Death From Above

About

Death From Above is a single player shooter game with a warfare theme. It was developed by Rockodile and was released on February 22, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Death From Above" is a drone-based arcade game set during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where you play as a Ukrainian military drone operator. Your mission is to combat enemy forces, recover stolen equipment, and restore communication lines. A significant aspect of this game is its real-world impact, as 30% of net proceeds support two Ukrainian organizations, "Come Back Alive" and "Army of Drones," providing non-offensive aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. By purchasing the game, you contribute to a meaningful cause while enjoying an engaging gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+12

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 330 reviews

gameplay20 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and entertaining experience, allowing players to engage in drone warfare while supporting a good cause.
Gameplay is fun and humorous, with many easter eggs and a light-hearted approach to serious themes, making it enjoyable despite its short length.
The developers are actively working on updates and improvements, showing promise for future content and enhancements.

The game is very short, typically completed in about 90 minutes, and lacks depth in terms of missions and enemy AI complexity.
Optimization issues lead to performance problems, especially on lower-end systems, which detracts from the overall experience.
Many players feel the game is too simplistic and could benefit from more features, such as drone upgrades, varied missions, and improved graphics.

gameplay
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The gameplay in "Death from Above" is characterized by its interesting mechanics and a variety of combat options, including powerful weapons and unique features like the surrender mechanic. While the controls are simple and the tutorial effectively introduces players to the game, some reviewers noted that the gameplay can feel short and the enemy AI lacks complexity. Overall, the game shows potential but could benefit from additional content and refinements to enhance the overall experience.
- “The combat mechanics in 'Death from Above' are nothing short of spectacular.”
- “The array of weapons and power-ups, from homing missiles to devastating energy beams, keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting.”
- “This dual responsibility adds an intriguing layer of complexity to the gameplay, forcing you to consider the well-being of the pilot while executing your missions.”
- “However, I can't help but feel that the gameplay falls short of the mark.”
- “[i]Death from Above[/i] has potential, but it could benefit from a more thoughtful approach to gameplay and narrative that aligns better with its meaningful mission.”
- “Edit: months after writing this original review, no new mechanics/missions have been added to the game.”
story
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The game's story is set against the backdrop of a dystopian narrative, simulating the Ukraine war from the perspective of a drone pilot, which many players find engaging and immersive. While the campaign features intriguing characters and plot twists, it currently suffers from a lack of variety, with only one map and a limited number of missions, leading to a desire for more content and depth in future updates. Overall, players appreciate the gripping storyline and visuals but hope for a more developed narrative and additional missions to enhance the experience.
- “The game's campaign is a thrilling ride through a dystopian narrative, complete with intriguing characters and plot twists that keep you hooked from mission to mission.”
- “With its jaw-dropping visuals, intuitive controls, gripping storyline, and intense combat, it surpasses expectations and sets a new standard for the genre.”
- “Games like 'This War of Mine' and 'Arma 3: Laws of War' excel in portraying the true essence of conflict and storytelling.”
- “Definitely needs more missions on a variety of maps as only one gets boring after just a few hours.”
- “Hopefully enough people buy this game for it to progress into a full story-based campaign.”
- “[i]Death from Above[/i] has potential, but it could benefit from a more thoughtful approach to gameplay and narrative that aligns better with its meaningful mission.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
37%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the breathtaking visuals and unique artistic direction, particularly in relation to its themes, while others criticize them as outdated, likening them to late 90s or early 2000s standards. Overall, many players appreciate the graphics as "great" and "amazing," but note that they lack the groundbreaking quality seen in major AAA titles.
- “This adrenaline-soaked adventure earns its 10+ rating with a perfect blend of breathtaking visuals, seamless controls, and pulse-pounding combat.”
- “From the moment you lift off the ground, the game's graphics leave you breathless.”
- “With its jaw-dropping visuals, intuitive controls, gripping storyline, and intense combat, it surpasses expectations and sets a new standard for the genre.”
- “For an Unreal Engine title, the graphics and models are rather late 90's to early 2000's.”
- “Nothing groundbreaking in the way of graphics, voice acting, or any other 'wow' factors that big AAA titles had.”
- “Instead of focusing on graphics and realism, the authors focused on propaganda.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, featuring numerous funny easter eggs and comedic elements that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate how the humor alleviates tension while addressing serious topics, with specific mechanics, like the washing machine, being highlighted as particularly amusing. Overall, the blend of humor and engaging gameplay contributes to a memorable and enjoyable experience.
- “The game does have a lot of funny easter eggs that gave me an honest chuckle when I was playing it.”
- “But the game has a big sense of humor too; I won't spoil the surprise, but it was too funny to not enjoy.”
- “+ The game's focus lies in its ability to alleviate tension through humor while raising awareness about serious topics.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
27%
9%
The music in "Death from Above" has been widely praised for its vibrant and fitting soundtrack, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the unique musical accompaniment, which includes contributions from artists like Antytila and Surface Tension, and express a desire for an expanded original soundtrack in the future. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.
- “The triumphant soundtrack from Antytila, Odarka, and Surface Tension is a highlight!”
- “One of the enjoyable features of 'Death from Above' is its bright musical accompaniment.”
- “It's a very fun drone sim with a super cool soundtrack - I hope more people will support 'Death from Above'!”
- “It would be nice to see the developers expand the OSTs and perhaps release a soundtrack pack in the future.”
- “In conclusion, with its knockout gameplay, bright musical accompaniment, unique tutorial approach, and the ability to tackle serious topics with some kind of humor, 'Death from Above' offers an interesting experience.”
optimization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
68%
19%
The game's optimization is generally criticized, particularly on platforms like the Steam Deck, where performance can drop to around 20 fps. Many users acknowledge that the game is in early access, which contributes to its optimization issues and bugs, but they still find it playable and enjoyable. Overall, while improvements are needed, players are willing to overlook these shortcomings due to the game's supportive cause.
- “There are a few bugs and the performance could be better, but that's mostly because it's in early access; the game is more than playable and enjoyable :)”
- “It could be better optimized, but since it's early access and dedicated for a good cause, it can wait.”
- “Before you make your purchase, a word of caution: the optimization leaves a bit to be desired, especially on Steam Deck - you're looking at about 20 fps.”
- “The game definitely requires some optimization and audio improvements, but if you wanted to support Ukraine in real life, buying this game may be the easiest way to do so.”
- “Also, optimization is not very good, but I guess it is an early access thing.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players find the game highly replayable due to the presence of high scores, achievements, leaderboards, and side missions, which encourage repeated playthroughs to improve performance and complete additional content.
- “There's a high score system that adds significant replay value.”
- “The game is highly replayable due to achievements, leaderboards, and side missions.”
- “But at least there's a high score to add replay value.”
- “+ Replayable for achievements, leaderboards, and side missions purposes.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant stability issues, with frequent PC freezes occurring even on systems that are not slow or outdated. This suggests a potential problem with the game's performance on various hardware configurations.
- “My PC freezes up almost constantly, and I don't have a slow PC at all.”
- “My PC freezes up almost constantly, and I don't have a slow PC at all.”