Dex

A gritty, cyberpunk action-RPG that doles out punishment and interesting story-telling in equal measure.

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Dex is a single-player, open world Science Fiction action-RPG with a dense atmosphere and a mature, emotional story, allowing you to customize your character's skills, equipment, and augmentations for real-time combat. Inspired by Blade Runner and Neuromancer, the game features a revolutionary hacking mechanic, stunning graphics, and a good soundtrack, but is weighed down by bugs and requires grinding.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,879 reviews

story934 positive mentions

grinding80 negative mentions

Engaging cyberpunk atmosphere with a well-crafted world and interesting characters.
Multiple ways to approach quests and character progression, allowing for different playstyles.
Good voice acting and a compelling story that keeps players invested.

Combat mechanics are clunky and can feel repetitive, especially in melee encounters.
Hacking mini-game is tedious and lacks depth, detracting from the overall experience.
The game can feel short and some players may find the endings unsatisfying.

story
2,648 mentions
35 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of *Dex* is a compelling blend of classic cyberpunk themes, featuring a protagonist navigating a dystopian world filled with corporate intrigue and personal choices. While the main narrative may follow familiar tropes, it is enriched by well-crafted side quests that enhance character development and world-building, offering multiple outcomes based on player decisions. However, some players noted issues with pacing and clarity, particularly in the main storyline, which can feel rushed or underdeveloped compared to the engaging side content.
- “The cyberpunk setting is very well made, the plot is on-point and interesting, with great final revelations.”
- “The story is excellent, music and voice acting are all top notch.”
- “Dex's story mirrors the challenges we face when we embrace technology, and the choices we make define our path.”
- “As relatively open-ended as the game is, and as much degree of freedom the game systems and character building allows you to have, don't expect that to carry through to the story.”
- “The game’s main story isn’t anything too surprising.”
- “The lacking storyline, which is mostly derivative of other works in the genre, the shallow gameplay and especially the annoying hacking weren’t really all that fun and there’s an overall lack of polish to the entire affair.”
gameplay
1,087 mentions
30 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Dex" is a mixed bag, with players praising its engaging cyberpunk atmosphere and RPG elements, but criticizing its clunky mechanics and uneven combat. While the game offers a variety of playstyles, including stealth and hacking, many find the controls imprecise and the combat repetitive, leading to frustration. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for its story and exploration, but it suffers from a lack of polish and refinement in its core gameplay mechanics.
- “Gameplay-wise, it's a gem, with many opportunities and the possibility to play the way you prefer.”
- “The gameplay is challenging but rewarding - a mishmash of different genres and new ideas.”
- “Overall, Dex offers a compelling cyberpunk experience with a captivating storyline, immersive world, and flexible gameplay mechanics.”
- “The first real taste of combat was excessively difficult and the gameplay just feels very clunky to play.”
- “The actual gameplay mechanics are sufficient for the purpose, but wouldn't make the game enjoyable on their own (like the platform elements are there but feel clunky, the melee fighting is tedious while the ranged is awkward and many times inefficient, hacking is absolutely enjoyable just a little repetitive and once again, clunky controls).”
- “The gameplay is just way too repetitive and rough around all the edges.”
graphics
664 mentions
54 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Dex" have received a generally positive reception, with many praising its beautiful hand-drawn art style and atmospheric pixel graphics that effectively capture the cyberpunk aesthetic. While some reviewers noted that the visuals may not be as polished as those in AAA titles, they appreciated the game's charming retro design and immersive environments. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's unique atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding character animations and a lack of modern graphical fidelity.
- “The game's art style is nothing short of brilliant.”
- “Beautiful cyberpunk aesthetic.”
- “The graphics suit the game amazingly well, with 2D sort of 'pixelated' art.”
- “Graphics and animation are a little rough, and combat is wonky as hell, but it's a decent little cyberpunk platformer.”
- “Honestly just not worth the money, the gameplay is clunky, the combat mechanics are extremely lacking and the visuals seem rushed and half done.”
- “With rudimentary graphics and very little variety in design, it simply lacked any form of depth to feel engaging.”
music
534 mentions
58 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its ability to enhance the cyberpunk atmosphere and fit the game's aesthetic. While some players found the soundtrack to be immersive and memorable, others criticized it for being repetitive or not particularly original. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the experience, though it may not stand out as exceptional for all players.
