Earth's Shadow

About

Earth's Shadow is a single player role playing game. It was developed by WRF Studios and was released on January 31, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

Earth's Shadow is a third person action Sci-Fi dungeon crawler set in the year 3081 on planet Sumbra; a remote alien planet where legends of valuable relics surround this black world, calling to the greedy and brave explorers seeking a bright future... but end up uncovering an even darker past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 77 reviews

gameplay15 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Impressive accomplishment by a solo developer with solid and fun gameplay mechanics, delivering a satisfying sci-fi dungeon crawler looter shooter experience.
Engaging combat with smooth movement and dashing mechanics, varied weapons and loot, challenging bosses, and atmospheric, well-designed levels that provide a compelling exploration experience.
Great value for the price, with strong replayability thanks to randomized loot, multiple modes including roguelike and save options, and continuous developer support responsive to player feedback.

Performance issues and occasional jankiness, especially on less powerful hardware like the Steam Deck; some bugs, clipping, and animation mismatches affect polish.
Story and tutorial presentation are minimal and obtuse, with some unclear UI elements and confusing terminology; early levels can feel repetitive in objectives and atmosphere.
Bosses sometimes feel like bullet sponges requiring trial-and-error strategies, and the loot randomization is unbalanced, leading to farming and difficulty spikes that can frustrate players.

gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
35%
11%
The gameplay is widely praised for its solid mechanics, fun and engaging combat—particularly the dash mechanic which adds invincibility frames—and a smooth progression that blends looter-shooter elements with a unique, polished vision. While some find the gameplay classic and satisfying with adjustable difficulty and enjoyable movement, a few note that it feels somewhat unoriginal or repetitive, especially in roguelike aspects. Overall, it offers a compelling, well-crafted experience that stands out despite minor rough edges.
- “Like all WRF games, it's a bit rough around the edges but delivers fun gameplay that stems from a unique vision and pushes the edges of what other developers have done, in a way only WRF would do.”
- “Not only does it have a great story, it comes with amazing gameplay and the details are just chef's kiss; many big developers can't compete with this game—it’s so well made and a ton of fun to play!”
- “It's an awesome game with solid mechanics, a bit like Borderlands with random loot, and a dash ability that makes you invincible while performing it, similar to the i-frames you get from Dark Souls. I'm only a few hours in but having a blast.”
- “I'm not a big fan of roguelikes in general, but since Returnal has such long stretches of gameplay with very few shortcuts, the roguelike aspect really kills the fun.”
- “The gameplay loop is boring and confusing.”
- “Whilst not necessarily doing anything original, the mechanics all seem solid with visuals suitable for the setting.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
36%
14%
The story is generally described as intriguing and enjoyable, featuring memorable characters and a compelling atmosphere, though some find it basic or slow-paced and not the main focus. It enhances the gameplay experience without being overly complex or groundbreaking, appealing especially to fans of sci-fi action RPGs. Overall, the narrative provides enough interest to engage players but does not overshadow the game's strong gameplay elements.
- “Seriously, look at this dude's games, they are so freaking above and beyond, they are better than they look, and offer real gameplay, this is the dude's shortest game and even if you rush it, we are talking 5 to 6 hours of story-based, action RPG linear goodness.”
- “The story is intriguing and the voice acting is professional, the soundtrack brings it all together great.”
- “The game has a very intriguing atmosphere that I find very appealing, and there seems to be an interesting story that is slowly revealed to the player and has a very eerie and ominous vibe - which I love - so I am curious to see how it is executed in the end.”
- “The story is just kind of there and really it would be fine if it wasn't.”
- “The story was fairly basic, nothing terrible or overly drawn out, but nothing too amazing.”
- “In story mode some sections stretch too long.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their immersive, atmospheric, and visually stunning sci-fi and dark gothic aesthetic, with smooth optimization and crisp visuals enhancing the overall experience. Despite being developed by a small studio, the visuals effectively complement the gameplay and setting, creating a captivating and polished look reminiscent of classic sci-fi and horror influences.
- “One of the best things about this game is the immersive atmosphere and top-notch graphics.”
- “The visuals are simply stunning, and the world design is captivating, making you feel like you're truly exploring an alien planet.”
- “Stunning visuals, smooth optimisation (works perfectly on epic settings), very nice movement and everything is just so smooth.”
- “Graphics remind me of a Simon Bisley Heavy Metal magazine story where visceral violence abounds and is your only way of survival.”
- “Scary and ghoulish science fiction visuals like a 1960's Italian doomsday film or some alien landscape ala Planet of the Vampires.”
- “The visuals were pretty clean.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The game is widely praised for its immersive, eerie, and atmospheric environments that enhance the sense of mystery and danger. Players appreciate the detailed visuals, dark alien settings, and a mood that effectively complements the powerful looter-shooter gameplay. While early levels may feel slightly repetitive, the overall atmosphere is engaging and a standout feature.
- “If you like eerie dark alien atmosphere dripping with mystery and danger, then you should consider yourself lucky to have discovered this hidden gem before its cult is firmly established.”
- “One of the best things about this game is the immersive atmosphere and top-notch graphics.”
- “The game has a very intriguing atmosphere that I find very appealing, with an interesting story slowly revealed and a very eerie and ominous vibe.”
- “I will say some of the early levels seemed a tad repetitive as far as atmosphere and objective, but the game wasn’t boring even in those levels.”
- “A really fun dungeon crawling first person action-RPG in a spooky/mysterious atmosphere.”
- “Soaking with unnerving eerie atmosphere where alien horrors abound on a planet of terror where everything wants to kill you.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding is generally enjoyable and streamlined without excessive tutorials, but the random and unbalanced loot system can make progress dependent on repetitively farming the same maps.
- “Enjoyed very much, only downside is loot is random and not balanced, meaning there is no way to get better loot unless farming same maps.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for perfectly complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall experience. The soundtrack is consistently impressive and well-integrated with the story and voice acting.
- “The background music is amazing, fitting perfectly with the gameplay and adding to the overall experience.”
- “The game is constantly updated by the developer and the soundtrack is amazing.”
- “The story is intriguing and the voice acting is professional; the soundtrack brings it all together great.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game offers substantial content and alternate modes that provide good replay value, allowing for extended play sessions without boredom. However, some users feel that its replayability could be improved in its current state.
- “It's a well-made game with a lot of content and replay value, and you can easily spend hours playing it without getting bored.”
- “I played the main story from start to finish in one sitting, but there are alternate modes for replay value.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game shows some optimization issues, including occasional bugs and performance drops during large boss battles, but these problems are minor and do not significantly impact overall gameplay.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences occasional bugs and some performance issues during large boss battles, but these stability problems are minor and do not significantly impact gameplay.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor adds a distinctive personality, enhancing its overall enjoyment and making the experience more unique.
- “The game also has a lot of humor and personality, making it more enjoyable and unique.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is impactful and engaging, though it could benefit from some refinement and minor fixes to fully realize its potential.