Overland

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 315 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Overland Game Cover
Overland is a strategy horror roguelike that's as difficult as it is rewarding. Its storytelling and presentation rivals the AAA sphere and raises the bar for what indie horror games can be.
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Overland is a single-player Science Fiction Turn Based Strategy game with an intriguing post-apocalyptic story. Exceptional visuals and music create a dense atmosphere as you manage a group of travelers, fight creatures, rescue survivors, and make supply-scavenging decisions. Version 1.2 offers new pug dog companions, rest stop levels, difficulty settings, game modifiers, and updated dialogue and stats displays.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 315 reviews
gameplay27 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful graphics and an atmospheric setting that enhances the overall experience.
  • It offers a unique blend of puzzle-solving and tactical gameplay, requiring players to think strategically about their moves.
  • The game has a high replay value due to its procedurally generated levels and the different outcomes based on player choices.
  • The game can be extremely difficult and punishing, leading to frustration for many players.
  • Inventory management is cumbersome, with limited slots for items, making it challenging to carry necessary supplies.
  • There is a lack of clear tutorials or guidance, which can leave players confused about mechanics and how to progress.
  • gameplay109 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its simple yet challenging mechanics and strategic depth, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic, repetitive, and lacking in content. Many users noted that the game can be unforgiving and requires a steep learning curve, but once mastered, it offers a satisfying experience. Overall, the gameplay is described as a blend of enjoyable mechanics and frustrating limitations, with a strong emphasis on trial and error.

    • “The gameplay presents interesting situations constantly, and the general gameplay loop is very satisfying.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay.”
    • “The mechanics are simplistic in nature, but combine together with your choices to create unique and challenging scenarios where you must balance resource consumption with risk.”
    • “Gameplay is just a 'collect gas simulator', gets repetitive very fast.”
    • “The game is disgustingly repetitive and stripped down of any possible mechanics.”
    • “The difficulty level is extremely unforgiving, which combined with a forced 'ironman' save model together with a UI in which the only way to learn the mechanics of the game is by trial and error means that most players probably won't get much more than 10 hours out of it before giving up.”
  • graphics58 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and simplistic art style, often described as low-poly or polygonal cutouts, which effectively contributes to the overall atmosphere. Many reviewers appreciate the strong aesthetic consistency and beautiful visuals, noting that the graphics enhance the gameplay experience despite some critiques regarding the game's mechanics. Overall, the art style is seen as a highlight, with a pleasing color palette and engaging character animations that resonate well with players.

    • “The graphics beautifully stylized and add to the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay.”
    • “The stylized graphics are moody but clear, and the controls are simple.”
    • “The graphics, character animation, and effects are simple but compelling.”
    • “I played this game one afternoon, and it was soon clear to me that this is a very neat idea with some great indie graphics, but really with poor and uninspired game mechanics.”
    • “If it weren't for the graphics, I would not only be slamming this with a hard refusal; I'd be lining this one up for the 'worst game of 2019' award.”
  • story56 mentions

    The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels bare-bones and underdeveloped. While some players appreciate the emergent storytelling that arises from character interactions and gameplay mechanics, others find the narrative unsatisfying and repetitive. Overall, the storytelling aspect is seen as a mixed bag, with a few interesting moments overshadowed by a general lack of engaging plot and character development.

    • “The story-telling aspect is something I love especially.”
    • “I absolutely love this game for its unsettling and subtle environmental storytelling, thoughtful and engaging gameplay, and its cute and personality-filled dialogue. I'm also a sucker for randomly generated characters and emergent storytelling for which this game is a perfect example.”
    • “The story hit me so hard I've now told it to at least a dozen people who all want to play this game.”
    • “The overland journey is atmospheric but has no real story to speak of.”
    • “The story is bare bones and not even worth discussing; I would say that's to its detriment, but there are a few interesting story events that happen that surprised me and I enjoyed when that happened.”
    • “Game is very basic, does not have any form of storyline, character interaction is close to nothing.”
  • atmosphere35 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique art style, compelling sound design, and ability to create a tense, immersive experience. While many reviewers appreciate the atmospheric elements, such as the music and visuals, some criticize the lack of depth in gameplay and story, leading to a mixed reception. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal despite some gameplay shortcomings.

