Info about Death Trash:

Official game description:
Roadmap
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For a full roadmap see the "Roadmap" post in "Events & Announcements".
About the Game
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Death Trash features a world where cosmic horrors long for humanity but meet punks with shotguns. Influenced by post-apocalyptic, horror, and cyberpunk classics but with a fresh personality of its own. Death Trash combines the crunch and depth of old-school, role-playing classics with the controls and game feel of modern games.  
**Gameplay**  
Death Trash is an open-world, singleplayer role-playing game with handcrafted levels, a strong story campaign and optional local co-op gameplay.  
The game features real-time gameplay with ranged and melee combat, stealth, multiple choice dialogue, an inventory of items and worms, a crafting system, and skills like pickpocketing and puking.  
Travel through a gritty, post-apocalyptic wasteland by world map and explore hand-painted, organic locations. Meet exciting characters, talk to the Fleshkraken, visit the Puke Bar, or descend into old temples in search of expanding your awareness.  
Customize your own character through stats and making in-game decisions. Experience the story and discover side quests. Fight against machines and larger-than-life monsters. Or become their friend.  
Death Trash features extensive player freedom:  
\- manual save games  
\- dialogue can be left anytime  
\- kill everyone or...  
\- don't kill anyone!  
**Story**  
Humans traveled to the stars and some of them settled on the planet Nexus with its ancient secrets of stone and flesh. But secrets were unearthed, and the civilized people had to flee into enclosed habitats. The wasteland is reigned now by outcasts, controlling machines, and offsprings of the worm.  
You are one of the outcasts, pushed outside with a dangerous burden to carry, and your path will take you through deserts, ruins, the underground, and beyond.  
**Singleplayer / Multiplayer Details**  
The main feature of Death Trash is the immersive single-player campaign. But the game also contains a local co-op mode:  
\- Covering the full campaign. The second player can drop in and drop out anytime.  
\- Second player has their own character, stats, inventory etc. but shared quest progress.  
\- Both players are restricted to the same location and traveling on the world map happens together.  
\- Both players can perform actions separately, including dialogue, and don't interrupt each other.  
\- The game has a shared screen mode (default) and a permanent split screen mode.  
We're not planning an online co-op mode due to limited development resources. We will evaluate this again in the future.  
Steam Remote Play Together will be possible.

Release date: Aug 5, 2021

Categories: Action RPG, Open-World Exploration, Post-apocalyptic, Local Co-op, Crafting, Real-time Combat, Cyberpunk, Stealth Gameplay

