Thank you so much for the thoughtful feedback! Really glad the lighting and atmosphere landed for you. That was one of the things I spent a lot of time experimenting with, so it’s been cool seeing how many people connected with it.
I completely agree about the environmental variety. I think I was so focused on keeping the scope manageable that I underestimated how much a few small roadside details could do for the experience. The hitchhiker and broken-down car ideas are great examples. They wouldn’t necessarily need to affect gameplay to make the world feel more alive.
And you’re absolutely right about the HUD. You’re actually the second person today to mention that information, and it’s been a recurring theme throughout the feedback. Especially since the whole game revolves around making informed decisions about fuel and damage!
Really appreciate you taking the time to read the devlog too! Best of luck on the jam.