POSTAL: Brain Damaged

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"POSTAL: Brain Damaged" is a first-person shooter game where players control the series' protagonist, the Postal Dude, as he navigates through a hostile world using a wide range of weapons. The game features a unique "brain damage" system, where players can choose to temporarily boost their abilities at the cost of their sanity. With a distinctive comic-book style and dark humor, players will face off against strange enemies and complete various missions in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,628 reviews

humor544 positive mentions

stability30 negative mentions

humor
564 mentions
96 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The humor in "Postal: Brain Damaged" is a mix of crude, juvenile jokes and contemporary references, often drawing from the franchise's signature irreverence. While some players appreciate the over-the-top absurdity and find it genuinely funny, others criticize it as dated and reliant on shock value, with many jokes feeling forced or reminiscent of internet meme culture. Overall, the humor is polarizing, appealing primarily to fans of lowbrow comedy and those familiar with the series, but may not resonate with a broader audience.
- “Love the funny comments 'these moronic developers thought they could hide it from me?' when finding secrets :D.”
- “The satire and dark comedy has definitely been toned down since Postal 2, but it's still pretty funny for the most part.”
- “The humor is well... funny if you're about 14 years old and just found out you get to offend those damn pesky adults with the appropriate swear words.”
- “A decent boomer shooter if you ignore how painfully unfunny it is.”
- “Full of unfunny pee jokes and horrible one-liners after every other enemy killed.”
- “Maybe the most aggressively unfunny games I've ever played, in terms of plot, dialogue, enemy voice lines, and weapon/visual gags.”
gameplay
504 mentions
46 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Postal: Brain Damaged" is widely praised for its fast-paced, engaging mechanics that blend elements from classic shooters like Doom and modern gameplay innovations. Players appreciate the smooth controls, unique weapon abilities, and the incorporation of humorous mechanics, such as the infamous "pissing" feature, which adds a quirky twist to combat. However, some critiques mention repetitive gameplay and level design issues, suggesting that while the core mechanics are solid, the overall experience can feel derivative and occasionally lacks depth.
- “Beyond all of that, it has simply rock solid gameplay that feels amazing.”
- “The gameplay mechanics, reminiscent of a finely-tuned symphony, seamlessly blend chaos with strategy, offering an unparalleled sense of agency to the discerning player.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic.”
- “The novelty wears off insanely quickly thanks to the all over the place level design and non-innovative gameplay.”
- “Defeat the same enemies, with the same mechanics, with the same general layout, only to push a few buttons or get a key to unlock a door and do it all over again.”
- “It's sad because the gameplay can be fun, but it's also marred by poor level design, some really annoying enemy design.”
graphics
257 mentions
44 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Postal: Brain Damaged" are characterized by a retro, low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of 90s boomer shooters, which many players find charming and fitting for the game's chaotic humor and gameplay. While some reviews praise the vibrant art style and imaginative enemy designs, others criticize the visuals as simplistic or outdated, suggesting that they may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game's graphics successfully evoke nostalgia while complementing its fast-paced action and absurd humor.
- “The art style manages to be both a more than serviceable callback to a far-gone era in gaming and also something that's completely new and ambitious, thanks to its intricate level design, attention to detail, and excellent texture work.”
- “The graphics are gloriously retro, the gameplay is perfectly tuned, and the humor is pretty much what you would expect from a Postal game.”
- “The low-poly pixelated art style and interesting level themes are great too, and being able to slide jump around makes the movement quick and fun.”
- “I wanted to give it a chance because I have never played a Postal game before and heard that despite the asinine banter and vulgarity it is indeed a fantastic 'boomer shooter'... well, for this reviewer, between the puerile humor, vile visuals, and weak gunplay, this game is an abomination.”
- “I know it's a boomer shooter, but the graphics suck.”
- “They completely lost all touch with what they were doing in Postal 2, to where this just feels like they shit out a Doom/Serious Sam clone with lame pixel graphics, the same mediocre/boring 20 one-liners, and cringe jokes towards today's relevant topics.”
music
220 mentions
48 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in "Postal: Brain Damaged" has received widespread acclaim for its energetic and diverse soundtrack, which effectively enhances the game's chaotic atmosphere. Reviewers praised the heavy metal tracks during combat, likening them to the works of renowned composers like Mick Gordon, while also noting the variety in styles, from lounge jazz to upbeat tunes. However, some players expressed disappointment with occasional bugs affecting music playback and a desire for more varied tracks, suggesting that while the soundtrack is strong, it could benefit from additional depth and consistency.
