FragPunk Review – Unique Shooter Experience, But Is It Worth the Grind?
FragPunk is a fast-paced team shooter with unique Shard Cards, fun gameplay, but a messy reward system and too many currencies.
These days, new games show so many trailers and updates that it’s hard to be surprised anymore — especially if you’ve played a lot of multiplayer shooting games like me. Most of the time, it feels like you’ve seen it all. That’s why, when I first heard about FragPunk, I thought it would be just another Valorant-style game with a card system added in. I didn’t expect much.
But after playing it, FragPunk surprised me. It felt fresh, fun, and different from what I thought.
Of course, not everything is perfect. The game has too many different currencies, and it gets confusing when you’re just trying to level up or unlock new skins. Sometimes it takes away the fun of getting rewards. But if you ignore that part, the game is really enjoyable.
FragPunk mixes ideas from other games but still feels like its own thing. It reminds me of Overwatch because you get to pick from different characters, called Lancers, each with their own special abilities. Some are simple, like Hollowpoint, a sniper who helps spot enemies. Others are wild, like Axon, who shoots lightning from his guitar — which is super fun.
The main game mode is called Shard Clash. Two teams of five players play against each other. One team tries to plant something called a Converter (like a bomb), and the other team tries to stop them — or you can just wipe out the other team. It’s a classic mode, but FragPunk makes it more exciting by letting abilities change the fight.
For example, Broker has a rocket launcher that can destroy enemies fast. Timing it right feels great. And characters like Nitro can block attacks with a shield and fight back with a drone. Using powers well can change the whole match.
The guns are simple — shotguns, SMGs, rifles — and there are only a couple of choices in each type. But that’s okay because the shooting feels smooth. The game is fast, so you have to be smart about where you move and when you shoot. Good positioning matters a lot.
There are also lots of skins, emotes, and stickers — like in Fortnite. You can unlock them or buy them if you want to customize your look.
FragPunk really surprised me. It’s fun, fast, and has creative characters and powers. I wish there were more weapons and a better reward system but the gameplay is exciting. If you like team shooters with a twist, FragPunk is worth trying.
The Shard Card System Steals the Spotlight
The ease of shooting while moving is one aspect of FragPunk that appeals to me. To aim correctly in games like Valorant, you must pause. However, you can run and shoot simultaneously in FragPunk without sacrificing accuracy. I kept losing at initially because I was playing too slowly. My teammate then advised me to play like Call of Duty which involves constantly moving and shooting. I started getting more kills after that and I found the game much more enjoyable. This quick style is ideal for FragPunk.
The best part of the game is the Shard Card System. Before each round, three random cards appear, and players vote for the one they want to use by spending Shard Points. You earn these points by getting kills or picking them up during the match. Some cards give simple effects, like making you run faster. Others are funny or powerful, like turning the whole round into a melee fight or making the enemy team’s heads huge so they’re easier to hit. There’s even a card called Egg King that makes players lay eggs after crouching. You can eat the eggs to heal — it’s really funny and unique.
I also enjoy collecting new Shard Cards. You start with only a few but unlock more as you play. There are 169 cards in total. What’s cool is that the cards that show up in a match depend on what your team has unlocked. So, collecting cards keeps the game fresh and exciting. You can also check your collection easily, read what each card does, and watch a short video to see it in action.
The main game mode is called Shard Clash. The goal is to plant a Converter while the other team tries to stop you. But most of the time, matches end because one team kills the other before anyone plants anything. Rounds might go by in a matter of minutes at times. There isn’t as much time for strategy as in Valorant as a result. Because the combat end so quickly, some characters who are defensive feel less helpful. For instance, I attempted to use Nitro and his turrets, but the most of the action took place elsewhere.
I hope the developers improve the balance and make objectives more important. Still, FragPunk is a lot of fun, and the Shard Card system makes every match feel different and full of surprises.
Cosmetics are too complicated and not very exciting.
A match ends when one team wins 4 rounds. But if both teams get 3 wins, a special mode called Duels starts. Players fight 1v1 in a small arena. The winner stays and faces the next player until one team is gone. Health and abilities don’t reset, so it’s hard for one player to win it all. It’s super fun and exciting to watch or play.
Ranked mode unlocks at level 30, which can take around 10 hours. That’s a bit too long. In Ranked, you need 6 wins instead of 4. The random Shard Cards feel unfair sometimes, but once you reach Diamond rank, you can pick or ban cards, which helps.
Other game modes are okay. Deathmatch is good for practice. Duel Master is like a smaller version of Duels. Outbreak is like Infection mode — some players become zombies and try to infect others. But these matches are too long and not that fun.
The game is free-to-play but pushes you to spend money on skins and cosmetics. There are too many currencies — Gold, Glunite, FragPunk Coins, Battle Pass Tokens, Ranking Coins, Membership Picks, and Club Supplies. It’s confusing and not worth it because most rewards aren’t great.
Unlocking new characters (Lancers) is really slow — it took me 10 hours to unlock one. Or, you can just pay $10. The Battle Pass is also weak. Free rewards are boring, and even the paid rewards are not exciting. There’s also an Ultimate Pass for $25, but it barely gives anything extra.
System feels messy and expensive.
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Pros and Cons of FragPunk
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| 🎯 Fun and fast gameplay | 💰 Too many currencies, very confusing |
| 🃏 Shard Cards make every round feel different | 🐢 Unlocking new characters takes too long |
| 🕹️ Easy to move and shoot | 🎨 Rewards and skins are not exciting |
| 💪 Cool characters with fun abilities | 🎟️ Battle Pass is weak and not worth it |
| ⚔️ Duels mode is fun and exciting | 💵 Game pushes you to spend money |
| 🔫 Smooth shooting and simple guns | 😴 Some modes feel boring and too long |
| 📜 Collecting Shard Cards keeps it fresh | 🎲 Random Shard Cards can feel unfair in Ranked |
| 🆓 Free to play | 🛡️ Defensive characters feel less useful |
| 🤝 Good for players who like team shooters | 🎯 Most matches end with kills, not objectives |
Conclusion
FragPunk feels really fun during matches. The crazy Shard Cards make each round feel different, and the game stays exciting. But the rewards and currency system are messy, and most unlockable items aren’t that great. It’s still exciting, especially in the final Duel. But once the thrill wears off, there’s not much reason to keep playing unless they improve the rewards and how you earn them.
