the ruleset. In practice, Score mode has historically been the most common, focusing on limited lives and team endurance. You can play solo or in teams, with up to eight players in a match, and the wide selection of maps helps the core loop stay engaging even if you settle into a few favorite Mobiles.
The delay system gives turns a tactical edge
What elevates Gunbound beyond “aim and shoot” is its delay system. Turn order is not just a simple rotation; it is influenced by how much delay your actions generate. Each Mobile’s attacks have different delay values, and each Bot has three attack types (shot 1, shot 2, and a special) that also vary in delay. The basic shot is usually the fastest, while the special tends to cost the most delay, often in exchange for damage or utility.
This creates a real strategic layer: if you consistently choose low-delay actions while an opponent leans on slow, high-impact shots, you may earn back-to-back turns. That can swing a match quickly, especially when combined with positional advantages.
Items further complicate this in a good way. Powerful tools, like healing or double-shot style options, can add substantial delay, effectively “paying” future tempo for immediate impact. Good players learn when it is worth sacrificing turn economy to secure a kill, recover from a bad position, or set up a decisive burst.
Customization and the “avatar” economy
Gunbound’s avatar system is a big part of its long-term hook. Avatars function as attribute-boosting items, and the shop offers an enormous number of pieces to collect. Gold earned through play can be spent on these items, giving players a steady progression path even when they are not chasing rank.
Importantly, the game also recognizes the competitive issues that can come with stat-boosting gear. Channels that disable avatar bonuses (“avatar off”) help keep matches fair for players who prefer pure skill contests, while still letting others enjoy the power progression and fashion side in channels that allow stats. Even when bonuses are disabled, collecting avatars remains appealing because the cosmetic variety is one of the game’s most enduring strengths.
Who Gunbound is, and is not, for
Gunbound’s biggest barrier is also its defining feature: it is turn-based. If you dislike waiting for your turn, or you prefer constant real-time action, the pace can feel slow. The presentation is also relatively modest, with audio that does its job but rarely steals the show.
On the plus side, the fundamentals are strong, and the game’s design supports both casual sessions and deeper mastery. That said, like many older online titles, it has historically dealt with occasional cheating problems, including aim-related hacks that can undermine the satisfaction of outplaying an opponent.
Final Verdict: Great
Gunbound stands out as a distinctive artillery MMO that rewards smart decisions and good aim in equal measure. The roster of Mobiles, the wind and terrain considerations, and the delay-based turn economy combine into a formula that stays interesting far longer than you might expect from such a simple premise. It will not convert players who dislike turn-based pacing, but for fans of tactical shooters and Worms-style matches, it remains an easy recommendation based on gameplay alone.
Gunbound Links
Gunbound Official Site
Gunbound Wikipedia
Gunbound Wikia
Gunbound Forums (Tutorials)
Gunbound System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 98
CPU: PentiumIII 866MHz
Video Card: Any 3D-accelerated card
RAM: 128 MB
Hard Disk Space: 750MB
Recommended Requirements:
Operating System: Windows XP
CPU: PentiumIV 1.2GHz
Video Card: Any 3D-accelerated card
RAM: 512 MB
Hard Disk Space: 1 GB
Gunbound Music & Soundtrack
Coming Soon…
Gunbound Additional Information
Developer: Softnyx
Publisher: Softnyx (International, Korea, NA), GOA (EU), HANGAME (JP)
Game Engine: C++
Initial Release Date: April 2003
European Release Date: March 28, 2007
Shut Down: July 30, 2019
Development History / Background:
Often compared to Team17’s Worms, Gunbound is an artillery strategy title created by South Korean developer Softnyx. First released in 2003, it later went through three major release phases across different regions. The North American service initially ran under ijji, then closed in 2009 before being brought back under Softnyx for NA. Softnyx’s Gunbound site entered maintenance on October 30, 2019, and it never returned online.