Green Hell
- September 5, 2019
- Creepy Jar
- 18h median play time
+ Superb atmosphere + Enthralling story + Multiple game modes + Allows players to play at their own pace + Accessible - A couple of bugs - Manual saves only at fixed points - Combat doesn’t add much
"Green Hell" is an Open World Survival Simulator set in the dangerous and uncharted Amazonian rainforest. With only your bare hands, you must gather resources, craft tools, and build shelters to survive. Face the threats of exotic wildlife, tropical diseases, and your own deteriorating sanity. The game features a challenging and immersive struggle to stay alive while navigating the intricate story of your pursuit for rescue.
Reviews
- story8,114 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in "Green Hell" is a compelling blend of survival and emotional depth, following the journey of Jake Higgins as he searches for his wife, Mia, in the Amazon rainforest. Players appreciate the intricate narrative, which unfolds through exploration and character interactions, often leading to unexpected twists and a poignant conclusion. While some find the story engaging and well-crafted, others criticize its predictability and pacing, noting that the survival mechanics can overshadow the narrative experience. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy immersive storytelling alongside challenging survival gameplay.
“When it comes to survival games, I truly believe this has to be one of the best in its class... the story is so immersive you'll become addicted.”
“This is a wonderful game with a very good story, absolutely recommended.”
“The story is quite good as well, it's nice to be able to finish a survival crafting game instead of just playing for hours without a real goal.”
“The story is cringe, but I think you could find a meme that describes the story.”
“The story is pretty decent and very well presented.”
“The story itself is horrible, yet I recommend playing through story mode to get to know the jungle and basic movements/actions.”
- gameplay3,132 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Green Hell" is characterized by its challenging and immersive survival mechanics, requiring players to manage hunger, thirst, injuries, and mental health while navigating a realistic jungle environment. Many players appreciate the depth of the crafting system and the unique mechanics, such as inspecting one's body for injuries, but some find the learning curve steep and the mechanics cumbersome, leading to frustration. Overall, while the game offers a rewarding experience for those who invest time in mastering its systems, it can feel tedious and punishing, especially for newcomers.
“The crafting system is detailed, and the mechanics feel realistic.”
“The survival mechanics in Green Hell are nothing short of genius.”
“The gameplay is interesting for a survival game and it definitely feels like surviving as you're constantly having to manage resources and dangers.”
“Gameplay loop: you load in, you catch a rash or a bite from leeches, you die, you respawn and do all of that again.”
“The mechanics are bad; items on the ground at your camp despawn, including your fire-starting equipment.”
“The gameplay loop in Green Hell is another significant drawback.”
- graphics1,854 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Green Hell" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning realism and attention to detail, effectively immersing players in a lush, vibrant jungle environment. Many reviewers highlight the game's beautiful visuals, dynamic weather effects, and realistic sound design, which enhance the overall atmosphere. However, some players have noted performance issues and optimization challenges, particularly on lower-end systems, which can detract from the experience despite the impressive graphical quality.
“The visuals capture the dense, lush jungle perfectly, and the sound design adds an extra layer of immersion.”
“The graphics are stunning, with detailed environments that are both beautiful and dangerous.”
“The graphics are absolutely stunning, the gameplay super realistic.”
“Graphics are wildly sad for anything made in the last 15 years.”
“Currently the graphics are bugged to the point that it is ruining the game experience.”
“The visuals are mediocre at best (yes, even at high settings) with Green Hell looking worse than The Forest did 10 years ago.”
- grinding628 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in resource gathering and crafting. While some appreciate the realism and challenge it brings, others feel that the mechanics can become frustrating and detract from the overall enjoyment, often leading to a sense of busywork rather than engaging gameplay. Overall, players suggest that the game requires a significant time investment, with some stating that it feels like a grind to progress, especially in solo play.
“The game isn't grindy in the sense that most people understand when you say a game is 'grindy.' However, this is a grindy survival game.”
“Resource gathering is not that grindy while building takes time, a good balance in my opinion.”
“Not that grindy if you just want to enjoy the story even on survival mode.”
“The game requires a lot of grinding to the point where it’s no longer fun because you end up doing the same things over and over again without being rewarded for it.”
