Hobo: Tough Life

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Hobo: Tough Life is a single player and multiplayer survival role playing game. It was developed by Perun Creative and was released on April 12, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In Hobo: Tough Life, players navigate the harsh realities of homelessness, scavenging for food and resources while avoiding threats in a sprawling city. By completing tasks and building reputation, players can access new areas, items, and opportunities. The game combines simulation elements with a gritty, hand-drawn art style for a unique and thought-provoking experience. However, it should be noted that the theme and gameplay may not appeal to all players.

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,592 reviews

story107 positive mentions

graphics25 negative mentions

Unique and immersive gameplay that provides a gritty perspective on homelessness.
Challenging survival mechanics that require strategic thinking and resource management.
Engaging quests and character interactions that add depth to the experience.

Steep learning curve with little guidance, making it difficult for new players to get started.
Punishing death mechanics that reduce stats permanently, leading to frustration.
Repetitive gameplay and lack of content updates, making the experience feel stale over time.

story
428 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
72%
3%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and engaging character interactions, while others criticize it for being vague and filled with repetitive fetch quests. Many appreciate the unique premise of navigating life as a homeless person, complete with a murder mystery and various factions, but the lack of clear guidance and quest markers can lead to frustration. Overall, while the narrative has potential and offers a rich world to explore, it often feels overshadowed by gameplay mechanics that can detract from the storytelling experience.
- “The overall story is interesting, with multiple different factions of people, some warring with each other, that you can earn favor with through recurring missions or story-advancing missions. The plot begins with someone murdering the local hobos, and you need to progress by knowing everyone locally to help solve the mystery and get the local votes to become the hobo king.”
- “The game has a lot of great dialogue and story elements, and so much variety in how to achieve your goals. The quests are interesting and the storyline is entertaining.”
- “Hobo: Tough Life is a must-play for anyone who loves a gripping storyline and rich, well-rounded characters. Each character is vividly crafted and adds layers of complexity to the story, making every interaction and development feel significant.”
- “The game misses the opportunity to tell a powerful human story, opting instead for a frustrating and ultimately empty gameplay loop.”
- “The story is nonsensical and throws about 30 quests at you within a half hour of playing.”
- “The quests are progressing incorrectly and I'm missing prompts to progress, making my quest log a nightmare.”
gameplay
314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
61%
10%
The gameplay of "Hobo: Tough Life" is characterized by a steep learning curve and a lack of tutorials, which can make initial experiences frustrating for players. However, once familiar with the mechanics, many find the game offers a rich and immersive survival experience with deep mechanics, including scavenging, crafting, and managing various survival needs. While the game features a variety of activities and quests, it is often criticized for its repetitive gameplay and clunky mechanics, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “At first, the game seems like a simple little diversion, but it surprises with deep mechanics and excellent gameplay.”
- “Amazing open world survival sandbox life sim with seasons, trading, gambling, base building, in-depth survival mechanics like hunger, temperature, mood, disease, etc., cooking, crime, drug dealing, exploration, scavenging/looting, interactive NPCs, pets, mini-games, infinite side jobs, infinite side quests, can even play arcade and more with an amazing vibe/atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay loop is satisfying and addicting, and as the title suggests, it's a tough life; survival is hard.”
- “I mean there is no tutorial to the game mechanics; it cannot get any lazier than that, lmao.”
- “The game misses the opportunity to tell a powerful human story, opting instead for a frustrating and ultimately empty gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay is very different from what is advertised.”
graphics
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
64%
20%
The graphics of the game have received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing them as outdated, reminiscent of early 2000s titles, and lacking polish. While some appreciate the unique art style and atmosphere, the overall consensus is that the visuals are poor, with frequent performance issues and limited graphical options. Despite these shortcomings, some players find the gameplay engaging enough to overlook the graphical deficiencies.
- “The atmosphere is heavy with despair and hardship, conveyed through gritty, muted visuals and an oppressive soundtrack that captures the sense of isolation and struggle.”
