Cloudpunk

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 7,505 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Cloudpunk Game Cover
From its striking visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, to its fantastic storytelling, Cloudpunk really is a one-of-a-kind Cyberpunk experience.
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In "Cloudpunk," become Rania, a new driver for the semi-legal company Cloudpunk in the vertical cybercity of Nivalis. Explore this vast metropolis, meet various characters, and make decisions that will impact the narrative in this story-driven exploration game. Uncover conspiracies and experience diverse lives in a single night.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,505 reviews
story2,322 positive mentions
grinding122 negative mentions
  • The graphics and atmosphere are stunning, creating an immersive cyberpunk world.
  • The story is engaging with interesting characters and well-written dialogue.
  • The voice acting is generally good, adding depth to the characters and their interactions.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive, primarily consisting of driving from point A to B and listening to dialogue.
  • Some dialogues are unskippable and can feel tedious, dragging on longer than necessary.
  • The main character can be unlikable and the writing sometimes feels heavy-handed with its social commentary.
  • story6,519 mentions

    The story of *Cloudpunk* is a captivating blend of cyberpunk themes and character-driven narratives, set in the atmospheric city of Nivalis. Players take on the role of Rania, a delivery driver whose interactions with various characters reveal deeper societal issues and personal stories, creating an engaging experience despite the game's repetitive fetch-quest mechanics. While the narrative is linear and some choices feel inconsequential, the well-written dialogue and immersive world-building keep players invested throughout the approximately 8-12 hour playtime.

    • “The story keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “Cloudpunk is a beautiful game that, given its voxel-style graphics, evokes the feeling of playing in some mastermind Minecraft builder's cyberpunk world, and being given a story and collectibles to give me a reason to explore the detail and beauty of this cyberpunk world.”
    • “The main character was likable, the secondary characters are compelling, and the choices you make do matter to the story.”
    • “Unlike Heaven's Vault, another game that put story before driving gameplay, the writing does not justify the time I wasted in Nivalis.”
    • “The story is not as big as one might expect, but it's still enough for you to play through it, and especially now with the DLC, it encourages you to make different decisions to see what comes next in the DLC, which was way better done than the original game.”
    • “The story is filled with twists and the lore is amazing.”
  • graphics1,980 mentions

    The graphics of Cloudpunk have received widespread acclaim for their stunning voxel art style, which effectively captures the vibrant, neon-drenched atmosphere of a cyberpunk city. While some players initially found the blocky aesthetic off-putting, many noted that it quickly grew on them, enhancing the immersive experience of exploring the richly detailed environment. Despite minor criticisms regarding character models and occasional graphical glitches, the overall visual presentation is celebrated for its charm and ability to evoke a strong sense of place, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The voxel art style complements a monolithic yet neon-drenched vertical dystopia.”
    • “Cloudpunk is a beautiful game that, given its voxel-style graphics, evokes the feeling of playing in some mastermind Minecraft builder's cyberpunk world, and being given a story and collectibles to give me a reason to explore the detail and beauty of this cyberpunk world.”
    • “The game’s art direction channels the cyberpunk aesthetic to perfection, blending retro-futurism with sleek, high-tech visuals.”
    • “The graphics are blocky and voxel-based, but you will love it if you like cyberpunk.”
    • “The voxel graphics might be a bit off-putting at first, but after a short while you won't notice any more as the game just has an incredible dystopian atmosphere and beautifully crafted environments.”
    • “The graphics often feel like a mobile game to be honest, but the story is so deep and well written, the city is so large and beautiful, the voice actors are so good that you get over and forget the graphics pretty easily.”
  • gameplay1,951 mentions

    The gameplay in Cloudpunk is primarily focused on driving a hovercar and completing fetch quests, which can become repetitive over time. While the driving mechanics are often described as simplistic and occasionally frustrating, the game's immersive atmosphere, engaging story, and character interactions help to compensate for its lack of depth in gameplay. Players seeking a rich narrative experience rather than complex mechanics may find enjoyment in the game's unique cyberpunk setting, but those looking for more dynamic gameplay may be disappointed.

