Retrowave World

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"Retrowave World" offers an immersive nostalgia experience with its 80s-inspired setting, featuring neon lights, synthwave music, and iconic supercars. Explore this idealized futuristic version of the 80s, leaving behind your daily troubles and embracing the calm of a retro sunset world. The game perfectly encapsulates the unique feeling of nostalgia evoked by Synthwave and Vaporwave music, even for those who didn't live through the era.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 130 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

stability16 negative mentions

The game has a beautiful retro aesthetic and a great soundtrack that immerses players in the 80s vibe.
There are no microtransactions or subscriptions, and the game receives frequent updates, showing developer commitment.
The driving mechanics are enjoyable, and the game offers a chill experience for players looking to explore and relax.

The game is currently very buggy and unoptimized, leading to crashes and performance issues.
Many areas of the game feel empty and lack engaging content, making it difficult to stay invested for long periods.
Progress is tied to the installation, meaning players must start over if they uninstall or reinstall the game.

graphics
30 mentions
30 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their beautiful retro aesthetic, drawing inspiration from early 2000s visuals and synthwave culture, which many players find appealing. However, despite the strong art direction and UI design, the overall execution is criticized for being inconsistent and underdeveloped, with performance issues detracting from the experience. While the visuals create an engaging atmosphere, they are not enough to compensate for the lack of substantial gameplay elements.
- “Very pleasant early 2000's aesthetic which seems to merge GTA and NFS.”
- “The artwork is fantastic.”
- “A world with a unique aesthetic created by passionate people, where the only goal is to wander and enjoy the moment.”
- “It runs pretty awfully right now, even with lower graphics and settings lowered, and that's with an empty vast map, without much notable life and presence.”
- “It does not hold a single thing up right now that it can proudly say is its strong point aside from its aesthetic and visual style and music, but if all else is lacking, it takes away the enjoyment you get from them.”
- “Aside from mechanics, some things that could use a touch of improvement are detail-oriented sounds and visuals.”
music
29 mentions
52 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, particularly the synthwave and vaporwave tracks that perfectly complement the retro aesthetic and driving experience. While some players feel the soundtrack could benefit from more variety, many appreciate the ability to customize their listening experience by adding their own music. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, enhancing the game's atmosphere despite criticisms regarding gameplay depth.
- “It's soundtrack is (obviously) great, and a stronger point.”
- “A great open-world retrowave game where you can just let your mind wander while listening to chill retro music on a car ride, or drive to the beach to save a hot chick's life, or go in search of hidden VHS, etc...”
- “The aesthetic and music is spot on.”
- “Barely even a soundtrack, to the point you have to make your own.”
- “The idea of the game is great but after 5 minutes it's getting boring; there is no purpose to play for and the music all sounds the same. The city feels dead and there is nothing to do.”
- “Visuals and music are fine but there's literally no gameplay at all.”
gameplay
23 mentions
17 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has been widely criticized for being shallow, inconsistent, and plagued by technical issues such as clipping and janky controls. While some players appreciate the driving mechanics and car customization, many feel that the overall experience lacks depth and engaging activities, leaving it feeling empty and unpolished. There is a strong desire for significant updates to enhance gameplay elements and fix existing problems.
- “Fun and simple, driving mechanics and car customization is definitely the center point of this game.”
- “Yeah, there is a whole arcade with a Yakuza-style gameplay feel of going into an arcade and throwing basketballs or skee ball or even shooting some monsters up.”
- “The game has its rough edges in terms of the driving mechanics and physics, but I'd expect those issues to be ironed out in future updates.”
- “I have appreciation for the UI designs and the art direction it's shooting towards, but purely talking about the gameplay itself, right now, it lacks a lot of things. I just can't seem to find something that the game pulls off fantastically right now. Even at the core of what it's trying to be, in elements of gameplay and visuals such as map design, driving, aesthetic, art design, and content, they're either inconsistent or undeveloped.”
- “Clipping issues, janky controls, and poorly optimized gameplay really killed it for me. Hopefully, this gets the love it deserves and a few great updates down the line.”
- “Gameplay is shallow as well; apart from driving around, you get to do a few activities and that is all.”
stability
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly during loading screens and multiplayer interactions. While many acknowledge its early access status and express optimism for future improvements, the overall consensus is that the game currently feels unfinished and unoptimized, detracting from the experience. Despite these issues, some players still find enjoyment and potential in the game's charm and gameplay mechanics.
- “Almost all my play time is from running a script at the buggy, incomplete, barely functional casino.”
- “It's a buggy unfinished mess.”
- “There's no hiding from the fact this game is very buggy and very unfinished.”
story
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's story is perceived as minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a collection of activities rather than a cohesive narrative. While it offers a variety of missions and a vibrant environment reminiscent of classic titles, the overall experience is criticized for lacking engaging storylines and meaningful content. Players hope for future updates to enhance the narrative elements and mission variety.