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 40; verdict: Minor Tweaks Required; summary: User feedback shows the game is generally functional on Linux and Steam Deck, including on old hardware. The main Linux-specific issue is that the native build fails to detect some controllers, with Proton Experimental resolving the problem. This is a minor Proton workaround rather than a launch or stability blocker.
- Steam Deck: score 40; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The Steam Deck experience is overwhelmingly positive, with users calling it one of the best games for the Deck and confirming it runs on Linux, even on older hardware. The main technical barrier is controller recognition on native Linux: 8BitDo Adaptor 2 and PS4 controllers require forcing Proton Experimental. Under the scoring criteria, a required Proton Experimental workaround places the experience in the Tinkering Required band.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: Price-specific reviews lean toward a lower fair price for the current early-access state. Multiple users call the $20 price too high for an unfinished game, say it is too expensive for this stage, and recommend waiting for a sale or paying under $10. A few positive reviews still say the game is worth the money or worth every penny, which supports an upper end above the lowest sale expectations but not the full $20 asking price for many. Together these support a fair base-game range of roughly $10-$15, with $20 viewed by many as above the community's fair price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 10.0h
  - Story completion: 6.5h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: For gameCompletion, the 9-10 hour normal single-playthrough report and the around-10-hour report converge on roughly 10 hours to finish the currently available game. For storyCompletion, the reports of 7 hours for the current main story line and about 6 hours when following the main story line support a value around 6.5 hours. SessionLength and endgame are null because no review gives a reliable typical session duration or a separate post-story/endgame playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Most time-specific reports describe initial intrigue and fun that turns repetitive within the first hour to about five hours, even though some players say combat clicks later or never clicks for them.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Poor tutorial and tooltips force trial-and-error learning; Combat starts out tedious; Mechanics, items, and abilities are unexplained; Random encounters and combat become repetitive; Abilities feel bland and lack weapon synergy; No fast travel makes map travel tedious
  - Unlock drivers: Combat flows once it clicks after getting used to it; Combat gets decent by midgame; Progression, crafting, upgrades, and secondary skills feel satisfying; Local co-op adds an extra layer of fun; Stealth, melee, and rush gameplay feel good when they click; Exploring the worm section in co-op is fun
  - Conditions: Playing in local co-op; Combat clicking after getting used to it; Reaching midgame; Exploring lore sections in co-op; Having a controller for local co-op; Using stealth, melee, and rush when they click
- Player Archetypes:
  - Classic Fallout Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Relive the style, atmosphere, and dark humor of classic isometric Fallout-style RPGs.
    - Playstyle: Approaches the game as an old-school action RPG: stat-building, fast-paced combat, and appreciation for retro atmosphere and writing.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Fallout 1; Fallout 2; Space Quest
  - Early Access Cautious Waiter (sale)
    - Motivation: Avoid unfinished Early Access products and pay only when the game is complete or discounted.
    - Playstyle: Follows updates, checks content volume, plays demos or waits, and buys only after release or a sale.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Local Co-op Companion (buy)
    - Motivation: Share the game with a friend or partner through local split-screen co-op.
    - Playstyle: Plays in local co-op, often with a controller, exploring and fighting together while valuing split-screen options and social discovery.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Casual Lore and Build Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Explore the world's lore and experiment with different character builds and roleplay styles without a punishing difficulty curve.
    - Playstyle: Plays on casual difficulty, explores locations for lore, uses respec and save-scumming, and tries melee, ranged, stealth, and social builds.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: filthy casual
    - 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:
- Overall enjoyment and fun (weight 0.48): Players have a lot of fun with the game and enjoy every aspect of it. The general sentiment is highly positive.
- Praise for pixel art style (weight 0.35): Reviewers consistently praise the game's art style, particularly the well-executed pixel art. The visuals are described as top-notch and appealing.
- Engaging atmosphere and world building (weight 0.28): The game's atmosphere is described as extraordinary, and the world building is interesting and incredible. The concept and atmosphere are excellent.
- Combat is fun and satisfying (weight 0.26): Many players find the combat enjoyable, satisfying, and rewarding. It is frequently described as fast and fun.
- Smooth performance and optimization (weight 0.25): The game runs smoothly with no performance issues, crashes, or lag. Gameplay feels smooth and fresh.
- Game shows great potential (weight 0.23): Reviewers believe the game has enormous potential and a great premise. Even in its early state, it is seen as a passion project with a promising future.
- Fluid and responsive combat system (weight 0.2): The combat system is praised for being responsive, logical, and fluid. Many note that it feels tight and offers many options.
- Compelling and unique story (weight 0.17): The story is cool, fascinating, and super good. It is unique and interesting, adding to the overall experience.
- Well-integrated RPG elements (weight 0.17): The RPG elements are great and well done, fitting the lore nicely. They exceed expectations for an RPG.
- Fun even in early access (weight 0.13): Despite being in early access, the game is already fun and fulfilling. Players enjoy it even in its early stage.
- Great Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.13): The game plays well on Steam Deck and is considered one of the better games for the platform. It is amazing on Steam Deck.
- Enjoyable local co-op (weight 0.13): The local co-op option adds extra fun and is available with controller support. It enhances the multiplayer experience.

Common complaints:
- Stuck in early access (weight 0.48): Many reviewers note the game has been in early access for years with no clear end in sight. The lack of full release is a common source of frustration.
- Slow development progress (weight 0.43): Players frequently complain that development is slow and updates are infrequent. The game appears to be in development hell with little meaningful progress over years.
- Game feels unfinished (weight 0.23): Reviewers describe the game as incomplete and unfinished at its current stage. This aligns with the early access status but also points to missing core content.
- Content is too short (weight 0.22): The available content is minimal and can be completed quickly. Reviewers feel there is not enough to justify the current state.
- Doubts about completion (weight 0.2): Some players believe the game will never be finished and fear it has been abandoned. This reflects a lack of confidence in the developer's commitment.
- Lack of substantial updates (weight 0.17): There have been no significant content updates for years according to multiple reviews. The game remains largely unchanged over long periods.
- Poor value for price (weight 0.13): Many consider the game overpriced given its early access stage and lack of content. It offers less than other early access titles at similar or higher cost.
- Lockpicking system issues (weight 0.12): The lockpicking mechanic is criticized as useless and poorly implemented. It often wastes resources and yields underwhelming loot.
- Dialogue and empathy problems (weight 0.12): The dialogue system and empathy stat are seen as problematic and underutilized. Empathy has very limited use in conversations.
- Low enemy variety (weight 0.09): Enemies are mostly humanoids with limited attack patterns, leading to repetitive encounters. Variety is sorely lacking.
- Limited weapon variety (weight 0.09): There are very few weapon types, especially for melee combat. This restricts player choice and combat depth.
- Poor random encounters (weight 0.09): Random map encounters are trivial and feel like a waste of time. They lack quests or story elements and are just allies, enemies, or bad loot.

