Dino Hazard: Chronos Blackout
Dino Hazard: Chronos Blackout
Game
Game2025
Service with a Shotgun
Developer Nolyn Vansyckle
Service With a Shotgun [SWAS] is a mash up of visual novel storytelling and chaotic wave game shooting. You're the last poor soul manning a beat-up roadside shop in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. Shoot straight. Talk fast. Surely nothing can go wrong. Right? From the Steam store page
99 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy) · newest Oct 27, 2026 · last updated Nov 4, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
94
LovedLoved
81 positive · 5 negative
95% range 87–97%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 81 | 5 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
83 of 88 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
95% recommend · 81 yes, 4 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 85 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (98 of 103 positive).
Players praise the game's unique blend of visual novel and wave-based shooter gameplay. [1][2][3] Many find it short but charming, with a fun story and characters. [4][5][6] Some reviewers note that the game introduces new mechanics each chapter, abandoning previous ones. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [2]
I'm not done yet, but I can already tell this game is a labor of love. The music is great, the graphics have a ton of charm, and the story and characters are a fun delight. The gameplay is really simple and is handled solely with the mouse, which is a nice change of pace. I won't spoil anything, but the story has some fun twists and turns, and the chapter-based format makes it perfect for bite-sized sessions. I …
- [5]
Visual Novel + shooting gallery where you do some light resource managing, base building, and you're rewarded for remembering details during character conversations. It's a fun time! Every chapter of the game has its own unique little gimmick to it to keep things interesting. I did run into a bug where enemies wouldn't spawn unless I messed with the difficulty slider in the options, and I also think the second …
- [11]
Truly a blast! Spotted this game a few weeks ago and fell in love with its art style and vibes. After playing through the game now, I highly recommend you check it out. The game play is very satisfying, and is best described as "Trying to have conversations while having ADHD". Keeping tid bits of information in your memory to answer questions correctly blends well with the hectic back and forth of fending off the …
- [1]
Hey guys! Bought your game as promised. I guess the 2K monitor issue is fixed already, thanks! Also, I see you supporting save progress from the demo. And now I am on Chapter II without any achievements from Chapter I. Are you planning to add support for receiving achievements from the save file? That would be nice. Anyway — the game is fun, it's worth playing!
- [3]
A weird lil game. Super solid, great for an afternoon. A VN that's constantly interrupted by you having to shoot ♥♥♥♥ - even if I wish the shooting and micromanagement were a bit more advanced. Decent story, likeable characters, pretty human writing. Moves fast and wastes no time. It's charming, it's decently fun. Not some nuanced masterpiece but solid artistry and funky, unexpected ideas make it worth your time. I …
Summarised from 34 of the 98 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Service with a Shotgun sits at 94% positive across 86 opinionated reactions from 3 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Reactions
60 of 99 · most liked firstThe concepts are fun, with good music and a relaxing atmosphere, the zombies making it a little stressful but in a good way, the game had a lot of potential, and the first two chapters were pretty fun. And then it got progressively worse. Every new chapter completely wipes out your progress. Including whatever money you had saved, so youre barely able to enjoy whatever "build mode" might come after. Which is also an issue, because its not always a "build mode". Sometimes its randomized and you…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hey guys! Bought your game as promised. I guess the 2K monitor issue is fixed already, thanks! Also, I see you supporting save progress from the demo. And now I am on Chapter II without any achievements from Chapter I. Are you planning to add support for receiving achievements from the save file? That would be nice. Anyway — the game is fun, it's worth playing!