UNDERDOGS

About

UNDERDOGS is a single player simulation game. It was developed by One Hamsa and was released on January 25, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Underdogs" is a single-player simulation game set in a brutal world of underground mech fights. Players can customize their mechs with 120+ items, meet unique characters, and navigate the city's criminal underworld in a roguelike experience. The game features phenomenal visuals, a compelling soundtrack, and a physics-based mech brawler system for metal-on-metal violence. This is New Brakka, the mech fighting capital of the world, where only the strong survive.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,012 reviews

gameplay158 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features incredibly satisfying combat mechanics, allowing players to feel the weight and impact of their punches.
The unique movement system, which involves using your arms to control the mech, adds a fun and immersive element to the gameplay.
The art style and soundtrack are exceptional, creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in just a few hours, leading to concerns about replayability.
Some players have reported issues with the game's difficulty balance, feeling that certain bosses are disproportionately challenging compared to regular enemies.
There is a lack of enemy variety, with many encounters feeling repetitive after multiple runs.

gameplay
358 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The gameplay in "Underdogs" is widely praised for its solid mechanics, smooth controls, and immersive combat experience, particularly in the VR space. Players appreciate the unique blend of roguelite elements with physics-based brawling, although some express concerns about the repetitiveness of the gameplay loop and the lack of depth in enemy variety. Overall, the game is considered highly enjoyable, with a satisfying core experience that keeps players engaged despite some minor criticisms.
- “Simply put, Underdogs is one of the best gameplay experiences you can have in VR; every hit has solid weight behind it, and the flow of fights leads to you getting 'in the zone' very easily.”
- “The combat and movement mechanics are well-designed, providing a fluid and immersive experience that stands out among VR games.”
- “The gameplay loop is incredibly addicting; the only things stopping me from playing this for hours on end are the battery life on my headset and the accumulation of sweat from moving around.”
- “They all feel restrictive or clunky with mechanics that try so hard to be realistic, it ends up sacrificing the fun aspect.”
- “I really like it but it does have some things that push me away from the game; I don't like the roguelike aspect of this game, it kind of outshines the story for me. I understand the whole point of a roguelike is different experiences and making each playthrough unique, but there's not enough variation in gameplay to make me want to restart from the beginning; I want more encounters, but as the gameplay loop is now, it's fun but repetitive.”
- “It's got some original aspects but ultimately feels kind of shallow; combat is mindless and the arena is small, the gameplay loop is really basic and slow as it takes you out of the action constantly.”
story
288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
62%
1%
The game's story is generally well-received, praised for its engaging presentation and intriguing world-building, though many players note that it is quite short, typically taking around 2 to 4 hours to complete. While the narrative features compelling elements and a unique comic-book style, some players express disappointment with its brevity and the lack of meaningful choices, leading to a repetitive experience in subsequent playthroughs. Overall, the story serves as a solid backdrop to the gameplay, but many hope for future expansions to deepen the narrative experience.
- “The story is great, the voice acting/sound design is phenomenal, and the graphics are so good that I find myself just looking around at my character and the level during downtime.”
- “Amazing game, great storytelling/world building, and the gameplay is phenomenal.”
- “I wanna start off by saying this VR game has a great story, I don't think I've been more invested in a VR game's story; this is one of the biggest things that make me want to keep playing this game.”
- “The only flaw is the short story; they have so much room for expansion with the current ending, and it's a shame they have yet to do anything with it, maybe in the future though?”
- “Literally the only negative is that there isn't enough of it as I have already gotten to the end of the story after 5 hours (it does end on a massive cliffhanger, though, so maybe there will be more or a sequel).”
- “I wish the story of the game was longer, but all in all it is very fun, and there's still plenty I can do.”
music
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
44%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its immersive and energetic qualities, perfectly complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall atmosphere. Players have noted that the soundtrack, which features a mix of genres including grime and dub, not only hypes them up during combat but also stands out as enjoyable outside of the game. Many reviewers expressed a desire to purchase the soundtrack, highlighting its exceptional quality and fit with the game's gritty aesthetic.
- “The music is always perfect at every point of gameplay.”
- “The soundtrack is a banger, it's really damn good.”
- “The art style, music, vibe, and presentation are all spot on; I don't usually get pumped up, but when that menu appeared, and the music thumped, it gave me chills.”
- “Some bugs here and there (one in particular is the grabber arm can get stuck under the ground which roots you in place, but quitting and reloading the level usually fixed it), and the music isn't super up my alley, but the visuals are amazing, the combat is both responsive and a hell of a lot of fun, and it's clear a lot of love went into making it.”
- “The only gripes I have are purely subjective though, I'm personally not a fan of the music genre but I can easily just swap it out for something else.”
- “And the soundtrack... dude it is fire but some songs are not public which bothers me a little.”
graphics
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The graphics in this game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style and immersive atmosphere, often described as a blend of comic book aesthetics and vibrant visuals. Players appreciate the unique and polished design that enhances gameplay, with many noting that the graphics are both stylish and well-optimized, allowing for smooth performance even on lower-end hardware. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's engaging experience, making it a standout title in the VR space.
