Desolation Tycoon

About

Desolation Tycoon is a city-building simulation game set on a post-apocalyptic planet. As the leader of a corporation, players must gather resources, establish infrastructure, and manage citizens to build a thriving metropolis amidst harsh desert conditions. Balance economic growth, social welfare, and environmental sustainability to ensure your corporation's dominance in this challenging, dynamic world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Desolation Tycoon offers a minimalist yet surprisingly addictive gameplay experience, combining trading mechanics with exploration in a post-apocalyptic setting.
The game features a charming pixel art style and a soothing atmosphere, making it enjoyable for players looking for a laid-back gaming experience.
There is a surprising amount of depth in the trading mechanics, with randomized challenges and a variety of encounters that keep the gameplay engaging.

The game suffers from a lack of polish and depth, with many players finding it repetitive and bare-bones, leading to a grindy experience.
There are significant issues with the game's save system, as losing your hard drive means losing all progress, which can be frustrating for players.
The absence of a clear tutorial or guide can leave new players feeling lost, as they struggle to understand the mechanics and objectives of the game.

gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is characterized by a minimalist and somewhat slow progression system, focusing heavily on trading mechanics that can be both simple and engaging. While the core loop is addictive and encourages repeated playthroughs, some players find it lacking in depth and variety, with limited rewards for progress. Overall, the game offers an interesting experience despite its spartan mechanics and slower pace.
- “Simple but sometimes tricky, nice idea behind the game, essential gameplay yet it quite catches the attention.”
- “The core gameplay loop is somewhat spartan, but highly addictive.”
- “On one hand the minimalist gameplay and rogue-lite structure make it very easy to pick, reduces the annoyance of catastrophic failures and keeps you coming back for more as every playthrough contributes to global unlocks.”
- “I dislike the slow meta progression, the somewhat slow gameplay, and how much the game revolves around trading.”
- “The main drawback is the spartan gameplay/art; you may want just a bit more.”
- “But if you’re looking for effective rewards for progress, emergent gameplay, or options to flavor a gameplay loop, you won’t find them here.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
56%
33%
The game's story is criticized for its lack of an overarching narrative, leaving players wanting more depth and connection to the world. While some users suggest the inclusion of dialogue, mini-story quests, and a quest log to enhance engagement, the absence of a cohesive storyline detracts from the overall experience. Players express a desire for more structured quests that encourage exploration and provide context to their journey.
- “Not necessary, but maybe some dialogue or a special scheme that allows you to learn more about any backstory and/or gives you access to special excavations, etc.”
- “Now, for the downsides... I think the main downside of the game is its lack of an overarching storyline that spans your career or even the world.”
- “The quests also force the player to travel to towns they might not plan on going.”
- “Mini-story quests involving some special characters would be great too if you don't want to delve too much into the story of the game world as a whole.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
13%
38%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a satisfying pixel art style that complements its post-apocalyptic theme, appealing particularly to fans of 8-bit aesthetics. While the visuals are generally well-received, some players feel that the artwork could benefit from more variety and lore-specific elements. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate and fitting for the game's mechanics, enhancing the engaging gameplay experience.
- “The visuals are done in a satisfying pixel art style that, in my opinion, fits the post-apocalyptic theme of the game.”
- “The game gets bonus points if you like post-apocalyptic aesthetics.”
- “The art style is interesting and visually pleasing, and the gameplay is not complicated, but very engaging.”
- “The trailer shows you the graphics you will get, and you will get nothing more.”
- “Desolation Tycoon would benefit from more lore-specific quests, unique encounters, and more varied artwork.”
- “While the graphics may seem simple, this trading simulator has some deeper and more interlaced mechanics.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for being laid-back and minimalist, contributing to an enjoyable experience that enhances its fun trading mechanics. Players find it a great value, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a relaxed gaming environment.
- “This game is great for the price (I got it at $15 CAD) and I would happily recommend this to anyone who wants a more laid-back, minimalist experience with some great atmosphere.”
- “Fun little trading game with a nice atmosphere.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the game to be quite grindy, indicating that it requires repetitive tasks to progress, though they also acknowledge some good ideas within its simplicity.
- “This game is very simple, with no key rebinds and a grindy experience, despite having some good ideas.”
- “The grinding aspect feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the grinding to be a major drawback, as it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players appreciate the replayability of the game, as each session unlocks new towns and content, encouraging continued exploration and engagement.
- “There is replay value because every game you play will unlock parts of new towns with new content in the long run.”
- “Each playthrough offers a unique experience, with different choices leading to new outcomes and discoveries.”
- “The game encourages multiple runs, as each decision you make can drastically change the story and gameplay dynamics.”
- “The game lacks significant replayability; once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back.”
- “While there are different paths to take, the overall experience feels repetitive after the first playthrough.”
- “The limited variety in quests and missions makes it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music in the game is praised for its quality, enhancing the overall experience, while the graphics are considered adequate but not exceptional. Players appreciate the engaging gameplay that encourages continued play, despite some reservations about the font choice.
- “The music is very nice, enhancing the overall experience of the game.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, making each moment feel more immersive.”
- “I love how the music sets the tone and atmosphere, drawing me deeper into the game.”