Punishing: Gray Raven

Punishing: Gray Raven has players control a squad of up to three characters, known as "Constructs", against various enemies. Storytelling is presented in a visual novel format, while combat is hack and slash action-based, with the player fighting enemies in real-time in various stages. During combat, different colored "Pings" can be obtained, which will fire off different skills. Chaining 3 Pings with the same color will execute a powerful version of that skill. Players may also evade enemy attacks, which will trigger a bullet time effect called Matrix upon successful evasion, slowing down time and allowing the player to land additional hits to the enemy or take better position along with giving next used orb temporarily ability to activate 3-ping version.[3] Evading attacks will consume stamina, which prevents players from freely dodging all the time (visually stamina bar is dodge button's outline).

Constructs can be strengthened by leveling up and promoting them, as well as leveling weapons and equipping "memories" (which add pure stats to character, also majority of them have special effects upon equip 2, 4 and 6 pieces). Players can unlock additional Constructs by advancing the story, and more Constructs can be obtained via a gacha mechanic and in-game events. In-game currencies can be obtained through in-app purchases and playing the game, which are used to obtain Constructs and equipment through the gacha system. A pity system ensures that the player will receive rare items after a set number of pulls (60 or ~80-100, depends on banner type).

The game also features a housing system in the form of Dormitories. Players may decorate and move in Constructs to their dorms to improve their mood. Constructs can also be assigned chores to obtain in-game materials.[4]

The story of the game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by Corrupted cybernetic enemies caused by the Punishing Virus. The last remnants and survivors of mankind have escaped to the space station and stronghold Babylonia. The player takes on the role as the Commandant of an elite squad of Constructs known as Gray Raven. The player will lead the squad to fight against the Corrupted and other opposing forces to retake the planet.

Kuro Game was criticized over their poor handling of Punishing: Gray Raven during its initial launch in China, notably regarding false gacha rate advertisement, and "over-rewarding" new players then taking back the rewards.[5] Since then, the developers have been praised for their improved management of the game, regularly addressing player concerns such as game balance and improving their gacha system.[6]

The global release was also scrutinized soon after launch, when players noticed that they received fewer rewards compared to other regions. Criticizing comments were also deleted from Punishing: Gray Raven's official Discord community, leading to a review bomb from angered players. Kuro Game published a statement to address the controversy.[7]

Punishing: Gray Raven received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic.[8] Pocket Gamer praised Punishing: Gray Raven as "a highly engaging game with one of the best storylines I’ve ever encountered so far".[9] Screen Rant criticized the game's localization, but praised the combat system, comparing it with Honkai Impact 3rd for their similarities in gameplay.[10] GamerBraves commended the game's optimization and "punishing but addictive combat".[11] Multiplayer.it highlighted the long campaign and characters, but finds faults in the short missions and gacha elements.[12] Noisy Pixel lauded the game's writing and gameplay, considering it one of the few "high-quality gacha greats".[13]

As of July 2020, the game has surpassed 20 million downloads.[14]

• Action Taimanin
• Honkai Impact 3rd

• Official English website