Devolverland Expo

About

Devolverland Expo is a single player shooter game. It was developed by Flying Wild Hog and was released on July 11, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

Devolverland Expo is a first-person 'marketing simulator' set within an abandoned convention center after the annual Devolver Digital game expo was mysteriously canceled. Break into the convention center and avoid the advanced security systems to watch and retrieve all the trailers, gameplay demo videos, and other secrets lost in the expo's cancellation.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,666 reviews

gameplay41 positive mentions

monetization286 negative mentions

Innovative concept that creatively showcases upcoming games in a virtual expo format.
Fun gameplay elements, including stealth mechanics and a boss fight, enhance the experience.
High-quality graphics and immersive environments make the expo feel engaging and visually appealing.

Performance issues, including lag and crashes, detract from the overall experience.
Lack of a save feature forces players to complete the game in one sitting, which can be frustrating.
Mandatory trailer watching can feel tedious, especially when replaying for achievements.

monetization
291 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The monetization aspect of the game is primarily centered around its nature as an interactive advertisement for other titles, particularly those from Devolver Digital. While many players appreciate the creativity and execution of this advertising format, describing it as enjoyable and innovative, others criticize it for lacking substantial gameplay and being overly focused on promoting other games. Overall, it is seen as a unique approach to advertising, albeit one that may not appeal to everyone due to its heavy reliance on ads.
- “Recommending this is a no-brainer since this interactive exposition is free, also free of microtransactions, also knows exactly what it is and wants to be, looks great and works properly.”
- “With the ever-burdening world of microtransactions and preorders, this is a breath of fresh air.”
- “Ultimately you are playing an advertisement.”
- “The gameplay is almost non-existent, there is no challenge whatsoever and you're forced to watch ads; not even the escape button works anymore when ads are on the screen.”
- “Despite the fact it is a major advertisement for other games, there was quite a bit of effort put into this game.”
gameplay
179 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
69%
8%
The gameplay of Devolverland Expo is primarily a marketing tool, featuring basic mechanics such as stealth and shooting with a t-shirt cannon, while serving as a platform to showcase trailers for upcoming games. Many players found the gameplay to be simplistic and lacking depth, often comparing it to a walking simulator with minimal challenge, yet some appreciated the novelty and fun of the experience. Overall, while the game offers a unique approach to advertising, it is criticized for its rudimentary gameplay and reliance on promotional content rather than providing a fully fleshed-out gaming experience.
- “Instead of just releasing a YouTube showcase or a stream, they decided to make the entire thing a playable game with puzzles and actual game mechanics, kind of a genius move.”
- “The gameplay is a mix of stealth and walking simulator, with a boss fight at the end.”
- “This is a clever way for a publisher to show off trailers, with just enough gameplay to elevate this to something better than clicking videos on YouTube.”
- “There isn’t much gameplay, so unless you want to spend around 30 minutes wandering through dark rooms, there’s really no reason to download it.”
- “Although free, the gameplay is not good enough to cover up that this game is just a collection of glorified ads.”
- “You will easily spend more time watching trailers than in actual gameplay, which consists of going through essentially empty buildings.”
graphics
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
43%
2%
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their impressive quality and attention to detail, often described as stunning and better than expected for a free promotional title. Many players noted that the visuals enhance the overall experience, creating an engaging atmosphere, although some experienced performance issues and crashes even on capable hardware. Overall, the game's graphics are a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal despite some limitations in graphical settings and gameplay mechanics.
- “The graphics were incredible, the sound engineering was crazy good, and the exhibits were top-notch!”
- “The graphics are amazing and the fact that it's free just blows me away.”
- “This was a super cool way to show off some new games that are coming out, and the graphics for this were stunning.”
- “The only negatives I'd list are purely visual - near the end of the expo, you can retrieve a special item, and instantly the graphics in that room degrade to blocks and muddy pixels.”
- “While certainly unique, the 'game' or marketing material (whatever you want to call it) runs very poorly, even when meeting recommended specs (just barely in the case of my system, and even then, couldn't get the thing hitting a consistent 60fps even with graphical settings dramatically reduced).”
