March of the Living

About

March of the Living is a single player survival survival game with a horror theme. It was developed by Machine 22 and was released on April 20, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

March of the Living is a survival roguelike inspired by FTL and The Walking Dead in which players must guide a group of survivors to a rumored safe haven. During their journey they'll have to fight their way through hordes of infected, encounter friendly and hostile survivors, scavenge for supplies and make decisions through text based dialog's that might make the difference between success or fai…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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70%

Audience ScoreBased on 681 reviews

story80 positive mentions

stability18 negative mentions

The game features a compelling narrative with choices that significantly impact the story and outcomes.
The random events and encounters keep the gameplay fresh and engaging, providing a unique experience with each playthrough.
The pixel art style and atmospheric music contribute to an immersive zombie apocalypse experience.

Combat mechanics are clunky and can feel tedious, especially when managing multiple survivors during fights.
The game heavily relies on RNG, which can lead to frustrating moments where players feel they have little control over outcomes.
Resource management can be overly punishing, with limited supplies and high chances of losing items or characters during encounters.

story
220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
61%
3%
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 later playthroughs. Overall, while the writing and atmosphere are noted as strong points, the execution of the story can feel disconnected and unsatisfying at times.
- “Has some awesome story writing, I can't give any spoilers as I myself still don't know the entire story, and I feel it is worth playing through to experience, although it is a lengthy game that will require some free time.”
- “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. 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.”
gameplay
181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
7%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the combat mechanics as clunky and overly reliant on random number generation, leading to a repetitive experience. While some appreciate the narrative choices and potential for unique storylines, others find the overall gameplay bland and lacking depth, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging experience. Despite its potential, the game struggles with balancing mechanics and variety, leaving players divided on its overall enjoyment.
- “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've played this game for a couple of hours already and found the gameplay to be very addictive and fun!”
- “Once you figure out the basic mechanics, the game is a lot of fun!”
- “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.”
- “Bland, shallow gameplay not even close to the strategy of FTL while you roam through the same type of road with woods map almost all the time only stopping to rest and eat which is also boring to manage, not hard, just boring.”
graphics
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
61%
9%
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 evoke a nostalgic atmosphere, critiques highlight that they can feel flat or outdated, with a desire for more variety and refinement in certain areas. Overall, the graphics may appeal to fans of pixel art, but they might not satisfy those who prioritize high-quality visuals in gaming.
- “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.”
replayability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
43%
10%
The game offers significant replayability due to its randomly generated maps and a multitude of choices that lead to different outcomes in each playthrough. While some comparisons suggest it may not reach the replay value of titles like FTL, many players find the variety of characters and events provides a satisfying challenge and encourages multiple runs. Overall, it is regarded as a fun experience with a surprising amount of replay value for its price.
- “The massive amount of choices you are given grants the game tons of replay value (a single play-through isn't 'short' by any means either).”
- “Overall it's a fun little game with a surprising amount of replayability.”
- “With 4 characters to play (3 unlockable), it's a very enjoyable challenge with plenty of replay value.”
- “And like The Walking Dead, the game focuses more on story, and so doesn't have as much replayability as FTL.”
- “The problem with this becomes replayability.”
- “It just doesn't have as much replayability as FTL.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while many players appreciate the soundtrack and its contribution to the atmosphere, some find it repetitive, particularly during combat. The variety of soundtracks across different areas is noted positively, but there are complaints about the music continuing to play during off-game activities. Overall, the music enhances the experience, despite some criticisms regarding its repetitiveness and limited variety.
- “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 keeps playing when I'm trying to do something out of the game.”
- “Yeah, the music is not that varied and the combat is clunky, but hey, look at the price.”
- “The sound and music in the background aren't too shabby, but they don't really stand out.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
90%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, particularly in the combat system and auto-targeting features, leading some to feel it resembles an early access title. While a few users noted minimal glitches and enjoyed the gameplay, the overall consensus indicates that the game suffers from various stability issues that detract from the experience.
- “The game isn't buggy or broken, which shows a high level of stability.”
- “I appreciate that the game runs smoothly without any major issues.”
- “The stability of the game enhances my overall experience.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
22%
11%
The game is praised for its unique and immersive atmosphere, effectively conveying a hopeless, apocalyptic environment. Players appreciate the combination of engaging story writing, pixel graphics, and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some initial skepticism exists due to the retro graphics, many find themselves quickly drawn into the game's compelling atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere is great, and it does a good job of portraying a hopeless, apocalyptic environment.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and clunky, with players finding the combat system unsatisfying and overly complicated. Issues such as the manual weapon-switching process and the dangers of fleeing from combat contribute to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. Many reviewers suggest that these mechanics lead to a slow and unenjoyable pace, making the grinding feel more like a chore than a challenge.
- “Pass on this game, it's tedious, unsatisfying, and over-thought 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.”
- “It's clunky; as usual, RNG is a pain, and managing more than one survivor really brings the pace of the game to a grinding halt. Fleeing from combat is completely stupid and will almost always screw you over.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of amusing character actions and a lighthearted storyline, though some reviewers feel it lacks the depth and content found in similar titles like "Death Road to Canada." While the pixel-style graphics and random surprises contribute to the entertainment, the overall comedic elements are seen as less impactful than expected. Despite this, players appreciate the game's quirky moments and the potential for humorous outcomes based on their choices.
- “It's really a funny 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, lol. I like the game so far, and the creator of the game definitely has some good ideas, with random surprises both good and bad.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes strong emotions, including guilt and sympathy for characters, but criticize its lack of clear choices and mitigation options, which can make the experience feel passive, akin to reading a choose-your-own-adventure book.
- “Heck, some events even made me feel guilty and sympathetic towards other characters.”
- “The game would be fine if it gave you any way to mitigate these problems or was visible about any sort of choice you're making, but it doesn't, and it made me feel like I was playing a choose-your-own-adventure book.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Character development in "March of the Living" is noted for its potential but is ultimately hindered by restrictions and limited options, leading to a sense of boredom for some players. While the story and sound are praised, the lack of depth in character progression detracts from the overall experience.
- “The character development in this game is truly impressive, adding depth to the story and enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The way characters evolve throughout the game is one of its strongest points, making the narrative feel more engaging.”
- “I appreciate the thoughtful character development, which allows players to connect with the story on a deeper level.”
- “I think a lot of the boredom in March of the Living comes from all the restrictions and limited options with character development.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players report excellent optimization, noting that the game runs smoothly even with large groups of zombies, eliminating stuttering issues during intense moments. This performance is highlighted as a significant advantage, especially when facing swarms.
- “No stuttering with a large group of zombies, which is a big plus since sometimes they can swarm you.”