DRONE The Game
- August 1, 2020
- Five Studios Interactive
Get on Steam"DRONE The Game" is a free demo version on Steam, modeling itself after classic shooter games with drone combat. The full version is planned to be free in the near future, offering updates and modifications from Earth 2. Currently, players may experience issues with purchasing the game, but support is available on the official Discord server.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a promising concept and offers fun, fast-paced gameplay.
- Graphics and art style are visually appealing and well-executed.
- The drone customization feature allows for creative freedom in building unique drones.
- The game has been abandoned by the developers, with no updates since 2020.
- It was sold to a company involved in a crypto scam, leading to a loss of trust from the community.
- The player base is nearly non-existent, often resulting in matches filled with bots instead of real players.
- gameplay174 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced, skill-based action with a focus on drone customization and combat, offering a mix of fun mechanics and impressive graphics. While many players appreciate the smooth controls and addictive core loop, some criticize the repetitiveness and lack of depth, particularly in early access. Overall, the game shows promise but requires further development and content to fully realize its potential.
“Gorgeous graphics, fast, smooth, very well balanced gameplay.”
“The base gameplay is already very addictive, fast-paced skill-based fun, and there is lots of potential for more depth with custom built drones and maps.”
“The gameplay is fluid, and honestly going into it I thought it might be something I play for a little while and then never touch again.”
“The drone and arena builders are unintuitive and difficult to utilize, the gameplay variety is somewhat lacking, and if you're prone to motion sickness then this game is definitely not for you.”
“Way too early access; I don't understand why it's getting such great reviews. The game is buggy as hell. I tried to create my very own drone; it looks cool, but fails to deliver and hardly explains how the basic mechanics work. I tried pressing the button required to delete a block and... nothing happens. This game has a lot of potential but still needs a lot of work before even hitting early access. For now, I do not recommend this game; maybe in a couple of years when they fix the simple stuff, I will change my review, but for now, leave this drone in the closet.”
“Game modes are limited to deathmatch and team deathmatch, which, in combination with fast and extremely intense combat, is turning gameplay into complete chaos.”
- graphics127 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals, smooth performance, and impressive optimization, especially considering it is built on the Unity engine. Many users highlight the game's aesthetic appeal and detailed environments, noting that it runs well even on lower-end hardware. However, some criticisms arise regarding the interface and certain graphical settings, which detract from the overall experience.
“The graphics and art style really shine.”
“The graphics are amazing, the arenas are very different from each other, and the drones look great.”
“Overall, the graphics are amazing.”
“Most of the graphics settings cannot be changed, which leaves a lot of horrible and nauseating effects like awful Unity motion blur stuck on.”
“It's not even about the price; the graphics and the UI were just so much below my expectations.”
“The game has a good concept and graphics, but the gameplay is repetitive and bland.”
- optimization25 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its excellent optimization, delivering great graphics and smooth performance even on weaker hardware. Players report minimal performance issues, with solid net code and controls, although some desire improvements in edit mode controls. Despite being in early access, the game provides a satisfying experience with its well-optimized features and content creation tools.
“Great visuals, pleasantly smooth controls even with mouse and keyboard, and excellent optimization have temporarily led to a solid early access phase and a quite satisfying gaming experience, even though some key features are still missing.”
“Gameplay feels great, graphics are better than average AAA titles, very well optimized, and on top of that you can build your own drones and arenas.”
“Other than that, it's very well optimized, no crashing, perfect performance even for weaker hardware.”
“The only time I've had any performance issues is in the custom drone online test session.”
“I would like to have better controls in edit mode and some optimizations.”
- story22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is minimal, focusing primarily on straightforward drone battles without extensive narrative elements. However, some players have engaged with the developers and found personal meaning in their experiences, leading to a more intricate backstory for themselves. Overall, while the game lacks a deep narrative, it fosters community interaction and personal connections among players.
“We got a good few of the people in the lobby to join the Discord server, so we actually got to play and talk story with some of the devs. They are so kind and have a lot of ambition and passion for this game.”
“Ah, Drone the game, I have an entire backstory with this game, from loving it, to hating it, to liking it again. That has a much more detailed backstory, and it's very personal to me as well.”
“I have plans to make a video showing off that backstory, so stay tuned!”
