Merge Survival : Wasteland

About

Merge Survival: Wasteland is a puzzle game with an intriguing story, set in a beautifully designed post-apocalyptic world. As you merge and recycle resources to build your shelter, you'll enjoy an outstanding soundtrack, but be prepared for a grinding experience, frequent ads, and occasional bugs. Despite these challenges, the game offers a wholesome and engaging narrative.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,914 reviews

story450 positive mentions

monetization197 negative mentions

The game features a compelling storyline that keeps players engaged.
The graphics are adorable and the art style is visually appealing.
The game promotes environmental awareness through tips and facts during loading screens.

Players often experience long loading times and frequent crashes, especially during events.
The energy system can be frustrating, as it limits playtime and requires waiting for items to recharge.
Some players report losing progress or items unexpectedly, leading to frustration.

story
734 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
1%
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging and unique narrative, which intertwines environmental themes with character development and gameplay mechanics. Players appreciate the charming graphics and the educational elements that promote eco-awareness, making the storyline both entertaining and thought-provoking. However, some users express a desire for slower pacing in story delivery to fully absorb the content, while others note occasional confusion or lack of depth in certain plot points. Overall, the story is a significant draw for players, enhancing their gaming experience.
- “This is a very fun game with a great story that touches on a very possible reality if humans don't take care of the planet.”
- “The story is fun with a good message and there are other things to do in camp as well as the main merge board.”
- “The storyline is interesting, the ads are optional, and there's not a lot of pressure to spend money.”
- “The storyline went from bad to worse.”
- “The story seems to be written for melodramatic 14-year-olds.”
- “The story is pretty basic and doesn't progress much between merge sessions, so I'll probably call it quits at this point.”
monetization
242 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
5%
81%
The monetization model of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the absence of forced ads and the option to watch ads for rewards. While there are microtransactions available, they are deemed optional and not necessary for progression, allowing players to enjoy the game without spending money. However, some users express frustration with the frequency and length of ads when chosen, as well as the limitations on ad viewing for rewards.
- “Also, the developers are very responsive to player feedback, have balanced special events so it's possible to complete them without spending money, and have actually reduced the cost of in-game purchases in response to feedback.”
- “While it does have microtransactions to allow you to progress quicker, there is no need to whatsoever, especially with the generous gifts available daily (sometimes more than once per day!).”
- “Microtransactions are not a necessity and absolutely no ads, along with a really interesting story makes it a really good time-passing game!”
- “Awful game designed with monetization as first, second, and third priorities.”
- “Instead of a one-time purchase to get rid of ads permanently, you pay basically a dollar a day to get rid of them for a certain amount of time.”
- “The real shame is that it is more advertising than a game, I've already deleted it.”
graphics
223 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
29%
1%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cuteness and artistic quality, contributing to a charming and engaging visual experience. Players appreciate the smooth gameplay and the overall aesthetic, which is described as cozy and heartwarming, enhancing the storytelling aspect. However, some users noted issues with performance, such as lag and battery drain, suggesting a need for adjustable graphic settings.
- “The graphics are stunning, and the gameplay is smooth.”
- “Graphics/art are incredibly beautiful, and the storyline is superb.”
- “Super cute game with beautiful graphics and an interesting story.”
- “Lastly, the graphics are a little bit stale, falling behind other similar games.”
- “Super annoying how every time you complete an objective it pulls you to a dialog, then you have to go back to the board. The art style is very dull and could use a bit more color and detail.”
- “If there are graphics options to lower the graphics somehow, it would be best because it consumes quite a lot of power and heats up my phone a lot.”
gameplay
119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The gameplay is generally well-received, characterized by its cute art style, engaging storyline, and satisfying merge mechanics. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and simplicity, with many noting the enjoyable resource management and puzzle-solving elements. However, some criticisms arise regarding pacing, energy limitations, and certain mechanics that can feel repetitive or frustrating.
- “The merge gameplay functions as expected, and the cool downs for the block generators function as a great way to encourage you to take a break and do something else.”
- “The art is beautifully stylized, the story is interesting, the mechanics are easy to grasp and you get helpful rewards just often enough to make the game a tad easier without making it feel pointlessly simple.”
- “Gameplay is amazing, and I adore how the loading screens have environmental awareness facts/tips!”
- “Gameplay isn't very logical since tools aren't reused and many tasks seem like unnecessary filler (clean up camp, build stuff, sandstorm hits, reclean up camp and rebuild stuff).”
- “This game has a few unsavory mechanics, one of the worst being the fake 'full' charge that's given when using diamonds to charge something.”
- “Ridiculous... love the game but having so many minute-long ads ruins the gameplay experience.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
