CastleMiner Z

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 7,635 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • stability
CastleMiner Z Game Cover
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CastleMiner Z is a popular Xbox 360 and PC game that drops you into a zombie-infested world with only a handful of resources. Your mission is to survive by gathering raw materials, crafting weapons and tools, and building elaborate fortresses to defend against the relentless hordes of the undead. With randomly generated worlds, each playthrough offers a unique challenge.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,635 reviews
graphics91 positive mentions
stability94 negative mentions
  • graphics343 mentions

    The graphics of "Castleminer Z" evoke a nostalgic, retro aesthetic reminiscent of early sandbox games like Minecraft, featuring a blocky art style that some players find charming while others deem outdated and inconsistent. While the visuals may not compete with modern AAA titles, they are often described as adding a unique character to the gameplay experience, with a mix of simplistic and detailed elements that can enhance the fun, especially in multiplayer settings. Overall, the graphics are a divisive aspect, appealing to those who appreciate indie charm but potentially off-putting for players seeking high-quality visuals.

    • “The game’s graphics strike a perfect balance between simplicity and detail.”
    • “The blocky aesthetic is charming and allows for creative freedom, while the detailed enemy models add a touch of realism to the otherwise stylized world.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely stunning, with vibrant colors and detailed textures that bring the world to life.”
    • “The graphics are terrible, the sounds awful, the animations are poor, but it's so fun, I don't know why.”
    • “The graphics are so unique it would make a blind person get their vision back and then make them blind again and then cry with tears of blood and joy.”
    • “The graphics are low for PC gamers but if you’re a smartphone user you might actually find this game interesting.”
  • gameplay250 mentions

    The gameplay of Castleminer Z is a mixed bag, drawing comparisons to Minecraft with its block-building mechanics while introducing a survival horror twist that enhances the experience. Players appreciate the engaging multiplayer aspect and the thrill of combat against various enemies, but many criticize the repetitive nature, lack of polish, and technical issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. While some find the gameplay fun and nostalgic, others feel it lacks depth and can become tedious, especially when played solo.

    • “This game takes the familiar block-building mechanics and infuses them with a thrilling survival horror twist that keeps players on the edge of their seats.”
    • “Building fortresses, strategizing defenses, and sharing resources adds a layer of depth to the gameplay that is both engaging and fun.”
    • “Its unique blend of exploration, creativity, and survival mechanics provides an engaging and addictive experience that keeps players coming back for more.”
    • “This game crashed five times, loaded with missing assets six times, and BSOD'd my computer three times, all in 90 minutes of gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is just a mess in my opinion and kind of annoying.”
    • “The only gameplay this game has to offer is shooting zombies everywhere in a randomly generated map, and the resource gathering part of the game is complete nonsense because of how easy it is just to get the best materials in the game and become insanely overpowered after just 5+ minutes of digging.”
  • stability99 mentions

    The stability of Castleminer Z is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly on modern systems like Windows 11. While some players find the game enjoyable despite its issues, many express frustration over the frequent technical problems that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess" that requires significant improvements to its stability.

    • “Runs great on PC and even better when you're playing with friends.”
    • “It still runs great even with a high visual setting.”
    • “The keys for me are fine and it runs great on my PC; I do like the simplicity of it because I can run it on the go on smaller laptops.”
    • “This game is extremely and I say extremely buggy on modern Windows, especially on Windows 11.”
    • “Routine game crashes & freezes, enemy spawning/despawning bugs, visual glitches, an easily discovered infinite ammo exploit, etc.”
    • “It's very buggy, has confused game design and I would just save your money and most importantly, time, on a better game.”
  • story93 mentions

    The reviews for the "story" aspect of various games reveal a mixed reception, with many titles lacking a significant narrative or structured quests. While some players appreciate self-imposed objectives that provide a sense of progression, others express disappointment over the absence of a compelling storyline, often comparing these games to more narrative-driven experiences. Overall, the consensus suggests that while gameplay may be engaging, the storytelling elements are often minimal or non-existent.

    • “The plot was a thoroughly strung emotional rollercoaster.”
    • “Beautiful artwork and a well-done storyline.”
    • “An intense action-packed storyline that keeps you thrilled from start to finish.”
    • “You can beat this game in 2 hours; there is no story.”
    • “There doesn't seem to be any storyline, no questing, no tasks/missions.”
    • “There is no story, and no main objective; the only story there is is 'here is some ore and zombies, collect the ore, make a gun, and fight them.'”
  • humor90 mentions

    The humor in this game is widely praised, with many players finding it hilariously entertaining, especially when playing with friends. The game's chaotic and often buggy nature leads to amusing situations and memorable moments, making it a source of laughter despite its flaws. Overall, it is considered a fun, lighthearted experience that thrives on multiplayer interactions and nostalgic charm.

    • “It's like they're auditioning for a zombie version of 'So You Think You Can Dance?' You'll be too busy laughing at their antics to remember you're supposed to be surviving!”
    • “Now, don't get me wrong – CastleMiner Z is an absolute hot mess, but it's also one of the most hilariously entertaining train wrecks you'll ever witness in the gaming world.”
    • “The charm of it being an artifact from the past, with it being buggy enough to actually add interesting situations and funny errors, makes it all the more fun.”
    • “Not funny, didn't laugh.”
    • “You're not funny!”
  • music90 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and evoke nostalgia, while others criticize it for being repetitive or poorly integrated. Many highlight standout tracks that contribute to the game's tension and excitement, particularly during key moments like dragon encounters. However, there are complaints about the menu music being jarring and the overall sound design lacking variety, suggesting that while the soundtrack has its strengths, it could benefit from improvements and more diverse compositions.

