Dustland Delivery
- November 5, 2024
- Neutron Star Studio
- 21h median play time
In "Dustland Delivery" , scour the post-apocalyptic wastes for profit, complete missions to expand your trading empire, and recruit a diverse band of companions to transform your city into the capital of the Dustlands. The 1.0 version introduces a new map, Twilight Valley, with additional story events, characters, bosses, and locations. Customize your truck for both transportation and combat, and manage resources to build and control your own bustling city.
Reviews
- Engaging and deep gameplay with a mix of trading, crafting, and character management.
- Charming art style and immersive atmosphere that enhances the post-apocalyptic experience.
- A lot of content and mechanics for an early access game, providing hours of entertainment.
- Clunky UI and lack of clear tutorials make it difficult to understand some mechanics.
- Random events can feel repetitive and overly punishing, leading to frustrating gameplay.
- Some character interactions and relationship mechanics can be confusing and detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay126 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this indie title is praised for its engaging and addictive mechanics, blending post-apocalyptic storytelling with truck simulation, trading, and base management. While the game offers a rich variety of systems and a satisfying gameplay loop, many players note that the tutorial lacks depth, leaving some mechanics poorly explained and leading to a steep learning curve. Overall, despite some bugs and interface issues, the game is considered a hidden gem with significant potential for exploration and enjoyment.
“The gameplay in Dustland Delivery is the perfect mix of many things I love: post-apocalyptic storytelling, a compelling lifestyle (trucker) sim, not-too-grindy base management, reskinned spreadsheet jockeying (buying/selling goods from town to town), dating/relationship sim (although slightly optional), and Oregon Trail-esque sidework like hunting, junk harvesting, and random encounters.”
“The gameplay loop is both engaging and addictive.”
“The game excels with its intricate trade mechanics, strategic planning, and detailed world-building, creating a captivating survival simulator.”
“Prepare to fail the first time through simply because a lot of mechanics are not explained in the tutorial.”
“The biggest weakness of the game is the lack of documentation on all the features - some mechanics are opaque, I'd have no idea you can buy extra trailers if I hadn't stumbled across the town with that particular mechanic.”
“I wanted to like this game a lot and it has some neat features but between the UI/menu issues and somewhat limited gameplay options you'll experience most of what the game has to offer in 3 hours.”
- story93 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a blend of main and side quests set in a post-apocalyptic world, featuring engaging characters and dynamic events that enhance the narrative experience. While some players find the main storyline linear and lacking depth, many appreciate the variety of missions and the ability to explore freely, allowing for personal storytelling through exploration and trading. Overall, the story is described as entertaining and immersive, with potential for further development and updates to enrich the gameplay experience.
“The art style is charming, the story is coherent, and the characters gain meaning to you as they remain part of your crew through the journey.”
“The main story may be short, but it’s highly entertaining, and there are plenty of interesting side missions to dive into.”
“The story unfolds through dynamic missions, interactions with various factions, and random events that keep the narrative fresh and engaging.”
“The story that I experienced was completely unfulfilling as it had no attempt at immersion into a post-apocalyptic world.”
“Another part of the game that breaks the immersion is the constant visual and story references to other movies, anime, and games.”
“It's not bad, I'd call it promising, it still has a long way to go to be considered a fully recommended game, there's a lot of jank that needs to be worked out of its system and it definitely needs mods to give it the amount of content this kind of game needs, it kind of lives or dies by the amount of novel events and variety of quests it has.”
- graphics49 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that effectively complements its post-apocalyptic setting, enhancing immersion despite some inconsistencies in character art quality. While some players find the visuals nostalgic and appealing, others note that the graphics are not the main focus, as the gameplay mechanics and exploration take precedence. Overall, the art style is well-received, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and experience.
“Stunning graphics and an excellent soundtrack enhance the immersive experience.”
