Desolate Wastes: Vendor Chronicles

Much better flash games to play instead of this.

I picked this up hoping the gun shop survival concept would be as fun as it sounds, but the experience is dragged down by game-breaking bugs that crash the game and wipe your save — something the developer hasn't addressed. The core loop of buying low, selling high, and defending your shop from zombie hordes at night has a certain charm, and the trading minigame with the spinning arrow is a neat idea, but it wears thin fast when that's essentially all there is. Missing features like the repair bench and raiders mean some achievements are flat-out unattainable, and the whole thing feels like it left early access way too soon. For the low price there's a fleeting moment of fun, but with an abandoned bug list and so little content, I can't recommend it.

So bad

Desolate Wastes: Vendor Chronicles, developed by Rotatipyra and published by New Reality Games, is an indie experiment that reimagines post-apocalyptic survival through the perspective of an unlikely protagonist—the merchant. Instead of playing as a lone wanderer scavenging through ruins or a hardened survivor fighting for scraps, you step into the role of a vendor trying to make a living in a dying world. It’s a clever inversion of the usual apocalypse fantasy, turning the economic undercurrent of survival into the core gameplay loop. The world has fallen apart, trade is the only lifeline that remains, and your tiny shop becomes both a business and a bastion against the chaos that swirls beyond its walls. The concept alone promises something fresh: a fusion of management simulation, tower defense, and survival strategy. At the heart of the game lies a simple but engaging rhythm. By day, you manage your store—buying low, selling high, repairing items, and bartering with scavengers, mercenaries, and desperate wanderers. The goal is to turn a profit while keeping your shelves stocked and your equipment in shape. There’s a certain grim humor in conducting business while civilization …

Meh

Crappy little game based around a timing minigame.