Organ Trail: Director's Cut

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Organ Trail: Director's Cut is a single player and multiplayer survival role playing game with horror, fantasy, comedy, economy and others themes. It was developed by The Men Who Wear Many Hats and was released on March 19, 2013. It received positive reviews from players.

Organ Trail: Director's Cut is a zombie-themed survival game, inspired by the classic Oregon Trail series. Players must lead a group of survivors across a post-apocalyptic US, managing resources, encountering various obstacles, and making tough decisions to ensure their survival. The game features retro graphics, challenging gameplay, and multiple endings.

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,727 reviews

gameplay98 positive mentions

stability32 negative mentions

Organ Trail is a fun and humorous twist on the classic Oregon Trail, providing a nostalgic experience with a zombie apocalypse theme.
The game features engaging resource management and decision-making mechanics, making each playthrough unique and entertaining.
The pixel art style and chiptune soundtrack effectively capture the retro aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience.

The shooting mechanics are awkward and can be frustrating, as aiming requires dragging the mouse in the opposite direction.
Many achievements are broken and have been for years, leading to frustration for completionists.
The gameplay can become repetitive after a few runs, as the core mechanics and events do not significantly change.

gameplay
359 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
64%
9%
The gameplay of "Organ Trail: Director's Cut" is a nostalgic blend of resource management and decision-making set against a zombie apocalypse backdrop, reminiscent of the classic "Oregon Trail." While the scavenging and survival mechanics are engaging, many players find the shooting controls clunky and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience. Despite its simplicity and occasional repetitiveness, the game offers a charming retro aesthetic and a unique twist on the original formula, appealing primarily to fans of the genre.
- “The zombie apocalypse theme merges perfectly with this style of gameplay.”
- “Developed by the men who wear many hats, the game retains the core mechanics of resource management, decision-making, and travel across a desolate landscape while introducing a slew of genre-appropriate twists.”
- “The scavenging mechanic is one of the game’s most engaging features—players must navigate a zombie-filled area in real time, grabbing supplies while dodging enemies, which grow stronger and more numerous as the game progresses.”
- “Gameplay very limited, I was unable to get it to use my controller, and the worst part is the bizarre aiming and firing system which is a massive pain and turned me completely off the game.”
- “The gameplay is tiring and the shooting mechanic is awkward.”
- “I found it repetitive, and all the progress I made was too easily wiped out by completely random mechanics and technical problems, making the game more frustrating than fun.”
graphics
250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
68%
7%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic 8-bit pixel art style reminiscent of classic titles like Oregon Trail, effectively capturing a retro-apocalyptic vibe. While some players appreciate the charm and simplicity of the visuals, others find them outdated and lacking in detail. Overall, the graphics serve the game's theme well, appealing primarily to fans of retro aesthetics rather than those seeking modern graphical fidelity.
- “The pixel art style, complete with glitchy VHS overlays and lo-fi sound effects, perfectly captures a retro-apocalyptic vibe.”
- “The retro pixel art style used in the game adds a nostalgic charm to the experience.”
- “The graphics are simple but really fit the tone of the game.”
- “The graphics seem to miss hitting quite the right mark, looking more like a sad attempt than as homage.”
- “Despite very dated graphics, there is something charming about this game.”
- “The graphics are minimal, and I honestly applaud that; too many developers think that they need top-notch 3D graphics to make a game fun, when you just need to have fun gameplay.”
humor
213 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Organ Trail: Director's Cut" is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with clever parodies of the classic "Oregon Trail" game. Players appreciate the witty writing, absurd scenarios, and the ability to name party members, which adds a personal and humorous touch to the grim survival experience. Overall, the game successfully balances its dark themes with a lighthearted tone, making it both entertaining and engaging.
- “Organ Trail: Director’s Cut is a darkly humorous, retro-styled survival game that brilliantly parodies the educational classic The Oregon Trail by reimagining it through a post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested lens.”
- “It’s a clever blend of nostalgia and grim survival horror that manages to be both hilarious and genuinely challenging.”
- “Despite the bleak setting, the game never takes itself too seriously, and that balance of horror and humor is one of its most endearing qualities.”
music
