Imagine a world where endless sand dunes stretch to the horizon, resources are scarce, and your only lifeline is a heavily armed convoy. This is Dust Riders, an intriguing mix of strategy, RPG, and survival, developed by Vixa Games and published by Games Operators. While it’s not a traditional turn-based game, its tactical mechanics make it worth checking out for survival and tactical game fans.
Unlike roguelites Dust Riders follows a light story-driven sand-box structure closer to Battle Brothers. The game begins with your refinery being destroyed by a ruthless gang, forcing you to embark on a quest for revenge while struggling to survive in the wasteland. Early missions serve as a tutorial but also help immerse you in the harsh, lawless world.
A Tactical Mad Max on Wheels
Dust Riders is set in a world reminiscent of Mad Max—vast deserts, crumbling ruins, and scattered enclaves that serve as trading hubs, repair stations, and quest-giving outposts. At the heart of the game is your convoy, starting with a main vehicle that can be expanded with additional rigs, each customizable with weapons, gear, and crew members who provide unique bonuses.
Exploration happens in real-time, and managing resources is key to survival. Fuel is crucial—run out in the middle of nowhere, and you’ll lose everything you’ve scavenged, forcing you to restart from the last enclave you visited.
Combat is real-time but grid-based, blending action with strategic positioning. Vehicles move on a grid, avoiding obstacles and using special abilities to gain an edge. To add a layer of tactics, the game features a slow-motion system that lets you issue precise commands before diving back into the action.
Each vehicle has its own abilities—for example, in the demo, the main rig could ram into enemies, dealing heavy damage and knocking them into obstacles. This adds depth to the gameplay, making positioning and timing essential.
The Role of Enclaves – Trade, Upgrades, and Missions
Enclaves are vital to your survival and progression. Each one offers different services, making them key pit stops between long desert treks. Here’s what you can do inside these safe zones:
- Trade Hub – Buy and sell resources. Some enclaves may offer better prices than others, encouraging smart trading strategies.
- Garage – Upgrade and customize your convoy, equipping new weapons, armor, and special abilities to enhance your combat effectiveness.
- Service Station – Refill your fuel tanks to ensure you don’t get stranded in the desert. Running out of fuel means losing everything you’ve gathered.
- Shelter – Where is it possible to recruit new crew members to join your convoy.
- Job Board – Take on new side quests
- Workshop – Craft or install new vehicle components, sometimes even acquiring entirely new rigs to expand your fleet.
Each enclave is unique, and managing where and when to visit them can mean the difference between survival and disaster.
Dust Riders was one of the standout games of the Steam Next Fest. While not a pure turn-based game, its blend of convoy management, slow-motion tactical combat, and post-apocalyptic setting makes it a compelling choice for strategy fans. Give it a try, and let me know what you think about it.
MORE DETAILS
Everything did not go according to the plan. Sooner or later, being in control of the refinery could slip away from your hands. And well… It did. The deadly Sawblade attack took everything from you. Your friend, Victor, is gone. Fuel gone. Equipment gone. Crew members gone. Time to assemble the first vehicle from scrap, gather a new crew and get back on track. There is no time to waste, because The Great Storm is coming.
Turn-based vehicle combat
You’ll embark on desert pursuits, and sometimes fighting will be inevitable. Command your crew and use your vehicle weapons most effectively in an intense turn-based combat system.
Dynamic economy
Dust Raiders features a dynamic economy system with demand and supply, and random events that can affect the market. You’ll need to make strategic decisions about what goods to buy and sell to maximize your profits.
Ride customization
Helping struggling enclaves, finishing quests and gathering crew members will unlock new customization options for your vehicles.
Vast hostile areas to explore
In order to complete main story and side missions you will need to explore four huge hostile areas ranging from borders of Eternal Desert, through contaminated marshes and abandoned Polis.
