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Desert Child

Desert Child is an ambitious cyberpunk racer that feels more like a preview of what could be a truly terrific game, hampered by short length and lack of gameplay variety.
Desert Child Game Cover
56%Game Brain Score
music, graphics
gameplay, grinding
53% User Score Based on 249 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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Desert Child Game Cover

About

Desert Child is a single player and multiplayer arcade role playing shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Akupara Games and was released on December 11, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

In Desert Child, you are a young and talented hoverbike racer who needs to figure out how you can scrape enough cash together through racing and odd jobs to punch your one way ticket to the Red Planet to enter the biggest race in the universe, the Grand Prix.

Genres & Tags
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Desert Child screenshot
Desert Child screenshot
Desert Child screenshot
Desert Child screenshot
Desert Child screenshot
Desert Child screenshot
Desert Child screenshot
Desert Child screenshot
Desert Child screenshot
Desert Child screenshot
Desert Child screenshot
+6
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53%
Audience ScoreBased on 249 reviews
music60 positive mentions
gameplay28 negative mentions
  • Desert Child features a vibrant and expressive pixel art style, drawing inspiration from classic sci-fi anime and cyberpunk aesthetics.
  • The game has a compelling soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere, making exploration and racing enjoyable.
  • The blend of hoverbike racing with light RPG mechanics and open-ended exploration creates a unique experience that captures the feeling of chasing a dream in a colorful, albeit melancholic, world.
  • The core gameplay loop can become repetitive, with races and side jobs feeling similar over time, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
  • Navigation in the urban hubs can be tedious due to slow character movement and confusing map design, making it frustrating to complete tasks.
  • The racing mechanics, while initially fun, can feel luck-based and lack depth, with rubberbanding AI and a lack of strategic elements diminishing the competitive experience.
  • gameplay
    146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Desert Child* is a mixed bag, characterized by a simple racing mechanic that quickly becomes repetitive and lacks depth. While the game features an engaging retro aesthetic and enjoyable music, many players find the core gameplay loop—consisting of hoverbike racing and light RPG elements—too shallow and tedious, with slow navigation and limited variety in tasks leading to a grind-heavy experience. Ultimately, the game's charm lies more in its style and atmosphere than in its mechanical complexity or gameplay satisfaction.

    • “Desert Child, developed by Oscar Brittain and published by Akupara Games, is a genre-blending indie title that fuses hoverbike racing with light RPG mechanics, open-ended exploration, and a strong retro-futuristic aesthetic.”
    • “The mechanics are easy to grasp, emphasizing quick reflexes and tactical timing rather than deep simulation physics.”
    • “The fusion of stylish presentation, accessible gameplay, and an open-ended progression system makes it a memorable indie experiment.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very simple and a lot of the items and tools feel like they were thrown on with no real testing.”
    • “The racing mechanics feel sluggish, the missions are repetitive, and the whole game ends up being more grind than fun.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is rather boring and shallow.”
  • music
    109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Desert Child" is widely praised for its lo-fi, hip-hop-inspired soundtrack that enhances the game's relaxed atmosphere and complements its vibrant visuals. Many players find the soundtrack to be the standout feature, with a variety of genres that create an immersive experience, even if the gameplay itself is considered shallow or repetitive. Overall, the combination of engaging music and striking art style elevates the game, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its aesthetic, despite criticisms of its mechanics.

    • “Complementing the visuals is a lo-fi, hip-hop-inspired soundtrack that reinforces the game’s relaxed yet restless tone.”
    • “The music gives the world a soulful rhythm, making long stretches of exploration feel immersive and cohesive.”
    • “The soundtrack fits perfectly well with all that’s happening on the screen; it features a variety of genres from hip-hop to jazz.”
    • “The soundtrack again is the only redeeming quality; in light of all the aforementioned weaknesses, the soundtrack is another statement of trying too hard to be cool and the developer not really caring too much about basic gameplay elements... or fun.”
    • “$23.80 if you want the terrible soundtrack along with the terrible game (it really is laughably bad).”
    • “You can't even lower the music.”
  • graphics
    69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Desert Child" are widely praised for their vibrant pixel art style, which draws inspiration from retro-futuristic aesthetics, classic sci-fi anime, and cyberpunk influences. Many players appreciate the game's unique art direction and how it complements the lo-fi soundtrack, creating a compelling atmosphere. However, some critiques highlight that while the visuals are impressive, they may overshadow the lackluster gameplay, leading to a mixed overall experience.

    • “The pixel art style is vibrant and expressive, drawing inspiration from classic sci-fi anime and cyberpunk influences.”
    • “The graphics and the music were what pulled me into the game and kept me playing until the end.”
    • “Very pretty game with a top-notch pixel aesthetic, and also a nice soundtrack.”
    • “The story and tasks are very bland, the racing is also not very good - it's almost a chore to play. There seems to be a lot of potential for a game like this, but the cheap art style and wannabe Cowboy Bebop style intro is meant to trick you into buying this game.”
    • “The developer chose to use obsolete retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “So much effort was put into the aesthetics that they forgot about the gameplay.”
  • story
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is minimal and primarily focuses on world-building rather than deep character development or intricate plotlines, which some players find enhances the atmosphere while others feel it results in a lackluster experience. Set in a futuristic society, the narrative revolves around mundane tasks and racing, with many reviewers noting that the storytelling feels thin and unengaging, leaving players wanting more depth and variety. Overall, while the game features appealing visuals and a unique setting, its narrative fails to deliver a compelling or meaningful experience.

