Vangers

About

"Vangers is a single-player racing game with a good story that takes about 10 hours to beat. Players explore the strange, post-apocalyptic world of the future, where humans and a new intelligent race coexist in a universe with its own set of rules. The objective is to complete quests and uncover the mysteries of this new world."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 185 reviews

story14 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Vangers offers a truly unique and captivating experience with its bizarre art style, deep lore, and engaging gameplay that combines elements of racing, RPG, and exploration.
The game features a richly crafted world with destructible terrain and a variety of vehicles, providing players with a sense of freedom and discovery as they navigate its challenges.
Despite its steep learning curve, players who invest the time to understand its mechanics often find it rewarding, with a complex story and memorable characters that enhance the overall experience.

The game is notoriously difficult to grasp for new players, with a confusing interface, lack of tutorials, and a steep learning curve that can lead to frustration.
Graphics and controls feel dated, with many players noting that the visuals can be an eyesore and the vehicle handling is clunky and unintuitive.
The cryptic dialogue and esoteric vocabulary can alienate players, making it hard to follow the story and objectives, which may deter those unfamiliar with the game's unique style.

story
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
5%
The game's story is characterized by a complex, non-linear narrative filled with unexpected twists and deep lore, which can be both captivating and confusing for players. While some find the storytelling rewarding and immersive, others struggle with its cryptic nature and overwhelming amount of dialogue. Overall, the narrative is praised for its creativity and depth, making it a unique experience for those willing to invest the time to unravel its intricacies.
- “Enthralling world, twisted and bright characters, tons of amusing dialogue, mind-blowing story and action gameplay interweave to create a true work of art.”
- “The story evolves slowly, and you'll have to finish the game in order to get a full explanation.”
- “This is a good example of a great game that withstood the test of time, and the current generation could benefit from playing a game such as this, where deep plot points and unpredictable gameplay merge in a form of art we call Vangers.”
- “The story may be uninteresting and confusing at the start, especially with all the unknown terms thrown at you.”
- “The only thing you know about Vangers is that they are a kind of warrior created by something called 'the infinite mind' in a world that just makes no sense... or does it... you'll be taking nymbos to feenger at incubator and taking part in the holy race, the 'eleection' where you must ride to podish in your mechos while carrying your own eleepod, exploring the worlds of the chain, collecting plenty of beebs, assisting the eleepods, or beeboorats, or the zeexen to fulfill their dark, existential quest to collect the larvae from which they are mutated...”
- “I remember reading the booklet over and over and still not grasping what the point of the game was; it has to be one of the weirdest games I've played in terms of storyline and strange language.”
gameplay
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
79%
6%
The gameplay of Vangers is a mixed bag, featuring a unique blend of racing, action, and RPG elements set in a chaotic, open-world environment. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and depth of its mechanics, others find the controls clunky and the learning curve steep, often leading to frustration. Overall, the game offers an enthralling world and engaging story, but its convoluted mechanics and lack of clear guidance can deter newcomers.
- “The gameplay is strange, the soundtrack is wild, the story is incredibly complex, but for some reason, Vangers is completely captivating.”
- “Gameplay-wise, this is an RPG/racing/open-world/sandbox game the likes of which have not been replicated since this game's conception in 1998.”
- “Amazing game, love the gameplay even after all these years (originally bought it in a discount bin with like 14 others back in 1998).”
- “Most of Vangers' gameplay lies in purchasing and selling materials for sparse pay and battling the terrain more than enemy vehicles.”
- “Unfortunately, a lot of design choices will result in a harsh and unforgiving experience in the first 10 hours of gameplay.”
- “The gameplay sucks and the whole premise makes absolutely zero sense.”
graphics
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
69%
9%
The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect, with many praising its unique voxel art style and ability to create an immersive alien atmosphere, despite being dated. While some players appreciate the charm of its bizarre visuals and nostalgic appeal, others criticize the graphics as ugly or unintuitive, reflecting the game's age. Overall, the visuals are seen as a defining feature that contributes to the game's distinct identity, though they may not appeal to those seeking modern graphical fidelity.
- “Even today, its visuals remain stunning.”
- “Graphics look awesome, despite the game's old age, thanks to the voxel engine which makes everything look even more alien.”
- “Unique voxel graphics which make the game truly timeless - and still pictures can't capture its charm, it really has to be appreciated live from inside the game.”
- “Both the aliens and the interface are dripping with 90's green-slime creepy claymation aesthetic.”
- “Fourth is that this is a game from 1998, the graphics look like a game from 1998.”
- “Good luck getting past the 'menus.' Nothing is explained or intuitive and given the eyesore visuals and intentionally weird style, it becomes an exercise in futility.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as excellent and captivating, while others find it uninteresting or even off-putting. Overall, it is noted for its wild and unique qualities that complement the game's strange themes and gameplay.
