Infection Free Zone
- April 11, 2024
- Jutsu Games
- 11h median play time
In "Infection Free Zone," players must survive in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by a deadly virus. Choose any location in the real world and build shelters, production facilities, and defenses to establish an infection-free zone. Manage resources like electricity, water, and food to ensure the survival of you and your group. Fight off aggressive and strong infected enemies to stay alive.
Reviews
- Unique concept of playing in real-world locations adds immersion and excitement.
- Engaging gameplay with a mix of resource management, base building, and tactical decision-making.
- Active developer support with regular updates and community engagement.
- Game can become repetitive and lacks long-term objectives or endgame content.
- Performance issues and bugs, especially in late-game scenarios with large populations.
- Micromanagement can be tedious, with squads often failing to defend themselves or follow commands properly.
- gameplay1,156 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Infection Free Zone" has received mixed reviews, highlighting a solid foundation with engaging mechanics, particularly the unique feature of using real-world maps for gameplay. However, many players have noted issues with repetitiveness, clunky controls, and a lack of depth in mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience at times. While the game shows promise and has potential for improvement through updates, it currently requires significant refinement to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
“The gameplay is fun and replayable; I have about 30 hours on this game and I have a fortress, I've passed day 50 and I'm entering late game.”
“The core gameplay is where 'Infection Free Zone' truly shines. This keeps the gameplay fresh and ensures that no two sessions are the same.”
“The mechanics are solid, the core game is good; you don't have to micromanage as much as similar games.”
“The gameplay feels clunky, the UI is a mess, and the visuals are terrible.”
“The gameplay loop just seems too repetitive to actually be enjoyable - jump from building to building, RNG and collect different resources, then go back home and make new stuff.”
“Repetitive and boring gameplay loop + strange procedural generation has killed my interest in playing this game any further.”
- story1,002 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its potential and engaging elements, such as radio transmissions that provide lore and context. However, numerous bugs and repetitive missions hinder the overall experience, leading to frustrations with quest progression and a lack of depth in storytelling. While some players find the narrative captivating, others feel it is underdeveloped and lacks variety, leaving them wanting more substantial content and improvements in future updates.
“This game is addictive and the entire story lore is top notch!”
“The story is also better than most of these types of games with a story, absolutely love the map generation aspect of the game all round great experience.”
“The storyline is beautifully crafted, adding depth to the gameplay.”
“The story feels basic and underdeveloped, leaving me hoping for more depth in future updates.”
“The half-baked unfinished story is scripted with zero variations to it so replayability is nil.”
“The story quests are basically non-existent and the horde attacks every night get tiring really quick.”
- stability324 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes, making it nearly unplayable for many users. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable and acknowledge the developers' efforts to address issues, the overall consensus is that significant stability improvements are needed before it can be recommended. As it stands, the game is in a rough state typical of early access titles, with frequent hard freezes and performance issues reported.
“The game runs great, plays great, and there is a lot of content to interact with. Do not get me wrong, it's not an incomplete mess.”
“It is not bug free, but I am finding fewer bugs than AAA games that have been published recently, and the team is quickly addressing issues.”
“Generally bug free with some nuisances.”
“The only 'infection' is from this game's bugs, glitches, and crashes.”
“Game currently far too buggy for enjoyable play, including locked stats for the starting HQ which can make it very difficult to adapt to maps with larger buildings as the HQ will have the stats of a small building even if you choose a high-rise or a skyscraper.”
“This game is so buggy it's nearly unplayable.”
- graphics260 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the immersive visuals and attention to detail, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking polish. Many users note that the graphics are functional but not cutting-edge, with a desire for improvements in animations and overall aesthetic quality. Performance issues, such as low frame rates on higher settings, further detract from the visual experience for some players.
“From the outset, 'Infection Free Zone' impresses with its polished graphics and intuitive interface.”
“The ability to build and defend your base feels refreshingly different, enhanced by realistic graphics that perfectly suit the game's atmosphere.”
“Graphically, it's brilliant, smooth, and runs without issue; the art team deserves a pat on the back for their work.”
“The gameplay feels clunky, the UI is a mess, and the visuals are terrible.”
“I would like to express my disbelief on the game graphics, it is horrendous... I have played 20+ year old games that look better.”
“The graphics are very poor and the gameplay alongside the graphics makes the game look and feel like a Facebook game.”
- grinding228 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the late game where micromanagement becomes overwhelming. Many express frustration with the slow resource gathering, the need for constant manual control over squads, and the lack of automation, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and sense of progress. While some find the initial gameplay engaging, the grind quickly becomes a chore, leading to a desire for quality-of-life improvements to streamline tasks and enhance the experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Not too grindy and enjoyable.”
“I got the achievement 'We Do Not Sow' about not farming for 50 days - I guess having a greenhouse is not considered 'farming'.”
“Maybe the late game is better, but with how tedious the start was (I found myself just sitting on max speed waiting for my workers to gather resources for constructions), I really didn't have any interest in grinding it out.”
“The game at its current state is interesting for a few hours, at a new location, then it starts to get very tedious and repetitive.”
“It quickly becomes very repetitive and grindy.”
- optimization190 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, particularly as settlements grow larger or during intense gameplay scenarios. While some updates have improved performance slightly, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, leading to low frame rates, stuttering, and crashes, especially on mid-range hardware. Players express hope for future optimizations to enhance the gaming experience, as the current state is often described as barely playable.
