Estranged: The Departure

About

Estranged: The Departure is a single player and multiplayer survival shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by Alan Edwardes and was released on May 22, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Experience what the island has in store as you uncover the secretive Arque Corporation, burrowing ever deeper into their dangerous and haphazard operations.

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 861 reviews

story93 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

The game features impressive graphics and a beautiful atmosphere, showcasing the capabilities of the Unreal Engine.
The story is engaging, with intriguing elements that keep players interested in the narrative.
The game offers a mix of exploration, puzzles, and light combat, providing a varied gameplay experience.

The combat mechanics feel clunky and less satisfying compared to the first game, with AI behavior being predictable and uninspired.
The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and content, leading to a sense of disappointment.
There are technical issues, such as bugs and glitches, that can disrupt gameplay and immersion.

story
294 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it either boring, predictable, or lacking depth compared to its predecessor. While some appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and intriguing elements, others criticize it for being incoherent, overly simplistic, or failing to engage players emotionally. Overall, the narrative is seen as a significant downgrade from the first game, with many hoping for further development in future updates.
- “Exploring eerie places, solving puzzles, and piecing together the story kept me hooked.”
- “The story is incredibly immersive and well-written.”
- “The game has such a captivating story following up from act 1, and it kept me interested throughout!”
- “It's very, very boring with a predictable and banal story.”
- “The story is lacking to where... okay, I'm only an hour in but what even is the story?”
- “The only consistent plot points in the entire game is this one guy getting his ID badge stolen by a fox.”
graphics
179 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their significant improvement over the previous installment, showcasing stunning visuals and impressive lighting effects thanks to the transition to the Unreal Engine. Many players noted the beautiful scenery and immersive atmosphere, although some expressed concerns about occasional performance issues and a lack of polish in certain areas. Overall, the graphics are considered a highlight, elevating the game's appeal despite mixed feelings about other aspects like gameplay and story.
- “The visuals overall are stunning, and the game has some breathtaking scenery that really adds to the overall atmosphere and immersion.”
- “The graphics have been updated and are gorgeous.”
- “The graphics, visuals, lighting, and art style of the game got significantly better.”
- “Graphically, it resembles games from over twenty years ago.”
- “It's clear that the developer only really planned out the mod and the first act of this game because everything else seemed rushed as hell or just poorly implemented; the story goes nowhere, the combat is way too easy, and the visuals remind me of a business email in how lifeless they look.”
- “The graphics in the starting area look incredibly nice but the impression sort of fades as you get bizarre fog, pop-in, LOD changes, Z clipping, lighting coming out of random corners, etc.”
gameplay
123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its immersive atmosphere, solid mechanics, and engaging puzzles, while others criticize it for being overly linear and lacking in depth, often feeling more like a walking simulator than a traditional FPS. Many players noted that the transition to Unreal Engine improved visuals but diminished the gameplay experience compared to the original game, leading to a perception of reduced content and excitement. Overall, while the game offers some enjoyable moments and decent mechanics, it struggles with pacing and variety, leaving some players disappointed.
- “The gameplay is solid, soundtrack is decent.”
- “The huge leap in graphics and gameplay tweaks are impressive, the arcade modes such as warehouse horde offer addictive detours, and the shorts are profound; but my favorite part is near the end - the shipwrecks and windmill farm, which is shown in one of the screenshots.”
- “Retains, and improves upon the gameplay and atmosphere of the original source mod while being built on the Unreal Engine, something I'm sure was no easy task.”
- “When the story begins to up its ante, the gameplay holds it back by never reflecting the supposed tension you are having.”
- “More than half of the game is spent without gameplay; it's either cutscenes or walking, and there are long stretches of cutscenes that convey very little of substance.”
- “There's barely any gameplay left; it's now mostly a walking simulator. After finishing the game, my stats said I killed 16 zombies and 6 human enemies in the entire game.”
atmosphere
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
43%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich worldbuilding, stunning visuals, and immersive sound design, creating a captivating and eerie environment that enhances the gameplay experience. While some players feel that the sequel lacks the depth and intensity of the original, many appreciate its focus on exploration and atmosphere over combat. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of mystery and tension, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric storytelling.
- “The visuals overall are stunning, and the game has some breathtaking scenery that really adds to the overall atmosphere and immersion.”
- “The writing was great, the world was beautiful, and the mystery and atmosphere kept us on the edge of our seats for the entire game.”
- “Great atmosphere, amazing graphics.”
- “The atmosphere isn't scary at all, the gunplay is somehow worse, and beyond that it's just boring to play.”
- “As at times the non-combat sections where you're breathing in the atmosphere do stretch on for a bit too long to the point where it starts to lose your attention, and the reveal of the zombies was a decidedly lackluster affair.”
- “Lovely game, but it doesn't have the same dark atmosphere as the first.”
music