    • “The driving mechanics are simple, but satisfying—gliding through the rain-slicked streets and weaving between neon-lit towers feels almost like a virtual joyride.”
    • “I love that the game stayed true to that and the gameplay revolved around deliveries while intertwining it with interesting plot points, instead of completely sidetracking you to be a hero.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly just chill flying through the city from point A to point B while listening to the exceptional voice acting play the story out before you.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very simple - driving is a little jank and the on-foot exploration feels pretty limited.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly boring and there's not enough variety in the landscape beside the shift in contrast.”
  • atmosphere1,619 mentions

    The atmosphere of *Cloudpunk* is widely praised for its immersive and captivating cyberpunk setting, reminiscent of classics like *Blade Runner*. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning visuals, atmospheric soundtrack, and detailed world-building, which create a rich, rainy, neon-lit environment that draws players in. While some critiques mention repetitive gameplay and lackluster dialogue, the overall consensus is that the game's atmosphere is its strongest asset, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

    • “Cloudpunk is a love letter to cyberpunk, drawing direct inspiration from Blade Runner in terms of both tone and atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere and world the game takes place in is absolutely beautiful.”
    • “The atmosphere is thick with melancholy, but also tinged with hope, much like the emotional core of Blade Runner.”
    • “The story and certain aspects of the design leave something to be desired, but the atmosphere makes the experience worthwhile if you like huge dystopian cities with lots of rain.”
    • “While the dialogues are terrible with no notion of pacing, buildup and often just common sense, what really carries this game is the world building and atmosphere.”
  • music1,456 mentions

    The music in *Cloudpunk* has been widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of a cyberpunk world reminiscent of *Blade Runner*. The synthwave soundtrack enhances the game's visuals and narrative, creating a relaxing backdrop for exploration, although some players noted that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and player experience.

    • “The soundtrack of Cloudpunk is a key part of the game’s Blade Runner-like atmosphere.”
    • “The music ebbs and flows with the mood of the story, ramping up during intense moments and mellowing out during the quieter, more contemplative sections of the game.”
    • “The music is fantastic as well, perfectly suited to the visual style, creating an immersive experience that stays with you long after you've put the game down.”
    • “The music is mostly treated as background ambiance, and while it changes in some settings (e.g. the nightclub) it otherwise just sits there in the background.”
    • “The music could batter, and I honestly just wished for a radio function in the game.”
    • “The music is background filler and never stands out.”
  • humor240 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark, sarcastic wit with moments of genuine tenderness and absurdity. Players appreciate the quirky characters and hilarious dialogue, often finding themselves laughing out loud at the offbeat interactions and side quests. While some humor may not resonate with everyone, the overall comedic tone effectively lightens the game's more serious themes, making for an engaging and entertaining experience.

    • “The story is more lighthearted (although wry) than I expected, and often made me laugh out loud.”
    • “The humor is sarcastic and sassy, Camus is the best boy, the storyline and side quests are all worth it.”
    • “The city is full of amazing and hilarious characters.”
    • “It is a shame that some of its gameplay mechanics are not funny or coherent.”
    • “One of the worst I've seen so far: it was a character trope of some kind of crazy screaming doomsday religious guy outside, and there was some quick unfunny and uninteresting back and forth between this guy and Rania that doesn't go anywhere, and then you walk away and the take-away dialog between Rania and Camus is basically 'most religions don't care about women and minorities.' What?”
    • “Unfunny comic relief talking dog character.”
  • emotional206 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a significant highlight, with many players expressing deep connections to the characters and story, often leading to unexpected tears during pivotal moments. While some found the voice acting lacking in emotional range, the narrative's heartfelt themes and touching resolutions resonated strongly, creating a mix of melancholy and hope reminiscent of classic cyberpunk tales. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke genuine emotional responses, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate story-driven gameplay.

    • “The atmosphere is thick with melancholy, but also tinged with hope, much like the emotional core of Blade Runner.”
    • “Fantastic little game with a great art style and a really interesting and heartfelt story that went emotional places I really wasn't expecting.”
    • “The story is genuine and touching.”
    • “Neverending and boring story dialogues you can't skip, with 4/10 voice acting.”
    • “Nice looks but a maddeningly boring story.”
    • “Boring story, many hateable characters, no exploration (everything is marked on your map), and no choices that are actually hard to make (except maybe the last one).”
  • grinding132 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and monotonous, with many players noting that the gameplay primarily consists of repetitive fetch quests and item collection that can feel like unnecessary padding. While some appreciate the atmosphere and story, the overall experience is often marred by long walking segments and a lack of engaging mechanics, leading to a sense of frustration for those who prefer more dynamic gameplay. Casual players may find it manageable, but others warn that the grind can become overwhelming, especially when pursuing achievements or full exploration.

    • “The world is rich, the story lines are thought provoking, the music isn't tedious or constant.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “A bit grindy.”
    • “Getting loot is tedious and every quest is a variation of a fetch quest.”
    • “The gameplay becomes very tedious and monotonous after only a few hours.”
    • “You fly from parking space to parking space then spend a lot of time on foot to collect various junk (which you sell to earn money which doesn't have any real purpose) or punch cards (for a quest that seems interesting but is way too tedious to finish).”
  • optimization122 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including stuttering and high GPU usage, particularly on lower-end systems and the Steam Deck. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on higher-end hardware, others criticized it for being poorly optimized, especially given its voxel-based graphics. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has potential, it requires further optimization to enhance the gameplay experience across various platforms.