“The combination of anime-esque pixel graphics and post-apocalyptic desolation work surprisingly well, and it offers an engaging veneer to a surprising amount of mechanical complexity.”
“Distinctive post-apocalyptic art style with detailed environments and dynamic weather effects, though some assets vary in quality.”
“The graphics are a somewhat higher res version of 1980s graphics (I mean that literally, not as hyperbole).”
“The art style ain't my favorite but it works, and honestly it's my biggest gripe beyond quality of life stuff that is likely to come.”
“Character art doesn't quite mesh with the aesthetic, but it's really not enough of a disconnect to feel truly out of place.”
- music28 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its excellent quality and ability to enhance the immersive experience, with a blend of ambient electronic and spaghetti western styles that suit the game's atmosphere. However, some players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, suggesting a desire for more variety. Overall, while the music is appreciated, it is not the primary focus for many players, who often enjoy listening to their own playlists alongside the gameplay.
“Stunning graphics and an excellent soundtrack enhance the immersive experience.”
“The art style and overall ambiance serve the gameplay well, too; I particularly enjoy the music, which is equal parts ambient electronic and spaghetti western.”
“This seemingly little game is a lot of fun and has already given me many hours of entertainment, while being very relaxing due to a varied game loop and an excellent soundtrack.”
“Music is decent but who plays a zombie game for the music?”
“Equally I love the music, but listening to the same tune for hours on end will start to drive me a bit nuts, I think.”
“The bar song is annoying as hell and the Starlight City song is just confusing, grating, and weird.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by addictive gameplay, deep character customization, and unique systems for trading and faction interactions. However, some players feel that the current lack of polish and features, such as procedural map generation, limits long-term replay value. With future updates and improvements, many believe the game has the potential to enhance its replayability significantly.
“This game is a great, massively replayable game.”
“With no set endpoint, it offers substantial replayability, thanks to its deep character customization options and the array of random events that can unfold with each new playthrough.”
“Its unique system for buying and selling goods across different cities, combined with faction interactions and mercenary management, provides depth and replayability that is rare in this genre.”
“The 1.0 release is good for a playthrough, but the game is not polished enough for long replayability.”
“- not really replayable (I wish it had a random generation map option)”
“A lot of the game as of current release is fairly basic once you've seen all there is to see, quest all there is to quest, shoot all there is to shoot, but if they develop the game more with better quality of life updates it has potential to become a pretty replayable apocalypse trucking simulator.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- -14 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect in Dustland Delivery is described as a mixed experience; while some players find the progression enjoyable and relaxing, others criticize it for being tedious and repetitive, particularly in combat and crafting. The game offers a balance of grinding that can be engaging, especially for those who appreciate the trucker lifestyle and post-apocalyptic themes, but it can also lead to frustration due to micromanagement and resource scarcity. Overall, the grind is seen as manageable but can become monotonous in the later stages.
“Totally recommend this, the grind is not tedious, it's fun!”
“The grinding mechanics are engaging and rewarding, making every session enjoyable.”
“I love how the grind feels purposeful; it keeps me motivated to progress.”
“You might like this if you're okay with the grindy progression. Games like 'Tale of Immortals' have similar mechanics, where parts of the world are closed off until you are strong enough.”
“The vast majority of every combat encounter boils down to 'click, shoot, end turn.' It's tedious, and the UI doesn't help at all.”
“And even if the stress nonsense didn't exist, you'd still be stuck playing a game where you only actually care about three different resources out of the bajillion displayed, and the only consistent way to get them is annoying and tedious.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, featuring a distinctive post-apocalyptic aesthetic with beautiful weather effects and detailed graphics. Players appreciate the depth of the environment, which enhances the gameplay experience, making it enjoyable to explore while listening to music or other media. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's appeal, creating a captivating backdrop for the addictive gameplay.
“That being said, the core game itself is very fun, has a great deal of depth, and an absolutely amazing atmosphere.”
