Dustwind: Resistance is tactical chaos on Steam Deck

By Raquel

If you’ve ever wanted to lead a squad of battle-hardened survivors through a post-apocalyptic wasteland, with a very good dog named Diesel watching your back, Dustwind: Resistance might be your new jam. Just don’t expect it to be easy.

Get Dustwind: Resistance here

This is one of those games that feels like it wasn’t made for the Steam Deck, but with a little patience, ends up feeling right at home. It’s a real-time tactics game with the option to pause and think things through, and honestly? You’ll need that pause button. A lot. The action gets hectic fast, and without it, I wouldn't even have time to throw a grenade before getting my squad wiped out.

At first, the controls are a bit overwhelming, there are buttons, menus, and options everywhere. It clearly wasn’t built for handheld play, but once I got used to the layout, I found a nice rhythm. The Steam Deck’s performance holds up well here too: a steady 40+ fps on the OLED model, even during the more chaotic shootouts.

Gameplay-wise, Dustwind: Resistance has depth. You can experiment with loadouts, skills, weapons, and strategies, and the pause-and-command mechanic makes it really satisfying to outsmart enemies instead of just outgunning them. The dog, Diesel, isn’t just a cute sidekick; he’s crucial for survival, especially at the beginning. It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure that out. Pro tip: don't forget to use the dog.

There are a few rough edges though. I hit a couple of bugs where cutscenes didn’t trigger, forcing me to die and reload to progress. Annoying, sure, but forgivable considering the scope and ambition packed into this game.

In short, Dustwind: Resistance is a gritty, tough-as-nails tactical experience that demands planning, patience, and a little bit of stubbornness. It’s not the most intuitive game on Steam Deck, but once you learn its systems, it rewards you with smart gameplay and some seriously intense moments. Plus, any game that lets me say, “My dog just saved the mission,” is a win in my book.

I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co