Dustbowl

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 91 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Dustbowl Game Cover
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"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.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 91 reviews
story18 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming retro aesthetic and a compelling atmosphere that draws players into its post-apocalyptic world.
  • Exploration and scavenging are enjoyable, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Fallout, with a variety of quests and engaging storytelling.
  • Despite its flaws, the game offers a unique combat system that, while polarizing, adds an interesting twist to the gameplay.
  • The combat system is often criticized for being tedious and unbalanced, leading to frustrating encounters and a reliance on save-scumming.
  • Many players report issues with the game's difficulty curve and resource scarcity, making early gameplay particularly punishing.
  • The game suffers from various bugs and a lack of polish, including navigation problems and inconsistent quest directions, which detract from the overall experience.
  • story54 mentions

    The story of the game is generally engaging and well-crafted, set in an inventive post-apocalyptic world that keeps players invested through its quests and character interactions. However, some players find the storytelling hampered by awkward mechanics, bland writing, and a lack of clear direction, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many appreciate the nostalgic feel and intriguing narrative, suggesting that with some improvements, the story could shine even brighter.

    • “Although the setting plays on the trope of a post-apocalypse, it does so inventively, breathing life into the story being told.”
    • “The story is nice and interesting; it makes you want to play the game until the end.”
    • “The post-apocalyptic setting and story are interesting and different enough from the rest to keep me intrigued on what happens next.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics22 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a strong retro aesthetic reminiscent of Atari-era and classic PC games, which some players appreciate for its atmospheric and nostalgic qualities. However, opinions are mixed, with some users finding the visuals to be poorly executed and lacking in resolution, while others praise the consistent art style and overall design. Despite some minor graphic glitches, the game's pixelated graphics effectively complement its post-apocalyptic setting and point-and-click gameplay.

    • “Really cool retro aesthetic, good atmosphere.”
    • “I love the retro graphics and the 80s adventure game UI.”
    • “It's a very consistent art style, 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.”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    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 some players found the initial experience frustrating and grindy, subsequent updates have improved balance and introduced new systems, leading to a more enjoyable experience for others. Overall, the game has potential but is hindered by lackluster combat and a need for further refinement in its mechanics.

    • “Gameplay is a mashup of old-school point-and-click adventuring, looting, exploration, questing, and combat.”
    • “While some claimed that the gameplay in the initial release tended to be a bit grindy, the devs have diligently improved the game with a series of balance patches, and even added in an experience point system.”
    • “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)”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its retro aesthetic and haunting quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience despite some graphical limitations and a sense of unpolished execution. Many players appreciate the unique blend of point-and-click adventure and survival RPG elements, noting that the atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal. Overall, while opinions on the graphics vary, the atmospheric design is consistently highlighted as a strong point.

    • “It's a point-and-click adventure game meshed with a survival RPG using Atari-era graphics done by what I assume is a one-man team, and by some miracle it is mostly bug-free, atmospheric, and good.”
    • “It's a really fun minimalist, retro-styled game with a great haunting atmosphere and, somehow, a heart of its own.”
    • “Great atmosphere for the game which adds to the overall theme.”
    • “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.”
    • “The atmosphere, first of all, is something that I look for in all my games.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the soundtrack and find it enjoyable, others express confusion about accessing it and note that sound effects can become repetitive. Additionally, there are mentions of ambient sounds contributing to the atmosphere, but frustrations arise when combat music plays without any enemies present. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a positive aspect, though it may require additional investment for the full experience.

    • “The soundtrack is really nice, but the sound effects get annoying after a while since characters don't talk.”
    • “Genuinely interesting dialogues and a strong variety of gameplay options - the art and music are great too.”
    • “Maybe you are supposed to pay extra to hear the music in a game now.”
    • “I hear some ambient humming, maybe that's the soundtrack, I don't know.”
    • “I mute the in-game sound and play the soundtrack in the background using my media player.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, particularly due to the unique but cumbersome combat mini-game that can feel repetitive. While developers have made efforts to improve the experience with balance patches and an experience point system, many still feel that the combat lacks depth and offers no escape from battles, contributing to the grind.

    • “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.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting significant bugs, including combat freezes and game-breaking glitches that disrupt quest lines. While some players acknowledge a few minor graphic issues, the overall experience is marred by these stability problems.

    • “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.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    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 avoids microtransactions, loot boxes, and in-app purchases.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no microtransactions, loot boxes, or in-app purchases in this game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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