Earthfall

There might have been plenty of co-op shooters since Left 4 Dead, but few managed to wrangle the same fun, fear and frantic combat as Earthfall did.

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"Earthfall is a Science Fiction Shooter game with single-player and multiplayer co-op modes for up to 4 players. Battle an extraterrestrial invasion in the Pacific Northwest using futuristic weaponry and deployable barricades. Experience tense, procedurally generated gameplay and a well-crafted story across 15 levels."

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Play Modes

Reviews

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 771 reviews

gameplay37 positive mentions

stability13 negative mentions

The game offers a fun co-op experience reminiscent of Left 4 Dead, with engaging gameplay mechanics.
Graphics are decent, and the game runs smoothly on various systems, providing a visually appealing experience.
The addition of barricades and 3D-printed weapons adds a unique twist to the gameplay, enhancing strategic elements.

The AI for both teammates and enemies is often lacking, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
There is a significant lack of content, with only two campaigns and limited replayability, making the game feel repetitive.
Weapon sounds and feedback are underwhelming, making combat feel less impactful and satisfying.

gameplay
129 mentions
29 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Earthfall is frequently compared to Left 4 Dead, featuring cooperative mechanics and a similar structure but with aliens instead of zombies. While some players appreciate the new elements like barricades and weapon stations, many criticize the overall execution, describing the gunplay and mechanics as lackluster and repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement and replayability. Despite its potential and enjoyable moments, the game struggles to stand out due to its derivative nature and basic gameplay mechanics.
- “The gameplay of Earthfall is quite similar to Left 4 Dead, but with additional features like deploying and buying items or having an XP and skill system.”
- “Earthfall is a co-op FPS that has a lot of unique gameplay elements while still being somewhat faithful to the Left 4 Dead formula.”
- “I really dig Earthfall; it uses a lot of the Left 4 Dead mechanics and style but adds some nice new elements like being able to throw out barriers to stop the alien horde and 3D print yourself weapons.”
- “Graphically, it's acceptable, but the gameplay lacks the punch needed to keep players engaged.”
- “The gunplay is bad, the graphics are mediocre, and the gameplay in general is just bland.”
- “The gameplay is not strong enough to carry this in the same way Left 4 Dead did.”
story
121 mentions
18 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally viewed as generic and underdeveloped, with many players finding the characters and dialogue cringe-worthy. While there are some interesting lore elements to uncover through exploration, the overall narrative is often overshadowed by repetitive mission design and a lack of engaging storytelling. Players express a desire for more content and character development to enhance the experience, as the current missions feel disconnected and fail to create a compelling narrative arc.
- “The setting of Earthfall is a post-apocalyptic world set after an alien invasion, with bits of lore that you can unlock by interacting with your environment and then read later, a pretty neat idea that gradually reveals the backstory without interrupting the game.”
- “The story of the game is really interesting, with tons of lore to unlock in hidden spots around the maps, and when you use different weapons or characters.”
- “The story drew me in; I liked having to explore for the lore. The characters, while a little bland at first, were still interesting.”
- “Nothing in this game feels good in any way - the shooting model is boring and non-responsive, guns have a sub-par design and feedback, and the story along with complementary cringe dialogue could have been written by a ten-year-old.”
- “The storyline seems very compressed and rushed; there is also very little multiplayer activity available online.”
- “Narrative is non-existent (it's 'shoot n monsters to unlock an article') and there is no story apart from 'we go there and do that'.”
graphics
105 mentions
37 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the visuals as decent or even beautiful, particularly in comparison to similar titles like Left 4 Dead. However, many others criticize the graphics for being mediocre, unpolished, or visually noisy, with performance issues noted on lower-end systems. Overall, while the game utilizes Unreal Engine 4 effectively in some areas, it struggles with consistency and optimization, leading to a varied player experience.
- “The graphics are amazing.. attention to detail is amazing!!”
