Vessels of Decay opens with a dramatic introduction and an atmospheric pixel art style that sets expectations high. Set in a post-apocalyptic vision of Scandinavia, the game presents a world overgrown with nature and brimming with mystery. Unfortunately, the narrative does very little with this promising setup. While the intro teases lore and emotional weight, the rest of the game features very few story beats and even less meaningful dialogue.
There’s minimal worldbuilding, and no strong questions are posed to encourage players to seek answers. Unlike Dark Souls or Tunic, where ambiguity enhances mystery, Vessels of Decay just feels empty. Goblins and their wooden camps show up partway through, adding a dose of charm, but overall, the story remains underdeveloped.
Combat and Mechanics Lack Impact
Combat in Vessels of Decay is stripped-down and often unnecessary. Players can often walk past enemies without consequence, especially in the early game. While new mechanics like combat finishes and enemy absorption are introduced, they either feel half-baked or arrive too late to matter. The parry system, in particular, is clunky and unrewarding. Absorbing enemies for powers sounds interesting but suffers from bugs and underwhelming execution. Most abilities gained offer little impact on gameplay, and the pacing suffers as a result. The first two chapters crawl along, with one boss so frustratingly designed that it feels broken, while the next turns out to be surprisingly easy—highlighting major balance issues.
Visuals Shine, But Bugs Break Immersion (Vessels of Decay)
One of the game’s strongest elements is its presentation. While inconsistent, the visuals show creativity in perspective and animation. Finisher animations are flashy, and the pixel art environments—though trope-heavy—are well-rendered. Audio, on the other hand, struggles. Music can be solid when it plays properly, but abrupt cutoffs, poor mixing, and unpolished effects hamper immersion. A crackling fire loop stitched poorly into early dialogue sets the tone for the audio experience overall. The worst offenses, however, come from bugs. These include invisible enemies, broken boss health bars, immovable puzzle blocks, and even a crash during a mandatory chase sequence. This specific bug forced a complete restart, souring the early game experience significantly.
Promising Shell, Hollow Core
Vessels of Decay has the framework of a compelling indie adventure: stylish visuals, a unique setting, and atmospheric music. Yet it’s let down by shallow combat, unreliable systems, uninspired puzzles, and an unfocused narrative. Enemy behavior and design feel trivial or frustratingly buggy. The game’s world, though visually rich, doesn’t encourage exploration or evoke curiosity. For players who are deeply nostalgic for retro action-adventure titles and who can tolerate instability, the game might still offer a few hours of distraction. But without serious fixes and design refinements, Vessels of Decay feels more like a demo of potential than a finished product. Try the demo if curious—but expect more polish before committing to a full run.
The game isn’t beyond repair, but it needs serious attention. The pixel visuals stand out, and the basic framework could support a more complete experience with proper updates. I
