Gray Zone Warfare

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 35,987 reviews
  • optimization
  • gameplay
  • story
Gray Zone Warfare Game Cover
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"Gray Zone Warfare" is a tactical FPS set in a quarantined Southeast Asian island, where players can explore, uncover secrets, and participate in high-stakes fights. The game features realistic ballistic simulation, and highly customizable weapons. Equipment is added to your character after every game reset, with types of equipment subject to change in future resets. Editions are upgradable, allowing users to pay only the difference when upgrading.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 35,987 reviews
gameplay1,163 positive mentions
optimization2,005 negative mentions
  • optimization7,752 mentions

    The optimization of "Gray Zone Warfare" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many citing severe performance issues, including stuttering, low frame rates, and frequent crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users report improvements following recent patches, the consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization to be playable for a broader audience, particularly those with mid-range or older hardware. Overall, players express hope for future updates to address these issues, but many recommend waiting until the game is better optimized before purchasing.

    • “The newest patch today made a huge improvement in optimization and appears to have fixed a memory leak.”
    • “The game has been improving in a lot of ways; it now feels more optimized, and I can run it on higher graphics without my GPU becoming the sun.”
    • “The developers are actively working on improving performance and stability on those machines.”
    • “It is clear that there needs to be major optimization done.”
    • “Optimization is still incredibly poor even at lower graphic settings after 8 months of early access.”
    • “The performance is still dogwater, like playing on streets of Tarkov the entire time.”
  • gameplay3,047 mentions

    The gameplay of "Gray Zone Warfare" has received mixed reviews, highlighting both its potential and significant issues. Players appreciate the immersive mechanics, tactical depth, and engaging gameplay loop reminiscent of titles like "Escape from Tarkov," but many criticize the game's performance, including frequent crashes, lag, and AI inconsistencies. While the core mechanics and visuals are praised, the overall experience is marred by technical shortcomings and a lack of content variety, leading to a repetitive gameplay loop that can detract from enjoyment.

    • “The gameplay loop is solid and engaging, providing a unique and rewarding experience for players who enjoy teamwork and strategy.”
    • “Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a satisfying mix of tactical combat and open-world exploration.”
    • “The core gameplay mechanics are well-structured, offering a fun and immersive experience that keeps players coming back for more.”
    • “The gameplay is as deep as the shallowest puddle in a parking lot.”
    • “The gameplay itself is tough, no doubt about it.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and the lack of loot makes scavenging a bland experience.”
  • story2,783 mentions

    The story aspect of "Gray Zone Warfare" is currently underdeveloped, with most missions revolving around repetitive fetch and kill tasks that lack depth and variety. Players have noted that while the quests provide some context and hints, they often feel vague and lead to aimless exploration, requiring external guides to complete. The game does hint at a larger narrative through its missions, but many players find the overall storytelling to be minimal and uninspired, primarily serving as a vehicle for the gameplay rather than an engaging narrative experience.

    • “The story is both heartfelt and thought-provoking, exploring themes of civil and faction warfare.”
    • “The game features various modes, including cooperative missions and competitive team-based battles.”
    • “The quests are interesting and puzzling as well as informative to the game's lore.”
    • “The quests in this game are also lackluster and uninteresting, and while they've claimed to overhaul them, the starter quests are the same.”
    • “The missions are the same just in different locations; the dropped loot is poor.”
    • “The quests are repetitive and boring after so many times of 'go here and kill 20 enemies' or 'go find the truck here'.”
  • graphics2,576 mentions

    The graphics of "Gray Zone Warfare" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning visuals and detailed environments made possible by Unreal Engine 5. However, significant concerns have been raised regarding optimization, as players report performance issues, including low frame rates and graphical glitches, particularly on mid-range and older hardware. While some users have managed to achieve good performance with tweaks to settings, the overall consensus is that the game requires a powerful PC to run smoothly, and many are hoping for future updates to improve stability and graphical fidelity.

    • “The graphics are absolutely stunning, and the level of detail is impressive.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, capturing the essence of real-life environments with remarkable accuracy.”
    • “The graphics are mind-blowing, making every explosion and shadow feel insanely real.”
    • “Optimization is still incredibly poor even at lower graphic settings after 8 months of early access.”
    • “The graphics are a blurry and pixelated mess.”
    • “The graphics are still terrible and grainy and stutters; the devs release gameplay with graphics looking clear and beautiful, but it's not at all what you see when you actually play the game.”
  • stability1,577 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting significant bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly during early access. While some users have noted that the game runs well on high-end systems, others experience frequent freezes, lag, and unresponsive AI, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience. Overall, while the game shows potential, it is currently plagued by instability that may deter players until further optimizations and fixes are implemented.

