SLUDGE LIFE

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 737 reviews
  • graphics
  • music
  • humor
SLUDGE LIFE Game Cover
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Sludge Life is a first-person open world vandalism-centric stroll through a polluted island full of cranky idiots and a vibe so thick you can taste it. Roam a tiny island stuck on a sludge covered planet as upcoming tagger GHOST, a breezy bandit set on staking their claim amongst the graffiti elite. Traverse the corporately branded landscape, link up with other taggers, and steal junk and hearts …

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 737 reviews
graphics50 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and stylish art direction that captivates players with its vibrant visuals and quirky characters.
  • Sludge Life offers a fun and relaxing exploration experience, filled with humor and engaging dialogue, making it enjoyable to roam around and discover hidden secrets.
  • The soundtrack is excellent, enhancing the overall atmosphere and providing a memorable audio experience that complements the gameplay.
  • The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in just a few hours, leading to concerns about its value at full price.
  • Some players found the gameplay mechanics to be simplistic and lacking depth, which may not appeal to those looking for a more traditional gaming experience.
  • There are reports of performance issues and controls that can feel unresponsive or frustrating at times, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
  • graphics99 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and vibrant art style, which combines low-fi visuals with a colorful punk aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. While many players find the visuals mesmerizing and a significant highlight, some report performance issues and discomfort due to the game's trippy presentation. Overall, the game's artistic direction is seen as a major draw, creating an immersive atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “The visual presentation is unique and mesmerizing, coupled with impressive and colorful punk artwork shown in the game's graffiti, which has served as a big inspiration to my own artwork.”
    • “The deliberately low-fi visuals, filled with vibrant colors and pixelated textures, accentuate the grungy aesthetic of the game.”
    • “The most striking part of this game are the visuals and music which are done so well that they make every moment spent in game a joy.”
    • “Made me feel sick until I changed a few graphical options.”
    • “I don't understand how a game with such simple graphics can have such poor performance...”
    • “I'm sure this has the potential of being fun for some people, but sadly the graphics/art style really hurt my head to play, so I had to refund.”
  • music98 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the engaging and unique soundtrack that complements the game's art style and exploration mechanics. While some noted that certain tracks can feel repetitive, the majority found the music enjoyable and fitting for the game's quirky and immersive world. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with many players recommending it as a must-listen experience.

    • “Sludge Life is a bizarre, atmospheric, and hilarious fever dream with one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a video game.”
    • “The music and art style are big highlights for me and made this game feel unique.”
    • “The soundtrack and visuals hook you into this odd little world the moment you press play.”
    • “It keeps the music to boomboxes around the game world so it's not always playing.”
    • “Unless getting on people's nerves is the point of that music, I couldn't tell you.”
    • “The music is kind of creepy, but certainly inspired.”
  • humor78 mentions

    The humor in "Sludge Life" is widely praised for its quirky, offbeat charm, blending absurdity with a satirical take on graffiti and hip-hop culture. Players appreciate the game's witty dialogue, memorable characters, and a plethora of funny moments that enhance the exploration experience, though some note that the humor may not resonate with everyone. Overall, it offers a unique and entertaining atmosphere that keeps players engaged and laughing throughout their journey.

    • “Sludge Life is a bizarre, atmospheric, and hilarious fever dream with one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a video game.”
    • “Over the 6 hours it took to 100% the game, I was drawn in by the characters, their hilarious dialogues, and the absurd situations that left me in fits of laughter.”
    • “Make no mistake, Sludge Life is a funny game, not 'funny' like it's trying too hard or is really cringeworthy.”
  • gameplay53 mentions

    The gameplay in Sludge Life is centered around a unique tagging mechanic that combines first-person parkour with exploration, allowing players to spray graffiti in various locations. While the game is relatively short, lasting about 3-4 hours, it offers a fun and engaging experience with simple yet addictive mechanics, despite some criticisms regarding its limited content and occasional glitches. Overall, players appreciate the chill atmosphere and creative gameplay, though some feel it lacks depth and variety.

    • “Sludge Life boasts a unique gameplay premise with tight controls that revolve around tagging as many walls with your graffiti as possible by using first-person parkour mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay tasks of tagging spots are very neat, and the game gives you plenty of tools to both easily achieve your goals and have a lot of fun doing it.”
    • “The movement mechanics make exploring it very satisfying, and the writing and humor reward that exploration at every turn.”
    • “The game can be beaten in 4 hours, which is perfect because I feel that the simplistic gameplay would get tiring if it goes any longer.”
    • “The gameplay is largely 'walking simulator', with a bit of platforming.”
    • “However, I just didn't think there was enough gameplay/interaction to justify the price tag.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, characterized by a chill, grimy vibe complemented by an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players describe it as a bizarre, fever dream-like world filled with vibrant visuals and ambient sounds, making exploration a pleasure. The combination of lo-fi melodies and dynamic music creates a unique environment that captivates and draws players into its quirky charm.

