Dark Future: Blood Red States

About

Dark Future: Blood Red States is a single player tactical role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Auroch Digital and was released on May 16, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In the year 2025, America is plagued by pollution, climate change, and gang warfare in a lawless society. Dark Future: Blood Red States is a strategy game that captures the excitement of car combat, providing a thrilling and addictive experience, perfect for both quick play sessions and extended gaming periods. With its unique blend of racing and tactical combat, this game offers a fresh take on the post-apocalyptic genre, appealing to fans of Mad Max and vehicular mayhem.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Dark Future: Blood Red States screenshot

+10

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61%

Audience ScoreBased on 409 reviews

gameplay34 positive mentions

story28 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of tactical car combat and real-time strategy, allowing players to slow down time to plan their moves.
The visuals and atmosphere capture the essence of a post-apocalyptic world, with satisfying explosions and vehicle destruction.
The humor and writing in the game add a fun layer to the experience, making it engaging beyond just the gameplay.

The game frequently crashes, especially after completing missions, leading to lost progress and frustration.
Mission variety is limited, with many missions feeling repetitive and lacking depth, which can lead to a grindy experience.
Controls can be clunky and unintuitive, particularly when managing multiple vehicles, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.

story
356 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
84%
8%
The game's story is delivered primarily through emails and character backstories, providing a light narrative backdrop to the vehicular combat gameplay. While the setting and lore are engaging, many players find the mission structure repetitive, with limited variety in objectives and a lack of deeper storytelling elements. Additionally, frequent crashes, particularly after mission completions, detract from the overall experience, often forcing players to replay missions and undermining the narrative progression.
- “I enjoyed the sense of humor (especially on the loading screens) and the storyline they placed within the different character arcs.”
- “If you pay attention to the developing story, it gets a lot more interesting; take the time to read everything.”
- “The world building is nice but it's all delivered through random emails; there's only 10 characters and like 5 mission types, and that's it.”
- “The story, what little there is, is told through short emails your character receives between missions.”
- “The only other element that could have added some content was the story; unfortunately, it's not engaging and isn't even connected to the combat sections.”
gameplay
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a unique blend of turn-based and real-time mechanics within a vehicular combat framework. While some players appreciate the strategic elements and the fun, chaotic nature of car combat, many criticize the repetitive gameplay loop, lack of variety in missions, and a poorly executed tutorial that hampers engagement. Overall, the core mechanics show potential but often lead to a dull experience over time, with frequent crashes further detracting from enjoyment.
- “The gameplay is fun and pretty satisfying with decent controls and great effects that are nice to look at.”
- “Gameplay wise, I'd say it's a combination of reload-time tactics of games like FTL and chaotic crashes of Mad Max. Car placement is key to winning, and needing to maneuver around a battlefield of moving and exploding cars is fast-paced and exciting.”
- “Game is a blast to play, great gameplay, buy it, play it, have fun.”
- “I didn't have fun at all; the tutorial is just bad, too much text that I don't understand why I should read when you could just engage me in the gameplay via button prompts, thus teaching me the basics step by step.”
- “The turn-based aspect doesn't add anything to the gameplay, and if anything just slows it down to a crawl.”
- “Sadly, gameplay like this can't carry a game for too long.”
graphics
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the retro aesthetic and satisfying visual effects, while others criticize the overall quality as mediocre and reminiscent of older technology. Many users report that the game is GPU-intensive despite its average visuals, leading to performance issues even on lower settings. Overall, while the graphics have their appealing moments, they lack depth and variety, leaving some players disappointed.
- “The graphics are fantastic, look amazing, and it's so satisfying when you blow up vehicles either by ramming or using one of the many weapon types throughout the game.”
- “The aesthetics are just extraordinary, as are the game mechanics.”
- “Graphics are nice - satisfying explosions, good dust storms, nice landscapes, etc., and there are lots of atmospheric touches (like the retro style loading screen and menu design).”
- “I saw some people in reviews claim that this title managed to overload some 3080, and I can confirm that a 1660 barely handles it on maxed out graphics.”
- “I could audibly hear that my computer was working to play it, and even on the lowest graphics settings, the FPS just could not keep up.”
- “Considering its low graphic quality, I would expect it to run like a dream.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the 80s synthwave soundtrack for its fitting atmosphere and enjoyable beats, while others criticize its lack of variety and presence, describing it as nearly nonexistent or repetitive. While the overall aesthetic and mood are appreciated, many feel that the soundtrack could benefit from more content and diversity to enhance the gaming experience.
- “The overall writing, mood, graphics, and music for this game were fantastic.”
- “The music and aesthetics give off that awesome retrowave mixed with awesome post-apocalyptic 80's sci-fi action.”
- “The futuristic, 1980s vibe is awesome - the car designs are fun, and the soundtrack has that eerie, 80s synth, apocalyptic suspense feel to it.”
- “Also worth pointing out, the soundtrack is nearly nonexistent.”
- “All it does is annoy me though, and I find it jarring with the music going from quiet to loud over and over.”
- “The music is okay, just like one or two tracks.”
optimization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
52%
32%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting frequent stuttering, performance drops, and crashes to desktop, particularly after several hours of gameplay. Many players feel that despite the game's visual appeal, it is poorly optimized and demands more hardware resources than necessary, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the consensus indicates that substantial improvements are needed to enhance performance and stability.
- “I was shocked how I was inputting so many commands one after another and then switching back to real-time mode with no performance issues or miscues or game crashes.”