    • “The improvements the team has made since launch are awesome and it runs great for me.”
    • “Game runs great for what it currently is for hours straight.”
    • “Runs great on my build, just play it for yourself; you can't always listen to other people. Not everyone likes the same things, and most of these people are just here to hate and complain.”
    • “Very buggy, keeps crashing. There are areas later in the game where the bots feel like you are fighting the Terminator. Needs lots of work still.”
    • “Game is buggy, crashes to desktop even on high-end systems. AI is horrendously accurate even at night with no night vision.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess. It has poor performance optimization, and it doesn't look the best.”
  • grinding237 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the low drop rates for essential items and keys, which can require extensive farming. While some enjoy the slow, methodical pace and the teamwork involved, others express frustration over the lack of rewarding loot and the time-consuming nature of quests, often feeling that the grind detracts from overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as needing improvements to balance the grind with more engaging content and better performance.

    • “The game itself is stunning and the tasks are not tedious for the moment.”
    • “Very detailed environments, I enjoy walking the jungle and exploring; it's not tedious. The mechanics of the game work well and have good function. I'm very impressed for EA!”
    • “Gunplay is good and smooth for a milsim, just enough to be fun and not tedious.”
    • “Looting does not feel all that rewarding in the vast majority of the game, and necessary items for tasks will often take days, if not weeks, of farming before you'll finally find what you need.”
    • “The loot you get kind of sucks for the amount of work you do and the risk you take; the gameplay is dry, tedious, and repetitive. The only thing it really has going for it is that it is semi-realistic in some aspects.”
    • “The quests are 99.99% fetch quests that are very tedious.”
  • monetization231 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" that capitalizes on the recent controversies surrounding Escape from Tarkov. Reviewers express frustration over the lack of essential features like toggle aim down sights (ADS) and key rebinding options, which they feel should be standard in a modern shooter. Overall, the game's early access state is perceived as rushed and unfinished, leading to disappointment among players who expected a more polished experience.

    • “The current state is promising, and with continuous improvements, it could easily rival games like Escape from Tarkov, especially considering the recent criticisms of Tarkov's monetization strategies.”
    • “The devs (mind the game is extremely young) have not yet shown a super greedy monetization scheme like we have recently seen with BSG and their beloved EFT.”
    • “For $35 with no microtransactions thrown in my face and this game running better at launch than most AAA developers, this game is hands down a steal if you are one for immersion and graphics.”
    • “This game has to be one of the biggest cash grabs in the extraction shooter genre. It's not worth playing even for free; servers are all laggy, and AI can shoot you from 400m away from behind a building or a bush.”
    • “The game was a cash grab at the end of the day. When Tarkov had a rough few weeks, they took advantage of people and released this unfinished garbage.”
    • “I'm disappointed that this has turned into another indie cash grab. The monetization strategy feels exploitative, especially with the lack of basic features like toggle ads.”
  • humor161 mentions

    The humor in "Gray Zone Warfare" is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the sharp, witty dialogue and the absurdity of AI behavior, which often leads to hilarious moments during gameplay. Many reviews mention the comedic interactions with other players and the entertaining chaos that ensues in both PvE and PvP scenarios, making it a fun experience, especially in cooperative play. However, some players also note that the game's bugs and performance issues can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a mix of frustration and laughter.

    • “The dialogue is sharp and witty, often delivering humorous moments that lighten the mood without detracting from the overall narrative.”
    • “In summary, gray zone warfare is the perfect blend of tactical brilliance and hilarious chaos.”
    • “Whether you're infiltrating enemy bases or trying to explain to your squad why you're carrying a rubber chicken instead of a sniper rifle, gray zone warfare keeps you on your toes and your squadmates on their knees—mostly from laughing at your failed attempts to blend in with the locals.”
    • “The amount of times I've had this stupid game's server just randomly forget my progression mid-game (the timing couldn't be any better while doing my missions) and end up re-doing all my tasks again and again and again and again.....for like the 10th time is honestly not funny at this point.”
    • “That's not funny.”
    • “This game sucks so much; it's not funny. It crashed while I had full gear, and it already happened twice.”
  • atmosphere87 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and visually stunning environments, enhanced by effective sound design that contributes to a tense and engaging experience. Players appreciate the dynamic elements, such as night operations and detailed landscapes, which create a rich and authentic atmosphere, although some note that performance issues and ambient noise can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a strong point, promising a captivating experience for players.

