Desolation Tycoon

About

Desolation Tycoon is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Iron Boar Labs Ltd. and was released on January 14, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

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

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Desolation Tycoon offers a surprisingly addictive gameplay loop with a minimalist design that appeals to players looking for a laid-back experience.
The game features a unique post-apocalyptic aesthetic and solid lore, providing a sense of exploration and discovery as players engage in trading and resource management.
Despite its simplicity, the game has depth in its trading mechanics and offers replayability through randomized challenges and global unlocks.

The game lacks polish and can feel bare-bones, with many players noting a repetitive grind and limited gameplay options that restrict player freedom.
There are significant issues with save data, as losing access to the hard drive means losing all progress, which can be frustrating for players.
The absence of a tutorial or clear guidance can leave new players confused about the mechanics, making it difficult to fully enjoy the game.

gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay is characterized by a minimalist and somewhat spartan design that, while addictive, may feel slow and overly reliant on trading mechanics. Players appreciate the simple yet engaging core loop and the intriguing world-building, but some express disappointment in the lack of effective rewards for progress and depth in gameplay options. Overall, it offers a unique experience that encourages repeated playthroughs, despite its limitations.
- “Simple but sometimes tricky; there's a nice idea behind the game, and the essential gameplay 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 up, reduce the annoyance of catastrophic failures, and keep 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.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
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 unique elements. Overall, the graphics align with the game's concept, though some users expressed minor dissatisfaction with the font choice.
- “The visuals are done in a satisfying pixel art style that, in my opinion, fits the post-apocalyptic theme of the game.”
- “Music is very nice, graphics are okay and fit the style (although I am not a fan of the font), and the gameplay is thought out well and has a bit of a 'just one more turn' effect.”
- “The trailer shows you the graphics you will get, and you will get nothing more.”
- “Desolution Tycoon would benefit from more varied artwork.”
- “The game gets bonus points if you like post-apocalyptic aesthetics.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for being laid-back and minimalist, creating an enjoyable experience that enhances its fun trading mechanics. Players find it to be a great value, particularly for its price, and recommend it for those seeking a relaxing 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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be quite grindy, which may detract from the overall experience, despite acknowledging some good ideas within its simple design.
- “This game is very simple: no key rebinds, grindy, but it has some good ideas.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players find the game highly replayable due to the unlocking of new towns and content with each playthrough, encouraging exploration and continued engagement.
- “There is replay value because every game you play will unlock parts of new towns with new content in the long run.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The music in the game is consistently praised as very nice, enhancing the overall experience, while the graphics are considered adequate but not universally appealing, particularly regarding the font choice.
- “The music is very nice, enhancing the overall experience of the game.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, making each moment more engaging.”
- “The music adds a delightful layer to the game, creating an immersive atmosphere.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users suggest that while a detailed story is not essential, incorporating dialogue or a system to explore backstory and unlock special content could enhance the experience.