Early-Access-Review: Is Duckside Worth Playing in 2026?

Game Overview.

Honestly, Duckside is just boring, and I think it is worse now than when I originally reviewed it. These are the type of games that need people to play with to make them fun, and when I checked, there were around three people online on Steam, with a 24-hour peak of just 15 players. There is some PvE content, but it is very weak, and overall it is just not worth playing.

It Is Deadside All Over Again.

As I said in my original review, just as Deadside feels like a worse version of Rust or DayZ, Duckside feels like a worse version of Deadside. Deadside itself has had severe issues with player retention, and its player base has struggled for most of its life, while Duckside is simply a worse version of that game.

While I can admire the hustle of aiding with the creation of what feels like a cheap knockoff of their own title before someone else did, Duckside still reminds me more of an April Fool’s Day mode than something people would want to play long term.

A half-decent joke rarely results in a good game, and as I mentioned in my original review, Duckside was mechanically lacking in almost every area, with subpar base building, crafting, map design, visuals and, most importantly, horrifically poor gunplay.

Returning to it has not changed my mind for the better.

Better Games Died.

When I originally reviewed Duckside, I said that much bigger, better and far less boring survival games had died in Early Access, and unfortunately that observation still feels relevant.

When I checked, only three people were online on Steam, and the 24-hour peak was just 15. Considering that, it seems most other people feel the same way.

Games like this need other players to make them fun, and while Duckside does have some PvE content, it is weak and nowhere near substantial enough to carry the game by itself. Without a healthy player population, there simply is not enough here to make Duckside worth playing.

Future, What Future?

When I originally reviewed Duckside, I said I had no reason to believe it would ever become more than a meme game with a small community that slowly withered on the vine, and unfortunately that appears to be exactly what has happened.

I am sure the developers will at least attempt to complete its Early Access journey, and of course a few more people will probably return when that happens. However, as far as I am concerned, unless I see a considerable, marked improvement from where we are now, this is my final update to the game.

Honestly, I would not hold it against the developers if they just left it to rot, because there is nothing there to save.

Show the Developers Some Mercy.

That does not mean I have anything against the developers themselves.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe we should treat others as we would want to be treated.

If I were in their position, I would want people to show me mercy and allow me to leave a failed project behind so I could work on something better. The developers never intended to make a bad game, it just did not work out, and no one wants to fail this badly.

I would like players to show the developers a little mercy. If they continue working on Duckside and somehow manage to turn it around, great, but if they decide their time would be better spent working on something else, I would understand.

Duckside FAQ

Duckside is a survival game developed by TinyBuild Riga and published by tinyBuild, it released on 25 September 2024, and is available on PC, Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Is There Group Finding/Matchmaking Support?

Duckside offers the following matchmaking options:

• ☑ Server Browser

What Peripherals Are Supported?

Duckside supports the following peripherals:

• ☑ PC - Mouse and Keyboard

Is There Any Mature Content?

Duckside is unrated and contains:

• ☑ Violence

Final Verdict.

When I originally reviewed Duckside, I gave it 4/10 and described it as a worse version of an already struggling survival game that had gained attention largely because of its meme potential.

Honestly, it is worse now.

It is boring, the PvE is weak, and there are barely enough people playing to make the multiplayer worthwhile. It still feels more like an April Fool’s Day mode than something people would want to play long term, and unless there is a considerable, marked improvement, this is my final update to Duckside.

It is just not worth playing.

At the same time, I do not blame the developers for trying. The game did not work out, no one wants to fail this badly, and I hope players show them a little mercy if they eventually decide to leave Duckside behind and work on something better.

Is Duckside Worth Playing?

We found Duckside to be barely playable, meaning it is severely flawed, broken, or dead, and not worth playing for most gamers.