Hobo: Tough Life

It's funny to think of what the meeting would have been like when conceptualizing this game. "You know what the world is missing? A hobo simulator." And then everyone proceeds to applaud this genius innovation and starts work on the game. Clearly, the developers were excited about this one, throwing into early access nearly immediately. Hobo: Tough Life is an open-world game where you will take on the persona of a homeless man fighting for survival. Have you ever dreamed of living the life of an Eastern European Hobo? I can't say I have. Nor have I meant anyone that's even suggested the idea. Maybe there's more to this journey than the stereotypes we slap on them?

It's a Hobo Life For Us

So what do you imagine a Hobo does all day? Scrounge for some cash? Scour through garbage cans? Or maybe just doing whatever it takes to make a quick buck? Whether that is the actual life of a Hobo or not - those mechanics are all implemented into Hobo: Tough Life. It almost feels as if the game is glorifying a life of an urban nomad.

The translation of homeless life is very intriguing into a game. It brings a sense of realism into the whole survival open-world genre - and you're never sure whether you like that or not. You'll walk the streets of Praslav facing up to the harsh realities of living amongst a judgmental society when you have nothing. There a plenty of options on your plate to survive - begging, stealing, sifting, and more - all while taking the abuse that comes with it.

The concept Hobo: Tough Life attempts to deliver is profound. The visuals do capture the Eastern European town well and populate it with essential assets for survival. Players will interact with NPCs kindly for change or get desperate and steal from them. The survival mechanics are very intricate, ranging from body heat, personal hygiene to simple cash to stay alive.

It's worth noting that the game is not easy, maybe because of the heavy premise involved in the game. It won't be easy to achieve goals, and that will frustrate most players quickly. Apart from glitches, lack of direction and lifeless NPC interactions - the game has the makings of a cult classic for hardcore gamers.

Oh, To Be Homeless in Praslav

It's hard to tell whether Hobo: Tough Life aims to be a game with an impactful message or an innovation in the survival genre. The reason being that both don't appear up to scratch right now. It is early access, but the confused direction begs for a focus of either or if developers seek to attract a sizeable player base.

Pros:

• The ideas of homeless life translate well into the game's mechanics
• Visuals capture the essence of hard living
• Detailed survival aspects that make the game very challenging

Cons:

• Mechanics such as NPC interactions feel broken
• Feels like there is a lack of direction in the game
• Could use a bit more narrative for player immersion