Skyshine's BEDLAM

About

Skyshine's BEDLAM is a single player survival role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Skyshine Games and was released on September 16, 2015. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

Skyshine's BEDLAM is a post-apocalyptic, turn-based strategy game where you command a powerful Dozer vehicle. As the Mechanic, you'll manage resources, upgrade your Dozer, and protect passengers while navigating through a procedurally generated wasteland. Experience challenging battles, interact with unique characters, and make vital decisions in this beautifully designed game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+10

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60%

Audience ScoreBased on 673 reviews

gameplay50 positive mentions

grinding24 negative mentions

The game features a unique art style and engaging atmosphere that draws players into its post-apocalyptic world.
The combat system has been improved with the Redux update, allowing for more strategic gameplay and better character management.
The game offers a variety of factions and characters, providing replayability and different strategies for players to explore.

The difficulty curve can be punishing, with players often feeling overwhelmed by enemy numbers and strength, especially in later stages.
The combat mechanics can feel shallow and repetitive, lacking depth compared to other tactical games like XCOM or The Banner Saga.
There are still bugs and issues with the game, including problems with the save system and occasional freezes during combat.

gameplay
231 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
67%
11%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its unique mechanics and charming aesthetics, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic, unbalanced, and plagued by bugs. Although some updates have improved the core mechanics, many still find the combat dull and frustrating, often leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment. Overall, while the game shows potential, its gameplay struggles to deliver a satisfying experience, particularly for those familiar with more complex strategy titles.
- “This is a game with great gameplay and real atmosphere.”
- “The art is great, the atmosphere is on point, and the gameplay is good fun (provided you liked games like Banner Saga).”
- “Great art, great gameplay, great setting.”
- “Difficulty/game mechanics are straight up garbage (coming from someone who enjoys legendary ironman on XCOM!!), very questionable design decisions to artificially ramp up difficulty (forced max level for your troops to keep them weaker than enemies, you can only field half the amount of troops in comparison to the enemy, etc.).”
- “The gameplay is harsh, but I found workarounds that didn't spoil the game's overall appeal.”
- “The actual gameplay is very hard at first!”
graphics
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their unique and charming art style, often compared to works like "Borderlands" and "Moebius." Many players appreciate the atmospheric visuals and detailed environments, which effectively complement the game's post-apocalyptic theme. However, some critiques highlight that while the graphics are impressive, they are undermined by clunky combat animations and gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience.
- “The artwork is great, reminding me of Geoff Darrow's work on Shaolin Cowboy.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the animation is top-notch, and the writing isn't bad.”
- “The art style is awesome and spot on for this game.”
- “The graphics on the environments and portraits are really cool and unique, but the combat animations look like a clunky CGI replacement for high-speed action in an anime.”
- “The graphics clearly took some time to make, but are average.”
- “I only played this game because a friend sent it to me as a gift; there are many games with this style but with better gameplay and better graphics.”
story
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
65%
10%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its fun and quirky elements set in a post-apocalyptic world, while others find it repetitive and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the charm of side quests and character backstories, but criticize the overall narrative for being linear and not evolving significantly after initial playthroughs. Overall, while the art and atmosphere are praised, the storytelling often feels shallow and fails to engage players in a meaningful way.
- “The art, the world, the story, the premise all do a great job sucking me into the game.”
- “The lore and storytelling in the game is great.”
- “These story-based moments are delivered via short descriptions, but still manage to paint a vivid image of the pile of twisted metal blocking the road you’ve been traveling down, and the shriek of the mutants who have trapped you.”
- “There's really not a big developing story to get you curious about it.”
- “The story is pretty lackluster, as well.”
- “Story was not compelling and encounters were very standard in both what happens and its outcomes.”
music
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
34%
7%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many players praising its charm, atmosphere, and ability to enhance the overall experience. While some describe the soundtrack as beautiful and fitting for the game's themes, others find it forgettable and lacking in standout tracks. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's aesthetic, though opinions vary on its memorability and impact.
- “The great art style and music really does give the game its overall charm and atmosphere.”
- “Great atmosphere, music, style and very enjoyable.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing and there are an endless amount of different random encounters that really add to the replayability.”
- “If you heard a song from this game by itself, you most likely wouldn't be able to identify the game, like you could with, say, Binding of Isaac or Fez.”
- “Most people would put this under 'eh', but coming from a musical background, I count it as a con.”
- “5) The game world, while being fine itself (pleasing art style and music), has massive logic flaws.”
replayability
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some players praising the game for its high replay value due to procedural generation and diverse content, while others criticize it for repetitive events and limited differences between races or dozers. Many users highlight the potential for hours of fun and challenge, but some express frustration over the lack of significant changes in gameplay mechanics, which can diminish long-term replayability. Overall, the game's replayability is seen as good to excellent by some, but low by others, depending on individual experiences and expectations.
- “If you're looking for a great strategy game with unique art, a decent challenge, and hours of replayability, then Skyshine's Bedlam is the game for you.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing and there are an endless amount of different random encounters that really add to the replayability.”
- “Banner Saga meets Oregon Trail in a post-apocalyptic world, tense tactical combat that will resonate well with lovers of intricate games like chess, peppered with tough decision-making and resource management, infinitely replayable and hard as nails.”
- “There's no replayability once you reach Aztec City because all races are pretty much the same.”