“The game is very grindy and it can get frustrating at times but to me that's a positive because it makes you really have to play it more to get what you want.”
“The crafting system is very realistic and tedious, as unlike other games in the genre, you will have to gather each individual item.”
- stability509 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, especially in multiplayer modes. Issues include disappearing items, crashes, and frustrating building mechanics, leading to a consensus that the game feels unfinished and often unplayable. While some players have experienced fewer problems, the overall sentiment is that the game remains too buggy for a fully released title, with many recommending caution before purchasing.
“It also runs great on my potato of a PC, so no complaints there.”
“Game seems to be stable and bug free (at least up to where I am in the story) and has plenty of options so you can play however you want (survival difficulty wise) so I would still say the game is good.”
“Very realistic, excellent graphics, and no glitches.”
“The game started out buggy and has only gotten more unplayable with each patch.”
“Game is a buggy mess, our saves in co-op got corrupted several times, stuff disappears from the chests, people phase through floors and fall breaking their limbs, constructions that aren't finished yet disappear completely with the materials invested in them.”
“This game is buggy as hell and I don't know how it made it out of early access.”
- optimization422 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting significant stuttering, frame rate drops, and overall poor performance even on high-end systems. Despite some users experiencing smooth gameplay, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance the experience, particularly for those with mid-range or lower-end hardware. Many reviews express frustration over the lack of graphical settings and the game's inability to utilize system resources effectively, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
“Performance is pretty well tuned and works without problems at full details even on older PCs.”
“It's a good survival game and it's really well optimized; I don't have the best of computers, so I was really surprised that it runs so smoothly!”
“The game is gorgeous and it's optimized very well.”
“Constant stuttering and frame-rate issues on a 5-year-old game; it's extremely poorly optimized for everything but filesize.”
“Unfortunately, the game isn't optimized yet, and you will need a beefy computer to run it properly.”
“The optimization is poor and I am beyond pissed.”
- atmosphere243 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Green Hell" is widely praised for its immersive and realistic depiction of the Amazon jungle, enhanced by stunning graphics and detailed sound design that evoke a sense of danger and isolation. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a captivating environment filled with vibrant flora and fauna, contributing to a gripping survival experience. However, some reviews note that technical issues, such as bugs, can detract from the overall atmospheric experience.
“The game immerses you in a rich, lush environment with stunning graphics and an atmosphere that feels truly wild and untamed.”
“The atmosphere is so immersive that you truly feel like you’re alone in the heart of the jungle, struggling to survive.”
“The lush vegetation, diverse fauna, and ambient sounds create an unparalleled atmosphere that is both captivating and unforgiving.”
“The game did a terrible job of establishing any mood or atmosphere, due to a combination of awful graphics, mediocre voice acting, and the extreme jankiness of all animations.”
“The atmosphere is horrible; I played this on hard mode.”
“Looks awful... no atmosphere and lousy animations.”
- music154 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its effectiveness in enhancing the atmosphere and emotional impact during key moments. While the soundtrack is sparse and primarily used during significant events, it is noted for its quality and ability to complement the immersive jungle environment. However, some players feel that the limited use of music detracts from the overall experience, as they would have preferred more consistent musical accompaniment throughout the gameplay.
“Lastly, I would like to give special praise to the heartfelt voice acting by Brandon Fague and Marta Da Silva and to Adam Skorupa and Krzysztof Wierzynkiewicz for that beautiful soundtrack.”
“The developers really paid additional attention to the music (when in combat/hunting/relaxing) and the ambiance to make sure this game is as realistic and as exciting as possible.”
“The story, the vibe, the music, and the graphics gave me goosebumps on several occasions.”
“I would love to hear music from time to time in the game, not just when there is a special event.”
“A few music pieces, but music was noticeably missing in most of the game.”
“Sounds and music are a negative score from me; sound and music is what sets the mood in most games, and this game was lacking music/sounds.”
- emotional144 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players highlighting its deeply impactful and heart-wrenching narrative that evokes strong feelings, including tears and reflection. The combination of rich storytelling, immersive voice acting, and a challenging survival experience creates a powerful emotional journey that resonates with players, despite some critiques regarding minimal character connection and pacing. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to blend survival mechanics with a compelling and often traumatic storyline, leaving a lasting emotional impression.
