7 Days to Die
- June 28, 2016
- The Fun Pimps
- 192h median play time
"7 Days to Die" is a zombie survival game set in an open world environment. Players must gather resources, craft items, and build shelters to survive while facing hordes of zombies in a dynamic day-night cycle. With a focus on melee combat noveltile-based physics and a rich destruction system, the game offers a challenging and immersive experience. Cooperative multiplayer is also available, allowing for joint survival and exploration with friends.
Reviews
- graphics7,173 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of "7 Days to Die" have received mixed reviews from players, with many noting significant improvements over the years, particularly with the recent updates. However, despite these enhancements, the visuals are often described as outdated and lacking polish, reminiscent of early 2010s titles, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the game's aesthetic and gameplay mechanics, others express frustration over performance issues and the need for further graphical optimization.
“The graphics now look like they were rendered by a competent adult, and the gameplay is smoother than a baby's bottom.”
“I've been playing it for over 10 years now and I can tell you that the graphics are awesome and so are the mods.”
“The graphics have been really polished as well.”
“The graphics are outdated while the performance is terrible.”
“The graphics are still very much 2013, and the UI is very 2008.”
“The graphics are terrible and poorly optimized.”
- gameplay7,144 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "7 Days to Die" is characterized by a compelling mix of survival mechanics, crafting, and base-building, which many players find addictive and engaging. While the game offers a rich variety of gameplay options and customization, it has faced criticism for frequent changes to core mechanics, leading to a sense of inconsistency and frustration among long-time players. Despite its dated graphics and occasional bugs, the game remains popular for its cooperative multiplayer experience and the thrill of preparing for the challenging horde nights every seven days.
“An addicting gameplay loop, with fantastic procedural tech.”
“The game allows you to tweak almost every aspect of the gameplay, creating a fully adjustable difficulty experience that can range from a leisurely exploration-based survival game to a brutal, high-intensity challenge.”
“Its blend of crafting, base-building, exploration, and survival horror creates a rich gameplay loop that can keep players engaged for hours.”
“The gameplay becomes repetitive quite quickly, and updates changed things over time, from what it was to what it is now.”
“The gameplay is clunky and unpolished, like a zombie stumbling around, and the graphics are so outdated they make you want to gouge your eyes out.”
“The core gameplay loop feels exactly the same as it did four and a half years ago.”
- story3,616 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "7 Days to Die" has been widely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players noting that there is essentially no overarching narrative or meaningful plot. While the game includes a quest system primarily focused on repetitive tasks given by traders—such as fetch and clear missions—players express a desire for a more developed storyline and character interactions to enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the game is seen as a sandbox survival experience where players create their own stories through exploration and crafting, but the absence of a structured narrative leaves many feeling that the game is incomplete.
“Every session feels like a unique story.”
“The quests rack up the dosh for those looking to make a quick buck.”
“The quests are nice and add variety to the game, but after you crack the code, it becomes a bit too good.”
“The game has been in development for 10+ years at this point and it released today without its main story, which was promised to come later after 1.0, but why not just stave off until then?”
“The quests are tedious and boring; the rewards for doing the quests are mediocre at best.”
“This game has gone from being a really good survival, tower defense game to being a very poor quest-driven experience, as the amount of quests you need to complete to progress is quite frankly ridiculous.”
- optimization3,074 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The optimization of "7 Days to Die" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many expressing frustration over persistent lag, frame rate drops, and overall poor performance, especially during intense gameplay scenarios like horde nights. Despite some improvements noted in recent updates, the game is still criticized for being poorly optimized, requiring high-end hardware to run smoothly, and often leading to a frustrating experience even on capable systems. Many players feel that after years in early access, the focus should shift from adding new content to addressing these long-standing optimization issues.
“The game has seen significant improvements in optimization over time, but performance may still vary based on system specifications.”
“Despite some performance issues and dated graphics, '7 Days to Die' remains a compelling choice for fans of survival games and cooperative multiplayer experiences.”
“The optimization is impressively terrible.”
“It's a great game, but the game optimization is so bad that it's hard for me to play it smoothly.”
“Horrible optimization, the game just eats up video memory.”
“This game is coded poorly or something because it does not run - a friend of mine cannot even play without any stuttering after reinstalling and troubleshooting and going through a process that should not be necessary for a vanilla unmodified game to be functional.”
