Skopje ’83 – Review

I played a chaotic roguelite FPS set in an apocalyptic Balkan city.

In recent years, the indie games market has become the perfect place for unusual ideas and interesting genre combinations. A good example is Skopje ’83, a first-person shooter with roguelite and survival elements, developed by Dark-1 studio. The game was released on PC in November 2025 and offers a different experience from most classic shooters: exploring a chaotic city, progression based on “runs”, and a mobile base that completely changes the game's dynamic.

A destroyed city full of mystery

The action in Skopje ’83 takes place in an alternative, retro-futuristic version of the city of Skopje, where a mysterious event has transformed the city into a place full of mutant creatures and chaos. Players must explore different districts, gather resources, and survive in a hostile environment.

The game's atmosphere is one of its most interesting parts. The story isn't told directly through long cutscenes or elaborate dialogues, but rather through environmental storytelling.

As you explore abandoned buildings, destroyed streets, and industrial areas, you discover clues about what happened to the city and the strange experiments that led to the catastrophe. This approach maintains the sense of mystery and makes you want to explore every corner of the city.

Gameplay: a combination of FPS, survival, and roguelite

At its core, Skopje ’83 is a first-person shooter with roguelite elements. This means the game is structured in runs where you explore the city, fight enemies, collect resources, and try to advance as far as possible before dying.

When you die, the world partially resets: enemy positions and loot change, and the city becomes different with each attempt. However, some things remain permanent, such as weapon blueprints or certain stored resources, which creates a constant sense of progress.

In addition to the shooting aspect, the game also includes survival mechanics. Players must manage their energy, stamina, and available resources. This makes every decision count; sometimes it's better to avoid combat than to consume the ammo or energy needed to survive.

DOM – the mobile base that changes the rules of the game

The most original mechanic in Skopje ’83 is DOM, a bus that functions as a mobile base for the player. It can be driven through the city and used for upgrades, crafting, and storing loot.

The concept is simple but very effective. Instead of constantly returning to a fixed hub, you can move your base closer to dangerous areas or places you want to explore. The bus practically becomes a “refuge” in a chaotic world. As you progress, the DOM can be improved with various upgrades that give you significant advantages in future sessions.

Combat and weapons

Combat is fast and quite varied. Players have access to several types of weapons, from pistols and SMGs to experimental or melee weapons. An interesting aspect is the design of the boss fights. Each creature has its weaknesses or special mechanics, and players must observe and exploit them to win the fight.

However, combat isn't perfect. Some reviews mention that initial weapons feel slow and hard to control, and players can be quickly eliminated by powerful enemies. This high difficulty can be interesting for some players, but frustrating for others.

Cooperative multiplayer

Skopje ’83 can also be played in online co-op with up to four players. In this mode, the game becomes much more chaotic, as more enemies appear and situations become more intense.

Cooperation is encouraged through the loot and role system. One player can focus on combat, another on resource collection or crafting. Thus, in multiplayer, the game becomes more strategic and more fun.

Visual style and atmosphere

Artistically, Skopje ’83 stands out with its cel-shaded graphics, inspired by comic books. Many players compare the visual style to that of Borderlands.

This style works very well for the game's atmosphere. The city looks brutalist, cold, and at the same time stylised, and the visual effects during battles are spectacular. The audio design also contributes to the atmosphere, with ambient sounds and tense music that accentuate the feeling of danger.

Problems and limitations

Although the ideas in Skopje ’83 are interesting, the game is not without its problems. Some reviews mention several technical issues that can affect the gameplay experience.

These include sometimes inconsistent performance, with framerate drops in certain areas, longer-than-desired loading times, an interface that can sometimes be difficult to read or navigate, and a lack of accessibility options that could make the game easier to use for a wider range of players.

In addition, the game world can sometimes feel empty, and some locations are repetitive. These issues don't completely destroy the experience, but they show that the game still needs updates and optimisation.

So…

Skopje ’83 is an ambitious indie game that tries to combine several genres into a unique experience. The idea of the bus-base, the roguelite structure, and the atmosphere of the destroyed city create a different gameplay from most modern shooters. On the other hand, the game suffers from some technical issues and mechanics that could be better balanced.

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Available on: PC (Steam, Epic Games)
Played on: PC (Steam)
Release date: 7 November 2025
Developer: Dark-1
Publisher: PM Studios