The Oregon Trail

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 743 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
The Oregon Trail Game Cover
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"The Oregon Trail" by Gameloft is a challenging and engaging game that puts players in the shoes of 19th-century pioneers heading west. With historically accurate and totally extreme adventures, players must make tough choices, manage supplies, and face dangers such as dysentery, blizzards, and more. The game features procedurally selected random events, hunting mini-games, and interactions with historic figures.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 743 reviews
story21 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions
  • The game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the original Oregon Trail, with updated graphics and gameplay mechanics.
  • There are multiple journeys and quests to explore, providing good replayability and variety in gameplay.
  • The inclusion of diverse characters and historical accuracy adds depth to the storytelling and enhances the overall experience.
  • The game is criticized for being a mobile port with a high price tag, making it feel less substantial than expected.
  • Some players find the inventory management cumbersome and the character selection random, lacking the ability to create a personalized party.
  • There are reports of sound issues and bugs that detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • story99 mentions

    The game's story is rich and varied, featuring multiple modes and mini-stories that enhance the overall experience, including a more accurate representation of Native American history. While some quests are engaging and provide real challenges, others can feel repetitive or poorly designed, leading to frustration. Overall, the narrative offers a blend of humor and historical context, though it may lack the depth and difficulty some players desire.

    • “The best iteration of the Oregon Trail made thus far, with so much obvious care and detail put into historical accuracy as well as storytelling within game mechanics.”
    • “This game adds so much new, expanded flavor with story-rich questing, which will be sure to add a lot more immersion than any other game in the franchise before it.”
    • “Developers worked with Native Americans to craft a more nuanced picture of the peoples who already lived along the trail, and also included multiple quests based on the stories of several lesser-known historical figures.”
    • “The main story quests are the same every playthrough, no matter what option you pick.”
    • “The dialogues that drive a lot of the quests are so badly designed that you'll 'fail' quests for the dumbest reasons.”
    • “Storywise, I was a bit disappointed with the game; it's a bit on the silly/childish side, at the same time preaching that ruthless murderers should be let go so that they can kill others.”
  • graphics98 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received a largely positive reception, with many players appreciating the significant upgrade from the original 8-bit visuals to a more modern aesthetic that blends pixel art with 3D elements. While some users noted inconsistencies in art styles and a mobile-game feel, the overall charm, nostalgic references, and beautiful landscapes have been highlighted as strong points that enhance the gameplay experience. The visuals are described as engaging and well-executed, contributing to the game's replay value and emotional impact.

    • “The graphics are stunning, and the side quests are fun and some are funny to boot!”
    • “The updated visuals breathe new life into the journey, making the landscapes and landmarks more captivating than ever before.”
    • “Absolutely beautiful graphics.”
    • “Toony graphics feel like a ported mobile game.”
    • “Graphics are subpar for a newer game.”
    • “Graphics aren't consistent, such as when entering forts they are nice and modern but gameplay itself is like from late 90's early 2000's.”
  • gameplay73 mentions

    The gameplay of the new Oregon Trail iteration has received mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic elements and modern mechanics, while others criticize its repetitiveness and lack of depth. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and accessibility, particularly with new mini-games and character interactions, but some find the mechanics dated and the overall experience lacking in engagement. Despite these criticisms, many enjoy the casual nature of the gameplay, allowing for multitasking and replayability through various scenarios and challenges.

    • “The gameplay is solid; some might find it a bit punishing, but it's all about resource management and gauging how risky you want to make the journey for yourself.”
    • “The developers have done an exceptional job of preserving the essence of the original game while incorporating modern graphics and gameplay mechanics.”
    • “With countless replayability options and a fun, repetitive gameplay that keeps you invested long term.”
    • “The gameplay is nonsensical.”
    • “Once you get a grasp of how the mechanics work, you just repeat the same thing over and over.”
    • “The fact Gameloft chose not to give us access to settings until we complete that introductory gameplay is definitely unacceptable, and that gameplay is also a bit drawn out and boring, so it will be very misleading to those who first open the game to try it out.”
  • music61 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its fitting and chill nature, enhancing the overall experience with a beautiful soundtrack that evokes nostalgia. However, it is noted to be somewhat repetitive, especially in menus, and is fully copyrighted, which poses challenges for streamers. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, players are advised to mute it if they plan to create content online.

    • “The music is gorgeous.”
    • “The art style is great, the soundtrack is great, the events keep you interested; I would recommend this game to anyone who likes survival/adventure games.”
    • “Beautiful game with an unbelievably great soundtrack (yes, I listen to it on Spotify); found myself playing all the different game modes, challenges, and weekly events.”
    • “The music of the game is fitting, if a tad repetitive, especially on the menu where you are locked into one song until you unlock more by playing daily and weekly challenges.”
    • “It's a really shoddy mobile game version of the Oregon Trail with fully copyrighted music, so you have to play your own music if you are a streamer.”
    • “So horrible in fact I had to turn the music completely off & the overall sound way way down.”
  • replayability35 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as strong, with many players appreciating the variety of modes, challenges, and paths available, which encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some critiques highlight a lack of depth in certain aspects, leading to a perception of limited replay value for specific players. Overall, the combination of nostalgia, engaging graphics, and diverse gameplay elements contributes to a solid replay experience.

