Wastelander

About

"Wastelander is a single-player, Science Fiction Turn-Based Strategy game where you must build a colony and explore a desolate alien planet to uncover the technology and secrets of an ancient civilization. Time is limited as destructive storms grow stronger and threaten to wipe out your colony. Plan and make the right decisions to unlock the wasteland's secrets, defend yourself from storms, and escape before it's too late."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

music2 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of optimization puzzles and engine-building mechanics, providing a satisfying and replayable experience.
The random nature of gameplay encourages strategic thinking and adaptability, making each session feel fresh and engaging.
The developers are responsive to community feedback and have made improvements post-early access, enhancing the overall experience.

The game suffers from a lack of polish, with issues such as missing UI elements, no tutorial prompts, and unclear mechanics that can lead to confusion.
Some players find the gameplay to be flat or lacking depth, particularly in the early stages, which may deter those seeking a more complex experience.
The audio-visual aspects of the game are underwhelming, with visuals and music that do not fully complement the gameplay.

gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
Gameplay is described as visually appealing but somewhat flat and slow-paced, lacking time pressure. While the tutorial effectively introduces basic mechanics, players experience a significant difficulty spike when transitioning to independent play. Technical issues, such as menu malfunctions, hinder the overall experience, but there is potential for improvement as players become more familiar with the game.
- “After a few rounds, everything really started to click as I got more familiar with the various mechanics, buildings, and passives.”
- “The tutorial is quite easy and explains the basic mechanics of the game, but there is still definitely a difficulty jump when you are let loose to tackle the game on your own.”
- “As for gameplay itself, it's very slow-paced because there is no element of time pressure at all.”
- “Hopefully the game has some of the rough edges smoothed off during early access, and the devs continue to build on what is a solid gameplay foundation.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its procedural map generation, which keeps each playthrough fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the ability to enjoy daily runs and the thoughtful gameplay that enhances the overall experience. Overall, the consensus is that the game offers significant replay value, making it a compelling choice for repeated play.
- “The fun thing about it is that it's very replayable; it's a game that's nice to pick up for a daily run.”
- “As other reviews have stated, there is fantastic replay value here.”
- “Very replayable due to the procedural map generation.”
- “I love the post-apocalyptic theme, and the replayability of it.”
- “Really enjoyed the thoughtful gameplay and high degree of replay value.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many praising the awesome soundtrack and the developers' responsiveness. However, some users noted that the looping tracks and tile visuals could be improved. Overall, the music adds value to the gaming experience.
- “The music is awesome, and the developers are also very friendly and responsive.”
- “Fun little bonus is the great soundtrack!”
- “The tile visuals and looping music tracks are a bit lacking, but the game is a great value and I have not encountered any bugs or UI issues.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are generally well-received, described as "very nice," though some users note that the tile visuals could be improved. Additionally, the looping music tracks are considered somewhat lacking, but overall, the game offers great value without any significant bugs or UI issues.
- “Oh, and the graphics are very nice.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game's story is enhanced by a randomly generated daily mission system that encourages player engagement through leaderboards and community discussions on Discord. Players find the ongoing challenge of optimizing strategies for these missions to be a compelling aspect, contributing to long-term enjoyment.
- “The story is engaging and keeps you invested in the characters and their journeys.”
- “The narrative is rich and immersive, making every mission feel meaningful.”
- “I love how the story unfolds with each playthrough, offering new perspectives and surprises.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features strong optimization mechanics combined with engine-building elements, offering a balanced mix of randomness and push-your-luck dynamics that enhance the overall experience.
- “Great optimization puzzle and engine-building vibes with a good amount of randomness and push-your-luck elements.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its appealing theme, although some players feel that the gameplay does not fully complement this immersive environment, resulting in a somewhat flat experience.
- “The theme and atmosphere are very appealing to me; the gameplay is, however, still rather flat.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players report a highly satisfying gameplay experience with minimal to no bugs encountered, indicating strong stability in the game.
- “Very satisfying gameplay and so far bug-free as far as I can tell.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I've experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”