Outbreak: The New Nightmare

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 176 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Outbreak: The New Nightmare Game Cover
There are some games out there that are "so-bad-its-good," like most of Swery's games. Outbreak: The New Nightmare is one of those "so-bad-it-gave-me-depression" ones. The developer likely is inexperienced, and working with almost no budget, but not everyone should make a game. The saying "anyone can make a game", means that a good game designer can come from anywhere. All survival-horror fans must stay away from this one.
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"Outbreak: The New Nightmare" is a survival horror game set in a city overrun by the undead. Players must scavenge for supplies, face off against zombies, and try to escape with their lives. The game features local co-op play for up to two players and high definition 3D graphics. It is a chilling love letter to classic 90s survival horror games.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 176 reviews
music4 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Captures the nostalgic feel of classic Resident Evil games, especially Resident Evil: Outbreak.
  • Fun to play with friends, enhancing the cooperative experience.
  • Offers unique playable characters with different attributes, adding variety to gameplay.
  • Janky animations and poor graphics detract from the overall experience.
  • Camera angles can be frustrating, making navigation and combat difficult.
  • Limited content and features in early access, leading to repetitive gameplay.
  • story25 mentions

    The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and uninspired, relying heavily on reading notes and diaries without meaningful environmental storytelling or engaging plot progression. Many players feel that the narrative lacks cohesion and fails to motivate continued play, despite some acknowledging the presence of unique characters and missions. Overall, the story is seen as a weak point, detracting from the gameplay experience.

    • “The story is written pretty well, the graphics are pretty damn good, and the sound and music make it feel like a Resident Evil game.”
    • “This game is very reminiscent of Resident Evil: Outbreak, but it has its own story, unique characters, and some really cool bosses.”
    • “+ 6 characters with their own backstory, buffs, debuffs, stats, and perks.”
    • “All the weapons feel the same, there is no real story, no environmental storytelling (you just read notes and diaries), and nothing ever happens, at least in the first two maps.”
    • “Has no story, so I'm not inclined to continue playing.”
    • “Lastly, I don't like the way the story starts and ends for each stage, and it doesn't flow together at all.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    Overall, the graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting issues such as clipping, graphical glitches, and subpar animations. While some appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic survival horror games, others criticize the visuals as outdated and lacking polish. Improvements in optimization and graphical enhancements are frequently suggested to elevate the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are a nice boost from the pseudo flash animation look of the first game.”
    • “The story is written pretty well, the graphics are pretty damn good and the sound and music makes it sound like a Resident Evil game.”
    • “The graphics remind me of good old classic survival horror, with the option for tank controls to give the finishing touch.”
    • “The visuals are a tad murky, the camera movement much too chaotic, and the zombies, gore, and character animations are a little on the lame side.”
    • “Graphics are cell phone app game bad.”
    • “The graphics are bad, the animation is so stiff and there's only one for many actions (holding a pistol, shotgun, rifle, magnum, grenade launcher is the same clipping mess of a stance).”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic survival horror games like Resident Evil, while others criticize its lack of depth, poor mechanics, and frustrating level design. Players appreciate the local co-op feature and improved controls, but many find the inventory management cumbersome and the overall experience lacking in polish and complexity. Despite its potential, the game is seen as a barebones remake with room for significant improvement in various gameplay aspects.

    • “Classic Resident Evil gameplay with local co-op splitscreen for 2 players and 4 online.”
    • “I love how this is a Resident Evil Outbreak clone that actually works; the gameplay so far is fun, and the controls are way more improved compared to the original Outbreak games. It's a little dark at times on some levels, but it still works.”
    • “The idea of this game is great, and gameplay feels like old school survival horror games. There is a little problem that FPS is very low on insane quality, but it works great on very high quality.”
    • “Age-old mechanics are nowhere to be found either: you cannot interact with dropped items unless you have empty space in your inventory - which means that every time you want to pick something up and combine it, like the red herb equivalent, or ammo, you have to free it up.”
    • “Generic asset flip with store bought assets, awful gameplay, baffling level design, samey corridors and rooms due to only having 3 and a half wall models to work with, nonexistent sound design, and ridiculous balancing.”
    • “Gameplay involves you running around collecting a key to go explore a new area where; spoiler alert; you get another key and have to backtrack all the way to the other side of the map.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it fun and fitting for the atmosphere, while others criticize it as generic and lacking intensity, which detracts from the horror experience. Many noted that the music often feels out of place, especially in a dark setting, and some even remarked on the absence of memorable soundscapes during gameplay. Overall, the consensus suggests that the soundtrack could benefit from more atmospheric depth to enhance the game's eerie tone.

