The Tainted

About

The Tainted drops you into a cyberpunk world where mega-corporations have torn open portals to an alien-infested dimension. You play as a survivor navigating neon-lit ruins, balancing hacking minigames, tactical combat, and dialogue choices that shape alliances. Resource management is key as you scavenge for upgrades while fending off both human and extraterrestrial threats. The story prioritizes grit over heroics, focusing on day-to-day survival in a collapsing society. Despite its 2001 release and initial limited South African distribution, the game has developed a small but vocal following. Community forums highlight its atmospheric worldbuilding and nonlinear progression, with some players praising its difficulty curve and branching endings. Though largely overlooked at launch, The Tainted remains a curiosity for fans of old-school RPGs with a cyberpunk twist.