POSTAL

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,258 reviews
  • graphics
  • humor
  • gameplay
POSTAL Game Cover
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Postal is a single-player horror shooter game with good mechanics and phenomenal music, now offering new control options and LAN multiplayer. Battle through 22 levels of a violence-stricken town using 9 devastating weapons, and test yourself with 22 bonus challenge stages. The game's humor and dense atmosphere make it a unique and entertaining experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Dreamcast
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,258 reviews
humor103 positive mentions
graphics19 negative mentions
  • The game is a dark and disturbing experience that effectively captures the mindset of a psychopathic character.
  • The hand-drawn backgrounds and unique art style add a nostalgic charm to the game.
  • It's a fun and addictive shooter that provides a cathartic release for players looking to blow off steam.
  • The controls are clunky and difficult to master, making gameplay frustrating at times.
  • The game lacks a coherent story, which can make the experience feel shallow.
  • The graphics have not aged well, and the overall presentation feels outdated compared to modern games.
  • graphics121 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated and crude, reflecting its 1997 origins, with many users noting their charm in a retro context. While some appreciate the hand-painted art style and atmospheric visuals, others criticize the clunky controls and overall poor quality compared to modern standards. Despite the graphical shortcomings, the game's unique aesthetic and disturbing artwork contribute to its cult status and nostalgic appeal.

    • “The game features beautiful yet chilling artwork and a creepy soundtrack to represent the fractured mind of the main character.”
    • “The aesthetic is painfully 90's but it suits the tone perfectly.”
    • “The graphics are surprisingly hand-painted, which add somewhat of a depth to the game.”
    • “The graphics and sound effects are so hilariously bad that they're actually kind of charming in a retro way.”
    • “Graphically, the game’s visuals are rather dated now, so the game doesn’t have as much impact.”
    • “The graphics are quite ugly in my opinion.”
  • humor103 mentions

    The humor in "Postal" is characterized by its dark and twisted nature, often relying on shock value and crude one-liners from the Postal Dude, which some players find amusing while others deem it lacking compared to its sequel, "Postal 2." While the game features moments of dark humor and absurdity, it is generally more serious and brutal, with many reviewers noting that it lacks the light-hearted, satirical tone of its successor. Overall, the humor appeals primarily to those with a taste for edgy and controversial content, making it a divisive aspect of the game.

    • “Postal is the perfect game to play with friends who have a twisted sense of humor - just don't invite anyone who's easily offended.”
    • “The graphics and sound effects are so hilariously bad that they're actually kind of charming in a retro way.”
    • “Definitely recommend it if you're into psychotically tinged dark humor in the style of hurling a molotov into a marching band or mowing down a zoo full of panicked ostriches.”
  • gameplay103 mentions

    The gameplay of Postal is characterized by its simple, repetitive mechanics typical of twin-stick shooters, which some players find addictive and fun, while others criticize it for being monotonous and lacking depth. The controls are often described as awkward and outdated, contributing to a frustrating experience for many. Despite its flaws, the game's dark atmosphere and edgy humor resonate with some players, making it a notable, if controversial, entry in the shooter genre.

    • “The gameplay is simple but extremely fun; you just run through the levels killing everyone you can find.”
    • “Keyboard controls are easy to pick up, gameplay is intense and amazingly fun, and the level design is varied enough to remain fun throughout.”
    • “Postal delivers in its classic gameplay and storytelling.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and boring, controls are weird, no satisfying goal other than kill a bunch of people.”
    • “The gameplay is horrendous and you can barely control your character.”
    • “Plagued with horribly awkward and unresponsive controls, graphics that look lazy even by 1997 standards and painfully bad gameplay playing this game is a chore.”
  • story89 mentions

    The story in "Postal" is largely criticized for being minimal and poorly conveyed, with many reviewers noting that it lacks depth and coherence. While some appreciate the dark and edgy themes surrounding the protagonist's violent rampage, others find the narrative to be nonsensical and overly reliant on external materials like manuals for context. Overall, the game is described as having a barebones plot focused on chaos and destruction, with little to no character development or meaningful storytelling.

    • “The story is cool and interesting, very different from most other games you will play.”
    • “This is a game that, while the plot is kept deliberately vague, taking the story and mental state of the main character into consideration makes it all the more disturbing and gruesome.”
    • “There's basically no story; each level is connected by a piece of writing at the start of the level, and those have some insanely edgy writing to the point where it screams to the player saying 'hey, look at me and how edgy I am.'”
    • “The game has a short story told through the loading screens and comments made by the postal dude, and it does a very good job of showing just how far gone the postal dude really is.”
    • “Aside from this premise of mental illness and demonic possession, not much is explained about the story, leaving the rest to the player's imagination.”
  • music59 mentions

    The music in the game is characterized by a grim and unsettling industrial soundtrack that complements its violent and disturbing themes, often described as both chilling and ear-piercing. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and creepy soundscapes that enhance the game's dark narrative, others find the audio overwhelming and unpleasant. Overall, the soundtrack effectively contributes to the game's surreal and nightmarish ambiance, though opinions on its quality vary widely.