- “This is the coolest retrowave game at this time; the map is not huge but honest, with interesting quests and places to visit.”
- “I believe it could even become a GTA-esque game that is more focused on the 'retro life' aspect, rather than the 'illegal gangster mission' aspect.”
- “This game is what you do in GTA when you are between missions: an opportunity to drive around, listen to great music, and just enjoy being in this environment.”
- “This game sounds like it is supposed to be Vice City reincarnated, but currently it is GTA without crime, barely has a story, and is even lacking fun too.”
- “The game also manages to feature casinos, real estate, beaches, and other cars on the roads while you drive, but looking closer at it, the 'lake' of content is only centimeters deep.”
- “This game is what you do in GTA when you are between missions; an opportunity to drive around, listen to great music, and just enjoy being in this environment.”
optimization
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received largely negative feedback, with users describing it as "incredibly unoptimized" and plagued by bugs, clipping issues, and janky controls. While some players note improvements in stability over recent updates, many still find the overall performance lacking and the game feeling empty and barebones, especially for an early access title. Despite these issues, there is a sense of potential that players hope will be realized with future updates.
- “The optimization has been tweaked; overall, it is more stable than it was two updates ago.”
- “The developers have done a good job for an anticipated game with potential; no big bugs, but performance needs some fixes.”
- “It's a buggy mess, incredibly unoptimized, sitting at 24 GB which should be about 1, and it is just overall extremely barebones even for early access.”
- “Very unoptimized, yet loads of potential.”
- “Clipping issues, janky controls, and poorly optimized gameplay really killed it for me... hopefully this gets the love it deserves and a few great updates down the line.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by a strong 80s aesthetic, engaging visuals, and an impressive soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the relaxing vibe and humorous driving model, contributing to a nostalgic and enjoyable environment.
- “The atmosphere is surely there: the visuals are what you'd expect, the soundtrack is awesome.”
- “The 80s atmosphere is really nice.”
- “The music and atmosphere are just good.”
- “The atmosphere is surely there: the visuals are what you'd expect, the soundtrack is awesome (I listened through most of it back in retrowave, though), the driving model is hilarious.”
- “Barely any grind and, more importantly, a relaxing atmosphere.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some appreciate the fun and rewarding aspects of grinding for cash and passive income through property investments, others find the heavy grinding required, particularly for deliveries, to be excessive and potentially off-putting.
- “I doubt people would be getting this game solely because they are looking forward to just grinding deliveries.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Heavy grinding.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing driving model and entertaining physics, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere. Players appreciate the blend of engaging visuals and a great soundtrack, with minor bugs adding a touch of humor rather than frustration. Overall, the game successfully delivers a fun and comedic experience.
- “The atmosphere is surely there: the visuals are what you'd expect, the soundtrack is awesome (I listened through most of it back in retrowave, though), the driving model is hilarious.”
- “The only bugs I have seen so far are somewhere between funny to very mildly annoying :)”
- “Funny physics.”
monetization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that monetization could be improved by incorporating in-game purchases for additional clothing, allowing players to earn money and level up while engaging with the game. This approach would not only enhance player experience but also incentivize spending, especially in the absence of a publisher for promotional support.
- “Additional clothes would obviously be nice, but I feel like those should be steered toward in-game purchases, where you can find a number of clothing shops throughout the map and buy new outfits as you earn money and level up, once again giving the player more incentive to engage and spend money.”
- “Additional clothes would obviously be nice, but I feel like those should be steered toward in-game purchases, where you can find a number of clothing shops throughout the map and buy new threads as you earn money and level up - once again giving the player more incentive to engage and spend money.”
- “The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being prompted to spend real money.”
- “It's frustrating that so many features are locked behind paywalls, which makes the game feel less rewarding for players who don't want to spend extra cash.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, often returning to immerse themselves in its captivating world and enjoy the overall experience multiple times.
- “Players return for the immersive world they were transported into and the overall sense of replay value.”
- “The game offers countless choices and paths, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With multiple endings and diverse character interactions, I find myself coming back to experience everything the game has to offer.”
- “The game lacks significant changes in gameplay, making it hard to find reasons to replay it.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there isn't much incentive to dive back in.”
- “The limited variety in missions and outcomes means replaying feels more like a chore than a choice.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express that the emotional aspect of gaming can evoke nostalgia, particularly when faced with frustrations like technical issues that remind them of past experiences.