Rustler

Almost more a "skin" than a homage to the original GTA... the same feel in a different era. Simple silly fun!

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Rustler is a historical open-world action game with top-down perspective, drawing inspiration from classic GTA gameplay in a humorous medieval setting. Play as The Guy, completing twisted quests, causing mayhem on foot or horseback, and wielding various weapons. With its striking visuals, compelling music, and Monty Python-inspired humor, Rustler offers a single-player and multiplayer experience filled with laughs, despite some bugs.

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Play Modes

Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 670 reviews

story57 positive mentions

stability23 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of medieval setting and humor, reminiscent of classic GTA games.
The humor and pop culture references throughout the game are entertaining and often laugh-out-loud funny.
The gameplay is fun and engaging, with a variety of quests and a charming aesthetic.

The game is plagued by bugs and technical issues, including frustrating controls and a lack of checkpoints during missions.
Combat can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Some players find the humor to be juvenile and the quests repetitive, detracting from overall enjoyment.

story
363 mentions
16 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story of the game is characterized by its comedic and satirical take on medieval life, filled with pop culture references and humorous quests that often parody classic themes from the era. While the main storyline and side missions are generally entertaining, some players find the quest design repetitive and frustrating due to technical issues, such as a lack of checkpoints and unclear mission objectives. Overall, the narrative is appreciated for its humor and creativity, though it may not fully engage all players throughout the gameplay experience.
- “The game tells a story of an up-and-coming medieval criminal, in a very nice and comedic style.”
- “Everything about this game is pure goodness, the humor, graphics, storyline, pun names for the horses, and of course, nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!”
- “The story and quests are pretty cool with some weird characters and funny dialogue lines, with a touch of dark humor (another thing in common with GTA).”
- “However, most of the times, I found it pretty boring since none of the quests are actually very engaging and they are neither relevant nor contribute anything to the story.”
- “It was just a compilation of side-quests that were very thinly connected to the main story - if you could call it that - of the game.”
- “The whole doing an entire quest then getting jailed afterward only to reload to have to redo the entire quest again is abysmal and ruins the fun.”
humor
220 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of crude, absurd, and Monty Python-esque references, which some players find hilarious while others consider it an acquired taste that can become repetitive. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through its quirky dialogue and wacky scenarios, though some criticize the humor for being overly reliant on juvenile jokes and pop culture references. Overall, while the humor is a standout feature for many, it may not resonate with all players, leading to mixed reactions.
- “I would like to thank the developers of this game for producing something which made me laugh out loud.”
- “Everything about this game is pure goodness, the humor, graphics, storyline, pun names for the horses, and of course, nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!”
- “The humor in this game is spot on.”
gameplay
95 mentions
23 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and lack of depth, often comparing it unfavorably to classic GTA mechanics. While some appreciate the humor and polished controls, others criticize the clunky combat, boring missions, and technical issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a light-hearted, easy-to-pick-up experience, but it falls short in delivering engaging and varied gameplay.
- “While the gameplay is polished and responsive, what truly shines in this game is its lore and how much it tries to incorporate historical accuracy.”
- “Fun, easy mechanics to learn, comedic storylines and characters, definitely recommend for an easy-to-play and enjoyable game.”
- “The game is awesome! I love how light and well-designed gameplay is combined with humor and audio design.”
- “Boring missions, a ton of stupid decisions, an awful combat model, and just bare-bones gameplay.”
- “Mediocre jokes, boring gameplay, riding on a horse is a disaster, the camera is very close, checkpoints are jokes, and lots of bugs (I can't finish the game because of bugs).”
- “As mentioned, the game isn't very deep or long, and it also doesn't have a whole lot of advancing gameplay options.”
music
62 mentions
61 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack blends medieval sounds with gangsta elements, creating a unique and engaging auditory experience that includes clever references to iconic game music. Players appreciate the innovative use of bards as the primary source of music, allowing for a more interactive and enjoyable atmosphere. Overall, the music is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's comedic and immersive ambiance.
- “I like the innovative way that music is used in this game, especially how the concept of a live-playing or beat-boxing bard is introduced, so that there isn't random background music, and the player can actually control what's being played.”
- “In brief summary, I think this game is almost perfect because of its fantastic ambience, as painted by the jovial graphics, fantastic soundtrack, and the overall comedic theme of a gangster in the middle ages.”
- “Extremely enjoyable, fully (and correctly) localized, the soundtrack is magnificent!”
- “None of the songs are nearly as iconic as the stuff you heard on Grand Theft Auto, but that’s to be expected.”
- “Soundtrack not operational.”
