Salvage Protocol

About

Salvage Protocol is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by IAmDirt and was released on April 30, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Salvage Protocol is a single-player horror game where you infiltrate abandoned space stations to recover valuable components while avoiding deadly traps and monsters. Explore handcrafted, maze-like environments by sneaking through vents, climbing structures, and reactivating machines to unlock new paths. Break objects, collect scrap, upgrade your gear, and fight for survival as you work to pay off your debt.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

The game features a fun and satisfying salvaging mechanic, allowing players to break down objects for scrap while exploring interesting environments.
The atmosphere is well-crafted, combining horror elements with a humorous narrative, making the gameplay engaging and enjoyable.
Despite its short length, the game offers a polished experience with a variety of tools and upgrades, leaving players eager for more content.

The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it could benefit from additional content or longer gameplay.
There are some gameplay mechanics, such as the black hole gun, that can be frustrating or underwhelming, leading to potential glitches.
The shallow plot and lack of depth in certain gameplay elements may leave some players wanting more from the overall experience.

gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging salvaging mechanic where players break down objects for materials, enhanced by a steadily growing arsenal of tools and interesting levels. The cathartic physics-based loop, combined with a tense atmosphere and clever writing, creates a satisfying experience, although some players feel that acquiring strong weapons diminishes the horror aspect. Overall, the gameplay remains fresh and enjoyable due to the introduction of new locations and mechanics at a steady pace.
- “The gameplay is simple, but the slowly growing arsenal of tools and items keeps things interesting, and the levels are engaging.”
- “The main salvaging mechanic of the game is fun, and the economy turns it into a very engaging game loop.”
- “The gameplay is simple: you turn objects into scrap by breaking them down then deposit the materials at your spaceship.”
- “A cathartic physics-based gameplay loop of breaking and collecting everything you see throughout abandoned space stations, piecing together what's going on in between your tight work schedule.”
- “The gameplay is the delivery device.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its tension and immersive quality, effectively blending elements of horror and adventure. Players appreciate the unique and varied environments, which enhance the overall experience, while the game's ability to maintain a spooky ambiance, even amidst combat, adds to its appeal. Overall, the atmosphere is described as phenomenal, engaging, and a key highlight of the gameplay.
- “The atmosphere is phenomenal and even though you can fight, that doesn't lessen the scares!”
- “Highly recommend it to anyone looking to dive into a tense, atmospheric space adventure of their own!”
- “A great game with a great atmosphere that has improved so much upon its demo; I had a blast all the way through, with every environment feeling unique and fresh.”
- “The atmosphere is tense, the salvage mechanics are satisfying.”
- “Great game with a sharp sense of humor and a chilling atmosphere.”
- “I really like the spooky atmosphere.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game's story is described as simple yet engaging, revolving around a character's quest to collect scrap to pay off a massive debt while facing deadly monsters. Although the plot is considered shallow, it effectively balances risk and reward, creating an immersive experience through environmental storytelling and atmosphere. Players appreciate the fun and thrill of the narrative, despite wishing for a longer gameplay experience.
- “This short game is a lot of fun, love the story and atmosphere!”
- “Salvage Protocol takes the 'extraction horror' genre, gives it more of a story and wraps it up neatly.”
- “Prey x lethal company with a linear story.”
- “Story is pretty simple in which you have to collect scrap in order to pay off your $10 million debt to the corporation, but they are not as they seem. Plus, you have to deal with deadly monsters to get said scrap as well.”
- “The demo is one mission long, showing you all of the things the game brings, like the monsters and the way you salvage your scrap, while also demonstrating the main tools used.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are praised for their nostalgic PS2 aesthetic, which enhances the overall vibe of the game. Reviewers appreciate the art style and smooth controls, noting that the visuals contribute to the game's charm and immersive horror elements.
- “I loved the art style, the smooth and simple controls, and the fun little bits of banter that gave the game real charm.”
- “The PS2 aesthetic really complements the vibe.”
- “I love the aesthetics and sound work.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers suggest that incorporating randomly generated maps could significantly enhance the game's replayability, providing players with fresh experiences and challenges each time they play.
- “The randomly generated maps add a significant layer of replayability, keeping each playthrough fresh and exciting.”
- “I love how each game feels different thanks to the variety of choices and outcomes, making me want to replay it over and over.”
- “The dynamic events and multiple story paths ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, enhancing the game's replayability.”
- “Some randomly generated maps for replayability would go a long way.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play through it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an adventure.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a sharp sense of humor that complements its engaging and thematically cohesive gameplay, with witty writing and clever touches like increasing debt upon death. Its visual and audio design enhances the overall experience, creating a lo-fi, eerie atmosphere that balances humor with a chilling tone.
- “Cathartic gameplay loop, thematically cohesive with some nice touches like debt increasing on death, engaging and funny writing, fantastic visual and audio design, all perfectly gelling into a lo-fi, crusty, grimy, eerie, pensive experience, with just the right dash of freaking out and nearly dropping your flamethrower to kill it, culminating in a dynamite ending.”
- “Great game with a sharp sense of humor and a chilling atmosphere.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Salvage Protocol is a action adventure game.

Salvage Protocol is available on PC and Windows.

Salvage Protocol was released on April 30, 2025.

Salvage Protocol was developed by IAmDirt.

Salvage Protocol has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

Salvage Protocol is a single player game.

Similar games include Species: Unknown, The Planet Crafter, SteamWorld Dig, Feed the Deep, SteamWorld Dig 2 and others.

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