OVERWHELM

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 156 reviews
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
  • music
OVERWHELM Game Cover
Overwhelm has something interesting going on under the hood with its enemy evolution system, but it doesn't hold up its end of the bargain when it comes to providing rewarding gameplay and a fun challenge. The presentation as a whole is excellent; I only wish this quality carried over to the game's design.
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"OVERWHELM" is a horror shooter game that offers a range of play modes, including single-player, local multi-player, and PvP. The game features a tense and atmospheric world with intense combat, where enemies become increasingly powerful as you defeat bosses. With its sensational gameplay, spectacular visuals, and excellent soundtrack, "OVERWHELM" provides a unique and thrilling gaming experience.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 156 reviews
gameplay17 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game creates a tense atmosphere with its horror elements and sound design, making players feel constantly on edge.
  • The core gameplay is engaging, with tight controls and a unique mechanic where defeating bosses makes enemies stronger, adding to the challenge.
  • The art style is visually appealing, and the game is praised for its polished presentation and responsive mechanics.
  • The camera control is frustrating, often leading to cheap deaths from offscreen enemies that players cannot react to in time.
  • The game can feel unfair due to random enemy health variations, making encounters unpredictable and sometimes frustrating.
  • The lack of variety in level design and the repetitive nature of the gameplay can lead to a feeling of monotony, especially after multiple deaths.
  • gameplay57 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by tight controls and a fast-paced, action-oriented experience that combines elements of survival horror with run-and-gun mechanics. While many players appreciate the atmosphere and the challenge of navigating levels and boss fights, some criticize the game for its frustrating mechanics, such as inconsistent enemy behavior and a punishing death system that can disrupt gameplay flow. Overall, the core gameplay is seen as solid and engaging, but it is marred by design choices that can lead to a frustrating experience for some players.

    • “The fast pace, enemies, atmosphere, and death mechanic work together to create fantastic tension.”
    • “Controls are tight and satisfying for twitch reflex gameplay.”
    • “Every aspect of the game feels finely honed, and the gameplay combines with the music and art to create a real survival-horror experience despite the gameplay being purely action-platformer.”
    • “Where overwhelm succeeds in creating an atmosphere, it fails in delivering on the premise of its gameplay.”
    • “There is a good game hidden somewhere in Overwhelm, but as it is, there are too many problems that add up and nonsensical mechanics that end up making me unable to recommend the game to anyone.”
    • “The gameplay stays the same from start to finish, and enemies get more and more frustrating the further you progress.”
  • atmosphere34 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its ability to evoke a sense of dread and tension, enhanced by a dark, immersive soundtrack and striking visuals. Reviewers highlight the oppressive and visceral world created through minimalistic art styles and effective sound design, which together contribute to a uniquely unsettling experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, successfully immersing players in a thrilling and stressful environment.

    • “With that central mechanic, as well as the oppressive atmosphere created by the game's visual style, music, and sound design, it evokes a sense of dread that very few games manage to for me.”
    • “The visuals and the music/sound effects really add to the tense atmosphere and the feeling of impending danger.”
    • “The atmosphere is expertly crafted; it's a great and visceral world.”
    • “Where Overwhelm succeeds in creating an atmosphere, it fails in delivering on the premise of its gameplay.”
    • “The music is this really grungy and crunchy synth bass style which contributes to the oppressive and stressful atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Because of these things, and you losing most progress on death, the game has an oppressive atmosphere.”
  • music32 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and dread-inducing qualities, effectively enhancing the survival-horror experience despite the action-platformer gameplay. While some players note that the soundtrack can be repetitive or sparse at times, it generally complements the game's oppressive atmosphere and visual style, contributing to a tense and immersive environment. Overall, the combination of music, sound design, and art creates a cohesive and engaging experience that resonates with players.

    • “The music is this really grungy and crunchy synth bass style which contributes to the oppressive and stressful atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Every aspect of the game feels finely honed, and the gameplay combines with the music and art to create a real survival-horror experience despite the gameplay being purely action-platformer.”
    • “The sound effects and music significantly add to the great atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The music is mostly non-existent.”
    • “I would rather have some intense music (maybe the title screen music??) than anything; worst of all, the buzzing sound isn't even music, it is effect sounds.”
    • “The music gets repetitive at times, but it's more ambient music, so it gets a pass.”
  • graphics30 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as simple yet effective, with a polished pixel art style that enhances the tense atmosphere. While some players appreciate the minimalistic aesthetics and cohesive design with sound, others criticize certain design choices and the overwhelming visual style. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's mood, creating an engaging and sometimes frightening experience.

    • “The visuals and the music/sound effects really add to the tense atmosphere and the feeling of impending danger.”
    • “Tight controls, gorgeous pixel graphics, cool soundtrack, and a reasonable price.”
    • “Fantastic atmosphere, graphics, audio and visual effects, gameplay and map design.”
    • “Pretty aesthetics, horrible design choices, torturous to play.”
    • “The visual style is oppressive and harsh, with a two-tone graphical style that may be hard on the eyes.”
    • “But with the visuals it has, I'm bordering on not recommending it with the price tag.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the ability to choose different paths and the inclusion of a new game plus mode, others find the exploration dull and the overall replay value lacking. Many reviewers suggest that once the game is completed, there isn't much incentive to replay it, except for speedrunning.

    • “The ability to choose which areas to explore first adds to the replayability factor and enhances decision-making on how to approach completion.”
    • “It's replayable solo as well, because you can choose different paths, which in turn affects what kind of monsters spawn where.”
    • “The game also features a New Game Plus mode that increases difficulty, providing an additional layer of challenge and replayability.”
    • “The game also comes with a New Game Plus that increases difficulty, but it doesn't change enough to enhance replayability.”
    • “This short, combat-focused platformer has some very entertaining boss fights, but is hindered by boring exploration and next to zero replay value.”
    • “The one thing this game could benefit from is some replayability value because after beating it once, there's not much else to do unless you're a speedrunner or something.”
  • story4 mentions

    The game's story is minimal and somewhat underwhelming, with some players finding it lacking in depth. However, others appreciate its bite-sized, focused narrative that effectively conveys themes of fear and exploration, complemented by a minimalist aesthetic. Overall, while the story may not be the main draw, it contributes to the game's atmosphere and experience.

    • “The small chunk of story the game had to offer felt really engaging.”
    • “I like this game because it is bite-sized, focused, and has a minimalist aesthetic that successfully tells the story.”
    • “It has some sparse story elements with a focus on fear, exploration, and boss battles.”
    • “The last segment of the game felt a bit underwhelming, especially in terms of gameplay, and the limited story it offered was disappointing.”
    • “The game features sparse story elements, prioritizing fear, exploration, and boss battles over a cohesive narrative.”
    • “While I appreciate the game's bite-sized and minimalist aesthetic, it ultimately fails to deliver a compelling story.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the challenge and engagement, the lack of save points leads to frustrating repetition and tedious gameplay. The difficulty can detract from the overall enjoyment, prompting some to recommend using assist options to alleviate the grind.

    • “I found it decently engaging, but unfortunately it decided save points are for losers, and if you die, you have to start over from the beginning, which is just tedious and frustrating padding.”
    • “The game is very hard, and while it does adhere to the horror theme, having to do the same thing over and over can get tedious, so don't hesitate to try the assist options.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report frequent glitches that disrupt gameplay, often placing players in unexpected situations just as they start to master the game. This instability detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The moment you start to get the hang of it, the game glitches and puts you in a completely different situation.”
    • “I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
    • “The game is riddled with bugs that cause it to freeze or crash unexpectedly.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

Buy OVERWHELM

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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