Gameplay feedback:
- Co-op and Local Multiplayer (weight 0.23): The game supports co-op play, including local co-op and split screen, as well as Steam Remote Play. This allows players to team up with at least one controller.
- Engaging Combat Mechanics (weight 0.2): The game features real-time action combat with ranged and melee options. Combat is engaging and includes dodging and stealth elements.
- Early Access Status (weight 0.2): The game is currently in early access, with basic mechanics, graphics, story, and levelling. The main storyline is not yet finished.
- Story and Dialogue (weight 0.17): The game has a storyline with dialogue and humor, set in a unique world with aesthetic elements.
- Top-Down Post-Apocalyptic RPG (weight 0.13): The game is a top-down action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world. It includes combat and a skill system.
- Open World with Quests (weight 0.13): The open world includes side quests and random encounters that function as small quests. Players can explore and encounter random combat on the world map.
- Real-Time Combat with Dodge (weight 0.13): The game is an action RPG with real-time combat, a dodge roll mechanic, and a stamina meter. It is narrative-driven.
- Progression System (weight 0.13): The game features character progression through skills and abilities, as well as weapon progression.
- Random Encounters (weight 0.13): Random encounters occur while traversing the world map. These encounters add an element of unpredictability to exploration.
- Exploration Core Activity (weight 0.09): Exploration is a core activity in the game, allowing players to discover the world.
- Skill System (weight 0.09): The skill system is straightforward and meaningful, with role-playing skills that can be improved or skipped.
- Stealth and Backstab (weight 0.09): Stealth abilities include backstabbing, allowing players to approach enemies from behind for a damage boost.
- Fast-Paced Combat (weight 0.09): Combat mechanics and dynamics are fast, providing a quick and intense experience.
- Inspired by Classic Fallout (weight 0.09): The game is in the style of old Fallout games, particularly Fallout 1 and 2.
- Isometric Hack and Slash (weight 0.09): The game features isometric real-time combat, described as a hack and slash shooter.
- Melee Combat System (weight 0.09): Combat includes melee swinging mechanics, providing a hands-on combat experience.
- Weapon Upgrades (weight 0.09): Weapon upgrades have unique designs and can increase damage or speed. They range from superior to exceptional.
- Pixel Art Style (weight 0.09): The game features a pixel art style, giving it a retro aesthetic.
- Not Turn-Based (weight 0.09): The game does not use turn-based gameplay, favoring real-time action instead.
- Vomiting Mechanic (weight 0.09): Vomiting serves a purpose as an actual game mechanic, adding a unique twist.

Performance notes:
- Controller issues on native Linux (weight 0.06): The native Linux version does not recognize 8BitDo Adaptor 2 and PS4 controllers. This prevents proper controller use without workarounds.
- Runs flawlessly on MacBook Air M1 (weight 0.05): Players experienced no bugs, lag, or errors on a base MacBook Air M1. The game is well-optimized for Apple Silicon.
- Proton Experimental fixes controllers (weight 0.05): Forcing Proton Experimental resolves the controller compatibility issue on Linux. This workaround restores full controller functionality.
- Crash occurred during play (weight 0.05): One player experienced a crash while playing. This indicates occasional stability issues.
- Game length about 10 hours (weight 0.05): Players report the game takes roughly 10 hours to complete. This provides a clear expectation for time commitment.

