Steam regularly offers limited-time free titles, and this week is no exception. Arabian Gulfa survival FPS in a desert environment, can be downloaded free of charge until February 8. Developed by the IVDev studio, the game immerses you in a GoldenEye-style atmosphere, with a refined interface and combat in arid terrain. A “2025” game with a promising pitch: surviving in the face of the elements and ruthless enemies. On paper, everything is there. And yet…
Ultra-minimalist and… highly criticized gameplay
Despite this welcome free service, Arabian Gulf quickly aroused harsh criticism on Steam. The reason: its paltry lifespan, its lack of clear mechanics and repeated bugs. One player, Death Himself, sums up the experience bluntly: “You can’t win a melee fight, so don’t even try. Once you have a gun, you’re almost invincible. No instructions are given, but the principle is quite simple: rush at enemies until you find gold. I finished the game in 17 minutes, about 5 of which were spent waiting for the screen to clear.”
Levels too short to convince
Another user, vollp, goes further by criticizing the structure of the game itself. “You have to run to a golden trophy that you can reach in less than 20 seconds. That’s the whole game.” “There are dozens of enemies that deal colossal damage that cannot be healed and will kill you if you engage in combat, which means you start again at level 1.” Some players see it as a retro challenge of extreme difficulty, others as a technical farce. The debate is open.
A cult game despite itself?
With its minimalist interface, its bugs and its vitriolic criticism, Arabian Gulf seems to join the category of games “so bad they become fascinating”. A certain ByIO even called it “the best game of all time”, with a tone that leaves no doubt about the second degree. Still, at zero euros, it’s hard to really complain. Arabian Gulf stands out as an unexpected phenomenon at the beginning of February. And in the Steam universe, sometimes, free is enough to create a buzz.