Info about BONELAB:

Official game description:
BONELAB
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Sentenced to death, you embody an outcast escaping fate. Discover a pathway to a hidden underground research facility. A series of challenging experiments and discoveries await. A road to the truth calls from the void.
Physics to the core
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Boneworks' realistic physics systems fully improved and polished. Interact with the game world with consistent confidence.
Visceral VR combat
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Using a variety of ranged, melee, and exotic physics weapons, engage enemy encounters with an entire armory at your disposal.
Be anyone you want
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Custom avatar importing enables you to play through the game looking however you want, with physical stats to match.
Layered Narrative
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After discovering an underground lab in MythOS city, you will have access to a variety of game locations including arenas, obstacle courses, tactical trials, sandboxes, experimental modes, and user generated levels. Collecting items, avatars, and clues from these locations enable you to progress through the mysterious story.

Release date: Sep 29, 2022

Categories: Virtual Reality, Physics Simulation, Sandbox Gameplay, Mod Support, Character Customization, First-Person Shooter, Parkour Gameplay, Single-player

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair (One-time purchase with DLC); summary: The user reviews focus entirely on the base game's price and the cost of a music DLC, with no mention of microtransactions, pay-to-win mechanics, loot boxes, or any real-money in-game purchases. The complaints are about value for money, not predatory monetization. Therefore, the score is low, reflecting a fair one-time purchase model with optional DLC.
- Mods: score 15; verdict: Vanilla Ready; summary: User feedback indicates frustration with the lack of a built-in mod workshop and a perception that the developer relies on modders, but no evidence of game-breaking bugs or crashes. The game is fully playable without mods; 'essential' mods are for additional features like multiplayer. Therefore, the Mod Tax score is low, reflecting a preference-based reliance rather than a necessity.
- Steam Deck: score 10; verdict: Seamless; summary: The single Steam Deck review indicates the game runs very well without any reported technical barriers. No evidence of launcher issues, small text, battery drain, or crashes.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Across most hardware cohorts, the game runs well with only occasional lag, but the highest-VRAM group reports mixed performance, especially in crowded multiplayer lobbies.
  - Sample size: 229 (6% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM / <16GB RAM (positive, 77 reports): Most users report good performance with occasional lag when modding, and one user experienced crashes but still recommended the game.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 56 reports): The majority of users report smooth or acceptable performance, though one user with high-end hardware found the game poorly optimized compared to other titles.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM (positive, 53 reports): All users recommend the game, citing good optimization and performance, with only minor lag mentioned.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (mixed, 28 reports): Performance is inconsistent: some users report smooth play, while others experience severe lag in multiplayer sessions with many players.
  - Caveats: 229 of 3647 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The majority of reviews indicate that the $40 base price is too high, with many recommending waiting for a sale or suggesting a lower price point. Specific quotes state the game is not worth more than $10 or $30, and that it is only worth it on sale. Therefore, the community considers a fair price range between $10 and $20.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: 10.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews consistently report campaign completion time around 8-12 hours, with two explicit mentions of 10 hours. No reliable evidence for typical game completion (all content), session length (reports range from 30 minutes to 7 hours), or endgame hours (only vague statements about hundreds of hours). Therefore only story/campaign completion is extracted with a typical value of 10 hours.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Bonelab's fun is unlocked after investing time to install and engage with mods, particularly the Fusion multiplayer mod, with the campaign being lackluster but the sandbox and modding community providing lasting enjoyment.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: After approximately 9 hours of play, when mods and multiplayer are fully utilized
  - Time to anchor: 9h 0m
  - Friction: short and boring campaign; lack of built-in multiplayer; reliance on mods for full experience; performance issues; physics inconsistencies; no meaningful progression
  - Unlock drivers: modding community (especially Fusion multiplayer mod); sandbox creativity; avatar system; mod support
  - Conditions: playing with friends; using mods (especially Fusion multiplayer); engaging in sandbox mode; having patience for initial setup and mod installation
- Player Archetypes:
  - Sandbox Modder (buy)
    - Motivation: Creative freedom and social sandbox experiences with friends
    - Playstyle: Explores mods, builds scenarios, engages in multiplayer shenanigans
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: modding enthusiast; VR sandbox lover; GMod VR fan
    - Reference games: GMod; Boneworks
  - Campaign Critic (sale)
    - Motivation: Wants a compelling narrative and structured progression
    - Playstyle: Plays through campaign, seeks challenge and story
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Boneworks fan; story-driven player
    - Reference games: Boneworks
  - Physics Immersionist (buy)
    - Motivation: Realistic physics and physical engagement
    - Playstyle: Engages with full body movement, appreciates virtual embodiment
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: VR physics enthusiast; immersion seeker
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Modding community is exceptional (weight 0.99): Players consistently praise the modding community and the availability of mods, which significantly enhance the game's replayability and enjoyment. The modding potential is compared to Garry's Mod in VR, with custom levels, guns, and avatars being highlights.
- Physics and interactions are top-tier (weight 0.62): The game is recognized for its impressive physics system, satisfying interactions, and being one of the best VR games. It is seen as a worthy successor to Boneworks, with core gameplay involving physical body and body swapping being well-received.
- Initial fun and immersion (weight 0.58): Many players find the game fun and immersive initially, with a strong start that is interesting and intriguing. However, some note that the fun may be short-lived for some.
- Gunplay is smooth and responsive (weight 0.41): The gun mechanics are described as smooth, responsive, and enjoyable, with specific weapons like the M1911 pistol and AK being reliable. The ammo economy as a scoring system after patches adds depth.
- Solid sandbox mode (weight 0.25): The sandbox mode is considered solid and cool, with a large sandbox available after the story. It provides a decent environment for experimentation.
- Clear graphics and unique art style (weight 0.2): The graphics are clear and smooth, with an art style reminiscent of the Half-Life series but with its own flair. The art direction themes are appreciated.
- Multiplayer mod adds value (weight 0.14): The multiplayer mod (Fusion) adds significant value to the game, being described as a saving grace. It enhances the overall experience.
- Precise object interaction (weight 0.14): Object picking is almost one-to-one, contributing to one of the best VR interactions. This precision is highly valued.
- Enjoyable story missions (weight 0.08): Story missions and learning different forms were a blast, indicating that the campaign is enjoyable.
- Incredible avatar system (weight 0.08): The avatar system is described as incredible, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences.
- Optimized for Quest (weight 0.08): The game is optimized for Quest, ensuring a smooth experience on that platform. This is a positive point for Quest users.
- Competent DOOM mod example (weight 0.07): A specific DOOM mod is described as shockingly competent, highlighting the quality of some community mods.
- Campaign secrets added (weight 0.07): Minor tweaks to the campaign added secrets, enhancing replayability for those who explore.
- Developers have potential (weight 0.07): The developers are seen as having potential, suggesting hope for future improvements or content.
- Boob physics feature (weight 0.06): The inclusion of boob physics is noted as a specific feature, though it may be niche or humorous.