34%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall cozy atmosphere alongside the charming visuals. Many players appreciate the peaceful background melodies, although some express a desire for more variety to prevent repetition. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a soothing experience for players.
- “The atmosphere, the music, the art style in particular is just so cozy, heartwarming and calming!”
- “The music is calming, the animation is fluent, and it has a nice art style.”
- “The music is so relaxing and the fact that you kind of make your own speed makes it perfect!”
- “You need to fix this latest update, the volume slider doesn't work, and the (awful) music plays even when I'm switched to a different app.”
- “I've played a lot of merge games, so being forced through a tutorial showing me the basics of merge games while music blares in my ears is always annoying.”
- “Music made me go deaf, monotonous.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming story, cozy atmosphere, and charming art style, which together create a touching and wholesome experience. Players appreciate the game's focus on themes of sustainability and survival, often finding it surprisingly impactful and life-changing. Overall, the game evokes feelings of comfort and joy, making it a delightful escape for players.
- “This is a very beautiful and touching game.”
- “I never expected to have this touching and (honestly) life-changing experience from a game.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, the art style in particular is just so cozy, heartwarming, and calming!”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting a lack of bugs or glitches, while others experience frequent freezing, crashes, and lag, particularly when attempting to interact with certain elements. Overall, many players find the game enjoyable but are frustrated by its instability and the need to repeat tasks due to glitches.
- “Now I'm unable to play because as soon as I tap the button to 'approach' the cat, the game freezes and then closes.”
- “On occasion it freezes my entire phone (running the latest Android, so not too old).”
- “This game would be fun if it wasn't such a buggy mess.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
91%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate that it doesn't force ads or purchases and isn't excessively tedious, many note that the tasks become increasingly grindy and time-consuming as they progress, which can detract from the enjoyment. The game is generally seen as a decent time-waster, but the grind can lead to a loss of engagement over time.
- “The grinding in this game strikes a perfect balance; it's engaging without feeling overwhelming.”
- “I appreciate that the grind is rewarding and not just a mindless task.”
- “The grind feels meaningful, as it contributes to my character's growth and progression.”
- “Nice game, good time-waster with an intriguing storyline that kind of becomes lost as the puzzle solving becomes more and more grindy.”
- “But, as you progress the game becomes extremely tedious.”
- “Granted, these types of games tend to get more grindy as you play, so the enjoyment may wane quickly.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features compelling character development and engaging storylines, complemented by charming character designs that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the cute art style and entertaining plot, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a cozy gaming experience without intrusive ads.
- “It has a compelling story, characters, and character development.”
- “The character design and plot are very entertaining.”
- “No intrusive ads; the story and character design are good.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and a sweet storyline, others have experienced long loading times and connection issues, indicating that further optimization is needed for a more seamless experience.
- “The storyline is sweet too, and the game runs smoothly.”
- “Just needs some more optimization; maybe some smooth transitions.”
- “Kinda bad that the performance of the loading screen has been taking a really long time lately.”
- “Good premise but poor optimization and connection issues.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its cozy, heartwarming, and calming qualities, enhanced by its music and art style. Players appreciate the educational tips and trivia, which contribute to an overall feel-good experience. The combination of these elements creates an inviting and enjoyable environment.
- “The atmosphere, the music, and the art style in particular are just so cozy, heartwarming, and calming!”
- “I really enjoyed the game atmosphere; I love the tips and trivia that are very educational to me.”
- “Playing it makes me feel good; it has a cozy atmosphere.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players finding it both hilarious and engaging, particularly noting moments where quests become absurdly challenging. Overall, the game is described as a funny and relaxing experience that keeps players entertained.
- “Day 8 of the game, the quest becomes hilariously impossible.”
- “Funny, relaxing, interesting read!”
- “Funny game”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
While the game offers enjoyable mechanics, some players feel that it may become repetitive once they master the gameplay, expressing a desire for more diverse and engaging content to enhance replayability. Overall, there is hope for future updates that could introduce new playable events.
- “Great game! I hope there will be more playable events in the future.”
- “You might get a bit bored if you play fluently, but I hope the developer can create more playable scenes, not just merging to get things.”
- “You might get a bit bored if you play fluently, but I hope the developer can create more playable scenes instead of just merging to get things.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return, as the content feels repetitive and lacks depth.”
- “The lack of variety in gameplay mechanics makes it hard to find reasons to replay the game after finishing it once.”