Cepheus Protocol

About

Cepheus Protocol is a single player survival real-time strategy game. It was developed by Halcyon Winds and was released on May 14, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Cepheus Protocol is a real-time strategy game set in a futuristic world overrun by a deadly virus. As the leader of a ragtag group of survivors, players must gather resources, build bases, and research new technologies to combat the outbreak and save humanity. With intense tactical combat and a branching storyline, each playthrough offers a unique challenge.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

+11

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,119 reviews

gameplay113 positive mentions

optimization34 negative mentions

Unique concept of managing a military response to a zombie outbreak, combining RTS and survival elements.
Active development with frequent updates and strong community engagement from the developers.
Engaging gameplay that allows for various strategies, including civilian evacuation and base building.

Numerous bugs and performance issues, particularly with AI pathfinding and unit responsiveness.
Lack of a comprehensive tutorial, making it difficult for new players to understand game mechanics.
Limited content with only a few maps and a low unit cap, leading to repetitive gameplay.

gameplay
412 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
68%
5%
The gameplay of Cepheus Protocol is a mixed bag, showcasing a unique blend of real-time strategy, base-building, and tactical combat elements set in a zombie apocalypse. While many players appreciate the innovative mechanics and potential for strategic depth, they also highlight significant issues such as clunky controls, pathfinding problems, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these challenges, the game is actively being developed, with frequent updates aimed at improving gameplay and addressing community feedback, making it a title worth watching for fans of the genre.
- “The core gameplay is incredibly enjoyable, and with the continuous stream of new updates, it keeps getting better and better.”
- “The gameplay is a mix between squad tactical and base building with two types of main forces.”
- “Cepheus Protocol is a strong title that can easily be referred to as a (pseudo) mil-sim depending upon how deeply you immerse yourself into its mechanics.”
- “Game's bugged to hell, pathfinding is horrendous, gameplay is extremely clunky and rough, performance is actually abysmal (and I have a top PC).”
- “The mechanics of the game do not synergize well and at times it feels like I'm playing a collection of Unity assets meshed together.”
- “The gameplay is very static.”
optimization
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
66%
24%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, frequent bugs, and clunky gameplay, particularly in late-game scenarios. While some improvements have been noted, especially during recent updates, many users still find the game unplayable on mid-range systems due to significant frame rate drops and pathfinding problems. Overall, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization and bug fixes to reach its potential.
- “Game is being rebuilt from the ground up and so far in the playtest, there is a vast improvement in terms of performance, UI, AI, and overall polish of how the RTS and third-person mode feels and plays.”
- “The game is optimized better than it was before and you no longer need a NASA PC to run it.”
- “With some love, some bug crushing, getting the basic systems optimized and fleshed out, this has the makings of one of the greats.”
- “The game is extremely poorly optimized.”
- “Game needs a lot of work in terms of performance, and character pathfinding and content.”
- “Unfortunately, sometimes the game experiences a drop in fps while playing, even though at that time it's not that crowded, the optimization is still bad.”
story
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
79%
4%
The game's story revolves around a military mission to eliminate "patient zero" amidst a zombie outbreak, but many players feel that the narrative is underdeveloped and lacks depth, with minimal mission variety and a poorly executed introduction. While the potential for a rich storyline exists, including side missions and character development, the current state of the game is criticized for its focus on gameplay mechanics over storytelling, leaving players wanting more narrative engagement. Overall, the game is seen as having a unique premise but requires significant improvements in its storytelling elements to fully realize its potential.
- “At the core of Cepheus Protocol lies a captivating storyline that unfolds with cinematic flair.”
- “The immersive gameplay mechanics, such as base-building, resource management, and strategic combat, seamlessly integrate with the storyline, keeping players invested in the fight for survival.”
- “With its atmospheric visuals, gripping storyline, and strategic gameplay mechanics, the game offers a thrilling and challenging experience for strategy enthusiasts.”
- “The whole city is filled with dead bodies, infected and citizens, but the main mission is to kill one person that's started the infection and you 'win'.”
- “Now they say that they plan on adding side missions to complete and a campaign, but that's still not open world; it just has one kind of big map, that's all, and the performance on it is, frankly, awful compared to its counterparts.”
- “The developer just recently created a visual novel that sells the game's story, outside of the initial selling price.”
graphics
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the immersive visuals and attention to detail, particularly in atmospheric effects like rain and lighting. However, many users report issues with optimization, bugs, and inconsistencies between promotional materials and in-game graphics quality, suggesting that while the visuals have potential, they require further refinement and better performance across various hardware setups. Overall, the graphics are considered decent for an RTS, but improvements are needed to enhance the gaming experience.
- “The graphics are amazing and have lots of details.”
- “This game raises the bar with its breathtaking graphics.”
- “Great graphics and the soundtrack reflects the atmosphere splendidly.”
- “Next off, the trailers make the game look solid and crisp, but the actual in-game graphics (on epic) are extremely poor.”
- “The graphics in particular feel weird, with broken animations and a very limited number of models.”
- “Menu graphics look like 8-bit, and are unreadable on larger screens.”
stability
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly in late-game scenarios. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these issues, they acknowledge that the game is still in early access and requires substantial polishing. The developers are noted for their active engagement and regular updates, which offer hope for future improvements, but the current state remains frustratingly unstable for many.
- “The game is currently very buggy but quite playable; you quite regularly see zombies t-posing and hovering all over the place as well as getting stuck on hills.”
- “It's a clusterfuck of buggy, unfinished, half-thought-out and half-implemented systems that do not fit together anymore.”
- “Now, though, it's a buggy mess.”
music
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
69%