“Story - no story.”
“One of those games that don't give you all this story nonsense, just straight to the point; drones battle other drones and it's amazing fun!”
“Ah drone the game, I have an entire backstory with this game, from loving it, to hating it, to liking it again.”
- music18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the menu music and find the overall soundtrack decent, others feel that the absence of music during battles creates an empty atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is described as varied and fitting, but opinions on its impact during gameplay are divided, with some finding it lacking.
“Fucking nice menu music it has.”
“Music is great, and the online community seems to be strong and friendly.”
“Net code is solid, no issues with connection, no graphical issues (on my end), perfect controls, great graphics (the game is clearly well optimized), great music, and potential for armored core style building ... once you know what to actually do.”
“- No music during battle (this feels very empty with just hearing the drones).”
“- Most of the soundtrack is forgettable.”
“Soundtrack is just alright.”
- stability16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous glitches making multiplayer nearly unplayable and overall gameplay experience frustrating. While some players appreciate the graphics and potential, many agree that it is still too early in development, requiring significant fixes before it can be recommended. Overall, the consensus is that the game is currently a "bug-ridden mess" that needs substantial work.
“Runs great, looks great, and the drones feel unique and fun to fly.”
“It has everything you need and beyond: it's fast, it's not buggy, there is a lot to play with, graphics are good, music is decent, gameplay is sweet.”
“However, the glitches are many, to the point that multiplayer is basically unplayable since one person on the server will always have a glitched bot that can shoot forever.”
“Bug-ridden mess, and there was no way to actually play against each other.”
“Way too early access. I don't understand why it's getting such great reviews. The game is buggy as hell. I tried to create my very own drone; it looks cool, but fails to deliver and hardly explains how the basic mechanics work. I tried pressing the button required to delete a block and... nothing happens. This game has a lot of potential but still needs a lot of work before even hitting early access. For now, I do not recommend this game; maybe in a couple of years when they fix the simple stuff, I will change my review, but for now, leave this drone in the closet.”
- monetization15 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many users labeling it a cash grab by the developers, particularly following a heavily marketed launch in 2020. While there is a progression system that unlocks new drones and cosmetics without current microtransactions, the overall sentiment suggests that the game is unlikely to evolve beyond its early access state, contributing to a negative perception of early access titles.
“There is a progression system, which unlocks new drones and cosmetics (no microtransactions at the moment).”
“Game was a cash grab by the developers; this early access is never going to move forward, and devs like this are why early access games get such bad reputations.”
“No clearer indication of a cash grab than this.”
“This game appears to have been a cash grab.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to unclear progress tracking and a lack of understanding of goals, making it feel tedious. While the rewards for higher-tier drones are enjoyable, the initial setup process and low player count hinder the overall experience, leading to a sense of isolation and difficulty in engaging with the game.
“Progress is very hard to track, and likewise it is difficult to understand even what I'm grinding towards or when I'll get there.”
“You log in, you have to go through a tedious process to create an account on their website and then link your Steam account to it before you can even get into the game, and once you do there are less than 20 players in the game, only 2 rooms created which cannot be joined late and thus it's difficult to really even get a match going with other people.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its absurdity, such as the amusing sight of bots engaging in chaotic battles and the ironic realization that it isn't a crypto game, which some players find comically deceptive. Overall, users find the gameplay and building aspects to be entertainingly funny.
“Drone simply uses a couple of plugins from the Unity Asset Store, which is a massive and hilarious red flag.”
“It's kind of funny to watch 30 bots endlessly killing each other in a fur ball.”
“It's funny to play, funny to build.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's high replayability due to its dynamic gameplay, extensive range of motion, and diverse selection of drones and maps, which keep the experience fresh and engaging.
“The sheer range of motion alone makes this game incredibly dynamic and fun, and the variety of drones and maps makes it extremely replayable.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is noted for its strong potential, with a promising blend of fast-paced 3D movement and competitive elements that could have created a unique and engaging experience. However, it ultimately falls short of realizing this potential, leaving players wanting more.
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to Rocket League, highlighting how the game serves as a source of hope and resilience in their lives. Engaging in ranked matches provides a sense of purpose and a way to cope with challenges, emphasizing the game's role in maintaining a positive outlook.
