Duskers

Duskers is a remarkable science fiction survival game that proves atmosphere and intelligent design can be far more compelling than flashy visuals or fast-paced action. Developed and published by Misfits Attic, the game places players in control of a lone spacecraft operator who remotely commands a small fleet of drones through abandoned vessels drifting across a lifeless galaxy. Humanity has seemingly disappeared, leaving behind silent wrecks filled with valuable technology, cryptic data logs, and dangers that are rarely understood until it is too late. This intriguing premise immediately establishes a feeling of mystery, encouraging players to uncover the fate of civilization while struggling to stay alive with limited resources. Rather than allowing direct control over characters, Duskers revolves around issuing commands to drones through a terminal-like interface. This unconventional system is initially challenging, but it becomes one of the game's greatest strengths because it reinforces the feeling of operating outdated equipment from a safe distance. Every movement must be carefully planned, and every decision carries consequences. Players rely on cameras, sensors, scanners, and remote commands to navigate unfamiliar environments where visibility is limited and hidden threats can emerge without warning. The inability to fully understand what lies ahead creates constant suspense, making even routine exploration feel tense and unpredictable. Each abandoned spacecraft serves as a self-contained challenge filled with opportunities and hazards. Valuable salvage, fuel, drone upgrades, and replacement equipment reward players willing to take calculated risks, but these prizes are often protected by dangerous creatures or environmental hazards. Combat is intentionally limited, forcing players to think creatively instead of relying on brute force. Manipulating doors, using motion detectors, setting traps, and carefully monitoring hostile movement become essential survival techniques. This emphasis on strategy transforms every successful expedition into a satisfying accomplishment earned through patience, observation, and careful planning. Resource management plays an equally important role throughout the adventure. Fuel determines how far players can travel, damaged drones require repairs, and every lost piece of equipment can significantly reduce the chances of surviving future missions. Since resources remain scarce, players are constantly forced to decide whether to press deeper into dangerous ships for greater rewards or retreat while they still have functioning equipment. This balance between risk and reward creates meaningful tension, ensuring that every decision has long-term consequences for the survival of the expedition. Replayability is one of Duskers' strongest qualities thanks to its procedurally generated galaxy. Ship layouts, hazards, loot placement, and exploration routes change with every new campaign, preventing missions from becoming repetitive. The roguelike progression system further increases the stakes by making losses permanent, encouraging players to learn from mistakes rather than relying on repeated trial and error. Every campaign tells its own story as players slowly improve their knowledge of the game's mechanics while adapting to constantly changing situations. The narrative unfolds in a subtle yet effective manner through scattered ship logs, damaged recordings, and environmental clues instead of lengthy cutscenes or extensive dialogue. This fragmented storytelling allows players to piece together the history of a civilization that vanished under mysterious circumstances, adding depth without interrupting gameplay. Combined with its minimalist presentation, eerie sound design, and haunting silence, the game successfully creates an oppressive atmosphere where loneliness and uncertainty become just as threatening as the unseen creatures inhabiting abandoned vessels. Duskers is not designed to be immediately accessible, and its steep learning curve may discourage players looking for a more traditional experience. However, those willing to invest the time to understand its unique mechanics will discover an exceptionally rewarding survival game that stands apart from nearly every other title in its genre. Its innovative command-based gameplay, intelligent resource management, immersive atmosphere, and consistently high level of tension create an unforgettable experience that rewards careful thinking over quick reflexes. Duskers is an outstanding blend of strategy, exploration, survival, and psychological suspense that delivers a uniquely immersive experience. Its unconventional interface and unforgiving mechanics demand patience, but the sense of accomplishment, mystery, and tension they produce makes it one of the most original and memorable indie science fiction games available on Steam. Rating: 8/10

Super cool game. Very intense, slow building tension, yet also very quiet ambiance to play at night.

very nice

cool game with drones

Incredible atmosphere, tense, bleak, brilliant!

good

good but difficult

Au moment où j'écris ces lignes, le jeu a dix ans. C'est toujours (et le restera) un de mes jeux coup de coeur. Effet cathodique, ligne de codes, pilotage de drones d'exploration, dans un futur vide et oppressant. - Gestion de stock : pour chaque action il faudra des recharges adaptées, nous n'avons droit qu'à un nombre limité de drones en soute, - Gestion des ressources : aussi bien récoltées dans les vaisseaux, ou achetées auprès des stations, que votre fuel pour voyager, - Gestion des risques : dans ce jeu chaque ouverture de sas ou visite de pièce est un choix, parfois lourd de conséquences, - Gestion du temps : si une pièce subit une décompression, il faudra la gérer (y pallier, ou évacuer) - Optimisation du vaisseau, - Optimisation et personnalisation des drones, - Exploration de vaisseau : le thème central du jeu, vaisseau à piller, pour se restocker, pour avancer dans le jeu. Mais chaque vaisseau a sa propre configuration procédurale et ses risques, - Exploration des systèmes planétaires ... Le tout dans un game design effet moniteur des premiers jeux en BASIC. Entre nos premiers Oric-1 en CGA, ou, si vous préférez : les écrans cathodiques du Nostromo dans Alien. Le sound design est précis, juste ce qu'il faut pour maintenir ce sentiment de solitude, d'oppression, de pilotage à distance. Bruits sourds d'acier, crachat des commutateurs HF, aucune musique venant perturber l'ambiance : c'est très immersif. Ergonomie parfaite au clavier. Pilotage des drones à la fois au clavier par prompt (exécution de une ou plusieurs actions, simultanées ou à la suite); mais aussi par pilotage individuel. Navigation dans les menu au clavier, flèche ou raccourcis. Bref, du simple, basique et efficace. Une belle rejouabilité, j'y retourne souvent pour me replonger dans cet univers particulier, de froide solitude spatiale. On oublie à quel point ce jeu mérite le détour. On oublie à quel point on s'attache à nos drones, seul lien avec le vide, seul rempart au risque. Nos compagnons inertes mais vitaux à notre périple interstellaire. Si vous aimez les jeux en mode console (pupitrage), la gestion, le minimaliste, l'exploration, la survie : foncez ! Ce jeu est une pépite.

niubi

can't wait the sequel, this is really good