Dystopika

About

"Dystopika" is a single-player strategy game with great gameplay, stunning graphics, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. Players can build their own cyberpunk-inspired metropolis without any objectives or stress of competition, just for the joy of creation and exploration in a unique atmosphere. It's an ever-evolving passion project by a solo developer, offering a relaxing and immersive escape into a dystopian dream world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,336 reviews

graphics142 positive mentions

monetization62 negative mentions

Dystopika offers a relaxing and creative experience, allowing players to build their own cyberpunk cities without the stress of management or objectives.
The game's aesthetic is captivating, with stunning visuals and a dark, atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly captures the cyberpunk vibe.
The ability to upload custom images for billboards adds a unique personal touch, enhancing the creative freedom within the game.

The game lacks depth and variety, with limited building options and mechanics, which may lead to boredom after a short playtime.
There are no clear objectives or challenges, which might not appeal to players looking for a more traditional city-building experience.
Some players have reported issues with controls and camera movement, making it difficult to achieve the desired city layout.

graphics
350 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
58%
2%
The graphics of Dystopika are widely praised for their stunning cyberpunk aesthetic, drawing inspiration from iconic works like Blade Runner. Players appreciate the vibrant neon visuals, intricate details, and the ability to customize elements such as holographic billboards, which enhance the immersive experience. While some critiques mention a lack of detail due to the dark art style, the overall consensus is that the game's visuals create a captivating and relaxing atmosphere perfect for creativity and exploration.
- “From the gentle hum of flying cars to the glow of holographic billboards, every detail draws you into its cyberpunk world.”
- “The visuals are absolutely stunning and the music fits beautifully!”
- “Dystopika blends city-building with a cyberpunk aesthetic in a way that's both relaxing and visually stunning.”
- “Dystopika feels graphically robbed of detail by the use of a very dark art style.”
- “Graphics are the only feature of this game and they're rather underwhelming.”
- “The visuals are overly dark because there really isn't anything to look at past the neon.”
music
344 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
44%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and relaxing qualities, perfectly complementing the stunning visuals and cyberpunk aesthetic. Players appreciate the chill, lo-fi synth soundtrack that enhances immersion and creates a meditative experience while building their cities. However, some users express a desire for more variety in the music selection, as the current offerings are limited.
- “The blade runner vibe is not only captured perfectly by the architecture, but the extremely well-done soundtrack also plays a huge part in making you feel comfortable in this setting.”
- “Thanks to the fantastic soundtrack that really manages to hit the ambient cyberpunk vibe, you feel a lot more immersed in the world and the city you are shaping.”
- “The music and the whole look and feel of the game perfectly captures that futuristic megacity vibe, and it is surprising just how many little rewarding details there are to discover.”
- “This game has music that you will turn off right away.”
- “I feel that most people will put their own jams on when they're constructing a city in this game, thus I have a very negative disposition towards this game's music.”
- “The cuts lead to some hiccups with the in-game's soundtrack (of which there are only two tracks, I'm sure he'll add to that as well).”
atmosphere
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
30%
1%
The atmosphere of "Dystopika" is widely praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, effectively capturing the essence of a cyberpunk world through stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a stress-free environment that encourages creativity and exploration, making it feel more like an atmospheric experience than a traditional game. Overall, the combination of ambient music, customizable settings, and beautiful design elements contributes to a uniquely tranquil and engaging atmosphere.
- “I adore the atmosphere, visuals, sound design, etc. wonderfully put together and offers a nicely creativity-forward spin on an otherwise sometimes stressful genre of city-builder game.”
- “The game is so atmospheric, the music is gorgeous, and it's a total pleasure to immerse yourself in and build your dream cyberpunk city.”
- “The atmosphere is top notch and easy to customize with different times of day and weather, and there is almost no restrictions on what you can build and where.”
- “A rare stress-free cozy game with a grim and dark atmosphere.”
- “I can only hope the dev will add more buildings, decor, atmosphere, and camera options.”
- “It has a cozy atmosphere with rain, smog, and slow music.”
gameplay
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
79%
4%
The gameplay of this cyberpunk city builder is characterized by its simplicity and focus on creativity, allowing players to construct vibrant metropolises without the burden of complex mechanics or resource management. While some players appreciate the relaxing, therapeutic experience, others express a desire for deeper gameplay elements and challenges. Overall, it offers a chill, sandbox-style environment that caters to those looking for a stress-free creative outlet rather than traditional city-building gameplay.
- “Its strength lies in the organic flow of gameplay, allowing you to seamlessly create sprawling neon-lit metropolises at your own pace.”
- “Watching your city evolve into a vibrant, futuristic hub feels incredibly rewarding, as the mechanics are designed to empower creativity without overcomplication.”
- “What sets it apart from other city-building games is its innovative approach to gameplay, which emphasizes combining various building assets to create new and unique structures.”
- “There are absolutely zero gameplay elements - no progression, no goals, no nothing.”
