Skip to main content

Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer

Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer Game Cover
82%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, grinding
82% User Score Based on 694 reviews

Platforms

PCSteam DeckWindows
Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer Game Cover

About

Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Runner Duck and was released on April 28, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Build and customize a powerful battle wagon with weapons, armor, and support systems to conquer deadly enemies in intense, multitasking combat. Command and upgrade your crew into elite warriors, managing repairs, healing, and combat roles while navigating hazardous environments and giant sandworms. Experience strategic vehicle combat with deep customization and crew management.

Skip User Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 694 reviews
story24 positive mentions
optimization14 negative mentions

  • The game features extensive vehicle customization, allowing players to build their own unique battle wagons with various weapons and upgrades.
  • The gameplay combines elements of strategy and action, providing a fun and engaging experience as players manage their crew and navigate the wasteland.
  • The soundtrack and sound design enhance the overall atmosphere, with music that fits the game's theme and adds to the excitement during missions.
  • The driving mechanics are clunky and can lead to frustrating moments, as the AI driver often makes poor decisions, such as crashing into walls or failing to navigate effectively.
  • The game can feel repetitive over time, with missions lacking variety and becoming a grind as players progress.
  • There are performance issues, including frame rate drops and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • story
    231 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game is generally considered average, with many reviewers noting it lacks depth and memorability, often relying on familiar post-apocalyptic tropes. While the main plot involves stopping a charismatic antagonist, the narrative is often overshadowed by repetitive mission structures and gameplay mechanics. Despite its shortcomings, some players appreciate the freedom to approach missions in various ways and the engaging gameplay loop, even if the story itself doesn't captivate.

    • “The main plot revolves around stopping the Orator, a charismatic preacher trying to control all the wasteland factions to usher in a new empire.”
    • “The story has me engaged, the open world never seems empty or stale; and I've customized my crew so much, it's all just so engaging to say the least.”
    • “If you’re a fan of action-packed strategy, immersive storytelling, or just want a game that knows how to keep you hooked, Badlands Crew is an absolute must-play.”
    • “The story is fluff.”
    • “The 'story' is also extremely bland and the game gets boring after the first 3 missions, just like previous Runner Duck titles.”
    • “It’s an average story that serves its purpose well, but it’s never captivating for its lore, implications, or memorable moments.”
  • gameplay
    149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this title is characterized by a mix of engaging vehicle customization, real-time strategy, and intense combat, drawing comparisons to previous entries in the series while introducing new mechanics. While many players appreciate the fun gameplay loop and the depth of customization, some criticize the repetitiveness of missions and the clunky driving mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game offers a satisfying blend of action and strategy, appealing to fans of vehicle combat and crew management.

    • “Gameplay unfolds in real-time with a mix of strategic planning and reactionary micromanagement.”
    • “Fantastic gameplay that feels challenging, but not unfair.”
    • “The gameplay has been fun so far, and the game has run pretty stable for me, with no bugs found from my playthrough.”
    • “Don't get this game, there are no updates, and gameplay is repetitive.”
    • “The driving mechanic can be extremely finicky; the driver seems to have a tendency to crash towards objects you swerve to avoid... or take your vehicle off a cliff.”
    • “Just play Bomber Crew; there is no gameplay whatsoever here.”
  • music
    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its energetic rock tracks and the unique detail of the war drummer syncing their performance to the in-game music. The soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, particularly during combat, and the live music in the citadel adds a pleasant atmosphere. However, some players noted a desire for more variety in the tracks, especially during missions, as the existing music can become repetitive.

    • “The soundtrack is an absolute 10/10; if I could, I'd score it higher. It's cool looking at the war drums and listening to the best Mad Max-themed rock music ever.”
    • “The combat is fun and the music is a masterpiece; I couldn't even get the song out of my head because I loved it that much.”
    • “The tracks have a lot of guitar in them, and a little detail that I really like is your war-drummer plays the drums in sync with the soundtrack. The soundtrack when you're at your base is really good and is just a pleasant time to listen to.”
    • “The soundtrack during the missions is definitely not.”
    • “Needs better music, very annoying repetitive music.”
    • “Only gripe is that the music leaves a lot to be desired and I encourage you to rush the main story until you get to the second stronghold.”
  • optimization
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, particularly in the mid to late game, including low frame rates and stuttering. While some users on high-end systems experience smoother gameplay, those on mid-tier or lower-end machines often struggle with performance drops, especially during complex scenarios. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game is poorly optimized and may require substantial patches to improve its performance before it is worth purchasing.

    • “On high-end systems, the game generally runs smoothly, but mid-tier or lower-end machines may experience stuttering, especially during large-scale battles or in visually complex environments.”
    • “With some quality of life and performance improvements (better build mode and less lag, especially in 2x speed mode), I would give it a 9/10.”
    • “This game is fantastic; the first patch fixed my performance issue, and I'm loving it so far.”
    • “The performance is awful.”
    • “My biggest gripe with the game is the performance, which is becoming absolutely abysmal. I didn't really notice it early on, but about halfway through my save, I now usually get around 30-40 fps, which often includes fps stutters as well.”
    • “Unfortunately, it's very poorly optimized, and you get a max of 25 fps with no way to adjust it. The mission where two factions fight each other for a convoy absolutely killed my frames.”
  • graphics
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the simplistic art style that captures the atmosphere well, while others criticize performance issues, low frame rates, and a lack of graphical options. Many users noted that the visuals, though charming in a "cute" or "Minecraft-esque" way, could benefit from more detail and customization features. Overall, while the aesthetic aligns with the game's themes, significant performance and graphical settings issues detract from the experience for many players.