    • “Engaging with a diversity of modes, loads of replay value, and many, many things to collect and challenges for which to hone your skills over many attempts.”
    • “The different journeys available make the game replayable.”
    • “Back in the 80s we lined up for a turn to play this in school, seeing this new updated VR-like 30 years later as a streamer I just had to try it, and wow it's just as hard and interesting as it was back then only with good graphics and a lot more going on, and it's not just the simple A to B run; there is tons of replay value here as there are lots of mods and challenges.”
    • “However, there seems to be a lack of replayability since it's always the same trail.”
    • “As it is, replay value is fairly limited.”
    • “What will keep me from finding replay value in it is that it is kind of an uninspired use of the original game's mechanics and the inability to enjoy an immersive, or remotely educational experience.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of genuine laughs and ironic moments, often stemming from its historical context and character interactions. Players appreciate the blend of funny scenarios, such as unexpected deaths and humorous side quests, while also noting the game's self-aware commentary on historical accuracy. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay experience, making it both entertaining and engaging.

    • “Most of the game is in an updated, but still pixellated style that's just detailed enough to make the death scenes funny.”
    • “They improved everything from graphics to soundtrack to general gameplay, while keeping the same humor and difficulty that those of us who know and love the older versions have come to expect.”
    • “There's a lot to do, classes and side quests to unlock, and some genuinely interesting or funny scenarios that can happen on the trail.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, featuring moments of deep attachment and unexpected impact, particularly through character interactions and narrative twists. While some players appreciate the wholesome journey and emotional depth, others criticize the sadistic choices made by the writers that can lead to jarring and distressing outcomes. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of emotions, from humor to heartache, enhancing the player's investment in the story.

    • “Great art style, great music, educational in a fun way, and a bit emotional.”
    • “It takes the original games, cleans it up, then adds some polish and emotional depth.”
    • “There was a moment that hit me emotionally much harder than I could have ever expected from this game; I'll let you discover it for yourselves.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it runs well on the Steam Deck after initial setup, users report significant sound glitches and a buggy mouse interface that can hinder gameplay. Some players experience minor audio issues that can be resolved through settings adjustments, but others find the problems persistent despite troubleshooting efforts.

    • “Runs great on the Steam Deck after getting through the initial installation of Windows libraries.”
    • “Horrible sound glitches.”
    • “I did every troubleshooting technique I know (I'm extremely tech-savvy) and nothing fixes it.”
    • “I would not suggest buying any game (especially at full price) with massive sound glitches like this one has.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often describing it as boring and repetitive. The requirement to engage in monotonous tasks, such as tedious dialogue chains and constant inventory management, detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to frustration with the game's mechanics. Many reviewers suggest that the game could benefit from a more engaging approach to grinding, similar to other titles that handle it more effectively.

    • “The only thing I disliked somewhat was how long it took and how tedious it could be trying to obtain the very rarest achievements.”
    • “Is it grindy as heck and honestly kind of boring?”
    • “They are all pretty much 'do this tedious dialogue chain (the same every playthrough) or you don't get the reward.'”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization model of the game appears to have transitioned from a mobile format with heavy microtransactions to a more player-friendly approach on PC, as it now offers free DLC through Apple Arcade, which emphasizes a no in-app purchases and no ads policy.

    • “Expect to keep receiving the Apple Arcade DLC for free too, as Apple Arcade heavily boasts its 'no in-app purchases and no ads'.”
    • “Looks, feels, and plays like a ported mobile game, one that used to have heavy microtransactions but were removed for the PC port.”
    • “The game feels like a ported mobile title, and it still carries the remnants of heavy microtransactions that were removed for the PC version.”
    • “The monetization strategy is aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “It seems like the developers prioritized profit over player experience, with numerous paywalls and in-game purchases that disrupt gameplay.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development has seen significant enhancements, with each member of the wagon party now featuring two distinct personality traits that influence gameplay, alongside a broader range of occupations. However, there is a noted lack of character design.

    • “Character development is much improved, with each member of the wagon party having two personality traits that impact gameplay, in addition to an expanded offering of occupations.”
    • “No character design.”
    • “Character development is much improved with each member of the wagon party having two personality traits which impact gameplay in addition to an expanded offering of occupations.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, successfully delivering a visually appealing update to a classic title. However, some users have noted minor bugs and performance issues that detract slightly from the experience.

    • “My only minor gripe is that the game occasionally suffers from minor bugs or performance issues.”
    • “It's not a masterpiece, but for what it set out to do, provide an optimized, pretty facelift for a classic, it absolutely achieves that with flying colors, and in that context is a 10/10.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its beauty and relaxation, enhanced by impressive graphics that elevate the experience. However, unexpected events like dying from bad water or accidental gunfire can disrupt this serene environment, adding an element of unpredictability. Overall, the atmosphere is a blend of tranquility and tension.

    • “It's a beautiful, atmospheric, and relaxing experience until you drink bad water and die of dysentery, or your gun spontaneously goes off and shoots one of the crew.”
    • “Fishing is great, and the graphics (which I never had in the original) made the atmosphere of the game awesome.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
4-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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