“More than hoping for more content, I would like to see a more optimized run-time behavior.”
“Despite minor glitches and memory issues, the game runs smoothly.”
“Performance improved significantly compared to launch, good job devs!”
“This game is so poorly optimized and uses AI art.”
“Man, this game has potential, but it's currently so poorly optimized, poorly balanced, and has so many rough edges I just can't recommend it in its current condition.”
“Game performance is horrific; once you scale up your zone, you're constantly around 20fps with an RTX 4080 and Ryzen 7800X3D, which hover around 20-40% utilization (graphics settings don't seem to impact anything).”
- replayability122 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its use of real-world maps, allowing players to explore familiar locations and face unique challenges with each playthrough. However, many users note that the current content can become repetitive after a certain point, with a desire for more varied quests and outcomes to enhance long-term engagement. Overall, while the foundation for replayability is strong, further development and content updates are needed to maintain player interest over time.
“The inclusion of various difficulty levels and optional objectives adds to the replayability, offering a range of experiences for both newcomers and seasoned strategists.”
“The randomly generated maps provide endless replayability, and I appreciate the depth added by squad customization.”
“With the world to set up at, the replayability is pretty much endless because each new area presents a different challenge you can do in a new way.”
“It needs more replayable content after day 50+.”
“The half-baked unfinished story is scripted with zero variations to it, so replayability is nil.”
“Replay value is near zero because even if you select another city, you'll end up doing exactly the same boring and repetitive things until you explore your initial tiles and find out expeditions are too slow to keep your encampment alive.”
- music68 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its ability to enhance immersion and tension, featuring a mix of enjoyable tracks and ambient soundscapes. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and suggested the need for more variety and customization options. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the atmosphere, there are calls for improvements to avoid monotony.
“The soundtrack has a few real bangers to it that I found myself really enjoying even hours and hours in.”
“The music complements the game beautifully, adding an eerie yet war-like feeling that heightens the gaming experience.”
“The sound design and music in 'Infection Free Zone' contribute to the overall tension and immersion.”
“The music is annoying, commanding squads is cumbersome, the tech and build trees are limited, and there are some issues with the objectives.”
“Music/sfx needs work as well where the music becomes tedious very quickly and the sfx is bland.”
“The voice lines and music are repetitive and could use some additions.”
- humor54 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often derived from its absurd mechanics and glitches, such as soldiers with medieval weapons facing hordes of zombies, cars driving on water, and the comical ineffectiveness of defenses. Players find the game's quirks, like the crash report malfunctioning and the exaggerated time it takes to perform simple tasks, to be both frustrating and amusing. Overall, while the game has potential, its humorous elements often stem from its numerous technical issues and unexpected scenarios.
“Overall at this point, it's a funny game with a lot of potential carried by the map feature.”
“As I hilariously put it, "great game, but for the love of God, please make swimming zombies optional."”
“The game just crashed like 4 times on me and the crash report is too funny: it crashed because of the crash report function?”
“That's not smooth, that's not funny; that's a pain in the... the storytelling I already mentioned.”
“That's not smooth, that's not funny; that's a pain in the... the storytelling I already mentioned.”
- atmosphere42 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and captivating environment, effectively conveying a modern post-apocalyptic setting filled with tension and urgency. While some players note that the visuals may lack fidelity and the gameplay can feel repetitive, the ambient soundtrack and sound effects enhance the overall experience, making it engaging and intense. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some minor criticisms.
“The ambient soundtrack complements the high-stakes atmosphere of the game, while the sound effects effectively convey the urgency of the situation.”
“Visually, Infection Free Zone delivers a gritty and atmospheric world rendered in stunning detail.”
“Infection Free Zone is a gripping survival adventure that delivers intense action, strategic gameplay, and a chilling atmosphere.”
“It has an atmosphere to its visuals, but its fidelity is still quite low.”
“It's understandable that this is to create a sense of despair and doomsday atmosphere, but not all players like to pay for a game just to suffer.”
“Either removing VAs outside of America or trying to recruit some additional VAs, as when I launched into the UK, I was not expecting an all-American team of survivors, which kind of ruined the atmosphere.”
- monetization16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users labeling it as overpriced and a "cash grab," particularly in its early access phase. While some reviews note the absence of pay-to-win mechanics, the overall sentiment suggests skepticism about the developers' commitment and concerns over potential microtransactions in the future.
“Microtransactions/pay to win concepts - 10/10 - none that I know of at this moment, so that is always a plus.”
“What's even better is that it's a new game where you don't have to read through reviews and Steam discussions full of people complaining about enemy variety and microtransactions!”
“Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
“Waaaaay overpriced and in such an early phase I fear this game will be left behind by the devs as they move on to other quick cash grabs.”
“Just a cash grab release!”
“This is just a cash grab.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, particularly in the themes of abandonment and rebuilding, which resonate deeply. However, some find the gameplay frustrating and unplayable, detracting from the overall emotional experience. Overall, while the emotional depth is acknowledged, the game's current state hampers its potential impact.
“Really clicks with me emotionally, like my home was actually abandoned and I have to not only build from ground zero, but to constantly defend it.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely conveyed through environmental storytelling and journal entries, which has led some players to feel that the characters lack depth and complexity.
“The plot unfolds primarily through environmental storytelling and scattered journal entries, leaving some players wishing for more depth and character development.”