- “The game is exactly as advertised: a dystopian city building game without any mechanics beyond placing down your buildings and decorations.”
- “But man oh man, it's literally just clicking your mouse endlessly and you cannot even really see what the city looks like at all; just the top of buildings. It is casual, it is sandbox, so fair enough, but I was literally bored and saw 90 percent of the game in literally 3 minutes. Good for a 5-minute mouse tapathon, boring for anything over 5 minutes of gameplay.”
monetization
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is highly praised for its engaging customization features, allowing players to upload their own images and create personalized advertisements within a vibrant, cyberpunk cityscape. Users enjoy the ability to manipulate the density and placement of ads, enhancing the immersive experience, though some express a desire for more variety and options in advertising elements. Overall, the integration of user-generated content adds a unique layer of creativity, making the game feel more personalized and alive.
- “It's sad to say that I won't be playing this game for half the time I spent looking for the ads.”
- “I spent two hours, more than playing this game, in searching and downloading interesting-looking ads on Google.”
- “Would also enjoy if there was a folder in the game files where you could drag and drop images to be automatically put into the options for the ads, which would allow for even more variety there without the dev needing to make them all himself.”
story
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
67%
23%
The game is characterized by a complete absence of a traditional story, missions, or objectives, allowing players to engage in a purely creative and relaxing sandbox experience. Users appreciate the freedom to imagine their own narratives as they build their cities, finding joy in the customization and personal storytelling that emerges from the gameplay. While some may desire structured goals, the lack of stressors is seen as a positive aspect that enhances the cozy, dystopian vibe of the game.
- “Very interesting to feel like there's a story even in how your city is laid out.”
- “With the tools available to you, you can craft your own little future dystopian world ready for you to headcanon a story together for it.”
- “I like to name all the buildings and come up with my own backstory in my head.”
- “Absolutely no story at all.”
- “There really isn't a deep story or strategy here, it's pure creative fun.”
- “The game truly delivers a chill sandbox feel with no strings attached, no story, no rules... just your imagination.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
64%
The reviews indicate that the game offers a relaxing experience with minimal grinding, as there is no resource farming or complex management involved. However, players note that extended gameplay can become tedious and repetitive, suggesting that while it is enjoyable in short bursts, it may lack depth for longer sessions. Overall, the game is appreciated for its simplicity and calmness, but players should be aware of potential monotony over time.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “That said, I would expect extended play may become a little tedious after several hours of gameplay unless the developer has more plans for the development of the game.”
- “Dystopika overall, however, is a fun yet challenging game to play, yet sometimes repetitive and it does get boring and tedious if being played for a long time, but is a very good calm sandbox cyberpunk city builder game to play in short bursts!”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally soothing and meditative, offering a comforting escape from the often intense and graphic nature of the cyberpunk genre. Many describe it as a heartfelt experience that provides a sense of tranquility and emotional relief, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a chill gaming experience during tough times.
- “Seeing the skyscrapers at night made me feel comfort in the possible infinite expanses that were cities.”
- “I had a garbage week and then I played this game for 3 hours and it made me feel better.”
- “Simple, sweet, heartfelt, and incredibly well done.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and creativity, with players enjoying the ability to incorporate images and characters, such as Mr. House from Fallout, into their gameplay. Many find the experience to be both entertaining and amusing, highlighting its potential for comedic moments. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's appeal, earning high ratings from users.
- “It was funny, short, and sweet to play this.”
- “10/10 simply because you can put images everywhere; it's hilarious.”
- “One example, I built a city and added Mr. House from Fallout as the 'big brother' of the city (I suggest you try it if you like Fallout, it is pretty funny and cool).”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Players find the game highly replayable, with many expressing hope for ongoing updates that introduce new buildings and features. The developer's roadmap suggests further enhancements, which could enhance the game's longevity and replay value.
- “It's very replayable.”
- “I do hope that the developer continues to add new buildings and features to the game to keep it replayable.”
- “As if that wasn't enough, the roadmap promises further refinement and replayability.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to have several bugs and glitches, particularly with the unlock system and some in-game textures, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, players appreciate the game's graphics and aesthetic appeal.
- “Unfortunately, this game is a little buggy.”
- “I'm also not a fan of the unlock system (which others have also reported as buggy), and some poorly looking in-game textures.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics and a really beautiful aesthetic, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Overall, users report that while they enjoy the game, there are notable optimization issues that need addressing, particularly concerning significant frame rate drops when utilizing the rain feature, even on capable hardware.
- “There are still some issues around optimization that need to be resolved, but I enjoy what's there.”
- “I would love it if you could fix the performance when using the rain feature; it caused some significant drops in frame rates (I have a decent rig).”