Predator: Hunting Grounds
- April 28, 2021
- IllFonic
- 6h median play time
"Predator: Hunting Grounds" is an asymmetrical multiplayer shooter that immerses players in the Predator universe. Choose to be part of an elite Fireteam completing paramilitary operations, or play as the Predator with advanced alien technology to hunt your prey. The game meticulously recreates the look and feel of the Predator lore, with lush jungles and signature weapons and abilities. Human vs. alien weaponry has never been this intense.
Reviews
- gameplay229 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the fun and engaging predator mechanics, while others criticize the balance and optimization issues. Players enjoy the asymmetrical gameplay and customization options, but express frustration over bugs, long matchmaking times, and repetitive missions. Overall, while the predator gameplay is often highlighted as a standout feature, the fireteam experience is seen as less compelling, leading to a desire for more content and improvements.
“I love the predator gameplay and how much you can do with its appearance and classes.”
“From intense firefights to strategic predator hunts, the game offers diverse gameplay elements that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
“The gameplay itself is really well done.”
“It doesn’t capture the feel of a true predator game—the mechanics and execution just don’t deliver.”
“Gameplay is extremely fast-paced and extremely unbalanced.”
“The game and its mechanics are clunky and, quite frankly, boring.”
- story153 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of a cohesive narrative or campaign, with players noting that it primarily consists of repetitive missions without a meaningful storyline. While there are audio logs and character backstories that provide some lore, many reviewers express a strong desire for a dedicated single-player mode or a more immersive story experience, as the current gameplay feels shallow and lacks depth. Overall, the absence of a substantial story detracts from the potential enjoyment of the game, despite its engaging mechanics and nostalgic references to the Predator franchise.
“Even though Predator: Hunting Grounds may not be the best game and may not be considered 'game of the year,' it is endlessly entertaining to play, stalking through the jungle as either a firefighter or a predator, unclear if you are the hunter or hunted is a rewarding experience, and the randomized missions keep things engaging, even without a cohesive and immersive story.”
“The game nails the aesthetic and tone of the first Predator film, down to Arnold Schwarzenegger himself voicing Dutch in a set of audio logs that directly follow the story of the first film (the narrative is genuinely compelling, if short).”
“There is even a pseudo-story that takes place sometime around the newest 'The Predator' movie that is unlocked in-game through audio recordings that Arnold himself did.”
“The worst aspect of the game is a total lack of PvE content or a story of any real kind.”
“No single player, no story, and no real connection to the movies other than tapes and recordings.”
“Very boring, no story mode which could have been really good and all you can do is play against 4 other people as the predator.”
- graphics121 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the visuals and character designs, particularly the predator skins, as well as the immersive environments that capture the essence of the original Predator film. However, numerous players report significant optimization issues, leading to poor performance and frame rate drops even on high-end systems, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find the graphics appealing and well-executed, others criticize them as outdated and unoptimized, suggesting that the game struggles to balance visual fidelity with performance.
“With stunning graphics and immersive sound design, every moment feels authentic and adrenaline-fueled.”
“The graphics are amazing, especially when you pull the spines out of your enemy.”
“The graphics look a lot better now than it did during first launch in 2020.”
“The game is so poorly optimized; some parts of the newer maps will heavily screw with your framerate, even if you run it on the latest graphics cards.”
“The graphics look several generations old, and that's on the epic settings level.”
“The graphics settings on PC are very barebones and unoptimized, with textures not looking any different past the medium setting.”
- optimization79 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 37 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and significant frame rate issues even on high-end hardware. Many users express frustration over the lack of meaningful updates to improve performance, leading to a choppy and unplayable experience for some. Despite its potential, the game's poor optimization severely hampers enjoyment and accessibility, particularly on PC.
“Overall, the gameplay is good, and I'm excited for the future of the game, but please do some optimization.”
“This game could be awesome on PC, but the only thing holding it back is the horrid optimization.”
“The graphics settings on PC are very barebones and unoptimized, with textures not looking any different past the medium setting.”
“The game is so poorly optimized, some parts of the newer maps will screw heavily with your framerate, even if you run it on the latest graphics cards.”
“Game is poorly optimized for PC and it's a shame as it has potential to be quite fun if it ran better.”
“The game is riddled with game-breaking bugs, poor optimization, and lack of content.”
- stability62 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and optimization issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players experience crashes, lag, and server problems, particularly with crossplay functionality, leading to frustration and a diminished gaming experience. While some find the game enjoyable despite these issues, the overall consensus is that it requires substantial fixes to improve stability and performance.
