Desert of Vice

About

Desert of Vice is a horror-themed text adventure game, where you solve the mystery of a strange desert town, inspired by Lovecraft and Kafka. Featuring a rich story, multiple endings, and a tailor-made soundtrack, your choices and typing skills will determine your fate in this eerie world. Get ready for a surreal and spooky journey!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 13 reviews

music3 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

Desert of Vice features a compelling story with a unique atmosphere, drawing inspiration from Lovecraftian themes and offering multiple endings that encourage replayability.
The game's aesthetic choices, including visuals and soundtrack, effectively complement its eerie and mysterious tone, creating an engaging experience.
Despite its limitations, the game is a well-crafted short adventure that can be enjoyed by fans of text-based games and those looking for a spooky narrative.

The game's command system is limited and inconsistent, requiring players to frequently type 'hint' to discover necessary actions, which detracts from the immersive experience.
The single save system and the need for specific input can make the gameplay feel tedious, as players are often forced to repeat actions to explore different endings.
Many players feel that the game offers an illusion of choice, as it often dictates the player's actions, leading to a more linear experience rather than a truly interactive adventure.

story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The story of "Desert of Vice" is described as compelling and intriguing, with a focus on exploration and discovery rather than traditional gameplay mechanics. However, some users feel that the lack of meaningful choices detracts from the experience, making it feel more like a linear narrative than an interactive game. Overall, it appeals to those seeking a short, engaging story, but may disappoint players looking for deeper interactivity.
- “The game has an interesting storyline which doesn't tell you everything in the beginning; instead, it lets you explore and find out things on your own.”
- “Brilliant text quest with intriguing plot, thrilling atmosphere, handy hint system, and nonlinear gameplay (with a bunch of endings).”
- “With that said, I think the story and style of Desert of Vice is still compelling for those looking for a short story to read/type through.”
- “A kinetic novel that drags its own story down given how there isn't a convenient way to save the game to get these slightly different endings.”
- “It's less a game and more a slightly interactive story, and unfortunately without choices it didn't hold my interest well enough.”
- “The mood and the preview make it seem like it should be really, really good, a clever little gem, but unfortunately as someone who's played old text games, I felt like I was getting railroaded into someone's story rather than playing my own.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in "Desert of Vice" is highly praised for enhancing the game's supernatural noir themes, creating a captivating atmosphere that complements its art style. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack and sound design contribute significantly to the overall experience, despite the gameplay being primarily text-based.
- “Despite these criticisms, Desert of Vice has an undeniable mystique about it with an art style and soundtrack that complement its supernatural noir themes.”
- “The music and sounds make the atmosphere.”
- “Great atmosphere and music.”
- “While the game is not completely text-based, as it has both visual design and a soundtrack, the gameplay is pure text where the game responds to your input.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by compelling music and sound design. Reviewers appreciate the unique ambiance and intriguing plot, noting that it effectively draws players in, although some feel the gameplay could be more developed. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The music and sounds make the atmosphere.”
- “Great atmosphere and music.”
- “It manages to conjure up an atmosphere very much its own and for that it deserves praise.”
- “The music and sounds create a unique atmosphere.”
- “It manages to conjure up an atmosphere very much its own, and for that, it deserves praise.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of "Desert of Vice" are praised for their aesthetic choices that enhance the supernatural noir themes, creating a captivating atmosphere. While some users note the need for quality-of-life improvements, the overall art style and soundtrack effectively complement the game's narrative.
- “Despite these criticisms, Desert of Vice has an undeniable mystique about it with an art style and soundtrack that complement its supernatural noir themes.”
- “I really like the story, the visuals, and music.”
- “A neat, little text adventure project with good aesthetic choices that could use some quality-of-life improvements.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The gameplay is primarily text-based, requiring players to input commands, which can lead to different endings, though the repetitive nature of typing can make them feel similar. Despite this, the game features an intriguing plot, a thrilling atmosphere, and a helpful hint system, offering nonlinear gameplay with multiple endings. Overall, it combines visual design and soundtrack elements to enhance the experience.
- “Brilliant text quest with intriguing plot, thrilling atmosphere, handy hint system, and nonlinear gameplay (with a bunch of endings).”
- “While some of these endings can differ very greatly from each other in terms of fleeing versus running away, the separate endings blur together given the mechanic of having to type all of the same text out each playthrough.”
- “While the game is not completely text-based, as it has both visual design and soundtrack, the gameplay is pure text where the game responds to your input.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game features multiple endings and a variety of gameplay options, enhancing its replayability and encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes.
- “There's also multiple endings, which gives the game significant replayability, especially since you're offered a lot of variation in how to approach different tasks.”
- “The game encourages you to explore different strategies and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and rewarding.”
- “With various character builds and story paths, I find myself coming back to the game to experience all it has to offer.”
- “There's also multiple endings which gives the game some replayability, especially since you're offered a lot of variation in doing things.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless.”