- “The art style and atmosphere effectively convey the bleakness of the setting, adding to the game’s immersive feel.”
- “Despite rather poor graphics, it kept me immersed and addicted to the point of 'one more quest'.”
- “The graphics are abysmal, so ugly it almost feels intentional.”
- “The graphics feel really poor.”
- “The graphics are from 2004 and the gameplay is as intuitive as a Soviet space shuttle.”
humor
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Hobo Tough Life" is a blend of dark, absurd, and often irreverent comedy, effectively juxtaposed with the serious themes of homelessness. Players appreciate the game's witty dialogue, quirky NPC interactions, and the ability to find humor in bleak situations, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. While some find the humor hit-or-miss, many agree that it adds a unique charm to the survival gameplay experience.
- “The game has some truly hilarious parts but also deals with the subject matter of homelessness in a serious and respectful way.”
- “The tone of this game is a mix of goofy, absurd humor and somber hopelessness.”
- “Despite its sad core subject, it manages to tell a great story with splashes of humor drizzled in the right places.”
- “FPS drops, not funny gameplay, clunky; I didn't have the willpower to play this.”
optimization
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The optimization of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including lag, stuttering, and bugs that disrupt gameplay. While some players noted improvements after adjusting settings or with recent updates, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, particularly for lower-end systems. A few users experienced smooth performance, but these instances appear to be exceptions rather than the norm.
- “Edit 16.01.2025: my first point was performance issues, but lowering the game to medium settings fixed all the lag spikes I had.”
- “Game now runs smoothly with little to no issues or bugs now (they keep smashing them and upgrading the game) and the next big patch/release will make it even better.”
- “I can now recommend this game because it has been optimized enough that the thermal performance is a little less of an issue (still taxes the CPU like crazy though).”
- “This game is horribly optimized, to say the least.”
- “The game is absolutely disastrously optimized.”
- “This game is very poorly optimized currently, to the point of the actual mini-game bars lagging on low settings on a GTX 1060.”
grinding
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, which some players find tedious and repetitive, while others appreciate it as part of the challenge and character progression. Many users note that the grind can feel overwhelming, especially with the game's difficulty and micromanagement aspects, but it can also be rewarding for those who enjoy survival mechanics and skill-building. Overall, while the grinding is a common point of criticism, it is also seen as a core element that contributes to the game's depth and engagement.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding to train your hobo skills can take a while for certain skills.”
- “I don’t mind a game with a steep point of entry, but the way the game forces you to grind through learning/playing it is tedious and boring.”
- “Dying to one of the many bloodthirsty psychos will end up costing over 20,000 credits, which represents hours of in-game grinding.”
stability
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
98%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, including frequent freezes and crashes. While some players find the multiplayer experience relatively smooth, many others describe the game as "buggy trash" and unplayable at times, particularly in single-player mode. Despite its fun concept and potential, the overall lack of polish and persistent issues detract from the experience, leaving players frustrated.
- “It's obviously not bug-free, although I haven't encountered any game-breaking bugs yet.”
- “The game runs smoothly with minimal crashes, providing a stable experience overall.”
- “I've played for hours without any significant issues, which speaks to the game's stability.”
- “Despite a lengthy early access period, Hobo: Tough Life is plagued by a host of bugs, glitches, and a general lack of polish.”
- “Every time I try to play the game for more than 30 minutes, it freezes and crashes my entire computer.”
- “Game is buggy and genuinely unplayable in its current state.”
atmosphere
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
54%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and gritty portrayal of hardship, effectively capturing themes of despair and survival in a bleak setting. Players appreciate the unique art style and sound design that enhance the emotional weight of the experience, although some find the overall tone too depressing or monotonous. Despite its shortcomings, the game succeeds in creating a compelling atmosphere that resonates with players, making it a standout feature.
- “Despite its shortcomings, Hobo: Tough Life succeeds in creating an atmosphere that evokes empathy and raises awareness about homelessness in a way few games dare to attempt.”
- “I absolutely love the atmosphere and the devs really seem to have put a lot of love into this game and keep working to make it shine.”
