A mech game about guilt, grit, and getting back up, one bounty at a time.
There’s something strangely comforting about games that mix chaos with quiet: where you can spend time blasting enemies one minute, and tending crops the next. Bounty Star: The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem takes that contrast and runs with it, throwing players into a tale of redemption wrapped in metal, dust, and melancholy.
Developed by DINOGOD, Bounty Star is a third-person 3D action game that blends mech combat and customisation with farming and base building. At its centre is Clem, a once-respected ex-soldier and expert mech pilot who’s trying to leave behind the wreckage of her past. Set in the Red Expanse, a scorched, post-post-apocalyptic stretch of the American Southwest, Clem’s story unfolds in a place as harsh as it is lonely, where she’s trying to start over while haunted by the mistake that ended her military career.
The setting: painted in rust and neon
The world design leans heavily into the American Southwest, complete with the twang of country music playing from every corner. Its 3D visuals take on a slightly cartoon-like tone, with everything drenched in reddish-brown hues that fit the setting. Still, it’s not all dull and dusty.
At night, the desert glows differently and beautifully: leaves light up pink, while the moon looms large and round above, casting a bluish glow that blends beautifully with the vibrant purple flora.
Clem, a worn fighter finding her way back
Clem’s a fascinating protagonist. Her personality might come across as dry and unenthusiastic early on, but that’s what makes her feel believable. She’s someone who’s been through a bit too much to come out of it all unscathed, and the game doesn’t hide that.
Her story feels relatable because much like everyone else, she has her inner demons. She didn’t start off as a young, extremely talented, beautiful, and overpowered hero, and because of her depression, those who know her feel that she’s past her prime. Kind of like an old dog, the one who’s stepped away to let the young'uns do the world-saving gig, or even the neighbour-helping chores.
She also wasn’t granted any special considerations despite having been put through the wringer. Instead, she had to slowly learn how to get up again, earn her way through, and later realise that being a force for good is not only still possible, but meaningful.
The game starts off slow, giving us a glimpse into Clem’s life before she became a bounty hunter. She’s ex-military, and struggling with piecing herself back together after a traumatic experience. The opening carries real weight–the game captures her emotions with quiet honesty, showing us how the world revolves around her, while she’s still learning to move with it.
The story takes its time, and the pacing feels right for what it’s trying to say. Grief and trauma linger, and Bounty Star doesn’t rush Clem through them. Between bounties, we see pieces of her thoughts: her past, her pride as a soldier, and the regrets she still can’t shake. Her growth feels gradual and grounded. For a story built on something so heavy, Bounty Star balances its darker elements well against two strong gameplay pillars: combat and base building.
Combat in Bounty Star is surprisingly fun
Despite its serious tone, the game’s combat is lively and engaging. The controls feel smooth and easy to pick up even during the first few fights. The Raptor, Clem’s mech, doesn’t feel too powerful early on, but that’s where customisation comes in. Clem’s skill with machines is woven into the gameplay, and mech customisation quickly becomes one of the best parts of Bounty Star.
After completing bounties, she can spend her earnings on blueprints and augments from an online store, tweaking the Raptor’s loadout to suit different combat styles. Whether it’s a stronger hammer, faster knuckles, or a better cooling mechanism, each upgrade changes how battles play out.
Even the heat system adds depth: the desert sun affects how much heat the Raptor builds up, so spamming abilities recklessly can overheat the mech. It’s small details like this that keep the combat loop interesting and grounded.
The cosier side: base building and farming
When Clem’s not out chasing bounties, she spends her time fixing up her base: patching walls, adding furniture, building workbenches, and later, planting a few crops to keep things running. The farming side helps her save on expenses and, every now and then, brings in a bit of extra income. It’s a simple but practical system, and it fits with the idea of someone trying to rebuild a life piece by piece.
Cooking, on the other hand, is a mechanic that could’ve used more love. You can collect recipes and ingredients, but when it’s time to cook, the game just cuts to a quick shot of Clem’s back as she stirs something off-screen: “A little bit of this, a little bit of that…Done and dusted.” What’s that ‘little bit of this and that?’ Show me!
It’s a small detail, but it feels like a missed chance to show a more personal side of her routine, and add some depth to the more casual elements of this game.
Granted, these base building activities can harm the game's rhythm. Hunt, return to base, sleep, do errands, repeat. It sometimes feels like the farming and base building are more of a supplement than a core pillar. That said, it’s not terrible; just less addictive than most time-sink farming sims. More often than not, it makes you want to jump back into bounty hunting, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Verdict
At its core, Bounty Star: The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem is about facing inner demons, rebuilding a life piece by piece, and finding purpose again in a world that’s lost its way. This story is told in a combination of fun and exhilarating combat missions that give you a sense of accomplishment, and the slower, almost idyllic other half of the game that involves base building and farming. Admittedly, one of these halves shines more brightly than the other.
The game's core message is one worthy of your time; that redemption isn’t about grand gestures, but about showing up and doing the work, piece by piece, even when it feels like you’ll never get there. Perhaps one day you will, and perhaps that's the point.
Bounty Star: The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem is available on PC via Steam, PC Game Pass, and Epic Games Store, as well as Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. A review copy was provided for this piece.
