Duck Season

About

Duck Season is a single player casual shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by Stress Level Zero and was released on September 14, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Duck Season is a horror-themed game set in the 1980s, where you play a newly rented game for the Kingbit Entertainment System. The game offers seven unique endings, seven mini-games, and hidden secrets, creating a unique and immersive experience. With realistic virtual environments, VHS tapes, and mysterious subplots, this game will keep you engaged and intrigued.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,361 reviews

story86 positive mentions

grinding15 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience, effectively capturing the essence of the 80s and 90s with its detailed environment and references.
The shooting mechanics, particularly with the shotgun, are satisfying and immersive, providing a fun gameplay loop despite some initial learning curve.
The story has unexpected twists and multiple endings, encouraging replayability and exploration of the game's secrets.

The gameplay can become repetitive, as players must shoot ducks multiple times to unlock different endings, which may lead to boredom.
The controls, especially for the shotgun, can be finicky and uncomfortable, particularly for users with Valve Index controllers, making the experience frustrating at times.
The game is relatively short, with a main playthrough lasting around an hour, which some players feel does not justify the price.

story
273 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
The game's story is a standout feature, offering a captivating and eerie narrative that unfolds through multiple playthroughs, with seven different endings that enhance replayability. Players appreciate the intriguing plot twists and the immersive atmosphere, although some find the gameplay repetitive and the story progression slow at times. Overall, the storytelling is well-executed, blending nostalgia with horror elements, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven games.
- “The story is really what catches me, an interesting concept that is executed well in the form of seven different endings.”
- “The game amazes with its atmosphere and deep story.”
- “The story ties in to the devs' next two games and is one of the most intriguing stories I've seen in a long time.”
- “The horror portions of this supposed horror game are extremely short and sparse, and nothing of note happens during the first six levels of duck hunt that you play, nor does anything you do in those six levels affect the story, meaning you are forced to trudge through a half hour of mundane, boring VR duck hunt every time you want to try for a different ending.”
- “The story is way over-hyped in the comments, as all the glowing reviews made me want to play this game.”
- “I can't tell you at what point this becomes anything other than a stupid duck shooting game because honestly by the third set of shooting ducks with no story or point to the game I decided to refund it and give a negative review.”
gameplay
195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
53%
14%
The gameplay of "Duck Season" is a mix of nostalgia and innovation, featuring a core mechanic centered around shooting ducks that some players find repetitive and simplistic. While the shotgun mechanics are praised for their realism and responsiveness, many reviews highlight issues with controls and reloading, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers engaging moments and multiple endings, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its unique blend of horror and retro gaming elements.
- “Duck Season has a very fun gameplay loop, and I love all the little adverts and commercials that come on after you play another level of Duck Season.”
- “The gameplay is fun with many random things to do, there's many games that you can play and this game is replayable to the max pretty much.”
- “The shotgun mechanics are simply the best I've seen in a VR game.”
- “The core gameplay is incredibly repetitive, and I would have loved some more modes, but it's a nostalgia bomb wrapped in weirdness and overall I thought it was cool.”
- “The actual gameplay, in which you shoot ducks, is so repetitive it's mind-numbing by the third time you do it.”
- “I found myself becoming bored of the main 'duck hunt' game due to lack of variety in gameplay and environments.”
graphics
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
31%
4%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their impressive detail and nostalgic 80s/90s aesthetic, effectively immersing players in its retro-inspired world. Many reviews highlight the vibrant visuals, polished character models, and interactive environments, contributing to an overall engaging experience. However, some users noted technical issues, such as freezing visuals, which detracted from the otherwise strong graphical performance.
- “The graphics are awesome, especially for a retro-inspired game, and they nail that '80s/90s vibe.”
- “The game's graphics are also impressive, with detailed environments and realistic character models that bring the game's world to life.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the sound and atmosphere are perfect.”
- “The game would run in the background, and I could hear the audio and interact with things, but the visuals were completely frozen and I would have to restart the game.”
- “The idea of this game and graphics are nice, but this just feels terrible.”
- “Yes, the graphics are great, but it is just plain boring.”
replayability
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
74%
6%
Overall, "Duck Season" offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings (seven in total), hidden secrets, and engaging mini-games, encouraging players to explore different paths and experiences. While the main campaign is relatively short, the inclusion of practice mode and various gameplay elements enhances its replay value, making it a worthwhile purchase for those who enjoy discovering all the game has to offer. However, some players note that the gameplay can become repetitive, which may limit long-term engagement.
- “The game also has multiple endings, which adds to its replayability and encourages players to explore different paths.”
- “With 7 different endings, lots of mini-games, and Easter eggs to find, there's a lot of replayability.”
- “The thrill of the story and the replayability of the different endings make this game well worth it.”
- “No replay value, except to pick up VR props and look at them more closely.”
- “It's a bit low at $22 and the replayability is null.”
- “There is some replay value but for $20 you're getting something that can be completed in about an hour.”
humor
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Duck Season" is a standout feature, blending nostalgia with clever, often dark comedic elements that resonate with players. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through its quirky side games, hilarious VHS tapes, and the iconic laughing dog, creating a unique mix of fun and eerie moments. While some players note that the humor can be hit or miss, the overall consensus is that it adds significant charm and enjoyment to the gameplay experience.
