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"TUG" is a horror shooter game that can be played as a single-player, co-op with 2 players, or multi-player. The game features masterful visuals but has been reported as buggy. The developers are working on a new engine for version 2.0, which promises enhanced graphics, flexible modding and distribution systems, and new terrain generation. Existing users will have early access to the new version and will be able to invite friends.

TUG screenshot
TUG screenshot
TUG screenshot
TUG screenshot
TUG screenshot
TUG screenshot
TUG screenshot
TUG screenshot
TUG screenshot
TUG screenshot
TUG screenshot
+3

33%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,642 reviews
graphics54 positive mentions
optimization16 negative mentions

  • The game has a unique crafting system that encourages player creativity and exploration.
  • Graphically, TUG is charming with a distinctive art style that stands out among other sandbox games.
  • The community around TUG was its strongest asset, with many players drawn to the game's vision and remaining hopeful.
  • The game has been abandoned by the developers, with no updates or communication for years.
  • Many players feel scammed, as the game was initially sold as a promising project but ultimately failed to deliver.
  • The gameplay lacks depth and variety, leaving much to be desired in terms of content and features.
  • graphics
    166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Tug" have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique art style and immersive environments, while others criticize the game's optimization and performance issues, particularly on lower-end PCs. Many users noted that the graphics are charming yet not polished, often comparing them unfavorably to other sandbox games like Minecraft. Overall, while the visuals have potential, they are hampered by technical limitations and inconsistent performance across different hardware setups.

    • “The graphics in Tug are a treat.”
    • “The presence of fog, various cloud types, sky colors, moon and sun, darkness, etc. make for an overall pleasing and immersive graphical experience that I'm sure you'll enjoy!”
    • “Gorgeous graphics and love the fresh feel in gameplay - looking forward to how this game progresses.”
    • “The world's worst 3D graphic design program since Minecraft.”
    • “Graphics are very old school and pretty crappy, to be honest.”
    • “I'm very disappointed this game looks great for its price, but you need to have DirectX 11, and just having it won't let you play; you need a PC graphics card that's capable of running it, which mine won't.”
  • gameplay
    78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the solid building mechanics and crafting options, while others criticize its lack of depth, clunky controls, and insufficient content. Many users express hope for future updates to enhance gameplay variety and fix existing issues, but some find the current mechanics complex and poorly explained, leading to frustration. Overall, while there are promising elements, the gameplay is seen as needing significant improvement to fully engage players.

    • “The controls are easy and simple to work with, and gameplay is pretty good as well.”
    • “It already has solid building mechanics and tons of crafting recipes.”
    • “Gorgeous graphics and love the fresh feel in gameplay - looking forward to how this game progresses.”
    • “However, the gameplay never progressed beyond its foundational elements, leaving much to be desired in terms of depth and variety.”
    • “The game does not work properly ever; the building mechanics are terrible, the combat is lacking, and the graphics and art style are not good. It explains nothing and is generally disappointing.”
    • “I bought this game for £0.74, and there's not enough actual gameplay to justify that.”
  • optimization
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant performance issues, lag, and a requirement for high-end hardware to run smoothly. While some players note that the game runs well on certain rigs, the overall consensus is that it is poorly optimized, lacking content, and in need of substantial improvements before it can be recommended for purchase. Many anticipate future updates to address these optimization concerns.

    • “Performance is great for an early alpha and so is the crafting.”
    • “Graphics are awesome, I have the game set to max quality settings and it's running at a steady 60 fps on my rig; there are a few minor fps drops now and then, but nothing that ruins the game for me at least. I'm sure future optimization will eliminate most of these as well.”
    • “I like the game; it just has a lot of performance issues. If the game went through a series of optimizations to clear lag, then it would be even more amazing.”
    • “Poorly optimized and sorely lacking in content; you will either find the learning curve and finish the game in about 3 hours, or its starting complexity will have this game as a wasted investment for you.”
    • “Little to do, never finished, poorly optimized resulting in lag on general consumer PCs, in spite of unimpressive graphics.”
    • “It being this poorly optimized and nearly unplayable just doesn't bode well for an early access game.”
  • stability
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes, making it often unplayable. While some players note minor issues that don't significantly impact gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game is in a rough, unfinished state, particularly due to a lack of ongoing development. Many recommend avoiding it until significant improvements are made.

    • “The game is stable and, so far, after a few hours, appears to be almost bug-free, with the exception of some floating grass left after block destruction - not a gamebreaker, just visually annoying.”
    • “Sadly abandoned by the devs, shame since it had potential but it is definitely not worth buying - it's buggy and there's very little to do.”
    • “It appears all development of this game has halted leaving it in an unfinished buggy state.”
    • “As it is right now I couldn't recommend this game, it is far too buggy and clunky.”
  • story
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is perceived as underdeveloped and lacking clarity, with players feeling dropped into a vague fantasy world without sufficient context or narrative guidance. While there are elements of exploration and self-generated quests that hint at a deeper lore, many reviewers express a desire for a more structured plot and campaign to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as needing significant improvements in storytelling to fulfill its potential as an engaging narrative adventure.

