Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 17,466 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • grinding
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor Game Cover
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"Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor" is a single-player auto-shooter game where you, as a dwarf, battle hordes of alien creatures in procedurally generated caves. With an array of powerful upgrades and weapons, you must complete mission objectives, all while automatically blasting away at enemies. Each mission offers a new challenge, making survival a difficult yet rewarding endeavor.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 17,466 reviews
gameplay731 positive mentions
grinding629 negative mentions
  • gameplay1,917 mentions

    The gameplay of "Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor" combines the frantic action of the survivor genre with innovative mechanics like mining and destructible terrain, creating a unique experience that encourages strategic movement and resource management. While many players find the core gameplay loop addictive and engaging, some criticize the repetitive nature of runs and the lack of meaningful upgrades, leading to a grindy experience. Overall, the game is praised for its fun mechanics and solid execution, though it still requires further content and balancing to fully realize its potential.

    • “Combining chaotic hordes of enemies with satisfying mining and resource-gathering mechanics, it captures the essence of the original while delivering a fresh and addictive twist.”
    • “The mining-to-meta-progress system is rewarding, the mining itself is rewarding in gameplay once you adjust to it (the difference between 0% mining speed and 4% materially impacts gameplay in a way you feel).”
    • “For people familiar with the survivor-like/bullet heaven genre, this is an extremely well-polished iteration on the core concepts, while bringing new content like challenge modes, multi-stage levels, and some very satisfying weapons to create a game that delivers a consistently entertaining gameplay loop with long-term progression and achievements to keep you invested in going back for one more run.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, there are some lazy design choices, like the lack of outlines for enemies behind obstacles.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple to learn, but is a lot deeper than first meets the eye.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and dull, just a rinse and repeat of the same objectives with minimal build diversity.”
  • story799 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely absent, with players noting a lack of narrative depth or engaging plotlines. Missions primarily revolve around repetitive objectives, such as defeating a single boss, which can lead to a monotonous gameplay experience. While there are various mission types and challenges, many reviewers express a desire for more diverse objectives and a richer storyline to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The mining, the secondary missions, the drop pods, the biome hazards add a lot of unique flavor to the genre that you don't get elsewhere.”
    • “Each mission is filled with adrenaline and risk/reward situations if you want to mine the most valuable resources or complete all the challenges.”
    • “The gameplay is great, there's tons of added content, it's almost like the devs just wanted to make a great game that was a lot of fun...with tons of compelling missions, to keep you interested.”
    • “The game lacks the mission variety and depth of Deep Rock Galactic, making it feel like a condensed version of the original.”
    • “Every mission feels the same, and the grind for upgrades becomes tedious quickly.”
    • “The missions are super unrewarding and annoying, they don't give you much of a reward at all and usually just force you to run around the map collecting things.”
  • grinding641 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive after the initial hours of gameplay. While some appreciate the sense of progression and find the grind enjoyable, others criticize it for being overly demanding, with minimal rewards for the time invested. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game can be fun and addictive, the grinding mechanics may deter players seeking a more balanced and engaging experience.

    • “It feels like you're jeopardizing your run, and could rather farm gold/nitrite/do quests/do the drop pod, but simultaneously, feels like you're forfeiting long-term gain by not farming the rare minerals.”
    • “The balance of everything is really good - challenging, but not grindy to the point of boredom.”
    • “I say 'difficulties' because it is painfully obvious that the hazard levels are not designed as difficulties, but as stages of progression in the oh-so-fun and not grindy at all permanent upgrade systems and weapon/overclock unlocks.”
    • “It's way too grindy to be fun past the first few hours.”
    • “The grinding is intense and the prize for it is small.”
    • “The game is grindy, in the sense that completing a level is pretty much impossible without dying the first 7/8 times, that can be quite frustrating if you're used to similar games where it is possible.”
  • graphics563 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant visuals and polished aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm of the Deep Rock Galactic universe. Many players appreciate the game's ability to run smoothly even on lower-end hardware, while some note that the visual effects can become cluttered during intense gameplay, occasionally obscuring important details. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, enhancing the immersive experience and setting the game apart from other titles in the genre.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with detailed environments that make you feel like you're truly exploring alien caves.”
    • “The graphics look great, being clearly recognizable from the other DRG game, but adjusted a bit to be more legible from a top-down view, not just lazily copy-pasted.”
    • “The graphics are amazing and the price is a steal.”
    • “The art style is... ehh everything looks like one of those cheap plastic action figures the dwarfs suffering the most.”
    • “The visuals are cluttered in the late game, to the point where you can't tell what's happening on screen.”
    • “The only major thing it has going for it is rock'n stone graphics.”
  • replayability218 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players enjoying the variety of unlockable modes, character upgrades, and strategic gameplay elements that keep each run feeling fresh. While some reviewers note that the game can become repetitive after extended play, the frequent updates and diverse challenges contribute to a strong replay value, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre. However, a few players express concerns about potential limitations in replayability as they progress through the game.