Common complaints:
- Inferior to Boneworks (weight 0.86): Players consistently compare this game unfavorably to Boneworks, citing worse physics, less content, a confusing story, and a lack of meaningful improvements. Many feel it is a step back or merely a tech demo for Boneworks.
- Weak story and campaign (weight 0.46): The story is described as not concrete, barely present, and lacking direction, while the campaign is boring, bland, and fails to engage players.
- Lack of content (weight 0.43): Players note a lack of substantial content, with a short campaign (around 5-6 hours) that has few real levels and no proper ending.
- Game appears abandoned (weight 0.38): The game appears abandoned, with no updates for over a year and no new features or content, leading to concerns it is abandonware.
- Overpriced at $40 (weight 0.27): Multiple reviewers state that the $40 price tag is too high for the content and quality offered, with some saying it is not worth buying even on sale.
- Uncomfortable controls (weight 0.27): Controls are described as uncomfortable, sluggish, clunky, and unresponsive, negatively impacting the gameplay experience.
- Game-breaking bugs (weight 0.26): Bugs cause the game to restart or prevent progression, including a game-breaking bug near the final level.
- Feels like a tech demo (weight 0.25): The game feels like a long tech demo or half-baked product, lacking polish and full development.
- Poor mod support (weight 0.25): Official mod support is sub-par, with a barebones and unfinished SDK that has not been updated in years.
- Over-reliance on mods (weight 0.25): The game relies heavily on the modding community to fix core issues and add content, which is seen as a negative.
- Janky physics (weight 0.21): The physics are reported as janky, buggy, and poorly implemented, detracting from immersion and gameplay.
- No built-in multiplayer (weight 0.14): There is no multiplayer from the start, and it is only available through mods.
- Patches break mods (weight 0.14): Patches have broken mods, with Patch 6 and Patch 4 causing significant issues for mod users.
- Mod directory locked (weight 0.13): Users cannot change the mod directory, which is problematic for those with limited space on the C drive.
- Causes motion sickness (weight 0.13): Climbing and jumping mechanics cause motion sickness for some players.
- Confusing crane puzzle (weight 0.13): The crane puzzle is confusing and difficult to solve, frustrating players.
- Climbing issues (weight 0.13): Climbing is nearly impossible due to the player's feet getting in the way, making it sloppy and unresponsive.
- Underused body swap (weight 0.13): The body swapping mechanic is underutilized and only appears near the end of the game, missing its potential.

