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WASTED

A clever take on two worn genres, Wasted is a funny and addictive genre hybrid that has scores of content at a low price point.
WASTED Game Cover
78%Game Brain Score
gameplay, humor
grinding, optimization
79% User Score Based on 1,072 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

PCSteam DeckWindows
WASTED Game Cover

About

WASTED is a single player role playing shooter game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Mr. Podunkian and was released on June 7, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"WASTED" is a single-player comedy shooter game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, where you play as a Waster fighting for precious resources, particularly booze. The game boasts good mechanics, fantastic visuals, and a stellar soundtrack, but be prepared for plenty of grinding and humor. As you explore mysterious bunkers, expect to gain strange mutations and uncover old world secrets.

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79%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,072 reviews
gameplay115 positive mentions
grinding28 negative mentions

  • WASTED is a fun, humorous roguelike that combines elements of Fallout and Borderlands, offering a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
  • The game features a variety of weapons, gear, and a creative 'booze' mechanic that provides both buffs and debuffs, adding depth to character progression.
  • The art style and soundtrack are enjoyable, contributing to the overall charm and atmosphere of the game.
  • The S.O.B. Purifier mechanic can be frustrating, as it forces players to rush through levels, detracting from the exploration aspect of the game.
  • The game can feel repetitive after a while due to limited room variations and enemy types, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
  • Permadeath can be punishing, as players lose all their gear and buffs upon death, which can be discouraging for those who prefer a more forgiving gameplay experience.
  • gameplay
    399 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Wasted" is a mix of first-person shooter mechanics and roguelike elements, featuring procedurally generated levels and a focus on quick, loot-driven exploration. While many players appreciate the humor and engaging core loop, criticisms arise regarding floaty controls, frustrating mechanics like the pursuing purifier, and a lack of meaningful progression, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of familiar mechanics from titles like Fallout and Borderlands, but suffers from design flaws that can detract from the enjoyment.

    • “The core gameplay mechanics and gameplay loop of Wasted are really unique for the roguelike genre, and playing the game really feels like the best moments of the 3D Fallout series's combat gameplay.”
    • “What makes this game fun is the satisfying mixture of comedy, gameplay, and incredible soundtrack.”
    • “The gameplay is quick and rewards good skill, and it knows exactly what sort of game it wanted to be.”
    • “The gameplay is deeply flawed.”
    • “I wanted to like this game, but its mechanics are too contradictory.”
    • “The gameplay has quite a few issues.”
  • humor
    171 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by a mix of juvenile, toilet humor and clever writing that often elicits genuine laughs. Many players appreciate the game's comedic style, likening it to a blend of Fallout and Borderlands, with memorable characters and witty dialogue that enhance the overall experience. However, some find the humor to be hit-or-miss, with certain jokes feeling repetitive or overly simplistic, yet it generally contributes to a fun and engaging atmosphere.

    • “It is genuinely funny, with excellent writing and characters that lend the game a very individual comedic style.”
    • “The almost insurmountable curve in the first level is the primary reason why so few have beaten this game, and why so many are missing out on its otherwise hilarious, mad, brilliant world of chaos and alcohol.”
    • “Coupled with the excellent aesthetics and hilarious writing and characters, I would encourage anyone to give this wild adventure a serious try.”
  • story
    140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a quirky, humorous take on a post-apocalyptic world, drawing comparisons to titles like Fallout but with a more simplistic and lighthearted approach. While some players find the narrative engaging and entertaining, others criticize it for being derivative and lacking depth, with many side quests feeling inconsequential. Overall, the writing and voice acting receive praise for their charm and comedic elements, making the story a notable aspect of the gameplay experience despite its limitations.