- “Art, music, and theme are strange and excellent.”
- “The soundtrack also rocks.”
- “Simply the best game ever made... for those who like freedom, post-apocalypse, unique experiences, crazy music, and feel non-standard overall.”
- “I also dislike the music and just turn it off right at the start, but your mileage may vary.”
- “The gameplay is strange, the soundtrack is wild, the story is incredibly complex, but for some reason, Vangers is completely captivating.”
- “If you don't have these basic details, how could we start to speak about other additions, such as achievements, soundtrack, trading cards, and so on?”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The game demonstrates significant replayability, with players noting the ability to approach it in various ways across multiple playthroughs. While some users express a lack of personal interest in replaying, they acknowledge that it offers substantial replay value for those who enjoy it. Overall, the game's enduring presence and revamped features contribute positively to its replayability.
- “The game has replay value; I've beaten it once on Steam and three times on the original game disk, each time doing things in a different way.”
- “So yes, Vangers definitely has replayability value.”
- “Replay value: I personally don't want to play this game, but if you like the game, it holds an immense replay value.”
- “Replay value rating: 4/10”
- “The fact that this game is still around and revamped is a testament to its replayability.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its esoteric charm and immersive alien environment, enhanced by thoughtful world-building and accompanying music. However, players note that the slow progression and lack of guidance can detract from the experience, despite the artistic merit and depth of the world. Overall, it is praised for its unique atmosphere, though some aspects may challenge player engagement.
- “Despite the dated graphics, it creates a great alien atmosphere and living world.”
- “There are some tracks on certain planets that nicely accompany the atmosphere and ease the otherwise grueling driving around.”
- “The charm within this video game lies in its esoteric atmosphere and freedom to explore, but other than artistic merit, the progression is slow-moving no matter how you play, and the off-site manual does little to reassure players in their uncertainty in the beginning.”
- “This game has never been surpassed by any other in terms of how the world is thought through, plot, atmosphere, and gameplay.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as deeply impactful and immersive, evoking strong feelings of sadness and introspection while simultaneously captivating players with its unique portrayal of existence in another lifeform. The experience is both abrasive and wholesome, leaving a lasting impression that resonates on a profound level.
- “This is not a video game of just some genre - this is a wholesome simulation of existing in another lifeform.”
- “It's weird, abrasive, it makes me want to cry for most of the time, but it's also incredibly captivating.”
- “Just typing that last part out made me feel like my brain was getting sucked down into my spinal cord.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The native Linux version of the game performs well on Arch, with no reported glitches, although some users find the game un-userfriendly for newcomers. There is no comparison made with Proton's performance.
- “The native Linux version runs great on Arch; I haven't tested if Proton has better performance.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major bugs, providing a stable experience.”
- “I've played for hours without any issues, which speaks volumes about the game's stability.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
- “There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its bizarre post-apocalyptic setting, featuring creepy yet hilarious bug characters and absurd elements like jumping cars. Players appreciate the funny combat style and the engaging story, which adds to the overall quirky experience.
- “As a kid, I never understood what I could do or what the absolute heck was going on, but the design and bizarre post-apocalyptic scene were crazy to look at. The jumping cars, combat, exploration, and the bug characters were kind of creepy but hilarious.”
- “Vangers has a nice story, a funny combat style, and a lot of different roads to take.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The native Linux version performs well on Arch, though there is no comparison made with Proton's performance.
- “The native Linux version runs great on Arch; I haven't tested if Proton has better performance.”
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the settings, making it easy to achieve the best performance.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite the promising graphics, the optimization is lacking, causing long loading times and crashes on lower-end systems.”
- “I was disappointed to find that even on high-end hardware, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game features a unique voxel art style and appealing character design, reviews do not provide significant insights into the depth or progression of character development.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players note that while grinding through a series of repetitive fetch quests can be tedious, those who persevere will encounter a uniquely crafted alien environment and a compelling alien/human hybrid species.
- “If you arm yourself with the patience of a saint, you will be rewarded with a rather underwhelming series of FedEx quests and grinding.”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
- “While the alien setting is unique, the constant grinding detracts from the overall experience and makes it feel like a chore.”