Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information

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For the first time in over 20 years, we are heralding the return of a much loved piece of gaming history with the classic RPG, Wasteland! Mutants. Again. Even more than there were last time: they seem to materialize out of the very grains of the radioactive desert sand. Venomous yellow eyes.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic is a rpg, post-apocalyptic and classic game developed and published by inXile Entertainment.
Released on November 13th 2013 is available in English on Windows, MacOS and Linux.

It has received 455 reviews of which 359 were positive and 96 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. 😊

The game is currently priced at 5.49€ on Steam, but you can find it for 0.99€ on K4G.


The Steam community has classified Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic into these genres:

Media & Screenshots

Get an in-depth look at Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic through various videos and screenshots.

System requirements

These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.

Windows
  • OS *: Windows XP
  • Processor: 2 GHz Processor
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 3D graphics card
  • DirectX: Version 7.0
  • Storage: 100 MB available space
  • Additional Notes: Minimum monitor output or 720p.
MacOS
  • OS: OSX 10.6 or higher
  • Processor: 2 GHz Processor
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: On board Intel GFX
  • Storage: 100 MB available space
  • Additional Notes: Minimum monitor output or 720p.
Linux
  • Processor: 2 GHz Processor
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: 3D graphics card
  • Storage: 100 MB available space
  • Additional Notes: Minimum monitor output or 720p.

User reviews & Ratings

Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.

Jan. 2026
Wasteland is a landmark role-playing game whose modern Steam release preserves not just its mechanics, but also the philosophy of an era when RPGs demanded imagination, patience, and deliberate thought from the player. Developed and published by inXile Entertainment as a faithful revival of the 1988 original, this version exists less as a modernization and more as a curated historical experience. Playing it today feels like stepping back into the roots of post-apocalyptic storytelling, where ambiguity, consequence, and survival took precedence over spectacle or accessibility. The world of Wasteland is bleak and uncompromising. Set decades after a nuclear apocalypse, the game drops you into the deserts of the southwestern United States, now reduced to irradiated wastelands, ruined settlements, and lawless zones crawling with raiders, mutants, and desperate survivors. You control a squad of Desert Rangers, one of the last remnants of organized order, and the game immediately establishes that survival is uncertain and authority is fragile. There is no cinematic introduction or gentle onboarding; instead, you are given limited information and expected to carve your own path through a hostile world that does not care whether you succeed or fail. Gameplay is built around classic CRPG systems that emphasize preparation and consequence. Character creation is deep and impactful, allowing you to assign attributes, skills, and equipment that meaningfully shape how your squad functions. Choices made early on can follow you for the entire game, for better or worse. Combat is turn-based and tactical, often punishing careless decisions, especially given the scarcity of resources and the real possibility of permanent character death. Every encounter encourages caution, scouting, and intelligent use of skills rather than brute force, reinforcing the theme that survival is earned through planning, not heroics. One of Wasteland’s most defining traits is its approach to storytelling. Rather than relying on cutscenes or scripted sequences, the narrative unfolds through text descriptions, conversations, and environmental clues. Many important details are easy to miss if you are not paying attention, and the game expects players to keep their own notes to track objectives, locations, and hints. This design choice may feel archaic by modern standards, but it creates a sense of immersion that is difficult to replicate. The world feels indifferent and alive, with events happening whether you are ready for them or not, and decisions often carry unexpected consequences that only reveal themselves much later. The Steam version adds subtle enhancements such as paragraph voice-overs and improved compatibility, but it wisely avoids altering the core experience. Visually, the game remains unmistakably old-school, with simple sprites and minimal animation. Rather than detracting from the experience, this simplicity encourages players to engage their imagination, filling in the gaps with their own mental imagery. Sound design is sparse, further emphasizing isolation and reinforcing the feeling of wandering through a quiet, devastated world where danger can emerge without warning. That said, Wasteland 1 is not an easy game to recommend to everyone. Its interface is opaque, its difficulty unforgiving, and its pacing slow by contemporary standards. There are no quest markers, no tutorials to guide you, and little forgiveness for experimentation. For players accustomed to modern RPG conveniences, this can feel frustrating or even hostile. However, for those willing to meet the game on its own terms, these same qualities become strengths, creating a sense of tension and authenticity that modern design often smooths away. Community reception reflects this divide. Longtime fans and RPG historians praise the game for its depth, influence, and uncompromising design, often citing it as a foundational experience that shaped later classics. Newcomers, on the other hand, frequently struggle with its learning curve and archaic systems, finding enjoyment only after adjusting expectations and embracing its slower, more methodical rhythm. The game does not adapt to the player; instead, it challenges the player to adapt to it. Ultimately, Wasteland 1 – The Original Classic is best understood as both a game and a historical artifact. It offers a rare opportunity to experience the origins of post-apocalyptic role-playing design in its rawest form, complete with all the frustrations and rewards that entails. For players who value choice, consequence, and worldbuilding over convenience, it remains a deeply rewarding journey. Its influence can still be felt across the genre decades later, and experiencing it firsthand provides valuable insight into how modern RPGs came to be. Rating: 7/10
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Jan. 2026
If you're willing to put up with some inconvenience, you can glimpse an era when game worlds felt alive with nothing but mechanics and imagination. It's more than a classic. It feels like a preserved relic of the design philosophy that shaped games.
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Oct. 2025
It's an old school classic from back in the da. I remember having hours of fun playing it then, and am enjoying it again now.
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Aug. 2025
Wasteland ... It may be old ... but ... great plot that inspired the Fallout Series. Takes a lot of thought to navigate this wasteland! Thumbs up!
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June 2025
It's an old classic role playing game that was outstanding at the time of release.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic is currently priced at 5.49€ on Steam.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 5.49€ on Steam.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic received 359 positive votes out of a total of 455 achieving a rating of 7.43.
😊

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic was developed and published by inXile Entertainment.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic is playable and fully supported on Windows.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic is playable and fully supported on MacOS.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic is playable and fully supported on Linux.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic is a single-player game.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic does not currently offer any DLC.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic does not support mods via Steam Workshop.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic does not support Steam Remote Play.

Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.

You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic.

Data sources

The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.

Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.

Last Updates
Steam data 12 March 2026 23:09
SteamSpy data 09 March 2026 16:35
Steam price 15 March 2026 04:43
Steam reviews 13 March 2026 21:49

If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.

  • SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic
  • SteamCharts - Analysis of Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic concurrent players on Steam
  • ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic compatibility
Wasteland 1 - The Original Classic
Rating
7.4
359
96
Game modes
Features
Online players
0
Developer
inXile Entertainment
Publisher
inXile Entertainment
Release 13 Nov 2013
Platforms
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