Death Trash

About

Death Trash is a single player and multiplayer open world role playing game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by talecrafter and was released on August 5, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Death Trash" is a post-apocalyptic role-playing game for 2 players in co-op mode, featuring a handcrafted world and a focus on player freedom. The Early Access version includes most features, but the story campaign is unfinished and bugs may be present. Frequent updates and a final release are planned for 2022. Players can provide feedback using the in-game tool or via email.

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,760 reviews

story278 positive mentions

grinding15 negative mentions

Unique and engaging world with a dark, humorous atmosphere reminiscent of classic RPGs like Fallout.
Fun and challenging combat mechanics that encourage strategic gameplay and exploration.
Beautiful pixel art and sound design that enhance the overall experience.

Currently short on content, with the main story ending abruptly and many skills feeling underutilized.
Combat can feel repetitive and unbalanced, especially with ranged enemies and the lack of variety in encounters.
Some mechanics, like the healing system and inventory management, can be cumbersome and detract from the overall enjoyment.

story
865 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
66%
2%
The story of "Death Trash" is described as intriguing and engaging, with a unique blend of cosmic horror and dark humor reminiscent of classic RPGs like Fallout. Players appreciate the rich world-building and character interactions, although many note that the game is still in early access, resulting in an incomplete narrative that leaves them wanting more. While the quests can feel linear and some aspects of the story remain vague, the overall atmosphere and writing have captivated players, making them eager for future updates and expansions to the storyline.
- “The story is engaging and keeps me on the edge of my seat wanting to know more.”
- “The story and the worldbuilding is excellent.”
- “The quests and choices made feel like they matter to the world and the people in it.”
- “The storyline is a cryptic mess; there are a lot of cool ideas that never get explained, and everything just jumbles into a bunch of meaningless edgy words.”
- “The main story is still unfinished, and it feels like it was much more than that.”
- “The quests feel like there are pieces missing, which there likely are.”
gameplay
468 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The gameplay of "Death Trash" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging mechanics, fluid combat, and unique blend of old-school RPG elements with modern action gameplay. Players appreciate the game's challenging yet rewarding combat, diverse character builds, and intriguing world, though some criticize the repetitive quest design and limited content in its early access state. Overall, while the gameplay is seen as fun and immersive, there are calls for more variety and depth as the game continues to develop.
- “Hard post-apocalyptic action RPG with a beautiful art style and fantastic mechanics that reveal gradually over time.”
- “The gameplay is super easy to get a hold of and it feels like you can do so much with it the more stuff is added up until and after full release.”
- “The gameplay is fluid and combat is extremely satisfying.”
- “Then there's the story and quests; this game suffers from the 'go-there-itis' because it pads out the gameplay by constantly sending you around to different locations. The grand majority cannot start and stay in the same location, and it feels incredibly cheap.”
- “From the trailer and reviews, I had high expectations, so I felt more confused than disappointed when I found the gameplay was not interesting and all the environments seemed repetitive.”
- “However, it suffers from a lack of variety in some of its core mechanics, which make the gameplay repetitive, boring, and frustrating at times, and definitely still need a lot of attention.”
graphics
309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
50%
1%
The graphics of "Death Trash" are characterized by a unique and immersive pixel art style that effectively captures the game's gritty, post-apocalyptic atmosphere. Many players appreciate the nostalgic and grotesque aesthetic, which blends elements reminiscent of classic titles like Fallout with modern gameplay mechanics. While some critiques mention the simplicity of the visuals, the overall consensus is that the art direction enhances the storytelling and world-building, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The aesthetics are beautiful and grotesque at the same time, and the game is really fun.”
- “Death Trash is a beautifully designed world presented in an awesome pixel art style, with great ambient music that sets the tone wonderfully and an extremely interesting, if a bit off-beat and quirky, sci-fi storyline to draw you in.”
- “The graphics are very nice, and I haven't run into any glitches or crashes yet, so it seems stable.”
- “The graphics are... it.”
- “The controls are usually wonky, the pace is all wrong, graphics don't translate well to modern screens.”
- “As much as I love the idea of this game, the aesthetics and the gameplay idea, this game is far from being 'early access'.”
atmosphere