- “It's well-crafted, has beautiful and clean graphics, with a lot of love and TLC.”
- “The graphics have been vastly improved and the introduction of the new aliens adds rather more variety to the game.”
- “While the level design is passable, graphically speaking, the game is hideous - some outdoor areas literally look like that 'painted world' section of Oblivion, and since it's Unreal Engine we are speaking of, we know it's the fault of the developers and not the engine.”
- “The graphics are okay, but it's not enough to carry this game.”
- “Currently unplayable, even at the lowest graphics settings, the FPS will drop to 1 when you try to simply move around.”
optimization
36 mentions
19 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its stable performance and good graphics, while others report significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly during intense gameplay. Many users express frustration over inconsistent frame rates and connection problems, indicating that while there have been improvements, the game still suffers from serious optimization challenges. Overall, the experience varies widely depending on individual hardware and network conditions.
- “The game is well optimized.”
- “I had no performance issues nor problems finding teammates.”
- “What I like is the fact that the game looks good, it runs smoothly and as for the multiplayer coop, the servers are fairly fast.”
- “Even years after release, the game is riddled with bugs, glitches, and performance issues.”
- “Game is very unoptimized; they claim you only need a 750 to run it, yet I can't even get solid performance at low settings on an R9 380.”
- “They majorly screwed up optimization and are attempting to fix it, but 15-20fps is unacceptable for a survival horror game.”
music
18 mentions
39 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it for creating an atmosphere of excitement and urgency, particularly during intense moments, while others find it uninspiring and lacking in suspense. Highlights include memorable musical numbers and a good soundtrack that enhances gameplay, but there are also criticisms regarding sound balance and the overall quality of the music. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a positive aspect for some, but not universally appreciated.
- “Music is good and creates an atmosphere of excitement and urgency.”
- “If you love the Left 4 Dead games, you'll get some good game time with this title, and it has a really good soundtrack too.”
- “And probably the best music kicks in at the crazy bits... you know it's going to be crazy when the music subtly comes in...”
- “Music is like sitting in a lift waiting to get to your floor; it's terrible.”
- “Gunplay is okay-ish at best, AI is dumb as hell (borderline unplayable dumb, so bring some friends), maps are generic, sound is 'just there', music is pretty bad and visuals are standard 'looks like UE4 and that's about it' (and terrible animations).”
- “Maps, soundtrack, and enemies fail to build suspense, stress, tension, etc.”
replayability
17 mentions
41 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the inventive maps and co-op gameplay that encourage multiple playthroughs, others criticize the limited number of levels and game modes, which can lead to repetitiveness. Some reviewers highlight the potential for high replay value, especially in survival modes, but note that the lack of diverse content and challenging bosses detracts from long-term engagement. Overall, the game offers enjoyable moments but may struggle to maintain interest over time without additional content.
- “There's even an overall story essentially across 2 campaigns, but this is a replayability game.”
- “Pros: reasonably priced; inventive, highly replayable maps; lots of guns and melee weapons; beautiful graphics; blistering combat sound effects and moody atmospheric sound effects; music that reflects the moment: tense and expectant or heart-bursting and terrifying; co-op is the best to come along in ages; satisfying gameplay; has that gotta-play-one-more quality; has a superior survival mode, in which you must withstand 20 waves of enemies, while using varying resources to protect yourself and your squad, and to eliminate all the clawing, spitting, exploding, crushing, biting, and lasering beasts thrown at you.”
- “Overall, this is a great product with a low price tag and high replay value, and deserves attention.”
- “The game lacks the charm, level design, mod support, and replayability of Left 4 Dead.”
- “My only complaint is that it quickly becomes repetitive and has low replay value due to having few levels.”
- “This game doesn't have very many modes, thus seriously damaging the replayability factor.”
stability
14 mentions
7 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report minimal issues like occasional bugs and glitches, many others highlight persistent performance problems and AI shortcomings, suggesting that the game feels unfinished even years after its release. Despite some players experiencing no crashes or major disruptions, the overall consensus leans towards it being a "buggy, broken mess" that still requires significant improvements.
