Colony Survival
- June 16, 2017
- Pipliz
- 21h median play time
Get on Steam"Colony Survival is a historical simulation game that offers both single-player and multiplayer/co-op modes. Players must build and manage a colony with dozens of different jobs and resources, while defending against monster invasions using dynamic 3D pathfinding. Explore a large, diverse world and expand your colony with advanced metals, weapons, and jobs using an extensive science system."
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay that combines colony management, tower defense, and building mechanics.
- Active development with frequent updates and a responsive developer team.
- Fun to play with friends, offering a unique multiplayer experience.
- Can become repetitive and grindy, especially in late-game scenarios.
- Lacks a comprehensive tutorial, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics.
- Some players find the graphics and animations lacking, which may detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay365 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally described as addictive and straightforward, particularly enjoyable in multiplayer settings, though it can become repetitive over time. Players appreciate the blend of colony management, survival mechanics, and creative building, but some express concerns about the depth and variety of gameplay, particularly in its current early access state. Frequent updates and a caring developer are noted as positives, but many reviewers hope for more complex mechanics and content to enhance the overall experience.
“The gameplay does an amazingly good job at marrying single player exploration, discovery, and action with an excellently thought out base economy, defense, and management system.”
“Colony survival is a truly exceptional game that offers an unmatched blend of strategy, survival, and base building gameplay.”
“The gameplay is intuitive and it doesn't take long to get the hang of it.”
“The gameplay loops get pretty repetitive and boring after some time, in my opinion, and it's questionable if it's worth the 20€... I've seen much better games for the same or even less price.”
“The mechanics right now and for as long as I've played seem to push towards building large 'parking lots' of work areas and tiny cramped rooms for sleeping in, as it is the most efficient way to progress.”
“The gameplay was lacking, the graphics were laughable, and the multiplayer was horrendous.”
- graphics282 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the charming, blocky aesthetic reminiscent of Minecraft, enhanced by good lighting and texture details. While some praise the visuals as beautiful and well-optimized for performance, others criticize them for being simplistic or in need of polish, particularly in areas like water effects and NPC animations. Overall, the graphics are seen as a solid foundation that complements the gameplay, though there is a desire for further improvements and variety.
“From the moment you start playing, you'll be captivated by the stunning graphics and attention to detail in every aspect of the game.”
“The graphics are amazing for a game with blocks.”
“The game bears sleek voxel graphics and beautiful shaders, and it's quite visually appealing.”
“The graphics are terrible; there is a single mob that looks like a computer programming project on physics from a freshman in college; there are no animations for building or destroying other than a progress bar that is not affected by tools (same speed with hands, tools, block of dirt); the GUI for assigning and building is not intuitive; any time you create something the view repositions straight up... I understand it's in development, but asking for money for a release that is nowhere close to production is scammy.”
“The graphics are actually low quality even for a Minecraft-like game, but is somewhat understandable considering the premise of having hundreds of AI enemies loaded in.”
“I cannot play with the game, simply have a headache after 3 minutes because of the movement/graphics.”
- grinding119 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while many players find the initial resource farming and colony management engaging and satisfying, others feel that it becomes excessively tedious and repetitive in the late game. Some reviews highlight the need for significant time investment to progress, often likening it to needing "a second life" for grinding, while others appreciate the automation features that alleviate some of the grind. Overall, the game offers a fun experience for those who enjoy micromanagement, but it risks losing players' interest due to its grindy nature.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“When the achievable aim was a big, impressive colony, not tedious micromanagement of frustrating and bad mechanics.”
“Unfortunately, the game gets a little grindy and boring in the very late stages, since almost all late-game items can't be used by the player.”
“The achievements aren't very fun to achieve, most being stuff you will unlock as you simply play, and a few others being tedious to no end with no challenge other than staying awake as you're assaulted by boredom.”
“Everything felt incredibly grindy and in the end, it felt like there was little point aside from creative freedom.”
- story60 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The consensus among users is that the game lacks a meaningful story, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over the absence of narrative elements or quests to provide context and goals. While some players appreciate the gameplay mechanics, they feel that the lack of a structured storyline diminishes the overall experience and potential for engagement. A few users suggest that the game could benefit from the addition of quests or lore to enhance its depth and replayability.
“In my opinion, I love playing this game. I always play it in my free time and I hope that they add more features, like some Vikings to the north that attack every 10 days in the morning. Then they have axes, and when we unlock the matchlocks, the Vikings become pirates that use blunderbusses and swords. I really like the idea of having a storyline so that we can have lore behind the colonists against the zombies.”
“My biggest complaint with the game is the lack of endgame. It would be cool if they added some type of quest-based story to go along with the gameplay.”
“Creating one’s own story in a colony sim is one of the best parts, which is why I was so disappointed that there are no elements in this game that allow such a story to be created.”
“Story: unfortunately, this game has no story - 0/0”
“This game has a nice concept but it feels like nothing matters, there is no story, and no true end goal.”
“Don't bother if you want a story-heavy game.”
- optimization41 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance even with a high number of NPCs and detailed graphics. However, some players noted issues with specific elements like lighting and AI performance, suggesting that while the game runs well on various systems, there are still areas that could benefit from further optimization. Despite these criticisms, the majority of feedback highlights a solid and enjoyable experience with minimal lag or crashes.
“Optimization is flawless.”
“The performance is insanely good.”
“It's so well optimized that it runs smoothly on low-end machines as well.”
