DREADZONE

About

DREADZONE is a multiplayer action adventure game. It was developed by Eshed and was released on July 17, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

DREADZONE is an action-packed game set in a quarantined wasteland plagued by a devastating virus that turns humans into mutants. Players must survive by scavenging, crafting, and battling threats in a dense, atmospheric world, either solo or cooperatively. Despite its fabulous mechanics and stunning visuals, the game is known to be full of bugs.

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61%

Audience ScoreBased on 481 reviews

graphics49 positive mentions

optimization17 negative mentions

The game has a visually impressive atmosphere and graphics, especially for an early access title.
The core gameplay mechanics, including crafting and survival elements, show potential and can be engaging.
The developers are actively updating the game and responding to community feedback, indicating a commitment to improvement.

The AI is overly aggressive and can shoot accurately from long distances, making combat frustrating.
The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, with many icons being generic and lacking detail.
Performance issues are prevalent, with many players experiencing low frame rates and graphical glitches, even on high-end systems.

graphics
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
43%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with many players praising their beauty and realism, particularly on high-end systems, while others criticize performance issues and discrepancies between in-game visuals and promotional materials. Some users report that the graphics can appear blurry or underwhelming, especially on mid-range setups, indicating a need for further optimization. Overall, while the graphics are often highlighted as a strong point, they are not without significant concerns that could affect the gaming experience.
- “The environment and graphics are amazing, and I haven't had this much fun shooting zombies since Left 4 Dead 2 came out.”
- “The graphics are breathtaking.”
- “The graphics look great, and while there are a few bugs, none of them really take away from the overall zombie-slaying fun.”
- “Price is too high for what it is, graphics suck and looks nothing like the screenshots on a 4080, built items can't be destroyed, stored items in chest constantly disappear.”
- “The graphics look terrible, it's all a blurry mess mixed in together.”
- “No matter how much I mess with the graphic settings, it seems like it doesn't really do anything to change the outlook of the graphics.”
story
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
89%
4%
The game's story is reminiscent of popular survival titles like "Stalker" and "The Forest," offering a familiar yet engaging narrative experience. However, many players feel the quest structure is overly simplistic and repetitive, often involving tedious back-and-forth tasks that detract from the overall immersion. While the background is easy to understand, there is a strong desire for a more cohesive and dynamic storyline, as well as improved NPC interactions and mission variety.
- “It is definitely worth trying and reminiscing about your favorite games with a new story in remarkable execution.”
- “An exciting storyline, an elaborate survival and crafting system, dangerous mutants and zombies — all this keeps you in suspense.”
- “I like the atmosphere and hope that eventually we will get a story to go with the experience explaining how we got to the island in the game.”
- “It doesn't have a special story.”
- “The tutorial is more of a time drain than a help (seriously? run 20 meters away because you can't build a fire next to the NPC, go back and then get the quest to cook meat over the same fire?)”
- “Unfortunately with the AI trailer, it's leaning towards a story-quest type of genre instead of PvP open world survival, which is what I was really hoping for.”
optimization
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
63%
23%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly on mid-range systems, despite some improvements noted in recent updates. While some users have managed to achieve smoother gameplay with adjustments and DLSS, others continue to experience low frame rates and crashes, indicating that the game is still in need of substantial optimization work. Overall, while there is optimism for future enhancements, the current state of optimization is seen as a major drawback for many players.
- “I noticed that setting the game to epic while enabling DLSS on performance significantly reduces lag and improves overall smoothness.”
- “Since the latest update, performance has noticeably improved — smoother gameplay, quicker load times, and overall a more stable experience.”
- “The core gameplay is still just as enjoyable, and the improved performance makes it easier to get lost in the action without technical hiccups getting in the way.”
- “Game is not optimized at all and the devs just do what they want.”
- “An absolute steaming pile of performance nightmare.”
- “The game's performance is very unstable, the options don't have the desired effect, and the DLSS only makes it worse.”
gameplay
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
56%
9%
The gameplay of Dreadzone has received mixed reviews, with players praising its survival mechanics and dark atmosphere, while also criticizing clunky controls, AI issues, and a lack of depth in crafting and combat systems. Many users noted that the game shows potential but is hindered by bugs and performance issues, particularly in its early access state. Overall, while some find the core gameplay enjoyable and addictive, others feel it lacks polish and refinement, making it difficult to recommend at its current price point.
- “Great survival mechanics and the virus progression system adds a tense layer to the gameplay.”
- “A great survival game with interesting mechanics and surprisingly addictive gameplay.”
- “The core gameplay is fast-paced, chaotic, and fun—especially if you enjoy arena shooters and action-packed missions.”
- “Early gameplay: 3/10 constantly dehydrated or maxed out on disease and losing hitpoints, take your pick!”
