Dustwind

Great Fallout Tactics vibes that brings back the Classic Fallout feelings.
All in one a good decent game that was clearly made with a lot of passion by people that really enjoyed the Classic isometric Fallout games.


The Good:
- amazing graphics, blending 3D with classic Fallout era isometric style graphics
- tons of guns, each with its own interesting playstyle
- great RPG stats that don't feel overwhelming yet gives you a good sense of progression
- interesting missions, plenty of things to do inside missions with a lot of extra places to explore and loot beside the main mission quest
- unique base defense missions where you can build barricades and turrets, place mines and even recruit mercenaries or arm friendly NPCs that will join the fight
- a good feeling of progression that doesn't feel forced or dragged
- vehicles! And you can drive them and shoot from inside them, Fallout Tactics style.
- good sound and decent music/ambient score
- I found just a few minor bugs with enemy pathfinding on some particular parts in a few maps, not a problem for the players as that may even be an advantage in a pinch.


The not so Good (none of them that important, but I mentioned them anyway):
- you cannot take the NPCs with you in missions. There are a few missions where they can join you after you rescue them, and they will fight side by side with you, but you cannot form a true team or help them level up and manage their stats as you can do in Fallout Tactics. So it's a mainly solo play throughout.
- the Story is meh and it feels meh. Decent enough to get you trough the game but nothing to impress you to talk about with friends years later
- it feels short, about 15-17 hours if you don't explore each corner of every map, maybe 25 hours if you do, the ending feels a bit rushed too
- the multitude of trade items feels overwhelming, maybe a separate trader for armor and another for medicinal stuff would be nice, and on that point, more NPCs would also be nice, and each with their own stories and even missions/quests...
- the vehicle driving take a bit to get used with
- there is a sudden spike in difficulty towards the end, be prepared for it, save often and keep good weapons in the vehicle inventory together with plenty of ammo and some heavy armors, you will need them


Conclusion:
The game deserves a chance, especially if you love Classic Fallout games or tactical Isometric games or even games like Icewind Dale that focus on tactics and have a realtime/pause combat system.

It may not be an epic RPG that will be remembered by an entire generation, but it will get you invested and it will deliver a good solid isometric/tactical combat experience.


I hope the devs would make another game in the same universe with multiple units that will form a combat team, with a bit more RPG elements, multiple quests and storylines, a bit less mess in the base (fewer buildings, less enemy waves, less enemies attacking), and a better writing and storyline. Add some good voice acting (AI can do that on the cheap), a banger intro and multiple extra missions/campaigns that you can unlock as you play the main one and then play with your experienced team after you finish the main game, add more dialogue and tension, make cool looking companions and NPCs and you got yourself a banger.

A Falout old school isometric game , you will love it , i am hopping for more to come

TTS of the text
It is a shorter post-apocalyptic light-RPG game with barely any talking. It uses real-time slightly tactical-ish combat. You go on missions and you defend your camp. Having the overworld with farming locations is basically just a decoration. It's a small indie production, or is it? Because according to Steam it's under the publisher called Z-Software GmbH. Anyway, according to the scale it has rather loose controls and interfaces. Like, it uses instead of . The art is clearly inspired by Fallout from before it was turned into shit. The sprites are very pleasant, but the choice of fonts is noticeably rough.
It has a minimal story with minimalist storytelling. Just a girl trying to find her daughter, while desperate people are imagining her to be an hero. The second campaign is shorter and with no camp defences. It has faster escalation, giving you your end-game weapons in the second mission. But it doesn't have any of the best stuff. It's about two dorks just wanting to come to success. So first they raid a zombie infested military base filled with rusted high-tech gear, then steal a car, and finally arrive to the main camp from the main campaign.
Yeah it's a fine game.

At a discount of 85% for like 3 euros yeah sure. It's a really simplistic and dumbed down version of something like Fallout Tactics: BoS mixed with ATOM RPG and a really uninteresting plot. If it's not at discount don't bother.