“So it's extremely poorly optimized.”
“My main criticism would be that there are some major performance issues from lighting overlapping, or being too dense in an area, despite the game running superb on high settings generally.”
“The optimization of AI is also a big problem, whether the enemy or the colonists.”
- stability39 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report minimal bugs and a generally smooth experience, others encounter frequent glitches, particularly with AI pathfinding and menu functions. Many acknowledge the game's early access status, which contributes to its instability, but also express optimism for future improvements. Despite the issues, several users find the game enjoyable and playable, indicating that it has potential if the bugs are addressed.
“The world generation is actually pretty solid, and the game runs great with high render distances allowing you to see some pretty far-off mountain ranges and forests.”
“As it is now, a wonderful game and it's not buggy and very playable.”
“I personally can well look over a temporary lack of content, if the game is polished and nice to look at in return and runs almost bug-free with very responsive developers.”
“Buggy, bad support (game would not even start anymore after 2nd boot).”
“It's one of those titles where you can tell really fast that it is going to be really buggy and a giant pain in the butt to play.”
“So far the game is still really buggy (again to be expected) and here is a list of bugs I found out:”
- replayability29 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some players praising the game for its extensive replay value and diverse play styles, while others criticize its linearity and lack of strategic depth, leading to a tedious experience over time. Continuous updates and an active modding community are seen as positive factors that could enhance replayability in the future. Overall, while some find the game engaging enough for multiple playthroughs, others feel it lacks sufficient variety to sustain long-term interest.
“Such a good game with loads of replayability and with goals you actually have to work for.”
“The game truly caters to every play style and has a huge amount of replayability.”
“Absolutely fantastic game with endless replayability; don't hesitate, just give them your money.”
“It's just too tedious after a while, and little in the way of replayability.”
“There is no strategy to combat, and almost no replay value.”
“I want more variety in gameplay, but how I see it right now this game has very low replayability.”
- music24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's music aspect is largely criticized for its lack of background music, with many players expressing a desire for a soundtrack to enhance the atmosphere. While sound effects contribute to the game's realism, the absence of music leaves the experience feeling incomplete and repetitive. Players hope for future updates to include music, which could significantly improve the overall enjoyment of the game.
“The music and sound effects add to the game's atmosphere, with every sound of construction or enemy attack adding another layer of realism.”
“This is always a fun game to create something from the ground up all while either listening to music or the official podcast.”
“V0.7 is coming out soon which is supposed to be the biggest update since release which is nice, but as long as the developers continue developing, then this will turn into a very nice little relax-put on music-and chill game.”
“There isn’t much in the way of music though.”
“As of right now, my only gripe with the game is the total lack of music.”
“This game needs to add music.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted, with players enjoying the comedic mishaps that occur during gameplay, such as accidental gaps in defenses leading to humorous outcomes for their characters. Many find the quirky interactions, like colonists getting lost or zombies swarming, to be entertaining, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere. However, some users express frustration with the game's development and updates, contrasting the humor with dissatisfaction regarding the overall experience.
“After 25 hours, I'm still getting pulled into 'just one more day' loops polishing my hill fort turned quaint hamlet. I could see endless hours of fun in multiplayer building masterpieces with friends while laughing about the accidental gaps we left in our defenses that caused dozens of our poor little townies to get eaten.”
“It has just the right mix of activity, automation, expansion, and even humor, all wrapped into a game that isn't even finished yet.”
“[b]The fact that the game asks you to read a full PDF before playing is pretty hilarious.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users labeling it a "well hidden cash grab" despite the absence of microtransactions or additional charges for DLC. While there are concerns about the game's depth and initial pricing, many players appreciate the developers' ongoing support and potential for future improvements, suggesting that the game may be worth exploring despite its early access status.
“The AI and interactivity could be better, but with the devs working on this consistently, and without any extra charge for DLC or microtransactions, this game is definitely worth looking into, especially now with the much more fleshed out co-op feature and mod support.”
“No microtransactions.”
“Don't let the graphics and early access make you think it's just another cash grab.”
“Overall, I would describe the game as a well-hidden cash grab and not made with any kind of passion or love for the craft.”
“This game has so much potential; I hope it wasn't just a cash grab.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by realistic sound effects and music that contribute to the overall experience. Players appreciate the detailed graphics, including lifelike skies and environmental sounds, which create a vibrant and engaging world that stands out among similar titles.
“The sky is realistic looking with clouds and atmospheric scattering effects that make for realistic looking red sunrises.”
“The atmosphere is immersing; the little chirps and buzzes around your settlement really add a character that not many other block-games provide.”
“The atmosphere is immersive; the little chirps and buzzes around your settlement really add a character that not many other block games provide.”
“The music and sound effects add to the game's atmosphere, with every sound of construction or enemy attack adding another layer of realism.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional experience of the game to be a mix of heartwarming and heartbreaking, as they develop attachments to their colonists and feel a sense of loss when things go wrong. The game's relaxing moments are contrasted by the emotional weight of losing a colony, though some players feel that the lack of a musical score detracts from the overall emotional impact. Overall, the game evokes a range of emotions, from joy in watching colonists thrive to sorrow in their potential loss.
“Losing my colony is truly heartbreaking.”
“Most colony sims will attach a name to a colonist so that the player has a basic emotional attachment to them.”
“While the game mechanics and everything else are near perfect, the aural silence, aside from the sound effects, is breaking the experience from an emotional standpoint.”
