DUBIUM
- June 14, 2023
- MUMO STUDIO
Get on Steam"DUBIUM is a Horror Stealth game for 2-players, offering both multi-player co-op and PvP modes. As a Frontier, explore a damaged, unstable space station, repair systems, collect oxygen, and find the Energy Cubes to prevent an imminent explosion. But beware, one of you may be a Traitor, secretly working for the hostile Blamane group to seize the Keystones."
Reviews
- The game has a unique spin on social deduction mechanics, allowing for individual missions and the potential for betrayal among teammates, which adds depth to gameplay.
- The art style and animations are praised for their quality, bringing a vibrant and engaging atmosphere to the game.
- Playing with friends enhances the experience significantly, making it a fun and thrilling game of deception and strategy.
- The game suffers from a lack of player base, leading to long matchmaking times and frequent matches filled with bots, which diminishes the overall experience.
- Many players find the gameplay repetitive and unengaging, with tasks feeling monotonous and lacking variety, making it less enjoyable over time.
- The monetization model, including a battle pass and locked characters, is criticized for being unfair and detracting from the enjoyment of the game.
- gameplay12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game features fresh mechanics and appealing character design, but opinions are mixed; while some players enjoy the collaborative and strategic elements, others find it unengaging and plagued by inconsistencies. The early access stage has limited audience engagement, and despite the potential for improvement, many reviewers express disappointment with the overall experience. Overall, it shows promise for social play, particularly with friends, but significant enhancements are needed to elevate the gameplay.
“I love the gameplay; it's super dope.”
“The fact that it forces you to choose between collaboration and frustration is another amazing aspect of the gameplay.”
“The gameplay mechanics are fine, the design of the game works well, and I think this is a good game to play with friends.”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay here is just boring and bland.”
“Those kinds of inconsistencies and bad gameplay design are littered throughout the game.”
“If another game with a similar gameplay premise as Dubium ever releases with the issues I previously mentioned having been mitigated or removed, I'd be willing to give it a shot as well.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and animations that add life to the experience. However, some players find the aesthetic too childish for their taste, and there are criticisms regarding minimal visual updates and the introduction of a premium battle pass. Overall, while the graphics are appreciated for their stylization, opinions vary on their appeal and the game's overall depth.
“The art style and animation definitely brings a lot of life into the game.”
“Great stylized art works and motions.”
“Loving the graphics!”
“Art style is too childish and not really my taste.”
“All they did is tweak the visuals and UI, add a new character that's locked behind a premium battle pass (screw battle passes, especially in paid games), and that's basically it.”
- story3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The story presents a balanced prey and predator dynamic, emphasizing individual survival missions within a free-for-all framework rather than traditional cooperation. Players appreciate the clear user interface and waypoint system, though some feel the mission duration and hacking times detract from the overall experience. The setting evokes a cartoonish version of a Dead Space ambiance, adding a unique flavor to the narrative.
“The idea that everyone has their own separate mission (survive), everyone is rewarded individually for their performance and whether or not they escape with trophies, and the fact that frontiers can become the new traitor if the original dies too early, implies a more 'free-for-all' focused concept rather than a true cooperative social deduction game.”
“Need a cartoonish version of Dead Space ambiance ;) and the mission and hack time are too long.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game features appealing character and ship designs that evoke a nostalgic Pixar aesthetic, the overall character development is perceived as lacking depth, with some players feeling that even its free-to-play model cannot compensate for this shortcoming.
“The ship and character designs give me a nostalgic Pixar feel, which I enjoy dearly.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a sense of excitement and anticipation regarding the game's emotional depth, particularly in relation to its potential for future expansions and the introduction of new characters and gameplay styles.
“It made me feel excited about the game's potential for expansion, for example, as more characters are added and different ways to play are explored.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for its janky melee combat, poor proximity voice chat, and significant balancing issues, leading to a repetitive experience. The design choices suggest a focus on individual performance rather than fostering true cooperation, further detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
“The optimization of individual missions allows for a unique gameplay experience where each player is rewarded based on their performance, creating a competitive yet engaging environment.”
“The mechanics of survival and the potential for frontiers to become traitors add layers of strategy, encouraging players to think critically about their actions and alliances.”
“This game brilliantly balances individual goals with the overarching theme of cooperation, making optimization a key element in achieving success.”
“Very unoptimized, janky melee combat, horrible proximity voice chat, abysmal balancing, and extremely repetitive.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its captivating art and immersive qualities, although some users feel that it may not fully align with the overall tone of the gameplay.
“I fell in love with the art and atmosphere of this game.”
“It doesn't seem to correspond with the game's atmosphere.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express that the humor in the game was more enjoyable when interacting with bots, suggesting that the current free-to-play experience lacks the same comedic quality and feels inferior.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, with its repetitive nature detracting from the overall experience.
“The game feels grindy, and the repetitive nature of it isn't going to help much.”
“Grinding in this game is tedious and takes away from the overall enjoyment.”
“The constant need to grind for resources makes the gameplay feel more like a chore than fun.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game transitioned to a free-to-play model, but its poor monetization strategy, combined with low visibility, slow updates, and ongoing balancing issues, contributed to its decline in popularity.
“I apparently missed it, but the game did go free-to-play. Unfortunately, the game's lack of visibility, poor monetization, slow updates, and persistent balancing issues likely contributed to its downfall.”
“The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
“It's frustrating that the game relies heavily on microtransactions, making it difficult to progress without spending real money.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been criticized for being repetitive and dull, contributing to a lack of engagement among players. This, combined with poor communication and teamwork, detracts from the overall experience.
“The repetitive, mind-numbing musical track makes it hard to stay engaged, and combined with the lack of communication and teamwork, it results in a game that technically meets its goals but does so very poorly.”
“The music is incredibly dull and fails to enhance the gaming experience, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable activity.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and lacks variety, which detracts from the overall atmosphere of the game.”