- “The soundtrack is outstanding, right up there with (and quite similar to) Mick Gordon's tunes for DOOM 2016/Eternal and Andrew Hulshult's work for Dusk.”
- “The music is awesome and dynamic, going from moody and atmospheric while exploring straight to sick metal riffs in combat arenas.”
- “The soundtrack kicks ass.”
- “What bothered me more was the 'soundtrack' though.”
- “The game is good but the last boss battle music is pretty shit.”
- “The music is honestly generic and forgettable for a boomer shooter.”
story
180 mentions
25 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story in "Postal: Brain Damaged" is often described as nonsensical and minimal, primarily serving as a backdrop for the game's chaotic gameplay. Set within the protagonist's surreal dreamscape, it features absurd humor and pop culture references, but many players feel it lacks depth and coherence, with some suggesting it is not a significant draw for the game. Overall, while the narrative is quirky and entertaining in a superficial way, it is generally considered secondary to the fast-paced action and comedic elements that define the Postal franchise.
- “The game is set inside a dreamscape, allowing for a bats**t crazy story that delves into the dude's psyche, starting with surface level irritants like boomers and karens, but delves deeper into fears of insane asylums, aliens and the illuminati, and haunting, twisted imagery of the dude's past atrocities.”
- “The humor is fun, the visuals are fun, the gameplay is fun, the movement is fun, and so far the story is fun.”
- “The story takes place in a dream in the postal dude's messed mind, and he's trying to get out of there.”
- “What passes for a plot is just a massive pile of waste.”
- “The story is there but really only up until the end; I'd suggest watching a YouTube video on all the cutscenes of the game just to save time.”
- “The story is non-existent, which is reminiscent of other boomer shooters.”
optimization
51 mentions
33 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players noting smooth performance, stability, and an absence of significant bugs or graphical glitches. However, some users reported occasional performance issues, particularly in specific episodes or scenarios, suggesting that while the game is mostly optimized, there are areas that could benefit from further refinement. The retro visual style contributes to a lack of major performance issues, but some players experienced frustrating drops in frame rates and other minor hiccups.
- “All expected game options are there, performance and stability are spotless, optimization is appropriate to the level of visual fidelity, absence of bugs or even minor graphical glitches.”
- “On another note, this game is insanely well optimized!”
- “The movement is stellar, the optimization is rock solid, the gunplay and the story... holy heck it is unhinged and hysterically fun, with a soundtrack that goes hard full throttle and never stops!”
- “For a game that looks so bad, it is optimized horribly; I shouldn't be getting better framerates on Yandere Simulator of all things.”
- “There's an optimization feature where far away enemies' animations get very choppy due to frame rate reduction.”
- “So Hyperstrange, if you see this, I strongly recommend looking into this, because the graphical and processing usage don't justify such nasty drops in performance considering how the game runs very smoothly in all other instances.”
stability
33 mentions
9 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a generally smooth experience with minimal crashes and good performance, while others encountered significant bugs and glitches, particularly in later levels. Many users recommend frequent saving due to potential game-breaking issues, although some appreciate the humor and overall gameplay despite these flaws. Overall, while the game is described as mostly stable, it does have notable glitches that can impact the experience.
- “I'm not sure if I'll ever replay this, but while it lasted, it was a fun experience—smooth and bug-free on release day.”
- “It doesn't have many graphical options, but the game runs great, and the retro look really suits it.”
- “It runs great on my 1080 Ti at full graphic settings.”
- “I got stuck a lot of times because of glitches, so I recommend using multiple saves.”
- “I would have given a positive review in spite of the humor, but it's buggy as hell and now I cannot even progress.”
- “The game occasionally suffers from framerate drops into single digits despite the less than impressive graphics, and some of the later levels are way too long, confusing, and even buggy at times.”
atmosphere
19 mentions
53 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dynamic and varied soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience with a mix of lounge jazz, upbeat tunes, and heavy metal riffs that match the gameplay's intensity. Players appreciate the unique low-poly graphics and the blend of humor and dark themes, creating a charming yet twisted environment. While some levels are noted for their somber tones, the overall atmosphere is described as fun, engaging, and fitting for the game's fast-paced action.
- “I see some people saying the soundtrack is serviceable at best, but in my opinion, it's a really great soundtrack with a lot of variety and funky compositions; from a meandering lounge jazz to a peppy upbeat tune not unlike something from The Sims, a lonely, estranged guitar echoing out over desert wastelands, a retrowave song soaring above a nostalgia-covered digital event stranded in a sky-void... I think it's honestly a true merit to the game's atmosphere and feel.”
- “The music is awesome and dynamic, going from moody and atmospheric while exploring straight to sick metal riffs in combat arenas.”
