Karate Survivor

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 522 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Karate Survivor Game Cover
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In "Karate Survivor: , become a martial arts master and engage in fast-paced, intense combat against relentless foes. Improvise with environmental objects and weapons, create dynamic combos, and progress through levels to unlock new abilities. Use your creativity and strategic thinking to outsmart bandits and thrive in a roguelite survival experience inspired by '80s action movies.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 522 reviews
gameplay38 positive mentions
grinding17 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique blend of martial arts action and roguelite mechanics, allowing players to create dynamic combos and utilize environmental interactions.
  • The pixel art and animations are vibrant and engaging, capturing the essence of 80s and 90s martial arts films, reminiscent of Jackie Chan's iconic style.
  • The progression system is rewarding, with a variety of unlockable moves and upgrades that enhance gameplay and encourage replayability.
  • The game suffers from inconsistent hit detection and unclear mechanics, leading to frustrating moments where attacks do not register as expected.
  • Some players have reported issues with RNG affecting the unlock system, making it difficult to obtain desired moves and upgrades.
  • The lack of build variety and the forced use of predetermined sequences can limit player agency and make gameplay feel repetitive over time.
  • gameplay105 mentions

    The gameplay of "Karate Survivor" is characterized by its unique blend of roguelite mechanics and martial arts action, offering a mix of simple yet engaging combat and environmental interactions reminiscent of classic 80s action films. While many players appreciate the innovative mechanics and satisfying combat system, some criticize the clunky controls and lack of depth in certain areas, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel both addictive and frustrating. Overall, the game provides a fun, casual experience with a nostalgic vibe, though it may not fully satisfy hardcore fans of the genre seeking more complexity.

    • “Thank you Alawar for such a great take on the survivors-like genre, which desperately needs a variety of unique mechanics.”
    • “Karate Survivor has really cool combat mechanics and a progression system that eases you into becoming a total badass with upgrades that allow for powerful combos and access to new areas or extra mobility, delivering all of the action you would expect from a Jackie Chan movie.”
    • “The gameplay is great, the animations look like a cool action movie, and the low price absolutely justifies the purchase.”
    • “The attack 'bar' really slows down the gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay almost completely consists of running around the map until a big enough blob of enemies forms and gets stuck in a chokepoint.”
    • “But right now, this game is a complete messy slop of random mechanics and concepts pieced together, as expected from Alawar.”
  • graphics58 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their nostalgic 80s-90s aesthetic, featuring vibrant pixel art and smooth animations that evoke classic arcade and beat-em-up titles. Many reviewers highlight the game's stylish visuals and attention to detail, which enhance the overall experience, while some note minor issues like lack of ultrawide support and occasional visual bugs. Overall, the art style is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “Crisp visuals, a variety of combos, and environment interactions combined with excellent animations make this game a highly enjoyable experience.”
    • “The game's pixel art style is both nostalgic and modern, capturing the essence of classic arcade games while incorporating contemporary design elements.”
    • “Not only does the game look incredibly stylish with its pixel art style reminiscent of the retro beat-em-ups, but the animations flow together really well.”
    • “My only complaints are that there aren't enough achievements (that's a big draw with this genre, in my opinion) and some of the menu graphics seem like they were AI generated.”
    • “But right now it looks like quality art assets and graphic design rushed to market without gameplay.”
    • “Personally, I think a different art style would have been better.”
  • music41 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic 1980s-inspired synthwave and electronic beats, effectively complementing the retro aesthetic and enhancing the overall experience. While many reviewers highlight the catchy and immersive soundtrack, some note that it can become repetitive during longer play sessions. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment, making it a standout feature.

    • “The retro aesthetic and soundtrack add a nostalgic charm, while the strategic depth of the card system keeps things fresh.”
    • “The soundtrack is a pulsating mix of synthwave and electronic beats, perfectly complementing the game's 1980s-inspired aesthetic.”
    • “Great pixel art and music, really has an excellent charm to it overall.”
    • “The music could have a bit more edge, but these are just minor points for a game that hits the mark so well in many other ways.”
    • “The music is pretty bland and uninspiring.”
    • “The music can get annoying during long stretches, as it loops.”
  • grinding17 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many reviews highlight issues with combat mechanics and unlock systems that require excessive repetition, leading to a lack of meaningful progress and a frustrating experience. While some players still find fun in the game, the grind can become overwhelming, especially when tied to specific abilities or random events.

