Dreadlands

About

Dreadlands is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game. It was developed by Blackfox Studios and was released on March 10, 2020. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

"Dreadlands is a turn-based strategy game that offers both single and multiplayer options, including co-op and PvP. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where resources are scarce and control over them is key. Tactical combat and a morale system contribute to the game's depth, as players navigate through diverse regions, facing treacherous terrain and hostile inhabitants in their pursuit of the valuable resource, Glow."

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57%

Audience ScoreBased on 147 reviews

story9 positive mentions

stability11 negative mentions

Dreadlands offers a vibrant and gritty post-apocalyptic setting with a unique comic-book aesthetic that enhances its charm.
The tactical combat system is engaging, allowing for a mix of planning and improvisation, with mechanics like morale and card-based tactics adding depth.
The game features diverse factions, each with distinct playstyles and abilities, providing a layer of replayability and strategic variety.

The game suffers from pacing issues and repetitive mission structures, leading to a sense of monotony over time.
Technical problems, including crashes and bugs, significantly detract from the overall experience, making it feel unfinished.
The narrative and character development are weak, with a lack of depth in the story and dialogue, which may disappoint players seeking a rich narrative experience.

story
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
84%
4%
The game's story is generally considered minimal and unengaging, serving primarily as a backdrop for repetitive mission structures that include common objectives like rescues and eliminations. While there are various factions and side quests that add some depth, the overall narrative lacks nuance and fails to captivate players, leading many to view it as a secondary aspect of the gameplay experience. Despite a functional world map and some interesting concepts, the story does not provide enough incentive for exploration or investment, with many players suggesting that those seeking a rich narrative should look elsewhere.
- “The art style is pleasing to the eye and fits the overarching story being told in the deadlands.”
- “Great thing is also you can find some settlements on the map, each with its own story, merchants, and quests that increase your reputation in that settlement, opening up more quests.”
- “Both gangs start in different locations and have different story missions that you can play through.”
- “The story, though serviceable, rarely rises above its role as background flavor.”
- “It's essentially a Wasteland 2 clone, but with the most unimaginative story and about 10 hours of play until everything becomes repetitive.”
- “You sense there might have been some backstory to the evolution of the three main gang factions, but you’re not told -- this was a wasted opportunity.”
gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
76%
7%
The gameplay is characterized by tactical turn-based mechanics reminiscent of XCOM, featuring cover systems, action points, and unique faction abilities that enhance strategic depth. While the game offers a variety of mechanics, including a card system and ammo management, some players find the experience marred by bugs, pacing issues, and a lack of tactical depth compared to its peers. Overall, it presents a mix of engaging and frustrating elements, appealing to fans of the genre but leaving some players wanting more refinement.
- “Set in a world shattered by catastrophe and consumed by tribal warfare, it invites players to command small gangs of survivors in a struggle for control over a mysterious resource known as 'glow.' The game takes familiar tactical mechanics—cover systems, action points, overwatch—and infuses them with a sense of improvisation and personality.”
- “Mastering both mechanical precision and adaptability is essential, especially as battles grow more complex and enemies more cunning.”
- “Each faction feels mechanically and thematically unique, not only in combat style but also in their narrative flavor.”
- “The sound of the game is terrible, the gameplay is also terrible.”
- “Poor graphics, jagged gameplay.”
- “Unfortunately, Dreadlands never felt as tactical as XCOM, and mechanics like weapon jamming distract from the pace and overall experience.”
graphics
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
62%
11%
The graphics of Dreadlands feature a vibrant comic-book aesthetic that effectively balances its brutal themes with a colorful and stylized presentation, setting it apart from more serious tactical games. While many players appreciate the unique art style and animations, some have noted performance issues, low frame rates, and limited graphical options that detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the visuals are generally praised for their creativity and ability to evoke a post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
- “Rather than aiming for grim realism, Dreadlands adopts a colorful comic-book aesthetic that softens its brutality without losing its edge.”
- “The art style embraces bold outlines, exaggerated proportions, and saturated colors that evoke a post-apocalyptic comic book brought to life.”
- “Great visuals, interesting setting, loads of attitude.”
- “I had to put graphics to medium because the FPS is low (my PC is plenty powerful enough for this).”
- “Very limited configuration menu as far as graphics are concerned.”
