Urtuk: The Desolation

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,028 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Urtuk: The Desolation Game Cover
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Urtuk: The Desolation is a turn-based tactical RPG set in a bleak, post-apocalyptic world. Lead a band of survivors, scavenging for supplies, fighting off mutated creatures, and recruiting new party members. Navigate through procedurally generated landscapes, making strategic decisions for your party's survival and uncovering the world's dark secrets.

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Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,028 reviews
gameplay79 positive mentions
grinding59 negative mentions
  • Engaging tactical combat with a focus on positioning and terrain advantages.
  • Deep character customization through a unique mutation system that allows for varied builds.
  • Visually appealing art style reminiscent of Darkest Dungeon, creating a grim atmosphere.
  • Repetitive gameplay with a lack of variety in encounters and maps, leading to a grindy experience.
  • Poorly explained mechanics and UI issues that can make the game feel cumbersome.
  • Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially when transitioning between levels.
  • gameplay231 mentions

    The gameplay of Urtuk: The Desolation is characterized by its deep tactical mechanics and customization options, appealing to fans of turn-based strategy. While many players appreciate the variety and complexity of the combat systems, some find the mechanics confusing and the gameplay repetitive over time. Overall, the game offers a solid tactical experience with engaging mechanics, though it may require patience to fully grasp and enjoy its depth.

    • “This is an amazing, very carefully crafted game with excellent combat mechanics.”
    • “The game mechanics are fun to learn, with all the classes, mutators, and so on.”
    • “Gameplay is fun and always challenging.”
    • “It can be a little confusing to understand all the mechanics, which can make strategizing a little frustrating at times.”
    • “The gameplay I loved in my first playthrough got boring and repetitive, regardless of whichever character I was playing; maps are generated randomly, but it's mostly the same elements over and over again.”
    • “The main issue with Urtuk is that you have what appears to be endless diversity and depth that is unfortunately limited by game mechanics that aren't apparent from the get-go.”
  • graphics195 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the unique and gritty art style reminiscent of "Darkest Dungeon." While the hand-drawn visuals and atmospheric design are often highlighted as standout features, some reviewers note a lack of polish and repetitiveness in the environments. Overall, the aesthetic is appreciated for its dark fantasy feel, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its cartoonish and grotesque elements.

    • “The art style is fantastic - think along the lines of Darkest Dungeon, and the music and sound effects are all very fitting and well done.”
    • “The graphics are fantastic, the theme and ambience is really beautiful.”
    • “Fun, engaging turn-based combat on a grid system, with an amazing art style that reminds me of Darkest Dungeon in all the right ways!”
    • “The graphics are rudimentary to the point that they feel really monotonous after some hours.”
    • “Graphically, it looks a bit like Darkest Dungeon and that's a good thing.”
    • “The game's comic-styled visuals are gritty and most enemy designs are downright hideous.”
  • story161 mentions

    The story in "Urtuk: The Desolation" is largely minimal and often described as an afterthought, with many players noting a lack of depth and engagement. While the game features a basic narrative about the main character's quest for a cure, it is overshadowed by repetitive combat and missions, leading to a grindy experience. Overall, those seeking a rich storyline may be disappointed, as the focus is primarily on tactical gameplay rather than narrative development.

    • “Urtuk: The Desolation depicts a story of one Urtuk and his band of companions, facing the desolated wilderness of a dying world.”
    • “The ugly, ravaged world and the hideous, mutant antagonists set the tone for a story right out of an old heavy metal magazine.”
    • “Music is excellent, fitting in with the setting perfectly and goes well with the ghoulish, gore-filled comic book art style of the story cut scenes which go all out when it comes to delivering the grimness of what Urtuk and others have suffered and are suffering at the hands of the evil forces in the land.”
    • “The main negative is there is practically zero story.”
    • “There's no story to keep going into the later part of the game.”
    • “The story is bland and maps and events are the same at every level, you just get different opponents, so it can get stale.”
  • grinding59 mentions

    The game's grinding aspect is frequently criticized for being overly repetitive and tedious, particularly in the latter stages where combat becomes monotonous and lacks variety. Many players feel that the absence of a compelling story or engaging mechanics exacerbates the grind, leading to frustration and a sense of stagnation. While some enjoy the tactical elements and character progression, the overall sentiment is that the grinding can detract significantly from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “The game, which is almost entirely combat, gets very grindy and samey in the second half, and with no story to keep you going, you may decide not to continue.”
    • “There's no strategy aspect to the game at all; just never-ending tactical battles that get really boring and grindy with nothing else to fill the in-between.”
    • “Ultimately, the premise is sound, but the grindy nature of this game is extremely off-putting.”
  • replayability49 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its diverse factions, customizable units, and various difficulty levels, allowing players to explore different strategies and combinations. However, some players note that the repetitive nature of battles and grinding can detract from the overall experience, making it less appealing for multiple playthroughs. Overall, while the game has strong replay value, particularly for those who enjoy tactical depth, it may not reach the heights of other titles in the genre.

    • “The campaign is challenging, and when you win battles it's rewarding. The fact that there are so many different battle types and events gives this game a lot of fun and replayability.”
    • “Amazing replayability! This game is big on party synergies and cooperation, with each group being different enough to make it worth returning for another run.”
    • “There is an immense amount of strategic depth as well as replay value, making this game extremely replayable.”
    • “As a result, the mid-game can become a bit of a grind, which hurts the overall replayability of the game.”
    • “Campaign's not very replayable either; there is so much repetitive grinding that I don't ever see myself going back and playing it again from the beginning.”
    • “I like many of the ideas it brings to the table, but I'm also worried about the game's replayability factor.”
  • music45 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, describing it as "dope," "great," and "excellent." However, some users note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, and a few feel it is merely adequate. Overall, the music is often highlighted as a strong aspect that complements the game's unique art style and atmosphere.