Gameplay feedback:
- Modding support is essential (weight 0.54): Multiple reviews highlight that mod support is a core feature, with some stating the game is designed to be played with mods and relies on them for content.
- VR physics sandbox with shooting and melee (weight 0.49): Many reviews describe the game as a VR physics sandbox that includes shooting and melee combat, emphasizing physics-based interactions.
- Parkour and climbing mechanics (weight 0.34): Players mention parkour, climbing, and ledge grabbing as key movement mechanics, though climbing can feel glitchy.
- Gunplay and melee details (weight 0.28): Players note physics-based gunplay, guns that collide with shoulders, and melee requiring two hands for certain weapons like the handaxe.
- Avatar system with attributes (weight 0.26): The game features an avatar switching system with different forms (strong/tall, light/fast, short) that affect gameplay, but some avatars are underutilized.
- Campaign is short and confusing (weight 0.24): The story mode is described as confusing, with a mute protagonist and abrupt ending, and consists of smaller levels compared to Boneworks.
- Arena survival mode (weight 0.19): There is an arena wave-survival mode that includes a capsule insertion mechanic, though it may require mods for online play.
- Movement includes walking and climbing (weight 0.18): The movement system encompasses walking, climbing, and jumping, with physical body simulation and head bobbing.
- Sandbox mode locked behind story (weight 0.13): The sandbox mode is only unlocked after completing the story, which some players find restrictive.
- Grabbing requires two buttons (weight 0.13): Picking up objects requires both the grab and trigger buttons, which feels more cumbersome than one-to-one movement.
- Body swapping and grip point system (weight 0.12): The game includes a body swapping mechanic and a grip point system for climbing.
- Removed features from Boneworks (weight 0.08): Some features from Boneworks like night vision, VR helmets, and item storage are missing in this game.
- Level variety includes diverse environments (weight 0.08): Levels feature sewers, medieval areas, mines, the moon, and a tower, providing some variety in setting.
- Tech demo with good engine (weight 0.08): Some reviews view the game as a tech demo with a solid engine and mechanics, but lacking depth.
- Physical crouching is disabled (weight 0.07): Physical crouching is reportedly disabled, which may limit immersion.
- Arcade games and challenges in lobby (weight 0.07): The main lobby contains arcade games and challenges, adding extra content.
- Single-player only (weight 0.07): The game is primarily single-player, with multiplayer available only through mods.