- “Unfortunately, replay value is low as not enough game mechanics change when using a different race (mutant, human, or cyborg) or dozer (strugglebus, etc.).”
- “The combat is bad, but what is much worse is the complete lack of content and replayability: you will get the same events over and over with the same outcome.”
atmosphere
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
15%
11%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its gritty yet humorous tone, complemented by excellent art and sound design that effectively captures a post-apocalyptic setting. Reviewers highlight the detailed graphics, engaging music, and immersive storytelling, which collectively enhance the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding combat mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that adds significant charm and depth to the gameplay.
- “The developer does a really good job creating the atmosphere for this game with the gritty art style and sound design.”
- “The great art style and music really do give the game its overall charm and atmosphere.”
- “From combat animations to character art, the game oozes atmosphere.”
- “Averal, compared to similar rogue-like games, Bedlam falls short of content, variation, and atmosphere, and that's a shame because I really want this game to be good :(”
- “The atmosphere is gritty but lots of light humor to lighten it up, makes for good entertainment.”
- “Nevertheless, the art, the feel, the world, the atmosphere, it's all here, and it creates a fantastic coherent entity.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly in boss battles and unit leveling. While some enjoy the challenge and depth it brings, others feel that the necessity for extensive grinding detracts from the overall experience, making the game feel repetitive and unbalanced. Updates have attempted to alleviate some grindiness, but many still believe that pacing and balance improvements are needed to enhance gameplay.
- “It almost feels like the game is level grinding against you while your strength stays static.”
- “Units do not truly provide counterpoints to each other; the leveling incentive is more about grinding to stay alive rather than developing unique assets that you feel invested in and are fun to use/play.”
- “Only way I can even imagine being able to beat the game is by, in a very un-roguelike fashion, literally spending hours (with no save game feature as far as I can tell) grinding in the wasteland to gather enough power to be able to spam equalizers constantly during the king viscera fights.”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, freezes, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players appreciate the game's design and atmosphere, the overwhelming consensus is that its technical issues make it difficult to recommend, as many experience frustrating interruptions during play.
- “I'm not experiencing any bugs.”
- “So far, the game is bug-free.”
- “Not to mention the game looks gorgeous, runs great on almost any PC, and has a wonderful atmosphere that just oozes creativity.”
- “Insanely difficult, bug-ridden mess.”
- “So in conclusion, I wanted to like this game. I'll probably put myself through more of the aggravation of playing it to see what gets unlocked as you progress and maybe have my mind changed, but as it stands, this is just too poorly designed and too buggy for me to recommend even a little.”
- “Game freezes in the middle of combat randomly.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of light-heartedness amidst a gritty atmosphere, featuring dark comedic elements and over-the-top animations that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the clever writing and consistent lore in side quests, which contribute to the overall entertainment value, though opinions vary on its effectiveness in maintaining engagement. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect, appealing particularly to those with a taste for dark comedy.
- “The atmosphere is gritty but lots of light humor to lighten it up, makes for good entertainment.”
- “So, if you can get this game at a reasonable price, you are in for at least one fun evening with a nicely made game (given that your sense of humor is a rather dark one).”
- “Hilarious writing also.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find poignant moments that evoke strong feelings, particularly towards the characters defending the dozer, others feel disconnected due to unfinished features and frustrating mechanics that hinder emotional investment. Overall, the game succeeds in creating a sci-fi atmosphere but struggles to maintain a lasting emotional connection.
- “There are moments in Bedlam that just make me want to cry.”
- “While the dozer may appear to be the heart of the quest, your true emotional attachment goes to the men and women (and mutants!) who defend your hulking machine from the denizens beyond.”
- “I will be back and will change my opinion if things change to fix these heartbreaking issues.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Reviews indicate a lack of meaningful character development, with minimal differences between character types and no progression systems such as equipment upgrades or leveling. However, the character design itself is noted as a positive aspect.
- “The character design is exceptional, with each character feeling unique and well-developed.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
- “The depth of the characters' backstories adds so much richness to the overall narrative.”
- “There is absolutely no character development that I saw, and the choices between character types are almost insignificant; a sniper can shoot maybe 2 more squares than a shotgun, which is only one more than melee.”
- “There is no character development, no equipment, no merchants to sell said equipment, and no level-up management.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising smooth performance and minimal bugs, while others report issues such as frame rate drops and long loading times. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary significantly across different hardware configurations.
- “The optimization in this game is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game runs after the latest optimization patch; it feels much more responsive now.”
- “The developers have done an excellent job optimizing the graphics settings, making it easy to find the perfect balance between performance and visual quality.”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end hardware, making it frustrating to play.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
- “The optimization is so bad that loading times are unacceptably long, even for simple tasks.”

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55%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews

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8h Median play time

8h Average play time

2-13h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Skyshine's BEDLAM is a survival role playing game with science fiction theme.

Skyshine's BEDLAM is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Skyshine's BEDLAM.

Skyshine's BEDLAM was released on September 16, 2015.

Skyshine's BEDLAM was developed by Skyshine Games.

Skyshine's BEDLAM has received neutral reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Skyshine's BEDLAM is a single player game.

Similar games include Convoy, Deep Sky Derelicts, Halfway, Pathway, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters and others.

Skyshine's BEDLAM

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