Night of the Dead
- May 31, 2024
- Jackto Studios
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam"Night of the Dead" is a post-apocalyptic zombie survival game with a diverse world to explore. Build a base, automate production, and collaborate with followers to survive against various types of zombies and bosses in combat. Uncover the island's secrets and navigate through hidden dungeons, while upgrading your equipment and vehicle for safety.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging base building mechanics that allow for creative trap designs to fend off nightly zombie waves.
- Constant updates from the developers, adding new content and addressing issues, showing commitment to improving the game.
- A large open world with diverse biomes and a variety of zombies, providing a rich exploration experience.
- Performance issues, including frame drops and crashes, especially during horde nights.
- Clunky combat mechanics and inconsistent hitboxes, making melee combat frustrating.
- The tutorial and quest system can be confusing and poorly structured, leading to frustration for new players.
- gameplay388 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging mechanics, such as base building and tower defense elements, while others criticize the lack of polish, steep learning curve, and numerous bugs that hinder the experience. Many players appreciate the unique blend of survival and crafting mechanics, but express frustration over clunky combat and insufficient tutorials. Overall, while the game shows potential and offers a variety of activities, it requires significant improvements to reach its full potential.
“The gameplay is thrilling, and teamwork adds so much excitement.”
“The gameplay, a delicate dance between fortification and looting, provides a satisfying challenge that evolves even after extensive playtime.”
“The building mechanics and all the different workbench types can be a bit much, but the gameplay overshadows the issues.”
“The gameplay itself is filled with bugs and glitches that make it nearly unplayable.”
“Overall, it felt like some of the core mechanics of Night of the Dead felt as though they fell short of what we’ve come to expect from other similar industry titles.”
“The physics are abysmal, and it's another one of those cobbled together survival games where you attack what you want to harvest and tons of materials come pouring out, instead of having an actual harvesting mechanic that is even a little bit realistic.”
- story348 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it underdeveloped and filled with clichés, while others appreciate its role in providing structure to the gameplay. Critics highlight issues such as poor quest design, lack of immersion, and a narrative that feels tacked on, often detracting from the overall experience. However, some players enjoy the story as a backdrop to the survival mechanics, noting that it offers a basic framework for progression despite its shortcomings.
“The story arc has brought meaning to the building and progression system.”
“The crafting system is really involved, the story so far is good, and the looting and kiosks are fantastic.”
“The fact it has an actual story line to follow, and explore really adds a level of mystery and fun to the game.”
“The story is bad right off the rip; it breaks immersion with its constant interjection into learning the system.”
“The story feels like it was just thrown together at the last minute to give the game a narrative, and it shows entirely.”
“The main story is boring and clichéd, with an ending that doesn’t make a lot of sense, and other debatable non sequiturs in the narrative or characters.”
- graphics281 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as decent or even impressive for an early access title, while others criticize them as outdated or poorly optimized. Many comparisons are made to "7 Days to Die," with some noting that this game offers better visuals, though issues like graphical glitches and performance problems persist. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered acceptable, there is a consensus that they could benefit from further improvement and optimization.
“The graphics are amazing, great company, known as 'unreal engine'.”
“The graphics are very good, character animation is excellent and the building side of the game is spot on.”
“This game is like 7 days to die, but with modern graphics.”
“The graphics look like a 2005 tech demo for Unreal Engine 2, and the laziness of character design is evident; the first NPC you meet is you, with the same model, outfit, and skin. That's just lazy.”
“Overall gameplay is fun, but the graphics are nauseatingly bad.”
“The graphics are garbage!”
- optimization154 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, especially in multiplayer settings and during high-action sequences. While some updates have improved stability and playability, numerous users still experience frame drops, crashes, and overall poor optimization, particularly on lower-end hardware. Despite these challenges, there are also positive notes about the game's potential and ongoing developer support for future optimizations.
“After the last update, the optimization has clearly improved and with this, the playability.”
“The developers clearly prioritized a stable and enjoyable performance, which enhances the overall experience.”
“While already an extremely optimized, well thought-out game, with a bit more polish and time, this game will be the first indie game I've ever seen that has reached a status of AAA.”
“The performance of this game is abysmal.”
“But the overall optimization is bad: it slows down, crashes, and you constantly lose progress.”
“Game is lacking fundamental asset optimizations that make it unplayable.”
- grinding142 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Night of the Dead" is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in resource gathering and crafting. While some find the grind rewarding and engaging, especially with the game's building and survival mechanics, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun and grind, appealing primarily to those who enjoy extensive resource management and crafting in survival settings.
“A lot of items, weapons, and buildings can be crafted, but the amount of resources required to build is reasonable and not tedious.”
“Base building isn't too grindy, and there is lots of customization.”
“Me and my daughter also agree that this game is not grindy - didn't find that at all.”
“The gathering is so incredibly grindy and unrewarding.”
“Excessive resource grinding: the game’s reliance on constant resource collection can become tedious quickly, detracting from exploration and combat.”
“Gameplay is repetitive and there is nothing much to do besides grinding the same tasks over and over.”
- stability110 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users have experienced smooth performance on higher-end hardware, many others face issues such as crashes, freezing, and inconsistent physics, making the game feel unpolished and frustrating at times. Overall, while there are moments of fun, the game's current state is marred by instability, leading to mixed reviews regarding its playability.
“Runs great even in 4K on semi-dated hardware.”
“I play this on a laptop and it runs great.”
“So far, it's optimized really well. I have a mid to high-tier PC, and it runs great. Some areas in the town do have lower FPS, but for so early on in development, I'd say it's really good.”
“The gameplay itself is filled with bugs and glitches that make it nearly unplayable.”
“It's an unpolished, buggy mess with horrible AI.”