- “The high-resolution graphics make it inaccessible to everyone that doesn't have a powerful PC, and if I'm playing a 30-minute game with zero demos and some lazy gameplay and zero story, at least cut back on the graphics and let everyone enjoy it.”
optimization
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
46%
38%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, crashes, and high resource usage, even on lower settings. Many players noted that it feels poorly optimized compared to other titles, leading to a frustrating experience despite the game's interesting concept. While it is free to play, the lack of stability and optimization detracts from its overall enjoyment.
- “The game looks pretty good visually, but it suffers from poor optimization.”
- “Good idea, but suffers from serious performance issues.”
- “Despite varying user performance and unstable optimization, this 'marketing simulator' is a genuinely creative idea in terms of interactive presentation.”
- “However, it is badly optimized.”
- “Looking at task manager, the game uses up to 4500 MB of RAM; I've played asset flips that were better optimized than this game.”
- “The game's performance is like a hybrid of a dumpster fire and a train wreck, but everything else seems pretty good.”
story
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
77%
5%
The story in Devolverland Expo is largely minimal and serves primarily as a vehicle for showcasing upcoming games rather than providing a compelling narrative. Players encounter a loose framework involving a canceled expo and some light interactions with a security bot, but overall, the experience is more about exploring game trailers than engaging with a deep storyline. While some appreciate the creative marketing approach, many reviewers feel the story is underdeveloped and not a significant draw for the game.
- “When I first booted up Devolverland Expo, I fully expected the game just to be a walking sim where you just explore the booths and watch trailers, but I was genuinely shocked that it's much more than that with actual combat and puzzle solving to actually advance through the story.”
- “This is amazing and honestly more than a virtual expo, an actual fun game with a mini story.”
- “Devolverland Expo lore is some of the best storytelling over the years.”
- “There's generally no story in the Devolverland Expo experience.”
- “This game is mostly a marketing game and has no storyline or anything that would compel the player to continue playing.”
- “The 'story' is quite poor if I'm being perfectly honest with you.”
humor
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is widely appreciated for its quirky, self-aware style, with many players finding it both entertaining and clever in its approach to marketing upcoming titles. While some reviews note that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain elements feeling repetitive or lacking depth, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a fun and lighthearted experience filled with amusing easter eggs and absurd scenarios. Devolver Digital's signature blend of irony and playful absurdity shines through, making it a memorable, albeit short, comedic venture.
- “Devolver Digital, for another year, turns E3 into something unique and hilarious.”
- “It's creative, beautiful, funny, and entertaining, and such a great way to show off upcoming games.”
- “Very awesome idea from Devolver Digital, I hope lots of people see this because it's a great idea and it's funny.”
stability
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
98%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues such as freezing and lagging, even on systems that meet recommended specifications. While some players found the overall concept enjoyable, the persistent technical problems detracted significantly from the experience, leading to a general consensus that the game is currently too buggy for a smooth playthrough.
- “The game runs smoothly without any major bugs or glitches.”
- “I've experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
- “The stability of the game allows for an immersive experience without interruptions.”
- “I would and will recommend the game to those looking for an adventure, unique concepts or settings, seeking titles to play, or short time-wasters, if they are okay with a buggy experience.”
- “When it freezes (and I've lowered my graphics settings even though I have a good computer), I have to go out and start again.”
- “The game ran terribly for me, had a constantly low framerate and was plagued by a myriad of framerate drops - so far that I had actual freezes, especially during the sw3 trailer wherein the app froze for a minute or two.”
atmosphere
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
25%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its unique blend of eerie vibes and creative design elements that evoke a convention-like experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the environment, which enhances the overall enjoyment, although some express frustration with gameplay elements that disrupt the atmospheric immersion. Overall, the game successfully combines stunning visuals and a captivating mood, making it a standout feature for many users.
