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Hobo: Tough Life

80%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
graphics, grinding
80% User Score Based on 2,332 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Steam DeckSteam DeckWindowsWindowsXbox OneXbox OneXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SLinuxLinuxPlayStationPlayStationXboxXbox

About

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.

Hobo: Tough Life screenshot
Hobo: Tough Life screenshot
Hobo: Tough Life screenshot
Hobo: Tough Life screenshot
Hobo: Tough Life screenshot
Hobo: Tough Life screenshot
Hobo: Tough Life screenshot
Hobo: Tough Life screenshot

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,332 reviews
story91 positive mentions
graphics23 negative mentions

  • Unique and immersive gameplay that provides insight into the struggles of 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 survive.
  • Punishing death mechanics that permanently reduce stats, leading to frustration.
  • Graphics and UI are outdated and can detract from the overall experience.
  • story
    364 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is rich and engaging, featuring a variety of quests and well-developed characters that contribute to a unique narrative experience. However, players have noted issues with quest clarity and direction, often leading to confusion and frustration, particularly due to vague objectives and a lack of guidance. Despite these challenges, many find the story compelling and humorous, with a strong emphasis on survival mechanics intertwined with the narrative, making it a noteworthy experience for fans of the genre.

    • “Very immersive, seemingly endless lore and story.”
    • “Each character is vividly crafted and adds layers of complexity to the story, making every interaction and development feel significant.”
    • “The game oozes charm and continues to surprise me with new areas or quests 40 hours in.”
    • “The story is nonsensical and throws about 30 quests at you within a half hour of playing.”
    • “All it takes is a few uncertain actions across several quest lines or NPC interactions throughout your playthrough to permalock you out of becoming the beggar king, the supposed 'end goal' of the game.”
    • “The only real complaint I have is that quest chains and the means to raise trust is often very obscure (for example, you need to know to progress enough with quests for the guzzlers faction before continuing missions for a completely unrelated NPC).”
  • gameplay
    261 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Hobo: Tough Life" is a unique blend of survival mechanics and RPG elements, immersing players in the struggles of homelessness through activities like dumpster diving, begging, and crafting. While the game offers a satisfying gameplay loop and a variety of mechanics, many players find the lack of tutorials and clunky mechanics frustrating, leading to a steep learning curve. Despite its rough edges and occasional bugs, the game is praised for its depth and engaging story, making it a worthwhile experience for those willing to invest the time to master its systems.

    • “Runs like a dream and has some interesting takes on established survival mechanics.”
    • “Great RPG gameplay with skills and perks that perfectly complement the harsh survival aspects.”
    • “The gameplay loop is satisfying and addicting, and as the title suggests, it's a tough life; survival is hard.”
    • “Some mechanics feel a bit clunky, and there are occasional bugs that break immersion.”
    • “It's a great idea, but besides being weirdly punishing via obtuse mechanics and bugs, and being glib when you die to oversight, the devs have abandoned it.”
    • “The game suffers from too many tough mechanics; I understand that being homeless cannot be easy, however, I once took antibiotics and got even more sick.”
  • graphics
    117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the art style is unique and charming, the overall graphical quality is often considered outdated, resembling visuals from earlier gaming generations. Some players appreciate the intentional roughness and find it adds to the game's atmosphere, while others criticize the lack of detail and optimization, leading to a less immersive experience. Overall, the graphics may not meet modern standards, but they do not detract significantly from the enjoyable gameplay and rich storytelling.

    • “I thought this was some quick game for shits and giggles, but this is a super immersive RPG with beautiful visuals and a lot of fun!”
    • “The visuals are really spectacular; while the character models or storefronts themselves seem sort of GoldenEye-esque, you get the sense that there's clear intentionality around that.”
    • “This game isn't groundbreaking or has the best graphics, but what it does have is a lot of charm, the base building is very fun for the little details you can add, and the whole scavenging part of the game is actually enjoyable unlike most survival games where it's a hassle.”
    • “The graphics feel really poor.”
    • “The graphics are abysmal, so ugly it almost feels intentional.”
    • “Incredibly boring game with graphics that date back into the 90's.”
  • humor
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its dark, irreverent tone and clever dialogue, often eliciting laughter through absurd situations and witty interactions with NPCs. Players appreciate the unique blend of challenging gameplay and comedic elements, with many noting that the humor enhances the overall experience, making it both entertaining and engaging. While some critiques mention that the humor can be hit or miss, the majority find it to be a standout feature that adds depth to the game's narrative and mechanics.

    • “The humor of the interactions with NPCs is really funny.”
    • “The greatest asset in my eyes are the great dialogues when talking to NPCs, where there are tons of originally written lines that are very often hilarious.”
    • “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.”
    • “The jokes fell flat and the humor felt forced, making it hard to enjoy.”
    • “I expected a lot of laughs, but the humor was stale and unoriginal.”
  • optimization
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including lag spikes and frame drops, particularly on lower-end hardware. While some users have found that adjusting settings can improve performance, others criticize the game's overall optimization as poor, especially given its dated graphics. However, there are indications that ongoing updates may address these issues, leading to smoother gameplay in the future.