- “It also feels like some engine optimization could still be done to streamline play.”
- “I'm hoping there's some optimization that will make that better.”
- “However, the game is poorly optimized, overpriced for the content it offers (I got it on sale) and most importantly, it crashes to desktop quite often during the course of a mission.”
- “That's all good, but after about 5 hours the game constantly gets performance drops, even though it was running fine the first few sessions, and after about 6-7 hours it starts just crashing after most missions.”
- “Visually, the game looks alright for a title like this, but performance seems to be really subpar. I know my rig is begging for an upgrade, but this has no right to drop to 45fps and below while not even being maxed out.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is a significant drawback, with many players finding missions tedious, repetitive, and frustrating. While some enjoy the core gameplay and story elements, the excessive grind and lack of varied content lead to a diminished experience, making it hard to recommend for those not fond of grind-heavy games. Overall, the game struggles to maintain engagement beyond a few hours due to its reliance on monotonous missions.
- “I really tried to give this game a fair shot, but it was simply too frustrating, annoying, and tedious to keep playing.”
- “It's disappointing, because the core gameplay is fun for an hour or two, but the game becomes so repetitive and grindy that it's difficult to recommend, unless you specifically enjoy these types of games.”
- “It's quite sad, because the devs artificially expanded the gameplay with endless grindy missions that all play out almost exactly the same way.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by a mix of minor issues and significant bugs, including random crashes, AI glitches, and physics problems that can disrupt gameplay. While these glitches can be frustrating and immersion-breaking, many players find the overall experience enjoyable enough to overlook the instability. However, the frequent crashes and bugs suggest that the game could benefit from further refinement and a more reliable save system.
- “Random crashes, random AI glitches, random input drops.”
- “Everything feels cheap and buggy - frankly I don't think I can play it for anything more than an hour to write an in-depth review.”
- “The game is buggy and some missions you'll just fail because the AI will simply not leave where they spawn.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players appreciating its cleverness and variety, particularly in the form of entertaining emails and loading screens. While the gameplay is challenging, it is often infused with hilarious moments and dark humor that enhance the overall experience. The combination of witty lore and character-driven storytelling contributes to a fun and engaging atmosphere.
- “The actual gameplay is challenging, exciting, and often hilarious.”
- “I enjoyed the sense of humor (especially on the loading screens) and the storyline they placed within the different character arcs.”
- “The zmail is often worth reading... very clever and usually humorous.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the addition of new goals and character unlocks that enhance replay value, others find the gameplay can become repetitive, particularly due to similar enemy designs. The rogue-like elements and nostalgic appeal contribute positively, but the lack of customization options may limit long-term engagement for some players.
- “This game has a lot going for it with a simple premise and unlimited replay value.”
- “Gameplay is where this title shines; being rogue-like, there is replay value in the different antagonists you can be.”
- “Definitely gets me nostalgic over the cheesy 80's sci-fi movies, and for the price, it's pretty good on replay value and looks.”
- “You play different characters locked in a season, and the only replay value lies within unlocking perks and new characters without the option to create your own driver.”
- “I worry about replayability, mainly around enemy cars feeling somewhat same-y.”
- “It may get repetitive, but that said, there seem to be additions to later missions that add goals or weaknesses, so I can see some replay value in it.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its cool and wacky elements, enhanced by nice graphics, satisfying visual effects, and thoughtful design touches. However, some players noted that while the atmosphere is engaging, gameplay issues, including frequent crashes, detract from the overall experience.
- “The idea and atmosphere are cool, but gameplay is where it quickly fell apart for me.”
- “Not having ever played the original -- though I think I may have been given it at one time in a big box full of tabletop RPGs, wargames, and board games -- I can't comment on the similarities or differences, but having a small amount of familiarity with the game world, I do think the developers have done a pretty good job maintaining its wacky atmosphere.”
- “Graphics are nice - satisfying explosions, good dust storms, nice landscapes, etc. and there are lots of atmospheric touches (like the retro style loading screen and menu design).”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is highlighted through satirical in-game emails and advertisements that reflect real-world issues, adding a darkly comedic layer to the experience. While players appreciate the entertaining content of these messages, there is criticism regarding certain missions, particularly the escort mission, which is perceived as a cash grab. Overall, the game's approach to monetization elicits mixed feelings, balancing humor with concerns about exploitative practices.
- “Of these, the escort mission is basically a cash grab, and so far that hasn't changed much.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be emotionally resonant and heartwarming, leading many to recommend it despite any shortcomings.
- “Despite all this, I heartwarmingly recommend the game.”

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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Dark Future: Blood Red States PC Game Review
Mad Max gets a corporate make over in this Games Workshop themed weaponised driving game.
Impulsegamer.com
80%

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16h Median play time

22h Average play time

5-42h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Dark Future: Blood Red States is a tactical role playing game with science fiction theme.

Dark Future: Blood Red States is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 22 hours playing Dark Future: Blood Red States.

Dark Future: Blood Red States was released on May 16, 2019.

Dark Future: Blood Red States was developed by Auroch Digital.

Dark Future: Blood Red States has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Dark Future: Blood Red States is a single player game.

Similar games include Convoy, BATTLETECH, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector, Abandon Ship, Abandon Ship and others.

Dark Future: Blood Red States

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