169 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique blend of eerie, grotesque, and immersive elements, reminiscent of classic titles like Fallout, while incorporating a distinct post-apocalyptic and Lovecraftian vibe. Players appreciate the haunting soundscapes, engaging visuals, and the balance of dark humor with serious themes, which together create a captivating world that encourages exploration and curiosity. Despite some critiques regarding narrative clarity and content updates, the overall consensus highlights the game's strong atmospheric presence as a key draw for players.
- “The overall atmosphere and world are amazing; the environments and the sounds all mesh together amazingly to create a foreboding and mysterious aura that leaves you feeling confused and unsettled.”
- “The game has a beautifully grotesque atmosphere that is so engaging to explore the world.”
- “The atmosphere, visuals, and sound are so well crafted that they make the experience very satisfying.”
- “The atmosphere is haunting, Shockley has quite a bit of good dark humor, and is infested with an endless amount of meat across each landscape.”
- “The fleshy environment complete with swarms of gurgling meat monsters and scavengers looking to cave your skull in adds a lot to the atmosphere the game has: a wasteland where people are trying to get by in a world infested with flesh, crawling with an assortment of abominations and murderous machines out to remove your head from your shoulders (or worse...).”
- “The brooding atmosphere and ambient music was what initially attracted me to the game but what really kept me around was the mystery and story elements, that and the feeling of the game designer(s) have taken a very creative and fresh approach to the world in which they have created.”
humor
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its dark, absurd, and often grotesque elements, blending crude jokes with clever writing that resonates with fans of classic RPGs like Fallout. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, bizarre scenarios, and the game's ability to balance humor with a grim atmosphere, making it both engaging and entertaining. Overall, the humor is described as a standout feature, providing a unique and enjoyable experience that enhances the game's narrative and gameplay.
- “The dialogue is laden with dark humor, philosophical musings, and existential dread, all of which add layers of depth to the narrative.”
- “While Death Trash certainly sports a grim setting and nightmarish beasts, it is persistently, genuinely funny through it all.”
- “I love a game that doesn't take itself too seriously and has a great sense of humor!”
music
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and immersive, effectively enhancing the overall ambiance, particularly with its dark ambient and eerie tones. However, many users note a lack of variety and quantity, with some areas feeling empty due to minimal musical presence. While the soundtrack is praised for its ability to evoke emotions and complement the game's visuals, there is a strong desire for more diverse and engaging music throughout the gameplay.
- “The music is spot on for me as I like dark ambient.”
- “The visuals, accompanied by a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, create an ambiance that feels like a fever dream.”
- “The music is ominous and engaging, the combat is fun and challenging--but not too difficult to overcome--and the story is rather intriguing.”
- “There isn't really a lot of music and most of it is rather ambient background noise, but when it is there it really hits home in my opinion.”
- “There's no music at all in all areas except the bar's main area, which is a big misstep since there should definitely be music for most areas, giving each its own feeling.”
- “The game needs more music; the sound effects and ambience are fine, but I just feel there's not a lot of musical variety that stands out.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
Overall, the game offers a mixed but generally positive outlook on replayability, with many players appreciating the variety of character builds, playstyles, and quest completion methods available. While some reviewers noted limitations in choices and linearity, others highlighted the potential for replay through different difficulty settings and gameplay options like permadeath. The consensus suggests that while replayability is present, its depth may depend on future updates and additional content.
- “The game's character customization and skill system allow for various playstyles, adding replayability to the experience.”
- “These multiple avenues to complete quests allow for a good amount of replayability, which is rare to say for an EA game.”
- “You can see the passion of this developer being poured into the game and even if the total playtime is shorter right now, you have a lot of replayability with difficulty settings to make the game especially brutal.”
- “I don't see the replayability so far.”
- “I think for longevity and replay value, there needs to be multiple ways to complete the game such as several factions you could support or different end game goals to achieve, or more branching dialogue options, because at the point it does seem pretty linear.”
- “This feels very limiting and I don't know if the game will have a lot of replayability if this current state reflects the final version of the game.”
grinding
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
5%
79%