- stability2,454 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The stability of "7 Days to Die" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many citing persistent bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Common issues include erratic weather patterns, disappearing items, and problematic multiplayer kill achievements, leading to frustration during gameplay. While some players find the game enjoyable despite its flaws, the consensus is that it remains a buggy and unoptimized title, often feeling unfinished even after years in early access.
“The game runs great and is fine now.”
“This game is very stable from our experience, has a ton of features, and is for the most part bug free.”
“I've played it for hours and hours and hours on the PS4 and it runs great.”
“Absolutely unacceptably poor performance even on top-end hardware with a slew of bugs, duping glitches, and lost saves to rival even the likes of Ark: Bug Report Evolved.”
“This game is a buggy mess, and after all this time, it is still unfinished and buggy as all hell.”
“The game is buggy as hell, graphics, zombie AI, invisible walls do not match the new price; to put this game at *43,99€* is a crime.”
- grinding1,922 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "7 Days to Die" has received mixed reviews from players, with many noting that it can be excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the variety of activities available—such as crafting, farming, and looting—others feel that the game forces players into a repetitive cycle of grinding for resources and experience, particularly in the early game. Overall, the game is best enjoyed with friends to alleviate the grind, but solo players may find the experience monotonous and frustrating.
“Not tedious like other survival games and isn't confusing either.”
“Plenty of content and the leveling system is balanced well enough that it isn't too grindy (if you plan on playing one server for a long period of time).”
“The crafting isn't tedious, the gameplay is smooth, I love it!”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game is unreasonably grindy, railroads me with illogical mechanic-wise decisions, and coincidentally releases an update before major holidays.”
“What we have now is a zombie crafting survival title that is more tedious than it is fun, and a title that doesn't respect the player's time.”
- replayability872 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game "7 Days to Die" is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, attributed to its procedurally generated worlds, diverse playstyles, and extensive modding community. Players enjoy the ability to customize their experiences, whether through solo play or multiplayer, with many noting that the game remains engaging even after hundreds of hours. While some reviews mention a decline in replay value after reaching certain milestones, the overall consensus is that the game's continuous updates and community support keep it fresh and enjoyable for long-term play.
“This game has a huge range of play styles along with tons of replayability, especially with mods.”
“The combination of deep crafting, intense combat, and endless replayability keeps me coming back for more.”
“With its robust gameplay mechanics, atmospheric sound design, and high replay value, this game earns its place among the top-tier survival experiences.”
“The replayability of the game is completely gone now.”
“Good for a while but gets extremely boring and I don't feel like it has much replay value since the builds aren't that different each time.”
“After playing the beginning stages of the game so many times and realizing, oh it's always going to be hours of gameplay before you actually get anywhere completely kills the replayability of the game.”
- humor753 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in "7 Days to Die" is a significant draw for players, often highlighted through its absurd glitches, quirky character animations, and dark comedic elements. Many reviews emphasize that the game is particularly entertaining when played with friends, leading to hilarious moments during chaotic zombie encounters and unexpected gameplay mishaps. While some players find the humor juvenile or cringeworthy, the overall consensus is that the game's blend of horror and comedy creates a uniquely enjoyable experience, especially in multiplayer settings.
“Overall this game will keep you tied into it for the genre, and by god if you happen to get friends playing with you like neebsgaming, it's so hilarious and fun.”
“The extreme funny things that can go on within the server with a bunch of friends is priceless.”
“It's a blast with friends, often leading to unexpected hilarious and memorable moments!”
“Just goes to show how unfunny it is for me to play a barely finished game, and with the development over the years - probably will never be finished.”
“The game is so bugged it's not funny.”
“The amount of reworks in this game is not funny.”
- atmosphere455 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "7 Days to Die" is widely praised for its immersive and tense qualities, effectively capturing the essence of a post-apocalyptic world filled with danger and uncertainty. Players appreciate the detailed sound design, diverse environments, and the eerie ambiance that enhances the survival experience, particularly during night-time and horde events. While some critiques mention graphical limitations and occasional unpolished elements, the overall consensus is that the game's atmosphere significantly contributes to its engaging gameplay and replayability.
“The attention to detail is impressive, from the atmospheric sound design to the diverse landscapes that keep you on your toes.”
