Nomad Survival
- October 7, 2022
- The Fox Knocks
- 11h median play time
Get on Steam"Nomad Survival" is a single-player action Roguelite featuring auto-attacking, wave clearing gameplay with time-based progression. As you level up, expect compelling mechanics like acquiring diverse abilities, with bonus effects at levels 5 and 10, and unique weapon skills for each character. Masterful graphics, excellent music, and lots of grinding contribute to an engaging experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Fun and addictive gameplay with a variety of characters and skills to choose from.
- Offers a unique heritage system that changes the way each character plays, adding depth and replayability.
- Great value for the price, providing hours of entertainment and frequent updates from the developer.
- Can feel repetitive and lacks sufficient content compared to similar games like Vampire Survivors.
- Some balancing issues, particularly with enemy health and damage, making certain runs feel overly difficult.
- The UI and graphics could use improvement, as they can be cluttered and hard to read at times.
- gameplay142 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Nomad Survival" is often compared to "Vampire Survivors," featuring similar mechanics such as wave-based enemy encounters and automatic attacks, but it introduces unique elements like character heritages and a pet system that can alter playstyles. While some players appreciate the variety and depth offered through multiple difficulty settings and upgrade systems, others criticize the repetitive nature and clunky interface, suggesting that the game lacks the polish and engaging mechanics found in its competitors. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a mix of addictive fun and mediocrity, with potential for improvement in design and execution.
“Nomad survival, however, in addition to a few different angles of progression requiring three separate currencies, offers additional challenge modes for each stage, as well as scaling difficulty settings for things such as enemy health, speed, and damage, that allow the player to mold a gameplay session to their liking and retain a desired level of difficulty without necessitating a reset of all the upgrades you worked hard to earn.”
“The gameplay is fun and fast-paced, while still challenging and leaving a massive variety of choices for you to make.”
“Nomad survival has skills unique to each character and heritage traits that can impact your gameplay a lot, making each run different.”
“The interface is cumbersome, mechanics are poorly conveyed, and the game uses bundled assets that you have likely seen in other games.”
“Gameplay feels unpolished.”
“Overall the gameplay is mediocre, but good mediocre.”
- music79 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and variety, with players enjoying the option to switch between "exciting" and "mellow" tracks tailored to their mood. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack is surprisingly impressive for a budget title, often enhancing the gameplay experience to the point where players felt no need to listen to their own music. While some found the music could fade into the background over time, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and replayability.
“First of all, the music is top-notch.”
“I haven't seen any other reviews mention this yet, but this game has impressively great music for a $5 game.”
“The music is absolutely excellent, and there is even a mellow mode for those who don't want the pure adventure banger in the background.”
“Game play, mechanics, music and graphics are weak compared to rivals in the same genre.”
“The music is alright but the combat sounds have a bunch of weird crunchy static samples.”
“I found myself using my own music after a few runs.”
- graphics79 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the pixel art style and overall aesthetic, while others criticize it for being below average and lacking customization options. Many players find the visuals either charming or rough, often comparing them unfavorably to similar titles like Vampire Survivors. Overall, while the art direction has its supporters, the lack of graphical options and performance issues detract from the experience for many users.
“The contrasting feature of the game I find most attractive is the art direction; the combination of the music and the visual aesthetic feels more melancholic and creates a different mood.”
“While it borrows a lot from the genre, this game really feels like its own entity through its unique systems, art style, and various ways of play.”
“Awesome survival game with plenty to do and unlock; graphics are good, sound is good, but most of all - playability is second to none!”
“The visuals, though, are a mixed bag.”
“It is quite ugly aesthetically and messy, but it does the survivor-like well.”
“Overall the graphical stuff is disappointing.”
- grinding38 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, often described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the later stages where players must invest substantial hours to achieve upgrades and complete challenges. While some players find enjoyment in the grinding mechanics and the sense of progression they offer, many express frustration with the repetitive nature and lack of engaging content during these grinding sessions, leading to a mixed reception overall.
“The progression system isn't too grindy and the variety provided by different levels and modifiers makes each run fresh and challenging.”
“The final (fourth) dungeon has quite the ramp up in difficulty, which encourages you to knock out a lot of the class and heritage achievements in the other three dungeons while grinding away until you have finally powered up enough to hope to finish that last dungeon.”
“Just too grindy and not enough stuff during the grind to keep me wanting to play.”
“Incredibly grindy progression, unclear/confusing way to progress.”