“Game itself is really fun, huge map to explore at day, then at night big waves of zombies to defend, but the game is extremely buggy; sure, the developer does many fixes every week or so, but to fix them all is going to take ages.”
- replayability27 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag among users. While some appreciate the potential for varied gameplay through crafting, base building, and multiplayer options, others criticize the lack of randomization and content depth, leading to a perception that replay value diminishes after initial playthroughs. Future updates and enhancements are hoped to improve the replayability experience significantly.
“I think it will have a lot of replayability, and because anyone can run a private server, you don't need to worry about the game being plagued with cheaters like so many other online games these days.”
“It plays well solo, supports multiplayer (which is where I think it would shine), and has a ton of replayability.”
“Building different bases in different difficulty modes is what gives it a lot of replayability.”
“Update game has actually zero replay value, unlike 7d2d with random map generator and all the mods.”
“Replayability: personally I don't see this game lasting very long, it will be a game that gets boring really fast, because really all you do is build a base and get attacked by waves of zombies every night, like I mentioned earlier there is almost no story, there is no economy (you can't buy or sell anything), there are no other NPCs in the game other than zombies until the very end (if you actually follow the story), playing co-op is the only way you're going to have any interaction with anyone other than zombies (and zombies don't talk much).”
“Once you understand the mechanics of the game, and what you're supposed to do, it can be beaten too easily and with almost no desire for replayability.”
- humor26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its chaotic and absurd scenarios, particularly during zombie attacks, where players find the physics-based carnage and quirky traps amusing. The voice acting adds to the comedic experience, often eliciting laughter through its clumsiness and unexpected moments. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to deliver a lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere, especially when played with friends, despite some technical bugs that contribute to the humor.
“The voice acting for the beginning quest had me tearing up from laughing; it's one of those moments that's so 'good' it becomes hilarious.”
“It's really funny to see how the head of a really tough zombie flies off in the air after he is stuck on your deviously planned trap(s).”
“The base and trap designs you're able to create are a lot of fun; the traps are pretty funny in my opinion to watch, some are pretty gnarly.”
- music22 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding the soundtrack solid and atmospheric, particularly during intense moments like enemy waves. However, many criticize the overall lack of engaging music, noting that the ambient sounds are often too quiet or absent, leading some to prefer playing their own music instead. While the night music is appreciated, the game is seen as needing more consistent and immersive audio to enhance the overall experience.
“Solid soundtrack and effects.”
“It's always exciting when the wave starts and the music kicks in.”
“Furthermore, the game's soundtrack was a delightful complement to the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack in the game is underwhelming.”
“I just turn the music off and the game improves tenfold, in my opinion.”
“The only music you'll hear is during the night; for the rest of the game, it's an awkward backtrack that you can barely hear with no music or anything.”
- character development11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the intricate quests and storytelling that enhance immersion, while others criticize the lack of depth and progression options. The character designs, particularly for zombies and the main character, are noted as highlights, but many players feel that the overall development system is limited and could benefit from more features and customization options. Additionally, technical aspects like voice acting and animations have been described as subpar, detracting from the overall experience.
“Playing with 4 other buddies and the base building, crafting, and character development makes it a much richer experience than expected.”
“The intricately designed quests and challenges allowed for a truly immersive experience, while the attention to detail in character development and storytelling further enhanced my enjoyment.”
“Equal parts exploration, hunting/crafting, base/trap building, and character development.”
“The voice acting is painful to listen to, the animations are amateurish at best and just downright embarrassing at worst. The graphics look like a 2005 tech demo for Unreal Engine 2, and the laziness of character design is evident; the first NPC you meet is you, with the same model, same outfit, and same skin. That's just lazy.”
“There is a lack of traits, character development, or progression.”
“Character development is limited for now; I hope they can add more to it later because I was maxed out by day 9.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its effective sound design and visuals, which create an immersive and eerie environment that enhances the horror experience. Players appreciate the combination of haunting audio, beautiful graphics, and well-crafted scenes that evoke a sense of tension and unease, making the world feel both captivating and unsettling. Overall, the atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's appeal, drawing players deeper into its universe.
“The visuals and atmosphere are beautiful but still have an eerie peacefulness that will make you look behind you every few minutes.”
“Atmospheric sound design: the eerie audio and environmental sounds enhance the game’s horror vibe, making survival feel more intense.”
“The world feels dead and empty; there is absolutely no atmosphere at all.”
“The carefully selected compositions enhanced the mood of each scene, immersing me further into the game's universe and creating a truly unforgettable atmosphere.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game heavily relies on ads, which can hinder gameplay and slow down progress, leading to frustration among players. However, many users appreciate the developers' commitment to regular updates and content additions, distinguishing the game from typical early access titles that often feel like cash grabs. Overall, while the ad-based model is a point of contention, the game's quality and developer engagement have garnered positive feedback.
“Yep, that's right, it's impossible to fire without ads.”
“You have to watch ads to use them.”
“When most of the early access games on Steam feel like early tech demos at best or at worst a greedy cash grab, this feels like a well thought out game from a dev that's been working their ass off and listens to the community.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the game's mechanics, feeling that technical issues detract from their experience and lead to feelings of inadequacy. The repetitive nature of resource gathering and the emotional toll of resource scarcity during intense survival scenarios evoke a mix of challenge and disappointment, highlighting the game's ability to elicit strong emotional responses, both positive and negative.
“No, you made me feel like I suck after paying for the game - and I don't suck.”
“The basics get a bit repetitive; for example, wood, stone, and iron. For better stuff, you can sometimes find yourself in trouble. Maybe you are in a closed location spotted by zombies, and the only way out is to fight your way out. I see this as a good thing; others may not. Also, the basics don't last that long; you chew through wood and stone like mad, and using a lot of ammo on a wave is heartbreaking. But it's a survival game, what do you expect?”