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm not done yet, but I can already tell this game is a labor of love. The music is great, the graphics have a ton of charm, and the story and characters are a fun delight. The gameplay is really simple and is handled solely with the mouse, which is a nice change of pace. I won't spoil anything, but the story has some fun twists and turns, and the chapter-based format makes it perfect for bite-sized sessions. I can't wait to finish this game in the next day or two, and wholeheartedly…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A weird lil game. Super solid, great for an afternoon. A VN that's constantly interrupted by you having to shoot ♥♥♥♥ - even if I wish the shooting and micromanagement were a bit more advanced. Decent story, likeable characters, pretty human writing. Moves fast and wastes no time. It's charming, it's decently fun. Not some nuanced masterpiece but solid artistry and funky, unexpected ideas make it worth your time. I don't want to get into specifics because even mentioning these ideas instantly…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very enjoyable short and quirky visual novel. The boomer shooter section is a very fun touch too. Controller genie was a lot funnier than I expected. Good game!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I wouldn't recommend this because I think all gameplay points are underdeveloped. I wish there were more NPCs to sell things and talk to, instead of the same 5 characters and guest appearances. None of the cast stuck out to me as memorable or likeable that much. It's not that they have their flaws, but all they really bring are just flaws. It'd be cool if extra attention towards certain NPCs unlocked upgrades, or something. For the most part, the whole cast goes off to either find a solution to…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Visual Novel + shooting gallery where you do some light resource managing, base building, and you're rewarded for remembering details during character conversations. It's a fun time! Every chapter of the game has its own unique little gimmick to it to keep things interesting. I did run into a bug where enemies wouldn't spawn unless I messed with the difficulty slider in the options, and I also think the second chapter is a bit of a drag compared to the others; but all in all it's a super…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →SERVICE WITH A SHOTGUN is a game with a neat premise (visual novel+wave shooter=delightful contrast) that gets a little too manic with experimenting with new mechanics instead of building off existing ones. For example: why are new progression systems intro'd and old ones abandoned in each chapter?
neutral · AI labelView post →Review: Service with a Shotgun. Service With a Shotgun is one of those rare indie games that feels like a fever dream, equal parts clever, absurd, charming, and occasionally rough around the edges. Developed by solo creator Nolyn Vansyckle and released on Steam in November 2025, this hybrid experience refuses to fit neatly into any one genre. It’s part visual novel, part wave-based shooter, and wholly committed to satirising the mundanity of retail work … even as the world literally collapses…
neutral · AI labelView post →Very Short. Very Sweet! Dialogue is witty without feeling tiresome. The gameplay loop of conversation/shoot zombs/stock up is fun and never too overwhelming (even on faster zombie modes). The gameplay changes added a nice variety. Overall, I'd say I'm glad to have played another stand out indie darling!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This feels really unfinished only praise I can give is that it has potential. Chapter 5 barely exists, new random mechanics that gets forgotten after each chapter, 4th wall jokes attempt in game like reusing sprites is just not good, idk anymore all I could think about is how disappointing it is tbh
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pretty fun overall. This has the energy of a really good Flash game from 2009.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have a new game out today! I loved writing all the weird characters in Service with a Shotgun. It was a privilege to help Nolyn finish his game, and I was very excited to come onboard and make this fun game even funerer. @silverliningint.bsky.social store.steampowered.com/app/3777020/...
positive · AI labelView post →A solid short game. The pacing in some chapters felt a little off (some rushed, some too slow), but other than that, I really enjoyed playing this! :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A short, but really fun time! Feels like a classic flash FPS like The Last Stand, but with a lot more production value. The art was definitely a highlight, with some good dialogue to tie it together. The demo was also very generous with it's playtime, I was able to get a full 10 in game days in before deciding to buy it for myself. I'd absolutely check that out if you're on the fence about it! Difficulty wise the game was very easy, even though I played on nearly the hardest difficulty.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Enjoyed the chaos of holding conversations and waves of zombies off!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been playing the heck out of Service with a Shotgun lately and I'm surprised I'm not seeing more people speak about it! I mean, who doesn't want to run a store during a zombie apocalypse! It's also like only £5, it's a steal imo store.steampowered.com/app/3777020/...
