Deal | Under $2 for the first time: Steam sale offers twin-stick shooter set in a wild sci-fi western world
Dust & Neon is a twin-stick shooter with roguelite elements, set in a world where sci-fi tech collides with gritty Western vibes. You play as a cybernetically enhanced gunslinger, resurrected by a mad scientist to take down an army of rebellious robots terrorizing the land. From dusty frontier towns to abandoned factories and high-tech bunkers, the fight is all about defending what’s left of humanity.
As a twin-stick shooter, Dust & Neon is played from an isometric top-down view, delivering fast-paced, precise and tactical combat. Ammo is limited and reloading is manual, adding a layer of tension to every encounter. Players can carry up to three weapons at once, mixing revolvers, shotguns and high-tech guns for different strategies. After each death, you return to the mad scientist’s lab to upgrade your character. With skill trees, better gear and new abilities, progress feels steady and rewarding. Boss fights against massive combat robots, randomly generated missions and a quick reward loop fuel that addictive "just one more run" feeling.
Reviews: Fun gameplay meets steep difficulty
In a review by Gaming Nexus, Dust & Neon stood out for its enjoyable twin-stick shooter mechanics, drawing comparisons to games like Dead Nation. The testers praised the wide range of weapons, each with unique stats and rarities, adding depth and variety to the combat. Diverse mission types – ranging from sabotage and bomb defusal to train heists and boss fights – help keep the gameplay feeling fresh. However, the difficulty level was a major point of criticism. Even on the medium setting, the game is said to be quite challenging, and the selected difficulty cannot be changed once the campaign begins. The randomness of weapon drops can also hinder progress if luck isn’t on your side. For players less experienced with the genre or those looking for more variety, the game might eventually feel repetitive or even frustrating.
Gaming Nexus awarded Dust & Neon a solid 8 out of 10, praising its gameplay despite some flaws. On Steam, the top-down shooter holds a “Mostly Positive” rating based on around 250 reviews, with an average score of 77%. Metacritic paints a more mixed picture: critics gave it a Metascore of 63, while players rated it more favorably with a 7.7 User Score. If you're comfortable with the repetitive nature of roguelite mechanics and enjoy a challenging difficulty curve, the game still offers plenty of fun.
90% discount on Steam
Dust & Neon was developed by David Marquardt Studios and published by Rogue Games, Inc. in February 2023. The game is normally priced at $20 on Steam, but until May 26, it's available at a big 90% discount – bringing the cost down to just under $2. According to SteamDB’s price history, this is the lowest price the game has ever seen.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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