Skip to main content

Depth of Extinction

76%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, replayability
86% User Score Based on 336 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxPlaystation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchLinuxLinuxCloudCloudMac OSMac OSXbox OneXbox One

About

"Depth of Extinction" is a strategy RPG set in a flooded world. Assemble a team of mercenaries to protect what's left of humanity from underwater dangers. With turn-based combat, permadeath, and a retro-style pixel art aesthetic, it offers a challenging and immersive experience.

Depth of Extinction screenshot
Depth of Extinction screenshot
Depth of Extinction screenshot
Depth of Extinction screenshot
Depth of Extinction screenshot
Depth of Extinction screenshot
Depth of Extinction screenshot
Depth of Extinction screenshot
Depth of Extinction screenshot
Depth of Extinction screenshot
Depth of Extinction screenshot
+4

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 336 reviews
story34 positive mentions
grinding28 negative mentions

  • Engaging turn-based combat that combines elements of XCOM and FTL, providing a unique tactical experience.
  • Variety of character classes and customization options that allow for strategic team building and synergies.
  • Charming pixel art style and a captivating post-apocalyptic underwater setting that enhances the overall atmosphere.
  • Repetitive gameplay and mission structure that can lead to boredom after extended play sessions.
  • Some balance issues with character classes and abilities, making certain strategies overpowered.
  • Lack of narrative depth and variety in maps and enemy types, which detracts from the overall immersion.
  • story
    308 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game is generally considered weak and underdeveloped, with many reviewers noting its lack of coherence and depth. While the setting of a submerged world offers some intrigue, the narrative feels repetitive and uninspired, often failing to connect missions meaningfully. Despite this, some players appreciate the character relationships and the overall atmosphere, though they acknowledge that the gameplay often overshadows the story.

    • “The story starts within the setting of a submarine or similar machine.”
    • “I was pleasantly surprised to find that this indie title has a story included in it.”
    • “It is not the most original story, but it hooked me as it gave me more of a reason to care about my ragtag group of soldiers.”
    • “The story writing is extremely lazy.”
    • “All of the story text could probably fit on a single sheet of paper, and it reads like it was written by a C-student in middle school.”
    • “The story is almost non-existent, which isn't necessarily bad by itself, but with all the other bad elements puts the final nail in the coffin.”
  • gameplay
    128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Depth of Extinction" is a turn-based tactical combat experience that combines elements from XCOM and FTL, offering a straightforward yet engaging system that allows for strategic team-building and progression. While many players appreciate the solid core mechanics and RPG elements, some criticize the repetitiveness and lack of variety in encounters, leading to a gameplay loop that can feel monotonous over time. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of tactical gameplay, though it may not satisfy those seeking deeper complexity or innovation.

    • “Gameplay is turn-based tactical combat with rogue nodes movement.”
    • “I love how it looks, sounds, the gameplay, the loot system, the squad system, the subs idea, the random levels; it's all good.”
    • “It preserves a lot of the tactical combat you find in old X-COM while removing many of the timmy-trap mechanics and adding quality of life features that make for a much more playable experience.”
    • “However, this changes once the difficulty increases, whereupon the game starts pulling things on you like enemies that can see you through doors and run in to blow you up before you have a chance to do anything (real fun), enemies with huge piles of HP that can blow up cover (obviating that entire mechanic) while also damaging whoever's behind it and enemies that attack from inside the fog of war which means you have no real way to actually take cover or otherwise prepare for their attacks.”
    • “Boring, by the numbers repetitive gameplay with a gameplay loop that doesn't really work.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is mind-numbingly boring.”
  • graphics
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are characterized by a retro pixel art style that some players find charming and atmospheric, while others criticize them as simplistic and occasionally confusing. Despite the low-resolution visuals, many appreciate the detail-oriented design and how it complements the game's post-apocalyptic setting. Overall, the graphics evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games, though they may not appeal to everyone due to their old-school aesthetic.