Reviews highlight that while grinding can be rewarding, it often leads to a tedious and frustrating experience, particularly due to repetitive combat and a lack of engaging content in the game world. Players appreciate the potential for future content but express concerns about the grindy nature of certain playstyles and the overall navigation, which can feel monotonous. Despite these drawbacks, some players find enjoyment in the grind, especially when farming encounters and experimenting with different gameplay elements.
- “Not boring, not grindy.”
- “The combat is nice and hard; enemies tear up your health, no grinding or respawn, and the dodge is hard to master.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “But you are latched into certain playstyles that might be grindy or boring.”
- “Tldr: intriguing game, but the tedious combat drags down the whole experience.”
- “Traveling on the map gets tedious; there is no fast travel between locations, and only inside towns. When you have to move far away, it takes a lot of time with nothing happening, and random encounters just make it worse as they become boring and repetitive after a while.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with minimal bugs and great performance, particularly on the Steam Deck, others have encountered issues like minor AI glitches and co-op problems. Despite these inconsistencies, many users appreciate the game's polish and quality development, especially for an early access title.
- “I will say for Steam Deck users, the game runs great!”
- “Game runs great too; I've never had any performance issues.”
- “All in all, a wonderful experience which has so far been absolutely bug-free, and that is quality dev work.”
- “No, bit buggy, a bit rough around the edges, and sadly, unfinished, so I could not see the ending, but man, I had enjoyed it.”
- “Notes: other than a few minor AI glitches such as being stuck on walls and such.”
- “Buggy af and the co-op is jank but it's pretty fun; loads better than the dogsh*t being developed by AAA studios.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from sadness and joy to disgust, often within short spans of gameplay. Players appreciate the well-written, empathetic NPCs and the wholesome, albeit bizarre, quests that create a unique emotional experience. Despite some side quests lacking impact, the game's depth and character interactions contribute to its reputation as a heartwarming masterpiece.
- “After a bit of wholesome dialogue, he asks me to take him with me (though he was missing his legs, so I had to cut his head off and bring it with me), and I end up trying to give him to the kraken as a friend. But instead, it asks to eat Fleshface, so I obliged since Flesh said he'd survive.”
- “In the 3+ hours I have played this game, it has made me feel sadness, joy, and disgust in the space of a few minutes.”
- “As a mostly solo-dev project, and it just entering early access, this is a heartwarming masterpiece of a game.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with players reporting smooth performance and no significant bugs or crashes. However, some users noted that while the game runs well, the controls and user interface could use further refinement. There are mixed feelings about the impact of skill choices on gameplay, particularly for those who opted for easier difficulty settings.
- “By the way, I played with a gamepad, and it is well optimized.”
- “In a gaming landscape where AAA publishers seem content with churning out soulless re-skins optimized for microtransaction sales, titles like Death Trash are a breath of fresh air.”
- “EA was solid, no bugs, no crashes, optimized to perfection, controls are smooth and responsive.”
- “The controls are not optimized, and the descriptions on items are misleading.”
- “My suggestion to the devs is: stop focusing on the world-building until you've at least created a competent UI, optimized the controls, and fixed the description of items and services.”
- “I chose the easiest play mode, so maybe because of that I didn't feel like my skill choices had any impact on my combat performance, but so far it is the only thing I didn't like about the gameplay.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Character development in the game is praised for its unique mechanics and rewarding progression, enhancing the overall experience alongside combat and exploration. The pixel-art design contributes to the appeal, although some users feel that NPCs lack depth despite their human-like qualities.
- “Lots of unique mechanics and character development options.”
- “Character development, combat, looting, and world exploration are all well-made and feel rewarding.”
- “The game looks gorgeous and features some of the best pixel art of 2021 – particularly when it comes to character design.”
- “And it makes the NPCs feel human with minimal character development.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that monetization in modern games often detracts from the overall experience, with many players feeling overwhelmed by mediocre offerings and intrusive elements, such as political agendas. However, some games manage to innovate and enhance their monetization strategies effectively, suggesting a mixed reception in this area.
- “And sadly, that’s probably the main trend with modern games, drowned as we are with mediocre efforts from every major gaming studio, not to mention 'woke' politics being shoehorned in, like a gaudy advertisement where an interesting story could have been.”
- “This game takes what it was trying to innovate upon and really adds upon it well.”