Deponia Doomsday

Daedalics were like: "Listen, we TOLD you the story has ONLY three parts. There can't be a fourth one-- Actually, okay, if you really need it and ready to pay, then here ya go."
And that's about it! It's a fourth game that basically tells you that there shouldn't have been a fourth game. Still as awesome as the others though.

So this one I still liked but it was a bit... unnecessary. Without spoilers this game feels like the dev just really didn't like how people disliked the ending of the trilogy and just said "Fine I'll give you a new ending; but be careful what you wish for!"
It still felt good like the other games and was pretty cool with the whole premise of going back and forth in dimensions and time. However the whole game you get subtle and not-so-subtle metaphors and hints to the dev angry with the community. I still felt it was rather tongue and cheek and this was an excuse to make another Deponia game after it was done. Still I think the story overall doesn't change a whole lot unfortunately if you thought the ending of the third game was either bad or sad. This doesn't end any better; though maybe you'd just be happy to play more games.

Well in my opinion: AWESOME! Although, The story as a whole from the first three games had better ending, without the doomsday :/

The weakest link of the series. Crazy to say but I miss the old mischievous jerk Rufus. He's lost all his personality now. This game is not funny at all, least to say with a very complex storyline involving a lot of time travel. I had to cheat quite a few times at the beginning bc the puzzles made no sense ( star, DNA machine and psychic ball puzzles ) afterwards it was a breeze. I wouldn't recommend paying full price for it and if you never play it is OK too. What bothered me the most is that they completely ignored a lot of very interesting plot twists from the 3rd game. Who was the original Rufus ? How did baby Rufus end up on Deponia ? ( although the clones appear to be all grown up when created ). What about Goal's memory slot ? ( I thought she wasn't human at the beginning ). Why does she have one ? What happened to Rufus' mother ? Why does his stepfather blame him for her death ? What happened to the rebellion and the Organons ? There were TONS of interesting unanswered questions left behind ! And then we get pretty dull game heavily focused on time travel with uninteresting characters ( McCronicum being the worst ). It gets a very generous 6/10 from me.

Deponia Doomsday is a fascinating and polarizing installment in the Deponia series, a point-and-click adventure franchise developed by Daedalic Entertainment. Released in 2016, this fourth entry takes a dramatic shift in tone and narrative structure compared to its predecessors, blending science fiction, absurdist humor, and time travel into an ambitious—if at times convoluted—tapestry. Fans of the earlier games will recognize familiar characters, recurring motifs, and the distinctive cartoonish art style, but they may also find themselves surprised by the thematic weight and emotional stakes introduced in Doomsday. The game attempts to serve both as a sequel and a retcon, trying to mend the controversial ending of Goodbye Deponia while also expanding the universe’s scope and complexity.
The story follows Rufus, the series' egocentric yet oddly endearing protagonist, who once again finds himself at the center of an apocalyptic scenario involving Deponia’s destruction. However, unlike previous games, Doomsday employs a time-travel mechanic that turns the narrative into a cyclical, almost dream-like journey through alternate timelines, déjà vu moments, and paradoxes. The plot kicks off with a prologue showing a ruined future and then jumps into a frenetic sequence of events that challenge the player's understanding of cause and effect. Rufus, through the use of time-traveling espresso machines and absurd contraptions, attempts to rewrite history, fix past mistakes, and ultimately prevent the end of Deponia. The script plays heavily with themes of fate, free will, and the burdens of change—all wrapped in the series' signature comedic tone, which alternates between slapstick and bleak satire.
Visually, the game is a treat. The hand-drawn environments are richly detailed and bursting with color, staying true to the aesthetic foundation laid by previous entries. The animation quality is consistent, with expressive character designs and clever background gags that reward observant players. However, where Doomsday truly excels is in its sound design and voice acting. The English and German dubs are both strong, but the German version, being the original, offers slightly more nuance. The soundtrack, composed by Finn Seliger and others, ranges from whimsical to melancholic, punctuating key moments with emotional depth. The musical interludes—complete with the series' traditional recap songs—are charming and add levity even during the story's darker turns.
Gameplay-wise, Deponia Doomsday sticks to the classic point-and-click formula. Inventory puzzles dominate the gameplay loop, and while many are cleverly designed, some solutions are esoteric enough to frustrate even seasoned adventure game fans. The game leans heavily into logic-defying scenarios, and given the time-travel premise, the puzzles often require players to think non-linearly. This can be both a strength and a weakness; while it allows for some inspired puzzle sequences that tie cleverly into the story, it also leads to moments where progress feels arbitrarily gated. Still, for those who enjoy intricate problem-solving, the challenges can be deeply satisfying when the logic finally clicks into place.
Where Deponia Doomsday becomes truly divisive is in its narrative choices. Without spoiling too much, the game plays with the very fabric of the trilogy's established canon. Characters are reintroduced under different circumstances, past events are rewritten, and the line between what is “real” and what is dream or simulation becomes increasingly blurred. This metatextual approach is bold, and Daedalic deserves credit for attempting to grapple with the backlash surrounding the original trilogy’s ending. However, this also leads to a sense of emotional whiplash. The stakes are higher than ever, yet the frequent tonal shifts—from slapstick comedy to tragic introspection—can be jarring. Rufus himself remains a complex antihero, and while his arc is more mature and reflective in this installment, it may not be enough to redeem him in the eyes of those who found him intolerable in earlier games.
Ultimately, Deponia Doomsday is an ambitious and creative game that tries to do something rare: rewrite its own legacy while staying true to the soul of the original series. It’s a chaotic, surreal, and emotionally rich experience that will resonate with longtime fans but may alienate newcomers or those hoping for a more traditional sequel. Its philosophical undertones and narrative ambition elevate it beyond the average point-and-click adventure, even if it sometimes stumbles under the weight of its own complexity. While not a perfect game, it is a memorable one—flawed, fascinating, and utterly unique in its approach to storytelling in the medium.
Rating: 8/10

Let me preface this review with something important, this story is absolutely NOT vital to the actual franchise, you do not need to play this since its purpose is to nullify itself. I will update my review if the upcoming entry has any pointers to the ending of this, but I find it to be highly unlikely.
Despite this entry's purpose being a nothingburger, it was still an entertaining exploration, even if you can tell the team who worked on this game were not so much interested in continuing the story, they at least went hard into the antics with it, and as a bonus, we get some more background info on a few of our friends in Kuvaq. You may want to keep a guide handy though, some parts of the story aren't exactly choreographed to you, and you likely will get stuck acting more clueless than Rufus. (Also, ABSOLUTELY remember to hold space frequently, otherwise you WILL miss some important things that you'll need to pick up.)
I just wish I could easily jump around the chapters, because I want to get that 100% completion...

This game is ... out of ALL of the Deponia games, this game left me feeling almost unsatisfied. I wanted another game after it. The routes, the options, the puzzles, the choices, the revelations (some of which were very strongly hinted at previously), those were all good fun.
But I wanted another ending. I wanted ... like.. satisfaction at the ending.
With all said and done though, it was a good game. The same thing applies as with all the other games: Great art, great music, good voice acting, Goal is a good potato, Rufus is a dufus but at least he is trying this time for the most part. Would I recommend it? Yes. I've sent it to a number of friends, and if you've played the other you need to play this. It's an ending to a series that sadly needed a better ending, but.. it's an ending.