    • “You expect the story to be some sort of silly National Lampoon-like booze fest, but it evolves into so much more.”
    • “I will say that the story and writing are pretty hilarious, well presented, well voice-acted, and it has a strong sense of knowing what it is.”
    • “Not-so-long story even shorter, this game feels like it has more heart than Fallout (or at the very least the more recent ones of the series) with just a bit extra to really draw you in.”
    • “The fact that such an important quest item, vital to the plot, was hidden under some innocuous stairs in the admin office, a relatively benign and pointless area, was an insane decision.”
    • “It lacks everything good about Fallout: no story, temporary perks, and so far I've only come across three 'quests', one being the starting tutorial, and the game in general is dull, with no depth.”
    • “It's like the developer ran out of money and pretty much had to can a ton of planned assets and quests that would have fleshed the game out more and made it more interesting.”
  • graphics
    122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are often compared to a cartoonish version of Borderlands, featuring a quirky and stylized aesthetic that some players find charming, while others consider it unremarkable or even ugly. The visuals are generally described as decent, with a comic-like quality that fits the game's humorous and parody elements, though performance issues have been noted, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the art style successfully evokes a post-apocalyptic vibe reminiscent of Fallout, but opinions vary widely on its appeal and execution.

    • “The aesthetic is great, feels like a cartoonier Borderlands in all the right ways.”
    • “The art style is quirky and endearing, and since it's so stylized, the game looks great even on low settings.”
    • “Great art style, great humor, great gunplay, great fun.”
    • “Tl;dr: worst parts of Fallout 3 gameplay with Borderlands-esque visuals and Spelunky-like level structure mixed together without proper thought or consideration.”
    • “Tried it, found the graphics ugly and the gameplay terrible.”
    • “Obviously if you want to enjoy this game it has to be on the fucking IBM Sequoia to actually play it on the lowest graphics settings without experiencing lag and freezes.”
  • music
    108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many players praising its catchy 80s-inspired soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. However, some users have noted a lack of variety, leading to repetitiveness, particularly with the limited radio tracks. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-regarded for its quality and fitting aesthetic, the desire for more diverse music options has been a common critique.

    • “The guns and shooting feel great, the balance is spot on, the music is incredible (a period parody/satire of the style)... honestly I couldn't believe how good the game was the entire time I played it.”
    • “What makes this game fun is the satisfying mixture of comedy, gameplay, and incredible soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack is quite nice, and I still find the tunes catchy after 90+ hours of play.”
    • “The music variety is horrendous.”
    • “Without this item, you'll be listening to the same music track, over and over and over again.”
    • “One thing I do dislike though is the radio and songs playing in the radio; I would like more variety, and hearing the radio host saying the same things over and over again and playing the same songs (there are like 5 of them in the radio playlist) gets really boring, even if the songs are good such as 'Supernova' for example.”
  • grinding
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while it can be tedious and frustrating, especially due to repetitive room templates and punishing mechanics, many players find the farming of abilities and items to be surprisingly addictive. The combat pace is enjoyable, and once players become familiar with the game, grinding can be expedited, though it may still feel overwhelming at times. Overall, the grind is integral to the experience, offering a blend of challenge and reward, but it can also detract from the enjoyment for some players.

    • “Frustrating, grindy, and feels like you're just waiting to die.”
    • “This could be a great game but the roguelike aspect is just too grindy and punishing to the point that I'm unable to progress in the game to new content.”
    • “It seems the game is about grinding and hoarding items for your next plunge into the dungeon.”
  • replayability
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts strong replayability due to its diverse enemies, numerous perks, and multiple endings that encourage varied playthroughs. Players appreciate the random generation of levels and the ability to carry over loot to new characters, enhancing the overall experience. While the humor and mechanics contribute to its fun factor, some players noted that the story is not particularly special.

