Pathfinder: Gallowspire Survivors
- September 14, 2023
- BKOM Studios
- 8h median play time
"Pathfinder: Gallowspire Survivors" is a roguelite survivor game set in the Pathfinder universe. Choose from three unique characters and explore 16 floors of Gallowspire, battling fierce bosses and mini-bosses. With over 67 abilities and 36 talents, enjoy endless strategy and community-requested features like hyper mode and detailed character sheets. Discover official Pathfinder art collectibles for hero improvements.
Reviews
- The game has a fun gameplay loop that keeps players engaged.
- The graphics and sound design are appealing, creating an enjoyable atmosphere.
- The companion mechanic adds an interesting layer to the gameplay.
- Progression feels slow and grindy, with upgrades often being minor and unimpactful.
- The game lacks variety in weapons and abilities, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- The Pathfinder theme feels underutilized, with little connection to the actual lore and mechanics of the Pathfinder universe.
- gameplay188 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it features some interesting mechanics, such as a companion system and unique boss fights, the overall experience can feel repetitive and grindy. Critics highlight issues with clunky controls, a lack of meaningful upgrades, and a gameplay loop that lacks excitement, leading to a sense of tedium. However, some players appreciate the game's value for its price and the potential for improvement during its early access phase.
“A respectable bullet heaven game; considering the price point, I'm getting more than my money's worth of gameplay hours.”
“The pace of gameplay is brisk, and the skill animations are impressive.”
“The core gameplay is indeed outstanding; the boss fights are unique and a lot like a full-fledged game.”
“The gameplay loop is as bland as it gets for this kind of game.”
“The overall feel from controls, UI, and mechanics feels a bit on the 'cheap' side, like a jam project or something.”
“I'm hopeful that the game can change during early access to be something I'll enjoy and play frequently, but as it is the game seems built around core concepts and gameplay loops that I find tedious instead of fun.”
- story82 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as weak and underdeveloped, with many players finding it shallow and unengaging, often feeling like a mere backdrop to the gameplay. While some appreciate the lore and setting, particularly its ties to the Pathfinder universe, the quest system is criticized for being repetitive and lacking meaningful narrative depth. Overall, the story does not seem to be a primary draw for players, who are more focused on the gameplay mechanics and progression.
“Great game, having a lot of fun with the upgrades and enjoying advancing the story.”
“It has a satisfying gameplay loop, more of a story than most entries have, and a decent amount of personality.”
“I like the art, the story dialogue, and the presentation of the lore, though I do feel that more could be - and from what I hear, will be - done to really cement this as a game which takes place on Golarion.”
“The story, lore, and writing are weak and not fleshed out, understandable for an early access rogue-like.”
“It is a very shallow bullet heaven with a very thin plot that is very thinly attached to an RPG system.”
“The story is not all that engaging and it is easy to skip.”
- grinding64 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and unrewarding, with players feeling that progression is slow and convoluted. Many reviews highlight that the lack of meaningful upgrades and repetitive gameplay contribute to a frustrating experience, making the grind feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge. Overall, while some players appreciate the traditional leveling system, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game relies too heavily on grinding, detracting from the enjoyment of the core gameplay.
“The grinding is still too heavy, even compared to many free mobile games.”
“It feels like the developers are trying to pad out the game by making it impossible to progress without grinding.”
“Bland design, dull gameplay, incredibly grindy progression.”
- graphics58 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the polished visuals and art style, particularly on handheld devices, while others criticize the basic animations and lack of distinctive design. Although the overall aesthetic is deemed satisfactory for a budget title, many reviewers feel there is significant room for improvement, especially in terms of sound effects and visual variety. Overall, while the graphics are not groundbreaking, they are considered decent for the genre, especially given the game's low price point.
“The sound, music, voiceover, and graphics are all very good.”
“Artwork is stunning, gameplay is satisfying and this is only on early access!”
“I like the setting, the graphics, the character design, the little RPG story in between levels.”
“I don't usually like to judge a game by its graphical qualities, but this one makes a mess of a style that should be more easily executed.”
“The third boss is missing sound for his attacks; the animations and graphics are very basic.”
“Personally, the quality and graphic design is the annoying thing and kind of boring...”
