Developer: Ciaran Games LLC
Publisher: Silver Lining Interactive
Genre: FPS
Price: $9.99
Release Date: Nov 25, 2025
Where to buy: Steam
Captain Wayne – Vacation Desperation is a high-octane “boomer shooter” that successfully blends retro FPS gameplay with a bizarre Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic. Developed by Ciaran Games, this title places players in the boots of a disgruntled pirate captain seeking revenge against a mercenary gang known as the Killer Whales. The game distinguishes itself immediately with a unique visual style that looks like a hand-drawn animation gone horribly, wonderfully wrong. While the market is currently flooded with retro-inspired shooters, Captain Wayne manages to carve out its own niche through sheer personality and aggressive combat design. It serves as a love letter to 90s gaming, offering a tight, adrenaline-fueled experience that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern.
The most striking aspect of the game is undoubtedly its presentation, which marries bright, colorful cel-shaded graphics with over-the-top visceral gore. Every frame looks like a scene from SpongeBob SquarePants if the show were directed by Quentin Tarantino, creating a delightful cognitive dissonance for the player. The hand-drawn enemies pop against the tropical backdrops of Orca Isle, ensuring that the chaotic action remains readable even when explosions fill the screen. This juxtaposition of “cute” character designs with gratuitous violence gives the game a morbid sense of humor that permeates every level. The visuals are not just a gimmick; they are integral to the game’s identity, making it one of the most visually distinct shooters released this year.
Mechanically, the game is a masterclass in momentum-based combat that rewards aggression over caution. Captain Wayne’s primary weapon is his own severed arm, which has been replaced by a double-barreled shotgun that feels incredibly punchy and satisfying to use. The arsenal expands to include absurdities like chain-gun fingers and explosive “Boom Brew,” ensuring that the player always has a creative way to dispatch foes. Movement is fast and fluid, encouraging players to circle-strafe and close the distance rather than taking cover or playing tactically. The gameplay loop is simple but addictive, perfectly capturing the “just one more level” energy of the classics that inspired it.
The auditory experience complements the visual chaos perfectly, featuring a soundtrack that drives the player forward with relentless intensity. Heavy metal riffs and driving percussion sync perfectly with the on-screen carnage, elevating the heart rate during the game’s most frantic firefights. The voice acting is intentionally campy, with Captain Wayne delivering one-liners that are equal parts cringeworthy and hilarious, fitting the B-movie tone of the narrative. Sound effects are crunchy and loud, giving every shotgun blast and explosion a tangible sense of weight that many modern shooters lack. This cohesive audio design wraps the entire package in a layer of polish that betrays the game’s budget price tag.
In conclusion, Captain Wayne – Vacation Desperation is a standout title that offers tremendous value for fans of the genre. While the campaign is relatively short, the inclusion of an endless mode provides plenty of replayability for those chasing high scores. It may not revolutionize the first-person shooter genre, but it executes the fundamentals with such style and confidence that it is hard to dislike. For the price of a lunch, players get a polished, energetic, and genuinely funny romp that respects their time and intelligence. If you have ever wanted to play a violent cartoon pirate, this game is unequivocally a must-buy.