Performance notes:
- Game fails to launch (weight 0.44): Multiple users report that the game fails to launch or crashes immediately, often due to OpenXR initialization failures, asset warehouse errors, or black screens. This prevents any gameplay and is a critical barrier to entry.
- Poor optimization and performance (weight 0.39): The game suffers from poor optimization, requiring high-end hardware like RTX 4090/5090 for ultra settings and struggling on mid-range GPUs like the 6900XT. Performance is worse than similar VR titles like Boneworks.
- Frequent freezing and lag (weight 0.22): Players experience frequent freezing and lag, even on PCs with sufficient free space. This disrupts gameplay and suggests optimization or memory management issues.
- Meta headset compatibility issues (weight 0.09): Users with Meta headsets report compatibility issues, likely due to driver or software conflicts. This limits the game's accessibility for a major VR platform.
- USB connectivity problems (weight 0.09): USB connectivity problems prevent the game from working properly, possibly due to driver conflicts or hardware detection issues.
- Dark visuals hinder gameplay (weight 0.08): The game's visuals are described as too dark, which may hinder visibility and immersion in VR. This could be a design or rendering issue.
- Unhelpful Steam support (weight 0.08): Steam support is reported as unhelpful in resolving technical issues, leaving players without effective troubleshooting assistance.
- Runs fine on some systems (weight 0.07): One user reports that the game ran fine, indicating that performance may be acceptable on certain hardware configurations.

Recommendations:
- Not worth Boneworks upgrade (weight 0.75): Players repeatedly recommend buying Boneworks instead of Bonelab, stating Bonelab is not a worthwhile upgrade even for fans. Many felt it should have been DLC.
- Mods essential, community dead (weight 0.56): The game is considered only fun with mods, but the modding community is reportedly inactive. Some say it provides a Gmod-like sandbox experience but lacks content otherwise.
- Wait for sale only (weight 0.48): Many reviews advise skipping Bonelab or waiting for a significant sale, emphasizing it is not worth the full price. A few suggest a maximum price of $10-15.
- Not worth current price (weight 0.42): Multiple reviews state the game is not worth its current price tag, with some calling the $40 price an insult. They recommend waiting for a deep sale or avoiding purchase entirely.
- Not recommended in current state (weight 0.4): A general consensus among reviews is that Bonelab is not recommended in its current state due to lack of content, bugs, or unfinished features. Some suggest it should be early access.
- Bugs and performance issues (weight 0.27): Frequent complaints about crashes, body jank, poor optimization requiring high-end hardware, and campaign-breaking bugs make the game unplayable for some.
- Refund advised often (weight 0.25): Multiple reviews recommend buying within the refund window, implying many players regretted their purchase and would have refunded if possible.
- Better alternatives available (weight 0.21): Players suggest alternative games like H3VR, Blade & Sorcery, or Hard Bullet for shooting and melee, indicating Bonelab does not excel in core gameplay areas.
- Physics sandbox potential (weight 0.14): Some players enjoy the physics-driven experimentation and scenario creation, but note it lacks long-term structure or goals, appealing only to sandbox enthusiasts.
- Not for story seekers (weight 0.14): The game's story is considered weak compared to Boneworks, disappointing players seeking a narrative experience.
- Game feels like tutorial (weight 0.13): Some reviews describe Bonelaw as a tutorial for mod support rather than a full game, leaving players wanting more substance.
- Support for physics enthusiasts (weight 0.13): Despite criticism, the game is recommended for players who enjoy physics-driven experimentation and creating scenarios, offering a unique sandbox.
- Mixed ratings with mods (weight 0.09): Ratings vary dramatically based on mod availability: 3/10 without mods, 10/10 with mods, indicating heavy reliance on community content.
- Not standalone experience (weight 0.08): Bonelab is viewed primarily as a modding platform rather than a standalone game, which disappoints players seeking a complete campaign.
- Poor for new VR players (weight 0.07): The game is not recommended as a first VR experience, possibly due to its physics-based movement and complexity.
- Warning for future SLZ projects (weight 0.07): One review advises caution regarding future projects from developer Stress Level Zero based on Bonelab's perceived shortcomings.
- SDK not finished (weight 0.07): One review explicitly states the game cannot be recommended until the SDK is finished, implying incomplete modding tools.
- Undisclosed AI use concerns (weight 0.06): One review highlights undisclosed generative AI use as a reason not to recommend the game, raising ethical concerns among players.
- Pillar climb frustration (weight 0.06): A specific complaint about a 'pillar climb' segment suggests a frustrating gameplay moment that detracts from enjoyment.
- C drive space issue (weight 0.06): Modding requires significant space on the C drive, which can be problematic for users with limited storage.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 1): Players are frustrated with the difficulty of transferring mods to another hard drive. The cumbersome process makes modifying the game feel unnecessarily complicated.}