    • “The art style remains consistent with the previous two installments, featuring cute characters that emit adorable buzzing sounds when speaking—and even when defeated.”
    • “The attention to detail is great, the overall atmosphere and art style is fantastic. The animations of the band back at your stronghold actually make sense for their instruments and what they are currently playing, unlike literally any other game out there.”
    • “I am personally a big fan of the runner duck art style, and they certainly nailed it with this aesthetic.”
    • “I do wish that the graphics were a little better and that you could get wider trailers instead of just longer.”
    • “There are no graphics options in this game beyond which monitor to use, what window mode to use, vsync, and which resolution the game is at.”
    • “While running this game on my Alienware tower, stutters and crashes were fairly frequent and at one point killed my graphics card, forcing me to restart my PC.”
  • grinding
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while the resource gathering and progression can feel tedious and slow, the overall gameplay loop remains enjoyable. Some players appreciate the depth of vehicle customization and the sense of progression, but find the grinding necessary for upgrades to be frustrating and time-consuming. Overall, while the game offers fun mechanics and engaging combat, the grinding can detract from the experience, especially in the mid-game.

    • “The campaign runs longer than the last two games, though there is a lot of grinding required to get the parts and blueprints you need, which also makes it a bloated experience.”
    • “My only real complaint is how slow and grindy the missions tend to be, and how problematic it can be to navigate the map sometimes, where routes that appear clear on the map end up being sheer drops or blocked by debris and random stones.”
    • “The vehicle-building is so tedious and difficult to use that it made every new blueprint that I unlocked feel less like an exciting upgrade to my truck and more of a pain that I'm going to have to mess around with for 15 minutes just to figure out how to get it to fit onto my battle wagon the way I want it to.”
  • stability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability has received mixed feedback, with players noting various glitches, particularly with camera controls and driving mechanics, as well as occasional stutters and crashes. While some users find these issues frustrating, they still describe the game as enjoyable and a significant improvement over its predecessors. Patches have been released to address some bugs, but players are hopeful for further updates to enhance stability.

    • “The camera often glitches when using gunner aiming skills in a vehicle with watchtowers.”
    • “It's a good game but the driving is just odd and buggy as hell.”
    • “The controller support is an afterthought - buggy, unintuitive, sometimes interrupts gameplay.”
  • humor
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it plucky, funny, and filled with quirky elements like amusing bugs and whimsical character designs, such as the humorous inclusion of various helmets. Many reviewers enjoyed the comedic twists in the storyline and character interactions, particularly the unexpected reveal of a stereotypical villain. Overall, the game's lighthearted tone and unique comedic style contribute significantly to its charm and appeal.

    • “The game is plucky, funny, fun, and different.”
    • “There is a funny bug where the trader will offer you more of a resource if you give him less of that same resource.”
    • “When I first started playing and saw that both the mechanic and the leader of the settlement were women, I joked, 'I bet the villain is some bald white guy.' I burst out laughing when he did in fact appear and was a bald white guy.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with some players praising its gritty world-building, attention to detail, and immersive sound design, while others find it lacking in depth and story. The stylized graphics and calming music contribute to a compelling experience, though opinions vary on its overall effectiveness. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both engaging and, at times, insufficient.

    • “It’s a game of tactical decision-making, on-the-fly problem solving, and long-term resource planning, all wrapped in a highly stylized, atmospheric presentation.”
    • “The citadel music exudes a calm atmosphere, fitting for crews to come back to after a hard mission in the wastelands.”
    • “From the very start, the game pulls you in with its gritty atmosphere, compelling world-building, and tight, responsive mechanics.”
    • “Atmosphere and story are quite low.”
    • “Overall, the atmosphere was very lacking.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, opinions on replayability are mixed; while some players find significant replay value due to the game's evolving content and options, others feel it lacks depth compared to similar titles. Despite this, many agree that the game's price and playtime offer good value, even if the replayability itself is limited.

    • “Definite replayability.”
    • “First of all, I've seen some people say this game isn't for them since it deviates from other Runner Duck games, but I believe this game has the biggest replay value of them all.”
    • “Definitely not as good as Bomber Crew, which has so much more replayability.”
    • “Replay value is close to zero in my opinion, but for the price and the hours played, I cannot praise it more.”
    • “In any case, you get a lot more options for your truck as the game progresses, which I think will lend some replay value, and the devs have been very quick to fix a lot of the initial bugs.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in Badlands is minimal, which aligns with the game's focus on gameplay rather than narrative depth, and this approach is generally accepted by players.

    • “The Badlands crew isn’t big on story or character development, which feels lacking for a game that could benefit from deeper narratives.”
    • “Character development is minimal, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters and their journeys.”
    • “There’s a noticeable absence of meaningful character arcs, making it hard to invest in the story or the characters themselves.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express that "Bomber Crew" evokes strong emotions, particularly through moments of loss and unexpected challenges, as illustrated by the frustration of losing nearly an entire crew due to unforeseen game mechanics. This emotional engagement highlights the game's ability to create impactful experiences, even amidst frustration.

    • “At least Bomber Crew made me feel something.”
    • “I ended up losing nearly my entire crew because it suddenly swerved right off a cliff without me touching anything.”
Skip Game Offers

Buy Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer

8h Median play time
26h Average play time
6-60h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer

Games Like Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer

Phantom Brigade Image
Space Crew Image
Convoy Image
Phoenix Point Image
Abandon Ship Image
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer is a simulation game.

Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 26 hours playing Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer.

Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer was released on April 28, 2025.

Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer was developed by Runner Duck.

Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Badlands Crew - Drive, Command, Conquer is a single player game.

Similar games include Phantom Brigade, Space Crew, Convoy, Phoenix Point, Abandon Ship and others.