Desktop Survivors 98

About

Desktop Survivors 98 is a single player survival survival game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Brandon Hesslau and was released on May 20, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Desktop Survivors 98 transforms your cursor into a hero battling waves of enemies in fast-paced, bullet-hell style combat. The game overlays dynamic, randomly generated dungeons directly onto your desktop, allowing seamless multitasking. Quick rounds and intense action make it perfect for both short breaks and extended play sessions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,007 reviews

gameplay44 positive mentions

grinding19 negative mentions

Unique and fun control scheme using the mouse cursor as the character, providing a fresh take on the roguelike genre.
Nostalgic Windows 98 aesthetic that resonates with players, filled with clever references and charming design.
Addictive gameplay loop with a variety of weapons and upgrades, allowing for creative builds and strategies.

Balancing issues, particularly in the early game where players can feel underpowered and struggle to progress.
Performance problems, including crashes and lag during intense gameplay, especially with many projectiles on screen.
Some weapons and upgrades feel ineffective or underwhelming compared to others, leading to frustration in gameplay.

gameplay
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The gameplay of "Desktop Survivors 98" is characterized by its addictive and engaging mechanics, blending bullet hell elements with a nostalgic Windows 98 aesthetic. Players appreciate the variety of weapons, unique upgrades, and the use of the mouse cursor as the main character, which adds a fresh dynamic to the survivor genre. While some find the gameplay straightforward and reminiscent of other titles like "Vampire Survivors," many highlight its charm, depth, and the fun of navigating chaotic environments filled with quirky enemies and mini-games.
- “The gameplay is fantastic and smooth.”
- “Suffice it to say, I was very pleasantly surprised when Desktop Survivors also included really tight survivors-like gameplay and heaps of really unique upgrades.”
- “It marries the survivors gameplay to the theme and vibe of Windows 95/98 in the best way.”
- “The actual gameplay is very basic and strays away from the typical survivors-like formula, feeling more like Binding of Isaac.”
- “Want to love it, but it feels too much like a game maker game from the early days where a newer dev has yet to learn what mechanics should always be excluded from a game.”
- “Gameplay is way too fast, needs to be toned down a bit and cursor size needs to be bumped up significantly.”
graphics
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic and charming Windows 98 aesthetic, which is consistently executed across various elements, including character designs and user interface. While many players appreciate the retro visuals and the unique concept of overlaying gameplay on their desktop, some note that certain enemy designs do not fully align with the overall aesthetic. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a delightful experience for fans of retro computing.
- “The aesthetic is super unique, the gameplay is addicting, but I have a few issues.”
- “The commitment to the 90s Windows aesthetic is amusing and consistent, and it handles very differently than most games in the genre given that your mouse cursor is itself your player character.”
- “What could easily have been a shallow gimmick becomes instead a fully realized aesthetic, with every attack animation, enemy design, and interface flourish reinforcing the illusion that your machine is melting into a retro-arcade hallucination.”
- “All backgrounds are quite spot-on except the dynamic ones; the enemies really look good, but I've seen a lot of people think they don't fit with the Windows 98 aesthetic, and the Windows XP field not being included by default is a very grave mistake.”
- “The aesthetic is really well made, but the balance is really bad.”
- “A smaller negative point might be that despite the fitting graphics and sounds, the actual enemy sprites seem to differ a bit to truly fit the Windows 98 theme this game nails with its bosses, weapons, and console mode backgrounds!”
music
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
43%
9%
The music in the game is widely praised for being catchy, memorable, and fitting the overall aesthetic, enhancing the gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the variety and quality of the soundtrack, with some expressing a desire for more tracks. Additionally, the game's unique feature of automatically muting in-game music when external audio is played has been positively noted, although a few users mentioned occasional issues with music cutting out.
- “The gameplay is challenging, the visuals are on point, the music never gets old.”
- “The music is a banger, and every soundtrack is memorable.”
- “The soundtrack is honestly amazing, I wish it was sold on Steam, and I just really loved the clever implementations of the aesthetic.”
- “Honestly bought this game not expecting much, without even realizing I bought it at launch. Guess I got lucky with Steam recommendations; it's a great game so far, charming setting and an original idea, worth the small price I paid for it so far. The only downside I found is the music, although it fits the theme, gets tiring quickly.”
- “Most notably an error that cut all music, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the dulcet tones of the flower box monstrosity I had created.”
- “However, sometimes the music suddenly goes off.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
9%
86%
The reviews highlight a mixed sentiment towards grinding in the game. While some players find the grinding enjoyable and manageable, especially with powerful weapon builds, others criticize it for being tedious and overly time-consuming, particularly in the early game where players feel underpowered. Overall, the game offers a balance of fun and grind, but many agree that the pacing and difficulty of acquiring upgrades could be improved.
- “Pretty good value for $5 and wasn't too grindy either.”
- “This game is very grindy and I feel really underpowered.”
- “I know grinding is a natural part of these games, but it can be paced better than just cranking the prices for the shop upgrades by ridiculous amounts.”
- “Shortly after I wrote my review, I did eventually manage to reach the 4th dungeon, but only after several hours of grinding for meta upgrades. The early grind is way too long and tedious.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by nostalgic references and whimsical mechanics, such as amusing power-ups like a cat paw and a CD player shotgun, which enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the blend of familiar, retro aesthetics with comedic elements, creating an immersive and entertaining atmosphere that resonates particularly well with those familiar with 90s computing culture. Overall, the humor is a standout feature, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “These attacks feel both entertaining and functional, adding mechanical variety while constantly delivering little bursts of nostalgic humor.”