- “The music is beautiful and it is clear that this game was made with love.”
- “The soundtrack was excellent, with some great music throughout and the main theme, which played at certain times in the main story, did a great job of supplementing those moments and really added to the experience.”
- “The music is absolutely my favorite part of the game next to the artstyle.”
- “Some characters almost get drowned out by the soundtrack at times.”
- “There doesn’t seem to be any ducking present in the game to make sure the music quiets down whenever characters are speaking.”
- “To be honest, the music sucked so bad that I ended up turning it off halfway through the game and leaving it off for the rest of the game.”
atmosphere
357 mentions
66 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Dex" is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed cyberpunk setting, characterized by stunning hand-drawn visuals, a neo-noir art style, and a fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a gritty, dystopian feel, effectively capturing the essence of the cyberpunk genre while providing a cohesive and engaging world to explore. Despite some gameplay flaws, the atmospheric elements, including character writing and environmental design, are noted as standout features that contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Dex creates an incredibly vivid cyberpunk atmosphere to those seeking a nostalgic, oldschool gaming experience.”
- “The atmosphere is fantastic, and the soundtrack is okay except with that out of place tribal sounding fighting music.”
- “The atmosphere, soundtrack, art and voiceovers are all on the money, the world feels 'alive' and there are many stories to discover.”
- “Somewhat mechanically flawed and a buggy game with great atmosphere.”
- “Tldr: there's definitely some love put into this game, the idea is solid, the story is... okay, the atmosphere is where it should be for a game like this, but it just doesn't work overall, it has no polish and the small budget they clearly had wasn't used well.”
- “Totally amazing story and atmosphere completely let down by a shockingly boring and anti-climactic ending.”
grinding
82 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspects of the game to be tedious and unengaging, particularly in combat and hacking mechanics, which are often described as repetitive and poorly executed. While there is no traditional farming for experience or resources, the gameplay can feel like a slog due to clunky controls and unbalanced enemy encounters. However, some players appreciate the focus on story and side quests, which can help mitigate the tedium.
- “Pros: no farming, just story”
- “The actual gameplay mechanics are sufficient for the purpose, but wouldn't make the game enjoyable on their own; the melee fighting is tedious while the ranged is awkward and many times inefficient, and hacking is absolutely enjoyable just a little repetitive and once again, clunky controls.”
- “I find the combat unplayably tedious.”
- “Just mechanically grinding through boring, copy-paste enemies.”
replayability
67 mentions
12 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits low to moderate replayability, with many players noting that while it offers a solid narrative and enjoyable gameplay, the limited branching paths and character builds do not significantly enhance replay value. Most reviews indicate that the game can be completed in a relatively short time (around 10-16 hours), and while some choices and endings provide a degree of replayability, many players feel it lacks the depth typical of more replayable RPGs. Ultimately, it seems best suited for a single playthrough rather than multiple runs.
- “The game also offers multiple branching paths and choices that affect the outcome, adding replayability and a sense of player agency.”
- “The variety of side quests, the relevance to dialog and decisions made, plus having multiple endings gives it decent replay value.”
- “Definitely quality over quantity here, even despite having a decent run-time; especially for a game that is $20 MSRP normally, has been on sale around for $3 a few times, and likely is very replayable (because of different character builds, choices, and ways to approach things) - you'll definitely get your money's worth here.”
- “Dex provides ~14 hours of enjoyment if you want to do everything and is your kind of bread, but replayability is basically nonexistent.”
- “There is barely any replay value that is worth the time spent playing.”
- “Sadly the game is rather short and has little replay value as most of the endings are decided in the last chapter and you can easily replay all of the endings.”
stability
61 mentions
3 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay and progression. While some users noted improvements in stability after patches, others experienced significant issues, particularly on certain platforms like Linux. Overall, while the game offers a solid experience, it is marred by mechanical flaws and bugs that may frustrate players.
- “I found no glitches in the game to really distract from the enjoyment.”
- “Not sure what that was all about, but it runs great for me.”
- “Game is very buggy to the point of making it impossible to progress in the story.”
- “Its very buggy, and some of the bugs can actually impede further progress in the game.”
- “So buggy I couldn't even finish the game.”
humor