181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its original chiptune soundtrack that effectively enhances the eerie and nostalgic atmosphere. Composed by Ben Crossbones, the soundtrack is described as haunting, catchy, and capable of evoking strong emotions, making it a standout feature of the game. However, some users expressed disappointment over the replacement of the original MIDI tracks with a more modern sound, feeling it detracted from the game's intended ambiance.
- “The soundtrack by Ben Crossbones features haunting chiptune melodies that reinforce the game's eerie, hopeless world.”
- “The soundtrack is incredible and Ben Crossbones' musical talent lends itself perfectly, creating a wondrous, lonesome, tense, and tragic air to the whole game.”
- “This game has so much to do and can keep you entertained for hours, and the soundtrack, my god the soundtrack is just brilliant.”
- “The new soundtrack doesn't even sound remotely appropriate for a zombie survival/apocalypse game; it sounds like something that should be on SimTrain or SimCity.”
- “Why on earth did they have to replace the original MIDI music with hipster/beatnik lounge music, fit for listening to while sitting on a velveteen couch, holding a brandy snifter?”
- “The 8-bit music does get a bit annoying after a while, and I found myself usually turning it off and playing my Spotify playlist instead.”
story
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
75%
8%
The game's story is generally described as simple and linear, focusing on a post-apocalyptic journey across the U.S. while managing resources and surviving random events. While some players appreciate the emergent storytelling and humor, many feel the narrative lacks depth and character development, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the game offers a fun but minimalistic story that relies heavily on player imagination and decision-making rather than a complex plot.
- “While the game doesn’t offer a sprawling narrative, it thrives on emergent storytelling.”
- “The storyline is simple: drive across the U.S. while managing gas, food, ammo, and the lives of your four party members.”
- “Though the game doesn't allow for much good storytelling, it just leaves it more up to the imagination.”
- “The story is pretty loose because it just throws you into it with this cool guy at the beginning, but once you learn what the game is about and how to generally play it, it becomes a severe addiction.”
- “Overall, the game is repetitive and boring with a dull storyline.”
- “This game may be fun for the first playthrough, but eventually the game gets repetitive, and once you finish the story, there is no point in playing it anymore because you have unlocked almost everything.”
replayability
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players highlighting the randomized elements, diverse job opportunities, and various upgrades that contribute to a unique experience in each playthrough. However, some reviews note limitations due to repetitive scavenging and a lack of significant branching paths, which may hinder long-term engagement. Overall, while many find the game highly replayable and enjoyable, others suggest that its appeal may diminish after several runs.
- “The inclusion of randomized jobs with different rewards, events, the ever-changing moods of the hordes between locations, upgrades to the car, etc., all ties together to make an extremely cohesive, fun, replayable game.”
- “Undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable games I've played in a long time, not only for being extremely replayable, but having a fantastic soundtrack, appealing art style, and customizable gaming experience.”
- “Limited replayability: despite random events, the overall lack of significant branching paths or choices may limit the game's long-term replayability.”
- “Even with the DLC, there's no replayability here and the achievements are broken.”
- “The replayability in this game is high, since it's completely random.”
atmosphere
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
39%
8%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, effectively blending a post-apocalyptic setting with engaging sound design and quirky graphics. Players appreciate the dark humor and emotional depth that enhance the experience, despite some criticisms regarding the game's portability and narrative density. Overall, the combination of a captivating soundtrack and a unique, eerie ambiance contributes to a memorable and enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “The sound design, although not groundbreaking, complements the gameplay and helps to immerse you in the post-apocalyptic atmosphere.”
- “I love the retro feel and the dark atmosphere alongside plenty of humor and references to the horror genre.”
- “The apocalyptic atmosphere is unique and awesome.”
- “The idea behind the game and the atmosphere it has are cool, but a clear poor portability from smartphones to computers kinda ruined the game.”
- “They do an ok job at presenting a dark atmosphere, but they lack detail.”
- “There's a definite atmosphere of dread overlying the whole game, but it's a bit too close to the original in most aspects for my taste; I guess I was hoping for a denser narrative.”
stability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and issues with achievements that have persisted for years. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable, the frequent glitches and technical problems detract from the overall experience, making it difficult for many to fully engage with the game. Despite the developers' efforts, the game's stability remains inconsistent, leading to frustration among users.