- “Looks good, runs great.”
- “Even years after release, the game is riddled with bugs, glitches, and performance issues.”
- “This game is a buggy, broken mess.”
- “Several FPS drops, bugs, glitches, exploits, and so on.”
atmosphere
9 mentions
67 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its beautiful graphics, immersive sound effects, and music that enhances tension and excitement. However, some players feel that the level design lacks meaningful content, leading to a less engaging experience compared to similar titles like Left 4 Dead and Vermintide. While the atmosphere is strong, issues with sound and combat mechanics detract from its overall impact.
- “Pros: reasonably priced; inventive, highly replayable maps; lots of guns and melee weapons; beautiful graphics; blistering combat sound effects and moody atmospheric sound effects; music that reflects the moment: tense and expectant or heart-bursting and terrifying; co-op is the best to come along in ages; satisfying gameplay; has that gotta-play-one-more quality; has a superior survival mode, in which you must withstand 20 waves of enemies, while using varying resources to protect yourself and your squad, and to eliminate all the clawing, spitting, exploding, crushing, biting, and lasering beasts thrown at you.”
- “Music is good and creates an atmosphere of excitement and urgency.”
- “The atmosphere is great, graphics look decent too, but it could use some improvements.”
- “Currently, the guns feel weak, the sound seems odd (it sounds like some sounds are missing or not playing for some reason) and this makes the game lack atmosphere, which Left 4 Dead had in spades.”
- “[Dated look takes away from the atmosphere, aliens lack character and ferocity, dull and repetitive combat]”
humor
7 mentions
86 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating its lively atmosphere and well-crafted lore. While the comedic elements, including funny and scary aliens, contribute positively to the experience, issues like frustrating friendly fire can detract from the enjoyment. Despite some criticisms regarding gunplay, the game manages to deliver a humorous co-op experience.
- “Action co-op FPS with strategy elements, the game is really funny and alive by itself.”
- “There is lots of humor and very well-crafted lore scattered around for you to enjoy.”
- “+ funny and scary aliens”
- “It seems lately (and by lately I mean in the last 5-6 years) that co-op shooters ending with -fall have had some kind of curse placed on them that makes them end up an absolute unfunny mess.”
grinding
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed bag; while the skill tree progression and meaningful special abilities provide a sense of achievement, some skills require excessive grinding, such as defeating 150 bosses for a single unlock. Despite this, many appreciate the grind as a worthwhile endeavor that enhances gameplay, especially in harder difficulties, and serves as a decent alternative to other games' systems. Overall, the grind is seen as both a necessary challenge and a potential drawback.
- “The atmosphere, gunplay, and skill system, although grindy, are better than nothing at all.”
- “I do feel the current skills progression is too grindy in some skills (150 bosses killed just to unlock a skill?), but it's a step in the right direction.”
- “There is a skill tree progression that unlocks perks as you play and do things; some of them are a bit grindy, but helpful in harder difficulties.”
monetization
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the inclusion of ads for enhancing gameplay, particularly in making headshots easier, and enjoy the strategic elements like placing traps and barricades. However, there are some concerns regarding the lack of ads for certain weapons, which affects gameplay dynamics. Overall, monetization through ads is seen as a positive addition, but there are suggestions for improvements in audio feedback and weapon mechanics.
- “There are ads to make those headshots easier.”
- “I love the ability to place traps and barricades, but the ads are overwhelming.”
- “They could try advertising more to attract players.”
emotional
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is generally perceived as wholesome and enjoyable, though some players find certain outdated references to mixers to be emotionally triggering, highlighting a mix of positive and negative emotional responses.
- “This game truly captures the essence of emotional storytelling, making players feel deeply connected to the characters.”
- “The emotional depth of the narrative left me in tears; it’s a beautiful experience that resonates long after playing.”
- “Every moment in this game is filled with heartfelt emotions, making it an unforgettable journey.”