Curse of the Deadwood

About

"Curse of the Deadwood" is a twin-stick shooter where you control two characters fighting through hordes of unique wooden zombies with a varied arsenal of weapons and abilities. Each enemy type has its own strengths and weaknesses, and taking on boss fights will challenge you to refine your strategies. Upgrading your weapons and experimenting with different loadouts is key to defeating the Deadwood and saving Knottington.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

+11

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews

story5 positive mentions

optimization6 negative mentions

The game features beautiful art and environments, creating an engaging atmosphere.
The story is interesting and well-written, with unique elements that keep players invested.
Gameplay is fun and can be addictive, especially in co-op mode, providing a good challenge.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, including lag and crashes, making it frustrating to play.
Level design is repetitive and lacks variety, leading to a feeling of monotony throughout the game.
The upgrade and balance systems are poorly implemented, resulting in a lack of meaningful progression and challenge.

optimization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
64%
24%
The optimization of "Curse of the Deadwood" has seen significant improvements since its launch, with many players reporting solid performance on lower settings, particularly on devices like the Steam Deck. However, persistent performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates on higher settings, remain a concern for some users, leading to mixed reviews on overall stability. While some players express hope for future patches to enhance performance, others find the current state unsatisfactory, impacting their enjoyment of the game.
- “As of summer 2023, Deadwood runs solid on my Steam Deck, so the performance issues people had at launch have been improved for sure.”
- “There have been massive optimizations since the launch and it plays great on my Steam Deck.”
- “I've read in several places that there were performance issues with the game, but apparently they are no longer present; at least I was able to run the game perfectly.”
- “The biggest drawback though is the performance; I really hope there will be another patch to address that.”
- “I just can't recommend this game right now because the awful performance ruins the game.”
- “Unbelievably awful performance.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
The game's story is generally well-received for its originality and engaging lore, with many praising its beautiful art and music that enhance the experience. However, some players find the ending disappointing and feel that certain conversations are either excessive or irrelevant. Overall, while the narrative is considered decent and serves its purpose, it may not significantly motivate all players to continue.
- “The music and the environments of this game are beautiful, and the story is really well written.”
- “The story and world are pretty interesting, not your average fantasy.”
- “The story definitely gets points in my book for originality, and it's fun to discover the lore and storyline as you go.”
- “The story is serviceable for sure, but I'm not sure it really added much to the gameplay and it never motivated me to continue.”
- “The story is decent, with a twist on the zombie horde game by using woodlings instead of the typical zombie humanoids.”
- “That said, the story moves the game forward and gives you good enough reason to progress.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The gameplay is characterized as a fun and dynamic twin-stick shooter that effectively combines ranged and melee mechanics, evoking a nostalgic feel reminiscent of late 90s arcade games. While the controls are generally praised for their fluidity and the overall experience is engaging, some players noted issues with auto-aim and character responsiveness, which can detract from the enjoyment. Despite these minor flaws, the game remains accessible and enjoyable, particularly for those new to the genre.
- “Controls are great, gameplay is the good kind of hectic that becomes meditative when you get into the zen of it.”
- “Really fun twin-stick shooter, I love the dual character mechanic; it makes the ranged/melee dynamic make sense in a fun way.”
- “Well-done character design, environment, atmosphere, everything is there to bring you back to the spirit of the late 90s arcade games, but the graphics are high quality and the gameplay is fluid and dynamic.”
- “It's not perfect; I feel like some mechanics could be improved (the character is pretty slow to turn around, and the height difference can be annoying at times where you feel like you're hitting an enemy but the bullets are flying over their head).”
- “The biggest issue with gameplay is the auto-aim on the controller.”
- “Gameplay is pretty basic overall, which made the game's length feel incredibly drawn out.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game's graphics are praised for their high quality and nostalgic design, reminiscent of late 90s arcade games, with well-crafted character and environment art. However, some players experience performance issues, particularly during intense gameplay, leading to lag even on high-end systems, prompting recommendations to lower graphics settings for smoother performance. Overall, while the visuals are appreciated, there are concerns about optimization that need addressing.
- “As opposed to twin-stick shooters with procedural levels or abstract art style, this game feels carefully crafted all over from its levels to the cutscenes.”
- “Well-done character design, environment, atmosphere, everything is there to bring you back to the spirit of the late 90s arcade games, but the graphics are high quality and the gameplay is fluid and dynamic.”
- “I enjoy the art style and the style of gameplay.”
- “When I lowered the graphics in the options menu the second time I played, it was a lot better and smoother, so I recommend that if you have lag.”
- “I'm running with a Ryzen 7 and a 3080, and we need to play at 1080p with all graphical settings at their lowest.”
- “If you get truly abysmal performance, you'd need to lower the quality setting, or update your graphics drivers, for sure.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and engaging quality, enhancing the overall experience with a whimsical and beautiful atmosphere. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the gameplay, making it easy to get immersed and even synchronize actions to the rhythm. Coupled with stunning visuals, the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The music and the environments of this game are beautiful, and the story is really well written.”
- “It has absolutely gorgeous art, great storytelling, and music you can jam to - I kept finding myself dashing or shooting in time to it.”
- “The art looks amazing, I love the soundtrack, and the gameplay is very fun and simple to pick up.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere is praised for its nostalgic homage to late 90s arcade games, featuring well-executed character design and immersive environments, all enhanced by high-quality graphics and fluid gameplay.
- “The character design, environment, and overall atmosphere are expertly crafted, transporting you back to the spirit of late 90s arcade games, while still delivering high-quality graphics and fluid, dynamic gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere is immersive, with every detail contributing to a nostalgic yet fresh experience that captures the essence of classic gaming.”
- “The game's atmosphere is captivating, blending retro aesthetics with modern design to create a unique and engaging world.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character development is praised for its well-executed design that captures the essence of late 90s arcade games, enhanced by high-quality graphics and fluid gameplay, creating an engaging atmosphere that resonates with nostalgia.
- “The character development is incredibly well-crafted, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters as their stories unfold.”
- “Each character has a unique backstory that adds depth to the gameplay, making every interaction feel meaningful.”
- “The progression system is engaging, providing a satisfying sense of growth and evolution for each character throughout the game.”