“Deponia” is full of humor, funny puzzle-solving, and with a setting that I thoroughly enjoy in fiction. For anyone who likes point-and-click adventures, this series is one for you.
In Deponia Doomsday, Rufus must prevent the destruction of Deponia and his mustache-free face after awaking from a disturbing nightmare. With the help of a temporal scientist, he discovers time-anomalies caused by careless future time travelers. As the last surviving Deponian, Rufus's mission is to save his planet and restore his smooth chin.
The story of "Deponia Doomsday" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it convoluted and overly complicated due to its time travel elements, which often lead to confusion and plot holes. While some appreciate the humor and character development, others feel it fails to add meaningful content to the original trilogy, serving more as a controversial epilogue that reiterates the previous ending rather than expanding on it. Overall, the game is seen as a fun but flawed continuation of the beloved series, with a narrative that may resonate more with fans who enjoyed the original trilogy's conclusion.
“This game has managed to twist around the plot of its previous main story in an intriguing and interesting way, which also filled some holes and misses in the original story.”
“The story is quite convoluted in this one, but overall it was nice to play as Rufus again, with many little jokes scattered throughout the game.”
“The story is beautifully written and well thought out; the playthrough was really enjoyable and the ending bittersweet, but the journey was well worth the feelings of intense sorrow.”
“The whole story from game 1 to this game has been so bad.”
“The story is a bit confusing but the take-home message is 10/10.”
“The story is just one big middle finger to the fans of the series that complained about the ending in the third game.”
humor
269 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Deponia Doomsday" is a continuation of the series' signature quirky and dark comedic style, with many players appreciating its absurdity and clever dialogue. While some found the humor to be repetitive or less impactful than in previous installments, others enjoyed the blend of witty banter and chaotic scenarios, often leading to genuine laughter. Overall, the game maintains a light-hearted tone, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its jokes and the balance between humor and plot complexity.
“The humor and art direction are as always just a delight and the game is even fun to complete (as long as you ignore the 1001 jackalopes achievement)!”
“Deponia Doomsday continues the quirky adventure series with its signature blend of humor and puzzling.”
“The characters are charming (and odd) and the dialogues are full of humor.”
“Humor is dated even for 2016, and most of the dialogue is just quirky one-liners that are tedious to click through, not funny.”
“It's not fun and it's not funny; if anything, the finale shatters the post-apocalyptic tone of the first three games in favor of disconnected silliness.”
“The end of Deponia Doomsday is so unsatisfying it's not funny anymore.”
gameplay
163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
8%
The gameplay in "Deponia Doomsday" retains the classic point-and-click mechanics familiar to the series, featuring puzzles, character interactions, and object combinations. While some players appreciate the introduction of new mechanics like time travel, others find them frustrating and repetitive, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall challenge and enjoyment of the gameplay. Despite its flaws, many fans of the series still find the gameplay engaging, though it may not reach the heights of the original trilogy.
“The game features classic point-and-click gameplay, having you collect objects, talk to characters, and somehow figure out a way to combine everything in order to solve problems.”
“The gameplay itself is quite enjoyable, but Daedalic really needs to put some effort into making their game actually playable.”
“The gameplay is similar to the previous games, though it is easier.”
“Going to gameplay for a bit, puzzles were the most cartoonish here and I doubt I would figure them all out without some guides as brute forcing my way through some would take too long and I would lose the will to go further just like with the jackalopes.”
“These last chapters add nothing gameplay-wise, since it's either time-pressured small puzzles or endless dialogue.”
“Unfortunately, the use of time loops also makes for repetitive gameplay, especially if you're not good at solving the puzzles.”
music
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging and original soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, while some noted it doesn't quite reach the heights of previous installments. Fans appreciated the familiar tunes and the cinematic quality of the score, but expressed disappointment over the lack of iconic "huzzah" songs and fewer new compositions. Overall, the music remains a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the experience despite some noted shortcomings.
“My favorite Deponia game, super epic music in the menu.”