Recommendations:
- Avoid Early Access Purchase (weight 0.55): Buyers are strongly advised against purchasing the game in its current Early Access state due to its incomplete content and high price. Many recommend waiting until the game is fully released before considering a purchase.
- Mixed or Conditional Recommendations (weight 0.37): Some reviewers give conditional recommendations, such as recommending only for fans of specific genres or if certain conditions are met. Others are mixed due to the game's unfinished state.
- Recommended for Fallout Fans (weight 0.33): Players who enjoy classic Fallout or isometric RPGs like Fallout 1/2, Planescape, Wasteland, and Underrail are likely to appreciate the game's setting and humor. Its mechanics and atmosphere cater to fans of old-school role-playing games.
- Wait for Full Release (weight 0.33): Many recommend waiting until the game is fully finished before buying, as it currently lacks polish and content. This is especially advised for those who prefer complete experiences over Early Access.
- Worth Buying Despite Unfinished (weight 0.28): Some reviewers consider the game worth its price even in its unfinished state, citing its potential and current enjoyment. They believe the experience justifies the cost despite ongoing development.
- Support Developer, Buy Now (weight 0.27): Several reviewers encourage purchasing the game to support the developer and help complete the project. They view buying as a form of crowdfunding that ensures the game's future.
- Positive Recommendation, Buy It (weight 0.23): A number of players highly recommend the game and urge others to buy it. They find it enjoyable and worth the investment.
- Unique Atmosphere and Art (weight 0.18): The game's distinctive art style, atmosphere, and dark humor are frequently praised. Players appreciate its unique aesthetic and worldbuilding.
- Combat System Praised (weight 0.17): The combat system is highlighted as a strong point, with some recommending the game solely for its mechanics. It features fast-paced, challenging combat that appeals to fans of action RPGs.
- Try Demo Before Buying (weight 0.14): Several reviewers suggest trying the free demo first to see if the game appeals to you. The demo provides a good sense of the gameplay and atmosphere.
- Buy on Sale or Discount (weight 0.14): Some reviewers advise waiting for a sale or buying at a lower price point, as the current price may not be justified for an unfinished game. They suggest a specific price threshold.
- Developer Support Encouraged (weight 0.08): Supporting the developer is seen as crucial for the game's completion. Some buy to ensure the project reaches its full potential.
- Explore and Learn Dodging (weight 0.08): Gameplay tips include exploring thoroughly and learning to dodge early. These help new players adapt to the game's challenges.
- Co-op Splitscreen Highlight (weight 0.05): The split-screen co-op feature, especially on separate monitors, is praised as excellent. It enhances the multiplayer experience for local play.
- Encourage Refund If Unsure (weight 0.04): One reviewer advises requesting a refund if you play for close to two hours and don't enjoy the game. This helps avoid wasting money on an unfinished product.
- Language Localization Issues (weight 0.04): Some players note the lack of official localization and suggest finding a Chinese patch to mitigate this. This affects accessibility for non-English speakers.
- Not for Non-Readers (weight 0.04): The game is not recommended for players who dislike reading or talking to people, as it involves deep lore and dialogue. This may limit its appeal.
- Content Update Concerns (weight 0.04): Some reviewers express a desire for faster updates to play with friends, indicating that the current update pace may be slow. This affects the multiplayer experience.