- “This is a fun and spooky way to relive some nostalgia, and let's be honest, we all wanted to shoot that dog at some point for laughing at us, lol.”
- “The sense of humor and easter eggs are worth it alone... and the duck hunting is good times, and the aim and reload mechanics work just fine.”
- “Strikes a really nice tone between eerie and ironic, full of thoughtfully nostalgic details and funny little interactions.”
atmosphere
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
37%
7%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the 80s and early 90s through detailed visuals, sound design, and engaging environments. Reviewers highlight the blend of nostalgia and horror, creating a surreal experience that resonates with players, even those unfamiliar with the era. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, elevating the gameplay and making it a memorable experience.
- “The visual style perfectly captures the 80s atmosphere, with detailed environments and smooth animations.”
- “All of this combined together creates such an immersive atmosphere that it really does start to feel like the real life of a 10-year-old.”
- “Great atmosphere, great graphics and excellent sound design together make this a worthwhile experience.”
- “Interesting mix of nostalgia and horror, that has mediocre gameplay, but really one of a kind atmosphere.”
- “Playing it in VR actually made me fear even though you know it's fake just by the atmosphere.”
- “First and foremost, the atmosphere is so well done.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The game's music has been widely praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, featuring a well-crafted soundtrack that blends synthwave and 80s-inspired tunes, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the catchy minigame songs and ambient tracks, which contribute to the game's retro vibe and emotional engagement, although some find the repetitive nature of certain tracks can become tiresome over time. Overall, the music is seen as a significant strength, adding depth and enjoyment to the gameplay.
- “The soundtrack is so well done, with the minigames' songs specifically really showcasing that retro vibe.”
- “The game's soundtrack adds to its nostalgic vibe, with a mix of synthwave and 80s-inspired music that perfectly captures the game's aesthetic.”
- “The audio, the music, and the visuals all combine perfectly to really immerse you into this experience.”
- “There was some story going on in the background and the endless childish music is only getting on my nerves.”
- “There's only so many times I can joyfully shoot at the same duck target, with the same shotgun, to the same music.”
- “The music and duck sound effects were better in that old game too.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
6%
88%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding the pursuit of 100% completion enjoyable and not overly tedious, while others criticize the repetitive nature of certain tasks, particularly the duck shooting segments, which can feel frustrating and lengthy. Many users noted that while the game has fun elements, the grinding required to unlock all endings can become a chore, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the grinding can be seen as a fun diversion for some, but tedious and off-putting for others, especially when aiming for completion.
- “100% completion is really fun and it isn't tedious at all. The most tedious achievement is probably 'Home Run' or 'Pro Gamer.' 'Home Run' because the physics are a little janky and 'Pro Gamer' since it's quite boring, but both take less than 10 minutes to do, so it's okay. The game is fun to 100% complete, and if you're looking for a game to finish to completion, this could definitely be one of them.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “But the fact it takes roughly 2 hours of tedious duck shooting to unlock each of the endings means I probably won't see them all.”
- “This is the game's greatest weakness - after a couple of times playing through the game, the duck hunting feels tedious.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the game as an emotional journey that evokes deep feelings, often reminiscent of childhood experiences, both joyful and painful. The story's impactful moments, such as the poignant ending involving a dog, resonate strongly, leaving a lasting emotional impression. Overall, the game successfully combines fun, horror, and emotional depth, creating a memorable and transformative experience for players.
- “This game is a perfect combo of: fun, emotional, scary and enjoyable all around.”
- “What an emotional rollercoaster.”
- “Wow....just wow....I just played through and got the cannon ending. Wow, it was an emotional ride.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs, particularly with the gun mechanics and controls, such as issues with reloading and recognition of actions. While some players enjoy the gameplay, they note that these technical problems detract from the overall experience, especially for those using specific VR setups like the Valve Index. Despite these issues, some players still find the game enjoyable and appreciate the developers' support in troubleshooting.
- “Totally worth it and runs great.”
- “Buggy controls, the pump action shotgun fails to recognize the pump about half the time, so I ended up failing over and over because the gun wouldn't reload, and yes, I added ammo (a manual process); it's just the pump action that won't work.”
- “The gameplay of the in-game duck hunt analog is equally disappointing, as it presents you with slow, easy shots even on the hardest difficulty, while having an unrefined and often buggy pump action to load a new shell.”
- “Shooting the ducks is so much fun :) though if you have a Valve Index, expect weird controls, buggy mini-games, and buggy animations.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
Overall, the game is praised for its excellent performance and beautiful graphics, with good optimization for various hardware, resulting in no motion sickness or stutters. However, some users noted issues with specific mechanics, such as shotgun reloading, suggesting that further optimization could enhance the experience.
- “No motion sickness, and the optimization for multiple hardware.”
- “+ excellent performance, no stutters, tracking is great.”
- “Solid game, great performance, great graphics and really great gameplay!”
- “I don’t know if it’s because the optimization for the Index controllers is not optimal or if it’s something else, but the reloading of the shotgun felt a bit odd and not quite on point.”
- “It needs optimization, until then.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users appreciate the nostalgic charm of the dumb TV ads and VHS tapes featured in the game, suggesting that the monetization strategy enhances the overall experience rather than detracting from it.