- “Sometimes weird stuff happens, you fall down to the ground, you get three songs overlapping at the same time, etc. but I had fun with my playing hours and even after some frustrating moments I think the game was worth the play.”
graphics
43 mentions
51 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant and jovial aesthetic, effectively blending medieval themes with modern gameplay reminiscent of classic GTA titles. While many reviewers highlight the beautiful lighting and environmental colors, some note the presence of bugs and glitches, as well as a heavy system requirement relative to the visuals. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's unique ambiance, despite some technical shortcomings.
- “In brief summary, I think this game is almost perfect because of its fantastic ambience, as painted by the jovial graphics, fantastic soundtrack, and the overall comedic theme of a gangster in the middle ages.”
- “Nice humor, pretty visuals (especially the lighting, environmental colors, and the avatars of characters).”
- “The aesthetic is my favorite part, the medieval yet modern setting is unique and truly enjoyable coming from a huge fan of the medieval theme.”
- “It's a fun take, a bit buggy and unnecessarily heavy on the requirements, given the visuals.”
- “The graphics remind me of Shadow Tactics.”
- “[missions can become tedious, writing is hit and miss, lots of technical and graphical glitches]”
stability
23 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its stability issues, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay, particularly during quests. While some find the experience enjoyable despite these problems, others describe it as a "buggy mess" that can make certain aspects nearly unplayable. However, the developers have included a reporting tool to address these issues, and many players still recommend the game for its fun elements and aesthetic appeal.
- “Buggy mess, unexpectedly.”
- “A buggy mess with some quests being near unplayable due to bugs, crashes, and game-breaking glitches until I reload the quest or game.”
- “Terrible, terrible game. One hour in and running from the soldiers is a buggy nightmare!”
optimization
16 mentions
19 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly during the early access phase, while others report stable frame rates at high settings. Although some users find the optimization acceptable, many agree that it requires further improvement and a system rework to enhance overall performance.
- “Optimization is good in my humble opinion; maxed out and shadows one lower = 100 avg fps on a 1070 at 1440p.”
- “But it feels stable enough to only need some optimization.”
- “I think the performance could've been better, but the frame drops didn't happen often and this game doesn't require laser precision to play, so it didn't bother me much.”
- “My initial complaint about the horrible optimization still holds up.”
- “Initial early access release: pretty much a tech demo with horrible optimization.”
- “Rustler attempts to take us back to classic top-down GTA action in a neat medieval setting but poor performance, shoddy controls, weak humour and a dull, short campaign hold it back from reaching its potential.”
grinding
12 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with many quests feeling repetitive and lacking depth. While excessive grinding is not a major issue, the simplicity of the game combined with frequent deaths can lead to frustration. Overall, the missions and saving mechanics contribute to a sense of monotony that detracts from the experience.
- “Every quest in the game is just tedious for no reason.”
- “You're likely to die a lot in this game, so this will get tedious really quickly.”
- “Rustler’s take on a top-down sandbox rarely misses the mark with its crass humor, but lackluster melee and often tedious story missions make this open world hard to recommend.”
atmosphere
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a fun and silly tone, enhanced by a unique blend of epic abstract humor and medieval elements. Players appreciate the humorous quests and the quirky details, such as characters mumbling, which contribute to an engaging and enjoyable environment. Overall, the developers' sense of humor and creative concepts create a memorable atmosphere that resonates well with fans of lighthearted gaming.
- “This game has a really good basic concept and a fun, silly atmosphere about it.”
- “The lore and atmosphere are pretty nice; the developers have a good sense of humor.”
- “Quests are funny; the idea of people mumbling may sound silly, but it actually creates a great atmosphere.”
monetization
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the monetization model, particularly the presence of intrusive in-game advertisements even after purchasing the game. Many feel that this undermines their experience, as they expected a premium title without such interruptions.
- “I have one huge problem though, when you go to close the game you get an in-game popup advertisement.”
- “Listen.. I purchased your game, not your advertisements.”
- “I found this out only after I finished it: I had seen the advertisement that it would be a kind of GTA-like game in the good old days and I wanted to try it.”
replayability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers limited replayability, primarily appealing to players seeking to complete achievements after reaching 100%. While it may provide entertainment for a short period, it lacks substantial content to encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “You have no real replay value here, but Rustler will keep you entertained for a weekend or two.”
- “There isn't really any replayability after completing 100% unless you want to go for the achievements.”
- “You have no real replay value here, but the game will keep you entertained for a weekend or two.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that while the game features fun combat and impressive character design, it lacks depth in character development, focusing more on entertaining quests and humor rather than evolving characters.