Nuclear Nightmare
- October 20, 2024
- BG Productions
- 30h median play time
Get on Steam"Nuclear Nightmare" is an open-world exploration game where players assemble a team to recover classified materials in the Arctic before a nuclear strike. Gather supplies, unlock perks, and watch out for the risk of the deadly black goo virus that can infect anyone, including your teammates and huskies. Complete your mission before the time runs out.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is incredibly fun and provides a great co-op experience, especially with friends, capturing the essence of 'The Thing'.
- The atmosphere is immersive and terrifying, with well-designed monsters and a sense of constant dread that keeps players on edge.
- The developers are responsive and actively working on updates and bug fixes, showing commitment to improving the game.
- The game is still quite buggy and lacks polish, with issues like invisible doors, lag, and inconsistent mechanics that can disrupt gameplay.
- Server availability is a problem, making it difficult to find matches or play with friends without significant wait times.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as the perk system and weapon effectiveness, feel unbalanced and can lead to frustrating experiences.
- gameplay25 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable and features a unique infection mechanic that adds intrigue, though it suffers from optimization issues and janky mechanics. Players appreciate the fun gameplay loop and the potential for strategic planning, but many express a desire for improvements such as better transportation options, clearer mechanics, and additional customization. While the game runs smoothly overall, significant bugs and confusing elements detract from the experience, leading some to recommend waiting for further updates before fully engaging.
“Runs smoothly, minimal graphic/performance issues, and fun gameplay loop.”
“Let me start by saying, the gameplay in this does have its jank, but damn does that add to the charm.”
“You won't get bored even after 20-30 hours of gameplay; the map is big, there are a lot of quests to do, and you can make a lot of plans on how to escape with all of the tasks done.”
“Horribly, horribly un-optimized, ultra janky mechanics.”
“Very confusing gameplay; both online games I played, I blew up with no indication of what happened, no direction, no creatures.”
“The perks have weird and horrible drawbacks (first vehicle you enter has full fuel but every other one is empty for the rest of the game).”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its incredible tension and immersive dread, reminiscent of John Carpenter's "The Thing." Players appreciate the unique and eerie setting, enhanced by excellent sound design and graphics, which contribute to a genuinely scary experience, especially in multiplayer. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, promising even more depth as it continues to develop.
“So far so good, very close to the game I've always dreamed of. If you are a fan of John Carpenter's 'The Thing', this is a must-buy and has so much scope to get even better. The price is ridiculous when graphics are good, atmosphere is excellent, and it's a great laugh with friends.”
“Incredibly scary, great sound design and atmosphere. I played multiplayer because I genuinely don't think I could go into it alone.”
“It certainly has a great setting that has an eerie and scary atmosphere; it reminds me of 'The Thing'.”
“Okay, firstly, dev response (great thing) and if you have quite a few buddies to play with, it's pretty neat. It has some real atmosphere, and for an early access game, that says a lot about it.”
“The atmosphere, the over-looming feeling of dread as night approaches, the monsters, and that every game is different from the last is just peak.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and smooth performance, with options to adjust settings from photorealistic to lower-quality visuals to accommodate different hardware. While most players report minimal issues and a consistent frame rate, some have experienced occasional lag and freezing during specific scenarios. Overall, the game's visual appeal and atmospheric design contribute positively to the gameplay experience.
“The game plays incredibly well on both my gaming PC and workhorse laptop; you can turn the graphics from photo-realistic to basically potato graphics if you find your performance waning.”
“It's very graphically beautiful and it runs consistently well, although rarely you will have a freeze whenever you either crash into a building with a vehicle or you're loading into new terrain, which isn't too bad.”
“Can't wait to see what the devs cook up with this; love the lighting and the graphics have a nice charm to it.”
“On top of this, the game is just beautiful when you can get frames; the frame rate in this game is incredibly bad. Even on some of the lowest graphics settings, it's still laggy.”
“The perks have weird and horrible drawbacks (first vehicle you enter has full fuel but every other one is empty for the rest of the game). Graphics are okay; until some major gameplay changes, I would avoid this title.”