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its ability to enhance atmosphere and tension during key moments, while others find it overpowering or forgettable. Some highlight the soundtrack's effectiveness in matching the game's emotional beats, though there are complaints about volume inconsistencies and moments where the music feels out of place. Overall, the music is generally well-composed and contributes positively to the game's immersive experience, despite some criticisms regarding its execution.
- “One of the best things were perfect soundtracks to every scene!”
- “The music and sounds will give you an adrenaline rush at certain points, and at other points, the music is just gorgeous.”
- “The music is consistently excellent.”
- “The music also feels a bit too intense for some of the situations in the game, making moments that could be more subdued or atmospheric feel a bit overblown.”
- “The music for certain events is either too loud or goes on even when the event is already over.”
- “In addition, most areas lack any particular background music and feel dull.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
11%
17%
Overall, the game is praised for its impressive graphics and strong optimization, allowing for smooth performance even on varied hardware. While some users noted minor bugs and issues with navigation and combat, the optimization features, including adjustable graphics settings, contribute to a generally positive experience. However, there are mentions of performance issues in the early access version, indicating room for improvement.
- “The graphics looked good and performance was great.”
- “Not only is it very pretty, it's also very well optimized.”
- “The optimization is really good for how good the textures and environments look.”
- “Insufficient experience, I would add, especially concerning optimization (if that's even possible in Unreal).”
- “Part 2 is not quite finished yet, and has some performance and crashing issues.”
- “The engine itself seemingly affects the game's performance and overall gameplay.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly towards the end, including crashes and issues with achievements. While many players find the experience generally polished and playable, especially for an early access title, some minor glitches can disrupt gameplay. Overall, despite these issues, the game is still recommended for its engaging content and visual quality.
- “The end of the game is totally buggy.”
- “Now to the negatives, I have encountered some glitches and bugs in the game where I had to reload to the nearest checkpoint, which can be a bit annoying for some. At one stage, a bunch of enemies should have come out shooting me, but nothing happened—just the dramatic fighting music and nothing else.”
- “Then it just crashes or freezes again.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd dubbing, with one voice actor delivering a range of hilarious performances that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements that provide a lighthearted contrast to the game's tension and horror, as well as the inclusion of funny achievements and quirky storylines. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant and enjoyable aspect that contributes to the game's charm and fun atmosphere.
- “The dubbing is ridiculous; one person does almost all the voices, it's hilarious.”
- “It also has an element of humor that breaks up the tension and the horror.”
- “The voice acting was really good and sometimes hilarious, and the game was overall really fun.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
33%
Players have reported a mix of emotional experiences with the game, highlighting deeply touching moments and nostalgia, particularly due to its use of the source engine. However, some critics found the storytelling and voice acting lacking, leading to a disconnect that diminished emotional engagement. Overall, the game elicits strong feelings for some while leaving others feeling indifferent.
- “This game is very special, and I had some of the most emotional and touching moments ever in a game.”
- “I cried.”
- “A very wholesome experience.”
- “The storytelling is dull and fails to evoke any real emotions.”
- “Gameplay lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “The level design is uninspired, which detracts from any emotional engagement.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
Players find the grinding in the game to be excessive and tedious, often requiring significant time investment that can feel monotonous and frustrating. Many describe the gameplay as sleep-inducing, with mechanics that can be unreliable, further exacerbating the grind.
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Sleep-inducing gameplay and tedious puzzles.”
- “It's tedious to pick up stuff when this mechanic does not work half the time.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking unless pursuing 100% achievements, others appreciate the inclusion of multiple arcade modes and interesting achievements that enhance replay value. The low price point is seen as appropriate given its limited length, but the polished experience and quality sound contribute positively to its replay potential.
- “Infinitely replayable with multiplayer options.”
- “Nice to see quality sound and some interesting achievements for replayability.”
- “Although I got this for free (through early access, I think), I will say it's worth its full price. It has great support in language, very up-to-date graphics, and a polished experience with little bugs or game-breaking glitches. It is a bit short, but it has some replay value with the achievements and the two arcade modes.”
- “The low price tag does feel right, given that there is no replay value (unless going for 100% achievements).”
- “Although I got this for free (through early access, I think), I will say it's worth its full price, with great support in language, very up-to-date graphics, and a very polished experience with little bugs or game-breaking glitches. It is a bit short, but it has some replay value with the achievements and the two arcade modes.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users perceive the game's monetization strategy as a quick cash grab by the developer, suggesting a lack of genuine value or engagement for players.
- “I believe this game was mostly a quick cash grab for the developer.”
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending money.”