positive · AI labelView post →Picked the demo up during nextfest and immediately loved the humor and characters of the game. A great feeling loop of trying to juggle the shooter gameplay and visual novel gameplay. and they swap up the formula every chapter to keep it feeling fresh. A great little experience if you're in the mood for a short solid experience over a longer game that feels like an investment
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Quite surprised that my progress from the demo carried over. If you're new into the genre of stylized visual novels, then this indie title is surely the one to get you hooked.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Truly a blast! Spotted this game a few weeks ago and fell in love with its art style and vibes. After playing through the game now, I highly recommend you check it out. The game play is very satisfying, and is best described as "Trying to have conversations while having ADHD". Keeping tid bits of information in your memory to answer questions correctly blends well with the hectic back and forth of fending off the zombies, especially at the highest intensity. The writing is very fun and it…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Cute visual novel for people with ADHD.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I enjoyed managing the dialogue while also trying to defend the areas. It was an interesting mashup and reminded me of times where I'm struggling to do something and people are talking to me like nothing is happening on the side.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I saw I think a NextFest vid that included the demo for this game a while ago and I thought it seemed quirky enough to be a laugh. The idea of being a minimum wage store clerk in a postapocalyptic zombie hellscape seemed really funny, and the idea that there were shooting mechanics attached to what really is more of like a nice breezy VN kind of thing got me intrigued, and it didn't hurt that it was cheap. Well, all my initial impressions held up, the game IS funny and the setting has the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A tower defence, visual novel & FMV style shooter mish-mash, for 5 I would take the bait.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Service With a Shotgun is a good time. Fully loaded with the shells of goofy characters it shoots its players with feel good bullets while not overstaying its welcome. If you like VA-11 HALL-A you may like this.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short and sweet, I enjoyed my time in SWAS. Each chapter had a different twist on the gameplay, and the story was pleasant and engaging.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This short little game is wonderful. There is a lot of charm to it all and it is decently touching as well as funny at certain times. Would recommend.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →finish ch 1 but i can say it worth it so far
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →100% worth the time, Shame about the length however for the price that certainly is not an issue, Would pay more for a lengthened version if that's what it takes, definitely would like to see where it could go!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →very unique, but fun game. the humor might be lost to some people but not enough to degrade the game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Writing is funny, has interesting game mechanics, weird genre switches as the game progresses. I had a great time!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Service with a Shotgun - Available Now on Steam store.steampowered.com/app/3777020/... #indiegame #steam #videogames #gaming
neutral · AI labelView post →AND WE’RE CLEAR!! That was SO MUCH FUN!! I can’t wait to play the next two chapters when they release!! I highly recommend the game to checkout - Service With A Shotgun! We raided @caitthemusician.bsky.social, who is LIVE RIGHT NOW!! go show her some love!!
positive · AI labelView post →Do you enioy blasting zombies with cool characters and a goofy fun guy trying to also manage a store? THEN PLEASE CHECKOUT MY BOYFRIEND'S FUNNY playthrough of Service with a Shotgun demo! It's a blast with such a fun concept! (It reminds me of the flash game The Last Stand) @jankss.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →jsut an overall cute game, worth every cent i put into this game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I just can’t bring myself to invest any more time into the game. Unfortunately, the gameplay loop in the first two chapters didn’t hook me at all: you play as an unnamed store employee during a zombie apocalypse, having to simultaneously shoot zombies (which are pestering the shop and trying to bite you= and serve customers. I probably should have read the game's description more carefully, as there is no management aspect to it. Instead, you engage in conversations with customers, which could…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you want a game for a few chill evenings this is perfect. Having to switch between the conversation and killing zombies feels nice, and each chapter brings its own little change to the gameplay loop. If you're afraid it's gonna be difficult to keep up, you can adjust the difficulty to have a very chill experience. Also it's honestly a steal for this price.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wonderful game with funny moments, tragic moments and just an all around good time
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This Visual Novel is HEAT!!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Probably the best blind purchase I've made on steam.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →if you like games that don't take themselves too serious i'd recommend it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A wild but fun story :) Thanks for the game! Also it helped me read faster so kudos
