Dusty

About

Dusty is a single player action game. It was developed by El Palo Games and was released on November 8, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

For years archaeologist Dusty has traveled the world discovering ruins, sharing his findings. One day, on one of his explorations, he finds a mysterious notebook. It contains a forgotten language, a location and list of dates written in his handwriting, but he doesn't remember ever writing them down. Following his instinct, he picked up his cane ready to unravel the mystery. Inspired by the Can…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 32 reviews

graphics10 positive mentions

optimization4 negative mentions

The game features impressive graphics and a beautiful art style that enhances the overall experience.
As a free game, it offers a surprisingly enjoyable and engaging experience with interesting puzzles and a nice atmosphere.
The gameplay mechanics are original and satisfying, providing a chill and meditative experience for players.

The game suffers from performance issues and lacks optimization, leading to stuttering and low frame rates.
Controls can feel imprecise and floaty, making platforming sections frustrating and difficult to navigate.
As a student project, the game feels unfinished and lacks depth, with limited content and some bugs that hinder the experience.

graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
8%
21%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their appealing art style and pleasant visuals, contributing positively to the overall aesthetic experience. However, performance issues, such as stuttering and lack of optimization, detract from the enjoyment, and the absence of customization options is noted as a significant drawback. While the visuals are a highlight, they are not enough to compensate for the game's shortcomings in gameplay and performance.
- “The graphics in this game are really quite good, which at least makes the game look more appealing.”
- “This was a cute game; it is strongest in its visuals.”
- “The visuals are good, pretty enough to be fun to look at, and simple enough to not be a big resource eater with unoptimized 'ultra realistic' graphics that so many big studios seem to put way too much stock in these days.”
- “The gopping banner art is a reminder that regardless of a game's merits, artwork this ugly will put off even free customers from trying your game.”
- “Atrocious performance, can't even get 60 fps in some areas and there are no graphics options to turn all the unnecessary settings off.”
- “There's a bit of puzzle solving, but it's a short experience (student project, not a game made for gamers), and the game lacks any control, display or graphics customizations, dropping this below minimum standards for any PC game.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay is a mix of familiar mechanics and original ideas, offering engaging puzzles that appeal to fans of the genre. While the visuals and overall experience are praised for their relaxing and cheerful vibes, some players noted issues with floaty controls and a lack of responsiveness, particularly in jumping mechanics. Despite these drawbacks, many recommend the game as a worthwhile experience, especially for puzzle enthusiasts.
- “The mechanics are both original and known.”
- “It is so nice to play, to watch, to explore, and the vibes it gives during the whole gameplay are so relaxing and cheerful; it made me smile at the end.”
- “In conclusion, I highly recommend this free gem; it is a very good title with successful gameplay, to recommend for all lovers of the genre.”
- “As someone who loves puzzle games, I recognized cube-on-button technology from Portal, power core transfer (the light mechanic) from The Turing Test, and magnetic repulsion and attraction from the likes of Relicta.”
- “I will note that it took a moment for me to become invested in the experience because I was initially put off by what felt to me like floaty movement and lack of 'snap' to the controls, particularly around the jumping/vaulting mechanic.”
- “As this mechanic is employed so frequently, tightening that up would make this a real joy to play.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization is notably poor, resulting in significant performance issues such as stuttering and an inability to maintain 60 fps in certain areas. While the graphics are visually appealing, the lack of adjustable settings and optimization leads to a frustrating experience marred by bugs and subpar performance.
- “The performance with Unreal Engine shows great potential, but there are areas that could be further optimized.”
- “The performance with Unreal Engine demonstrates impressive capabilities, yet there is still room for further optimization.”
- “Which is a shame because the graphics look quite good, and if U-TAD bothered to teach the students about optimization, the game might be playable beyond a stuttering slideshow.”
- “Atrocious performance, can't even get 60 fps in some areas and there are no graphics options to turn all the unnecessary settings off.”
- “The game is not optimized the best and does have a few not fantastic bugs though.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and effectiveness, complementing the art style and enhancing the overall experience. However, some users noted that while the soundtrack is strong, the sound design could use improvement. Overall, the combination of music and visuals contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The puzzles, music, and overall aesthetic were so pleasant to experience!”
- “Pretty art style, nice music, and interesting puzzles.”
- “The art style and music are good.”
- “Although the soundtrack is very successful, the game suffers a little from its sound design.”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “While the tracks are well-composed, they don't fit the game's atmosphere, leading to a disjointed experience.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The story is engaging and revolves around uncovering the mysteries of a lost civilization, with players following Dusty on his mission aided by a friendly creature. While the narrative keeps players invested, some users expressed a desire for the ability to jump to specific story points, particularly for achievement purposes. The game features a mix of progression and optional achievements that do not significantly alter the main storyline.
- “The story was interesting enough to keep me hooked and want to see how it ended, uncovering the mysteries of a lost civilization.”
- “It would have been nice to be able to jump to certain points of the story, especially for the elevator achievement.”
- “The nine achievements in Dusty are for progression (two of which cannot be missed, and two are for a decision that has to be made - choosing either does not mean replaying the whole game to get the other); collecting items (one), and optional actions (four, none of which affect the continuation of the story).”
- “On Dusty's mission, he receives help from a small and friendly creature which shows him the route to follow (though Dusty has to solve puzzles along the way - these are neither trivial nor impossibly obtuse), and which can open up apparently blocked paths.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews on stability are mixed; while some users report a smooth experience with no significant issues, others highlight persistent bugs and an unfinished game environment that hampers gameplay. This suggests that stability may vary significantly between different players' experiences.
- “What I experienced was one level of a buggy, unfinished, unnavigable landscape.”
- “Many of the negative reviews mention a buggy, unplayable game, but I encountered no such issues, so my hope and assumption is that those bugs have been fixed.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its beauty and overall pleasantness, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience.
- “A nice game with a wonderful atmosphere and beautiful style.”