Dirty Bomb®

Dirty Bomb is a fast-paced, team-based first-person shooter that combines elements from classic arena shooters and tactical FPS games. Developed by Splash Damage, it offers objective-driven gameplay with a diverse roster of mercenaries, each with unique abilities and roles. Players appreciate the game's emphasis on skillful aiming, fluid movement including wall and long jumps, and strategic teamwork. The game features a free-to-play model with a rotating free merc pool and a loadout card system where higher-tier cards are mostly cosmetic, ensuring a level playing field. Despite its enjoyable core mechanics and solid gunplay, Dirty Bomb faces challenges such as a steep learning curve for newcomers, limited map variety, and a sometimes frustrating grind to unlock mercs and loadouts. The community is generally friendly but small, and matchmaking and party systems have room for improvement. The game has seen some balance issues, especially with new mercs and one-shot weapons, which affect competitive play. Nonetheless, it remains a beloved title for fans of skill-based, objective FPS games.

Highlights

Players praise Dirty Bomb's fast-paced, skillful gunplay and fluid movement mechanics that reward aiming and positioning. The team-based objective gameplay encourages cooperation, with distinct merc roles adding depth. The game’s art style and character design receive positive remarks for being cohesive and appealing. The free-to-play model is lauded for being fair, with no pay-to-win elements, and the rotating free merc system allows players to try different characters. Fans enjoy the nostalgic feel reminiscent of Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory and appreciate the developer's openness and community engagement.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the steep learning curve and grind-heavy progression system to unlock mercs and loadouts, which can be frustrating for new players. The loadout card system’s RNG nature limits customization and sometimes feels restrictive. Players also note balance issues, especially with certain mercs and the prevalence of one-shot kill weapons, which can diminish enjoyment. The small player base leads to inconsistent matchmaking and long queue times. Additionally, the game lacks a robust party system, and some maps are considered unbalanced or limiting for specific mercs. There are also occasional bugs and outdated graphics settings.