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Dustbowl

79%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, stability
79% User Score Based on 102 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows
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About

"Dustbowl" is a single-player, survival point-and-click role-playing game, with a retro C64 look and a mature, intriguing story. The game features a day and night cycle, health, thirst, hunger, and sleep systems, inventory weight system, combat, quests, and randomization. It is designed to be challenging with permadeath and trash loot, meant for players seeking a hard-earned, rewarding experience.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Dustbowl screenshot
Dustbowl screenshot
Dustbowl screenshot
Dustbowl screenshot
Dustbowl screenshot
Dustbowl screenshot
Dustbowl screenshot
Dustbowl screenshot
Dustbowl screenshot
Dustbowl screenshot
Dustbowl screenshot

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 102 reviews
story21 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • Dustbowl offers a charming retro aesthetic and a compelling post-apocalyptic story that draws players in.
  • The game features a unique combat system that, while simple, adds an interesting layer of strategy and timing.
  • Exploration and scavenging in the expansive world provide a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic RPGs like Fallout.
  • The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including a small window size on high-resolution systems and inconsistent combat mechanics.
  • Resource management can be frustrating due to a lack of supplies and a random difficulty curve, leading to tedious save-scumming.
  • The interface and navigation are clunky, with some quests providing unclear directions, making it difficult to progress without extensive trial and error.
  • story
    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Dustbowl" is set in a post-apocalyptic world following an alien invasion, featuring a mix of main and side quests that are engaging and well-written, though some players find the quest mechanics cumbersome and the writing occasionally bland. While the narrative is compelling and evokes nostalgia for classic RPGs, it suffers from technical issues and a lack of clear direction at times, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, many players appreciate the intriguing plot and memorable characters, making it a worthwhile journey for fans of the genre.

    • “Although the setting plays on the trope of a post-apocalypse, it does so inventively, breathing life into the story being told.”
    • “Dustbowl is a fantastic game, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it is. The storyline and, to some extent, the gameplay are as good as Fallout 1 or 2.”
    • “The story is well done, and the general feeling is good. It also has a good and compelling story along with memorable characters.”
    • “But why oh why would you make a story-based game without putting any effort into the writing?”
    • “Unfortunately, the story-telling is a bit weird.”
    • “It's got a really cool idea, but it doesn't tell you enough of what to do, and for a game that's supposed to be story-based rather than survival/open-world, this game doesn't work very well.”
  • graphics
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic adventure games, with many praising its atmospheric presentation and art direction. While some players appreciate the aesthetic as a charming homage to older titles, others find the visuals lacking and even unpleasant by modern standards. Overall, the graphics are a divisive aspect, appealing primarily to fans of vintage gaming while potentially disappointing those seeking contemporary visuals.

    • “Really cool retro aesthetic, good atmosphere.”
    • “That said, this game looks pretty stunning in both its presentation and utilization of these old pixel graphics.”
    • “The art style is very retro, and the eye to design has been thoughtful and considered.”
    • “Atmosphere is ok but overall the graphics burn my eyes out.”
    • “Ugly even by pixelated graphics standards.”
    • “But you may be disappointed by the complete lack of graphics options, as you are forced to play in a window at a locked resolution.”
  • gameplay
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of old-school point-and-click mechanics, exploration, and combat, but it suffers from repetitiveness and awkward controls. While initial experiences may be frustrating due to janky mechanics and grindy elements, subsequent updates have improved balance and introduced new systems, making it more enjoyable for some players. Overall, the game offers a visually appealing experience with a compelling story, though the combat and exploration mechanics remain lackluster for many.

    • “Gameplay is a mashup of old-school point-and-click adventuring, looting, exploration, questing, and combat.”
    • “The gameplay in Dustbowl consists of fairly equal parts overland travel, home base meandering, and building/site exploration.”
    • “Genuinely interesting dialogs and a strong variety of gameplay options - the art/music is great too.”
    • “Massively boring repetitive gameplay.”
    • “However, the controls are atrocious, movement is awkward, the writing bland, combat is poor and within the first 5 minutes of gameplay I'm hit with a plethora of mundane side quests which I have no desire of doing.”
    • “Gameplay: 3/10 (it's not bug nor crash free, combat is boring, map-traveling is wonky, lacks loot content)”
  • atmosphere
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its retro aesthetic and haunting quality, effectively immersing players in a minimalist, eerie world reminiscent of Atari-era graphics. While some users note issues with graphics and polish, the overall ambiance, complemented by a fitting soundtrack, enhances the exploration experience and contributes significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “It's a really fun minimalist, retro-styled thing with a great haunting atmosphere and, somehow, a heart of its own.”
    • “Like Fallout, Dustbowl is more about the exploration on a world map than it is its mazes and monsters, and exploring an empty and eerily quiet world that is as strange as it is hostile, with a great atmospheric soundtrack to boot.”
    • “Great atmosphere for the game which adds to the overall theme.”
    • “Atmosphere is okay, but overall the graphics burn my eyes out.”
    • “It feels very unpolished overall, even unfinished in certain areas, although the setting and atmosphere really appeals to me and makes up for its shortcomings.”
    • “Created in AGS, it suffers from the engine limitations (like map traveling), but it makes up for it in story and atmosphere.”
  • music
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric quality, with a dynamic soundtrack that adapts to the player's location and story progression, enhancing the exploration experience. However, some users find the sound effects repetitive and prefer to mute them in favor of external music. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's ambiance.

    • “You get stock sounds for combat and such, and some really cool background music that changes depending on where you are on the map or in the story progression itself.”
    • “Like Fallout, Dustbowl is more about the exploration on a world map than it is its mazes and monsters (although the game has plenty of those) and exploring an empty and eerily quiet world that is as strange as it is hostile, with a great atmospheric soundtrack to boot.”
    • “Genuinely interesting dialogues and a strong variety of gameplay options - the art and music are great too.”
    • “I mute the in-game sound and play the soundtrack in the background using my media player.”
    • “Combat occasionally freezes with the character readying his weapon, the combat music starting, but no enemy appearing.”
  • grinding
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, particularly due to the combat system's mini-game mechanics and the inability to skip certain sequences, which can exacerbate the grind, especially in permadeath mode. While developers have made efforts to improve the experience through balance patches and an experience point system, many still feel that the combat lacks excitement and can become monotonous. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback for some players.

    • “It gets incredibly tedious.”
    • “The main focus of the combat is trying to get the moving line to be in the middle, and it gets extremely tedious when there is a one-second delay when you click it.”
    • “However, the battle system falls short of expectations and is overall tedious without a way to 'run away' from battle.”
  • stability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting significant issues such as combat freezes, game crashes, and broken quest lines. While some players acknowledge that the experience can be enjoyable despite these glitches, the overall consensus highlights a troubling level of instability.

    • “Buggy mess.”
    • “Combat occasionally freezes with the character readying his weapon, the combat music starting, but no enemy appearing.”
    • “Occasional glitches that end up freezing the game and a broken quest line puts the final nail in the coffin.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a monetization model free from microtransactions, loot boxes, and in-app purchases, which has been positively received by users.

    • “There are no microtransactions, loot boxes, or in-app purchases.”
    • “The game is refreshing because it has no microtransactions, loot boxes, or in-app purchases.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no microtransactions, loot boxes, or in-app purchases in this game.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users highlight that the humor in the game is often derived from genuine, spontaneous moments that occur during gameplay, particularly during live streams.

    • “Here is a little funny moment that actually happened on stream.”

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