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →pretty fun game :) its got some funny characters and scenes, decently fun gameplay for its price. would recommend
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a great game. Short and sweet. Don't take things seriously and get in looking for a fun time, you'll find one.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game i love the art style and music so much the story is also really good, and I like how the gameplay switches up in the end of chapter 3 and the end of chapter 4, i think the game did it really well.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →fun game when you play on maximum difficulty. gets kinda boring otherwise
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Was a fantastic play! if your looking for a nicely packaged visual novel with a little action twist this is a fantastic game! Great for fans of VA-11 Hall-A!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →very good game, spoiler alert you can move around and use a shotgun in chapter 4
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My shotgun was serviced quite nicely. Zombie.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Breakdown: Graphics: 8.5/10 - Nice Pixel animation with some varied 3d mixed in. The design and atmosphere was fantastic from start to finish. Story: 8/10 - Pretty straight forward with a few choices that don't really change anything, but the story almost has a clerks in fallout vibe that makes you fall in love with all the characters. Gameplay: 8/10 - Visual novel, where you talk to npc's on front screen and then shoot zombies and build defenses by moving left or right while managing it…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have no idea of the who, what, when, where, or why, but I'd do it again.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is such a charming short game. I did not initially think I would get so invested in all the characters, especially with most of them all using absurdist humor for every punchline, but all the characters are written well. It really added to the whole game when all the characters had so much backstory and growth packed into such a short time frame. The banter really livened up everything all the way to the end. The shooting down zombies in between trying to serve customers and talk with…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →SERVICE WITH A SHOTGUN is a game with a neat premise (visual novel + wave shooter = delightful contrast) that gets a little too manic with experimenting with new mechanics instead of building off existing ones. For example: the game begins with the ability to purchase traps and blockers to coral the zombie horde into killzones; by the second chapter that gets abandoned. By the third chapter, it kinda returns by as a gacha and you have to hope you pull the blockers you need? And by the fourth,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A decent game, i love the first chapter, the vibe is nice, the dialogue feel natural, the game play is decent, maybe add chapter 4 skill tree in and let me buy gun of chapter 3 and i think it will be a pretty solid. The rest, not so much, It's not terrible, just not very interesting, i would like it more it the whole game is like the first chapter, more time to flesh out the character, to mess around with the build mode. Still, for the price this is a good game, worth the money .
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really liked the heart and humor service with a shotgun has, all the way to the very end i was in it for the story, love it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I finished a full run on Normal in roughly 2.5 hours, closer to 3–4 hours with some extra time, and completed the game 100%. In the end, it left me with a mixed feeling. The game is quite short, which would be fine on its own, but you barely get any time to really connect with the characters. On top of that, the gameplay switches very frequently across the 5 chapters, sometimes abruptly, which makes the overall experience feel a bit unfocused. You start with a bit of base building, which then…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Yo Big Shaq, the one and only Man's not hot, never hot Skrrat (GottiOnEm), skidi-kat-kat Boom [Verse 1] Two plus two is four Minus one, that's three, quick maths Every day, man's on the block Smoke trees (Ah) See your girl in the park That girl is a uckers When the ting went quack-quack-quack You man were ducking (You man ducked) Hold tight, Asznee (My brudda) He's got the pumpy (Big ting) Hold tight, my man (My guy) He's got the frisbee (Few) I trap, trap, trap on the phone…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →it was short experience and not really what i was expecting but it was well worth the price of admission 10/10 would serve again
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →At first glance, this game seems like a ****post. And it probably is, in part, given that it often doesn't take itself seriously, but it's also very well designed. "Service with a Shotgun" has all the important parts of a good game: interesting story, detailed setting, charming characters, good music, satisfying gameplay, etc. It's long enough to be fulfilling, but not so long that it feels like a waste of time. This is an incredible experience that is easily worth the money.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The idea sounded fun the overall gameplay lacked not the graphics just the flow of gameplay I may come back to this in the future but probably not
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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