    • “The graphics use a pleasant pixel art aesthetic.”
    • “Sure the graphics are done in a 'retro-style', but I for one very much like the way that style lends itself to the overall feeling of a post-apocalyptic world that the game is set in.”
    • “I don't like ultra-realistic super gory graphics, and I prefer the more cartoony pixelated style of the game and I hope it never changes.”
    • “The graphics really put me off at the start, but soon enough you adapt to it and the combat just feels very satisfying.”
    • “Moreover, while I was originally defensive upon reading the first few reviews that criticized the simplistic pixelated graphics of the game, it is true that this game’s graphics are not only ugly, but also confusing, with an exaggerated/forced sense of overhead perspective where objects blend from one hex into the other in a non-intuitive fashion, leaving one hovering their pointer over hexes to determine if they are actually viable movement options.”
    • “I never felt tension; everything looked rather samey, and the pixel graphics are lacking in personality.”
  • music
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives high praise for its engaging and lively soundtrack, with many players noting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some found the variety lacking and grew tired of repeated tracks, the majority agree that the music is memorable and well-composed, often overshadowing other aspects of the game. Overall, it is considered a significant highlight, making the game worth playing for its soundtrack alone.

    • “Soundtracks are amazing, even after a whole playthrough, where it played over and over, never got boring.”
    • “My absolute favorite part of the game is the soundtrack.”
    • “It has a very engaging soundtrack accompanied by an appealing, yet simplistic style of pixel art.”
    • “Awful music”
    • “With simple graphics, tedious music, and many bugs, I feel bored after 10 hours.”
    • “I did get tired of hearing the same tracks after a while and I turned the music off.”
  • grinding
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the flexibility to choose between grinding side missions for experience or fast-tracking through the main story, the majority find the gameplay becomes a slog, lacking meaningful challenge and engagement. Despite its fun elements, the grind can make the experience feel more like work, especially during extended play sessions.

    • “It's extremely grinding, repetitive, and lacks a proper challenge unless you handicap yourself willingly.”
    • “Game feels like work; kinda too grindy; too bad I was looking forward to it.”
    • “What we are left with instead is a tedious slog through repetitive encounters to reach an objective that we don't really care about.”
  • atmosphere
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with users noting that despite minimal story and graphics, the overall ambiance and flow create a captivating experience. Many appreciate how these elements enhance tactical gameplay, contributing to a deeply immersive environment.

    • “Very atmospheric too, which is something I like while plotting tactics.”
    • “Story and graphics are minimal, but atmosphere and flow are maximum.”
    • “These details really sell the atmosphere of the game.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers high replayability through the unlocking of new submarines and character classes, enhancing player engagement. However, while it aims to blend the replay value of FTL with XCOM's tactical combat, it ultimately falls short in delivering the depth expected from such a combination. Despite improvements in gameplay mechanics, some players feel it lacks the necessary complexity to keep them coming back.

    • “Though the concept of a game that takes the replay value of FTL and combines it with the tactical turn-based combat of X-COM sounds truly amazing, Depth of Extinction sadly fails to do this.”
    • “With the ability to unlock new subs and character classes, the replay value of this game is quite high.”
    • “It preserves a lot of the tactical combat you find in old X-COM while removing many of the timmy-trap mechanics and adding quality of life features that make for a much more playable experience.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a mixed perception of character development, with some players noting a lack of meaningful growth, while others appreciate the variety of choices, skills, weapons, and upgrades available. Overall, the experience seems to vary significantly among players, with some feeling satisfied and others disappointed.

    • “There are character development choices, skills, weapons, and upgrades aplenty.”
    • “No character development.”
    • “No character development.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is plagued by numerous bugs, leading to a highly unstable experience for players.

    • “The game is buggy as hell.”
    • “The game is buggy as hell.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the humor in the game's unexpected charm, often expressing surprise at how much they enjoy it after having it on their wishlist for years. The lighthearted tone and comedic elements contribute to a positive gaming experience, making it a delightful purchase for many.

    • “The funny thing about this game is I had it wishlisted for years but never paid for it. I saw it on sale and thought, why not? I'm glad I did; I love playing it.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that the game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some users experiencing smooth performance while others encounter significant issues that affect gameplay. Overall, the optimization appears to require further refinement to ensure a consistent experience across different systems.

Buy Depth of Extinction

33h Median play time
33h Average play time
33-33h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like Depth of Extinction

Halfway Image
Skyshine's BEDLAM Image
Pathway Image
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters Image
This game contains adult content
Shardpunk: Verminfall ImageShardpunk: Verminfall ImageShardpunk: Verminfall Image
Urtuk: The Desolation Image
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden Image
This game contains adult content
The Iron Oath Image
TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children Image
XCOM: Chimera Squad Image