- “This game was clearly made with love and care, though take caution, it's not completely bug-free.”
- “The overall features were good, bug-free, and I had a great time sink for a few hours.”
- “Achievements don't work properly, crashes/freezes are common, and these issues have not been fixed for years.”
- “It's extremely buggy; I was going out on my first run when all of a sudden my save just stopped, and the game froze.”
- “After all these years, it's still too buggy to justify its existence.”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often requiring excessive time spent on tasks like scavenging and farming for resources. While some appreciate the strategic management involved, many feel that the gameplay becomes boring and loses its appeal after multiple playthroughs due to the monotonous nature of grinding for achievements and items. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “On the harder difficulties, the only way the game gets harder is to make scavenging less productive, so you have to do it more and it becomes more tedious.”
- “It just has some achievements that require lots of grinding and multiple playthroughs, which is too bad, since after the first 3 or 4 playthroughs it loses a lot of its appeal, because of the permanent repetition kicking in.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, often enhanced by personalizing party members with names of friends and family, which deepens the impact of their potential losses. Despite its simplistic graphics and gameplay, the emotional weight of character deaths and the journey towards survival evoke genuine feelings of attachment and nostalgia, leading to moments of joy and sorrow throughout the experience. Overall, the game successfully elicits a range of emotions, making players feel invested in their characters' fates.
- “These personal stories lend the game an emotional weight that goes beyond its pixelated visuals and satirical tone.”
- “For those who have played Faster Than Light (FTL), this is another game that you will get emotionally attached to your characters who die to lack of planning or random events.”
- “It's a tough fight to survive, and very emotional.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization has been criticized for various technical issues, including crashes, performance problems, and improper fullscreen functionality, which detracts from overall stability. Additionally, users have reported stuttering and ineffective controller support, impacting the gameplay experience despite the game's potential.
- “This is actually a far better game than Oregon Trail, or most zombie games for that matter, because the bad luck can be remedied with good performance in the arcade sequences.”
- “The game suffers from occasional technical issues, including crashes and performance problems, affecting overall stability.”
- “Fullscreen mode didn't work properly, with the game taking up a quarter of my screen for some reason. The apparent 'full controller support' didn't work, and the game kept stuttering.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Reviews indicate that the game suffers from a lack of deep narrative, which hinders character development and leaves players desiring more substantial storytelling elements and plot twists. While the humorous tone is appreciated, it ultimately fails to capitalize on the potential for richer character arcs, reminiscent of the minimalistic storytelling in "Oregon Trail."
- “The game has a great setup that can offer real character development, but unfortunately, it misses that opportunity.”
- “It needs some more character development.”
- “The narrative, while humorous, lacks deep storytelling elements, potentially leaving players wanting more in terms of character development or plot twists.”
- “The game needs more character development.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews; while some users appreciate the absence of typical mobile game microtransactions, others criticize it as a cash grab, indicating a lack of care from the developers regarding the game's quality.
- “I'd steer clear from this; the devs clearly made it for a cash grab and don't care about its current state.”

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12h Median play time

11h Average play time

8-15h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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Organ Trail: Director's Cut is a survival role playing game with horror, fantasy, comedy, economy and others themes.

Organ Trail: Director's Cut is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, iPhone, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 11 hours playing Organ Trail: Director's Cut.

Organ Trail: Director's Cut was released on March 19, 2013.

Organ Trail: Director's Cut was developed by The Men Who Wear Many Hats.

Organ Trail: Director's Cut has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Organ Trail: Director's Cut is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Death Road to Canada, The Oregon Trail, Death Road to Canada, Dead Age, Rebuild and others.

Organ Trail: Director's Cut

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