March of the Living

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 340 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
March of the Living Game Cover
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"March of the Living" is a survival roguelike-like game, inspired by FTL and zombie fiction. Lead a group of up to 6 survivors on a journey through a procedurally generated world, managing resources and making tough decisions. Engage in real-time combat, scavenge for supplies, and adapt to over 160 unique events, with 80,000 words of quality writing and adaptive music for an immersive experience. Unlock four starting characters and define your own journey in this march for salvation.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 340 reviews
story40 positive mentions
stability9 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with meaningful choices that impact gameplay.
  • Challenging combat that requires strategic thinking and resource management.
  • Random events and encounters keep the gameplay fresh and replayable.
  • Combat mechanics can be clunky and frustrating, especially with multiple characters.
  • High reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating outcomes and a sense of unfairness.
  • Limited character customization and progression options reduce depth.
  • story110 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and character-driven narratives, while others criticize it for being bland and repetitive. Many appreciate the unique storylines tied to different characters and the impact of player choices, but some feel that the overall plot lacks engagement and coherence, particularly in the context of gameplay mechanics. Overall, the writing is noted as strong, but the execution leaves some players feeling disconnected from the characters and their journeys.

    • “The story is great, the combat works well and the difficulty is reasonable.”
    • “This is a fantastic game with simple but fun game mechanics and an emphasis on generating a unique storyline within a certain frame (the start and possible endings depend on the various characters)!”
    • “I love the writing and story.”
    • “Not a bad game, but oh god the ending. Spoilers: after spending hours in a story with characters that you control, only to be killed in a text box fight that feels random at best, is the most frustrating thing.”
    • “In this game, I feel as though I have no control over what happens at all; I'm just a bystander occasionally clicking dialogue options basically at random to move the story along.”
    • “The story is bland, and I didn't care at all about it.”
  • gameplay90 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking depth, often reduced to simple point-and-click mechanics and running back and forth. While some appreciate the narrative choices and potential for unique storylines, others criticize the clunky combat system and excessive reliance on RNG, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game shows promise but suffers from shallow mechanics and a lack of engaging gameplay variety.

    • “The gameplay is mostly point-and-click, which I don't mind at all!”
    • “I had a really fun time crafting a narrative out of the gameplay and would recommend it for anyone who wanted to be in charge of a small group of survivors and let the narrative of their journey play out.”
    • “It's a bit hard, but at the same time, I think the difficulty is balanced and once you get a hang of how the mechanics work, it's really enjoyable!”
    • “Your reward for tolerating them is bland gameplay from start to finish, 90% of which is running your characters from one end of the screen to the other and back again.”
    • “The gameplay, within minutes, reveals itself to be extremely repetitive, without even decent combat to fill the gaps between: pick this point, wait, pick this option, wait.”
    • “Overall, the gameplay just isn't captivating, and at no point did I feel whatever I did made a difference.”
  • graphics50 mentions

    The graphics of the game are primarily pixelated, which some players appreciate for its retro charm and consistent art style, while others find them simplistic and lacking in detail. While the visuals effectively create a certain atmosphere, they may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prioritize high-quality graphics in their gaming experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as decent but could benefit from enhancements in certain areas to elevate the overall aesthetic.

    • “I know pixel graphics are in, and they're a way for a small company to make a complex game with ease, but it's also an art form.”
    • “Music is great, graphics are retro and very well done.”
    • “Even with simple pixel graphics, this game achieves a good amount of intensity and stress-inducing moments, as any good survival horror game should.”
    • “I knew the moment the title appeared that the visuals were going to make me wince.”
    • “Bland, tired pixel graphics that only worsen the boredom.”
    • “Graphics are decent at best, same repetitive landscapes, zombies, etc. 'Quests', decision-making, etc. all somewhat random, nothing special.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its randomly generated maps and multiple outcomes based on player choices, encouraging players to explore different strategies and scenarios. While some reviewers note that it may not reach the replay value of certain other titles, the variety of characters and events ensures a fun and engaging experience across multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is regarded as a game with a surprising amount of replay value for its genre.

    • “The replay value of this should be huge, due to randomly generated maps each time.”
    • “And there can be different outcomes for the same choice you make in different runs, which boosts replayability.”
    • “The massive amount of choices you are given grants the game tons of replay value (a single playthrough isn't 'short' by any means either).”
    • “And like The Walking Dead, the game focuses more on story, and so doesn't have as much replayability as FTL.”
    • “It just doesn't have as much replayability as FTL.”
    • “The problem with this becomes replayability.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others find it repetitive, particularly during combat. Despite some criticisms regarding the lack of variety and occasional annoyance with sound effects, many players appreciate the overall musical experience as a strong aspect of the game. The retro graphics complement the music well, contributing to an immersive gameplay experience.

