Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak

 PC
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 52 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 52
  3. Negative: 0 out of 52
  1. PC Games
    Jan 22, 2016
    74
    The development team did a good job in transferring the typical Homeworld-feeling and gameplay from Space onto a planet’s surface. The campaign is designed pretty well and is entertaining, combined with a fantastic soundtrack and nice effects. Unfortunately the AI isn’t acting as clever as it should be. Skirmish and multiplayer, though disappointing, offer little content and are just poorly designed.
  2. Wccftech
    Feb 29, 2016
    72
    While not Homeworld as we know it and featuring bugs and a few issues, Deserts of Kharak is still a strong entry for the franchise and a strong RTS. Offering variety to the fast-paced twitch strategy games that are prevalent, the slow paced, tactical approach on offer here is a welcome change.
  3. Game Debate
    Mar 1, 2016
    70
    Ultimately, Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak is a bit like a trip to the beach. Sure, the sun’s beaming and you’ll have a great day’s fun, but you still can’t escape that feeling you’ve got sand up your Kharak.
  5. GameOver.gr
    Feb 24, 2016
    70
    After 12 years it is great to see the return of a beloved strategy series. Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak offers a decent campaign along with great graphics and intense battles, but lacks on the skirmish and multiplayer modes.
  6. Games.cz
    Feb 16, 2016
    70
    The return of a classic builds its foundations not only on nostalgia, but works fine also on the ground. The campaign draws you in no matter the issues with controls and AI, but the satisfactory lifespan could be achieved only if the devs give the game more support and open the game to mod community.
  7. Polygon
    Feb 3, 2016
    70
    Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak feels like an exercise in seeing how much mileage Blackbird could get from one environment, and it succeeds in that regard. There's enough strategic options and vehicles to tinker with to make it interesting for at least 10 hours. But Deserts of Kharak feels like it should be just a bit more. You can only travel through the desert for so long before you need to hit an oasis.
  8. PC Invasion
    Jan 20, 2016
    70
    Deserts of Kharak is a worthy addition to the Homeworld series, but as a unit-focused RTS it can feel a little flat and predictable until about three quarters of the way through the thirteen missions. It’s really not until late in the game that the missions become more challenging and interesting.
  9. Metro GameCentral
    Jan 19, 2016
    70
    It has more in common with the original Homeworld than it first seems, but this new real-time strategy works best as an introduction rather than a continuation.
  10. TheSixthAxis
    Jan 19, 2016
    70
    Though it lacks some of the nuance and complexity to make the most of some of its ideas, Deserts of Kharak captures the essence of the Homeworld series. Fans of the classic originals will find a familiar form of real time strategy adapted to a new setting, and telling another tale of a lonely carrier fighting through to its destination against the odds.
  11. God is a Geek
    Feb 9, 2016
    65
    An interesting enough take on the genre that's let down by boring looks and frustrating little niggles.
  12. PC PowerPlay
    Mar 24, 2016
    60
    A curious relic, uncovered by a freak sandstorm, and soon to be reclaimed by the desert. [Issue#248, p.58]
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In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Ars Technica
    Jan 20, 2016
    A game at war with itself. The continuity from mission to mission encourages you to play in the most boring fashion possible, while the game's challenge and length never makes doing so necessary.
  2. PCGamesN
    Jan 19, 2016
    I’m not going to beat around the bush here: Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak is the greatest RTS I have played since I first started flirting with StarCraft II. It’s blessed with the detail of Wargame, the interesting terrain of Company of Heroes and the iconic style of its space-based predecessors. Diverse, distinct units; a genuinely compelling sci-fi story of mythic proportions; and absolutely the best sound design in the genre work toward making it a stand out RTS.
  3. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Jan 21, 2016
    Deserts of Kharak does manage to be standalone as well as prequel to an old series, and if you’re tired of the twitchy frenzy which grips so many latter-day RTSes, Kharak is a smart and beautiful destination whether or not you still dream of Hiigara. It might be set on land, but by recent RTS standards it’s nonetheless reaching for the stars.

Awards & Rankings

91
#91 Best PC Game of 2016
62
#62 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
87
#87 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 233 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 167 out of 233
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 233
  3. Negative: 22 out of 233
  1. Solsixxa
    Jan 24, 2016
    7
    This review was super hard to me to write. Only because i LOVE the Homeworld universe!. i even named my dog S´jet.
    Well, fineshed the game    This review was super hard to me to write. Only because i LOVE the Homeworld universe!. i even named my dog S´jet.
    Well, fineshed the game today, and wow its was mixed feeling all the way. graphics it beautiful. just as expected. my the story was... not horrible. but they could have done some much more.
    Why couldn't we see the Hyperspace core discovered? Seeing all clans unite in peace to find there real home.

    Game was SO easy!, i completed in hard, and had 5000 RU´s to spare. This game reminds me of the 90´game Dark Reign? anybody remember that?

    Well, if you are a hardcore homeworld fan get it. If you love the story of homeworld, and would like to se more, you will get disappointed. game seams rushed :(    … Full Review »
  2. Azzanation
    Jan 21, 2016
    10
    Homeworld is one of those franchises that its story holds up really well. Being a prequel fits in so well. Deserts of Kharak plays just likeHomeworld is one of those franchises that its story holds up really well. Being a prequel fits in so well. Deserts of Kharak plays just like Homeworld Originals except on land. It has always had one of the best RTS gameplay designs. The sounds alone are amazing. This game is a must buy for those who loved the Homeworld series and a must buy for RTS fans. Story holds up well, gameplay is fun and simple and the game design is top notch. While the visuals aren't super computer pushing, its enough to create an amazing atmosphere for this great game.

    I will be looking forward to the next Homeworld game.    … Full Review »
  3. Avadon
    Jan 20, 2016
    8
    **Note: I have not finished the campaign yet, it's quite lengthy, but really enjoyed the part that I played. This is more of a heads-up,**Note: I have not finished the campaign yet, it's quite lengthy, but really enjoyed the part that I played. This is more of a heads-up, rather than a full review. Cautiously take into consideration.

    With the exception of Starcraft 2, pretty much all RTS games that have been released in the past decade have had lousy single player campaigns AND underdeveloped/unbalanced/poor online components. Deserts of Kharak at least has a good single player campaign. It's not HW1-tier, but I'd say it's just as good as HW2's, in term of its effectiveness.

    Is it worth the asking price? The answer to that depends on who you are. If you are a big fan of the atmosphere and storytelling of the series and are mostly interested in the campaign and maybe a few online matches with a friend here and there, then DoK delivers. If you are a competitive player that doesn't really care about single player, and that's looking for a SC2 replacement (for some reason), this is not it. The depth and variety just isn't even in the same ballpark.

    I belong in the first category, so I will score this highly. It gave me a good campaign, and I've been growing increasingly sick and tired of ONLY Blizzard giving a crap about that extremely important aspect of RTS games, and then reading devs saying that people are not interested in the genre anymore. No. People are just not interested in bad RTS games. DoK is half-great, half-poor. If it receives post-launch support and even an expansion later down the line, it can become actually great. Let's hope for the latter.    … Full Review »
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