Cosmic Dust & Rust

About

Cosmic Dust & Rust is a single player casual strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by 16bit Nights and was released on May 16, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Cosmic Dust & Rust" is a 2D sci-fi shooter game with retro-style pixel graphics. Explore the cosmos, battle alien enemies, and upgrade your ship while navigating through challenging levels. The game features procedurally generated content, providing a unique experience for each playthrough.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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66%

Audience ScoreBased on 307 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

story6 negative mentions

Charming retro-arcade visuals that fit the gameplay well.
Engaging gameplay with a good progression system and satisfying upgrades.
Unique blend of manual shooting and tower defense mechanics that keeps the game fun and addictive.

The last level is notoriously difficult and may feel unbeatable, leading to frustration.
Performance issues, including noticeable FPS drops during intense action sequences.
Limited variety in enemies and upgrades, making the gameplay feel repetitive over time.

story
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
82%
12%
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many players finding it confusing and poorly presented through intrusive dialogue popups that detract from gameplay. While some appreciate the concept of playing as a space pirate on a treasure hunt, the execution is deemed lacking, with minimal character development and a weak narrative that fails to engage players. Overall, the story is seen as an afterthought, overshadowed by gameplay mechanics and frustrating mission design.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “And let's not forget the captivating storyline, where you play the role of a dust particle struggling to find its purpose in a world overrun by...more dust.”
- “There is also a plot, shown with you interacting with characters in the cut-scenes, so you are well-endowed with info about the missions and side quests.”
- “The story, characters, dialogue, etc. aren't worth paying attention to, but the simple game mechanics are 'ok'.”
- “There is virtually no story, and the little dialogue available is terrible.”
- “0 context on the story; it feels like jumping in the middle of a bad science fiction space thriller movie.”
gameplay
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
57%
23%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its solid mechanics and satisfying clicker elements, while others criticize it for being short, repetitive, and lacking depth. Many players noted issues such as poor tutorial guidance, a lack of encounter variety, and an overall feeling of incompleteness, leading to a mediocre experience. Despite its flaws, some found enjoyment in the simple mechanics and graphics, suggesting it may appeal to those looking for a casual gaming experience.
- “Satisfying clicker elements mixed with actual gameplay.”
- “Classic gameplay polished for modern gamers.”
- “The graphics and sounds are okay, the gameplay feels balanced, and the customization and battles are really well designed.”
- “Meh game overall, not much gameplay, very short overall and the last level is just annoying.”
- “A lack of encounter variety and gameplay balance drives players to a monotonous play style of simply spamming a single action to slowly gain currency in order to progress.”
- “It has no substance, the core mechanics are broken, and there appears to be no interest in fixing them.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
9%
The graphics of the game are predominantly described as charming and reminiscent of retro arcade and 16-bit styles, appealing to fans of pixel art. While many reviewers appreciate the visuals for their nostalgic quality, some note that they are simple and could benefit from improvements, particularly in terms of stability and detail. Overall, the graphics are generally considered decent, with a mix of positive and neutral feedback, though some players find them lacking in certain areas.
- “Charming graphics and sound.”
- “Pixel art is generally tasteful and representative of the 16-bit era, fulfilling the aesthetic of being equally pleasing to the eyes, as well as nostalgic to the memories.”
- “I'm a fan of retro pixel graphics, so I really enjoyed the look of this, too.”
- “From its inspiring graphics that could make a potato jealous to its innovative gameplay mechanics that resemble a slow-motion snail race ...”
- “The graphics settings are deficient.”
- “If it were a two dollar mobile game, you might be able to overlook the annoying sound effects, crummy visuals, terrible UI, and complete lack of tutorial.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding elements, particularly in farming resources and upgrading ships, which can lead to a tedious experience for players. While some find the grind addictive, many express frustration with the repetitive nature and limited content, suggesting that it detracts from overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a major focus, often making the game feel unfinished and overly tedious.
- “The primary focus of the game is grinding for different currencies to be spent on upgrades.”
- “There are only 6 levels and it's very grindy, so you have to play the same level many times in order to upgrade your ship.”
- “It could be something really fun, but instead it gets tedious after the first hour or so and then you realize 'this is it' and you sort of wonder why it isn't better.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it relaxing and enjoyable, while others criticize it for being repetitive and poorly looped, leading to an annoying experience. While a few users appreciate the soundtrack as "great," many express dissatisfaction with its quality and execution, describing it as "ugly" or "terrible." Overall, the music aspect seems to lack consistency, appealing to some but frustrating others.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The music is fine, and it can be fun for players that like spaceships, like me.”
- “+ great soundtrack”
- “The available ambient music comes in very abbreviated loops, which makes the short tunes very repetitive.”
- “Background music that doesn't loop properly (there's an annoying click and a break when it loops, and it loops every 10 seconds), annoying gameplay where you die and die and grind and have to collect money just to make it through the first level.”
- “- poor soundtrack and repetitive sounds”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is inconsistent, maintaining a solid 60 frames per second under normal conditions, but struggling significantly with performance when many elements are on screen, leading to severe slowdowns and visual glitches. Users report drastic frame rate drops, particularly when numerous ships are present, resulting in a frustrating experience.
- “The performance is solid, staying at a constant 60 frames per second, which cannot be altered.”
- “The game runs smoothly with excellent optimization, ensuring a seamless experience even during intense moments.”
- “Menus, buttons, text, and stuttering music flashing all over the place in an epileptic display.”
- “Poor performance - 100 ships in view = 5 fps.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game successfully establishes a captivating atmosphere, characterized by well-suited colors and environmental effects that enhance its space-themed setting.
- “The overall colors, environment, and effects presented in the background suited that of a space-themed atmosphere.”
- “Creates a nice atmosphere.”
- “The overall colors, environment, and effects presented in the background suited a space-themed atmosphere.”
- “The game fails to create a truly immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich atmosphere, the execution feels flat and uninspired.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game features a straightforward monetization model with no microtransactions, allowing players to progress solely through gameplay without the need for additional purchases.
- “No microtransactions, just play to win.”
- “The game is riddled with microtransactions that make it impossible to enjoy without spending money.”
- “I feel like I'm being forced to pay for basic features that should be included in the game.”
- “The monetization model is so aggressive that it ruins the overall experience.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and often absurd elements, making it both funny and challenging. Players find it addictive, with some even dubbing it "hilariously bad," which adds to its charm. Overall, the humor complements the solid shooting mechanics and strategic gameplay.
- “Quirky humor, solid shooting, good strategy.”
- “Funny, challenging, and addictive.”
- “This game wins my award for most hilariously bad.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from low replayability due to its short length, uninspired gameplay mechanics, and a lack of unlockable content or varied strategies, making it feel mediocre and limiting players' motivation to revisit it.
- “Too short, little replay value, and uninspired gameplay mechanics make this a mediocre game at best.”
- “There is little to no replay value in this game as it currently exists, as the final level requires a fairly specific item build in order to beat it.”
- “Not a lot of replay value either, as there is nothing else you need to unlock and no need to change your weapon layout.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Overall, users have mixed feelings about stability; while some report no glitches or software issues during gameplay, others mention potential bugs and balance problems that could affect the experience.
- “Nice game - gameplay-wise, I experienced no glitches or software issues.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any bugs or performance drops.”
- “Maybe it's buggy, maybe it's not balanced.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is minimal, lacking significant quests, story twists, and replayability, which may leave players wanting more depth and engagement with the characters.