    • “It's beautiful, well optimized and the driving is good.”
    • “Compared to other similar games, Cloudpunk is incredibly well-optimized for a portable experience.”
    • “The game is also incredibly well optimized.”
    • “The performance is garbage; Unity has its limits and it shows: 30 fps with frequent drops on minimum graphics, on an i3-9100f + GeForce 1030.”
    • “The game is horribly optimized with an RTX 3090 and i9 10900k barely keeping the game above 80 fps in some areas of Nivalis.”
    • “Framerate issues are ridiculous; the game really needs to be optimized.”
  • replayability62 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting a lack of significant branching paths or impactful choices that would encourage multiple playthroughs. While some appreciate the immersive experience and potential for minor variations in outcomes, the consensus leans towards limited replay value, often citing a straightforward story and minimal content beyond the main narrative. Overall, while there are elements that could enhance replayability, many players feel the game does not offer enough incentive for repeated play.

    • “This game has a beautiful story, a beautiful world, beautiful music, simple and fun gameplay that all makes the game easily replayable.”
    • “You also have chances to make your own decisions during your travels, giving it replay value.”
    • “In sum, I recommend the game for the story, driving, and interesting world that the Cloudpunk team has created, giving you a nice 8-10 hour experience at base with some replayability in future playthroughs to see different story beats and go for 100% completion.”
    • “There are no branching paths or multiple endings, but that doesn't detract from the replay value.”
    • “Games lacks replay value and you never quite get the big climax you were waiting for.”
    • “The side quests seemed interesting but not enough to complete them after finishing the main story, giving it no replay value at all.”
  • character development49 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and emotional resonance, particularly in relation to the protagonist's journey and the engaging interactions with unique characters. However, many players criticize the character design and the execution of dialogue, noting that it can be overly lengthy and detracts from the overall experience. While some find the character arcs compelling and well-integrated into the narrative, others feel that the development is lacking or inconsistent, leading to a somewhat polarizing reception.

    • “The way this game carries a narrative and sticks to the story along with the character development makes it one of the very few that I really like now; unlike the other futuristic one with RTX, this game delivers.”
    • “Worldbuilding and character development were really excellent, and towards the end of the game, you feel like your decisions start to add up and make the game conclude beautifully.”
    • “Character development is rich and surprisingly in-depth; there are points that tug at the feels, and this was unexpected but welcome.”
    • “Next time I'd like more dialogue choices and some better character development.”
    • “Plagued with unskippable dialogue sequences for ham-fisted character development, side quests especially the awful punch card one have little reward and are anticlimactic as the ending was.”
    • “I didn't like the first half of the story, as character development is weak, especially for the protagonist.”
  • monetization46 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is intricately woven into its immersive world, featuring a plethora of vibrant, neon advertisements that enhance the cyberpunk atmosphere. While some players find the in-game ads misleading and disconnected from actual gameplay, they contribute to a rich, believable environment filled with corporate messages and dystopian themes. Overall, the game's focus on storytelling and exploration seems to overshadow any concerns about monetization, creating a captivating experience rather than a mere cash grab.

    • “An actual game, not just a skin on top of monetization.”
    • “To anyone in doubt - this one is not about the monetization of hype over CP2077, just install it already.”
    • “The advertising is very misleading because none of it happens in the game.”
    • “An actual game, not a skin on top of a monetization.”
    • “To anyone in doubt - this one is not about monetization of hype over CP2077, just install it already.”
  • stability39 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed, with many players reporting smooth performance on platforms like the Steam Deck and Linux, while others encountered occasional freezes, graphical glitches, and minor bugs. Some users experienced no significant issues, highlighting a generally solid experience, but others noted frustrating moments, particularly with the camera and NPC behavior. While the game is not considered "indie-early-access buggy," it does have areas that could benefit from further polish.

    • “It runs great on the Steam Deck at max settings and I still get a good 4-5 hours of battery at 30 fps.”
    • “The game has been developed with a lot of care and is solid, no glitches that I have found so far.”
    • “Other than that, it plays well, I experienced no glitches or flaws and found it to be quite immersive.”
    • “The game sometimes randomly freezes and I am unable to control it anymore, but I can hear; though all it takes is closing the game and re-opening it.”
    • “Additionally, I experienced various graphical glitches that took away from my enjoyment slightly, such as NPCs blocking views with grey dividers and such.”
    • “The camera is a bit buggy at times and actually made me motion sick once or twice with its wild swinging - which is something that never happens to me in video games.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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Critic Reviews

66% average critic score

Buy Cloudpunk

Play time

10hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
5-13hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 64 analyzed playthroughs

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