Retro Gadgets

About

Retro Gadgets is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Studio Evil and was released on November 30, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Retro Gadgets" is a simulation game where players can collect, build, and experiment with various gadgets from past decades. With a focus on hands-on tinkering and problem-solving, players can learn about the history and functionality of these vintage devices while having fun. The game features realistic physics and a wide range of gadgets to discover, making it a must-play for fans of retro technology.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 474 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and creative platform for building and programming gadgets, making it a great tool for learning Lua.
Players appreciate the freedom to design and customize their gadgets, with many enjoying the community aspect and workshop features.
The game is fun and engaging, providing a satisfying experience for those willing to invest time in learning programming.

The game requires a solid understanding of Lua programming, which can be a barrier for beginners and those without coding experience.
Many users find the documentation lacking and the tutorials insufficient, making it difficult to get started.
There are several bugs and issues with the user interface, such as problems with component snapping and the code editor's functionality.

graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
50%
15%
The graphics of the game have received high praise, with a rating of 9.5/10, highlighting a nostalgic 90s aesthetic that enhances the building experience. Players appreciate the variety of visual and sound assets available for creating retro-style games, although some find the coding aspect challenging and lacking in instructional resources. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “Graphics: 9.5/10”
- “Very cool! I just built my first creation and I am impressed by the game's cool graphics and mechanics. I love the paint and all of that.”
- “Retro gadgets have a great aesthetic.”
- “In fact, it's almost not about hardware except for visuals.”
- “Yes, the parts play a big part in that, but the process of building the device is mostly aesthetic.”
- “Only thing I don't like is that it's a bit hard to understand the coding aspect; the basics aren't too hard, but something like graphics is. I can't find anyone making videos on how it works, and the learning page doesn't help that much either.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The gameplay is likened to a car mechanic simulator, featuring a simplistic, Lego-like construction system with generic parts that lack unique functionalities. While it may take some time to master the mechanics, players find the experience enjoyable and visually appealing, with significant potential for future enhancements. Overall, it has received positive feedback, scoring 9/10 from users.
- “Needs a bit of time to get used to its mechanics, but otherwise great.”
- “Can't wait to see what more could be added gameplay-wise; huge potential!”
- “Very cool! I just built my first creation and I am impressed by the game's cool graphics and mechanics. Love the paint and all of that.”
- “Something in the vein of car mechanic simulator, with very surface level, lego-like construction of devices with plain/generic parts that don't really have individual functionality, running surface level scripts that resemble Ruby visual programming in 2012.”
- “Something in the vein of car mechanic simulator, with very surface level, lego-like construction of devices with plain/generic parts that don't really have individual functionality, running surface level scripts that resemble Ruby visual programming in 2012.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game currently lacks a story, but developers are actively working on a story mode that is expected to enhance the learning experience, particularly in programming. Users anticipate that this upcoming feature will make it easier to grasp the game's concepts.
- “The developers are planning to introduce a story mode, which will enhance the overall experience.”
- “With the upcoming story mode, learning programming should become much easier and more engaging.”
- “The devs are working on a better tutorial alongside the story mode, promising an improved learning journey.”
- “There is currently no story mode available, but the developers are planning to implement one in the future.”
- “The developers are planning to bring a better tutorial along with a story mode, which is currently in active development.”
- “While there is no story mode at the moment, it is expected to be released soon, making it easier to learn programming.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Users appreciate the music functionality, highlighting the ability to create custom music players and listen to personal song collections. There is also a desire for additional features, such as web browsing capabilities and running other applications like games. Overall, the music aspect is seen as a strong point for creativity and personalization.
- “I'm just waiting for someone to make a website browser or run Doom in this; I'm currently using my built music player to listen to some songs I put into it. :D”
- “- Great for making music devices.”
- “I'm just waiting for someone to make a website browser or run Doom in this; I'm currently using my built music player to listen to some songs I put into it. :D”
- “Music player?”
- “I'm just waiting for someone to make a website browser or run Doom in this. I'm currently using my built music player to listen to some songs I put into it.”
- “I'm just waiting for someone to make a website browser or run Doom in this. I'm currently using my built music player to listen to some songs I put into it.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to be highly unstable, with numerous bugs affecting gameplay, leading to a frustrating experience for users. While the developers show some presence in the community, many feel the game is largely abandoned, and the lack of a tutorial exacerbates the issues for new players.
- “Despite being insanely buggy, and the devs being somewhat active in the community, the game feels almost entirely abandoned.”
- “I don't know if it's just my computer being terrible, but when I tried playing it, it seemed a little buggy. There's also no tutorial, so I was left completely lost and unable to do anything.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it demands an unrealistic amount of effort akin to needing a "second life" to complete.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is primarily driven by the use of Lua scripting, allowing for creative and comedic elements to be integrated into gameplay. Players appreciate the flexibility and potential for humor that this programming language offers.