8Bit/Digi

Fight, Die, Repeat

A game I enjoyed back in the day, despite being critically panned, was Bad Day L.A. for the PC. It was undeniably flawed, yet its chaotic style and ridiculous humor perfectly suited my teenage taste. It’s been ages since I last played it, but I still have fond memories of spending weekends enjoying it at a friend’s house. I mention Bad Day L.A. because if you were to mix it with Borderlands 2, you’d get something resembling Skopje ’83.

Also like Bad Day L.A., Skopje ’83 is a flawed game with the difference being is that I’m trying to enjoy it but just can’t.

Skopje ’83 is an ambitious title that blends a first-person shooter with an open-world survival experience in a roguelike environment. These ideas have worked well in the past, and its sci-fi urban setting looks intriguing. Combined with its comic book–inspired artistic style, it initially seemed very promising. However, the game stumbles in execution, presenting numerous issues that ultimately result in an experience that fails to live up to my expectations. Making it a game that I struggle to enjoy.

Wake Up Pioneer

Players assume the role of the Pioneer, who awakens in an underground facility with no memory or understanding of who they are. All they know is that death leads to rebirth at the same place. Guided by the mysterious Ana, they learn that the city above has been overrun by vicious mutants and sealed off by a massive energy shield to contain the outbreak. The Pioneer must uncover what caused the catastrophe and find a way to stop it. However, nothing is what it seems, as hidden secrets and deceit make it impossible to trust anyone.

Skopje ’83 does a solid job of establishing a mysterious atmosphere while inviting players to uncover its many secrets. It strikes a good balance between giving enough information to start with, revealing key details through discovery, and gradually drip-feeding the rest through environmental storytelling. This approach creates a sense of intrigue that keeps you genuinely invested in the narrative as you play.

Just Follow the Instructions  

Skopje ’83 is a first-person shooter that combines open-world survival with roguelike elements. Players navigate the city, battling mutants and scavenging for resources. Upon death, they’re resurrected into a world that has completely changed, forcing them to start over unless they’ve stored supplies in their DOM, a bus that doubles as a mobile home. Combat blends ranged and melee encounters, with weapons that can be upgraded to improve effectiveness and survival in this ever-shifting urban wasteland.

The survival aspect requires players to explore the world to gather resources, including materials and essential provisions like food, water, and ammunition. The resources can be used to upgrade the DOM, your gear, or to build new gear. Players must monitor not only their health but also their hunger and rest. If they become too tired, hungry, or thirsty, it will impair their ability to function, reducing aiming accuracy and causing them to take more damage in combat.

Stay a While

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Skopje ’83 immediately grabs your attention with its comic book–inspired art style. At first glance, it’s reminiscent of Borderlands and that’s perfectly fine. Those aesthetic was striking then and it looks great here. The visual design captures the right balance of chaos and over-the-top energy, matching the game’s tone and atmosphere. Complementing this is a soundtrack that skillfully shifts between eerie tension and wild intensity, enhancing the game’s distinct personality.

A Concrete Solution

Skopje ’83 is a game I struggle to enjoy, largely because it abandons players after the tutorial while basic resources are scarce from the start. Additionally, its survival mechanics are flawed, hindering the experience more than enhancing it. Not helping are the outdated physics that make the experience feel janky.

The tutorial teaches all the basics, but once you leave the facility, the game essentially abandons you. After that, you might get a brief message about nearby points of interest, but that’s it. There are no markers showing where to go, key buildings aren’t highlighted, and you aren’t clearly informed of your goals or tasks. You’re left to figure things out on your own. I’m not asking the game to hold my hand, but having even the most basic gameplay functions that have been common since the sixth-generation era.

This is followed by how scarce basic resources are right from the start. Most survival games make common materials readily available early on, allowing players to establish a foundation—upgrading gear, improving shelters, or building up supplies, before needing to grind for rarer resources. Skopje ’83 takes the opposite approach, as many essential resources are difficult to find from the beginning. This scarcity prevents players from meaningfully upgrading their equipment or the DOM, making early progress feel more like a struggle. Also not helping are the broken survival elements, as you will be needing to drink and eat way too often. Making it a distraction instead of a challenge for players.

Finally, the game suffers from outdated and inconsistent physics, which make the experience feel janky. A prime example is driving the DOM and colliding with a zombie. Instead of the expected sensation of lightly hitting a weak enemy and continuing your drive, the bus reacts as if it’s slammed into a solid wall. Everything abruptly halts, leaving no real sense of impact or feedback from striking a foe with your vehicle. This disconnect between expectation and reaction undermines the immersion.

The 7th Day

Skopje ’83 is a game I really wanted to enjoy but a bad mix of issues holds it back from being an unforgettable experience. It has a good story while the visual design and musical score know how to set the moment. But ignoring some modern design choices and being too focused on the worst elements of the survival genre undermines what could have been something great.

Disclaimer: The publisher, through a PR representative, provided the game used for this review.

This review is the critique and thoughts of one writer. If you want to see how other critics felt, then check it out on OpenCritic.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Skopje '83 (PC)

5

OK

5.0/10

Pros

• Storytelling is a balance between providing what is needed and drip feeding everything else.
• Visual style helps bring the world to life in a unique way.
• Music knows how to set the tone for the moment.

Cons

• Game abandons players after the tutorial.
• Basic required resources are scarce from the start.
• Broken survival elements hinder the experience more than enhance it.
• Outdated physics that make the experience feel janky.