    • “The game has high replay value because enemies are many, and there are numerous perks you can obtain from drinking alcohol products.”
    • “The random generated coolers (vaults) add to the replayability, but also make for some strange layouts at times.”
    • “There are multiple endings and paths that can be achieved through its questlines, which warrant multiple playthroughs, adding to its replayability factor.”
    • “The game creates replayability by enabling you to store your loot and money, making it available for the next character after your current character's death.”
    • “The courier run 'minigame' adds more value and replayability as well because once each day you can play that.”
  • optimization
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant FPS drops even in less demanding environments, indicating poor overall performance. While high-end systems can achieve smooth gameplay, users with mid-range setups report struggles, suggesting that the optimization does not adequately support a wide range of hardware. Overall, many feel that recent Unity games, including this one, suffer from subpar optimization issues.

    • “Performance is also good, with me well being over 120fps at 1080p (i7 4790k gtx 980) no matter what, though my laptop (a10 8700p, igpu, 8gb ram 1x8gb@1333mhz) could only run this well at 640 x 480.”
    • “There's a good variety of items to loot and weapons to use, but you're limited by small carrying capacities to stress optimization of your loadout.”
    • “But, optimization problems caused constant FPS drops even indoors.”
    • “The optimization is fairly bad; if you have a beast of a computer, you can of course run it, but there's no reason why a 980 Ti shouldn't be able to play this at max settings with 0 frame drops considering the art style and size of the levels.”
    • “It's just bad optimization on its part. Honestly, I feel like lately all Unity games come with poor performance.”
  • atmosphere
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is richly immersive, characterized by a quirky retro apocalypse filled with humorous incidental characters and absurd item descriptions. Players appreciate the vibrant world where nonsensical dialogue from wastelanders enhances the experience, creating a unique and engaging environment that feels both content-rich and authentic. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.

    • “This game has a ton of atmosphere, lots of content, and just feels right.”
    • “The game is extremely atmospheric.”
    • “Even the incidental characters have laugh-out-loud moments, and the item names and descriptions fit right in with the insane atmosphere of the retro apocalypse.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is severely criticized, with players reporting frequent lag, freezes, and significant glitches that hinder gameplay. The oversized HUD and lack of scaling options further complicate the experience, making it difficult to navigate battles and manage inventory effectively. Overall, a powerful system is required to run the game smoothly, which detracts from its enjoyment.

    • “There are some huge glitches that need fixing.”
    • “The HUD is huge; it covers my entire screen and there is no option to scale it. The game freezes sometimes, and blood and shot effects also cover the entire screen, making it impossible to orient in battle. It's just a real pain to use your inventory; it really needs proper item icons and slots for armor and weapons.”
    • “Obviously, if you want to enjoy this game, it has to be on a powerful system to actually play it on the lowest graphics settings without experiencing lag and freezes.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted to be less in-depth compared to titles like "Binding of Isaac," offering a simpler approach that combines humor and unique character design. While it lacks the fast-paced action of other rogue-lites, it successfully blends elements of both genres, creating a distinctive experience.

    • “It doesn't have the fast-paced action of a Tower of Guns nor the in-depth character development of, say, Binding of Isaac (to quote two rogue-lites), but a little bit of both mixed with a nice soundtrack and a sense of humour.”
    • “It doesn't have the fast-paced action of Tower of Guns nor the in-depth character development of, say, Binding of Isaac (to quote two rogue-lites), but a little bit of both mixed with a nice soundtrack and a sense of humor.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional experience of dying in the game to be poignant and impactful, with the mechanics enhancing the intensity of these moments.

    • “Dying is a little heartbreaking, but the mechanics make it intense.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game "Wasted" has been positively received, with players noting that it defies the typical expectation of being a cash grab, instead offering a more genuine experience.

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14h Median play time
20h Average play time
10-16h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs
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WASTED is a role playing shooter game with comedy theme.

WASTED is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 20 hours playing WASTED.

WASTED was released on June 7, 2016.

WASTED was developed by Mr. Podunkian.

WASTED has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

WASTED is a single player game.

Similar games include Caveblazers, SULFUR, Remnant: From the Ashes, The Last Stand: Aftermath, Eldritch and others.