- “The result is a world that feels familiar, funny, and surprisingly immersive.”
- “Some of the power-ups are humorous, like having a cat paw randomly bap enemies, a CD player shotgun that shoots out CD projectiles, and MS Paint buckets that spill paint to create damaging floors.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
25%
19%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players noting the fun mechanics, diverse characters, and numerous unlockables that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some comparisons to other titles suggest varying levels of replay value, the consensus is that this game offers a rich and engaging experience that keeps players coming back for more. Its unique design and nostalgic elements further enhance its appeal, making it a standout in the genre.
- “Replayable many times over and always seems to have new things to find.”
- “A fun and addictive game with plenty of replay value to be had.”
- “Incredible replay value and highly addictive.”
- “These drawbacks don’t diminish the core experience, but they do define the boundaries of the game’s long-term replayability.”
- “Desktop Survivors does not offer the level of replayability that Vampire Survivors has—and quite honestly, I think that's a good thing.”
- “The style takes me right back to those innocent Newgrounds flash days but with far more complexity and replayability.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The game features minimal story elements, with some users noting a light narrative that is enjoyable and humorous, but ultimately serves as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus. While the story is not deeply developed, it is creatively integrated and adds a layer of enjoyment to the overall experience.
- “They're very creatively implemented; they aren't just forced in, they are incorporated into the little story.”
- “Story: good and funny”
- “☐ no story”
- “Really enjoyable with surprising amount of depth to its gameplay features despite not having any kind of a story.”
- “It has a story kinda, but obviously this game gives you a dopamine rush, but nothing crazy, it's just love from a great creator.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent freezes, severe frame rate drops, and crashes that hinder progress. While some players note minor bugs and commend the developers' responsiveness, the overall experience is marred by these stability issues, particularly on certain levels.
- “Runs great on an RTX 5080.”
- “It freezes at random times, and the frame rate slows down on the third floor to the point that it is unplayable.”
- “Once you get your weapons maxed out, depending on the combination you use, you can basically sit there in the middle and just let it do its thing until you get to level 4. However, I haven't been able to do this after unlocking Dune, as the game either freezes or slows down so much that it takes forever to beat the room, forcing me to alt+F4 out of the game.”
- “Authentic Windows 98 experience with constant freezes and crashes that make you lose your progress.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly during endgame scenarios with numerous objects on screen, leading to poor performance and low frame rates, especially at 1440p. Players have reported random crashes and bugs, indicating a need for performance tweaks to enhance stability and gameplay experience. Despite these challenges, the game remains enjoyable.
- “Needs some performance tweaks.”
- “Could get some optimization.”
- “Really fun, but poorly optimized for the endgame where you can have millions of objects on the screen which the game can't handle after long play sessions.”
- “Game isn't optimized for a 1440p screen, so it runs at around 12-20 fps.”
- “It has some performance issues, especially with lots of upgrades, and some odd random crashes, but it's so entertaining.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a nostalgic emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about the 90s computing era and the heartfelt experience it provides. The inclusion of an "emotional support sword" adds a unique touch, enhancing the game's charm and relatability, making it a memorable part of the roguelike experience.
- “This is a heartfelt dial-up email to survivor games and 90's era computing.”
- “Cool emotional support sword, do recommend.”
- “Come for roguelike, stay for emotional support sword friend.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Reviewers appreciate the character development for its quirky designs and nostalgic elements reminiscent of early internet aesthetics. The character designs are highlighted as a standout feature, contributing to the overall fun and engaging experience of the game.
- “Love the aesthetics and the character designs!”
- “Loving the quirky character designs and nods to early internet nostalgia.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of "Desktop Survivors 98" is highly praised for its immersive retro aesthetic, which enhances the overall experience and engagement with the game. Players appreciate how the visual elements and surprises contribute to a deeper sense of immersion, making the atmosphere a standout feature despite varying gameplay experiences.
- “Clearing them unlocks new upgrades, gold, and sometimes visual surprises that deepen the retro atmosphere.”
- “Of all the indies that I have had the pleasure (and the occasional displeasure) of playing, Desktop Survivors 98 has to be one of those rare few games that sells its premise more on the immersion and atmosphere than the actual gameplay, given my own personal preference for the types of games that I tend to play purely by what I see via trailers and the likes.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of Desktop Survivors 98 has been criticized as a potential cash grab, with concerns about misleading advertisements that do not accurately represent the gameplay experience. This has raised questions about the game's value and transparency in its marketing approach.
- “With the recent movement led by Louis Rossmann against big tech firms regarding various anti-consumer practices, one might dismiss Desktop Survivors 98 as nothing short of a veiled 'cash grab' that borrows the iconic Clippy for its own gameplay.”
- “The ads also do not show anything close to the bullet-time pacing I am experiencing, which is frustrating when someone might be using that to base their purchase decision.”

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10h Median play time

11h Average play time

4-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Desktop Survivors 98 is a survival survival game with fantasy theme.

Desktop Survivors 98 is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 11 hours playing Desktop Survivors 98.

Desktop Survivors 98 was released on May 20, 2025.

Desktop Survivors 98 was developed by Brandon Hesslau.

Desktop Survivors 98 has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Desktop Survivors 98 is a single player game.

Similar games include Halls of Torment, 20 Minutes Till Dawn, Bounty of One, Rogue: Genesia, Noobs Are Coming and others.

Desktop Survivors 98

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