Halfway

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,246 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Halfway Game Cover
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"Halfway" is a single-player Science Fiction Turn Based Strategy game with an intriguing story and good gameplay. As the leader of a team of survivors, you must fight and outsmart the enemy aboard a colonized spaceship while uncovering the mysteries of the violent invasion. The game features tactical turn-based battles, unique characters, and an immersive storyline with outstanding visuals and fantastic music, though some grinding is required.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,246 reviews
story368 positive mentions
grinding42 negative mentions
  • Great mix of genres with an engaging story and interesting characters.
  • Challenging tactical gameplay that rewards strategic thinking.
  • Beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
  • Frustrating RNG mechanics lead to frequent misses on high percentage shots.
  • Limited enemy variety and repetitive combat can make the game feel tedious.
  • Clunky UI and lack of manual save options detract from the overall enjoyment.
  • story1,098 mentions

    The story of "Halfway" is generally described as engaging but flawed, with many players appreciating its sci-fi horror premise involving a crew lost in space. While some found the narrative intriguing and character interactions enjoyable, others criticized it for being linear, lacking depth, and leaving many plot threads unresolved, often ending on a cliffhanger. Overall, the story is seen as a decent backdrop for the gameplay, but it could benefit from more polish and a more satisfying conclusion.

    • “The story was really engaging that I kept trying to find time to complete it.”
    • “A game of surprising depth and storyline....enjoyed it!”
    • “The story is very rich, with each mission having a backstory and reason to it and each character in the game has its own interesting personality.”
    • “The story probably gets going later in the game, but in the first hour it's virtually nonexistent.”
    • “The story is just unfinished.”
    • “Don't worry about sticking it through to the end, since the story never really goes anywhere.”
  • gameplay380 mentions

    The gameplay of "Halfway" is often compared to XCOM, featuring straightforward turn-based mechanics that some players find engaging, while others criticize it for being simplistic and frustrating due to unclear mechanics and interface issues. Many reviews highlight the game's tactical elements and character management, but also point out problems with hit chances, cover mechanics, and a lack of enemy variety, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, while the game has potential and offers a nostalgic feel, it struggles with execution, leaving players divided on its enjoyment and replayability.

    • “Overall, engaging turn-based gameplay with immersive atmosphere, but unclear mechanics, weak narrative, and interface issues.”
    • “Great atmosphere, fun gameplay, decent challenge, this is a surprisingly satisfying light game.”
    • “The gameplay, though straightforward, offers some serious amount of depth.”
    • “The biggest problem in Halfway is the actual game mechanics.”
    • “I've never played 19 hours into a single player game and got so frustrated that I rage quit and uninstalled the game, but when you have aiming mechanics as nonsensical and lackluster as this game, then I guess there's a first for everything.”
    • “The cover mechanic is downright painful.”
  • graphics272 mentions

    The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming pixel art style, which evokes nostalgia and complements the overall atmosphere. While many reviewers appreciate the detailed environments and retro aesthetics, some note that the visuals can feel basic or rudimentary at times. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's experience, enhancing its storytelling and gameplay despite some minor criticisms regarding resolution and interface design.

    • “The graphics, music, and story feel polished and put together in a way that got me enjoying the experience.”
    • “The graphics are beautifully drawn pixel art.”
    • “Great graphics! The aesthetics are wonderful.”
    • “Graphics are very basic, they reminded me of Into the Breach (a cellphone game, free with Netflix).”
    • “The mediocre: the music and graphics are so-so.”
    • “However, the user interface feels clunky and the graphics could use work.”
  • music196 mentions

    The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as excellent, fitting well with the game's sci-fi theme and contributing to a compelling atmosphere, although some noted it can be repetitive with limited tracks. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, complementing the visuals and gameplay effectively.

    • “The music/score is on point as well, puts you in an atmospheric vibe.”
    • “Great atmospheric narrative-driven pixel art game that's like XCOM with an amazing soundtrack by Gavin Harrison.”
    • “The game feels and sounds nice, its soundtrack is a great fit for the game and the story is just engaging enough to feel alive but not in your face enough to distract you from the game.”
    • “The music is mediocre.”
    • “Yes, it has a cool space theme, but it feels like there are only 2 soundtracks (title screen, battle theme) as far as I am aware.”
    • “-1 for no epic music for last boss battle.”
  • atmosphere108 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, enhanced by charming pixel art and a fitting soundtrack. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a tense and intriguing environment, reminiscent of classic titles like Dead Space and XCOM, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics. Overall, the combination of art, music, and sound design contributes significantly to a compelling atmosphere that keeps players invested.

