Dysterra

About

"Dysterra" is a massively multiplayer Science Fiction Shooter game, set on a post-apocalyptic Earth where humanity has been forced to live off-planet. In Season 5, players can enjoy new raiding mechanics, base customization and dynamic satellite station difficulty, whether playing solo or in a team. Fight off mobs trying to raid your base and gather Terrasite, humanity's main source of energy, while protecting your base and experiencing faster gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+15

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 255 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

grinding14 negative mentions

The game has a lot of potential and offers a unique blend of sci-fi elements with survival mechanics, reminiscent of Rust but with its own twist.
The graphics are decent, and the gameplay is engaging, especially with the mix of PvE and PvP options available.
The developers are responsive to community feedback and are actively working on updates and improvements.

The game suffers from optimization issues, leading to crashes and performance problems, especially on lower-end systems.
There are significant balance issues in PvP, with some players feeling that the game favors larger groups and established players, making it hard for newcomers.
The AI is often criticized for being poorly designed, leading to frustrating encounters and a lack of challenge in certain scenarios.

gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
49%
22%
The gameplay is a mix of familiar survival mechanics reminiscent of games like Rust and Conan, featuring resource gathering, base building, and combat against robots. While some players appreciate the unique mechanics and gunplay, many criticize the repetitive nature of tasks, server wipe issues, and optimization problems that disrupt the experience. Overall, the game offers potential fun, especially in multiplayer, but suffers from significant flaws that hinder enjoyment.
- “It's like Rust but with cool game mechanics, bionic hands, lasers, and ultra fun to kill robots.”
- “The game implements some new mechanics that I really like, such as easy access storage, the option to craft, loot, or buy, etc.”
- “Fast-paced gameplay compared to other survival games.”
- “There's this terrible 'server wipe' mechanic called 'terrafire' which happens periodically on all servers and it wipes the server and kills all characters... you literally have to start over and there's nothing you can do about it.”
- “The way this game handles heat/cold/radiation is very bad and totally halts the gameplay experience.”
- “Dull gameplay, boring setting and graphics, subpar PvE, looting and crafting.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
31%
12%
The graphics in Dysterra receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the visuals as "nice" and "pretty good," especially on high settings. However, some users note issues with optimization and performance, leading to lag even on high-end systems. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered above average for a survival game, opinions vary on their consistency and impact on gameplay.
- “In a market that's saturated with subpar survival games, Dysterra is one of my favorites in terms of style and aesthetic.”
- “Amazing graphics for a survival game.”
- “Graphics in this game are pretty nice.”
- “Dull gameplay, boring setting and graphics, subpar PvE, looting and crafting.”
- “This is the worst gameplay, sound design, and graphics I have seen in years.”
- “Dysterra’s visuals are a bit of a mixed bag, at times dazzling and others dull.”
story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
The game's story is criticized for being underdeveloped, with many players expressing frustration over the abrupt end of the initial questline and a lack of a cohesive main storyline. While some appreciate the potential of the plot and premise, they feel that the game currently lacks engaging narrative elements, leaving players to navigate the world without clear direction or purpose. Overall, the story is seen as a significant area needing improvement to enhance the gaming experience.
- “I like the overall storyline and look forward to seeing where they take it.”
- “However, the plot and premise is very good.”
- “Apparently the process of story and proceeding to escape this island is promising, on things I haven't experienced yet.”
- “Dysterra already has no storyline; you are just dropped in and you survive.”
- “Story is pathetic, and once the tutorial is done, it just stops and you are led to guess what to do next.”
- “You need to be working on a main storyline quest for this game because clearly that's what the starting quest makes it sound like you are doing something against this world.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
56%
17%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including laggy intro videos, long loading times, and inconsistent enemy behavior. While some users note decent performance and smooth gameplay at times, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance the experience. Many players express hope for future updates to address these issues.
- “Some minor things I'd like to see added (e.g., bug fixes, actual offline single player with pause, optimizations, more voice lines), but otherwise solid game.”
- “Good game so far, decent optimization.”
- “For an early access game, I have no issues with performance.”
- “Still in need of heavy optimization - even the intro video was incredibly laggy for me.”
- “Badly optimized to the point I sat in the loading screen for half my playtime.”
- “The game has 0% optimization.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
6%
88%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and time-consuming, often describing it as tedious and overcomplicated. While some enjoy the challenge of farming for gear and resources, many feel that the grind detracts from the overall experience, especially in solo play. Cooperative gameplay can alleviate some of the monotony, but the consensus is that the game could benefit from a more balanced approach to resource gathering and progression.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Leveling is slow and grindy while you pretty much have to invest skill points into other things like inventory space and hacking up to like level 24.”
- “Too much grinding, no fun... I wonder if the next update will add a whole periodic table to grind?”
- “I mean it is a game, but it seems to me that they started as a singleplayer, scraped that midway, made a somewhat sci-fi Rust, put in a gameplay loop that is a little boring, and then artificially prolonged the playtime with tedious tasks.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism, with users labeling it as a potential cash grab, particularly due to poor server partnerships and ineffective advertising strategies. Players express concerns that the lack of marketing is leading to a dwindling player base, which diminishes the overall experience and engagement. Additionally, technical issues with ads and shooting mechanics further exacerbate frustrations regarding the game's monetization approach.
- “I feel like this is a cash grab before the developers drop the project and take an early exit.”
- “Another early access cash grab.”
- “No marketing or advertising equals no population, no population = people like myself not wanting to log in anymore because there is no one to fight against.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game, currently in early access, suffers from numerous glitches and bugs that significantly impact gameplay, leading to frustrating experiences such as unexpected character deaths and looting while players are offline. Many users express dissatisfaction with the game's stability, calling for urgent fixes from the developers.
- “This game is in early access, meaning you will experience some glitches and quirks.”
- “My time is to play, not to be wasted on glitches.”
- “The game is glitchy, buggy, unfinished, and a bit hectic.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Players feel that the lack of a substantial soundtrack detracts from the game's atmosphere, making exploration feel lifeless and unengaging. Many express a desire for a more developed musical score to enhance the overall experience, similar to what is found in other games like Rust.
- “The actual soundtrack would be cool.”
- “Believe it or not, but not having music in the game feels kind of weird.”
- “I know I compare it to Rust too much, but having the music really helps set the tone.”
- “Meanwhile, the game places very little emphasis on its barebones soundtrack, making all the time you spend running around the game’s world a pretty lifeless affair.”