- replayability22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. While many players appreciate the unique twists offered by different classes and the presence of meta-progression elements that enhance replay value, some critics argue that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, limiting its long-term appeal. There is a consensus that with further development, the game's replayability could significantly improve.
“Each class adds a unique twist, enhancing replayability.”
“Fun roguelike with good replayability.”
“Abilities feel far more powerful, and each run is less of a slow burn, plus there are more meta-progression elements to collect in preparation for higher difficulties, giving the game more replayability.”
“I see a lot of potential with this game, but more work on the developers' side is definitely required to improve replayability.”
“The replayability, a characteristic feature for this genre, is not really there.”
“When all attacks don't call for any real change in gameplay, you just kinda fall back into running in circles, and that doesn't bring too much replayability.”
- stability18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with many players reporting frequent freezes, especially during boss stages and skill selection screens. While some users have experienced fewer issues, the overall consensus indicates that the game is plagued by bugs, including random crashes and malfunctioning abilities, making it feel unpolished and not ready for release.
“It's been pretty bug-free for me, but that's about the best thing I can say about it.”
“Not too buggy.”
“It's been pretty bug-free for me, but that's about the best thing I can say about it.”
“50% of the time when I reach the boss stages, the game just freezes.”
“This is a buggy mess not fit for release.”
“Game seems to be currently rather bug-ridden.”
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its thematic quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly during boss fights. However, some players find the gloomy and somber tone less energizing compared to other games in the genre, and there are suggestions for more diverse musical options. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, opinions vary on its suitability for the game's style.
“The idea is solid, the presentation is good, the music is amazing.”
“The boss fights have been fun so far and the music and visuals make for an enjoyable atmosphere.”
“The sound, music, voiceover, and graphics are all very good.”
“The music is thematic, but the gloomy, somber nature of it doesn't get me pumped to play like other games in the genre.”
“The music is pretty fantasy-based, which isn't what I would really look for in a game like this.”
“There's some other things they should really do, like adding more class options, making more music, and making the art style more distinctive, but those can come over time.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and screen jerking, particularly when variable refresh rate is enabled. While visuals and performance are commendable on handheld devices, there are calls for better AI optimization and clearer metrics on how character attributes impact performance. Overall, the game is seen as poorly optimized, despite some positive aspects.
“Nothing groundbreaking, but the visuals and performance are great on a handheld and you have a constant sense of progression.”
“We need to know exactly, in a quantified way, how an increase in each attribute affects the performance of the characters.”
“Very poorly optimized.”
“However, the game has grave performance issues.”
“I think the AI needs to be more optimized; they're very dull and their movement is dumb.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users feeling it resembles a cash grab leveraging the Pathfinder name. However, many appreciate the absence of in-game purchases and are satisfied with the $6 price point, recognizing the need to support the developers.
“I am perfectly happy paying $6 for this game; there are no in-game purchases, just the game itself. It's nice to see that they are compensating the people working on the game.”
“The game just feels like a cash grab on the name of Pathfinder.”
“In summary, the game plays like a predatory incremental mobile game without the cash grab.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Gallowspire is highly praised, with users highlighting its engaging visuals, music, and intriguing story snippets that enhance the overall experience. Despite some concerns about animation quality, the immersive environment and enjoyable boss fights contribute to a compelling atmosphere that many recommend.
“I really like the overall atmosphere of Gallowspire, and the story snippets you get to see are quite nice.”
“The boss fights have been fun so far, and the music and visuals make for an enjoyable atmosphere.”
“Once the animations get tightened up a bit, I would recommend the game for the atmosphere alone.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is initially engaging, particularly with the use of dice mechanics, but it tends to wear thin over time, especially for players who feel frustrated by the disparity between their expectations and the outcomes of their rolls. While some find the comedic elements amusing, others may be disappointed by the randomness that can lead to underwhelming rewards.
“I thought this was funny, but it might disappoint people who repeatedly see themselves miss out on rare or legendary nat 20 rewards only to end up with the randomly selected common loot as the reward when they finally land the lucky die roll.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally viewed as underwhelming and poorly implemented, with players expressing disappointment in the RPG elements. However, the setting, graphics, and character design are appreciated, along with the brief RPG story segments between levels.
“I like the setting, the graphics, the character design, and the little RPG story in between levels.”
“The RPG element to character design is underwhelming and weakly implemented.”