Not many games start with defense. Throwing people out windows is a core mechanic in fantasy like XCOM, as is the case with Tactical Breach Wizards. You’re on the other side of a defensive (this is real life, I promise) attack. scrub duckleIt’s an explosive start to a game that quickly reveals itself as a quirky, hand-drawn RPG that reminds me of the classic 2D Zelda games you used to play under streetlights during long car rides as a kid. Playing with a Steam deck only doubles down on that vague sense of nostalgia. I couldn’t be happier to have found this before the Christmas period.
As you know, I was looking for the perfect Steam deck game to play when I go to London for a Christmas party later this week. I was unable to get the Pragmata demo to run properly. I don’t think the replay I had planned for Divinity Original Sin 2 would be the same on the small screen. As Skate Story prepared to head to the capital, the Scrub Duckle reared its beautiful head.
Scrabdackle plays like a classic Legend of Zelda title, from screen-by-screen exploration to environmental puzzles and found items. The gameplay takes me back to the RPGs of my youth, but there’s something about Scrabdackle that really captivates me with its magical premise.
Not only is everything in the game hand-drawn, but you can tell that Scrabdackle was created by luck. The sole developer, jakefriend, clearly knows this genre well and uses it to their and the game’s advantage. Whether it’s mimicking classic mechanics or circumventing expectations, there’s a wealth of fun hidden in every area.
Scrabdackle also has some elements of Undertale, but mainly in its DIY art direction and the sense that it’s one person’s passion project. I don’t know if it will have the same staying power or cultural explosiveness as Toby Fox’s RPGs, but it deserves some credit for trying new things and succeeding at most of them. With as much heart as mechanical depth, I can’t wait to dive into Chapters 2 and 3 when they are released in the next few years.
The first chapter is a complete game in itself, a perfect blend of story and exploration, with an old-school feel with perfectly modernized mechanics. I recommend Scrabdackle to anyone in need of some heartwarming nostalgia, but if you own a Steam Deck, it’s an even better throwback to the RPGs of yesteryear.