- “The atmosphere in this game is incredible, with great art and aesthetics that really give you a vibe for the setting of the game before you even play.”
- “The art style is excellent, the in-game announcer is reactive, often talking about what is actually happening, and the voice acting is absolutely brilliant.”
- “The graphics are high resolution and the art style paints some huge jaw-dropping cities around you, but it's not very demanding on a GPU which means anyone can pick this up.”
- “Realistic graphics look a bit poor in low resolution, and my poor 3080 doesn't run them in high resolution.”
- “It's hard to see details in Underdogs because the game is so dark - but the darkness also hides the low-quality phone VR graphics (Quest 2 uses the Adreno 650 phone GPU, part of the XR2 SoC).”
- “9.5/10 would be 10 with better optimization and more graphic options.”
replayability
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
32%
6%
The game offers significant replayability, primarily due to its roguelike mechanics, diverse build options, and continuous updates that introduce new content. While some players note it may be on the shorter side, the variety in gameplay, unlockables, and engaging combat systems ensure a fresh experience with each playthrough. Overall, it is praised as a polished title with a strong emphasis on replay value, making it a worthwhile investment.
- “Incredible, tight gameplay loop, solid controls, intuitive movement, and it's truly a roguelike, so there's a good deal of replay value.”
- “The rogue-like style makes it very replayable, and when new content drops, it makes it an addictive game that I would play much longer if I didn't tire my arms out.”
- “There's just enough variety of upgrades, add-ons, weapons, and other parts for you to make quite a few different builds to suit your play style and keep it fresh, so replay value is definitely there.”
- “I would argue that the differences between mech builds offer more than enough replayability.”
atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
34%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its incredible art, aesthetics, and immersive sound design, which effectively set the tone and enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the gritty, cyberpunk vibe and engaging music that complement the gameplay, making players feel fully immersed and energized. Despite some critiques regarding the roguelike elements, the atmosphere remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The atmosphere in this game is incredible, with great art and aesthetics that really give you a vibe for the setting of the game before you even play.”
- “The cyberpunk atmosphere, dialogues, and music really kept me in the zone, movement-to-moment.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing, the combat feels great, the music makes you feel like an absolute badass, and there's a really good balance between high octane smashing of mechs and restful downtime activities.”
- “The atmosphere created by the graphics and sound is well made.”
- “The cyberpunk atmosphere, dialogues and music really kept me in the zone, movement-to-moment.”
- “Gameplay is so fun and the atmosphere is like a 11/10.”
optimization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
17%
10%
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed feedback; while many players praise its smooth performance and lack of technical issues, some express disappointment with its optimization on certain hardware, particularly compared to the Quest version. Despite this, the game is noted for its impressive visuals and intuitive physics, suggesting that it performs well under optimal conditions. Players are hopeful for future updates to enhance performance and graphic options further.
- “Gameplay flows well, there's a lot of flexibility, and it generally runs smoothly.”
- “It is one of the best VR games performance-wise; I haven't experienced any stuttering, input lag, or other issues.”
- “The art and the use of layers to provide depth allow for some stunning visuals at a low performance cost.”
- “My biggest complaint with any VR game is when it just doesn't feel properly optimized.”
- “Hoping for some more content and some performance updates to allow more carnage and eye candy as smooth as possible.”
- “To get the game working with Rift CV1 (or other Meta HMDs), just set OpenXR to Meta in the Meta desktop app - you do not need to use Virtual Desktop or Steam Link to get optimal performance.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is widely praised, with players noting its ability to elicit genuine laughter through its quirky and entertaining gameplay, particularly in the context of smashing robots. Reviewers appreciate the combination of challenging mechanics and comedic elements, making it both addictive and enjoyable. Overall, it stands out as a source of fun and laughter, resonating well with its audience.
- “Genuinely challenging, made me laugh, and super addicting gameplay.”
- “No other game has had me laughing maniacally as much as this.”
- “This game is good because smashing robots is fun and funny.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
Players note that grinding in the game can be extremely time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time. However, the roguelike mechanics keep the experience fresh and engaging, as each run offers varied challenges that prevent it from feeling tedious. Overall, while grinding is a major aspect, it is generally perceived as rewarding rather than monotonous.
- “You do have to start from scratch each time you die in the game, but it can vary so much from run to run that it still feels great and not tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “One of the few recent games where being a roguelike adds to the experience and fits lore-wise instead of being tedious.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only a few minor glitches reported, such as an issue requiring a restart on day 13. Players have noted that PC VR performance is particularly strong on the Quest 3.
- “PCVR runs great on Quest 3.”
- “Only a few glitches (had to start over a run on day 13 because I couldn't select one of the two options).”
- “Only a few glitches (had to start over a run on day 13 because I couldn't select one of the two options).”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight strong character design and art, complemented by good music and mechanics, suggesting that while the visual and auditory elements are well-received, there is little emphasis on the depth or progression of character development itself.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game "Alyx," highlighting its profound impact on their feelings. Many have found it challenging to find other games that evoke similar emotional responses, indicating that "Alyx" sets a high standard for emotional engagement in gaming.
- “Since Alyx, I have been struggling to find a game that made me feel... something.”