- “Visuals are medium to very poor, especially in the open map that looks like the dev team never got around to actually finishing.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the energetic and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the experience, others criticize it for being repetitive and poorly mixed, particularly in different environments like towns and combat. Additionally, technical issues such as sound stuttering detract from the overall enjoyment of the audio experience. Overall, the music complements the visuals well, but improvements in diversity and sound mixing are needed.
- “The animation and sound design complement the visuals well: gunfire and explosions have satisfying impact, and the soundtrack hums with percussive energy and industrial rhythms that keep the adrenaline high.”
- “With excellent and fitting music, especially on the world map!”
- “The music is atmospheric and perfectly fits into the world but could be a bit more diversified.”
- “The game could be so much better for the video being so choppy that's just sad and the songs player, omg mute that.”
- “The sound/music is just as bad, especially in the base or towns.”
- “The sound is mixed badly, the music is very loud inside towns while you can barely hear it in combat.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by significant stability issues, with numerous users reporting it as "incredibly buggy" and "borderline unplayable," particularly in co-op mode. While some players appreciate the setting and gameplay, the overwhelming consensus is that the bugs severely detract from the overall experience, with many citing game-breaking glitches and poor UI as major concerns.
- “I love the setting and combat, but the game is so buggy it's borderline unplayable.”
- “This would be a really fun little game but it is incredibly buggy to the point of being unplayable.”
- “However, given how immensely buggy the game is (multiplayer doubly so).”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, particularly for casual gamers, with many noting that it detracts from the overall experience due to a weak narrative and lack of map variety. While some appreciate the graphics and atmosphere, the repetitive nature of grinding for upgrades and character progression is seen as tedious and unengaging, leading to a mediocre gaming experience.
- “The game is just too grindy for a casual play game.”
- “Weak narrative, lack of variety in maps coupled with superficial design, grinding, and poor optimization result in a mediocre gaming experience.”
- “As a result, there’s a lot of grinding required to perform a simple upgrade.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
Overall, the optimization of the game has been criticized for causing significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, even on capable hardware. Users have reported specific problems with laptop graphics card compatibility, leading to continuous audio stuttering, which further detracts from the gaming experience.
- “There was also a major optimization issue with graphics cards in laptops, causing the music and sound to stutter continuously.”
- “Won't stop stuttering at 3 fps, and I have a pretty good rig too.”
- “Performance is sub-par.”
- “There was also a major optimization issue with graphics cards in laptops, causing the music/sound to stutter continuously.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and slang-infused dialogue that adds authenticity to its absurd wasteland setting, though opinions on its effectiveness vary. While some players appreciate the witty character interactions, others feel the humor falls flat and lacks genuine comedic impact. Overall, the humor serves as a backdrop to a more strategic and challenging gameplay experience.
- “Beneath the stylized visuals and humor lies a challenging, methodical experience that rewards strategy, adaptability, and a touch of calculated risk-taking.”
- “Characters speak in slang and dark humor, giving the setting a sense of life and authenticity amid the wasteland’s absurdity.”
- “I really like this genre and I see the potential; the texts between the characters are humorously written.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with engaging dialogue and story enhancing the experience. Players appreciate the cool graphics and immersive sound design, although some suggest that the music could benefit from greater variety. Despite minor bugs, the overall ambiance contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “The gameplay is fun, the atmosphere is amazing, and while I have encountered a few silly bugs and a single crash-to-desktop in 20 hours of play, I don't mind as none caused me any long-term issues.”
- “Bit grindy but cool graphics and atmosphere, getting that mutant feeling.”
- “The music is atmospheric and perfectly fits into the world but could be a bit more diversified.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is significantly enhanced by the ability to switch between factions, which alters battle strategies and resource management, encouraging players to explore various playstyles.
- “Switching between factions dramatically changes the way you approach battles and resource management, adding a layer of replayability that encourages trying different playstyles.”
- “Each playthrough offers unique challenges and story outcomes, making it hard to resist diving back in for another round.”
- “The variety of character builds and strategies keeps the gameplay fresh, ensuring that no two sessions feel the same.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a wry, self-aware writing style that complements its chaotic charm, though it lacks depth and intense emotional engagement.
- “The writing, while not deep or emotionally charged, has a wry, self-aware tone that fits the world’s chaotic charm.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is currently in early access, and several features related to monetization, such as microtransactions and additional content, have yet to be implemented, leaving players uncertain about the final monetization model.