    • “The game excels in its addictive loop of mining, fighting, and upgrading, with each run offering fresh challenges and replayability.”
    • “Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is a fantastic rogue-like game that perfectly blends engaging gameplay with endless replayability.”
    • “With its dynamic gameplay, challenging mechanics, and endless replayability, it's sure to keep players digging, surviving, and laughing for hours on end.”
    • “It lacks enduring replayability for any but die-hard fans of the genre, and most will probably stop playing long before they finish the game's progression system.”
    • “The game is good; however, it feels repetitive. You play 4 biomes in over 500 challenges, which doesn't make the game more replayable.”
    • “It's not adding 'replay value'; it's a half-baked attempt to add more completely negligible meta-progressions, then lock all of it behind an awful, tedious challenge system designed purely to inflate playtime as a pathetic excuse to claim that the game is 'replayable' and has more content than it truthfully does.”
  • humor168 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players enjoying the quirky dialogue, funny voice lines, and the signature charm of the dwarves reminiscent of the original *Deep Rock Galactic*. While some found the humor repetitive over time, the overall consensus is that the game successfully combines engaging gameplay with a lighthearted and comedic atmosphere, making it a fun experience for fans of the genre. However, a few players noted that not all jokes landed, indicating a mixed reception on the humor's effectiveness for everyone.

    • “Extremely fun to play and has a lot of details, humor, and love poured into just like Deep Rock Galactic.”
    • “The game is really funny, but the farming objectives are really boring, sometimes complicated and mandatory to access higher levels.”
    • “From the quirky weapon designs to the hilarious voice lines, DRG: Survivor delivers that special brand of dwarven camaraderie, even in single-player.”
    • “Never felt this good to be a dwarf, hehe, not funny.”
    • “Bullet sponges are not funny.”
    • “It's just unfunny to play.”
  • optimization144 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players experiencing performance issues, particularly during intense gameplay scenarios or at higher difficulty levels. While some users report smooth performance on various systems, including the Steam Deck, others note significant frame rate drops and stuttering, especially when many enemies are present. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires further optimization and performance patches to enhance the experience, particularly for mid-tier PCs.

    • “It’s not aiming to be the next AAA graphical masterpiece, but the style and smooth performance make it a good-looking gem in the auto-shooter genre.”
    • “The game itself is quite detailed and has great graphics with little to no performance issues.”
    • “The graphics are great, I have had zero performance issues.”
    • “Badly optimized; in most situations, I get 165 fps, but it can drop to ±20 fps.”
    • “However, the performance is incredibly questionable and, at times, not fun to play with.”
    • “In conclusion: Deep Rock Galactic Survivor shows great promise, but the optimization issues at higher hazard levels make the game experience unbearable if you have a mid-tier PC.”
  • stability118 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting a range of bugs and performance issues, particularly during critical moments like leveling up or entering drop pods. While some users experience smooth gameplay, especially on the Steam Deck, others face frequent freezes and crashes that disrupt their experience. Overall, the game shows promise but requires further polish to address its current instability.

