Vessels of Decay

About

Vessels of Decay is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Aurora Punks and was released on June 19, 2025. It received neutral reviews from players.

In "Vessels of Decay," civilization has fallen, and ancient creatures emerge from the earth after being awakened by the Decay. This retro-inspired game challenges players to confront these eldritch beings in a post-apocalyptic world. With a focus on strategic combat and exploration, players must uncover the truth behind the Decay and restore humanity's hope for survival.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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58%

Audience ScoreBased on 12 reviews

music3 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features charming pixel art and a unique post-apocalyptic setting inspired by Norse mythology, creating an engaging atmosphere.
The combat system is enjoyable, with a variety of abilities and strategies required for boss fights, making for a fun gameplay experience.
The level design is straightforward and offers plenty of secrets and collectibles, encouraging exploration and puzzle-solving.

The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including bugs that can lead to game-breaking situations and frustrating death loops.
Controls are clunky and poorly optimized, leading to inconsistent gameplay experiences and difficulty in combat and platforming sections.
The narrative presentation can be confusing, making it hard to follow the story and differentiate between dreams or visions and reality.

graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simplistic pixel art style that evokes a retro aesthetic, appealing to fans of isometric action and RPG gameplay. While some players found the visuals captivating and fitting for the post-apocalyptic Norse mythology setting, others noted that the art execution was basic. Overall, the graphics received mixed reviews, with some appreciating the unique locations and atmosphere, while others felt it lacked depth.
- “When I saw a gameplay video, I was instantly drawn in by the retro-inspired graphics, isometric action, RPG gameplay, and a post-apocalyptic setting steeped in Norse mythology.”
- “The areas were aesthetically captivating, and at one point I came across a shopping mall which acted as the lair for a host of giants, goblins, and trolls — an interesting location!”
- “I didn't buy this game for the art style, as it is rather simplistic in execution.”
- “Graphics: pixel/5.”
- “Vessels of Decay is quite a unique take on action adventure with its simplistic pixel art style.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The story follows siblings Freja and Mud on their quest to restore a post-apocalyptic world, navigating through decaying cities and puzzle-filled temples, with a narrative that shifts perspectives between the two characters. While the incorporation of Nordic mythology adds a unique flavor, some players found the storytelling disjointed and difficult to follow, leading to a loss of interest amidst technical issues. Overall, the story is appreciated for its setting and themes, but its execution leaves room for improvement.
- “The player follows the adventures of siblings Freja and Mud as they fight a wide variety of monsters on their quest to restore the world’s former glory, which entails navigating dilapidated city centers and mysterious Zelda-esque temples chock full of puzzles and challenges.”
- “It is also quite refreshing that the location in which this post-apocalyptic story is set is a Scandinavian country and that elements of the Nordic myths are tied into it.”
- “I liked the vibe and appreciated what I could glean from the few cutscenes and bits of dialogue (each chapter shifted perspective from one sibling to the other), but the way the story was presented made it a little tough to tell the difference between dreams or visions and reality.”
- “I had completely lost interest in the story by this point of the game, and all of the persistent technical issues drowned out any enjoyment 'Vessels of Decay' had managed to cultivate.”
- “First, the camera was everywhere but not on me, and the story played out somewhere else offscreen where I definitely couldn't read it.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The music in the game is described as ethereal and calming, effectively complementing the atmosphere of a lonely, dying world. Reviewers appreciate the nostalgic synth soundtracks, which enhance the overall experience, despite some technical difficulties encountered during gameplay. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's tone and ambiance.
- “The music and soundtracks were calm and match the feeling of a lonely dying world.”
- “I liked the graphics, the tone, the music, the feeling.”
- “Promising -- the combat is fun and I dig the atmosphere and soundtrack.”
- “The music and soundtracks were calm and match the feeling of a lonely, dying world.”
- “Initially, I remember being enchanted by the ethereal synth music and the nostalgic pixel art throughout the city ruins, which served as the tutorial area where (sadly) I experienced even more egregious technical difficulties.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The gameplay features a blend of retro-inspired graphics, isometric action, and RPG elements set in a post-apocalyptic Norse mythology, which many players find appealing. However, some users express frustration with the timed safety areas and the challenging mechanics involving wisps and bridges. Overall, the gameplay is generally well-received, with a rating of 4 out of 5.
- “When I saw a gameplay video, I was instantly drawn in by the retro-inspired graphics, isometric action, RPG gameplay, and a post-apocalyptic setting steeped in Norse mythology.”
- “Gameplay: 4/5.”
- “Gameplay: good”
- “The game makes a point at one time to have you in timed safety areas with the wisps, and combining it with the difficulty of the wisps' lighting effect and the janky bridge mechanics makes it something to cause frustration in most people.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization for controller support in the game "Decay" is notably lacking, leading to a subpar user experience for players relying on this input method.
- “Getting back to controllers, the decay is poorly optimized for them.”
- “The game's performance suffers significantly due to lack of proper optimization.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, indicating that the optimization is lacking.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting that it enhances the overall experience, complemented by an engaging soundtrack that adds to the enjoyment of combat.
- “The combat is fun, and I really enjoy the atmosphere and soundtrack.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game presents an intriguing concept, but users report significant stability issues, including frequent bugs that hinder gameplay, such as unresponsive controls and character glitches. Overall, the current state of stability detracts from the overall experience.
- “Cool idea and seems like a great game, but unfortunately very buggy.”
- “It's a little buggy right now, though -- I can't get the boar chase to work because the sprint button wasn't working for me, and then when I rebound it, the character would just fall over asleep repeatedly.”