Dustwind, developed by Dustwind Studios and published by Z-Software GmbH, is a tactical action game set in a harsh post-apocalyptic world where survival depends on strategy, precision, and resourcefulness. It blends the deliberate pace of classic isometric tactics with the immediacy of real-time combat, offering a hybrid experience that feels both nostalgic and modern. At its core, the game is a love letter to titles like Fallout Tactics and Jagged Alliance, with an emphasis on positioning, cover, and scavenging. Rather than relying on fast reflexes or explosive set pieces, Dustwind rewards careful planning, patience, and adaptability. Each encounter can be won in multiple ways—through stealth, traps, sniping from afar, or brute force—but every decision carries weight, as a single mistake can doom your squad in seconds.
The game’s structure revolves around short, objective-driven missions that play out across desolate wastelands, fortified compounds, and ruined cities. Players can control a single character or an entire squad, customizing loadouts, perks, and abilities before entering combat. Once in the field, the experience feels methodical: you must move carefully from cover to cover, manage ammunition, and make smart use of limited supplies. Combat plays out in real time, but you can pause to issue orders, allowing for precise coordination between team members. This system strikes a satisfying balance between control and tension—every movement feels deliberate, every shot has consequence. The inclusion of destructible environments, traps, and a robust weapon variety adds tactical flexibility, making each mission feel distinct even when the objectives are familiar.
What stands out most about Dustwind is its atmosphere. The world it builds is grim and believable, a place where humanity’s collapse has left behind scavengers, mercenaries, and remnants of failed societies clinging to survival. The environments, rendered in detailed isometric perspective, capture the sense of decay with muted colors, rusted metal, and wind-swept debris. The level design reinforces the feeling of isolation—maps often feel like abandoned battlefields filled with the ghosts of a long-dead civilization. The ambient soundtrack and sparse sound effects enhance the immersion, relying on silence and environmental cues rather than heavy music to set the tone. It’s a world that feels lived-in, dangerous, and unsentimental, where every skirmish is just another fight for scraps.
The single-player campaign, though relatively brief, delivers a cohesive set of missions that introduce the game’s mechanics and tone effectively. It’s not a story-driven experience in the traditional sense; the narrative functions more as a backdrop to the action than a focal point. Instead of cinematic cutscenes or branching dialogue, the storytelling emerges through the environment and the steady progression of increasingly challenging encounters. Each mission feels like a test of skill rather than a narrative milestone. For players who enjoy building and perfecting tactical strategies, this works well. However, those looking for deep character development or emotional storytelling may find the structure sparse. The writing serves its purpose, but it’s the gameplay systems that carry the weight of engagement.
Where Dustwind truly shines is in its customization and replayability. Players can create their own characters from scratch, tailoring appearance, weapons, and abilities to suit their preferred play style. This freedom encourages experimentation—one run might favor stealth and traps, while another might focus on heavy armor and explosives. The multiplayer and co-op modes expand on this, allowing teams of players to tackle missions or battle each other using fully customized characters. The map editor adds another layer, giving creative players the tools to design and share their own scenarios. Unfortunately, while the concept is strong, the online player base has dwindled over time, and matchmaking can be inconsistent. The game’s potential for long-term community growth is clear, but without an active network of players, much of that potential remains underused.
Despite its strengths, Dustwind struggles with pacing and polish. Movement can feel sluggish, the interface is cluttered, and the AI—both ally and enemy—occasionally behaves erratically. Missions can drag when objectives are unclear or when backtracking becomes necessary. The learning curve is also steep, and the game does little to explain its deeper mechanics, leaving new players to figure things out through trial and error. These issues don’t ruin the experience, but they do reveal the game’s indie roots and limited resources. The systems are well-designed, but the execution sometimes lacks the refinement of larger tactical titles. Still, for players willing to overlook these imperfections, Dustwind offers a uniquely satisfying sense of control and tactical accomplishment rarely seen in modern games.
In the end, Dustwind is a thoughtful, challenging, and atmospheric tactical experience that captures the spirit of classic PC strategy games while carving out its own identity. It’s slow, methodical, and unforgiving, but that’s also what makes it rewarding. The blend of real-time combat with strategic depth creates an engaging rhythm that keeps players constantly evaluating their decisions. It may not have the production values or narrative ambition of a blockbuster, but it succeeds where it matters most—delivering a world that feels authentic, systems that reward intelligence, and combat that demands respect for every bullet fired. For fans of tactical combat and post-apocalyptic survival, Dustwind stands as a hidden gem: flawed but fiercely committed to its vision, and all the more admirable for it.
Rating: 7/10

I originally purchased this game on console, then got it together with Dustwind 2 in a sale bundle. It is much easier to play on PC.
It plays like Fallout: Tactics in real-time mode; however, unlike Tactics, you cannot switch to turn-based. Characters attack automatically when enemies get within range. You can set to attack only when you have a certain % chance to hit. Quick items (grenades, healing, lock picks, etc) each have their own utility slot on the HUD (i.e. no need to equip them)
The main story is basic and a little short (about 15 lvls). Missions are interspersed with predetermined base defence actions. The bonus campaign is about 6 missions and is related to the main story. It provides a logical reason for the characters to exist, but is nowhere near being an epic.
There is no character creation for the main campaign, but there is for the bonus campaign and skirmish/multiplayer modes. You gain creation points to use on skills as you defeat enemies.
There's a good variety of equipment (6 armour types, 6 melee weapons, 23 ranged weapons*, 3 vehicles) all with conditional variants (rusty/cracked, default, improved, special). Alternate ammo types are also available for certain weapons (i.e. 9mm "shredder" ammo, Fletchette shells, Incendiary shells/rounds, etc)
*Some ranged weapons have bayonets so they can double as melee weapons
There aren't many varieties of enemies. Raiders (90% of what you fight), Frogpigs, Dwarf (a humanoid mutant of varying size, despite the name), Valkries (some sort of female melee cyborg), Titans (basically super mutants), dogs and humanoid robots (both only in skirmish mode). Dog, Valkrie, Titan, and Robot are also available character creation options in Skirmish mode.
I had fun playing this game and would recommend it on sale for $15 or less.

very nice game like fotactics