- “I really enjoyed the concept and they did well bringing it to life with the atmosphere they created.”
- “The atmosphere created is, honestly, really unique and almost survival-horror-ish.”
- “The atmosphere conveys a dark, almost eerie vibe, though any real sense of danger is minimal.”
- “That said, I have my problems with this title and the biggest one of those are the security robots that, possibly in order to maintain some kind of challenge for the player, or lure them in with 'action', constantly annoy the hell out of anyone that tries to enjoy the art design and lighting, game booths, or general atmosphere.”
- “As a walking simulator/exploration game that solely relies on atmosphere, collectibles, and its surroundings, this could work if it wasn't for the 'enemies'.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
52%
12%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its quality and atmosphere, particularly noting its "Stranger Things" vibes and enjoyable soundtrack during specific moments. However, others criticize the lack of consistent music throughout the gameplay, describing it as a weak point and highlighting that much of the experience feels empty without a continuous score. Overall, while the music enhances certain aspects, it is not consistently integrated into the gameplay.
- “I especially loved the music from the trailers echoing as you get closer to the booths.”
- “The music and art screams Stranger Things vibes you'll see :) main menu music most of all.”
- “The music is wonderful as well.”
- “No music to fill the void.”
- “Level, music, and sound design is nothing special.”
- “As for the soundtrack, apart from the sounds and the voice acting, you don't have any music (apart from when entering a booth).”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that while it may be enjoyable on the first playthrough, it lacks depth and incentive for repeated play. Some users mention minor replay value through achievements and collectibles, but the consensus is that the game feels more like a marketing tool than a standalone experience, limiting its long-term engagement. Despite its short length, a few players appreciate the novelty and simplicity, suggesting that it can still be fun for those looking to complete it fully.
- “The graphics are way better than you'd expect for just a marketing gimmick; it's a novel way of showcasing other games and somehow it has a bit of replayability with the hidden game collectibles.”
- “Although the length of time to play this game isn't that long, the replay value of this simple idea keeps the 'expo' going and going.”
- “It's super short but has some replay value to it if you want to 100% complete it for all the achievements.”
- “A very short game that's fun on the first playthrough, but has very little replay value.”
- “As a marketing strategy, it effectively showcases upcoming titles and keeps players engaged, but as a standalone game, it lacks depth and replayability.”
- “There's almost zero replayability, but that's fine because it's free and that's not really the point.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
57%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly during the final boss fight, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the virtual games expo concept. Many reviewers express that the need for excessive grinding feels overwhelming, suggesting that the game would benefit from a more streamlined experience without unnecessary obstacles like security bots.
- “So yeah, I'm not quite happy with how this idea turned out because I love the concept of a virtual games expo showcase, but the core loop is a really stressful and tedious balance of avoiding guard bots and searching for collectibles, and that's not all that entertaining.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Ditch the security bots and other bits and pieces which make it a little tedious and just stick to the virtual convention vibe and present information to the player.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users describe the emotional aspect of the experience as deeply moving and nostalgic, evoking feelings of joy and nostalgia akin to childhood wonder. The combination of wholesome storytelling and engaging gameplay elicits strong emotional responses, including laughter and tears, making it a memorable and impactful experience.
- “I've never been to a convention before, so this whole concept and wonderful execution made me feel like a kid in a candy store.”
- “So moving, emotional, and well written.”
- “I laughed, I cried, I consumed product.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Character development in the games is highlighted by unique and memorable character designs, particularly in titles like Serious Sam and Shadowlands 3, which leave a lasting impression. Additionally, some games are noted for their depth and well-crafted character arcs, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
- “The character development in this game is truly impressive, adding depth and complexity to the storyline.”
- “The character designs in Serious Sam and Shadowlands 3 are particularly memorable, showcasing unique and creative concepts.”
- “The depth of the characters really enhances the overall experience, making you feel more connected to the story.”