The Desolate Hope

About

In "The Desolate Hope," players explore the abandoned Lun Infinus station, once used for simulating human colonization possibilities. Now, thirty years after Earth's last transmission, the station's five sentient computers must combat a mysterious viral threat. Navigate through peculiar and intricate simulations to secure the future of humanity in this desolate, forsaken environment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+10

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,169 reviews

story167 positive mentions

grinding76 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a unique art style that captures a nostalgic feel.
The mix of gameplay styles, including platforming, RPG battles, and exploration, keeps the experience fresh and engaging.
The story is intriguing and thought-provoking, with well-developed characters and emotional depth.

The game can be confusing at times, with a lack of clear instructions on mechanics and controls.
The grinding for upgrades can become tedious, especially during the night segments.
Boss battles can be overly difficult, leading to frustration for players who may not be prepared.

story
327 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The story of "The Desolate Hope" is widely praised for its depth, creativity, and emotional impact, featuring a unique premise where players control a coffee-making robot tasked with saving a space station from a virus. Reviewers highlight the engaging character development, unexpected plot twists, and a rich atmosphere that enhances the narrative experience, making it a standout aspect of the game. While some players found parts of the story confusing or felt that gameplay mechanics detracted from the storytelling, the overall consensus is that the narrative is compelling and memorable, with many expressing a desire for sequels or further exploration of its themes.
- “The story is gripping and the worldbuilding is wonderful—if you're only familiar with Cawthon's newer work, you won't feel out of place playing this.”
- “The story was amazing, the twists, the turns, it was all beautiful; I genuinely almost cried a few times from it.”
- “The desolate hope is a challenging RPG, with great music, creative designs, a phenomenal story, and three amazing gameplay types.”
- “However, at some points the storytelling can be a bit confusing and this can affect the fluency of the game.”
- “The story is one of those that catches your attention, but by the end, the entire experience is retroactively cheapened when all the buildup doesn't amount to much.”
- “The story might very well be high quality, but I wasn't able to get very far because just figuring out how to play was an intolerable farce of trial and error on the keyboard.”
gameplay
297 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The gameplay of "The Desolate Hope" is a unique blend of various styles, including platforming, RPG mechanics, and exploration, which keeps the experience engaging despite some repetitive elements. While many players appreciate the intricate mechanics and chaotic boss battles, some find the lack of clear explanations for these mechanics and the occasional tediousness frustrating. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful visuals and compelling story, making it a worthwhile experience for those willing to navigate its complexities.
- “The gameplay is chaotic but fun to master.”
- “The gameplay is a clever mix of RPG, exploration, and platforming.”
- “The gameplay is a unique blend of resource management and metroidvania exploration.”
- “My only real complaint is that the boss fights are hard and the mechanics for these are not very well explained, so I found myself looking up a strategy guide to improve.”
- “One main issue is that a lot of mechanics are never explained, but experimentation usually fixes that problem.”
- “The gameplay is three games stapled together to form a Frankenstein of a game where none really stand out, but there's certainly padding with the boss battles being perhaps a bit too brutal, leading to grinding to get stats up.”
graphics
258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and unique art style, often described as reminiscent of late '90s and early 2000s pre-rendered aesthetics. Players appreciate the intricate details and atmospheric design that enhance the storytelling, although some note that the graphics can feel overwhelming or occasionally outdated. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.
- “The visuals alone are absolutely stunning; in my opinion, it's his best work.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, and the detail on the models is really good, making it a great platformer.”
- “The graphics are beautifully detailed and surreal pre-rendered 3D that puts FNAF to shame; the plot is very interesting so far.”
- “The graphics are terrible, the writing is terrible, the platforming is terrible, the overhead shooting is terrible.”
- “The only issue with this game is the flashing lights and graphics in some areas of the game, which I can look past but it can get pretty annoying.”
- “One flaw that the game has that I'll point out is that the game, while looking amazing at times, can have the occasional moment where something just looks really out of place, and it can take away from the experience if you are very picky about graphics and art style.”
music
193 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the gameplay. Although much of the soundtrack consists of royalty-free tracks, they are well-chosen and memorable, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and immersive experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as catchy, fitting, and a standout feature that elevates the game's narrative and visuals.
- “The soundtrack is a great addition to the narrative and atmosphere as well.”
- “The music is amazing in every way, shape, and form.”
- “The music, while copyrighted royalty-free music, is extremely good choices for soundtracks for each specific segment of the game.”
- “A similar issue plagues the music, though that can be split into three parts - there are some magnificent bits of music, there are some satisfactory songs, and then there are some that grow to be annoying.”
- “The soundtrack is nothing truly special, but fits the game's look and feel perfectly.”
- “Unfortunately, Scott cannot provide us with a soundtrack, not that this stopped players from finding the songs he used.”
grinding
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, often described as tedious and time-consuming, with many players spending considerable hours on it to obtain upgrades and resources. While some found the grinding to be a necessary part of the experience that added depth, others felt it detracted from the overall enjoyment, making gameplay feel repetitive and slow-paced. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some players appreciating the grind for its strategic benefits, while others view it as a major flaw that hampers the game's potential.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game is too grindy.”