    • “The sound design is equally impressive, with haunting music and terrifying monster noises that will keep you on edge throughout your journey.”
    • “The game's soundtrack is good!”
    • “The soundtrack is unmatched.”
    • “Menu music is terrible, it sounds like a flash game.”
    • “This game is unnecessarily loud at parts, with music blaring at the worst times.”
    • “Music that bursts your eardrums.”
  • grinding36 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with players often needing to invest hours into repetitive tasks like mining and farming to progress. Many reviews highlight the frustration of resource management, particularly with tools that break mid-task, leading to lost progress and a sense of monotony. While some players find moments of satisfaction in cooperative play, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a major drawback that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
    • “The ammunition requires constant grinding to possess a continuous supply, and the amount of time grinding increases dramatically with each next tier.”
    • “Tools that can break in the middle of mining (resetting your progress, of course) combined with ores taking too long to mine makes mining tedious and boring.”
    • “After that, you want to drown in a vat of acid because all the sounds are the same, and the gameplay is so boring and tedious, it'll drive you insane.”
  • optimization36 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, frequent crashes, and low frame rates even on high-end hardware. While some players found it enjoyable despite these issues, the consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, lacking necessary updates and features to enhance gameplay. Many recommend playing on older consoles where the game is better optimized.

    • “I liked the new graphics and features and potentially better performance with half decent hardware.”
    • “The graphics are decent and the overall performance of the game is solid.”
    • “Castleminer Z is not a well-made game; it is littered with bugs, inconsistencies, and optimization problems, however, it is a very amusing game to play.”
    • “This PC port is extremely outdated and prone to crashing and performance hiccups. There are community patches out there, but modding this game is extremely convoluted and not worth the average person's time.”
    • “The optimization is trash and the controls are stiff and unresponsive.”
    • “This game isn't optimized very well and has a low FPS even on higher-end computers.”
  • atmosphere28 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its darker, intense tone that appeals to players seeking a mature experience, with many highlighting its ability to evoke nostalgia and fear. While the sound effects and music contribute to the ambiance, opinions vary on their effectiveness, with some finding them minimal or unremarkable. Overall, the game is noted for its impressive and memorable atmosphere, particularly in specific environments like caves, though some players feel it can be dull or clunky at times.

    • “Brought back childhood memories; I love the eerie atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere and the music just simply made it an amazing experience.”
    • “A beautifully crafted masterpiece with legendary atmosphere; I was so enthralled whilst playing this game that I forgot to eat and almost died.”
    • “Sound effects and background music contribute to the atmosphere, but they don't stand out as exceptional.”
    • “It's way too clunky, and the atmosphere is constantly dull, dim, and lightning flashes randomly all the time.”
    • “Recommended with friends, as it's quite boring and creepy when you play alone (the atmosphere makes you nervous for nothing).”
  • emotional19 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as a profound and often overwhelming experience, with players reporting moments that evoke tears of joy and heartbreak. Many highlight the impactful cutscenes and the game's ability to take them on a significant emotional journey, while others express frustration and confusion, indicating a complex relationship with the game's narrative and mechanics. Overall, it appears to resonate deeply with players, eliciting strong emotional responses.

    • “The plot was a thoroughly stringed emotional rollercoaster.”
    • “Amazing, made me cry at times, no doubt this is one of the best games ever made.”
    • “The thing that makes it feel so impactful and emotional has to be the cutscenes that could bring a man to tears.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some players praising the game for its fun and engaging multiplayer experience, while others criticize it for having low replay value and shallow gameplay after completing key objectives. Many recommend playing with friends to enhance the experience, but several users note that the game can become boring quickly once the main content is finished. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there is potential for replayability, it varies significantly based on individual preferences and play styles.

    • “This is probably the most fun and replayable sandbox survival game I've ever played since Minecraft.”
    • “10/5, replay value is immense as well.”
    • “Absolute classic, full of replayability.”
    • “Replay value: none - go play Minecraft with some mods.”
    • “There's very little replayability to this game once you beat the undead dragon (final boss) unless you help your friends through to beat him (which I did a few times).”
    • “Though I did originally enjoy this game, it unfortunately does not have much replay value or staying power, and the gameplay is kind of shallow.”
  • monetization12 mentions

    The monetization of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many users expressing frustration over the excessive ads in the late game and the perception that the game lacks originality and effort. While some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions, the overall sentiment suggests that the game's monetization strategy feels exploitative and poorly executed, leading to a negative impression among the community.

    • “Without microtransactions, unlimited content.”
    • “Microtransactions - 0/10, no microtransactions whatsoever!”
    • “This is a grubless cash grab.”
    • “Everything about this game just screams 'lazy cash grab with zero effort put into it.'”
    • “The game is summed up by saying it is a cash grab that feels like a 7 year old thought of the mechanics.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

14hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
4-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 32 analyzed playthroughs

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