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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.
Earthfall Game Cover
61%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
stability, grinding
68% User Score Based on 1,132 reviews
Critic Score 53%Based on 19 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Earthfall Game Cover

About

Earthfall is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by Holospark and was released on July 12, 2018. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"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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68%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,132 reviews
gameplay62 positive mentions
stability19 negative mentions

  • Fun gameplay reminiscent of Left 4 Dead, with new mechanics like barricades and turrets.
  • Good graphics and sound design, creating an engaging atmosphere.
  • Solid co-op experience, especially enjoyable with friends.
  • Bots are often unhelpful and can hinder gameplay, making solo play frustrating.
  • Limited content with only two campaigns and a lack of variety in enemies.
  • Gunplay feels weak and lacks impact, with some weapons sounding like toys.
  • gameplay
    235 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Earthfall has been widely described as a derivative experience heavily inspired by the Left 4 Dead series, featuring similar mechanics but lacking the polish and depth that made its predecessor engaging. While some players appreciate the introduction of new elements like barricades and 3D printing for weapons, many criticize the overall execution as bland and repetitive, with basic shooting mechanics and limited content leading to low replayability. Despite its potential for cooperative fun, the game struggles to stand out in a crowded genre, often feeling like a lesser version of its inspirations.

    • “The gameplay mechanics are a lot better and allow for variety.”
    • “Earthfall tries to put its own twist on the iconic 'Left 4 Dead' formula, and succeeds in introducing mechanics such as deployable defenses and 3D printers, other than a few enemies that stand out compared to the basic archetypes of this sub-genre.”
    • “The gameplay is nice, the game is actually pretty hard even on regular.”
    • “I downloaded it a few years ago out of boredom and thought it was ridiculous, with bland gameplay, horrible visual/auditory design, and enough incoherence in its draft to make each and every gameplay event feel sporadic and disjointed, with a myriad of pieces that don't fit together.”
    • “The gameplay, the texture work, the suburbs... everything feels like a Left 4 Dead mod.”
    • “The gameplay is very boring.”
  • story
    187 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it generic and lacking depth, often describing it as "mid" or "unremarkable." While some appreciate the lore that can be unlocked through gameplay, others criticize the narrative for being disjointed and poorly integrated into the missions, leading to a lack of engagement with the characters and overall plot. Overall, the story is seen as a weak point, overshadowed by repetitive mission objectives and a focus on gameplay rather than narrative development.

    • “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 drew me in, I liked having to explore for the lore; the characters, while a little bland at first, were still interesting.”
    • “The story is quite fascinating when you explore, kill, and play as the four main characters.”
    • “The storyline seems very compressed and rushed... there is also very little multiplayer activity available online.”
    • “Almost zero thought went into the narrative and objectives; there is not even an intro or some explanatory tutorial section with some story bits, characters just instantly know the aliens and we are just thrown into random missions.”
  • graphics
    164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as good or even great, particularly in comparison to similar titles like Left 4 Dead, while others criticize them for being mediocre or outdated. Many users note that the game runs smoothly on various systems, but performance issues and graphical glitches are also reported, especially on lower-end hardware. Overall, the visuals are generally considered acceptable, with some standout elements, but they do not significantly elevate the gameplay experience.

    • “The graphics are amazing.. attention to detail is amazing!!”
    • “The graphics are well done.”
    • “The graphics look cool and the aliens are very interesting.”
    • “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.”
    • “Should use more graphics, textures are awful; this game is an exercise in how to take one of the best graphics engines, Unreal 4, and make it look as bad as possible.”
    • “The graphics really aren't that great, and I'm still getting drops from 90 to 50 in sticky situations.”
  • optimization
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant performance issues, bugs, and glitches even years after release. While a few users noted improvements and stable performance on certain setups, many others experienced frame drops and unoptimized gameplay, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game appears to require further optimization to enhance the experience for a broader range of players.

    • “The game is well optimized.”
    • “The graphics are pretty good, and with that the game is optimized very well. I don't have the greatest PC but I am able to run this game at 50-80 fps (it jumps according to what environment I'm in).”
    • “As far as game performance goes, it is perfectly optimized.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game needs more optimization for sure, and trust me, it's not my computer.”
  • music
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to create atmosphere and enhance gameplay during tense moments, while others find it uninspired and forgettable. Notably, the soundtrack is described as lacking variety and imagination, leading some players to mute it entirely in favor of their own music. Overall, while there are moments of good music that align with the action, many feel it falls short of expectations for a game of this genre.