    • “The lighting and atmospheric effects create a truly immersive environment that draws you in and refuses to let go.”
    • “Visually, the night operations are stunning, creating an eerie atmosphere that heightens the tension of every mission.”
    • “The atmosphere, graphics, world, and the gameplay are all just so lovely.”
    • “I understand it's part of the jungle atmosphere, but man, it's ear-piercing. Even if you go underground into a bunker, the sounds persist.”
    • “It tries to present a real atmosphere, but fails; they go so detailed it looks blurry.”
    • “Right now, it lacks atmosphere and depth as well as complexity, but I think this is a title that will be worth keeping your eye on.”
  • replayability76 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it infinitely enjoyable due to dynamic missions and branching storylines, while others feel it becomes boring after a few hours. Many reviews highlight the need for further optimization and content updates to enhance the overall experience, as current bugs and gameplay issues detract from its potential. Overall, while there are promising elements for replayability, significant improvements are necessary for it to reach its full potential.

    • “One of the standout features of Grayzone Warfare is its replayability.”
    • “The branching storylines and morally ambiguous choices add layers of depth and replayability, inviting you to explore the consequences of your actions and forge your own path through the chaos of war.”
    • “End game procedural quests throughout the world, infinite guns and equipment to add, dynamic faction warfare - the possibilities for endless replayability are here; it just needs to be actualized.”
    • “The game gets boring after a few hours, which is a real problem because a game of this nature should have replay value.”
    • “The game lacks replayability and the available content seems insufficient.”
    • “Game tasks; actually tried to give it a go, smashed out a lot of tasks, I'm level 20, only tasks are go here, pick this up, drop it off to base, such a wasteful time sink, there's no way these tasks are replayable, having the same tasks at each point of interest is lame.”
  • emotional34 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling and the strong sense of community among players, fostering a wholesome environment. While some players express frustration with gameplay mechanics and technical issues, many appreciate the emotional weight of choices and the joy of shared experiences, particularly in PvE settings. Overall, the game evokes a mix of emotional engagement and community support, despite its early access challenges.

    • “The story is both heartfelt and thought-provoking, exploring themes of civil and faction warfare.”
    • “The gripping narrative adds emotional weight, making every choice matter.”
    • “From its flawless gameplay mechanics to its stunning visuals and emotionally resonant storytelling, Grayzone Warfare is a triumph in every sense of the word.”
  • music34 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the intense and thematic soundtrack that enhances gameplay, particularly during critical moments. However, many users have expressed frustration over the initial loud volume and lack of options to adjust it before starting, as well as the absence of ambient or Vietnam-era music that could enrich the experience. Overall, while the soundtrack has potential, improvements are needed to address volume control and the integration of more fitting musical elements.

    • “The soundtrack is intense and appropriately thematic, heightening the tension during critical moments.”
    • “The game's soundtrack complements the intense action and strategic planning, with music that dynamically shifts based on the situation.”
    • “Bombing over the treetops in the little bird while listening to Vietnam era music will never not be fun!”
    • “Good game but you get railed with full volume music when you start the game, so therefore negative review.”
    • “On first launch, you get taken to a character creation screen with loud obnoxious music and no way to get to the options to turn off the music/mute the audio until you have finished character creation.”
    • “Only thing they have done is get rid of DMCA music in the menu.”
  • character development5 mentions

    The character development in "grayzone warfare" is praised for its depth and intricacy, enhanced by stunning visuals and realistic animations. The game effectively explores profound themes, encouraging players to engage with their own beliefs and values through expertly crafted storytelling. Overall, the character development feels fresh and impactful, contributing significantly to the immersive experience.

    • “Through its expertly crafted storytelling and masterful character development, Grayzone Warfare delves into themes that resonate on a deeply personal level, challenging players to confront their own beliefs and values in ways that few games dare to attempt.”
    • “Animations, gunplay, and character development in Grayzone Warfare feel fresh, reminiscent of Tarkov but with its own unique twist.”
    • “Every detail, from the intricate character designs to the vast, open landscapes, is rendered with stunning precision.”
    • “Character development is lacking depth and feels rushed.”
    • “The characters don't evolve in a meaningful way throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of choices that impact character growth.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

16hMedian play time
113hAverage play time
5-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 415 analyzed playthroughs

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