- “My only beef with the game is the large amount of grinding that is needed to beat the bosses.”
- “The art is good but the gameplay is tedious and repetitive, at least in the platform bits, which is all I saw.”
atmosphere
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
28%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, enhanced by a stunning art style and a well-composed soundtrack that complements the narrative. Reviewers highlight the unique blend of visuals and sound design, creating a rich, atmospheric experience that draws players into its desolate, sci-fi world. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as both beautiful and engaging, making it a standout feature that significantly contributes to the overall enjoyment.
- “The atmosphere is captivating, and every room you waddle into is full of ambiance.”
- “I love how much work was put into the atmosphere of the game, and it certainly has a unique feel to it.”
- “The whole environment gave that abandoned hi-tech-ish sort of energy, and really bumped up the atmosphere.”
- “I really wish they would release a soundtrack album for this game, the tracks complement the game's desolated atmosphere very well.”
- “Not for everyone: the dark story and awkward engine make this a game without much universal appeal, but if you're into the kind of atmosphere and elaborate mechanical graphics this game has to offer, it will provide you with a decent amount of fun.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
Players consistently highlight the game's emotional depth, describing its story as both heartwarming and tragic, often leading to tears by the end. The unique choice of a sentient coffee-making robot as the protagonist enhances the narrative's impact, making the themes of struggle and resilience resonate deeply. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful storytelling, meaningful messages, and an emotionally rewarding finale.
- “The game actually made me cry a little.”
- “Extremely underrated mashup of an RPG with fantastic visuals, a good soundtrack, and a tragic story based on the fall of mankind with a strong emotional message that resonates deeply.”
- “Choosing to make a sentient, coffee-making service bot the main protagonist amplifies the feeling of 'all odds are against you,' making the overall story more touching and the ending more rewarding.”
- “I would really love to see Scott continue this series just like he's continuing FNAF, but maybe not with the boring story.”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
15%
21%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its engaging and in-depth story, complemented by impressive and diverse character designs that range from simple to visually complex. While some players noted a few bosses as lacking, the overall aesthetic and narrative depth contribute to a captivating experience that many reviewers encourage others to explore. The combination of strong character design and storytelling enhances the gameplay, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The in-depth story and character development is really engaging.”
- “This game not only has an enticing story that involves really awesome futuristic character designs, and a really cool setting, but the gameplay is very interesting because it changes the gameplay style in multiple ways.”
- “Character designs are also wonderful and range from beauty in simplicity to visually overwhelming and I love them all, honestly.”
- “The character designs are a bit too...robotic (yes, I know it's a bad joke).”
- “The character designs?????”
- “(I won't mention the character designs because if you look at any other review for this game, they will definitely be mentioned.)”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of quirky dialogue and unique character interactions, contributing to an engaging and entertaining experience. While many players appreciate the comedic elements and find the writing compelling, some feel that the humor can fall flat at times. Overall, the game is recognized for its fun and funny moments, particularly in its combat and character dynamics, though opinions on the effectiveness of the humor vary.
- “The main character's dialogue is funny and compelling, and the four major characters are all incredibly unique and distinct, making this world an absolute treat to get sunk into.”
- “Overall, it was a fun and funny game, very interesting and unique with its different simulations and bosses.”
- “The story and setting are the biggest draw, a cyberpunk style throughout it all, with an aloof humor in the machines and their visions of a perfect human habitat, in a forgotten corner of space.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users noting technical issues and sluggish performance, particularly on lower-end devices like laptops. While the gameplay is engaging and offers numerous upgrades that enhance performance, the lack of screen optimization and occasional grind can detract from the overall experience.
- “Pretty much everything you do outside of battle contributes to your party's performance, which is great, and it's actually quite hard to genuinely waste time unless you're idling, due to the sheer number of upgrades you can find in each mode.”
- “Platformer mode is also how you buy upgrades, some of which will contribute to your performance in that mode.”
- “There are some technical issues with the game, and performance can be a bit sluggish at times.”
- “No screen optimization.”
- “Performance is a bit iffy but it was playable on a laptop.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game offers limited replayability, primarily driven by the desire to achieve a higher "final files recovered" percentage, though the core experience remains unchanged with each playthrough. Players may be motivated to replay for completionist goals, but overall, significant replay value is lacking.
- “I might do a second run to get that 200% completion (only had 168% this time), but there doesn't seem to be any major replayability.”
- “The game, while still being the same experience each playthrough, still has some replay value in that there is a 'final files recovered' percentage.”
- “I might do a second run to get those 200% (only had 168% this time), but there doesn't seem to be any major replayability.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report minor stability issues, such as glitches that allow animations to play during dialog boxes, but overall, the game remains functional.
- “There are a few glitches, like being able to play the moving animation while there is a dialog box open.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
- “I've encountered numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay and affect overall enjoyment.”

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7h Median play time

7h Average play time

6-7h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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