Tumbleweed Express

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 104 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Tumbleweed Express Game Cover
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In "Tumbleweed Express" , set in 1885 America, players challenge Dirigibaus' airship monopoly by piloting the Tumbleweed Express Steam Engine, supporting the oppressed with logistics. The game features fast-paced collection quests in 12 levels, direct combat management from the caboose, and train defense upgrades to outperform the competition. Conquer the Dirigibaus and restore balance to the West.

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Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 104 reviews
gameplay14 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Tumbleweed Express offers a fun and engaging gameplay experience, blending on-rails shooting with tower defense elements.
  • The game features a charming art style reminiscent of Borderlands, along with a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
  • At a low price point, the game provides good replayability through its upgrade system and optional objectives, making it a worthwhile purchase.
  • The game is very short, with only 12 missions that can be completed in about 2-4 hours, leading to a feeling of limited content.
  • Voice acting and some narrative elements are poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.
  • Gameplay can become repetitive, and some mechanics, such as the need to replay levels for upgrades, can feel grindy and unbalanced.
  • story43 mentions

    The game's story is brief and simplistic, consisting of only 12 missions that can be completed in under four hours, with many players finding it unremarkable and lacking depth. While some appreciate the humor and replayability of missions for upgrades, the narrative is often described as a mere backdrop to the gameplay, with flat characters and minimal engagement. Overall, the story serves as a secondary element, with players expressing a desire for more substantial content in potential future expansions.

    • “While yes it's a bit short, the story is funny and the gameplay is 9/10.”
    • “The main missions are not terribly long, and there are only 12, but they're replayable as hell and I never once felt like I was 'grinding' when I was going back to some old levels for loot.”
    • “There are secrets hidden in each stage too that will uncover more of the story, but they aren't necessary.”
    • “The story is nothing to write home about, the graphics are also rough, and the voice acting was probably made by the devs themselves.”
    • “There isn't much story to speak about, and the characters are lovable yet flat.”
    • “There is a story in animated pictures, it was incredibly boring, so I can't tell anything particular about it.”
  • gameplay38 mentions

    The gameplay is generally engaging and fun, featuring a unique blend of tower defense and on-rail shooter mechanics, though it suffers from some balance issues and repetitiveness. While many players appreciate the intuitive design and solid core loop of upgrading and utilizing the train, some criticize the implementation, clunky mechanics, and frustrating enemy interactions. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable and offers a decent experience, despite its shortcomings.

    • “The gameplay is fast, thrilling, and challenging (yet somehow never frustrating).”
    • “This game has extraordinarily fun and engaging gameplay, an original concept (moving tower defense) and an intuitive interface so that you don't need instructions on how to do anything in the game, it all is designed to be played without a complicated tutorial or manual.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics all run very smooth, the upgrade system hits the 'just right' mark where you can replay missions for contracts (essentially challenge missions) to fully upgrade as you go along, or you can stick with the normal upgrade pace.”
    • “Extremely repetitive gameplay.”
    • “Very limited gameplay, poor instructions and confusing boss fights.”
    • “As good as the gameplay idea is, the implementation is as bad.”
  • graphics32 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique art style reminiscent of Borderlands and its engaging aesthetic, while others criticize the overall quality and performance, describing them as rough or lacking polish. Despite these criticisms, many players find the visuals appealing and fitting for the game's theme, contributing positively to the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as decent but could benefit from further refinement.

    • “The graphics, music, and voice acting all fit very well together.”
    • “The graphics fit the theme of the game perfectly, and so does the music.”
    • “Awesome game, great visual style and artwork, good worldbuilding, one or two minor problems.”
    • “First of all, the game has very bad graphics and awful UI.”
    • “- very bad performance, UI and graphics.”
    • “The graphics are very borderlands-esque.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising it as catchy and fitting well with the game's atmosphere, while others find it merely passable. Some highlight the standout quality of the soundtrack, even comparing it favorably to that of professionally released games, though there are criticisms regarding the voice acting. Overall, the music is seen as a strong aspect that enhances the gaming experience, despite some reservations.

    • “The music is absolutely phenomenal, it's better than the music in most professionally released games.”
    • “The graphics fit the theme of the game perfectly and so does the music.”
    • “(p.s. don't skip the credits! The song played during the credits and the sketches are a true delight.)”
    • “All it ends up being is a click fest to some passable soundtrack and the end result is something not worth any price tag, which you should probably skip.”
    • “The music also changes from an old west country theme to a rock and roll track.”
    • “The voice acting is really cute and amusing, and man, the music.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find the main missions and contracts offer enjoyable variations and challenges that encourage revisiting levels, others feel that the long-term appeal is limited. The presence of contracts, time challenges, and an upgrade system enhances replayability for many, making the experience engaging without feeling like a grind. However, some users express that the game may not sustain interest over extended play.

    • “Each track is different, and the extra contracts provide new ways to approach each track, giving some replayability.”
    • “The main missions are not terribly long, and there are only 12, but they're replayable as hell and I never once felt like I was 'grinding' when I was going back to some old levels for loot.”
    • “Just not really worth it for the long haul, and no real replayability.”
    • “Contracts provide a bit of replayability.”
    • “The upgrade system and contracts add a lot of replayability to each level and keep it from getting stale.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is well-received, with players finding the story, dialogue, and character interactions amusing, particularly noting the comedic elements of the main villain and his sidekick. The voice acting, while described as hammy, adds to the overall charm and fun of the experience, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere despite the game's brevity.

    • “The main villain and his toady are quite funny as well, and the final battle is a real fun one!”
    • “Dialogue is pretty funny too.”
    • “The voices are funny and I can only imagine how fun they would have been to script/record.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some feel it can be tedious when aiming for 100% completion, others appreciate the replayability of missions, which makes grinding for loot feel less burdensome. The game is described as easy to grind, but some players wish for more content to extend gameplay and increase challenge. Overall, the grind is manageable and often enjoyable, depending on individual playstyles.

    • “The only downsides I'd say this game has is that it's pretty grindy if you want to 100% it.”
    • “The grinding is easy; I kind of wish we could have extended the train by a few more cars. Having 5 cars (excluding the engine) wasn't enough in my opinion, especially since it would make the game either harder or easier depending on one's skill.”
    • “The main missions are not terribly long, and there are only 12, but they're replayable as hell and I never once felt like I was 'grinding' when I was going back to some old levels for loot.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance, user interface, and graphics, with several issues noted. However, these problems do not significantly detract from the overall gaming experience.

    • “The game has a few optimization issues, and the UI could use some upgrades, but these do not significantly detract from the overall experience.”
    • “Despite some minor optimization challenges, the gameplay remains engaging and enjoyable.”
    • “The developers are aware of the optimization concerns and are actively working on improvements, which shows their commitment to enhancing the player experience.”
    • “Very bad performance, UI, and graphics.”
    • “It does have a couple of optimization issues, and the UI needs a few upgrades, both of which I brought up in the aforementioned meeting with some of the devs, but it doesn't detract from the game much at all.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by its well-integrated music, creating an immersive experience that complements the overall environment.

    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive.”
    • “The good music really ties in well with the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The game's atmosphere draws you in and keeps you engaged.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report a high level of stability, noting the absence of bugs, glitches, and crashes, which contributes to a smooth gaming experience.

    • “I didn't encounter any bugs, no glitches, no weird animations or flying trains, and I didn't fall through the world; it didn't crash at all.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any interruptions, making for a seamless experience.”
    • “I was impressed by the overall stability; everything worked as intended without any issues.”
    • “I didn't encounter any bugs, no glitches, no weird animations or flying trains or falling through the world, it didn't crash.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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