46 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with many players enjoying the witty dialogue and engaging characters that range from lovable to morally ambiguous. While some mechanics and combat elements may fall flat, the game's quirky glitches and humorous scenarios often lead to laughter, making it a fun experience overall. The blend of sardonic humor and entertaining interactions keeps the tone light, ensuring that players don't take the game too seriously.
- “I died in the first 10 minutes climbing a glitched invisible ladder that extended up into the sky off-screen where you eventually are dropped down to your death. I want my $ back but got it on sale for $2. Maybe I'll play it again, but at this point, I'm laughing too hard to take this game seriously.”
- “The humor: many of Dex's responses to the other characters in the game will crack you up.”
- “It performs well, it has just the right amount of humor and intrigue, never takes itself entirely seriously, and definitely doesn't overstay its welcome.”
optimization
40 mentions
25 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players experiencing constant stuttering, screen tearing, and performance issues, particularly when using vsync. While some users noted decent performance on older hardware and praised the graphics, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from poor optimization, affecting gameplay enjoyment. Minor glitches and animation frame issues further detract from the experience, leaving players hoping for future improvements.
- “The art style is quite good, the performance is decent, and the world itself is interesting.”
- “Everything controls fine and plays well with a controller here, feeling smooth as can be, whether kicking & punching or shooting in this 2D-style game - especially when running the game at modern settings such as 4K with 60fps and never taking any performance hits.”
- “Graphic performance was very good on my five-year-old gaming laptop, with a predictable 2-3 second freeze when entering for the first time, as if the game was loading in resources.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is very poorly optimized.”
- “It is hard to enjoy it with the constant stuttering.”
- “This game is poorly optimized: without VSync, the screen tearing is unbearable (up to a third of the screen width on a 1920x1200 monitor), and VSync is very performance-demanding (16-20 fps on a GTX 970 is unacceptable for a 2D game).”
character development
31 mentions
26 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and nuance, allowing players to make meaningful choices that impact the story and character outcomes. However, some reviewers feel that certain characters lack distinctiveness and that the illusion of choice can be limiting. Overall, the combination of rich storytelling, engaging dialogue, and a well-structured character development system contributes to a compelling gameplay experience.
- “I just started this game but it really surprised me how rich and complex it is, especially when it comes to dialogues, character development, movement mechanics, and fighting.”
- “The game offers a lot in terms of story and character development, giving you choices regarding the outcomes of many quests and the ending.”
- “There's choice and consequence, character development and skill, non-fluff dialogue options... design and writing is to the point; you'll find neither filler combat nor filler dialogue - anything you need to know about characters and the world is developed by the advance of the story, no 'codex' entries or info-dumps.”
- “Even if you toss your personal ethos out of the window for some more experience and cash or take the moral high ground, the feeling that Dex is just being tossed around without many 'true choices' per se can be limiting in terms of character development.”
- “Character design isn’t unappealing, but none of the cast really stand out either.”
- “There is real promise here in the world building and character development, but the terrible gameplay is too much to make up for.”
emotional
20 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed feedback; while some players found moments that resonated with them, such as a tearful response, others felt that the endings lacked significant emotional payoff and depth in character development. The voice performances enhance the emotional weight of the story, but many reviewers noted a flat emotional response to the characters' plights, suggesting that deeper connections could have been fostered. Overall, the game effectively propels the narrative forward but may not leave a lasting emotional impact.
- “Edit: I cried a little.”
- “Voices performed well, and help a lot to give emotional weight to the story.”
- “Dex, Decker, Tony, Mr. Holm, Connor... their personalities do emit soul-touching cyberpunk tropes and memes, which makes them classic but also special at the same time.”
monetization
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for misleading advertising, particularly regarding "full controller support" which is reportedly ineffective. Players feel that the game's mechanics, such as slow weapon swapping and excessive gun flare, detract from the experience, leading to frustration, especially given the game's price point and the expectation of polished features.
- “If they were in early access still this would have been fine, but I paid for this because it was advertising Linux support.”
- “Sometimes you feel you just have to stop and inspect the ads or the graffiti on the walls.”
- “I'm not talking merely about the aesthetic either, but it is part of the package with its gloomy and despairing locales contrasted with neon advertisements and jacked up people who think nothing about augmenting themselves with implants.”