“Discussing the positives, first of all, the artistic style is unique as ever, with an awesome soundtrack that achieves a great setting and a delightful experience.”
“The soundtrack is great, characters are equally lovable and hateable, and on top of it, there are beautiful, hand-drawn graphics.”
“0 humor, 0 ending, 0 sense of puzzles, 0 music (what the heck am I listening to?!?), character art was good, voice acting is good, protagonist is just so dumb that one starts to hate him and for once he does something good at the end, there is no end?”
“The music is a mixed bag: for the most part it feels more cinematic, like it was a bigger thing than other installments, but at the same time it doesn't portray as much as the first or third games.”
“The intro music to the game even mocked you for even buying the game in the first place.”
graphics
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The graphics in "Deponia Doomsday" are consistently praised for their beautiful, hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and smooth animations, maintaining the charm of previous titles in the series. Reviewers highlight the engaging visuals and witty dialogue, which enhance the overall experience, although some note that the cartoonish style may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal as a point-and-click adventure.
“The game’s colorful art style and witty dialogue create an engaging experience for fans of point-and-click adventures.”
“Beautiful hand-drawn graphics that are quite rightly unique.”
“Doomsday’s graphics retain the charm that previous titles in the series created so well.”
“But I don't like paying this much money for Club Penguin artwork.”
“The graphics and animation are in the same style; I hate it when they change it too much in one go.”
“Everything in the Deponia series, from over-the-top cartoony characters, humor, art style, childish plots, and completely unrealistic action scenes and events, points out to everything except a sad end where the protagonist realizes the futility of all his actions.”
emotional
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
9%
The emotional aspect of the game is a significant highlight, with players experiencing a profound connection to the characters and story, leading to moments of both laughter and tears. Many reviews describe it as an emotional rollercoaster, filled with heartwarming and heartbreaking moments that resonate deeply, particularly in its exploration of themes like grief and hope. While some players found the ending disappointing, the overall sentiment is that the game delivers a powerful emotional experience that leaves a lasting impact.
“Yet, because of how all these characters were built up for us over multiple games, we were emotionally invested for that glorious ending: getting the girl, the glory, and the dream of Elysium all in one.”
“But with Doomsday, it also comes the most emotionally resonant message that Deponia has ever offered: it's a story about the five stages of grief, and a story about the power of hope.”
“After the end, I even shed a tear, not only because the ending and the story as a whole was very well written but also as it meant that this was probably the last time we visit Deponia and follow Rufus and his companions on their adventures.”
“The repetitive scenery made it hard to feel any emotional connection to the story.”
“The lack of engaging puzzles and a compelling narrative left me feeling indifferent.”
“I found the story to be dull, which diminished any emotional impact the game could have had.”
grinding
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages where backtracking and time loops become frustrating. Many reviews highlight the excessive effort required for certain achievements, such as the "1001 jackalopes," which detracts from the enjoyment of the gameplay. While the initial chapters are engaging, the latter parts of the game often feel exhausting and overly drawn out, leading some players to recommend using a walkthrough to alleviate the tedium.
“A lot of backtracking and grinding if you want 100% achievements.”
“Also, some of the achievements are simply downright torture to get, like the '1001 jackalopes,' which requires probably hours for a person to complete doing an even more tedious task of making every possible match and cloning it.”
“While I enjoyed the gameplay and story when it was moving forward, I can't say I liked this game anywhere near as much as the other Deponia games. If you start to find it a little tedious, you may just want to play through with a walkthrough handy to move past the area faster while you still enjoy the game.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by numerous stability issues, including game-breaking glitches, frequent crashes, and disruptive bugs that can hinder gameplay, such as character duplication and timer malfunctions. While some players report minor glitches that are manageable, the overall consensus is that the game's instability significantly detracts from the experience, making it frustrating and at times unplayable. Players are advised to save often and be prepared for a bumpy ride.
“Great game, but really buggy and constantly crashes.”