“The emotional payoff was incredible, and we genuinely felt like we accomplished something epic.”
“The story is deep, emotional, and honestly quite depressing once you start to figure out what's happening, but damn is it good.”
“This game has made me cry from rage, happiness, and sadness.”
“The story lacks depth and fails to evoke any real emotions.”
“I found the characters to be flat and unrelatable, which made it hard to connect with the narrative.”
“The emotional moments felt forced and didn't resonate with me at all.”
- humor144 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its chaotic survival mechanics and the absurd situations players find themselves in, especially when playing with friends. Many players report laughing at their repeated deaths and the unexpected glitches, such as ragdoll physics and comical NPC behaviors, which add to the overall hilarity. While the humor can become repetitive over time, the initial experiences of struggle and failure are often described as both entertaining and memorable.
“Especially if you’re playing with friends, it’s a mix of panic and laughing while you both get wrecked by snakes and poison frogs.”
“Our journey in Green Hell is a hilarious saga of unexpected challenges — I'm looking at you, big cats!”
“I had so many hilarious moments in the game with my friend.”
“But at the end of the road, we can't deny the reality and what happened: they lied to us, and are now saying goodbye with a big smile on their face, as if nothing happened, with answers that could be written as jokes, but they are not funny.”
“I've died so many times to infection it's not funny.”
“There is so much potential for this game, it's not funny.”
- replayability131 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its high replay value due to various modes and impactful choices, while others criticize the limited replayability of the story mode and static maps. Many suggest that additional content, such as random map generation and more building options, could enhance replayability. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replay, the consensus indicates that it may not match the replay value of other survival games in the genre.
“The choices you make have a real impact on the story, offering infinite replayability.”
“The game has a lot of depth and replay value, as you can try different strategies and scenarios.”
“This game has so many mechanics that it makes it nearly infinitely replayable.”
“I think we're close to finishing the game and unfortunately I'm not sure there will be much replay value.”
“Sadly the story mode isn't really replayable and survival mode is replayable but the map is always static.”
“The biggest thing that this game struggles to achieve is replayability.”
- monetization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 57 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the absence of microtransactions and paid DLCs, highlighting the ongoing free updates that enhance the experience. However, some users criticize the game as a potential cash grab, suggesting that despite the lack of additional costs, the overall content may feel limited or misleadingly marketed as a complete experience.
“Additionally, the game has no paid DLCs, has a lot of free updates (and keeps receiving updates), and there's no microtransactions or anything like that.”
“In a world of microtransactions and lists of a dozen+ DLCs, Green Hell has delivered a complete experience that continues to grow for less than half the price of one that you have to buy fragments of for a year.”
“It is really great to see teams who put this much work in, and on top don't gouge prices or ask for microtransactions (there aren't any).”
“All in all, boring after only a few hours and it comes off like a cash grab.”
“Nice cash grab devs.”
“The roadmap shows it's a cash grab, nothing more will be added.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the engaging voice acting and environmental storytelling that enhance character investment, others criticize the main story for failing to fully explore its intriguing setting and deliver meaningful plot twists. Overall, the quality of character development varies significantly, with some praising it as a strong point and others deeming it the weakest aspect of the game.
“The setting is great, enjoyed the character development, and the survival elements were a great challenge to nail down at first.”
“Amazing story, kudos to the creators for making such an original story without sacrificing any plot or character developments.”
“The voice acting and the scripting are great; character development starts right away and it gets you invested in the characters and who they are, and why they are there.”
“The character development is by far the worst part of the game.”
Critic Reviews
Green Hell Review
Green Hell delivers a unique experience in the survival genre and adds a strong storyline on top. The impressive sound design immerses players in the rainforest through soft sounds and terrifying predators.
85%Green Hell review
Green Hell is the best survival game I’ve played since The Long Dark. It respects your time, doesn’t treat you like an idiot, and expects you to learn from your mistakes.
85%Green Hell Xbox One Review
Green Hell is off the charts; possibly the best survival simulator ever made, with the best marriage of an incredible story and game play style.
28%