74
Lil’ Guardsman is a silly, high-fantasy take on Papers, Please that mixes deductive gameplay with goblins and wizards – what more could you want? Well, a tighter story with more consistent quality would have been great, but the end result is still very much worth playing for comedy fans.
90
Lil’ Guardsman is a superb game that excels in just about every area, held back only by a couple of notable flaws that prevent it from earning full marks.
tbd
It's deftly done, and goes a long way in smoothing over some of the cracks that emerge from its simplified take on Papers, Please's gate-keeping. Overall, I had a very good time with it, and wolfed it all down in almost a single serving. It's probably a good one to play with kids and young teens, too - a kind of Baby's First Papers, Please, if you will, that can introduce them to the core concept while also giving them a jolly good story at the same time. For adults, Lil Guardsman may ultimately miss the point of what Papers, Please itself was trying to interrogate all those years ago, but you can’t deny its heart always tries to be in the right place.
2
Unless you know exactly what items to bring and what to say/do you wont get a good score which is just infuriating, they made this game purely to force you to use a guide or replay it which is not good design, the story is bland as hell and the pointless loading screens takes up way to much time.
7
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
8
This game is silly and I love it, the gameplay is decently unique, while still retaining some vibes from games like Paper’s Please.
Lil' Guardsman
Released On:
Jan 23, 2024
Metascore
Generally Favorable
82
User score
Mixed or Average
7.0
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
82
78% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
22% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Feb 15, 2024
95
Lil’ Guardsman is a cute yet hilarious point-and-click adventure with a surprisingly deep story. No level is the same, and it has a lot of heart, making it perfect for anyone wanting to have a laugh.
Jan 24, 2024
95
Lil' Guardsman is a fun game that expertly combines story and gameplay. It’s built around a loveable central character who finds herself at the core of an interesting although familiar narrative. The deduction mechanics require players to pay attention, but the game also smartly gives them a rewind ability if they want to retcon some choices. There are a few rushed moments toward the end and a few choices feel frustrating. But these are small problems given how good everything else is. I love Lil’ Guardsman because it kept me engaged, gave me space to interact with a wide cast of characters and allowed me to rewind time when my teasing didn’t lead to the expected results.
User score
Mixed or Average
7.0
50% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
39% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
11% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Sep 11, 2025
9
Lil guardsman is a point and click adventure game where you play as Lil a precocious 12-year-old who is tasked one day with covering her father's guard shift so he can go bet on a sport called Goblin ball. This turns into a part-time job and a crazy adventure for Lil as she either admits or denies people into the city of sprawl all while becoming a central figure to a grand Adventure of Kingdoms and battle and magic and deception. This game really was a game and it almost felt like a game that was made for me. It had a wonderful little 2D art style that was bright and cute and having to suss out information using creative tools all while interacting with the super interesting and at many times hilarious characters had me enjoying every minute of my almost 8 hours of play time. Appreciated the game was kind of short and sweet and it didn't overstay its welcome. One of my favorite experiences in a video game this year and I would recommend this highly to anybody that enjoys a good story and characters that will make you laugh out loud.
Dec 29, 2025
8
This game is silly and I love it, the gameplay is decently unique, while still retaining some vibes from games like Paper’s Please.
Jan 23, 2024
85
Lil' Guardsman is a truly wonderful comedy game, with Papers, Please style border guarding gameplay in a charming fantasy setting.
Feb 7, 2024
80
It's not like there's a particularly memorable overall narrative here, and it would have helped Lil' Guardsman to feel as mesmerising on a broader scale as it does when you're just... well, being in it. That said, this is an awful lot of charm for the amount of money it costs.
Jan 23, 2024
80
Lil’ Guardsman is so much fun to play. Players will be laughing out loud from the very beginning and will enjoy the fun references and silly jokes throughout. And those that like to play games multiple times will be able to see all of the different options and outcomes. Sure, this is a pretty easy game, but for something that’s mostly about the story and the characters, we didn’t find this too disappointing. If you’re looking for a relaxing, funny time, Lil’ Guardsman is well worth picking up.
May 24, 2024
74
Lil’ Guardsman is a silly, high-fantasy take on Papers, Please that mixes deductive gameplay with goblins and wizards – what more could you want? Well, a tighter story with more consistent quality would have been great, but the end result is still very much worth playing for comedy fans.
Feb 14, 2024
60
Lil' Guardsman is charming and novel enough that it's worth playing, but a flawed approach that skirts around aspects of the core idea holds the overall experience back.
Apr 30, 2026
2
Unless you know exactly what items to bring and what to say/do you wont get a good score which is just infuriating, they made this game purely to force you to use a guide or replay it which is not good design, the story is bland as hell and the pointless loading screens takes up way to much time.
SummaryIn this deduction adventure, you play as Lil - an unlikely 12-year-old hero - covering your dad's shift at the guard shed and are tasked with deciding the fate of over 100 unique characters. You will question humans, elves, goblins, cyclopses, and other fantasy creatures using your powers of deduction to determine who to admit or deny... Read More
Platforms:
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X
- PC
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date:Jan 23, 2024
Developer:
- Hilltop Studios
Publisher:
