Overgrowth

Unique, frantic combat interspersed with mediocre platforming.

Starting at $5.99Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on itch.io Store

Overgrowth is a fantasy hack and slash game featuring a ninja rabbit protagonist with lightning-fast acrobatics. Play in single-player, local multi-player, co-op, or PvP modes, with split screen options. The game encourages experimentation and features stunning visuals, good music, and a good story that will make you laugh, though it can be buggy. After completing the main story and DLC campaigns, explore user-created mods from the Steam Workshop or Secret Forum.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,698 reviews

story386 positive mentions

stability136 negative mentions

The combat system is unique and satisfying, allowing for fluid and dynamic fighting mechanics.
The game features impressive ragdoll physics that enhance the overall experience and add humor to combat.
The modding community is active, providing additional content and custom scenarios that extend the game's replayability.

The story is weak and lacks depth, often feeling like an afterthought to the combat.
The game feels unfinished and lacks substantial content, with many levels being short and repetitive.
Platforming mechanics can be frustrating and inconsistent, leading to moments of annoyance during gameplay.

story
1,850 mentions
21 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Overgrowth" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lacking depth and coherence. While some appreciate the simple premise of a rabbit fighting to free its kind from oppression, others criticize the narrative for being disjointed, poorly written, and overly simplistic, often feeling like an afterthought to the gameplay. The inclusion of multiple storylines, including a remake of "Lugaru," offers some variety, but many players feel that the overall storytelling fails to engage or provide a satisfying experience, often leading to a preference for the game's combat and modding capabilities over its narrative.
- “The main story has you freeing a bunch of adorable yet mighty rabbits from evil overlords (because every good story needs a dose of rabbit justice), and that’s just the start.”
- “This game is definitely one of the games that has a very interesting story.”
- “The story is short but the community levels are plenty that you can play for hours.”
- “The story is trash, but we're not here for that.”
- “The story is crap; for example, many deaths happen offscreen and there is 0 story pacing. Oh, you made a friend? Next scene, now you have to kill him.”
- “The story is weak, there are fighting mechanics removed that were in Lugaru, the fighting is easy, you can repeatedly jump kick and not be punished.”
gameplay
1,067 mentions
38 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Overgrowth" is characterized by its unique and satisfying combat mechanics, which blend fast-paced brawling with parkour elements, offering a visceral experience that many players find addictive. However, the game suffers from inconsistencies in execution, with physics quirks and design choices sometimes detracting from the overall enjoyment, leading to repetitive strategies like cheesing enemy AI. While the core mechanics are praised for their ambition and potential, the lack of content and polish leaves players wanting more, making it feel more like a tech demo than a fully realized game.
- “The gameplay loop here is so addictive and the combat, while challenging, is very satisfying when you pull off some cool moves.”
- “The core combat mechanics are so expertly crafted that every blow you land feels like a minor victory, and the platforming (while a little janky at times) is very fun and has a great sense of flow when running and jumping off walls or crossing huge gaps.”
- “The combat mechanics are brilliant, and the parkour stuff is a lot of fun.”
- “The mechanics are solid, but quirks of physics and design choices often get in the way of fairness and fun.”
- “While the game's ambition is commendable, certain shortcomings in execution and gameplay mechanics prevent it from reaching its full potential.”
- “The gameplay loop is very repetitive, and the story doesn't end.”
graphics
427 mentions
46 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful environments and character designs, while others note issues such as texture problems and dated visuals. Some players appreciate the artistic style and lighting effects, highlighting that the graphics are effective for an indie title, but not groundbreaking. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good, they are often described as lacking polish and can suffer from performance issues on lower-end systems.
- “The game's anthropomorphic characters and visually striking environments contribute to an immersive and aesthetically pleasing experience.”
- “The graphics are great, the animations are great, it all feels somewhat realistic, not to mention the level design is very well done as well.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the combat is excellent, and the animations are very good.”
- “Graphics are definitely not a wow factor for the game but they’re effective.”
- “The graphics feel dated for only being about 2 years old at the time of this review.”
- “The graphics are old and outdated.”
stability
141 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous users reporting a variety of bugs, glitches, and crashes that detract from the overall experience. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable despite these issues, many describe the game as feeling unfinished and unstable, particularly in terms of mechanics like combat and movement. Overall, the consensus is that while the game has potential, its current state is marred by significant stability problems.
- “This game works natively on Linux and runs great, except for the swamp levels where the frames dip a bit.”
- “With games like this, you would expect bugs and running errors, but even on my old laptop, this game runs great at full resolution.”
- “Fair: almost bug-free (1 crash in 75 minutes). The art is decent, and the difficulty on the hardest setting is challenging enough to not be boring.”
- “The game is riddled with bugs and glitches, so dying to something you have no control over is often the case.”
- “A buggy, unplayable mess. I got it for half the price it's at in the Steam store and I still feel totally ripped off. The game has no tutorial whatsoever, so far as I can tell the combat is just button mashing.”
- “The bigger problem is how often the game freezes, crashes, and so on, especially when changing between modes. It performs terribly, since my PC can play pretty much every new game on high graphics without an issue.”
humor
116 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is predominantly derived from its quirky ragdoll physics and absurd combat scenarios, leading to numerous laugh-out-loud moments, such as exaggerated deaths and silly character interactions. Players appreciate the blend of funny dialogue and chaotic gameplay, although some find the humor can wear thin over time. Overall, the game is celebrated for its entertaining and often ridiculous antics, making it a fun experience for those who enjoy lighthearted, comedic gaming.
- “For that and its funny physics, I'll drop an 8/10.”
- “The physics are amazingly hilarious and something about the dialogue has some kind of charm.”
- “Great game, really funny. I highly recommend it to any fans of games such as Castle Crashers, Battle Block Theater, or turn-based combat games.”
optimization
116 mentions
17 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
28 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including lag, stuttering, and long loading times, particularly on lower-end systems. While some users have found ways to improve performance through mods or settings adjustments, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and requires a powerful computer to run smoothly. Despite its potential and engaging gameplay, the lack of polish and optimization detracts from the experience for many players.
- “I really love this game, this unusual graphics, very good optimization, unusual plot.”
- “So far, the game seems well optimized (getting up to 200fps on a Ryzen 1700 + GTX 1070 on medium settings) and has mods such as arena and versus available for post-campaign meta.”
- “Update: the game is optimized better, so you can play with multiple enemies/allies.”
- “The game is unoptimized, often slightly glitchy, and laggy.”
- “An unfinished, unoptimized mess of a game that severely underestimated and did not reach for its full potential.”
- “This is probably the most poorly optimized game I have ever played; I'm sick of the long loading screens, the 30fps, and god forbid the world's laggiest and boring campaign.”
music
111 mentions
36 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the game's mood, particularly during exploration and combat. However, some players find it repetitive and forgettable, with criticisms regarding its mixing and lack of variety. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated by some for its fittingness and emotional resonance, others feel it detracts from the experience due to its monotony.
- “The music is another highlight; whether it be the atmospheric tracks during platforming and exploration, or the more intense music during combat, it's consistently pretty good and always fitting.”
- “The music is fantastic; I find it very fitting for the setting and it does pretty well at setting the mood for scenes.”
- “The art, music, and sounds are just amazing; so much effort has been poured into them that it's hard to ignore, the scenes for the campaign and challenge maps are crafted in a way that really makes for that feeling of epic.”
- “The music is also awful in some stages, including the final.”
- “The music on its own is tolerable, but its mixing is quite poorly done, and in the end, it comes across as highly repetitive and grating, aside from the longer and more in-depth main theme.”
- “The soundtrack is quite weak and I absolutely zoned it out while playing.”
replayability
49 mentions
35 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising the extensive modding community and sandbox features that enhance replay value, while others criticize the short campaign and lack of content, leading to a perception of limited replayability. Many reviews highlight that while the core gameplay can be enjoyable, the overall experience may not justify the price without significant updates or additional content. Overall, the presence of mods and community-created content can significantly boost replayability for some, but others find the base game lacking in depth and longevity.
- “Hours of replay value in endless mode and the story is fantastic.”
- “The gameplay is to die for, the story while short is fantastic and absolutely replayable, and that is just the main story let alone the three other campaigns it comes with built into the main game.”
- “Endless replayability and just incredibly enjoyable.”
- “The game has the worst story I have ever had the displeasure of experiencing, and while I wouldn't have much of a problem with this, it controls the gameplay and the game's replayability.”
- “Overall, I enjoyed the game, but if we can just get some of those proper challenges rolling, then that will massively help out its replayability, and I could spend a lot more time actually playing the game.”
- “I want to like this game, and a lot of replayability, but with so little content the replayability factor wears down.”
character development
33 mentions
30 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Overall, character development in the game is largely criticized for being minimal and one-dimensional, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of a compelling storyline or meaningful character arcs. While the character designs and combat mechanics receive praise, the absence of depth in character interactions and development leaves players feeling uninvested in the narrative. Many reviewers suggest that the game could benefit significantly from enhanced character development to complement its intriguing world and design.
