Kivi, Toilet and Shotgun is a scrappy and unapologetically rough indie action game developed by 16bit Nights and published by Back To Basics Gaming, built around a strange but memorable blend of vehicular combat, on-foot shooting, and survival mechanics set in a barren post-apocalyptic wasteland. From the outset, the game signals its intent to favor raw ideas over polish, throwing the player into a hostile desert where the road itself is as dangerous as the enemies roaming it. The tone is grim but faintly absurd, leaning into exaggerated violence and bleak humor rather than narrative depth, which gives the experience a peculiar identity that feels deliberately low-fi and uncompromising.
The core gameplay loop revolves around alternating between driving segments and ground combat encounters. While traveling across long stretches of desolate highway, players must steer their vehicle through enemy ambushes, environmental hazards, and fuel-draining distances, all while maintaining control of speed and positioning. These road segments are tense in concept, emphasizing survival and momentum, but they can also feel punishing due to the game’s sensitive handling and limited margin for error. Crashes, poorly timed boosts, or sudden enemy appearances can quickly spiral into failure, reinforcing the idea that survival is earned through persistence rather than comfort.
Once the player reaches settlements or combat zones, the game shifts to top-down shooter gameplay where positioning and ammunition management become critical. Encounters are often chaotic, with enemies approaching from multiple directions and limited cover to rely on. Weapons vary in effectiveness and feel intentionally crude, emphasizing desperation over precision. Combat can be uneven, as aiming and hit detection sometimes feel inconsistent, but there is still a sense of satisfaction in clearing an area after a difficult fight, especially when resources are scarce and every successful encounter feels hard-won.
Progression is driven by a simple but functional upgrade and economy system. Currency, fuel, and ammunition are acquired through combat and exploration, then spent at checkpoints to improve the player’s vehicle, weapons, and survivability. This creates a light strategic layer where players must decide whether to invest in offense, durability, or mobility. While the progression system lacks depth or meaningful customization, it does provide a sense of forward motion and purpose, encouraging players to push farther into the wasteland despite repeated setbacks.
Visually, the game adopts a gritty pixel-art style that emphasizes desolation over detail. Environments are sparse and often repetitive, reinforcing the feeling of endless wasteland but also making individual locations blur together over time. Enemy designs are functional rather than memorable, and animations are minimal, which can make the world feel static during longer sessions. The sound design follows a similar pattern, delivering basic effects and music that support the action but rarely elevate it, contributing to an atmosphere that feels serviceable rather than immersive.
One of the most noticeable aspects of Kivi, Toilet and Shotgun is its roughness. The game shows clear signs of limited resources, with occasional bugs, awkward enemy behavior, and balancing issues that can undermine otherwise engaging moments. Difficulty spikes can feel arbitrary, and some mechanics lack the clarity needed for players to consistently improve through skill alone. For some, this rough edge adds to the game’s survivalist identity, while for others it becomes a source of frustration that overshadows the underlying ideas.
Taken as a whole, Kivi, Toilet and Shotgun is an ambitious but uneven indie project that prioritizes concept and atmosphere over refinement. It offers moments of tension and satisfaction, particularly for players who enjoy punishing survival loops and are willing to tolerate mechanical imperfections. However, its repetitive structure, inconsistent controls, and limited presentation make it a niche experience best suited for those with patience and an appreciation for raw, unpolished experimentation. While it may never fully realize the potential of its ideas, it stands as a distinctive example of small-scale indie ambition, delivering a harsh, uncompromising journey through a world that clearly does not care whether the player survives it or not.
Rating: 5/10