- “Gameplay is stale and the UI is really unhelpful, lots of basic quality of life features missing for a game in 2025. Having to open your inventory every 20 seconds to work out if you have the items you need to build something gets frustrating fast.”
- “I was chopping trees and I was launched into the sky. I had to reload the game after a save for the 'unstuck' feature to bring me back to earth. Bases built sometimes glitch and you can't get back in without saving and reloading the game.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
35%
15%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its gritty, immersive, and tense qualities, effectively capturing the dangers of a post-apocalyptic world filled with mutants and scarce resources. Players appreciate the detailed environments, from ruined cities to eerie quarantine zones, which enhance the survival experience and keep them engaged. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a standout feature, drawing players into a captivating and perilous setting that heightens the stakes of every encounter.
- “The atmosphere in the quarantine zone is perfect and really keeps you on your toes while scavenging.”
- “The atmosphere is tense, the world feels dangerous, and choices actually matter.”
- “The game world is dark and detailed: destroyed cities, abandoned bunkers, dangerous mutants and zombies create a tense atmosphere.”
- “Every resource feels precious, every encounter dangerous, and the atmosphere of ruined factories and mutants keeps you on edge in the best way.”
- “The world feels gritty and dangerous, and the atmosphere pulls you in right away.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues, while others have had a relatively smooth experience with minor hiccups. Many users acknowledge that as a new release, it has room for improvement and appreciate the developers' active engagement in addressing these issues. Overall, while some players find the game unplayable due to its instability, others see potential for enhancement as updates roll out.
- “Let me tell you, the game has none of the problems most of the reviews say it does. It runs great, has amazing graphics, and is overall an incredibly solid game.”
- “Runs great – the update really improved things!”
- “It has good bones to build on for sure; looks great and runs great.”
- “Wow, this game is buggy and the first I've ever asked for a refund on.”
- “I have an i9 with a 5070 and 32GB DDR5 RAM, and this game is buggy, laggy, and needs serious work.”
- “Trailer and screenshots look nothing like the game; it is not playable right now, super buggy, and the UI is glitchy and lazy.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the farming and crafting mechanics, noting that while the graphics and gameplay are strong, the grinding aspect can become tedious, particularly with rock mining requiring crouching. There are calls for more variety in farming and cooking recipes, as well as improvements to tree harvesting. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a mixed bag, with some enjoyable elements overshadowed by repetitive tasks.
- “The rock farming is broken, but the tree farming is on point.”
- “Therefore I had to crouch for every rock mined, which became tedious after a bit.”
- “☑ grindy”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game's soundtrack is praised for its soothing and joyful qualities, enhancing the exploration experience, though some find it repetitive. The music effectively contributes to the dark atmosphere, complementing the intense gameplay and adding to the overall immersion.
- “The game has an amazing soundtrack; the theme that plays while you're exploring the world is very well done. It's soothing and relaxing while also being joyful enough to not get annoying on loop.”
- “The atmosphere is dark, the music is cool, and the shooting and fighting are really felt - you don't just click, but really fight for survival.”
- “Looks cool and runs fine; the music reminds me of '28 Days Later,' which is a bonus.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the character development system engaging, with a variety of paths that enhance the gameplay experience, particularly when exploring abandoned locations.
- “Exploring abandoned locations is addictive, and choosing a character development path is impressive.”
- “The depth of character development allows for a truly personalized experience, making each playthrough unique.”
- “I love how the choices I make shape my character's abilities and story, adding layers to the gameplay.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users note that the game features several amusing moments and clever jokes that enhance the overall experience, contributing to its lighthearted tone. The humor is often described as quirky and engaging, making it a highlight for many players.
- “A couple of funny things I have picked up on are the clever puns and witty dialogue that keep the gameplay light-hearted.”
- “The humor in this game is spot-on, with hilarious character interactions that never fail to make me laugh.”
- “I love how the game incorporates absurd situations and quirky characters, making every moment entertaining.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game's expansive map and the addition of vehicles, which enhance exploration. However, the repetitive nature of running back and forth for missions can lead to frustration, detracting from the overall emotional engagement.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a desire for improvements to the game's playability, suggesting that enhanced functionality could significantly boost its replayability. Comparisons to other games, like Star Citizen, indicate that current issues may hinder repeated engagement.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers criticize the game's monetization strategy, suggesting it feels like a cash grab, particularly due to poor gunplay and excessive ads that negatively impact performance. The reliance on AI is also noted as contributing to a lack of depth and engagement.
- “Now to address the elephant in the room... the usage of AI makes this game look like a soulless cash grab.”