Dread Nautical

45%
Game Brain Score Based on 14 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Dread Nautical Game Cover
Dread Nautical does a lot of things well but it feels a bit unpolished on Nintendo Switch.
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Zen Studios welcomes you aboard a cruise liner called the Hope for one of the most unique gaming experiences on Apple Arcade. A tactical turn-based RPG with rogue-like elements, Dread Nautical combines immersive gameplay with a cartoonish — yet captivatingly eerie — tone. Supernatural forces have overwhelmed the ship with mysterious malevolent monstrosities, and you’ll need to seek out other survi…

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

45%
Audience ScoreBased on 14 reviews
story7 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The game features an interesting storyline and beautiful design, making it engaging and enjoyable.
  • It offers tactical challenges and allows players to collect and manage survivors, adding depth to the gameplay.
  • The graphics and sound design, including the Lovecraftian style and music, enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The controls can be frustrating, with issues related to item management and inconsistent input methods.
  • There are limitations such as low replay value, high repair costs, and a cumbersome inventory system that detracts from the experience.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, like the turn-based combat and threat system, feel underdeveloped and can lead to annoying situations during battles.
  • story11 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, described as interesting and promising within its genre, enhanced by good voice acting and beautiful design. However, some players find the gameplay mechanics, particularly the fighting system and controls, detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the narrative remains a highlight, with many reviewers recommending it for its engaging storyline.

    • “A fun game, with an interesting storyline, beautiful design, and nice mechanics.”
    • “The story is interesting so far and the voice acting adds to it.”
    • “It is a must try for its story and the mechanics are good too.”
    • “And then, in the third mission, I couldn't open a door because I didn't get a key card from a character for some reason, and couldn't go back.”
    • “You can also lose a team member going on a mission when just one or two of your members reach the horn and blow it.”
    • “The story promises to be something special in the genre, but the fighting system is just boring.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay of Dread Nautical is a blend of turn-based rogue-like strategy and survival mechanics, featuring an engaging storyline and appealing design. Players must strategically recruit survivors, manage resources, and navigate item durability, though some may find the survival mechanics frustratingly simplistic. Overall, it offers a fun experience driven by its narrative and solid mechanics.

    • “A fun game, with an interesting storyline, beautiful design, and nice mechanics.”
    • “Dread Nautical is a turn-based rogue-like strategy game with survival mechanics.”
    • “It is a must-try for its story, and the mechanics are good too.”
    • “The breaking mechanic of items can be frustrating, as it detracts from the survival mechanics and doesn't encourage strategic thinking.”
    • “Dread Nautical is a turn-based rogue-like strategy game that incorporates survival mechanics, but it often feels unbalanced.”
    • “The number and type of survivors you recruit significantly impact gameplay in terms of food management and resource allocation.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the experience, particularly during item discovery. While some tracks have a horror vibe, they do not detract from the overall enjoyment of gameplay.

    • “The music is captivating and enhances the overall experience, especially when you discover new items.”
    • “The soundtrack has a hint of horror, but it only adds to the excitement of the gameplay.”
    • “The music feels more like a horror soundtrack, which can be distracting while playing.”
    • “The soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “The audio quality of the music is subpar, detracting from the overall experience.”
  • graphics2 mentions

    The graphics are praised for their vector-style design, which complements the Lovecraftian theme of the game. While the visuals and story are well-received, some players feel that the controls hinder the overall enjoyment.

    • “The Lovecraftian graphics are vector-style, and they really suit the game.”
    • “So far, the story and graphics are nice, but the controls make it difficult to truly have fun playing.”
    • “The graphics look outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
    • “The character models are poorly designed and feel lifeless.”
    • “The environments are bland and lack any real visual appeal.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game has been noted for its low replay value, suggesting that players may not find enough incentive to revisit it after completing it once.

    • “The game has low replay value.”
    • “Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
    • “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

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