Other player notes:
- Long Early Access Duration (weight 0.74): The game has been in Early Access for over five years with no clear end date, and many reviews mention it may remain incomplete for a while. This frequent complaint highlights a prolonged and uncertain development period.
- Comparison to Fallout (weight 0.28): Multiple reviews compare the game to various Fallout titles, especially Fallout 2 and the original Fallout, noting a similar post-apocalyptic vibe while still standing on its own. These comparisons target fans of classic Fallout games.
- Demo Availability (weight 0.15): A free demo is available that showcases the base of the game, allowing players to try it before committing. This is a positive point mentioned in several reviews.
- Developer Posts Devlogs (weight 0.14): The developers regularly post devlogs on Steam and the forums, documenting their progress. This communication is appreciated by some players.
- Solo or Tiny Developer Team (weight 0.12): The game appears to be developed by a solo developer or a very small team of about two people. This context may explain the slow development pace.
- Local Co-op Only, No Online (weight 0.12): The game supports local co-op and Steam Remote Play but lacks native online co-op, which is a limitation noted by some players. This may disappoint those seeking online multiplayer.
- Late Stage Development (weight 0.11): Some feedback indicates the game is already in the later stages of development and has a roadmap. However, this is less common than complaints about prolonged early access.
- Classic Isometric RPG Similarities (weight 0.09): The game is compared to classic isometric RPGs like Fallout 1, Planescape Torment, Wasteland, and Underrail, evoking the 'good old days' of the genre. This appeals to players nostalgic for those titles.
- Expected Release in 2025 (weight 0.09): The store page and product description suggest a full release is expected in mid-to-late 2025. This provides a potential timeline for the game's completion.
- More Content Planned (weight 0.09): Substantial content updates are expected in the future, as mentioned in several reviews. This gives players hope for continued development.
- Full Playthroughs Completed (weight 0.09): Some reviewers have completed a full playthrough of the available content, and some have also played most of another. This indicates that the current content provides a complete experience for some.
- Limited Official Language Support (weight 0.09): Currently only English and German are officially supported, but the developer aims for multi-language localization in the future. This is a consideration for non-English/German speakers.
- Developer Needs Funds (weight 0.08): According to some reviews, the developer needs funds to finish the game, indicating financial constraints. This might affect the game's completion timeline.
- Japanese Localization MOD (weight 0.08): A high-quality Japanese localization MOD is available in the Steam Workshop, covering the early access scope. This is a positive point for Japanese-speaking players.
- Ukrainian Localization Available (weight 0.08): A semi-official Ukrainian localization from UnlockTeam is available in the workshop. This supports Ukrainian-speaking players.
- Linux Support (weight 0.07): The game is available on and runs on Linux, which is a positive point for users of that platform. This is mentioned in a few reviews.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.23): Players are deeply disappointed by the game's prolonged early access, with years of development yielding minimal content updates and a still-incomplete experience. Many feel the game may never be finished, citing slow progress, lack of meaningful additions, and a feeling of emptiness compared to its initial promise.
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Frustration stems from the game being stuck in early access for nearly a decade with slow development and lack of transparency from the developers. Players also cite poor design choices such as clunky combat, tedious map travel, and unresponsive quest systems that hinder enjoyment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.13): Satisfaction comes from the game's fun gameplay, satisfying combat mechanics, and rich world exploration. Even in early access, players find plenty to do, enjoy the branching story, and feel that the years of waiting were worth it.
- Excitement (weight 0.11): Excitement is driven by anticipation for the full release and future content expansions, with players praising the unique narrative, fleshed-out world, and dynamic combat. Many are eager to see how the story unfolds and what additional features will be added.
- Appreciation (weight 0.08): Appreciation focuses on the developers' transparency and care, as evidenced by devlogs and responsive feedback. Players also value the game's unique atmosphere, pixel art, and world-building that create an immersive experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Enjoyment arises from the game's engaging story, humor, and aesthetic, along with fluid combat and rewarding exploration. Many players compare it favorably to classic Fallout games and appreciate the challenging yet fun gameplay.
- Anticipation (weight 0.07): Anticipation is centered on looking forward to future updates, full release, and the continuation of the story. Players hope the developers keep improving and finishing the game, eager to experience the complete vision.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.05): Enthusiasm is fueled by the game's strong foundation, polished visuals, and satisfying combat even in early access. Players see great potential and originality, particularly in the Souls-like 8-bit RPG concept and cooperative features.
- Love (weight 0.05): Love for the game stems from its unique blend of genres, gritty apocalyptic setting, and engaging combat. Players are drawn to the atmosphere, story, and aesthetic, often having a genuinely enjoyable and weird time.
- Hope (weight 0.04): Hope is based on the developer's outreach and the game's promising direction, with players believing issues will be resolved in the full release. They encourage the developer to continue improving and hope the game fulfills its enormous potential.
- Amusement (weight 0.04): Amusement comes from the game's absurd humor, including silly one-liners, non-sequitur interactions, and bizarre mechanics like the dedicated puke button. Players find the meat and robot interactions and dark comedy genuinely funny.
- Fun (weight 0.03): Fun is derived from fluid combat, engaging exploration, and a unique story that keeps players entertained. The real-time hack-and-slash shooter combat and different narrative contribute to an enjoyable experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Admiration is directed at the developer's unique vision and dedication, as well as the game's detailed concept art, polished graphics, and rare innovation in the RPG genre. Players appreciate the effort and creativity put into the game.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger is directed at developers perceived as taking money and abandoning the game, along with arrogant behavior toward customers. Players feel left with an incomplete product and unrewarding exploration.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is experienced through interesting quests, atmospheric locations, and enjoyable artwork and soundscape. The game's fun combat and co-op experience, often compared to Fallout 2, bring happiness to players.
- Caution (weight 0.02): Caution is advised due to the long development with no clear end date and the risk of buying an unfinished product. Players also warn that those who dislike reading or dialogue may not enjoy the game.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance arises from poorly written dialogues, unrealistic NPC reactions, and inadequate tooltips and tutorials that force trial-and-error. A bug that teleports players to the same spot also contributes to frustration.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's style and atmosphere reminding players of classic Fallout games. The experience brings back memories of first playing Fallout 1 and 2.
- Concern (weight 0.02): Concern is focused on the game potentially getting stuck in early access due to constant bug fixing and unpolished dynamic events. Players worry about the lack of companions, content, and the developer's ability to ship the product given slow progress.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in after about five hours due to repetitive combat, world design, and quests. The lack of variety makes the game feel monotonous and unengaging.}