Bootstrap Island

About

"Bootstrap Island is a single-player Simulation game that offers an exceptional roguelike survival experience in a beautifully rendered 17th century setting. With dynamic, physics-based gameplay and randomized resources, every player's experience is unique. As you progress, unlock new resources and uncover the island's secrets in this compelling, consequence-based narrative."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 906 reviews

gameplay56 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and immersive environments that enhance the survival experience.
The mechanics of breaking coconuts, building fires, and using weapons are satisfying and realistic.
The developers are responsive to community feedback and are actively working on updates to improve gameplay.

The day/night cycle is too short, leaving players with little time to gather resources and explore before nightfall.
There is currently no inventory system, making it difficult to manage items and resources effectively.
The game can feel repetitive and lacks sufficient content to keep players engaged over extended play sessions.

gameplay
154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The gameplay of this early access game showcases a mix of innovative mechanics and frustrating limitations, with many players noting the potential for fun being hindered by a repetitive and stressful gameplay loop. While the graphics and realism are praised, issues such as short day cycles, lack of inventory, and clunky controls detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the core mechanics are engaging, and there is hope for future improvements and content expansion.
- “This game is loads of fun, realistic gameplay, interesting challenges, and a master class in the genre.”
- “The gameplay loop and replayability is amazing as well.”
- “Even in its early state, it's beautifully polished and atmospheric with a fun main mechanic of daytime exploration and preparation and nighttime defense.”
- “A promising game held back by frustrating mechanics.”
- “The gameplay loop is that you make a fire, sit in a corner, then do it again because the days are maybe 5 minutes long, so you can't explore, which is counterintuitive because the narrator can't stop complaining about a vantage point yet the game does everything it can to stop you from using one spot as a base.”
- “Not fun, especially since the gameplay itself is so repetitive and boring; all there is to the game is figuring out how to survive the night.”
graphics
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
25%
5%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many players praising their stunning quality and immersive detail, particularly in VR settings. While some users noted performance issues and lag, especially on lower-end hardware, the overall visual experience is described as breathtaking, with impressive physics and atmospheric effects that enhance gameplay. Despite minor criticisms regarding optimization and graphical settings, the visuals are consistently highlighted as a standout feature, making the game visually captivating.
- “The graphics are truly insane; if you have the computer to run it, the graphics in this game are mind-blowing, especially for a VR game.”
- “The graphics are amazing and it really feels like a real-life shipwreck experience.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, and the VR physics in this game are really good.”
- “Wayyy too laggy, I had all my graphics on the lowest with a 3060 ti and still unplayable.”
- “There are some FPS problems, for example at night when there are creatures, but it also gets worse as you play. For some reason, things like bodies, charcoal from burnt wood, coconut shells, and burnt food never despawn, causing a lot of lag even on the lowest graphics.”
- “Graphics are a visual symphony, a feast for the eyes, but the fun's lost in the mail, leaving you trudging through a desert of boredom and tedium, all flash and no substance.”
story
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
76%
3%
The game's story has received mixed feedback, with many players praising its immersive and interesting narrative, while others feel it lacks depth and content, especially given its early access status. Some users highlight the engaging lore and character commentary, but express a desire for more story elements and progression. Overall, while the potential for a rich narrative is recognized, players are eager for further development and expansion of the story content.
- “Great game! Love the detail, love the graphics, and love the story. This is the best game I have ever played.”
- “Amazing game! I love how the story expands as you discover the world. The commentary is great as well and adds a slight humor to the game but doesn't break immersion. This is one of the best games I've ever seen. The devs listen to the players, and I have enjoyed every thrilling second of it.”
- “Story/lore - 10/10! The narrator in the background was really cool, therefore 10/10.”
- “The game is in early access and the story does not go very far yet.”
- “Realistic and good physics and mechanics in the game, really enjoyed it, hope more content would be added in the future as I thought there wasn't enough story and things to do in the game.”
- “I think this game would excel with more story, what's the deal with the volcano?”
optimization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including long load times and stuttering, even on high-end hardware. While some users appreciate the stunning graphics and potential for optimal performance with OpenXR, the overall consensus is that the game is hindered by poor optimization, making it difficult for a majority of VR users to enjoy. Many hope for future patches to address these performance concerns.
- “Stunning graphics and great optimization with some good physics.”
- “Fortunately, the game uses OpenXR and will provide optimal performance no matter if you use Index and Meta HMDs.”
- “Its so nearly brilliant but... it's held back by performance and quality of life issues.”
- “If you pick up a coconut or stab a crab or walk 5 steps, I hope you're ready to pay the punishment of sitting on a load screen of 5 minutes. Great game but absolutely terrible optimization that doesn't allow 95% of people with affordable VR setups to play. Absolutely do not recommend.”
- “Performance on my 4070 Ti is not great; even on low, it stutters every half minute or so. Over time, it gets worse and worse until the game crashes out around the 3-hour mark.”
- “Also, this game needs to do a lot more optimization. I have above minimum requirement specs and there is no way this is running on minimum.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