“🎨 [b]Distinctive wasteland aesthetic:[/b] enjoy a detailed post-apocalyptic world with atmospheric graphics and a range of weather effects.”
“This game has a lot of atmosphere for an indie title; it's been a while since I've felt so immersed in a game.”
“The atmosphere feels like a Mad Max setting, capturing that post-apocalyptic vibe.”
“Exploring the space is enjoyable, but you must pay attention to the landscape and your options to avoid being killed by your own bad decisions. The sense of atmosphere, despite some clashing between character portraits and the rest of the game, of driving a big rig through a zombie post-apocalypse is spot on.”
- stability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting various bugs, particularly related to achievements, quest lines, and basic features like inventory management. While some players have experienced a well-polished experience without crashes, the consensus is that the game is still in its early stages and may require future patches to address ongoing issues. Overall, players acknowledge the presence of bugs but also recognize that such problems are common in newly released titles.
“While not buggy per se, it is still early in its life cycle and may have future issues discovered and patched. The certainty of DLC is already indicated in the in-game road builder locations that currently have no function, so things should be considered still in flux.”
“The game runs smoothly with minimal crashes, providing a stable experience that allows players to immerse themselves without interruptions.”
“I appreciate how the developers are actively monitoring stability and addressing issues promptly, which gives me confidence in the game's future.”
“Buggy, not even the tutorial is functioning.”
“Still kind of buggy with one of the most basic features like buying and selling at shops not adding or subtracting weight correctly.”
“Appears to be a fun game, but it's too buggy for me to commit any more time to the game for now.”
- humor6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of dark comedy and clever character interactions, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience. While many players appreciate the funny storylines and amusing scenarios, some express frustration with certain game mechanics that detract from the overall humor. Overall, the humor is seen as a strong point, enhancing the addictive nature of the game.
“It's funny and the gameplay loop is excellent.”
“Cool storylines, great gameplay loops, and funny characters.”
“Fun, darkly humorous, and addictive as hell.”
“Having a bad luck event once a week is not funny.”
“The jokes feel forced and often fall flat.”
“The humor relies too heavily on clichés and lacks originality.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, likening their experience to that of a courier in Fallout, particularly appreciating the immersive gameplay that allows for a solitary journey through a post-apocalyptic world. The ability to navigate the environment while avoiding civilization enhances the emotional depth, making players feel truly part of the desolate landscape.
“This game honestly made me feel like I was a courier in Fallout, even more than New Vegas.”
“Gameplay is solid, and if you know when to hold and know when to run, you can go almost your entire run without touching civilization if that's your preference, living off the ruins of the old world.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The character development in this early access post-apocalyptic trading sim is highlighted by an extensive upgrade system and the ability to hire and manage a crew, allowing for meaningful progression and customization. Players appreciate the variety of features that enhance character growth alongside other gameplay elements like inventory management and settlement building.
“A post-apocalyptic trading sim with simplistic combat, an extensive upgrade system, town building, crew hiring, and character development.”
“Random events, inventory management, trading, character development, settlement building, and more... for an early access game, it has so many features.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices that impact the story.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of depth in character progression; it feels more like a grind than a journey.”
“The characters are one-dimensional, and their development doesn't resonate with the overall narrative.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players have noted that the game's optimization has significantly improved, particularly addressing major UI issues within a week of feedback, enhancing the overall experience.
“I already liked where this game was going, and they optimized one of the major UI issues I had within a week.”
“The developers are incredibly responsive to feedback, and their optimization efforts have made the gameplay experience so much smoother.”
“I've noticed significant improvements in performance after the latest update; the optimization really enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“The game runs poorly on my system, even with the lowest settings. Optimization is clearly lacking.”
“I was excited to play, but the constant frame drops and stuttering make it nearly unplayable. Optimization needs serious work.”
“Despite the interesting gameplay, the optimization issues ruin the experience. It feels like the developers didn't prioritize performance.”