20 Minutes Till Dawn

About

"Face endless hordes in 20 Minutes Till Dawn, a fast-paced action game where you must survive 20 minutes of nighttime mayhem. Build dynamic loadouts from a variety of weapons, runes, and abilities to defeat the monsters. Choose your playstyle with a diverse cast of characters, each with unique traits and evolution paths. Will you see daylight again?"

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 23,200 reviews

gameplay814 positive mentions

grinding202 negative mentions

gameplay
2,126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
58%
3%
The gameplay of "20 Minutes Till Dawn" is characterized by its engaging twin-stick shooter mechanics, requiring players to manually aim and reload, which adds a layer of skill compared to similar titles like "Vampire Survivors." While the core gameplay loop is addictive and offers a variety of characters and weapon combinations, many players note a lack of enemy and map variety, leading to repetitive experiences over time. Overall, the game is praised for its fun mechanics and aesthetic, but some feel it could benefit from deeper gameplay elements and more diverse content to enhance replayability.
- “The gameplay loop is fun, addicting and different every run and the fact that this is so well polished, from the upgrades to the weapons and to the music is impressive from a near solo indie developer.”
- “The core gameplay is pretty solid so far, it's like vampire survivors + enter the gungeon.”
- “Fun and fast-paced gameplay that allows you to experiment with a variety of different and distinct characters, weapons and skills along with gorgeous pixel graphics, and you have a game that you definitely should try (especially given the extremely generous price).”
- “The base gameplay system and bombastic synergy potential are reasonably entertaining, but the woeful lack of diversifying combat mechanics or randomization dooms this to be more of a quaint minigame driven by achievement collecting rather than a full roguelite experience.”
- “The gameplay is very mundane and has no noteworthy or special mechanics to make it interesting which results in it becoming very repetitive after the first few hours.”
- “Ultimately, the game feels like it prioritizes style over substance due to its eye-catching artwork and dark aesthetic but these aspects can't make up for its unremarkable gameplay and lack of depth and content.”
graphics
1,578 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The graphics of "20 Minutes Till Dawn" have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique pixel art style and minimalist aesthetic that effectively conveys a dark, Lovecraftian atmosphere. However, the limited color palette often leads to visual clutter, making it difficult for players to distinguish between characters, projectiles, and enemies during intense gameplay, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the artistic choices, others find the visuals challenging, particularly in chaotic moments, suggesting a need for improved clarity and contrast.
- “I think this game is gorgeous in its limited-color-palette aesthetic.”
- “The game’s minimalist aesthetic uses a limited color palette to create a visually appealing experience.”
- “The art style is vibrant and helps characters pop against the dark background, emphasizing the sheer number of enemies swarming the screen, as you desperately fight for survival.”
- “Also, by level 100 in endless mode I get down to 3 fps, the game is entirely unplayable, I cannot see my screen, and the visuals could kill an epileptic person 100 times a second.”
- “Terrible graphics (everything is basically the same color) with excessive glitching and programming errors.”
- “The art style, because there's no way of telling apart your own summons and enemies, let it be a little color difference, just a few small red dots on enemies would do the trick - now it just all lumps into one big pile of gray pixels.”
music
562 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature due to a limited soundtrack that primarily features only two tracks. While some appreciate the atmospheric fit of the music and find it enjoyable as background noise, others feel it lacks variety and can become monotonous over extended play sessions. Overall, while the music complements the game's aesthetic, there is a strong desire among players for more diverse tracks to enhance the experience.
- “The soundtrack is a mix of pulsating electronic beats and eerie soundscapes that perfectly complement the game's chaotic action.”
- “The music is fantastic, the sound effects are exemplary, the gameplay loop is intense.”
- “I love the music and the frenzy this game puts me in.”
- “The soundtrack includes a grand total of one simple witchy-themed menu song and one very generic and forgettable dark synthwave song for all three maps which loop after one and two minutes, respectively, the latter of which ends up being drowned out by the overly-loud sound effects anyways.”
- “Especially painful is the fact that the game has only one single in-game soundtrack, which gets annoying really quickly, even if it is good on its own.”
- “The only negative thing I really have to say is about the audio; I like the menu music, but the lack of real music in-game and the repetitive XP orbs and enemies sounds are underwhelming.”
replayability
550 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
4%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its diverse character and weapon combinations that allow for unique builds and strategies, contributing to a high replay value. However, some reviewers note that the limited number of stages and repetitive gameplay can diminish long-term engagement, leading to a perception of low replayability after initial runs. Overall, while there is potential for replayability through various mechanics and updates, the experience may feel shallow for some players after a few hours.