“The atmosphere is brilliant - as biomes change, you have to watch your heat, hunger, and thirst while dealing with the fear of looting houses, or even getting caught by a fast zombie out in the open.”
“The decaying cities, eerie forests, and desolate wastelands create an atmosphere that constantly keeps you on edge.”
“The atmosphere is grim, the world is hostile, and every threat feels real.”
“The atmosphere of the game actually causes you to be afraid.”
- music377 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and fitting for the survival horror genre, effectively enhancing the immersive experience with dynamic tracks that change based on gameplay situations. However, many players find the soundtrack repetitive and express a desire for more variety, with some even preferring to mute the in-game music in favor of their own playlists. Overall, while the music contributes to the game's eerie ambiance, it has received mixed reviews regarding its quality and diversity.
“The dynamic music makes for some great moments of intense play.”
“The music and sound effects really do whatever they can to keep you constantly in a state of fear.”
“The music fits perfectly well; some give you the horror vibe while others are calm and collected.”
“The music is just annoying.”
“The soundtrack gets a bit boring after a while, repetitive background sounds.”
“I really like this game, it is great, the only thing that I hate is the spooky music background that totally destroys immersion.”
- monetization157 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, who describe it as a blatant cash grab, particularly following the recent 1.0 release that many feel lacks substantial improvements and is riddled with bugs. Players express frustration over the price hike, misleading advertising, and the introduction of intrusive ads, which detract from the overall experience. While some commend the absence of microtransactions, the overwhelming sentiment is that the developers are prioritizing profit over genuine game development, leading to a perception of exploitation among long-time fans.
“There are no microtransactions, which enhances the value, especially for long-time players.”
“This is like, the best support I've ever seen for a game that has no microtransactions whatsoever.”
“Might not be well optimized or especially pretty, but there are no microtransactions, DLCs, human behavior exploits, or other issues that seem to infect every major game that releases nowadays.”
“To call it the 1.0 release and up the price like they did frankly feels a little cash grabby with the game being in the state it is in, it does not feel like a complete game.”
“This game has been frozen in time and they decided to just release it for a quick cash grab.”
“The developers keep ruining the game with every update; this is not a 1.0 release, this is a beta. This game is a cash grab; they re-released it on console and they raised the price on PC for a quick cash grab.”
- emotional87 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a wide range of emotional experiences while engaging with the game, from intense fear and frustration to moments of joy and vulnerability. Many describe feeling a deep connection to the survival elements, often leading to tears during pivotal moments, such as losing characters or facing overwhelming challenges. Overall, the game elicits a rollercoaster of emotions, making it both heartwarming and heartbreaking, despite its technical flaws.
“I've never experienced an emotional whiplash quite like I have with this game.”
“I cried as I realized that she saw my lights and was desperately trying to make it to the safety of my home.”
“This game takes you on an emotional ride the whole way from crying babies to the sound of dogs, fighting through many elements like hunger and thirst; this is Minecraft for adults!”
- character development61 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its flexibility and variety, allowing for unique builds and teamwork, while others criticize it for becoming overly simplistic and restrictive in recent updates. Many appreciate the depth provided by the crafting and skill systems, which enhance replayability and creativity, but some feel that the character design options are limited and could be improved. Overall, the character development aspect is seen as a significant feature that can greatly influence gameplay, though opinions vary on its execution and balance.
“I like the stats and character development system because it makes friends have to work together to get the most out of their builds, so you can have dedicated players for things which make teamwork more fun.”
“The game allows for character development the way the gamer wants and for your own imagination and intelligence to show in the game.”
“The new skills system actually helps character development and can be tailored to optimize based on your play style, enhancing many aspects including: weapons, physical attributes, mining, building, and even armor.”
“What started off as extremely flexible character development, crafting, and problem solving has now, with v1.0, become overly simplistic and pointless unless you follow the path pre-planned for you.”
“The reason is that continued development seems to be progressing in some minor areas like graphics, quests, and points of interest, but rolling backwards in major areas like the collection of resources and character development.”
“Devs have decided that instead of a survival crafting that rewarded foresight, building, and making smart choices about avoiding needless confrontations, that allowed freeform character development, they would make a generic XP system that would be helpfully supported by psychic, superstrong zombies that could sense you for ridiculous distances and effortlessly destroy any barrier or shelter you make.”