- replayability21 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a solid level of replayability, with many users highlighting the variety of character builds, unlockables, and difficulty options that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players noted issues with balancing that could affect replay value, the unique heritage system and diverse gameplay modes contribute positively to the experience. The game's ability to adapt through RNG elements and community-driven updates further enhances its replayability, making it enjoyable for both casual and dedicated players.
“Really well thought out and well put together even though it's such a simple game, the heritage system is unique enough to add replay value and the achievements are more than just 'reach level 80 with this character' 5 times.”
“Strong entry in this genre and great value for the cost -- good variety of content and replayability, and the dev has listened to community feedback and provided updates that have improved the fun of the game over time.”
“Fun concept where each different character is extremely unique and has their own attacks, and the variations for each of them add even more replay value.”
“It lacks balancing, replayability, and depth.”
“It kills replay value.”
“Not as replayable as vampire survivors but is uniquely enjoyable with its own take on the genre.”
- story19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many players noting that it features minimal to no narrative, typical of the auto-shooter genre. While some appreciate the subtlety of the story and the character backstories, the consensus is that players should not expect a significant storyline, as the focus is primarily on gameplay mechanics and combat. Overall, the absence of a compelling story detracts from the experience for those seeking a richer narrative.
“Great game with a subtle story.”
“Simple concept, you select a character, select a backstory, and level up until you're a juggernaut of bullet hell ready to lay waste to everything around you.”
“You'll battle against hordes of enemies, conquer boss encounters, and explore various character and skill combinations in your quest to become stronger and defeat the most menacing of creatures that lay in wait at the end of each run.”
“There's not much more to say about this game; it's another auto-shooter without any background story.”
“Look, if you're playing these games for a story, you've got the wrong idea about this genre.”
“I would riot if somebody actually tried to make me sit through a proper story for one of these games.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some players finding it amusing through character interactions and quirky mechanics, such as the necromancer summoning skeletons and the knight's humorous catchphrase. However, others feel the overall comedic elements fall flat, lacking in consistent wit or charm. While some combinations and character traits can lead to funny moments, the humor does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience for all players.
“O boy, what a surprise! This game separates weapons and character traits, resulting in some hilarious combinations.”
“The necromancer is particularly hilarious - he summons skeletons to do it all for him.”
“Rally funny with the knight character ('tis but a scratch!).”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck and offers enjoyable controls, many players report significant performance issues, particularly with display scaling and resolution settings. Despite the game's potential, it suffers from poor optimization that detracts from the overall experience, and the developer's lack of responsiveness to community feedback raises concerns. Overall, while there is fun to be had, improvements are needed for a better performance.
“On the Steam Deck, it runs smoothly, and the controls are easy to pick up.”
“Performance is good.”
“Lots of fun... totally worth the price... does need some performance improvements but excited to see how it develops...!”
“Performance is bad considering what the game offers in graphics and gameplay.”
“The game has performance issues with scaling display/resolution settings; there are no options to address it in-game, and the developer is unresponsive when trying to address it through the community board.”
“Even though the concept is there, it's badly optimized, and some really basic things ruin the game experience.”
- stability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Reviews on stability are mixed; while some users report a smooth experience with no bugs, others describe the game as a "buggy mess," indicating significant issues that detract from gameplay. Overall, the game's stability appears inconsistent, with some players enjoying a seamless experience while others face numerous problems.
“Fun game, runs great, and not a single problem.”
“The game in its current state is a buggy mess and is afraid of straying away from the Vampire Survivors formula.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its refreshing design and the strategic unlocking of abilities, which enhances player engagement. The pacing of character progression is well-balanced, allowing for gradual increases in difficulty and a satisfying gameplay experience. Overall, players are excited about the potential for future developments in character customization and growth.
“The character design and the ability unlocks are refreshing, providing a new take on the genre.”
“The pacing is well-balanced; deaths don't occur too quickly at the beginning, and the increasing damage and difficulty keep you engaged. I absolutely love the character design and the variety of ability choices.”
“I can't wait to see what's next for character development!”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I was disappointed by the limited choices in character customization, which made my character feel generic and uninteresting.”
“The story arcs for the characters are underdeveloped, leaving their motivations and growth feeling unconvincing.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is perceived as ineffective, with one user labeling it a "cash grab" that lacks the necessary effort and value typically associated with such tactics, suggesting that the pricing does not align with the quality or content offered.
“I mean, as a cash grab, this $3 'cash grab' isn't done right.”
“It needs less work and more cost to be a cash grab.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by frustrating mechanics, such as being hit by attacks that don't register as contact, which can lead to player frustration and diminish the overall experience.
