Escape from Duckov Is So Fun That I Completely Forgot It’s a Parody

After six hours of crawling through bushes, scavenging junk, and getting shotgunned by ducks that probably graduated from the John Wick Academy of Violence, I can confirm one thing: Escape from Duckov is no joke of a game. It’s the best parody that forgot it was a parody and instead became one of the most engaging extraction games I’ve played recently (and of course, Arc Raiders).

For beginners, Duckov is like a fever dream where Escape from Tarkov and Untitled Goose Game did a Dragon Ball fusion dance. The visuals are silly, the name sounds like a punchline, and the Steam page is full of quacks.

But beneath the cartoon feathers is an incredibly tight and surprisingly thoughtful looter shooter that captures everything great about the genre. All of that without the toxicity or the fear of some random PvP sweat annihilating you for sport.

Duckov is like a fever dream where Escape from Tarkov and Untitled Goose Game did a Dragon Ball fusion dance

A Solo Extraction Shooter That Actually Works

In most extraction games, whether it is Tarkov, The Cycle: Frontier, or Hunt: Showdown, the rush comes from the unpredictable human chaos. Yes, there are always PvE elements, but it is the human dynamics that add to the tension. Even in my Arc Raiders first impression, I mentioned how the PvP part of the game sometimes overthrows your exploration.

Escape from Duckov, on the other hand, eliminates PvP and builds a smart, satisfying single-player loop that still keeps the risk-reward tension alive. You can play it like a simple RPG where your goal is to go out in the wild and scavenge the items you need to build your hideout. Or…

As a duck, you head out with whatever gear you dare to risk, sweep through enemy outposts for loot, and pray you can extract before something bigger and meaner waddles out of the fog. You have got shovels, wooden planks, and other useful loot that help you explore even further before extraction.

Dying means losing your stuff, sure, but there’s no rage-fueled shouting match with some stranger afterward. It’s just you, your pistol, and the haunting silence of ducks with bad intentions.

Dying means losing your stuff, sure, but there’s no rage-fueled shouting match with some stranger afterward

What surprised me most during my time with Duckov is how deliberate it feels. Gunplay is meaty, with a bird’s-eye view that a Dota 2 lover like me admires. You get the thrill of tactical movement without the frustration of real players camping extraction points. There’s an almost meditative rhythm to its loop: gear up, risk it all, drink water, eat food, rebuild, repeat.

And when your AI opponents squawk mid-fight? You laugh. You move on, or you just turn them into grilled bird meat. It’s therapy disguised as chaos.

Duckov Is a Feathered Ode to Tarkov

Team Soda clearly worships Tarkov, but they’ve repackaged it in a way that is more approachable and less punishing. The top-down view keeps your vision focused, forcing careful play, while the progression system gives every run purpose. There is more than just collecting loot for the sake of it. The materials are required to build out your bunker, upgrade vendors, and craft better equipment to survive the next run.

Each new zone feels a little more dangerous and a little more rewarding. It’s a brilliant curve that constantly tempts you into overconfidence. You’ll think, “One more raid, I’ve got this,” and then a duck army with bleed effect shotguns will prove you absolutely do not. And yet, you will queue up another run instantly. Losing your gear doesn’t sting because you can retrieve your items as you do in Hollow Knight Silksong.

You’ll think, “One more raid, I’ve got this,” and then a duck army with bleed effect shotguns will prove you absolutely do not.

That loop is why it works. Duckov is not pretending to be Escape from Tarkov; it’s interpreting it. The game takes everything stressful about extraction shooters and retools it into something more digestible, almost cozy. Well, you can always lower the difficulty if the ducks in the wild are being too much. Just make sure you don’t head out of the bunker at night. Don’t worry, I did not skip my sleep in the game (unlike my real life).

But as I said, looting is not mindless in Escape from Duckov. When you’re not picking new fights, you find new features in your base, chat with NPCs, and recalibrate your skill tree. You can also visit your dungeon to unlock totems or just go on challenges. And if you are looking for some good deals, there is a vending machine to trade useful items. Just make sure you have enough duck cash.

It’s a gentle sense of RPG progress that’s absent from most looter-shooters. Duckov respects your time and effort, which is ironic considering how many hours I’ve now lost to it.

Why Duckov Hits Different? Why Did It Sell a Million Copies In a Week?

In an era of gaming where every major studio is chasing the next Tarkov-style adrenaline rush, the fierce-yet-feathered vibe of Escape from Duckov feels refreshingly awkward in a good way. It does not care about realism or PvP balance; Duckov just wants you to have fun. Customize your duck with the weirdest looks and hop on. Trust me, that’s all the developers want from you.

And you will need it, especially with the Arc Raiders release on October 30. That game promises massive PvPvE battles with squads fighting AI and each other for scraps of loot. Sounds exciting, sure. But that is also the kind of game that will have your blood pressure rising faster than your ping. Escape from Duckov is the counterpoint to that. It is pure extraction joy without the social anxiety of modern multiplayer. You can call it a stress reliever disguised as a meme.

It is pure extraction joy without the social anxiety of modern multiplayer games.

The fact that Duckov sold half a million copies within a few days shows how hungry players are for something like this. Extraction doesn’t have to mean misery and punishment. Sometimes it can mean laughing at your own ridiculous death animation before diving right back in.

When I started Duckov, I expected to roll my eyes at yet another parody title. Six hours later, I was lost in the customization screen, then finding new duck armies to slay. It’s clever, confident, and unbashedly silly. But beneath the feathers is one of the most polished indie top-view shooters of the year. Before we wrap up, here is a duck Nezuko to bless your day.

So yes, Escape from Duckov might make you laugh. But don’t be fooled. It’s not a parody of extraction shooters. It’s a celebration of them. And if you ever need a break from PvP stress or want to feel good about dying to a mallard with a rifle, Duckov has you covered.

After all, in a year full of sweaty firefights and competitive egos, sometimes the best escape is one full of quacks. What do you think of Escape from Duckov? Share your opinions with us in the comments below.