    • “There's more to the story than meets the eye.”
    • “More pets, more mounts, more weapons and armors, more enemies, boss monsters, and places to explore and learn more about the interesting story they've put behind this game.”
    • “It is a refreshing take, and includes something resembling story without spoiling the feel of being a sandbox.”
    • “It's a long, never-ending story full of promises (for which you have to Google, because the developer can't be bothered to keep us updated here).”
    • “I don't really know how the game works, and it was advertised on Kickstarter not as Minecraft with 'better' graphics, but as an open-ended narrative where exploration is the story, and you learn more about your character. But right now, you just plop into a vaguely fantasy world and have to run around Minecrafting.”
    • “If you are expecting a story or a reason, then you are out of luck.”
  • monetization
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with many users expressing frustration over the reliance on microtransactions despite having already paid for the game. Reviewers feel that the developers are prioritizing profit over quality, leading to a perception of the game as unfinished and exploitative. Overall, the sentiment suggests a lack of trust in the developers and disappointment in the game's monetization approach.

    • “Developers had some bad luck and are now planning on making this game a free-to-play model with microtransactions, a great example of how companies fall.”
    • “Finally, while monetization of aesthetics is better than that of actual content, it still indicates that they are just wanting more money, as microtransactions have proven to be far superior to regular methods.”
    • “Unfinished and never will, this is a cash grab!”
    • “This game has been nothing but a cash grab.”
    • “Just to say, I loved the taming mechanics of this game, but thinking about presenting users with microtransactions after we paid $15 for it?”
  • atmosphere
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its cute and mystical qualities, enhanced by relaxing music and distinct audio cues that promote exploration and discovery. Players appreciate the refreshing graphics and unique design elements, particularly the whimsical interactions with characters like the mushroom spirits. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as breathtaking and encourages a creative and immersive experience.

    • “I love this game and once the devs finish the conversion to OpenGL, I would recommend it to anyone who likes open-world creative games with a cute atmosphere.”
    • “On the other hand, atmosphere and design are absolutely breathtaking.”
    • “In the creative sense, it's very unique and offers a sort of mystical atmosphere.”
  • grinding
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that the game's grinding elements, such as building, farming, and crafting, can feel tedious due to the limited activities available in its alpha stage. While some may find the repetitive tasks unengaging, others appreciate the realism and fun of the survival mechanics, suggesting that the current content is enjoyable despite the potential for monotony. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation for exploration and crafting, with more features expected in future updates.

    • “Ex: digging up an area can be long and tedious.”
    • “Aside from building, crafting, hunting, and farming, there isn't too much to do in the game's current state - but what is there is fun, with more on the way.”
    • “However, this game is in alpha stage and very limited in things you can do (being: building, farming, cooking (meat/potions), hunting (and being hunted), crafting, smithing (copper), and material (transfer) alchemy).”
  • humor
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often highlighted by its quirky character transformations and amusing bugs, which players find entertaining rather than frustrating. The presence of comical elements, such as the antics of goblin characters and the game's self-referential title "the unfinished game," adds to its charm and keeps players engaged. Overall, the humor is a significant aspect that enhances the gaming experience.

    • “Even when it bugs out it's still good, because it's usually funny when it bugs out.”
    • “And the funny thing is this game is named 'The Unfinished Game.'”
    • “(which is a glorified networker) his post was hilarious!!!”
  • music
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music aspect of the game has received mixed feedback; some players express disappointment over the absence of music, which contributes to an eerie atmosphere, while others appreciate the effective use of ambient sounds and the strategic placement of audio cues in "tug." Many players desire relaxing music that enhances the gameplay experience without being distracting, highlighting the need for unique audio content across different servers. Overall, while some find the lack of music detrimental, others value the atmospheric sound design that complements the game's environment.

    • “You want relaxing music with good atmospheric sounds, and audio cues that would be distinct a mile apart, and in Tug, you have that.”
    • “While many games try to pull on your heartstrings too much with music and sound, Tug manages to make you feel things by playing the right sound at the right time.”
    • “There is no music, so the ambient wind sound tends to make the game feel very eerie.”
    • “In a sandbox, you don't want obnoxious music distracting you from your building, fighting, hunting, crafting.”
    • “Servers need to be unique and have alternate content, music, 3D models, etc. from server to server.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the game highly replayable, especially with the recent addition of multiplayer features, which significantly enhance the overall experience and provide plenty of content to explore. However, there are hopes for further updates or support to improve playability and extend its longevity.

    • “Gameplay - 8 (recently multiplayer, very replayable and lots to do)”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of Tug is characterized by a profound sense of heartbreak, highlighting the game's potential that feels unfulfilled. This sentiment resonates strongly with players, emphasizing a poignant narrative that leaves a lasting impact.

    • “Tug remains a heartbreaking example of what could have been.”

Buy TUG

7h Median play time
45h Average play time
2-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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