- “The high replayability factor, due to the diverse character roster, ensures hours of fun.”
- “There are tons of playable characters, weapons, perks, and upgrades to choose from, allowing for a very customizable and replayable gaming experience.”
- “An incredibly enjoyable game that has a ridiculous amount of replayability and build variety.”
- “At first I said it was a 7.3, but after thinking about it longer I can honestly say there's no real replay value for me in this game.”
- “Overall, I don't recommend it because it is simply an average game which has more style than substance. It has very little replay value as you will experience all that the game has to offer within a few hours, and it does very little to incentivize you to keep playing other than achievements.”
- “The replayability is very shallow and I mostly found myself just trying to unlock new things or see if there was anything else worth seeing (such as the different maps) only to be disappointed.”
grinding
238 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
14%
85%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages and during achievement hunting. While some appreciate the variety of builds and upgrades available, others feel that the progression system is overly grindy, requiring significant time investment for minimal rewards. Overall, the lack of content diversity and the forced nature of certain gameplay elements contribute to a sense of frustration among players.
- “Progression is not too grindy and is rewarding enough.”
- “Not too grindy and love that characters feel unique.”
- “The game isn't easy, but it isn't grindy.”
- “However, the game is super grindy and getting these upgrades is a huge time waster.”
- “The 15 difficulty levels to climb through feel like they add nothing, and there isn't enough achievements or objectives to give you something to do whilst you complete the tedious climb.”
- “The grind for rune (skill tree) upgrades feels unnecessarily long and tedious, with even successful runs giving minimal upgrades later on, due to the increasing costs per tier, and needing to level each perk multiple times to get significant benefits.”
story
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
69%
26%
The game features no traditional story, which some players find disappointing, while others feel it complements the gameplay's focus on survival and action. It incorporates a unique Lovecraftian theme, but lacks depth in character backstories and lore, leading to suggestions for future story modes or character narratives. Overall, the absence of a narrative is seen as a missed opportunity, though some appreciate the game's charm in its simplicity.
- “The storyline, though brief, is expertly crafted, weaving a narrative that unfolds seamlessly as you navigate the eerie surroundings.”
- “The combination of suspenseful moments and a well-developed plot elevates the horror experience to new heights.”
- “There are so many unique, interesting, and artfully depicted characters that I feel it was ripe for a story-driven campaign of some sort.”
- “The game has no story whatsoever but it does have a Lovecraftian and abyssal theme which is slightly unique among the games that I've played so far in the horde survival genre.”
- “Story: nonexistent, aside from the name of the game letting you know you're just trying to survive until dawn.”
- “There is no story, at least not that I know, but what matters in these games is the gameplay that wants to captivate you with its repetitive but somehow pleasing monster killing.”
optimization
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly during intense gameplay scenarios that lead to frame drops and stuttering. While many appreciate the game's overall performance and find it playable on lower-end systems, others note that it feels poorly optimized, especially in endless mode where the chaos can render the game unplayable. Developers are actively working on improvements, but many users feel that further optimization is necessary to enhance the overall experience.
- “Pretty nice and well optimized game.”
- “Incredible atmosphere, super thoughtful upgrade system that allows for some nice combos and optimization, the pew pew feels good.”
- “Also, the game is very well optimized, I am running it through Parallels on a Mac and it keeps up incredibly well, only lag I've experienced is in last minute battles when there are many experience items around.”
- “I thoroughly enjoy getting rewarded with an absolute dogwater performance of single digits by using game mechanics as intended.”
- “New endless mode: runs routinely last for hours, requiring me to leave the game open and paused all day so I won't lose the run I'm on, and they don't end until you mess up and get yourself killed. The performance lag from all your summons and projectiles and enemies renders the game literally unplayable.”
- “Cool aesthetics and idea, but the game feels like early beta in terms of performance, input, and UI.”
atmosphere
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
30%
4%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and unique design, combining vibrant colors and retro-inspired graphics to create a charming yet unsettling experience. While the art style and sound design enhance the overall ambiance, some players note that the visuals can become difficult to distinguish during chaotic gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some criticisms regarding gameplay depth.
- “The game's vibrant color palette and retro-inspired graphics create a unique atmosphere that's both charming and unsettling.”
- “From the hauntingly detailed environments to the spine-tingling sound effects, every element contributes to creating an immersive and suspenseful atmosphere.”
- “The use of lighting and shadows is particularly commendable, creating an atmosphere that is both visually stunning and deeply unsettling.”