“Gunplay is smooth, and graphics are very well handled.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players highlighting its ability to create genuinely hilarious moments, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews note that the combination of challenging gameplay and unexpected, comedic situations leads to frequent laughter, making it a fun experience overall. The game's quirky design and interactions contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, ensuring that players enjoy both the thrills and the laughs.
“The game can for sure have a few funny moments, especially when a friend doesn't pay attention and just ends up as wall decoration due to an explosive.”
“The devs have created an experience where cinematic and terrifying events happen organically and we found ourselves cry laughing multiple times.”
“Overall gameplay is fun with friends; we spend time laughing just as much as we do screaming.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on some systems and offers adjustable graphics settings, many players report significant performance issues, particularly during loading and with certain mechanics. Some users suggest that the game requires further optimization and bug fixes, indicating that it may not perform well on lower-end hardware.
“Runs smoothly, minimal graphic/performance issues, and fun gameplay loop.”
“The game plays incredibly well on both my gaming PC and workhorse laptop; you can turn the graphics from photo-realistic to basically potato graphics if you find your performance waning.”
“First of all, optimization is important. I understand that this game has a big map and detailed locations, and it is hard to optimize it well for a small team (I don't know how many people have worked on this game).”
“Just needs more optimization.”
“As of 10/27/2024 - I would allow the devs 3-6 months to work out the bugs and creature mechanics; it's poorly optimized.”
“Horribly, horribly un-optimized, ultra janky mechanics.”
- stability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game is described as slightly buggy, with occasional glitches that are typical for an early access title. Despite these issues, players find the gameplay enjoyable and entertaining, especially in cooperative settings. Overall, while stability may not be perfect, it does not significantly detract from the fun experience.
“Runs great and the server browser is working on day one!”
“The game has been incredibly stable since launch, with minimal bugs.”
“I haven't experienced any crashes or major issues; the stability is impressive.”
“It is a bit buggy and jank at times; this is to be expected of an early access game, but for the most part, it's fine.”
“It's very cheap, and while there are some glitches here and there (one of my huskies decided it was done and just floated out of the Arctic), it's a hell of a good time, especially with a good buddy or two along with you.”
“A tad bit buggy.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around completing quests to collect "classified documents" while navigating a horror movie-like atmosphere with friends, leading to humorous moments. Although the mission-based system may initially be confusing, players find the expansive map and numerous quests engaging enough to sustain interest over 20-30 hours of gameplay. Frequent updates enhance the experience, primarily focusing on bug fixes and balancing.
“The best $6 I ever spent! Playing with friends feels like being in a horror movie story, filled with funny moments. I have very high hopes for this game; keep it up!”
“You won't get bored even after 20-30 hours of gameplay. The map is big, there are a lot of quests to do, and you can make many plans on how to escape with all tasks completed.”
“The story is engaging and keeps you invested in the gameplay, making every quest feel meaningful and exciting.”
“You drop in, do quests and activate things to get 'classified documents', and leave by calling in a chopper.”
“The mission-based systems can be a tad confusing at first, but you gradually grasp the objectives.”
“You won't get bored even after 20-30 hours of gameplay, the map is big, there are a lot of quests to do, and you can make a lot of plans on how to escape with all of the tasks done.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback; while the soundtrack is praised for enhancing the atmosphere, some users report audio bugs when enemies are nearby, leading to a recommendation to turn the music off during gameplay. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's tension and ambiance.
“The atmosphere is good, and the soundtrack is excellent.”
“By the way, turn the music off.”
“The audio and music have bugs when enemies are nearby.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find grinding in the game to be an enjoyable experience, particularly when done with friends, reminiscent of the fun they had during the initial release of Lethal Company.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that replayability is a significant aspect of the game, with players appreciating the variety in gameplay and the potential for different experiences in subsequent playthroughs. The game's design encourages exploration and experimentation, enhancing its longevity and appeal. Overall, users find that replayability adds substantial value to their gaming experience.
“The game offers a multitude of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to try new approaches every time.”
“The dynamic world events and random encounters ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, keeping the experience exciting.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replaying it feel like a chore rather than an adventure.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to dive back in; the side quests are repetitive and uninspired.”
“Despite the initial excitement, the lack of varied outcomes means that replaying the game feels more like a slog than a fresh experience.”
