Skarab

About

Skarab is a single player action game. It was developed by DOSMan Games and was released on April 24, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Skarab is a fast-paced action-adventure set along the Nile, where players wield ancient weapons like the khopesh and unleash deadly locust swarms. Explore vast pyramids, village rooftops, and treacherous tombs while battling beasts, barbarians, and gods from the Duat. Combining intense combat, exploration, and platforming, it channels the spirit of classic adventures.

Genres & Tags

Action

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 55 reviews

music7 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a unique Egyptian setting that is visually impressive and adds a refreshing twist to the retro FPS genre.
Melee combat is surprisingly smooth and satisfying, providing a fun and engaging gameplay experience that stands out from typical boomer shooters.
The level design, while occasionally confusing, offers a good mix of challenges and platforming elements, keeping the gameplay dynamic and enjoyable.

The game suffers from technical issues, including problematic quick-save mechanics and occasional bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
The story is generic and does not add much to the overall experience, making it feel less memorable.
Some players found the enemy AI and weapon variety lacking, leading to repetitive encounters and a less engaging combat experience.

music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and addictive quality, featuring a well-suited Egyptian-themed soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While many tracks are considered fantastic, some players noted that a few songs are short loops, which detracts slightly from the enjoyment. Overall, the soundtrack is a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's engaging atmosphere and fun gameplay.
- “Great game with fun soundtracks and an interesting setting.”
- “The music in this game is fantastic, and I wish there would be an option to listen to the tracks in the menu.”
- “Not only does the game include classic sounds and voice lines from other titles, but it also comes fully loaded with a modernized 'Egyptian-themed' soundtrack reminiscent of Powerslave and some brand new stylistic sound effects to accompany it.”
- “The only real complaint is that a few of the songs are super short loops, while others are really good.”
- “The music is probably the standout for me.”
- “The game includes classic sounds and voice lines from other titles, but it also comes fully loaded with a modernized 'Egyptian-themed' soundtrack reminiscent of Powerslave.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
45%
22%
The gameplay is characterized by its fast and responsive mechanics, evoking nostalgia for 90s action games, and is praised for its smooth movement and satisfying gunplay. While many players appreciate the tight gameplay loops and stylized visuals, some express concerns about average gameplay quality and visibility issues caused by fog in certain levels. Overall, it offers an enjoyable experience, though some mechanics may feel unconventional or limited.
- “The gameplay is fast, responsive, and intentionally reminiscent of 90s action classics.”
- “If you value tight gameplay loops, stylized visuals, and mythic sand-blasted spectacle, this is an affordable and highly enjoyable experience that punches well above its weight.”
- “Honestly, this game feels super good to play and the mechanics are insanely consistent!”
- “A pleasant Egyptian setting, but this is let down by average gameplay.”
- “Similar to my first con, this one may well be related to limits on the engine, but a majority of the levels that feature open skyboxes also feature obscene colored fog which clogs up your vision and completely hides ranger enemies (something like I can see has value as a mechanic but also find annoying).”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant, retro-inspired aesthetic that features bold colors and chunky designs, effectively complementing its thematic elements. While some critics view the visual style as a cover for poor quality, many players appreciate the distinct art direction and smooth gameplay, highlighting its appeal as an enjoyable experience with a beautiful Egyptian art style. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “The art style is distinct and easy to read while being visually appealing and aligning perfectly with the spirit of the setting.”
- “Visually, the game leans into a vibrant, intentionally exaggerated aesthetic.”
- “This very poor quality visual style is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent or interest in doing the graphics properly, trying to disguise it under the name of 'art' or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
- “Visually, skarab leans into a vibrant, intentionally exaggerated aesthetic.”
- “The pixel-inspired graphics, bold color palettes, and chunky character designs embrace a retro-modern hybrid style that suits the game’s tone perfectly.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's story is described as generic and unremarkable, lacking memorable elements, yet it serves as a backdrop for an energetic action experience infused with Egyptian mythology. Players embark on a fun adventure to rescue a princess from Anubis, which, despite the simplistic narrative, contributes to an enjoyable retro FPS atmosphere. Overall, the story is functional but not a standout feature.
- “A really fun romp through ancient Egypt as you quest to save the princess from Anubis and his followers.”
- “There is some story, but it’s very generic and doesn’t add anything particularly memorable.”
- “While the level design can occasionally be confusing and the story is generic, the atmosphere and classic retro FPS feel make it a solid 6/10 experience.”
- “Rather than relying on elaborate storytelling, the game focuses on delivering an energetic, immediately gratifying action experience flavored with Egyptian mythology and boomer-shooter sensibilities.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised as its standout feature, with many players appreciating its classic retro FPS feel and exotic settings. Despite some criticisms of level design and story, the engaging atmosphere and memorable boss fights contribute to a solid overall experience.
- “The real highlight of the game is the atmosphere.”
- “Skarab has such a fun atmosphere and some incredibly memorable boss fights!”
- “While the level design can occasionally be confusing and the story is generic, the atmosphere and classic retro FPS feel make it a solid 6/10 experience.”
- “The exotic atmosphere is well worth the price.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by significant stability issues, including persistent bugs such as video glitches, slow or ineffective quicksave functionality, and problems with game elements not retaining their state after reloading.
- “Another Dosman Games title full of bugs: video glitches related to out-of-map limits, quicksaves that take an eternity to load, or that don’t save progress at all—for example, switches that simply don’t persist after being activated when you reload a quicksave.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience without constant interruptions.”
- “I encountered numerous stability issues, including random freezes and lag spikes that ruin the gameplay.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is limited, as the short campaign can typically be completed in one session, with players primarily drawn to revisit the engaging combat rather than exploring secrets or alternative story paths.
- “The campaign is short, with most players finishing it in a single session, and replayability depends mostly on wanting to revisit the fluid combat rather than uncovering secrets or branching paths.”
- “Once you complete the game, there’s little incentive to play through it again since the story doesn’t change and the side quests feel repetitive.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is enhanced by its pixel-inspired graphics and bold color palettes, which create a retro-modern aesthetic that aligns well with the overall tone. The chunky character designs contribute to a distinctive visual identity, enriching the player's connection to the characters.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's narrative elements primarily serve to support gameplay rather than provide meaningful emotional depth or rich lore, leaving players feeling disconnected from the story.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is generally well-received, offering good overall performance for its low price, although some players may find certain challenges, like the final boss, frustrating until they discover effective strategies.
- “It took me about 2 hours to beat it, and even the last boss was challenging (at least for me) until I figured out how to defeat him easily. I think you get a good overall performance for the low price of the game.”