    • “As far as early access goes: very polished core gameplay/systems and feels relatively complete, no major bugs, runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Very stable with only a few bugs, runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “I've experienced no glitches at this time, and performance has been consistently steady.”
    • “Great game, only issue is that while hovering over something, it glitches out and won't let me select it as it keeps on rapidly highlighting and un-highlighting it, which makes it difficult to properly choose items.”
    • “I constantly experience freezes right as dreadnoughts jump at me, which kills me since I didn't 'jump away' in time.”
    • “But to have the mission fail multiple times because my character freezes up during extraction is horrible.”
  • music115 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its energetic and immersive qualities that complement the gameplay. However, some critics note that the soundtrack largely recycles music and voice lines from the original Deep Rock Galactic, leading to a sense of repetitiveness. Overall, while the sound design and atmosphere are praised, there are calls for more original tracks to enhance the experience further.

    • “The graphics are vibrant, and the soundtrack is energetic, perfectly complementing the intense gameplay.”
    • “The game offers a different way to experience the Deep Rock Galactic universe, with music, voice lines, and ambiance that keep you immersed.”
    • “The visuals are great and match the same attractive look of Deep Rock, beautifully paired with many of DRG's awesome soundtracks.”
    • “The music did not stand out to me.”
    • “Although they've basically recycled the music from the original game.”
    • “If we ignore the original DRG assets, music, and voice lines and just look at this as a survivor game, honestly there's more work to do.”
  • monetization42 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users labeling it as a "cash grab" that lacks depth and originality, often comparing it unfavorably to mobile games rife with microtransactions. However, some players appreciate the absence of in-game purchases and find the gameplay enjoyable, suggesting that while it may feel like a quick cash grab, it still offers a satisfying experience at a reasonable price. Overall, the sentiment leans towards disappointment regarding its perceived lack of effort and innovation.

    • “No hidden monetization, no sticking their hands in your pockets, just fun, addictive gameplay with a lot of fun.”
    • “A great roguelike adjacent game, it's what mobile games could be without all the microtransactions.”
    • “For $10 an absolute steal, no microtransactions just satisfying balanced gameplay.”
    • “These are cell phone game mechanics to prompt microtransactions and ad revenue.”
    • “I don't know what happened to make this such a soulless cash grab of a game.”
    • “This is the bare minimum to make a game you can sell, and it feels more like a cash grab riding on the DRG IP and the survivor genre, than a fun game that was designed for fun.”
  • atmosphere39 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the original "Deep Rock Galactic" with its graphics, sound design, and humor. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel and the way the game maintains a consistent tone, making it both fun and engaging. Overall, the combination of visual elements, music, and voice lines contributes to a rich and enjoyable experience that resonates well with fans of the franchise.

    • “Visually stunning and complemented by immersive sound design, it creates a captivating atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere reflects the feel of the original game very well.”
    • “The game's visuals and sound design remain top-notch, contributing to the immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere carries over from the regular DRG game very well.”
    • “I don't know how they managed to capture the DRG world and atmosphere in such a small slice of gameplay, but it's compelling if you rock and stone.”
    • “The game also has a great soundtrack, voice acting, and sound effects that add to the immersion and atmosphere.”
  • emotional19 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a range of feelings, from joy and laughter to frustration and emptiness. Players appreciate the wholesome and charming experience of mining as dwarves, often feeling a strong connection to the game's characters and mechanics, though some express disappointment with gameplay elements that detract from their emotional engagement. Overall, the game can evoke a sense of fun and nostalgia, but technical issues and balance concerns may leave some players feeling underwhelmed.

    • “I don't think any other games that I've been playing recently made me feel like this, to the point when I was giggling for the rest of the run because how nice it felt playing the build.”
    • “I laughed, I cried, I raged, and all for 10 bucks.”
    • “Or are you drawn to it primarily because of the charming dwarves and your emotional connection to DRG?”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is primarily achieved through resource-based unlocks, allowing for some progression. However, many players feel that the brevity of levels and constraints on progression limit the potential for meaningful character growth.

    • “The game showcases potential, but my decision to pass on it stems from key issues, including the brevity of each level and the limited opportunity for significant character development due to progression constraints.”
    • “Progressive character development through unlocks via resources you gather in playthroughs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

16hMedian play time
41hAverage play time
6-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 125 analyzed playthroughs

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