    • “The music/score is on point as well, puts you in an atmospheric vibe.”
    • “It shines through a compelling atmosphere, charming art style, and pleasant, fitting music and sound design.”
    • “As a turn-based strategy game with a great atmosphere that offers a steep but engaging challenge, it’s a good game.”
    • “The atmosphere doesn't feel just right, the sounds feel just okay, dialogue is really flat.”
    • “There is no System Shock atmosphere either (even though they tried).”
    • “It seems like that was done to create an atmosphere that the game otherwise lacks in its simplistic boxy environments.”
  • grinding44 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, with combat and mission design lacking meaningful progression or strategy. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of encounters, poor UI, and RNG elements that detract from enjoyment, leading to a consensus that the game becomes more of a chore than a fun experience. The absence of traditional grinding opportunities further compounds the sense of monotony, making it difficult for players to stay engaged.

    • “It has charm and atmosphere, but the tedious combat, monotonous levels, negligible strategy required, and lack of a meaningful sense of progression made halfway a DNF for me.”
    • “The situation doesn't become 'oh no, this will be hard', it becomes 'oh no, this will be more tedious' because I have less than 50% chance rolls and need to just sit here hoping someone will hit someone two tiles away.”
    • “If I had to sum up this game in a word, it would be 'tedious'.”
  • replayability40 mentions

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting its linear structure and repetitive encounters as significant drawbacks. While some players mention the potential for discovering missed secrets or unique weapons, the general consensus is that the game lacks substantial replay value, especially without additional modes or content. Future updates, such as a level editor and Steam Workshop support, may enhance replayability over time, but currently, it remains limited.

    • “Different ways to go about the game also offers some replayability, though I already believe it offers a decent amount of game time for the small price.”
    • “Easily replayable.”
    • “Couple that with the promise of an editor and the inevitable Steam Workshop support, and you'll be investing in a game that will have a lot of replay value in many months to come.”
    • “On a downside, it has very little replayability.”
    • “Having logged a little less than 40 hours into it, there isn't really any replay value, which would be fine if it were a deeper game, but the encounters become repetitive very quickly.”
    • “There's not really any replayability since it's a linear game with no random levels, although there are a few optional side-missions.”
  • stability16 mentions

    The game's stability has been criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, particularly affecting the user interface and controls, which can make gameplay feel clunky and tedious. While the graphics are well-executed, the overall experience is marred by a lack of polish and significant issues that arise as the game progresses. Additionally, the absence of a borderless window fullscreen mode limits multitasking options for players.

    • “The graphics work well with no glitches; the sprites are very well drawn and animated with love, and the backgrounds are fantastic.”
    • “The graphics work well with no glitches; the sprites are very well drawn and animated with love, and the backgrounds are fantastic.”
    • “Sometimes the UI is a bit buggy and doesn't let you click items that are in side chests.”
    • “It feels half-finished: there are several interface glitches, lack of polish in the controls - not in the visuals, these are quite nice.”
    • “The game has been fairly buggy at launch, and it's still missing promised modding tools.”
  • character development12 mentions

    Character development in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players appreciating the cohesive backstories and character designs that add personality, while others criticize it as minimal or non-existent. The linear narrative offers a semblance of character growth, but many feel it lacks depth and significance, ultimately rendering the character development aspect underwhelming. Overall, opinions are divided, with some finding value in the character designs and backstories, while others see them as insufficient.

    • “If you like a small adventure that requires you to be at least competent and tactful while going through a linear story that plays out character development, then this game is for you.”
    • “What we see of the game feels cohesive, and the character designs lend each a greater degree of personality.”
    • “The character development and or character building is pointless or non-existent; the graphics are one step above pixel art.”
    • “No real character development; stims are very minor and basically necessary to succeed.”
    • “The 3 points I give are only for character development and backstories.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The game's humor is characterized by a blend of clever storytelling, irony, and engaging banter, resulting in genuinely funny moments amidst a rich and intriguing narrative. While the story can be sober at times, it maintains a lighthearted tone that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the balance of humor with drama, making it a compelling and enjoyable journey.

    • “The banter between them is excellent, with plenty of genuinely funny moments.”
    • “Easy, then difficult, with loot, great art, and a clever/funny story!”
    • “The story is simple, funny at times, but quite intriguing and sober most of the time.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game is noted for its optimization for controller support; however, players report that the overall mechanics feel sluggish, impacting the gameplay experience despite satisfactory performance.

    • “They seem to be optimized for controller support.”
    • “But even early on, the gameplay feels sluggish, not in performance but in its overall mechanics.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game appears to be tied to the difficulty of encounters, as players feel pressured to invest in character upgrades or resources to effectively manage overwhelming enemy groups. This design may encourage spending to enhance performance, leading to a potentially frustrating experience for those unwilling to pay.

  • emotional2 mentions

    Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with some expressing that it moved them to tears, highlighting its ability to resonate deeply even with those who primarily enjoy tactical gameplay.

    • “This made me cry as a tactical gamer.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

13hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
5-18hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 30 analyzed playthroughs

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