- “Fun gameplay, charming atmosphere, cool settings, and it's always fun to hear Corey Cruise and Rick Hunter as the 'Postal Dude'.”
- “I noticed a familiar atmosphere in some of the more somber levels (inside the border wall especially) that is very akin to dusk.”
- “The game makes emphasis on its humor, which might not be for everybody, but it also has a dark atmosphere in several levels, lots of gore and all kinds of twisted enemies.”
- “We are now also taking a step towards a fast-paced gameplay style while we are mostly used to postal games to be able to mess around in an open world, but undoubtedly a successful step that gives us a doom atmosphere in the middle of the 'lore of postal' and also with awesome high detailed retro pixels.”
replayability
17 mentions
41 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various features such as multiple difficulty levels, leaderboards, and a wealth of secrets and collectibles to discover. Players can enjoy replaying campaign missions, engaging in survival modes, and pursuing completionist goals, making it particularly appealing for those who enjoy speedrunning and achieving 100%. While the campaign may be relatively short, the diverse replay options ensure a fun and engaging experience for players looking to extend their playtime.
- “Roughly an 8-12 hour campaign offering, backed by a decent handful of replayability factors such as difficulty levels, leaderboards, secrets, and easy access to replaying missions at will.”
- “There's lots of secrets and things in each level, lots of achievements and leaderboards for each level, so there's lots of replay value you can get out of it.”
- “Don't expect the same replay value as this game's contemporaries.”
- “There's lots of secrets and things in each level, lots of achievements and leaderboards for each level so there's lots of replay value you can get out of it.”
- “The fifteen hours it took me to complete this game on hard and collect all achievements were consistently enjoyable, and there are plenty of opportunities for replayability to engage in speedrunning.”
grinding
17 mentions
6 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
65 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often requiring significant time investment to navigate large, confusing maps and repetitive encounters. Many reviews highlight the lack of effective checkpoints and the monotony of enemy encounters, leading to a sense of boredom and irritation. Completionists may particularly struggle with the game's design, which can feel like a slog rather than an engaging experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The large maps are particularly annoying because it's easy to get lost and likely super tedious to find all the secrets and enemies, for any completionists.”
- “It is just tedious and boring.”
- “The game has a habit of leaving large gaps between autosaves, especially in later levels, given that each level can take between 20 to 30 minutes to finish. This can lead to long stints of retreading old ground on death, which can get tedious after a while.”
emotional
11 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a mixed experience, with some players feeling a disconnect between the game's themes and its overall tone, leading to a lack of genuine emotional engagement. While it touches on serious topics, the gameplay often feels lighthearted and silly, resulting in a blend of humor and absurdity that may not resonate deeply with all players. Overall, it offers a unique emotional journey that can evoke a range of feelings, from nostalgia to amusement, but may not leave a lasting impact.
- “It’s like if a man and a woman didn’t have a baby and in fact went through a long sorrow-filled divorce which ended up hurting not only them but their loved ones around them, to which the man resorts to alcoholic coping mechanisms and the woman becomes a homie hopper in hopes that maybe one day, no matter how many men she gets with, they’ll never fill the hole in her heart. Slowly but surely, they both end up ruining their own lives over a heartbreaking tragedy between the two - except it’s actually nothing like that and it’s just a really epic game.”
- “Most emotional anime adventure I ever embarked on.”
- “Few pieces of art have made me shed a tear.”
character development
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is marked by a mix of engaging designs and humor, with most characters resonating well, though a few miss the mark. The art direction and sound design enhance the overall experience, contributing to a fun gameplay atmosphere, despite some outdated humor and references. Overall, while the character designs are generally well-received, they evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of the Postal series.
- “Art direction, sound design, character design, music, level design (except the first level, too open compared to the rest), all culminate into incredibly fun gameplay!”
- “Only the theme itself, including protagonist and character designs, makes you feel 'a bit' like playing one of the Postal series.”
- “But I want to give the developers credit when it comes to the character designs, humor, and overall pace; they gave me a damn good chuckle and the final boss soundtrack was stellar.”
- “Nor did the character designer for that matter.”
monetization
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of this game is criticized as a cash grab that capitalizes on nostalgia, with players suggesting it is not worth the full price and recommending waiting for significant discounts. Additionally, some elements, like character designs and humor, seem to serve more as advertising than genuine content.
- “I have played my fair share of this new wave of 'boomer shooters' (I hate that term) and I find that most are just an easy cash grab monetizing nostalgia.”
- “This is a cash grab at best, and I'd recommend saving your money on this for a 90% sale if you're looking for that style of game.”
- “Lol, a quick cash grab.”