6%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the ability to blast custom tracks from vehicles and the overall sound design, which enhances the atmosphere. However, many have noted that the ambient music and unit selection sounds can be repetitive, and there is a desire for more variety and polish in the soundtrack. Overall, while the music adds a fun element to gameplay, improvements are needed to enhance the overall experience.
- “Overall, I would say that my favorite feature has to be the speakers on vehicles and the ones you can build, as with these you're able to blast out music while shooting zombie hordes.”
- “Music + guns + zombies = living the dream.”
- “I got to shoot zombies from a helicopter while blasting any song I want.”
- “Ui is trash, music is meh, gameplay sucks.”
- “The music is a bit repetitive but I still like it.”
- “Jarring in-game music changes from quiet search music to overly loud combat music back and forth several times in a 5 second period.”
replayability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its potential and variety in gameplay mechanics, while others note that it currently suffers from limited content and minor bugs. Despite these issues, the frequent updates and planned future content have generated optimism for improved replayability. Many users find themselves returning for new strategies and experiences, indicating a solid foundation for replay value, especially as the game continues to evolve in early access.
- “The replay value of this game is enormous.”
- “Very unique concept with great replayability, lots of planned features for release, overall a game I find myself replaying a new game for each time I think of a new plan or when a new update drops.”
- “Despite being in early access, this game boasts an impressive amount of replayability.”
- “I really wanted a game like this and it was fun in the beginning, just clearly needed more content and replayability.”
- “Despite offering challenging scenarios and multiple maps, some players might find the game's replayability somewhat limited over the long term.”
- “The replayability isn't quite there yet beyond a couple of maps and a couple of modes, but at this stage I think it's important to just get the basic systems down and functioning.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
18%
14%
The atmosphere in "Cepheus Protocol" is widely praised for its immersive and chilling depiction of a post-apocalyptic world, characterized by detailed visuals, dynamic lighting, and eerie sound design that heighten tension and urgency. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a captivating environment filled with dread and chaos, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. The combination of compelling narrative and strategic depth further solidifies its atmospheric impact, making it a standout in the genre.
- “Cepheus Protocol's atmospheric world is rendered with attention to detail, creating an immersive environment that adds to the overall tension and urgency.”
- “Dynamic lighting, atmospheric effects, and seamless animations combine to create an immersive and chilling atmosphere.”
- “Cepheus Protocol excels at creating an immersive post-apocalyptic world with its eerie landscapes, abandoned cities, and a grim atmosphere.”
- “The developers have done a fine job creating an atmosphere of tension and dread, making you feel like you're right there in the thick of the chaos.”
- “The atmosphere was dense, and the constant threat was ubiquitous.”
grinding
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
16%
79%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with many tasks requiring repetitive actions that detract from the overall enjoyment. The need for manual management, such as setting civilian administrations and refilling ammunition, adds to the chore-like experience, making progress feel slow and cumbersome. Overall, while the game has potential, the current grindy mechanics are seen as a significant drawback.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Some aspects could use automation - it's tedious to have to fly a chopper with a technician around and build resource points in between actual gameplay.”
- “The scale that this game is going for is absolutely enormous and clearing the map is so tedious and just feels stupid.”
- “Once I reach this point, clearing each island becomes a tedious project.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its chaotic and absurd moments, often stemming from glitches and unexpected gameplay scenarios that lead to hilarious outcomes. Players appreciate the comedic elements, such as funny music choices and the developers' nonchalant responses, which enhance the overall experience. Despite some technical issues, the game's ability to generate laughter through its quirky mechanics and situations is a highlight for many users.
- “It's challenging, chaotic, and when things go wrong (and they will), it’s absolutely hilarious.”
- “The pathing is hilarious; I've had my units get stuck on random doodads, and the enemy get stuck on their own buildings.”
- “Sometimes I forget I have certain songs enabled, and I hear Swedish metal playing as a scout helicopter flies over my firing line getting overrun, and I burst out laughing.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the use of skin packs over a battle pass system, while others criticize it as a potential cash grab. Concerns have been raised about the overwhelming presence of ads and a perceived prioritization of marketing over addressing gameplay issues, leading to skepticism about the developers' commitment to delivering a quality product. Overall, players feel torn between the game's captivating atmosphere and the fear that it may prioritize profit over genuine engagement with the community.
- “Their monetization method is through skin packs, which I can appreciate because we don't need another battle pass, especially for a game like this. Updates are frequent and sizable, but some of the changes, like the upcoming UI update, feel a bit ill-prioritized in favor of other issues. Even my nitpicks feel like they should be more pressing, but for atmosphere alone, something about this game just captivates me.”
- “Scammy cash grab is the best way I'd describe this.”
- “The main menu is a horrible mess of ads that Zuckerberg would be proud of.”
- “At this point, it looks like they've realized this and are now heavily invested in marketing the game with gimmicks, actors, and ads rather than trying to fix the performance.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be wholesome and emotionally uplifting, appreciating its heartwarming development despite some awkward gameplay. However, there are calls for significant performance improvements to enhance the overall experience.
- “This game is so wholesome.”
- “As it is now, the gameplay is pretty awkward sometimes, but promising, and the active development is heartwarming and encouraging.”

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6h Median play time

13h Average play time

4-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 25 analyzed playthroughs

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Cepheus Protocol is a survival real-time strategy game.

Cepheus Protocol is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 13 hours playing Cepheus Protocol.

Cepheus Protocol was released on May 14, 2020.

Cepheus Protocol was developed by Halcyon Winds.

Cepheus Protocol has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its optimization.

Cepheus Protocol is a single player game.

Similar games include Total Conflict: Resistance, Silica, Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare, Infection Free Zone, Becastled and others.

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