    • “Sludge Life is a bizarre, atmospheric, and hilarious fever dream with one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a video game.”
    • “One of the aspects that makes Sludge Life so remarkable is its immersive and atmospheric world.”
    • “The combination of electronic beats, ambient tunes, and lo-fi melodies creates an atmospheric backdrop that further engulfs you in Sludge Life's world.”
    • “Until then, I recommend you play this game at least a little high if you smoke, as it really helps the atmosphere seep into your bones, but it's not necessary to enjoy the experience.”
    • “I came for the punky graffiti atmosphere, but I stayed for the virtual ciggies and cat buttholes.”
    • “The game won me over more so because of the atmosphere and the visuals than the game mechanics, and that's not something that's easy for a dev to do without turning it into a walking simulator.”
  • story15 mentions

    The game's story is described as minimal and often lacking clear objectives, with some players appreciating the humor and character interactions that hint at deeper narratives. While there are elements of exploration and character-driven stories, many reviewers express a desire for a more cohesive plot, noting plot holes and a general sense of detachment from the overarching narrative. Overall, the experience is more about exploration and atmosphere than a traditional, engaging storyline.

    • “The story is perfect and the humor is great.”
    • “Short game but by no means short of good plot and amazing interactions!”
    • “Great game with a very creative concept, follows a story which you figure out as you explore.”
    • “I will say I wish there was a little more story.”
    • “There is some if you talk to some of the NPCs in the game that give you some clues into why things are the way they are, but there are a couple of plot holes that never had answers or background.”
    • “Not much in the way of story, basic 'evil business ruining a town' kind of deal, but nobody really seems to care; everybody's more or less checked out, which leads to the dejected laid-back attitude of the game, which it wears well.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers some replayability through multiple endings and optional NPC interactions, appealing to players who enjoy exploration and achievement hunting. However, many users feel that it can be fully completed in about four hours, leading to a lack of long-term replay value. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replay, the limited content may deter some players.

    • “The game is pretty replayable if you like to try to get all the endings, explore areas you haven't before, or even if you want to try to get all the achievements.”
    • “There is some replayability, also, with multiple endings and multiple, optional layers of NPC interactions.”
    • “Not much replay value to it.”
    • “Can't recommend it, however, because the game can be 100% completed and squeezed dry of any content with no replayability in about 4 hours or less.”
    • “There is some replayability, but it mainly comes from multiple endings and optional layers of NPC interactions.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is inconsistent, with reports of smooth performance but issues like frame drops and uncomfortable cursor control on consoles, leading some players to prefer the PC version for a better experience.

    • “I don't understand how a game with such simple graphics can have such poor performance.”
    • “Optimization wasn't perfect; I was losing a lot of frames randomly.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game evokes strong emotional responses, with some players experiencing discomfort that can be alleviated through graphical adjustments. It effectively portrays the themes of mental and emotional burdens, highlighting their impact on personal growth. Its artistic presentation and emotional depth make it a worthwhile experience for players seeking a meaningful narrative.

    • “It represents the mental and emotional baggage that weighs us down, inhibiting our ability to progress and thrive.”
    • “This is an art game, not in the same way most 'art games' are, but it's still worth playing for its aesthetic presentation and emotional conveyance alone.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable and not overly tedious, with some noting that while certain tasks can feel repetitive, the overall experience remains engaging and fun.

    • “The game is great, but finding the tags can be tedious at times.”
    • “I 100% completed the game and it was pretty fun doing them; it never felt tedious or grindy.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as engaging and fun, with players enjoying the rebellious theme of defacing company ads and collaborating with others in a punk-inspired environment.

  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, while there are some minor stability issues such as glitches with climbing mechanics and checkpoint placements, these problems are not considered significant enough to detract from the overall experience.

    • “The climbing mechanic often glitches, making it frustrating to navigate.”
    • “Checkpoints and hospitals can be buggy, sometimes spawning you halfway across the map.”
    • “While some issues arise, like crude humor and occasional glitches, they aren't game-breaking.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by engaging and humorous designs and writing, contributing to an enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the lighthearted nature of the characters, which adds to the overall fun, despite the game being easy to complete.

    • “The character development is incredibly engaging, with each character having a unique backstory that unfolds beautifully throughout the game.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve based on the choices I make, making every playthrough feel fresh and personal.”
    • “The writing is witty and clever, bringing the characters to life in a way that makes me genuinely care about their journeys.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2hMain story
4hCompletionist
4-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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