    • “We also thought the music was pretty fun.”
    • “The new areas can have different weather patterns, notes, music, and camera angles (which I especially liked in Faith).”
    • “The story is written pretty well, the graphics are pretty damn good, and the sound and music make it feel like a Resident Evil game.”
    • “I didn't find the music very fitting for a game set in a place so dark and creepy.”
    • “Music was basically nonexistent; I can't really recall any sounds during the entire hour of the first level because of footsteps, zombie moans, and gunshots.”
    • “The music is extremely generic and ruins the atmosphere.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the beautiful atmospheric effects and the dark, immersive environment reminiscent of classic survival horror games, others feel it lacks intensity and impactful music to enhance the horror experience. Critics note that the absence of a strong atmospheric presence, particularly in a game inspired by Resident Evil, detracts from its overall impact.

    • “There are some really beautiful atmospheric effects, like how the foggy hiking trail level turns your flashlight and muzzle flashes into a blinding strobe effect.”
    • “Now on the positive side it's dark, has great atmosphere and is very heavy on item management like the Resident Evil classics that we all know and love.”
    • “Forest is much smaller level than office but makes a nice change and is much more open and atmospheric.”
    • “The atmosphere wasn't there, and for a Resident Evil-inspired game, it should be one of the defining points.”
    • “It needs a more intense atmosphere and music to truly feel like a horror game.”
    • “The only thing that's missing is better background music to help set the atmosphere for each level.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization is notably poor, leading to low frame rates and stuttering, particularly on laptops. While the camera views are praised, the overall performance issues detract significantly from the experience, suggesting that improved optimization could enhance the game's value considerably.

    • “If you can get this game to run more optimized, it could definitely be sold for $20 easily.”
    • “It's ten times more worth the effort, and you get the full experience instead of just simple point-and-shoot infinite ammo mayhem with little to no optimization or anti-aliasing!”
    • “The use of screen space is not optimized at all.”
    • “I was getting stupid low FPS, and frame skipping/stuttering.”
    • “I think your camera views are Resident Evil perfect, but unfortunately the game is not optimized for my laptop.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is primarily derived from its quirky camera angles and character animations, which evoke laughter during exploration and combat. Players find the exaggerated movements, such as a character's clown-like walk, to be amusing and reminiscent of classic titles like Resident Evil. Overall, the comedic elements enhance the nostalgic experience while adding a lighthearted touch to gameplay.

    • “The camera angles made running around hilarious, but when it came time to fight zombies or whatever came at me, it was inconvenient.”
    • “The camera angles, as stated before, made me laugh a lot.”
    • “The way the characters moved also made me laugh a lot.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability, particularly in multiplayer settings where different character roles and cooperative gameplay enhance the experience. However, solo play may become repetitive due to backtracking and limited inventory. With additional scenarios and content planned for the future, players can look forward to even more replay value.

    • “Playing through in co-op is a blast, especially when each player assumes a role in the group. The RPG-style level-ups are also a welcome touch that adds to the replayability, and there are still more scenarios and content coming, which is great! I can't wait to see the game when it's finished!”
    • “I can see a lot of replay value here with groups, but it does get pretty stale solo after a while, due to all the backtracking with your limited inventory.”
    • “That game's replayability came from the variation that each character brought to a level, and this outbreak game is no different.”
    • “The game comes with a couple of scenario modes, all of which are playable with 1-4 players.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is commendable, with users reporting smooth controls and a lack of significant glitches or bugs. While some players may overlook minor graphical issues, the gameplay experience remains largely uninterrupted and enjoyable.

    • “There is quite a chunk of content here, and the achievements aren't buggy.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the online features are; I rarely experience disconnections.”
    • “The game is plagued by constant crashes and freezes, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experienced numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
    • “There are frequent connectivity issues that ruin the overall stability of the game.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players note that the game offers around 10 hours of content, with additional grinding required to complete certain achievements. While the core experience is engaging, the grind for completion may deter some players.

    • “There's about 10 hours of content here before you've seen everything. At this time, I'm at 11 hours and have done all the achievements besides the grindy ones. I'll get to them eventually.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
    • “I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over just to level up, which takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

36% average critic score

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