    • “The game features beautiful yet chilling artwork and a creepy soundtrack to represent the fractured mind of the main character.”
    • “It has one of the darkest and most brooding soundtracks, ambient for gameplay and industrial noisescapes for level loading and backstory sections.”
    • “The music is absolutely dreadful in my opinion; it's loud droning noises that will make your ears bleed.”
    • “Another thing about this game (and the main reason why it disturbs me) is the music and ambient sounds; Jesus, are they creepy.”
    • “The soundtrack is very unsettling, and it doesn't help that it keeps playing in my head after I close the game.”
  • atmosphere37 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as dark, oppressive, and deeply immersive, enhanced by effective sound design and a grim narrative. Many reviewers highlight its ability to evoke feelings of unease and discomfort, with a unique blend of humor and horror that resonates throughout the gameplay. While some critique the gameplay itself, they agree that the atmosphere is a standout feature that leaves a lasting impression.

    • “Atmosphere and sound design are top notch.”
    • “The gameplay is nothing to write home about, it's a standard twin stick affair, but it's elevated by the grim/gritty atmosphere, and pairs well with the bare bones narrative.”
    • “Creepy atmosphere and visual style, blends with the 'video nasty' era really well.”
    • “Thick and heavily oppressive atmosphere.”
    • “Postal 1's atmosphere is gruesome and cruel.”
    • “I'll admit, when I loaded this up at first I wasn't sure if I was going to like it since contemporary reviews of the original version were generally negative, and given the awkward controls and extremely disturbing atmosphere, I could see why.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, primarily due to the high damage enemies can absorb and the repetitive nature of combat and mission design. While the game offers entertaining moments, many reviewers note that the clunky controls and design choices lead to a frustrating experience that detracts from overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, some players still appreciate the game's unique charm and replay value.

    • “I'll admit the game is really fun, going around and mowing down people is pretty entertaining for a while, but a few of the design choices make the game get tedious pretty fast.”
    • “The enemies take way too much damage; now this doesn't make it difficult, just tedious.”
    • “It's an experience that tests your moral values with limited survival tactics, recycled stages, tedious difficulty settings, and moderately fulfilling replay value upon completion.”
  • replayability9 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the engaging level structure, achievements, and additional content that enhance replay value, others find it lacking after completion, citing limited reasons to revisit the game. The inclusion of exclusive areas and achievements offers some incentive for replay, but the recycled stages and tedious difficulty settings detract from its longevity.

    • “Genuinely disturbing and unsettling at times, especially when compared to its sequels, but otherwise a fun and challenging game with good replay value.”
    • “Postal's level structure is simple and engaging, achievements are fun, and the replay value is good.”
    • “It also adds the Japanese exclusive areas as playable bonuses, which hark back to the 'expansion pack' days and extend replay value.”
    • “Except for a few achievements, the game doesn't have much replayability or longevity, which is its only true downfall.”
    • “Also, there's essentially no reason to boot up the game after completion, no replay value at all unfortunately.”
    • “It's an experience that tests your moral values with limited survival tactics, recycled stages, tedious difficulty settings, and moderately fulfilling replay value upon completion.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of feelings, from wholesome family entertainment and nostalgia to unsettling experiences and deep sadness. Players report moments of joy and tears, particularly during poignant missions, while others express discomfort and edginess related to darker themes and controversial content. Overall, the game provokes strong emotional reactions, both positive and negative, reflecting its complex narrative and artistic choices.

    • “I want to cry.”
    • “I cried during the airforce base mission.”
    • “The first postal, when I first played it some odd years ago, the level transitions and the music/sounds/artwork that went with them unnerved me, made me feel scared.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting occasional bugs and glitches, particularly with achievements and enemy behavior, which can lead to crashes after repeated level restarts. While performance is generally good on Windows 8.1, connection issues have plagued the multiplayer mode, resulting in server shutdowns. Overall, players may encounter frustrating moments, but many still find the experience enjoyable despite these stability concerns.

    • “Performance-wise, it runs great on Windows 8.1.”
    • “The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience.”
    • “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which makes for a stable gameplay experience.”
    • “Not to forget that the game has a multiplayer mode for 15 players that can be used via LAN or the RWS servers, but due to some connection problems and glitches, the servers had to be shut down sadly. The three modes are Going Postal, Capture the Flag, and The March.”
    • “To be honest, I didn't find that many glitches as I was hoping, except when the enemies get stuck in some corners and start spinning, and the game crashes after you restart the level too many times.”
    • “The game is an isometric shooter with a buggy hand-drawn environment, extremely janky controls, and poor semi-scripted AI.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game is praised for its strong performance, even on lower-end machines, with users reporting smooth gameplay on Windows 8.1. However, some players have noted occasional stuttering issues and a less gritty visual presentation compared to previous versions, which slightly detracts from the experience. Despite these minor drawbacks, the game remains highly recommended, especially given its current free availability.

    • “Great performance, even on the worst of machines.”
    • “Performance-wise, it runs great on Windows 8.1.”
    • “The game has some optimization issues, including slower walking speed and weird stuttering at times.”
    • “The screams and voices from the civilians don't sound as good, which detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “While the game is unique and free, it suffers from various performance problems that can impact enjoyment.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development aspect received no specific rating or feedback, while the character design was rated a mediocre 5/10, indicating a lack of depth or engagement in the characters' growth throughout the game.

    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful growth in the characters throughout the game.”
    • “The story fails to provide a compelling arc for the characters, leaving them feeling one-dimensional.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy may be misleading, as users feel that the advertising does not accurately represent the game's content or value.

    • “Do not let the advertising fool you.”
    • “The game is riddled with paywalls that make progress nearly impossible without spending money.”
    • “It's frustrating to see that the best content is locked behind a paywall, making it feel like a cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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