    • “Music is good and creates an atmosphere of excitement and urgency.”
    • “The story is pretty decent, the shooting is pretty good, and I actually love the soundtrack.”
    • “Wow the graphics, sounds, and music are outstanding.”
    • “Music is like sitting in a lift waiting to get to your floor; it's terrible.”
    • “Just bad, 0 imagination and variety of music.”
    • “But the music in missions is so crappy I had to disable it because my ears were bleeding.”
  • stability
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance and graphics, while others report persistent bugs, glitches, and AI issues that detract from the experience. Many users note that despite the game's potential, it feels unfinished and riddled with problems, particularly when it comes to enemy behavior and performance during intense gameplay. Overall, while some players experience smooth gameplay, the prevalence of bugs and performance issues remains a significant concern.

    • “The graphics are good and the game runs great too.”
    • “First, I'm playing this on Linux Wine, it runs great, solo and online (at the moment). Hope the devs support it ahead.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the high replay value from inventive maps and co-op modes, many criticize the limited content, linear gameplay, and lack of diverse game modes, leading to a repetitive experience. The consensus suggests that without additional content or modes, replayability is significantly hampered, despite some enjoyable aspects.

    • “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.”
    • “The only downside to this game is how short it is, but the replay value is definitely there all the way, especially with multiplayer and the various difficulties.”
    • “Once finished, replay value is low given the linear levels and gameplay.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the fresh and slightly scary alien environment, complemented by good music and immersive graphics. However, many reviewers feel that the atmosphere lacks depth compared to similar titles like Left 4 Dead, citing issues with enemy design and sound effects that detract from the overall experience. While there are commendable attempts at creating a tense atmosphere, the execution leaves room for improvement, resulting in a somewhat underwhelming ambiance.

    • “The atmosphere, gunplay, and the skill system, although grindy, are worth more than nothing at all.”
    • “The graphics and atmosphere really look cool and immersive.”
    • “Music is good and creates an atmosphere of excitement and urgency.”
    • “And for attempts in the field of atmosphere and plot, at least an attempt, I will never raise my hand to dislike the game and hate the authors. Thanks to the haters, we got an absolutely plotless and atmosphereless 'Back 4 Blood'.”
    • “The atmosphere is nowhere near as creepy as Left 4 Dead, perhaps due to the nature of the enemies in this game (aliens); the maps are expansive and, although pretty linear, there is a bit of space to explore and find new weapons.”
    • “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.”
  • humor
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it enjoyable and well-crafted, particularly in the lore and character remarks, while others feel it falls short compared to other co-op titles. The chaotic nature of gameplay, including friendly fire and AI antics, can lead to both funny and frustrating moments, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere despite some gameplay mechanics feeling off. Overall, while there are humorous elements, they may not resonate with everyone, and the game's comedic tone can sometimes clash with its more serious aspects.

    • “There is lots of humor and very well-crafted lore scattered around for you to enjoy.”
    • “Having a lot of fun, the story is much better for me than a zombie outbreak and the lore is so funny haha.”
    • “The actions the AI takes can sometimes be pretty funny and almost lifelike, especially when compared to a really troll-like player who isn't taking the game seriously.”
    • “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.”
    • “They're playful but not funny.”
  • grinding
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress through skill trees and achievements. While some appreciate the meaningful rewards tied to grinding, many express frustration over repetitive tasks and the disproportionate effort needed for certain skills. Overall, the grinding can detract from the enjoyment, despite the game's other positive features.

    • “No progression, thus no grinding, only skill matters.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Disproportionately grindy skill progression.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is primarily centered around the inclusion of ads, which players feel enhances gameplay by allowing for features like deployable barricades and turrets. While some appreciate the added mechanics, others express a desire for more pronounced feedback in gameplay elements, such as headshot sounds. Overall, the ads are seen as a double-edged sword, contributing to the game's uniqueness while also raising concerns about their impact on the experience.

    • “There's ads to make those headshots easier.”
    • “Really, the only thing this game has over L4D2 is ads; that's about it.”
    • “4 player co-op FPS that takes the standard formula (pull the lever, wait for script, shoot some guys, save your friend who is being eaten at the moment, collect seven unicorns, make it to the end of a level alive, repeat) and adds deployable barricades and turrets.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it to be a wholesome experience, others feel that outdated references and repetitive gameplay contribute to a lack of emotional engagement, leading to feelings of frustration and nausea. The overall atmosphere is described as bland, with characters and sounds failing to evoke a strong emotional response.

    • “All around wholesome fun game.”
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9h Median play time
17h Average play time
2-50h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Earthfall is a shooter game with horror and science fiction themes.

Earthfall is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 17 hours playing Earthfall.

Earthfall was released on July 12, 2018.

Earthfall was developed by Holospark.

Earthfall has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Earthfall is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include The Anacrusis, Back 4 Blood, World War Z, Aliens: Fireteam, Sker Ritual and others.