    • “These side activities range from food delivery to bounty-style missions and contribute to a sense of living day-to-day in a futuristic but financially strained society.”
    • “The story gives very little insight into this city on Mars, but it feels vibrant.”
    • “Good graphic design reminding the 'Cowboy Bebop' fashion style, which is a mixture of common sci-fi background and classical western movie, the first one giving the 'physical' part of the story and the second one defining the spiritual part that though may be the most boring part of the game.”
    • “The narrative remains intentionally minimal, relying more on world-building and atmosphere than on deep character arcs or plot twists.”
    • “The story and tasks are very bland; the racing is also not very good - it's almost a chore to play. There seems to be a lot of potential for a game like this, but the cheap art style and cheap wannabe Cowboy Bebop style intro is meant to trick you into buying this game.”
    • “There isn’t anything else to the story; you can get some world-building information from newspapers, and that’s about it.”
  • grinding
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with a lack of engaging gameplay and character interaction. The racing mechanics are described as uninteresting, leading to a monotonous cycle of grinding for money to progress. While some appreciate the game's style and soundtrack, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grind detracts significantly from the overall experience.

    • “Once you've completed your first race, it's just going to be that same loop over and over to grind for the next part of the game. Unfortunately, the racing isn't all that interesting or mechanically dense, so it grows tired very quickly, and the characters you interact with between money grinding have no real personality.”
    • “A significant problem for me was that there's no motivation to engage in the tedious, cyclical gameplay.”
    • “Most of the game you are just grinding cash.”
  • atmosphere
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant animation, detailed world-building, and retro aesthetics, creating an engaging environment that enhances both racing and exploration. Players appreciate the immersive quality reminiscent of cultural icons, though some note that navigation can be disorienting due to the layout. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a key highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The animation work and color palettes evoke a sense of movement and atmosphere that supports both the racing intensity and the laid-back exploration segments.”
    • “The atmosphere is beautiful and I really love the whole universe that this takes place in.”
    • “Sometimes, a game can really be elevated by the atmosphere it has.”
    • “The narrative remains intentionally minimal, relying more on world-building and atmosphere than on deep character arcs or plot twists.”
    • “The layout for Mars' world, while giving a chance to explore some of the atmosphere perhaps, also felt a bit meandering.”
    • “One of those games that you play for the atmosphere and music!”
  • humor
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's humor is generally well-received, with players appreciating its lighthearted vibe, funny dialogue, and amusing moments, such as quirky achievements and hilarious secret tapes. While some elements may feel clunky, the humor adds a charming touch to the overall experience, encouraging players to engage with characters and explore the game's quirky narrative.

    • “Not only does it have wonderful surroundings and a cool soundtrack, but it also has a little story and some humor too.”
    • “Plus, the ending is hilarious.”
    • “Be sure to talk to everyone as they have a lot of funny dialogue and buy the newspaper to get life advice from the dude on the street.”
  • optimization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization allows for significant upgrades and repairs to your hoverbike, enhancing performance and progression in competitions, though the core nature of the races remains unchanged. While users report frame rates fluctuating between 34 and 48 fps, controls are better suited for a controller, with keyboard use providing finer control for racing. Overall, the performance can be fine-tuned with various gear, but players may need to adjust settings for optimal experience.

    • “The ability to upgrade and repair your hoverbike adds another layer of progression, allowing you to fine-tune performance and increase your chances in tougher competitions.”
    • “You can use power packs and other gear you acquire to modify your bike's performance.”
    • “Tracks share structural similarities, and while upgrades improve performance, they do not drastically alter the nature of competition.”
    • “Performance is stuck somewhere between 34 and 48 fps; have you tried adjusting the settings?”
    • “Controls are clearly optimized for controller, but for racing, the keyboard is much easier because it's better for maintaining fine control.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note a moderate level of replayability, with some expressing a desire for more flexibility in weapon choices during runs, which currently function more as difficulty settings. However, the overall experience may vary, as some users have not completed the game yet.

    • “There's some replayability, and though I would have liked to have been able to switch bike weapons during a run, they seem to act as difficulty settings instead.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly on Mac with minimal bugs and glitches, indicating a stable performance.

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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4h Median play time
4h Average play time
2-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Desert Child is a arcade role playing shooter game with science fiction theme.

Desert Child is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Desert Child.

Desert Child was released on December 11, 2018.

Desert Child was developed by Akupara Games.

Desert Child has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its gameplay.

Desert Child is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Spaceport Hope, Arcade Paradise, Xenon Racer, Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor, Chernobylite and others.