    • “I love the atmosphere; I love how it jumps in with no guidance or pushing me to choose one way or another and allows me to learn as I go.”
    • “The atmosphere and even the limited dialogue is engaging.”
    • “The beautiful visuals and animations, combined with great sound design, result in an atmosphere that is somehow both serene and unsettling.”
    • “I can't hang my hat on the mood/atmosphere; the gameplay has been simplified nearly out of existence, the characters are 'unique' in exactly the same written voice, and the enemies are nonthreateningly abstract.”
    • “Graphics here are very simplistic as apparent from screenshots and trailers; music, on the other hand, adds to the atmosphere, with some tracks once again reminding of annihilation.”
    • “The design and sound are amazing, and there's a lot to be said for the atmosphere.”
  • replayability19 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the procedural generation and roguelike elements that offer a degree of replay value, many feel that the lack of depth, underwhelming ending, and repetitive gameplay limit its long-term appeal. Some users enjoyed the challenge and ambiance enough to consider multiple playthroughs, but overall, the consensus leans towards a lack of significant replayability unless future updates enhance the experience.

    • “I somehow hope that updates continue to be released for the game, because it has so much potential and replayability options.”
    • “Personally, I really like the roguelike aspect of the game because it makes sacrifices like leaving a survivor behind that much more necessary and impactful, and the randomly generated levels give the game a ton of replayability.”
    • “Overland has a very high replayability, so even if you'd complete it once, the new playthroughs would be as interesting as before.”
    • “It's about 6 hours of gameplay and doesn't have a lot of replay value unless you want to challenge yourself.”
    • “On the other hand, the downside is the ending is underwhelming, to say the least, and the game gets so easy after a while that it doesn't have a lot of replayability despite the procedurally generated levels and characters.”
    • “It does look nice and there is a bit of a story, but replay value is very limited - mostly because the basic gameplay loop is nothing special.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the visuals. While some players find the soundtrack beautiful and immersive, others note its repetitiveness and brevity, leading to moments where they prefer to mute it. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's aesthetic, though opinions vary on its prominence and impact during gameplay.

    • “Not only are the low poly assets nice to the eyes, the music is orgasmic to my ears; the setting and tone are fine-tuned to my tastes.”
    • “Overland is a wonderful game in the bleak setting of the post-apocalypse. It has beautiful graphics, wonderful music, and I will play it again.”
    • “I actually didn't notice much music, but a game like this is fine without it.”
    • “Almost no music and the interaction feels too weird; any action takes eons and the most important isn't food, but fuel.”
    • “The art style and the music make the game.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and unengaging, with players feeling that the repetitive tasks overshadow any potential enjoyment. Many reviews highlight the lack of variation in gameplay and the frustrating nature of the mechanics, leading to a painful experience rather than a rewarding one. Overall, the game is seen as failing to balance its beautiful design with enjoyable gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game has a bunch of tedious systems and it never feels like you're doing much except picking up fuel and driving.”
    • “Overland looks beautiful and has a cool concept, but it’s too focused on tedious tasks.”
    • “I hate this game - it looks wonderful and it could've been so good but instead it is both frustrating and tedious.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its clever character design, amusing animations, and the hilarious outcomes of trial and error gameplay. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the characters and their interactions, as well as the emergent stories that arise from mistakes. Overall, the game successfully combines challenge and humor, enhancing its replayability and enjoyment.

    • “The animation and sense of humor add to the game's enjoyment; and the variety of characters, items, and scenes add to its replayability.”
    • “There are even good boys who refuse to attack mobs, which I found tasteful and funny.”
    • “Awesome game design, well-crafted characters with funny details.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience, with some players feeling a strong emotional investment in their allies and enjoying the sense of adventure, while others found the game to be boring and lacking emotional engagement.

    • “The fact that I could do all of that made me feel really good when playing.”
    • “It felt like a new adventure every time, and I felt a bit of an emotional investment to each of my allies.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs and crashes, which detract from the overall experience. Many users express frustration with these problems, suggesting that without substantial patches, the game is not worth its current price.

    • “Its biggest issue, on top of its mildly lacking quality, is that it's buggy and crashes from time to time.”
    • “Unless someone is okay with the frustrations of a buggy game that requires very long play sessions to beat, or unless something is done to patch these issues, I cannot and will not willingly recommend this game to anyone for the current price.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers express a desire for more substantial character development, indicating that even basic growth or progression would enhance the overall experience.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
    • “The depth of character development really enhances the emotional impact of the game, making every choice feel significant.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

Buy Overland

Play time

13hMedian play time
24hAverage play time
2-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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