- “The attention to detail in character design and the diverse landscapes enhance the overall atmosphere, creating a world that is intriguing to explore.”
- “The game is an interesting concept, but more character development is needed if you're in it for the story and not the fighting.”
- “Just started playing a few hours, got immersed in the lore (that's still being pieced together through user-created stories and developers' comics, etc.) and immediately have a soft spot for this game. The character design is great, and the potential for other races/stories/characters is massive, and I can't wait to see it develop further.”
- “If the story was longer, I feel that there could've been room for some character development among the cast and better reasoning across the board than 'I have no choice!' from every character.”
- “There isn't a lot of background given on the setting or characters, and there isn't a lot of deep character development, so it is difficult to feel invested in the story.”
- “While the story consists entirely of dialogue, there is little to no character development or any engrossing dramatic scenes.”
atmosphere
32 mentions
66 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that complements both exploration and combat. Players appreciate the attention to detail in character design and diverse landscapes, which create a visually stunning and intriguing world. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in graphics and world-building, the overall ambiance is described as unique and engaging, drawing players into its richly crafted environments.
- “The attention to detail in character design and the diverse landscapes enhance the overall atmosphere, creating a world that is intriguing to explore.”
- “A beautiful game with a great, immersive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere of the gameplay is great, the maps are stunning, and the characters are positive.”
- “The one campaign Therium does give multiple routes which is interesting, but ultimately that does little to combat the stilted feel, and the worldbuilding doesn't really land if the atmosphere doesn't.”
- “With all of this, I see that they're still working hard at this, so while I admire the graphics, the atmosphere, and an ass-kicking rabbit, I'm going to have to say in its current state I cannot recommend it.”
- “The anthropomorphic animal warriors and the semi-realistic atmosphere bring to mind classics like Redwall and Watership Down, and the brutality only cements those associations.”
grinding
24 mentions
13 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
54 % negative mentions
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring significant time investment to progress. Many reviews highlight that the combat and platforming elements become boring and frustrating due to inconsistent controls and the need to repeatedly engage with challenging enemies. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a major drawback, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.
- “A bit grindy at times.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “Hard and long grinding required.”
- “You do not adequately prepare me for this game -- even though I played the original years ago and became able to beat multiple wolves at once, although I agree I am older now -- by having a mission where there is a dog with a sword but if you fail you must tediously repeat other kills over and over and over again with the morose music getting on your nerves.”
- “You certainly could fight them 'properly' but it's tedious and not very fun.”
- “After some time, this just becomes grindy and repetitive.”
emotional
15 mentions
73 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players expressing nostalgia and a deep connection to their childhood experiences, while others find the story lacking depth and engagement. Many reviewers feel that the game could have benefited from a more developed narrative and character arcs, as the current storyline is perceived as weak and unmemorable. Despite the fun gameplay, the emotional impact is often overshadowed by the game's shortcomings in storytelling.
- “Just playing the first level of the story got me so emotional because I just remember how I played it as a kid.”
- “Update 1.4 is supposedly going to be the final update, and seeing the devs put the final touches on this weird project they've been working on for just about a decade is surprisingly a bit emotional for me.”
- “I was about 10 years old when my mother said to him, 'if you ever want to see your grandchildren graduate, you have to stop immediately.' Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “Yet there is no real story mode to hold it all together, and the two campaigns that are available are a weak remake of the game Lugaru, which has a much worse story, and Overgrowth itself, which is a boring story filled with unlikable characters and weak, dry writing.”
monetization
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is straightforward, requiring only the initial purchase with no additional DLC or in-game purchases, which some players appreciate. However, there are concerns that the reliance on the Steam Workshop and the overall presentation may give the impression of a cash grab, despite the developers' apparent effort and care in creating the game.
- “Honestly, even if you finish the story, there are a couple of different game modes you can try. The price of the game is the only thing you have to pay for - there's no DLC or in-game purchases.”
- “The monetization model is refreshing; you pay once and get access to everything without any additional costs.”
- “I appreciate that the game doesn't pressure you into making in-game purchases. It's a complete experience right from the start.”
- “In summary, I truly want to believe the creator(s) put a lot of time and care into making this the best game it could possibly be, but at every turn, every time I look back at it, it just starts to look more and more like a cash grab.”
- “It's clear enough that this isn't just some cash grab, but it makes me nervous all the same.”