Captain Wayne – Vacation Desperation Review : A Hand-drawn “Shoot First, Ask Later” Indie FPS Shooter

Captain Wayne – Vacation Desperation is a loud, over-the-top first-person shooter developed by the indie gamedev Ciaran Games LLC and published by Silver Lining Interactive. It launched on Steam on November 25, 2025.

The premise is gleefully absurd: you play as the titular Captain Wayne — a cigar-huffing, fish-chomping sailor whose arm has been replaced by a shotgun — seeking vengeance and his stolen ship after being marooned on the dangerous “Orca Isle.” He’s not exactly subtle; he’s built for chaos.

If you like over-the-top violence, cartoonish gore, and retro-style shooters that don’t take themselves seriously — this game promises a chaotic, blood-soaked ride. Let’s follow us at Indie Games Tavern to dive in this indie game review, now!

Gameplay & Core Loop

Retro-style, high-octane FPS: The game draws inspiration from classic shooters, delivering fast, brutal action. Captain Wayne uses a variety of absurd weapons: his shotgun-arm (“Ol’ Reliable”), chain-gun “fingers,” explosive bottles, even melee attacks — all of it designed for maximum mayhem.
Campaign + Endless Mode: The main campaign spans 8 large, enemy-filled zones across “Orca Isle”. There’s also an Endless Mode for players wanting to test their skills — waves of enemies keep coming, and you see how long you survive.
Cartoonish, hand-drawn style + gore: Visuals lean into a “cartoon + splatter” aesthetic — animated cutscenes, exaggerated gore, stylized violence. The game mixes cartoonish art with gory gameplay for a unique, irreverent vibe. Beside the love for gameplay, we Indie Games Tavern really got hooked by the this artstyle (one of the reasons why we decide to do this indie game review article, haha), amazing work from the indie gamedev Ciaran Games LLC.
Simple, visceral combat loops: It’s less about deep tactics and more about reflexes, aggression, and pure fun — shoot, blow up enemies, chain-gun fingers, throw explosives, punch if needed. Quick, brutal, and unrelenting.
Sound, style, and attitude: The soundtrack, voice-overs, and overall tone emphasise aggression, chaos, and dark humour. Captain Wayne is a “go big or go home” kind of character — and the game matches him.

What Works Really Well

Pure, unfiltered fun & chaos
If you want a shooter where subtlety is thrown overboard, Captain Wayne delivers. The absurd weapons, over-the-top gore, and cartoon-style violence combine into a wild, cathartic experience. For players craving chaotic FPS action, this hits the mark.

Retro shooter vibes with modern absurdity
The game pays homage to old-school shooters — but adds its own twisted sense of humour and modern indie flair. Between the shotgun-arm, chain-gun fingers, explosive booze and punching enemies to paste, you get a unique identity rather than a straight nostalgia trip.

Replayability via Endless Mode
Beyond the main campaign, Endless Mode offers a “how long can you survive” challenge. For players who enjoy just seeing how far they can push the carnage, it offers good replay value.

Visual style & personality
The hand-drawn art style + animated cutscenes + gritty-cartoon gore gives the game a lot of personality. It feels like a twisted cartoon, or a pulp comic — which helps it stand out compared to more serious, realistic shooters.

Affordable & accessible
Given the scope — indie, stylized, straightforward — the game offers a budget-friendly way to get a gritty shooter experience without AAA pretensions. The introductory pricing and small install size make it easy to try. We Indie Games Tavern believe that Captain Wayne – Vacation Desperation is worth more than its current price, but this maybe the proper approach from the indie gamedev Ciaran Games LLC.

Areas for Improvement & Considerations

Rough presentation / uneven polish
While the style is bold, some critics and early reviews note that visuals and level design can feel rough or cheap. There are trade-offs to being a small-team indie title with a “do what you want” style, and not everyone may enjoy the rough edges.

Shallow narrative & character depth
The story is simple — revenge + chaos. If you expect a deep plot, complex characters, or meaningful arcs, you might find the narrative thin. The focus is on action and spectacle, not story nuance.

Repetition risk
Because the core gameplay revolves around shooting and chaos, and the levels/threats are consistent, there’s a chance the loop may feel repetitive over time — especially if you’re not hooked on the gore-chaos aesthetic.

Not for the faint of heart (or faint of taste)
The game features heavy gore, over-the-top violence, explosive carnage, and strong language. If you’re sensitive to graphic violence or find such extremes distasteful, this is not the game for you. The mature content is explicit.

Limited depth / variety
For players who prefer deep mechanics, strategic depth, or long-term progression — there may not be enough complexity. The game’s strength is its chaos, not depth.

Final Thoughts

Captain Wayne – Vacation Desperation is unapologetically wild, loud, and chaotic — a love letter (or a middle finger) to classical FPS shooters, filtered through a lens of absurd violence and cartoonish gore. If you approach it expecting subtlety, you’ll be disappointed. But if you crave a “shoot-first, ask questions later” shooter with attitude, this hits hard and fast.

To us at Indie Games Tavern, it’s not a polished AAA blockbuster nor a deeply layered RPG. Instead — it’s a punkish indie shooter with character, chaos, and a shotgun for an arm. For fans of retro-style shooters, over-the-top violence, and dark humor — it’s a strong pick.

Who Should Play It?

Fans of old-school / boomer-style FPS games who enjoy fast action and straightforward gunplay.
Players who love absurd violence and dark humor, and don’t take games or themselves too seriously.
Casual action fans looking for a short, chaotic, fun romp rather than a long, deep campaign.
Indie-game supporters who enjoy lower-budget titles with strong personality and creative risks.
Players wanting replayable “shoot-and-survive” gameplay — thanks to Endless Mode.

Who Might Wait or Skip It?

Players sensitive to gore or strong language — this game is heavily violent, bloody, and crude.
Those wanting deep story or strong character development — the narrative is intentionally shallow and silly.
Gamers who favour realism or subtlety over cartoonish exaggeration — the style is loud and unapologetic.
Players looking for long-term complexity or tactical depth — if you want RPG-like progression or strategic variety, this may feel simplistic.
Those expecting high production polish — as an indie project with a bold aesthetic, presentation has its rough edges.

Captain Wayne – Vacation Desperation Review by Indie Games Tavern.

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