    • “Also, this game runs flawlessly and with very good performance on Apple M1 through Crossover.”
    • “Everything works pretty smooth; game optimization is very good in my opinion.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “While I like the idea and the aspects implemented, I can't recommend this game with such poor optimization.”
  • grinding
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's grinding mechanics are a significant aspect of the experience, often described as tedious and challenging, particularly in the early stages. While some players appreciate the grind as a necessary part of survival and skill-building, others find it overwhelming and frustrating, especially when progress can be easily lost. Overall, the grinding is seen as a double-edged sword: it can enhance engagement for those who enjoy it, but may deter players seeking a more streamlined experience.

    • “Grinding can be a rewarding experience if you enjoy the journey of leveling up your character.”
    • “The grind is real, but it feels satisfying to see your hard work pay off in the end.”
    • “Investing time in grinding allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear that enhance your gameplay.”
    • “This game is so difficult to even enjoy. I understand grinding for resources to survive, but if you dare try and walk around in this game longer than a minute, suddenly your health is low and you're dead???”
    • “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.”
    • “I'm not a fan of grinding to get one step ahead only to die and be 10 steps behind, so until an easier mode is in place, I'm going to have to not recommend this game.”
  • stability
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including freezing and crashing issues. While some users noted that minor glitches do not significantly hinder the experience, others found the game to be nearly unplayable, especially in multiplayer mode. Overall, the game is considered to be in a buggy state, with ongoing improvements needed to enhance stability.

    • “It's obviously not bug-free, although I haven't encountered any game-breaking bugs yet.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any major issues, providing a stable experience overall.”
    • “I've played for hours without any crashes or significant glitches, which speaks to its stability.”
    • “Every time I try to play the game for more than 30 minutes, it freezes and crashes my entire computer.”
    • “It's beyond buggy; the gameplay is utterly boring and, like I said, shallow.”
    • “Game is buggy and genuinely unplayable in its current state.”
  • atmosphere
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its authenticity and emotional depth, effectively capturing the struggles of a homeless life through its art style, music, and environmental design. While some players find the atmosphere to be deeply immersive and engaging, others note that it can feel slow-paced or depressing, potentially detracting from the overall enjoyment. Despite mixed feelings about the visuals, many agree that the atmosphere is a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience.

    • “Music and atmosphere bring the feel of a homeless man trying to get by, and while it's not always easy, it surely gives you a cozy feeling to play. Having friends running around does make the journey much more fun.”
    • “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.”
    • “This game has a soul and atmosphere you don't see elsewhere.”
    • “It's a little slow paced for my personal taste, and has a somewhat depressing atmosphere (not surprising given the subject matter).”
    • “However, the overall depressing atmosphere and lack of 'fun' means that I got bored and lost all desire to 'push through'.”
    • “Very deep and depressing atmosphere.”
  • music
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the emotional experience of gameplay, with a mix of beautiful and heartbreaking tracks. However, some players find the repetitive nature of certain songs to be a downer, suggesting that it might be better to replace the in-game music with personal playlists. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, despite some technical issues and a desire for more variety in musical content.

    • “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.”
    • “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 tho, lol.”
    • “Sounds, voices, music, effects like water drops during raining...almost nothing in the game.”
  • emotional
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Hobo: Tough Life" is deeply impactful, with players noting the weight of choices and the intricate narrative that evokes strong feelings, ranging from heartbreak to humor. The game's ability to create a genuine connection to the struggles of homelessness, combined with its beautiful music and writing, leaves a lasting impression, even as some players express frustration with its mechanics and lack of updates. Overall, it successfully blends serious themes with moments of levity, making for a uniquely emotional experience.

    • “Every discarded item, every shelter, every difficult choice carries weight, and that emotional connection is what makes Hobo: Tough Life so special.”
    • “The narrative hooks you from the start, weaving an intricate tale full of twists and emotional depth.”
    • “The music is heartbreaking and beautiful, and the writing bounces pretty naturally from silly to very serious and dramatic.”
  • replayability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly enjoyable with various quests and story paths that encourage multiple playthroughs, others feel it lacks sufficient content to warrant repeated plays. Certain titles are praised for their immersive mechanics and base-building elements, contributing to a longer replay experience, while others are criticized for low replay value despite having a decent amount of content. Ultimately, the game's replayability seems to depend on individual preferences and the specific mechanics offered.

    • “The game, I will not lie, is a difficult one but exciting and has excellent replay value.”
    • “Extremely fun and replayable.”
    • “There is a lot of replay value, and it also has 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

    The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing disappointment in its value and quality. Despite some players discovering the game through advertisements, the overall sentiment suggests that it prioritizes profit over player experience.

    • “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
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express anticipation for character development and story progression, indicating that they have not yet fully experienced these elements but are eager for future surprises.

    • “I haven't yet experienced the full character development and story progression, so I'm looking forward to more surprises ahead.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me disappointed with their growth.”
    • “There seems to be a missed opportunity for meaningful character development, as the characters often feel one-dimensional.”

Buy Hobo: Tough Life

50h Median play time
47h Average play time
8-100h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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