    • “The music is excellent fitting in with the setting perfectly and goes well with the ghoulish gore-filled comic book art style of the story cut scenes which go all out when it comes to delivering the grimness of what Urtuk and others have suffered and are suffering at the hands of the evil forces in the land.”
    • “Great atmosphere to the game world, great artwork, beautiful soundtrack.”
    • “This game has some unique and innovative mechanics, a great soundtrack, and numerous fun enemies/playable fighters. The game is very hard on high-level difficulty with permadeath, scarce resources, and difficult choices to make in order to progress.”
    • “The soundtrack gets old after a while, but this is a fun game with a small learning curve as far as knowing what all the mutations are and figuring out how to combo them.”
    • “Music: soundtracks are barely okay, nothing interesting about the music, only better than no music.”
    • “I really don't get why they released soundtracks as a purchasable item on Steam!”
  • atmosphere19 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating and gritty qualities, effectively immersing players in a dark, apocalyptic fantasy world filled with unique art and a haunting soundtrack. While some reviews note a lack of depth in lore and storytelling, the overall ambiance, combined with engaging tactical gameplay, creates a memorable experience that resonates with fans of the genre. The blend of beautiful visuals and atmospheric sound design enhances the sense of desperation and urgency within the game.

    • “The game's atmosphere is spot on; the art, the world, everything plays to how desperate you are to find a cure and save yourself.”
    • “This is a tactical gem with outstanding atmosphere and visuals.”
    • “Great atmosphere to the game world, great artwork, beautiful soundtrack.”
    • “There is almost no lore to speak of, no descriptive language to help build the atmosphere.”
    • “The game has a gritty and gory atmosphere resembling much like some recent games of the same genre.”
    • “I would classify the game as a cross between the core gameplay of Final Fantasy Tactics and the atmosphere of Darkest Dungeon.”
  • character development12 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its unique mechanics and tactical depth, with players appreciating the intentionality behind strategic decisions and the ability to evolve characters through mutations. However, some find the overall experience dull due to complicated mechanics and a lack of engaging plot elements, leading to a sense of monotony in encounters. While the character design is visually appealing, the limited overworld interactions detract from a more immersive development experience compared to similar titles.

    • “Excellent tactical combat, with decent character development possibilities.”
    • “The game has an excellent combat and character development system based on mutations which can even extend to weapons and armor.”
    • “What I really enjoy about this game and specifically want to highlight is the level of intentionality in the strategic decisions and the uniqueness of character development.”
    • “The mechanics are too complicated to be tracked, so that character development feels dull.”
    • “Waiting for plot twists, character development, romance options, and interactive minigames will leave you disappointed, and the game will quickly feel monotonous while the encounters become repetitive.”
    • “At just under 12 hours in, the game is good at what it does; the combat is solid, but the character development is lacking. You can choose to put certain abilities on your characters, some better than others, but the overworld or 'management phase' has very little to do. You move your party to the next node, can only take certain paths, level up your characters, sort any new gear, and equip, and that's pretty much it.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly even on low-end systems, players report poor performance and a confusing UI that detracts from the experience. However, the character optimization options and combat synergies are praised for their depth, allowing for varied and successful strategies. Overall, the game offers enjoyable mechanics for those who appreciate character optimization, despite its performance issues.

    • “Really fun game, especially if you're the kind of player that enjoys fiddling around with the optimization of your characters :)”
    • “Each character may be fitted with a set of mutations – passive effects capable of significantly improving or altering a warrior’s performance.”
    • “I actually prefer the combat here, because each character/class appears to have more options/synergy that can be successful, whereas other games tended to herd you down a linear optimized path, making the more interesting combat options less efficient and rarely used.”
    • “Performance is bad and it's hard to understand what is going on, mostly due to poor UI.”
    • “I actually prefer the combat here, because each character/class appears to have more options/synergy that can be successful, whereas BB tended to herd you down a linear optimized path, while making most of the more interesting combat options less efficient and rarely used.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its grotesque graphics and unique atmosphere, which many players find amusing. Additionally, the overpowered character Amos adds a layer of humor with his ability to dominate gameplay, further enhancing the game's comedic elements. Overall, players appreciate the game's effective use of humor throughout.

    • “Amos the champion is so broken he will carry your run almost by himself (he can also get 'the champion' trait; weird and funny).”
    • “Graphics are hilariously grotesque.”
    • “Art or the atmosphere is pretty unique and funny.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report encountering bugs, they generally do not significantly impact the overall experience. The user interface has been criticized for being problematic, but there have been no major crashes or glitches reported.

    • “The UI is godawful and buggy.”
    • “Nice game, although kind of buggy. I encountered some bugs, but it was still good enough and didn't really affect the game experience.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express that while some games feature captivating environments and intriguing systems, they are often undermined by poorly designed characters and gameplay mechanics that lack immediate emotional engagement. The disconnection between the aesthetic elements and character design can lead to a diminished emotional response, making it difficult for players to invest in the experience.

    • “The game masterfully weaves a narrative that pulls at your heartstrings, making you feel deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
    • “Every choice you make has emotional weight, leading to moments of joy and heartbreak that linger long after the game is over.”
    • “The stunning visuals and haunting soundtrack create an atmosphere that enhances the emotional experience, making every moment feel significant.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

50hMedian play time
61hAverage play time
22-120hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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