TUG

About

TUG is a single player and multiplayer role playing shooter game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by Nerd Kingdom Inc. and was released on March 28, 2014. It received negative reviews from players.

"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.

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33%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,103 reviews

graphics34 positive mentions

stability24 negative mentions

The game has a unique crafting system that allows for creativity and exploration.
The graphics and art style are appealing, providing an immersive experience.
There is potential for the game to evolve into something great with future updates.

The game has been abandoned by the developers, with no updates or communication for years.
Many players experienced technical issues, including crashes and performance problems.
The game lacks content and features, making it feel incomplete and unplayable.

graphics
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful and creative art style, while others criticize the overall quality and optimization, noting that it can be poorly optimized for general consumer PCs. Many users express frustration over the game's high system requirements, particularly the need for DirectX 11, which limits accessibility for those with older hardware. Overall, while the visuals have potential and are appreciated by some, significant performance issues and compatibility concerns detract from the experience for many players.
- “The scenery is already very impressive though, the quality in graphics is already really nice.”
- “Beautiful and creative graphics.”
- “Gorgeous graphics and love the fresh feel in gameplay - looking forward to how this game progresses.”
- “The game does not work properly ever, the building mechanics suck, the combat is terrible, the graphics are not very good, and the art style in general is not good.”
- “Graphics are very old school and pretty crappy to be honest.”
- “I cannot honestly recommend this game, since my computer is overqualified to handle it, yet the game still reliably overloads my CPU and GPU within a minute of startup, and then crashes.”
gameplay
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
74%
6%
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some praising the crafting and taming mechanics while others criticize the building and combat systems as lacking. Many players find the controls easy to use, but the game's mechanics can be complex and poorly explained, leading to frustration. Overall, while there are promising elements and potential for improvement, the gameplay experience is currently inconsistent and in need of refinement.
- “The controls are easy and simple to work with, and gameplay is pretty good as well.”
- “Gameplay - 8 (recently multiplayer, very replayable and lots to do)”
- “Gorgeous graphics and love the fresh feel in gameplay - looking forward to how this game progresses.”
- “The game does not work properly ever; the building mechanics are terrible, the combat is lacking, the graphics are subpar, and the art style is unappealing. It explains nothing and overall is just not good.”
- “But as of this writing, much of the gameplay just isn't there yet.”
- “You might figure out how to survive and make some basic tools on your own with enough trial and error, but some players will give up long before they reach the point where the game starts to shine because of the complex and unexplained nature of its mechanics.”
optimization
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including lag and high system requirements, even on capable machines. While some players experience stable performance at high settings, the consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and lacks content, leading to a recommendation to wait for future updates before purchasing. Overall, the optimization is seen as a major area needing improvement, particularly in the early access phase.
- “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.”
- “I can't recommend buying this game until a lot more work has been put into adding content and improving its performance.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The game's story is criticized for being vague and underdeveloped, leaving players feeling lost in a fantasy world without clear direction or narrative grounding. While there are hints of a deeper lore and potential for exploration, many users feel that the lack of a structured plot or campaign detracts from the overall experience. Improvements in storytelling and character background are seen as essential for enhancing player engagement and enjoyment.
- “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.”
- “If this game receives a proper lore buff and a story to why and what you are, then I can see it being an imaginative success.”
- “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. 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.”
stability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and occasional crashes that detract from the overall experience. While some players note that there are no game-breaking issues, the frequent hiccups and the potential for save file corruption make it difficult to recommend. Overall, the game feels unfinished and rough, leading many to conclude that it is not worth purchasing in its current state.
- “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.”
- “There's plenty of glitches and occasional crashes here and there as well as the potential to corrupt the save file (unlikely though it did happen to me once while I suicided off a mountain, clipping through the terrain upon death and spawning inside the terrain, falling and dying again).”
- “As it is right now I couldn't recommend this game, it is far too buggy and clunky.”
monetization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with players expressing frustration over the introduction of microtransactions after purchasing the game. Many feel that the developers prioritize profit over player experience, leading to distrust in their future offerings. While some acknowledge that aesthetic microtransactions are preferable to content-based ones, the overall sentiment is that the game's lack of substance undermines its monetization approach.
- “While monetization of aesthetics is better than that of actual content, it still suggests that they are just wanting more money, as microtransactions have proven to be far superior to regular methods. Microtransactions won't work when people don't even want to play the game in the first place because it barely exists.”
- “I loved the taming mechanics of this game, but the idea of presenting users with microtransactions after we paid $15 for it is concerning.”
- “While monetization of aesthetics is better than that of actual content, it still indicates a desire for more money, as microtransactions have shown to be more effective than traditional methods.”
- “I feel like it was a cash grab like a few other people have done to people on Steam.”
- “Abandoned typical cash grab by the dev team; do not trust these developers in the future, they will just rob you.”
- “Finally, to me, while monetization of aesthetics is better than that of actual content, it still tells me that they are just wanting more money as microtransactions have proven to be far superior to regular methods; microtransactions won't work when people don't even want to play the game in the first place because it barely exists.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be a standout feature, often highlighting its quirky glitches and unexpected character transformations as sources of amusement. The game's title, "The Unfinished Game," adds an ironic layer to the humor, as players embrace the comedic aspects of its imperfections. Overall, the blend of magic, humor, and lightheartedness contributes to a fun 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'...”
- “I seemed to be at a young man/boy stage, but when I jumped back in the game I was a young girl... funny.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that the grinding aspect of the game, while extensive and rooted in realism through activities like building, farming, and crafting, can feel tedious due to the limited options available in its alpha stage. The survival mode offers a challenging experience without relying on horror or PvP elements, but some may find the repetitive nature of tasks like digging and resource gathering less engaging. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some appreciating the depth and realism, while others see it as a potential drawback.
- “Ex: digging up an area can be long and tedious.”
- “Maybe a lot of people would find that tedious and not worthwhile, but I think the realism is really cool.”
- “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).”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its fun, mystical, and unique qualities, creating an engaging environment that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the breathtaking design and stylish visuals, particularly when the game is stable, making it a recommended choice for fans of open-world creative games.
- “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.”
- “In the creative sense, it's very unique and offers a sort of mystical atmosphere.”
- “On the other hand, atmosphere and design are absolutely breathtaking.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
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)”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features no music, relying solely on ambient wind sounds, which contribute to an eerie atmosphere. Players express a desire for more unique server content, including varied music and 3D models, to enhance the overall experience.
- “There is no music, so the ambient wind sound tends to make the game feel very eerie.”
- “Servers need to be unique and have alternate content, music, 3D models, etc. from server to server.”