Veil of Dust: A Homesteading Game
- April 2, 2023
- Veil of Dust
- 8h median play time
Get on SteamVeil of Dust: A Homesteading Game is a historically-inspired fantasy survival game that combines farming, foraging, and hunting for survival in a harsh desert environment. The game features adult-oriented, task-centric gameplay and longer, substantial storylines with deeper characterizations and relatable themes, as players join the Callahan Siblings in coping with loss and facing magical beasts while exploring small-town politics. The game promises a unique blend of magic, intrigue, and small-town life.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The writing is fantastic, blending humor and emotional depth, particularly in the sibling relationship and romantic storylines.
- The gameplay loop is engaging, combining farming, crafting, and survival mechanics with a compelling narrative that keeps players invested.
- High replay value is offered through different character perspectives and romance options, allowing for varied experiences in the game.
- The romance system can be restrictive, locking players out of developing relationships with other characters once a romantic partner is chosen.
- Gameplay can feel grindy at times, and some mechanics, like movement and combat controls, are clunky and can lead to frustration.
- Post-story content lacks depth, leaving players with limited interactions and little incentive to continue once the main narrative is completed.
- story91 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is highly praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, particularly the sibling relationship that explores themes of family, trauma, and personal growth. Players appreciate the dual perspectives offered by playing as either sibling, which adds replay value and unique insights into the plot. However, some critiques highlight a lack of post-story content and character interactions, leaving players wanting more after the main narrative concludes. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of story-driven games.
“The main storyline between the siblings is incredible.”
“The storytelling is really well done, and the characters and setting are both unique and interesting.”
“A sad, beautiful story set in a mostly accurate historical context, telling the tale of overcoming adversity through shared trauma and family bonds, with gameplay that reinforces the given story, light humor, and a wonderful ambience overall.”
“That takes away a lot of incentive to continue playing the game after the story is done, because the world immediately becomes stagnant.”
“As it is, the story just kind of trails off and leads us into a bare bones homestead management game.”
“The one thing I would ask for is more story after marriages/main plot line or just even additional dialogue/interaction between the characters.”
- grinding37 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is generally viewed as a necessary component that enhances engagement without overshadowing the story. While some players find the repetitive farming tasks tedious, many appreciate the blend of farming mechanics with narrative elements, noting that the grind contributes to a satisfying gameplay loop. Overall, the game successfully combines farming, crafting, and storytelling, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre despite its grindy nature.
“While there is a fair amount of grinding involved, particularly when it comes to making money, I believe that the game is still worth playing.”
“Gets tedious too easily, but leaves with a nice feeling.”
“The farming was frustrating, and I actually loved this.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and effectively supports the narrative, blending elements of visual novels, farming sims, and crafting mechanics. While it can be grindy and occasionally repetitive, players appreciate the depth of character interactions and the overall richness of the experience. The mechanics are intuitive and enjoyable, making it a worthwhile choice for those seeking a story-driven game with a homesteading twist.
“The gameplay itself serves its purpose as keeping you more 'actively' engaged, and while it may be grindy at times, it never felt intrusive or like it was hindering the real star of the show (the story) from coming through.”
“The characters are interesting to get to know, the mechanics are really solid and intuitive, and it blends several genres very well.”
“The homesteading gameplay is fun in and of itself, and isn't just a chore to move the narrative forward.”
“Being made by a two-person team, Veil of Dust may not have the most refined gameplay of some big studio titles, and yet this does little to detract from the richness of the overall unique experience!”
“The gameplay loop can be a bit repetitive, especially when collecting resources or waiting for Shane to make money, but the pros far outweigh the cons.”
“Mechanically, the game focuses on following a set plot while managing a farm in order to manage stats - health, morale, hunger, and stamina.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game excels in its emotional depth, particularly through the heartfelt portrayal of the sibling relationship, which balances wholesome moments with mature themes. Players appreciate the writing's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from laughter to poignant reflection, making it a standout experience in the farming simulator genre. Overall, the game's narrative and character interactions resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impact on players.
“The way the relationship between the two siblings is captured is so pure and wholesome, and there are many moments that serve as wonderful reminders for your own self that while life can be extremely grueling and challenging, there are always things worth living and fighting for.”
“Writing that can make you feel very emotional and then in the next line of dialogue make you laugh is something special.”
“Several of the in-game scenes hit poignant emotional notes that I've never felt in other games.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their fresh and bold art style, combining simplicity with detailed artwork that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the engaging visuals and the clear, immersive world they create, making the game visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
“This game is an interesting take on many popular farm sims with a fresh art style.”
“Refreshingly bold artwork and easy on the eye settings; I could play this every day.”
“The graphics are a breath of fresh air with their gritty real focus.”
“Refreshingly bold artwork and easy on the eye settings, I could play this every day.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability through multiple romance storylines and the option to play as either the sister or brother, each providing unique experiences. Players express enthusiasm for exploring different perspectives, indicating a strong interest in revisiting the game for varied gameplay and potential future content.
“It also has some great replay value by having different romance storylines to pursue, in addition to the ability to play as the sister or the brother, both with different experiences of the story.”
“That being said, I'm still interested in playing the game through Shane's point of view, and I like the gameplay and story enough to take advantage of that built-in replay value.”
“Great replayability and looking forward to any future updates or DLC!”
“The replay value is high, which is a huge plus.”
“I'm still interested in playing the game through Shane's point of view, and I like the gameplay and story enough to take advantage of that built-in replay value.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its calming qualities during positive moments, which enhances the sense of foreboding when darker themes emerge. Additionally, players find the music to be enjoyable and fun.
“The music is very calming when things are good, and that makes the darkness that creeps in around the corners that much more foreboding when it hits.”
“The music is very fun.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a blend of light humor interwoven with a poignant narrative about overcoming adversity and family bonds. Players appreciate the well-written, complex characters that contribute to both the emotional depth and comedic elements, enhancing the overall experience.
“A sad, beautiful story set in a mostly accurate historical context, telling the tale of overcoming adversity through shared trauma and family bonds, with gameplay that reinforces the given story, light humor, and a wonderful ambiance overall.”
“The characters are well-written and complex; there's a lot of heart but also a lot of humor.”
