Doloc Town review

Of course, it’s not quite so easy as just shoving in a bunch of seeds and standing back, though Doloc Town’s wholesome and surprisingly non-flesh-eating inhabitants are more than happy to offer hints and, if you need extra cash, an errand or three. Despite that, there were still a few early game moments that had me scratching my head, such as having to make use of the mayor’s construction bench, but not being able to utilise the smith’s furnace.

This being the post-apocalyptic future, Doloc Town’s resource gathering is a little unconventional. You can chop down trees and mine mineral deposits, dodging the murderous robot drones that lurk outside the town. But you’ll also rifle through the town’s trash, turning tyres and scrap iron into the rubber and ingots required to build new tech. It’s virtual, but all that recycling still gave me a warm, fuzzy glow.

The first few hours can be a tad grind-heavy, especially since you’re traversing the whole landscape on foot, without the benefit of the game’s bus route. But the more tech you unlock, the more options you have to manufacture resources locally. It also makes exploration more fun since you’re not stopping every ten seconds to scrounge for materials.

When it comes to taking on the drones and other beasties, you get your own flying, monster-zapping robot pal, which put a huge grin on my face. My grin got even wider when I realised I could upgrade it to near ED-209 levels. Who needs romance when you’ve got murderbots?

Even when you’re not roaming the wilderness, there are hazards to deal with. Until you get to constructing your own buildings, periodic bouts of acid rain will threaten your crops, forcing you to apply plastic mulch to protect them. Lightning, too, can do some serious damage to your property, though it can also be a handy source of energy.

Forget Stardew Valley’s batteries; Doloc Town boasts generators, rubbish converters and more. Even vehicles get a look in. With multiple skill trees, from animal husbandry to hi-tech equipment, you’re spoilt for choice, to the point where growing crops can become a side gig.

Sure, NPCs will extol the virtues of farming, but you can make a tidy profit smelting copper ingots or cooking up delicious recipes. You’ll have to work to unlock its more complex systems, but Doloc Town has so much depth it’s almost daunting.

Despite already spending hours and hours playing Doloc Town, I feel like I’ve so much more to see and do. If you’re looking for a game you can whizz through in a few hours, this absolutely is not it. This is a serious time sink, so be warned. But, ultimately, it’s worth letting Doloc Town eat up your life. It’s a joy to play, filled with rewarding little moments, everything from your birds laying their first egg, to acquiring a Metroid-style upgrade that allows you to push further into the wilderness. Whether you bounced off Stardew Valley or crave a farming sim with a difference, Doloc Town will have you hooked.