Vultures - Scavengers of Death

I hadn’t expected to enjoy a turn-based survival horror mashup as much as I did, but Vultures - Scavengers of Death sneaks up on you like one of its mutants. The game wears its PS1-inspired filters proudly while grafting on XCOM-like tactical decisions, and that odd mix mostly works in its favor. Playing as Leopoldo and Amber, each mission feels like a compact puzzle where position, resource management and a single wrong step can cost you dearly. If you like methodical tension and reward for smart play, this one scratches a very particular itch.

Tactical Extraction: Every Turn Matters

The core loop is deceptively simple: enter a ruined location, find the extraction target, then get out alive with your haul. You command only one operative per mission — either the hulking, environment-manipulating Leopoldo or the nimble, grappling-gun-wielding Amber — which makes every decision feel intimate and high-stakes. Movement, pushing objects, jumping and the grappling gun are not just window dressing; they’re tools you use to control choke points, set up combos and manipulate enemy placement. Combat is turn-based but spatial: flanking, pushing enemies into hazards or stunning them with precise gunfire can turn a dire battle into a narrow win. Ammo and medkits are sparse, so you’re incentivized to sneak, avoid unnecessary fights and think like a scavenger rather than a soldier. Missions play like handcrafted puzzles as much as fights, and I found myself replaying scenarios to shave off damage or squeeze more valuables from a run.

Scavenge, Upgrade, Survive

Scavenging is central to progression: weapons range from pistols and rifles to knives and a katana, and valuables you retrieve convert to credits in the between-mission Market. That economy loop encourages risk-reward decisions — do I grab that heavy loot and risk another encounter, or extract early and save resources? The Market lets you buy upgrades, new gear and cosmetics, which adds a light RPG layer to the tactical core. Persistent progression (some items and ammo carry over) gives your runs weight: choices outside combat matter as much as those inside it. Environmental interactions are deliciously tactical — exploding barrels, electrified panels and leg shots that immobilize foes create emergent solutions I didn’t always foresee. The game nudges you to experiment, and I had multiple moments where a clever push or a well-timed grappling hook felt legitimately genius.

Grainy Shadows and Creaky Soundscapes

Presentation leans heavily into a retro PS1 aesthetic, with grainy textures, stiff animation charms and angled camera moments that crank up tension rather than hide flaws. The art style works for the tone: desolate cityscapes, flickering lights and uncanny mutant designs sell the idea of Salento Valley as ground zero. Audio is effective — creaks, distant groans and an often sparse soundtrack make empty corridors unnerving, although some vocal choices (mumbles and non-verbal grunts) feel odd and intentionally campy. Performance is generally solid on Windows but the community reports crashes and occasional stuck states; I encountered a couple of bugs too, so expect patches. Controls mostly feel natural, though some players complain the WASD camera panning is slow and a few UI elements can be fiddly until you get used to them.

Vultures - Scavengers of Death is a promising, characterful indie that blends survival horror atmosphere with tactical, turn-based design. It’s not fully polished yet — expect bugs and a few rough edges — but its environmental tactics, market progression and tense mission design make it worth checking out. I’d recommend it to players who enjoy deliberate, puzzle-like combat and retro aesthetics; if you need spotless stability or large squad control, wait for a few patches.