    • “Music is great, graphics are retro and very well done.”
    • “I was skeptical at first, mostly because of the retro graphics, but once I played this game I was immediately immersed by the story, atmosphere, and the music.”
    • “The music is also very good and adds to the ominous atmosphere of the world.”
    • “It's pretty annoying that the sound and music keep playing when I'm trying to do something out of the game.”
    • “The music is not very varied, and the combat feels clunky.”
    • “The sound and music in the background aren't too shabby, but they don't stand out.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant bugs, particularly in the combat system and auto-targeting features, leading to frustrations that suggest it feels unfinished. However, others have noted minimal glitches and only minor issues, indicating that experiences may vary widely among users. Overall, while not universally broken, the game does exhibit notable stability concerns that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game isn't buggy or broken, which shows a high level of stability.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game runs; it enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The stability of the game allows me to fully immerse myself without worrying about crashes.”
    • “So many of the events are buggy (or perhaps just outright stupid); I honestly thought the game was still in early access. I had to come back and check the page to see if it was in full release.”
    • “It honestly seems like it's still in early access just because of how utterly nonsensical or outright buggy it is.”
    • “The cons so far are that the game is currently buggy as hell, mainly found problems with the combat system. Sometimes clicks don't register at times, or altogether, and my character gets chomped on.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The game is praised for its unique and immersive atmosphere, effectively conveying a hopeless, apocalyptic environment that resonates with fans of similar themes. Players appreciate the combination of nice pixel graphics, compelling story writing, and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some initial skepticism exists due to the retro style, many find themselves quickly drawn into the game's atmospheric world.

    • “The atmosphere is great, and it does a good job of portraying a hopeless, apocalyptic environment.”
    • “Nice pixel graphics and a real sense of atmosphere.”
    • “I was skeptical at first, mostly because of the retro graphics, but once I played this game I was immediately immersed by the story, atmosphere, and the music.”
    • “I got it originally for the FTL-like atmosphere, as most people did and was advertised as, but the comparison is fairly light.”
    • “If you see this on sale for something like three to five bucks, and you really like the Walking Dead atmosphere, then pick it up if you wish - I won't say I didn't get at least a shred of enjoyment out of it at first.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often describing the combat system as clunky and overly complicated. The necessity to manually switch weapons and the dangers associated with fleeing from combat contribute to a sense of monotony and dissatisfaction, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “Tedious and boring when it isn't brutally hard.”
    • “Pass on this game, it's tedious, unsatisfying, and overthought to the point of sterility.”
    • “Your survivors can only hold one weapon at a time, so in the event that you wish to switch from ranged to melee to finish off that last rotter with only a few hit points left - which is incredibly likely - you need to do it manually, and this can get tedious over time.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding it amusing in certain scenarios, particularly in the variety of actions and outcomes available. While comparisons to other games highlight a lack of humor and content, there are moments of levity in the storyline and gameplay that some players appreciate. Overall, the humor adds an entertaining layer to the survival horror experience, though it may not be as prominent as in similar titles.

    • “It's really the funniest RPG or survival game I've ever played with this kind of pixel-style character.”
    • “This means that all the actions you take in the game may lead you to different paths; in my opinion, this is actually the real funny and entertaining part because it's almost all I need from a survival horror game.”
    • “You can help people or look out for yourself... the sound and music in the background aren't too shabby... there's some humor in the storyline too, lol. I like the game so far, and the creator definitely has some good ideas with random surprises, both good and bad.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express that the game lacks meaningful choices, leading to a sense of frustration akin to reading a choose-your-own-adventure book. However, some events evoke feelings of guilt and sympathy for other characters, highlighting moments of emotional engagement despite the overall limitations.

    • “Heck, some events even made me feel guilty and sympathetic towards other characters.”
    • “The game would be fine if it provided any way to mitigate these problems or was transparent about the choices you're making, but it doesn't, and it made me feel like I was playing a choose-your-own-adventure book.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that "March of the Living" suffers from limited options and restrictions in character development, which contributes to a sense of boredom. However, the story and sound elements are noted as strong points, suggesting that while character growth may be lacking, other aspects of the game are well-received.

    • “The character development in this game is truly impressive, adding depth to the story and enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “I appreciate how the character development intertwines with the narrative, making each choice feel significant.”
    • “The way characters evolve throughout the game keeps me engaged and invested in their journeys.”
    • “I think a lot of the boredom in March of the Living comes from all the restrictions and limited options with character development.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “There are too few choices in character progression, which makes the experience feel stagnant and unengaging.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Players report that the game is well-optimized, with no stuttering even during intense moments involving large groups of zombies, which enhances the overall gameplay experience.

    • “No stuttering with large groups of zombies, which is a big plus since sometimes they can swarm you.”
    • “The game runs smoothly even during intense battles, making for a seamless experience.”
    • “I appreciate how well the game optimizes performance on lower-end systems without sacrificing graphics.”
    • “The game runs smoothly even with a large group of zombies, which is a big plus since they can swarm you at times.”
    • “Optimization is lacking; I frequently experience frame drops during intense battles.”
    • “The loading times are excessively long, making it frustrating to jump back into the action.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

7hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
2-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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