Sucks To Be In The Sticks

About Sucks To Be In The Sticks

Sucks To Be In The Sticks is a 2026 indie simulator from CoAction that blends vampire lore with mundane chores. Set in a decaying post-Soviet town, you play as Ilo, a 19-year-old vampire struggling to navigate a cursed life. The game tasks you with scrubbing floors, brewing moonshine, and drinking blood while figuring out the town's secrets. It’s a slow-burn mix of exploration, sanity management, and cryptic dialogue. Released exclusively for PC, it’s a niche title for fans of atmospheric simulators. The story follows Ilo’s journey to find belonging in a world where humans and vampires collide.

Gameplay

You spend hours scrubbing floors, collecting debris, and brewing moonshine to sustain your crumbling estate. The core loop mixes survival tasks with sanity checks, drinking blood temporarily sharpens your vision but cracks your psyche. Dialogue choices with townsfolk and vampire factions shape relationships, though most interactions are sparse and cryptic. The world is a maze of derelict buildings to explore, each hiding collectibles or hazards. Controls are basic but responsive, with a focus on methodical pacing. Late-game, you balance managing resources, avoiding sunlight, and piecing together lore through fragmented journals. It’s less action and more observation, rewarding patience over skill.

What Players Think

PlayPile users rate it 7.2/10, with 78% completing the base story. Average playtime is 23 hours, though 30% quit before halfway. Community moods are split: 52% describe it as “eerie and thoughtful,” while 40% call it “tedious.” A Steam review notes, “The atmosphere is there, but the gameplay often feels like watching grass grow.” Completionists praise the 50+ achievements, including “Brew 100 Bottles of Moonshine.” Critics highlight repetitive tasks and underdeveloped characters. The game’s 68% Metacritic score reflects mixed reception, with praise for its visuals and story but complaints about polish.

PlayPile's Take

Sucks To Be In The Sticks costs $29.99 and offers 50 achievements, mostly for mundane tasks. It’s best for players who enjoy slow, mood-driven simulators with minimal combat. If you’re patient and into post-Soviet aesthetics, the fractured narrative and haunting setting are worth the grind. Skip it if you want fast-paced action or deep RPG systems. The game’s charm is niche, but its blend of chores and cursed existence creates a peculiar experience. Not essential, but memorable for the right audience.

Storyline

Ilo, a 19-year-old student, is turned into a vampire against their will. Stuck in a crumbling northern town that is still weirdly buzzing with secret vampire activities, Ilo is about to rediscover their hometown through entirely new eyes. Along the way, they are going to meet new friends, cross paths with a few dangerous but charismatic vampires, and try to find their place in this twisted, shared world of vampires and humans.