“Not only the story sucks, it's still buggy. I don't know how many months since it came out, but this game doesn't work properly. The mini games get stuck, controls get stuck, characters disappear, dialogues get broken, and the game stalls.”
“Lots of people have reported that the game is buggy and that it makes the game unplayable.”
monetization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
85%
The monetization aspect of the game has sparked mixed opinions among users, with some labeling it a cash grab due to its perceived reliance on nostalgia and previous plot points, while others appreciate the absence of microtransactions and view it as a legitimate continuation of the series. Despite criticisms regarding its necessity and narrative choices, some players feel it offers value at a budget price, countering the cash grab narrative. Overall, the game's monetization strategy has led to polarized views on its integrity and purpose.
“No microtransactions, thank you!”
“The DLC policy is fair and adds value to the game.”
“I appreciate that the game doesn't pressure players into spending more money.”
“This one is just a cash grab, no doubt from the plot if you bought the game.”
“Looks like Daedalic Entertainment made a cash grab and justified it by saying people should never have enjoyed the first games.”
“This game does not need to exist and feels like a cash grab and a sort of revenge for the backlash of the ending of the third game.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Overall, the replayability of the game is viewed as low, with some players noting that while the Deponia series generally offers replay value, this particular installment feels repetitive and less engaging. A few users appreciate the quirky achievements that encourage replay, but the daunting nature of certain tasks diminishes the desire to revisit the game soon.
“Had this been the end, I would've rated it positively and might even have kept it for replay value.”
“Which reminds me: I think there's some replay value for all the Deponia games, but especially this one, because the story was just hard to follow the first time around!”
“They are very replayable... this one however, because it's so repetitive, I cannot see myself wanting to replay at all anytime soon.”
“I don't feel this game has as much replay value as the other games.”
“🔲 404 - replayability not found”
“[h1]replayability:[/h1] [b]low (well it's an adventure game)[/b]”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its art style, animation, and familiar characters, creating an engaging experience. However, some players feel it lacks the humor and edge of earlier titles, with mixed opinions on the music and overall tone. While the variety of backgrounds and themes adds depth, there are concerns that the absence of certain elements has diminished the game's atmospheric impact.
“The atmosphere in the game was good; I enjoyed the music and the artwork of the game.”
“Awesome art style, animation, and atmosphere.”
“The writing, the characters, the atmosphere... it's all there.”
“It seems Doomsday has toned back a little on some of the punchier humor that was the trademark in earlier titles, and while I wasn’t particularly fond of that humor myself, I did find that the game lacked an atmosphere and edge that it had previously held quite well due to the presence of its apolitical stance.”
“It's not a major element in the dialogues but frequent enough to have annoyed me and soiled some of the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere has a larger variety; there are more backgrounds with both new and recurring themes.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Character development in the latest installment of the Deponia series has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the culmination of Rufus' journey and the additional context provided for his character, others feel that the game disregards the growth established in previous titles, particularly by sidelining the development of side characters. The narrative employs contrived elements like time travel and flashbacks, which some argue detract from the depth of character arcs, especially when compared to the richer development seen in earlier games. Overall, while Rufus shows some positive growth, the inconsistency in character development leaves a divided impression among players.
“Rufus finally showed a bit of positive character development.”
“It was a perfect culmination of the trilogy and a perfect ending for Rufus' journey and character development.”
“If you've played the previous games in the franchise, you'll know that Goodbye Deponia ended with some pretty significant character development on Rufus' part.”
“They ignored any character development that occurred throughout the previous games and just went for the 'kill'.”
“It is filled with contrivances, time-travel, flashbacks, and events taking place prior to previous Deponia games, and it makes sure to scrub any character development that might have been observable in the third Deponia game out of existence.”
“Also, the McChronicle side character is bland without a personality; it's totally different from the deep character development of Doc, Bozo, and Gizmo.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users have mixed experiences with optimization; while some report that the game runs smoothly, others experienced performance issues even during development. However, the improved art quality has been positively noted.
“Art is great this time around, and it runs smoothly.”