- “The atmosphere is heavy with despair and hardship, conveyed through gritty, muted visuals and an oppressive soundtrack that captures the sense of isolation and struggle.”
- “The city of Praslav, with its bleak and oppressive atmosphere, is an apt metaphor for the game itself: a place where hope goes to die, and the player is left with nothing but the monotonous, unfulfilling, and ultimately unplayable reality of a tough life indeed.”
- “However, the overall depressing atmosphere and lack of 'fun' means that I got bored and lost all desire to 'push through'.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
48%
12%
The music in the game is described as both beautiful and heartbreaking, effectively enhancing the atmosphere of despair and struggle while also providing moments of relaxation. While some players appreciate the soundtrack for its emotional depth and ability to set the mood, others find it repetitive and suggest replacing it with personal playlists to avoid the melancholic tone. Overall, the music is a significant aspect of the game, contributing to the immersive experience, though opinions on its impact vary.
- “The music is heartbreaking and beautiful, and the writing bounces pretty naturally from silly to very serious and dramatic.”
- “Probably one of the more challenging survival games I've played, graphics are great, soundtrack is perfect and sets the ambience nicely.”
- “The music is surprisingly great and inspiring.”
- “The atmosphere is heavy with despair and hardship, conveyed through gritty, muted visuals and an oppressive soundtrack that captures the sense of isolation and struggle.”
- “I would recommend turning off the music and replacing it with your own music or a stream or something; the same sad song on repeat kinda bums you out in real life.”
- “Music is really f*cking sad though, lol.”
emotional
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Hobo: Tough Life" is deeply impactful, as it confronts harsh realities like homelessness, addiction, and social exclusion, creating a poignant narrative that resonates with players. While the game offers a rich emotional experience through its storytelling and music, it also presents a challenging and sometimes frustrating gameplay loop that can diminish motivation. Overall, the blend of humor and serious themes, along with the weight of player choices, makes for a uniquely heartfelt experience, despite its rough edges and lack of developer support.
- “The game’s willingness to confront harsh realities—such as hunger, social exclusion, addiction, and the struggle for dignity—gives it a poignant emotional core.”
- “Every discarded item, every shelter, every difficult choice carries weight, and that emotional connection is what makes hobo: tough life so special.”
- “The music is heartbreaking and beautiful, and the writing bounces pretty naturally from silly to very serious and dramatic.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The game's replayability varies significantly among players; some find it highly replayable due to diverse builds, playstyles, and engaging quests, while others feel it lacks depth for multiple playthroughs. While certain titles offer immersive mechanics and base-building elements that enhance replay value, others are criticized for limited content that doesn't encourage repeated play. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some players eager to revisit the game and others suggesting it may not be worth multiple attempts.
- “The game, I will not lie, is a difficult one but exciting and has excellent replay value.”
- “Extremely fun and highly replayable; you can always start again, and the game won't feel the same if you follow a different story path.”
- “There is a lot of replay value, and it also includes base building and crafting.”
- “This results in a game that doesn't offer much in the way of replay value; even if you factor in online play, there's simply not much worth doing more than once.”
- “Replayability is pretty low, but there's enough content to make it a 20-30 hour game at least.”
- “Maybe in the future it will be more playable and I will give it another go, but not as of yet. Save your money and wait till it's better optimized; then maybe catch it on the winter sale if it is ready by then!”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing disappointment in its value and quality. Despite some positive experiences with the gameplay, the overarching sentiment is that the game prioritizes profit over player satisfaction.
- “Do not waste your money on this weak excuse of a cash grab.”
- “This is a cash grab game.”
- “I accidentally stumbled upon this game as an advertisement on Steam where you play as a homeless person. It's the first and only time I ever let an ad guide me to a new game, but I'm not sorry it did and here's why.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game appears to be a mixed bag; while some players are eager to see how it unfolds, others feel that the current depth is lacking and that the controls and UI may hinder new players' experiences. Overall, there is anticipation for future surprises, but concerns about the initial depth remain.
- “I haven't yet experienced the full character development and story progression, so I’m looking forward to more surprises ahead.”
- “The controls and UI might frustrate new players, and there’s a lack of depth in story and character development.”