- “Most of the game has a dark atmosphere/background with white, light grey, a little green, and some red to counterbalance that in the foreground, but I don't think that's enough for a game that pretty much intends for its gameplay to get chaotic and the screen absolutely filled to the brim with moving assets towards the endgame.”
- “The art style is fine and creates atmosphere, but once you get into the later game it's very hard to tell between enemies and all else with everything being gray on black and white on grayer.”
- “I really love the art style and atmosphere, but there's really not much to do compared to other games in this genre.”
humor
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the absurdity of character designs, weapon interactions, and gameplay mechanics to be genuinely funny. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements of character upgrades and the chaotic nature of bullet-hell gameplay, contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay, making it a fun choice for players looking for a laugh.
- “The Christmas character is hilariously fun to play.”
- “Fun guns, cute art, hilarious upgrade interactions, and it even works great on the Steam Deck!”
- “This game is a fun experience for people who love bullet hells, tons of variety, and you can do just about anything. The game can be funny at times when you're shooting thousands of bullets at once.”
stability
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
9%
66%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on platforms like the Steam Deck and offers enjoyable gameplay, many users report significant bugs and glitches, particularly in endless mode and with controller support. Frequent freezing issues occur during intense gameplay, especially when multiple effects are on screen, and the early access status contributes to ongoing stability concerns. Overall, while some players experience minimal issues, others find the game's buggy nature detracts from the overall experience.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Very fun and well made with good pixel art, no glitches, good variety to adjust for your style of gameplay and different difficulty options.”
- “Great early access, smooth keyboard/mouse control, no glitches at all, no glaring design issues.”
- “It's somewhat fun, but the unresponsiveness and buggy nature of the game will prevent you from winning a lot.”
- “Way too buggy, even for early access.”
- “Each new patch is a new buggy nightmare to add to the rest.”
character development
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
5%
Overall, the character development in the game is highly praised for its unique and visually appealing designs, with many players appreciating the creativity and differentiation among characters. The character designs are described as cute and simple, contributing to the game's aesthetic, while the synergy between characters adds depth to gameplay. However, some players noted that the color schemes can sometimes obscure distinguishing traits, and there is a desire for more variety in ammunition capacity and color palettes.
- “Great character and build diversity, visually interesting character design, and hours of fun.”
- “Decent differentiation on characters, rather than just 'which weapon you start with.' Some of the character design decisions are wonderfully unhinged, like Dasher who spends half the time as a weak ghost and half the time as an invulnerable deer that slaughters enemies by charging through them.”
- “Everything from the infinite replayability to the fantastic character design really makes this game worth its price.”
- “I do like the actual character designs, but the color scheme ensures their distinguishing traits are barely noticeable.”
- “I love the character design; the only problem is that the in-game character design is just a bunch of pixels.”
- “0.1 points given for cute character design.”
monetization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed feedback, with players appreciating the option to watch ads but expressing frustration over the intrusive nature of ads on mobile, which can detract from gameplay. While some players commend the game's accessible price on Android, others criticize the developer for prioritizing mobile cash grabs over meaningful content updates, leading to concerns about the game's long-term viability and community engagement. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as a double-edged sword, balancing player enjoyment with commercial interests.
- “In today's world of microtransactions and large corporations, it's lovely to play a game that was made with the main purpose of being enjoyable for players.”
- “Love this game; however, the phone version definitely needs an option to remove the ads because the ad volume makes it borderline unplayable on any phone, and you're losing out on a bunch of players having it set up that way.”
- “Well, only 32% of the player base finished it on Darkness 5, which is still very early in the game. The community does not exist for this game; the dev seems more concerned with porting it over to mobile for a quick cash grab.”
- “Sadly, it seems like the developer is more concerned with mobile game cash grabbing rather than adding meaningful updates to this unfinished and very content-lacking game.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its fun and engaging mechanics that reignite their passion for gaming after breaks. The experience is described as exhilarating, with moments that evoke feelings of empowerment and joy, despite some technical frustrations. Overall, the game elicits a mix of excitement and nostalgia, making it memorable and enjoyable.
- “It was very fun and it's been a while since this game made me feel like playing again after a few months of not hopping on my computer.”
- “10/10 would die touching a tree again.”
- “Wholesome and very based.”