If you've ever played Escape from Tarkov and thought the game would be better if it had more animals, less sense, and twice as much trauma, meet Escape from Duckov. It is a game that is at the same time a parody, a horror and a test of mental stability. In short, Tarkov, but with ducks.
The game throws you into a dark, world where ducks have taken over and logic and reason have disappeared along with human dominance. Instead of soldiers and mercenaries, the world is now full of feathered danger, where every shadow can look at you through a crosshair. You take on the role of survivor without any warning, tutorial or explanation. Just you, a backpack and the question of what exactly happened in this town and why is a duck looking at you with a knife in its hand. From that moment on, the fight for survival begins, and every decision, every step and every mistake can mean the end.
Escape from Duckov is clearly inspired by Tarkov, but while Tarkov is dark, realistic and full of military discipline, Duckov is his wild, feathered child who escaped from the laboratory. The inventory is so complicated that it feels like you're trying to put together an IKEA wardrobe while someone throws eggs at you. Trying to put a bullet in the rifle often ends with you accidentally dropping the weapon, taking off your jacket, and managing to alert a whole flock of enemy ducks who have been ignoring you until then. However, in this clumsiness lies the charm of the game. When after a dozen failed attempts you manage to survive for more than five minutes and get out of the zone alive, the feeling of pride is priceless.
Graphically, Duckov looks surprisingly good. Reflections on puddles, detailed weapon models and realistic display of feathers after hits create the impression that you are in a serious game. Everything feels stable, fluid and technically polished, as if the developers have put every drop of sweat into creating a world that is both chaotic and surprisingly smooth. It feels like the game was made with care, and every frame exudes that unusual combination of realism and absurdity that makes Duckov a special experience.
The sound and atmosphere deserve separate praise. Every shot has weight, and the rustling of leaves and distant croaking create an uneasiness that slowly gets under the skin. If Tarkov is known for tension, Duckov raises it to the level of a psychological thriller where every shadow can be a duck ready to pounce. The soundtrack is a special experience: electronic beats mixed with croaking and the occasional ominous orchestra make you feel like you're stuck at a rave party in a zoo. It sounds crazy, but it works better than you might expect.
The difficulty of the game is brutal. Duckov doesn't love you, doesn't guide you and doesn't forgive you. The moment you relax, a duck with a katana comes out of the bushes and solves all your dilemmas. No minimap, no help, no way to save yourself if you're not careful. When you finally manage to retrieve a few precious items and perform the "extract", the feeling of satisfaction is hard to describe. Kao da ste preživjeli stvarni rat, samo s više kvakanja.
Escape from Duckov is not a game for everyone. It's an experience that will make you curse, laugh and question your own intelligence. But for those who like challenges and enjoy unpredictable madness, this is a real masterpiece of absurdity. In a world where games are often taken too seriously, Duckov shows that sometimes something brilliant can be born from pure chaos.
In the end, Escape from Duckov is everything you love and hate about Tarkov, only with more fluff, less logic, and twice the trauma. If you've ever thought you needed a game where ducks shoot at you as you try to find cans of food and save your soul, then you've found your next obsession. Escape from Duckov is not just a game, it's an experience that won't leave you long after you turn it off. Or at least until you hear that creepy "whoa-whoa" again in real life.
A copy of the game was provided by the publisher bilibili for review purposes