13%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its immersive and tense qualities, enhancing the experience of exploration and defense mechanics. While the graphical fidelity may not match AAA titles, the sense of discovery and well-designed locations create a captivating environment that keeps players engaged. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some confusion regarding progression.
- “While the graphical fidelity may not rival that of its AAA counterparts, the palpable sense of atmosphere and the thrill of discovery more than compensate for any visual shortcomings.”
- “Fantastic locations, graphics, and atmosphere, and quite a challenge!”
- “It looks great and the atmosphere is really something.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is currently experiencing stability issues, with users reporting minor bugs and glitches typical of early access titles. While some players find the game fun and engaging despite these issues, others face significant performance problems, particularly on lower-end hardware like the Oculus Quest 2. Overall, stability remains a concern, with frequent freezes and the need for high-end systems to run smoothly.
- “You need the highest end VR and PC just to walk in the game. I have a high-end PC and an Oculus Quest 2, and my game just glitches out every half a second. If this is a problem with compatibility, please make it playable on Quest 2.”
- “Update 2: This game has a really cool feature where it puts you back at the start every time you finally get it running, and that's coupled with an even cooler feature where the game freezes and then you have to relaunch it.”
- “The graphics and physics are great, but it can be buggy (early access).”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The music in the game is noted for its effectiveness, particularly during tense moments, such as when enemies attack, with players appreciating the quality of the battle music. However, some reviewers feel that the overall soundtrack could be improved to enhance the gaming experience further. The transition in music signals changes in gameplay dynamics, adding to the atmosphere and tension.
- “To put it simply, if there are enough beasts, the music kicks in (which is really good for some reason) and they start dive bombing you, avoiding the fire as much as possible.”
- “Overall, it's a good game, but soundtracks would make it much better.”
- “As soon as you hear a change in tone of the music, it means the combat is over. Even if the enemies are still in front of you, you can just drop your weapons and get moving.”
- “Every night after about two nights, you'll get attacked and it will play battle music. However, if you have a fire, the beasts will rarely actually run at you and attack. Even then, you can't really fight back as far as I could tell; I loaded about five shots into one of those bat things and it didn't seem to affect it at all. They'll only attack you that one single time.”
- “Once you learn to make the fire before the scary music starts playing, you've mastered the most lethal part of the game.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Overall, the game has a solid foundation for replayability, with some players enjoying the gameplay loop. However, many reviewers note that it suffers from low replayability after the initial hours, particularly for those who are not inclined to engage with its hardcore mode, which can deter long-term engagement. A score of 7/10 reflects this mixed sentiment.
- “The gameplay loop and replayability is amazing as well.”
- “Replayability - 7/10”
- “It has a really good foundation to build upon, but right now it has very low replayability after the first few hours, especially for people who don't normally play hardcore mode in games (example: if you die, you lose your character and have to start over).”
- “The game has a really good foundation to build upon, but right now it has very low replayability after the first few hours, especially for people who don't normally play hardcore mode in games (for example, if you die, you lose your character and have to start over).”
- “The game has a really good foundation to build upon, but right now it has very low replayability after the first few hours, especially for people who don't normally play hardcore mode in games (for example, if you die, you lose your character and have to start over).”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often feeling like a chore due to the "rogue-like" mechanics, such as managing food and drink, and the punishing day/night cycles. Many express a desire for additional features like multiplayer, farming, and a peaceful mode to alleviate the grind and enhance the overall experience. Overall, while the game is praised for its realism, the repetitive nature of survival tasks can detract from enjoyment.
- “The 'rogue-like' approach, food/drink, day/night cycles just make it a grindy chore - die a lot (put in hours), and you can have equipment!”
- “It's just tedious moving like a football field's distance then having to prepare for night or auto death.”
- “These are definitely weapons VR could only do correctly without it just being a tedious and long animation.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a strong concern among users regarding the monetization practices of the game, with many fearing it is a cash grab typical of the VR market. There is skepticism about the developers' commitment to delivering a full release, suggesting a lack of faith in their intentions.
- “I hope this is not just another VR cash grab that is plaguing the VR marketplace.”
- “This is a pure cash grab; it will never see the light of day in a full release. How do I know?”
- “Hopefully the devs keep going and don't just cash grab like all the other VR devs.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional response to the game, often feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by its mechanics, which can lead to moments of despair. Despite these challenges, many find the experience deeply rewarding, indicating that the emotional journey is a significant aspect of the game's appeal.
- “This game makes me want to cry myself to sleep every time, but it's worth it every time.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtly woven into the commentary, enhancing the experience without detracting from immersion. Players appreciate the lighthearted moments, such as the amusing interaction of hitting a dog with a rock, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the humor contributes positively to the engaging narrative and exploration.
- “The commentary is great and adds a slight humor to the game but doesn't unimmerse you.”
- “10/10, hit a funny dog with a rock.”
- “The devs listen to the players, and the humor in the game makes every thrilling second enjoyable.”