    • “15 hours in and still grinding.”
    • “This often turns the experience into a tedious grind rather than an enjoyable challenge.”
    • “No feeling of progress, extreme feeling of grinding.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    Overall, the game offers strong replayability due to its multiple difficulty levels, a variety of unlockable moves, and engaging gameplay mechanics. While some players note a lack of content and suggest additional modes could enhance replay value, many find the addictive nature and upgrade system sufficient to encourage repeated play. Comparatively, it may not reach the depth of other titles in the genre, but it remains a fun and replayable experience for its price.

    • “The replay value is one of the best.”
    • “Unlocking things like being able to kick a cart into a crowd or somersault over sofas into a kick add to the replayability factor.”
    • “Replayability is extremely high since after the runs you'll unlock different martial arts moves; it's pretty fun putting together the combos of different martial art styles with heavy Jackie Chan influence.”
    • “In the minus column, there's not a ton of content here, and additional levels or the addition of something akin to an endless mode would give this more and better replayability, but for the price, I'm not complaining.”
    • “The game is more playable on release than the demo, but that's not saying much.”
    • “-no replay value”
  • story14 mentions

    The game's story is a nostalgic homage to classic martial arts films, particularly reminiscent of Jackie Chan's works, where players, as the titular karate survivor, battle through waves of enemies to uncover a nefarious plot threatening the city. While the narrative may lack depth compared to other titles in the genre, it offers engaging quests and diverse bosses, with players expressing a desire for more story elements and customization options in future updates. Overall, the fun and dynamic gameplay compensates for the simplicity of the plot.

    • “The game's story is a homage to the classic martial arts tales of the past.”
    • “When I first caught a glimpse of the game in action, I thought it could be that police story game we never got. It really captures what made Jackie Chan's classic action movies so memorable!”
    • “Why are you here, who are these enemies... we don't need a plot where we're going!”
    • “It reminds me of playing an MMO, exploring, killing an enemy, then coming back to town and finding there's a quest to kill the same enemy.”
    • “As the titular karate survivor, they must fight through waves of enemies, uncovering the nefarious plot that threatens the city.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its vibrant color palette and dynamic lighting, which create an immersive and lively world. Reviewers appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of 80s and 90s video salons, enhanced by compelling gameplay and impressive art design. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both engaging and reminiscent of classic b-movie aesthetics.

    • “The game's color palette and lighting effects further enhance the atmosphere, creating a world that feels alive and dynamic.”
    • “Enjoyable gameplay, stunning art design and animation, atmosphere of old video salons.”
    • “This is a pretty good game to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the 80s and 90s, something nostalgic.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky weapon choices and amusing combat mechanics, which can lead to unintentionally funny moments, such as characters attacking in the wrong direction. While players appreciate the comedic elements, frustrations with game mechanics can detract from the overall experience.

    • “I had a funny time and want more laughing with the game, please be my friend!”
    • “At the start, it seems like a very cool game; you can do combos and use funny weapons like chairs and umbrellas.”
    • “Hilarious!”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it performs well on the Steam Deck for some users, others report frequent bugs and crashes that detract from the experience, making it not worth purchasing at this time.

    • “Runs great on the Steam Deck right out of the box.”
    • “This game runs great on the Deck as well.”
    • “The game is buggy and crashes too much to be worth buying at the moment.”
    • “Frequent crashes make it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experienced constant instability, which ruined the overall experience.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players express frustration with the game's mechanics, noting that the damage taken from merely touching enemies can feel emotionally taxing and detracts from the overall experience. This aspect of gameplay is seen as a source of annoyance, contributing to a sense of emotional distress rather than engagement.

    • “Emotional damage is a real kind of damage, you know.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    While many games in this genre are criticized as blatant cash grabs, this particular title stands out as a worthwhile investment.

    • “The monetization in this game feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating how many features are locked behind paywalls; it feels like the game is designed to squeeze money out of players.”
    • “I can't believe how much they charge for basic content; it really ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

12hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
10-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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