The American Dream

Strap in and shoot your way through a satirical look at 1950s America and its absurd gun culture.

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"The American Dream" is a narrative-driven VR game set in a 1950's utopia where guns solve everyday needs. With a talking dog as your guide, players experience how guns can enhance life's moments in this satirical world. The game features over 20 levels, various firearms, and immersive environments.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 109 reviews

humor52 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and humorous take on American culture, particularly its obsession with guns, making it entertaining for those who appreciate satire.
The graphics and voice acting are well-executed, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.
Despite some flaws, the game provides a fun and memorable VR experience that can be enjoyed, especially when purchased on sale.

The gameplay can become repetitive and slow-paced, with long stretches of narration that detract from the action.
There are numerous technical issues, including bugs and glitches that can disrupt the experience and require restarting levels.
The game's satirical message can feel heavy-handed and preachy, which may alienate players who do not share the same views on gun culture.

humor
52 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it hilarious and enjoyable, particularly praising its satirical take on American gun culture and its quirky narration. However, some reviewers noted that the humor can become repetitive and one-note, with pacing issues that disrupt the flow of gameplay. Overall, while the game offers moments of genuine comedy, it may not resonate with everyone, especially those who are less receptive to its underlying messages.
- “This is quite the comical little game, a really fun, funny, charming, and well-made game.”
- “The American Dream is hilarious.”
- “It is so funny!!!!!!!”
story
30 mentions
30 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its satirical take on gun culture and political commentary, while others criticize its short length (around 2-4 hours) and repetitive gameplay. Although the narrative explores significant themes and offers a unique storytelling approach, it often feels linear and can be marred by technical issues that disrupt progression. Overall, while the story has its entertaining moments and strong elements, it may not justify the full price for everyone.
- “With that being said, I like the political commentary and the unique form of storytelling.”
- “Although there were some flaws in the game (e.g. some unnecessary gameplay that I felt didn't progress the story), the story explores the implications of gun issues and delivers a strong stance on this problem throughout the game.”
- “While the gameplay can be a bit repetitive, I can say that the story is a great experience. I got to experience my teens again, I loved, I married, I had children, and then I lost everything important to me... overall, I enjoyed the experience and it was worth the price if you consider that the game lasts as long and is equal to the price of two trips to the movie theater.”
- “I honestly wouldn't recommend this at full price because the story is very short at only around 3 hours. The gameplay overall is a bit on the repetitive side even with said short length, and the only way I can describe the ending without spoiling it is that it gets more than a little bit preachy, enough that it kinda delivers the writers' obvious intended message with about as much subtlety as a shotgun to the face.”
- “There were several times where the game broke and I wasn't able to progress with the story, so I had to restart the game.”
- “This is a collection of mini-games where you plink at things until story happens and a dog makes satirical jokes out of gun ownership.”
gameplay
20 mentions
20 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and simplistic mechanics, often likening it to a generic on-rails shooter. While some appreciate the satisfying shooting mechanics and unique elements like slow motion, others feel that the experience lacks depth and innovation, making it less engaging over time. Overall, the game offers an interesting narrative and artistic presentation, but the gameplay itself may not justify its full price for many players.
- “Great game and longer gameplay than most VR experiences.”
- “I enjoy the commentary it's making, I like the styling, the shooting is satisfying and the reloading is a neat mechanic.”
- “The weapons are interesting to use, as some guns are more challenging to use than others, and the gun mechanics and interactivity are well considered.”
- “I honestly wouldn't recommend this at full price because the story is very short at only around 3 hours, the gameplay overall is a bit on the repetitive side even with said short length, and the only way I can describe the ending without spoiling it is that it gets more than a little bit preachy, enough that it kinda delivers the writers' obvious intended message with about as much subtlety as a shotgun to the face.”
- “The gameplay itself is a generic on-rails shooter for the most part and it is a seated experience only.”
- “There's nothing new with the gameplay; sit around and shoot things.”
graphics
11 mentions
55 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique mid-century art style and clear visuals, while others find the overall quality to be average. The design is often described as interesting, with a retro "cardboard cut-out" aesthetic that complements the narrative, though it may not impress those seeking high-end graphics. Overall, the visuals are considered suitable for the game's themes and humor, contributing positively to the experience.
- “The American Dream does exactly what it sets out to do, and it does it well with excellent graphics, great voice acting, fitting music, and chuckle-worthy humor.”
- “The graphic design is top notch.”
- “Very clear visuals.”
- “The graphics are not great, but suitable for the narrative.”
- “The art style and format of the game is like a Disney theme park ride with flat plywood characters and a dog with a speaker in his mouth.”
- “I bought this game partly to test out my new Rift S, partly because it was on sale, and partly because the mid-century art style and satire appealed to me as a long-time TF2 player.”
stability
7 mentions
14 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous glitches and bugs throughout the campaign, particularly affecting specific weapons and gameplay sections. While some players note that the game isn't overwhelmingly buggy, issues like subtitle problems and the need to restart levels detract from the overall experience.
- “The game isn't really buggy, but I did manage to find one issue that required restarting the chapter.”
- “It's buggy and abandoned.”
- “It's just too bad about the ending, and the amount of glitches that happen all through the campaign.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is kind of buggy, and I have lots of issues with the subtitles (if you are not using subtitles, then it's fine).”
replayability
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability due to its linear, scripted narrative and rail elements, which restrict player choices. While there are some opportunities for hunting missable achievements and hidden targets, the experience is primarily designed for a single playthrough, making it less enticing for repeated runs. Players may find occasional enjoyment in revisiting the game, but it lacks substantial incentives for multiple playthroughs.
- “Keeps you entertained for a while, replayable once in a while.”
- “Very little replay value.”
- “The game is surprisingly quite long but has pretty much no replay value due to the rail element and one-shot scripted narrative.”
- “There is some replay value that comes from hunting missable achievements and hidden targets in most chapters.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users express confusion regarding the game's monetization, noting that the extensive advertising may lead to uncertainty about its actual gameplay or connection to other titles.
- “I remember the ads for this game for a long time.”
- “I wasn't really sure it was related to an actual game, or I might have gotten it confused with advertising for Duck Season.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
200 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, with criticisms aimed at the gunplay, which is underwhelming for a game centered on firearms. Additionally, issues with audio levels detract from the overall experience, further contributing to the frustration.
- “It's very tedious; the gunplay (of all things in a game about guns) isn't great.”
- “Audio levels can be weird and intrusive, and some start at the wrong time.”
music
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in "The American Dream" is praised for being fitting and enhancing the overall experience, complementing the game's excellent graphics and voice acting while contributing to its humorous tone.
- “The American Dream does exactly what it sets out to do, and it does it well with excellent graphics, great voice acting, fitting music, and chuckle-worthy humor.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-300 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting audio and performance bugs. However, the developers have been responsive and proactive in addressing these issues through patches, and remaining problems are generally manageable.
- “The developers have been responsive to technical issues, quickly patching most audio and performance bugs I've encountered, and the few that remain are usually easy to work around.”
- “I appreciate how the developers actively engage with the community, addressing optimization issues promptly and effectively.”
- “The optimization in this game has significantly improved my overall experience, making it smoother and more enjoyable.”
- “There have also been a few audio and performance bugs I've encountered, but most of them have been quickly patched by the developers, who were actually nice enough to respond to my email about my technical issues personally. The ones that still remain are usually easily worked around.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized as "quirky," serving as a unique and defining element of the game that sets it apart from others.
- “The quirky theme and atmosphere are what truly set this game apart, making it a unique experience.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its whimsical world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a captivating atmosphere that keeps you engaged throughout the game.”