Nomad Survival

About

Nomad Survival is a single player action game. It was developed by The Fox Knocks and was released on October 7, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,190 reviews

gameplay45 positive mentions

grinding41 negative mentions

Gameplay is engaging and addictive, with a variety of character classes and heritages that allow for unique builds.
The game features a solid progression system with multiple currencies for upgrades, making it rewarding to play.
The ability to speed up the game and customize difficulty settings adds to the overall enjoyment and replayability.

The game suffers from balance issues, particularly in the later stages where enemy health and damage can feel overwhelming.
Graphics and UI could use improvement, as they can be cluttered and make it difficult to track character and enemy positions.
Some mechanics, like the chest system, can feel unrewarding as they often provide upgrades for weapons not currently in use.

gameplay
159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
Gameplay in this title is a blend of familiar mechanics from the "survivor" genre, particularly reminiscent of *Vampire Survivors*, but introduces unique elements like character heritages and a pet system that can alter playstyles. While the game offers a variety of characters and upgrades, many players find the gameplay loop repetitive and lacking in depth, with some mechanics feeling unbalanced or poorly conveyed. Overall, it provides a casual experience with potential for fun, but suffers from issues like slow pacing and a lack of engaging challenge, making it less compelling for those seeking a more dynamic gameplay experience.
- “Gameplay is great, and the RPG elements through upgrades are a great addition.”
- “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.”
- “Lacks replay value due to a very repetitive gameplay loop; one run is likely going to be the same as the other, and I've grown incredibly bored of that.”
- “The interface is cumbersome, mechanics are poorly conveyed, and the game uses bundled assets that you have likely seen in other games.”
- “Overall, the gameplay is mediocre, but good mediocre.”
music
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its enjoyable and diverse soundtrack, featuring options for both "exciting" and "mellow" tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the quality of the music, with some even preferring it over their own playlists, although a few noted that it can fade into the background during extended play. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and replayability.
- “The soundtrack alone is good as well, but something feels off about it, and it somehow doesn't fit the gameplay as much as I'd like it to fit, but I can't put my finger on why it is.”
- “I really like how they did the music in this game; each map has 2 unique tracks, you can switch between them at will, one labeled 'mellow music' and one labeled 'exciting music'. I genuinely did switch between these depending on how I was feeling, and I think it's a great addition.”
- “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.”
graphics
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
7%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players finding them dull, pixelated, and lacking in aesthetic cohesion compared to similar titles. While some appreciate the simplicity and clarity of the pixel art, others criticize the overall visual experience as unpleasant and hard to engage with, particularly due to the absence of customization options. Despite these criticisms, a few players highlight the art direction and sprite work as decent, suggesting that the graphics may appeal to fans of retro styles.
- “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.”
- “Graphics: well done pixel art.”
- “Awesome survival game with plenty to do and unlock, graphics good, sound good but most of all - playability... second to none!”
- “I'm not really complaining about the graphics; it's more of the art style that is an issue here.”
- “Overall the graphical stuff is disappointing.”
- “Graphics are below average.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
5%
93%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially during late-game progression and achievement hunting. While some enjoy the grind as a means to unlock upgrades and buffs, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leading to boredom and frustration. Overall, the game offers a grind-heavy experience that may appeal to dedicated players but can be off-putting for those seeking a more streamlined gameplay experience.
- “The progression system isn't too grindy, and the variety provided by different levels and modifiers makes each run fresh and challenging.”
- “Getting some of the achievements was a slog and would have been awful if there wasn't a good farming build (check the guides).”
- “Just too grindy and not enough stuff during the grind to keep me wanting to play.”
- “Incredibly grindy progression, unclear/confusing way to progress.”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
Replayability in the game varies significantly among users; some find it lacking due to repetitive gameplay, while others praise its depth and variety, highlighting features like distinct classes, meta progression, and unique systems that enhance replay value. Many players appreciate the numerous unlockables and character combinations that encourage experimentation, though some note that balancing issues can detract from the experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of strong replayability for those who enjoy diverse builds and challenges, but may fall short for players seeking more varied gameplay.
- “Endlessly replayable with solid meta progression and distinct classes.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Lacks replay value due to a very repetitive gameplay loop; one run is likely going to be the same as the other, and I've grown incredibly bored of that.”
- “It lacks balancing, replayability, and depth.”
- “It kills replay value.”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
65%
20%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players noting that it lacks a meaningful narrative or background, making it feel like just another auto-shooter. While some appreciate the gameplay mechanics and the ability to engage without a lengthy commitment, others express a desire for more character quests and challenges to enhance the experience. Overall, the consensus is that if players are seeking a rich story, this game may not meet their expectations.
- “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.”
- “Id like to see more upgrades come out alongside some quests and challenges for specific characters.”
- “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.”
- “Not much of a story really.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while it runs smoothly on devices like the Steam Deck and offers rewarding planning elements, many players report significant performance issues, particularly with display scaling and a lack of in-game options to address these problems. Despite its fun gameplay and potential, the overall optimization is considered lacking, with calls for improvements from the developer.
- “The overall content is smaller and the learning curve steeper, but it rewards those who enjoy planning and optimization.”
- “I recognize that you still have a limited optimization path.”
- “Performance is good.”
- “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 not responsive 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.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its over-the-top upgrades and absurd character interactions, such as a necromancer summoning skeletons for comedic effect. Players find the knight character's antics amusing, and the variety of humorous combinations from passive stats adds to the overall comedic experience, making it a lighthearted and entertaining endeavor. However, some feel that the gameplay itself lacks depth, which may detract from the humor's impact.
- “The upgrades are hilariously over-the-top.”
- “The necromancer is particularly hilarious - he summons skeletons to do it all for him.”
- “Rally funny with the knight character ('tis but a scratch!);”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Reviews on stability are mixed; while some users report a smooth experience with no bugs, others criticize the game as a "buggy mess," indicating significant issues that detract from gameplay. Overall, the stability of the game appears to vary widely among players.
- “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.”
- “Frequent crashes and glitches make it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Reviewers appreciate the refreshing character design and the gradual pacing of character development, noting that the ability choices and unlockable affixes enhance the overall experience. The balance of difficulty and the anticipation of future content contribute positively to the game's character progression.
- “The character design and the ability to unlock various affixes is 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, and I can't wait to see what's next.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I was disappointed by the limited options for character growth; it feels like the choices don't really impact the gameplay.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their development throughout the game is minimal, leaving me wanting more depth.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by frustrating hit box mechanics, where players experience damage from enemies despite not being in contact, leading to feelings of unfairness and irritation.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy is perceived as ineffective, with users labeling it a "cash grab" that lacks the necessary execution to justify its pricing.
- “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.”