“Fun game runs great and looks good even on bad PCs.”
“The game is great, runs well, and everything is functional, making it feel more stable than other titles.”
“This game is very fun, and it's a definite pick for any fans of the Predator franchise, but it does have some bugs.”
“Unfortunately, it is very buggy.”
“I hopped back in for the PS5 and next-gen update to see Illfonic seemingly has not only ignored feedback but added more bugs, more optimization issues, buggy servers, and milked a dying community.”
“This game could have potential as a fun game, but unfortunately, it is a buggy mess.”
- humor27 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as unexpectedly entertaining, with players finding joy in the chaotic and janky gameplay, as well as the interactions between characters. Many reviews highlight the hilarity of in-game moments, such as funny voice chat exchanges and absurd AI behavior, which contribute to a lighthearted experience, especially when playing with friends. Despite some criticisms regarding the game's price and mechanics, the overall sentiment is that the humor adds significant value to the gameplay.
“This game is good, I promise! Please, more people play it; it's so jank it's funny.”
“But oh boy, screaming to your friend the predator is here, help help while laughing at the same time is amazing.”
“It is hilarious hearing people absolutely freak out on their trash mics as I leap down from the trees and spam 'want some candy?' I've never seen so many hot mics in my life.”
- music27 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its faithful recreation of the original film's soundtrack, enhancing the immersive experience and evoking nostalgia among fans. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as the standout feature, with some rating it a perfect 10/10, while others note that the sound effects and ambience effectively capture the essence of the Predator universe. However, there are mentions of repetitive music loops in menus and issues with online communication that detract from the overall experience.
“The sound, music, and ambience capture the feeling of the original film.”
“The music is simply the best thing about this game.”
“Very faithful to the source material, wonderful soundtrack.”
“Best part of this entire game was honestly the soundtrack and the references from the animations; other than that, I'm very disappointed with how a predator game ended up like this.”
“The soundtrack is straight from the movie.”
“Only one music track endlessly loops over and over in the menus.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
Reviews on the grinding aspect of the game are mixed; while some players appreciate the balanced progression system that minimizes excessive grinding, others find it tedious and time-consuming, especially for newcomers facing more experienced players. Many agree that while grinding can be enjoyable and rewarding, it can also feel overwhelming, particularly when trying to unlock all content or compete effectively. Overall, the game offers a blend of enjoyable grinding with some frustrations related to its competitive nature and content availability.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This game is pretty grindy if you are looking to unlock everything.”
“I've spent dozens of hours grinding experience in private matches so I can be somewhat of a threat to the more aggressive predator players.”
- monetization17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 65 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players feeling that the downloadable content (DLC) consists mainly of overpriced cosmetic items, perceived as cash grabs rather than meaningful expansions. While there are no microtransactions and cosmetics can be unlocked through gameplay, the lack of substantial updates and persistent bugs have led to frustration among the community, who feel the developers have exploited the franchise's popularity without delivering a satisfying experience. Overall, players express disappointment in the monetization strategy, viewing it as a missed opportunity for a beloved IP.
“No microtransactions.”
“Cosmetics are good and are unlocked through gameplay, rather than microtransactions.”
“The game is pretty generous with XP rewards and chest unlocks (there's no microtransactions in this game, just XP/currency use), so even a bad match still means you got something for your troubles and can move on.”
“This is a $9.99 game at best. I waited years for a real DLC drop, but it was just overpriced skins. This was just a cash grab for the devs. Sometimes I wonder if they even watched a Predator movie.”
“It's obvious the developer used this IP as simply a quick cash grab and then abandoned it.”
“It just felt like a half-baked cash grab; what a wasted opportunity on a beloved franchise.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its strong resemblance to the original Predator movie, featuring immersive sound design, dense jungle environments, and effective use of music and sound effects that enhance the overall experience. While many players appreciate the atmospheric elements that contribute to the feeling of being hunted or hunting, some criticize the pacing, suggesting it can detract from the immersive experience. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of the Predator universe, though opinions vary on its execution and enjoyment.
“They really nailed everything from the atmosphere to the looks and movements of the predator, and it's truly awesome to feel like the creature hunting down an elite special forces unit.”
“The music, sound effects, and atmosphere really make this game great.”
“Predator: Hunting Grounds has a great atmosphere, with dense jungle environments, mist, and the squeal of a pig in the distance just to scare you a little.”
“The only real issues I have, though, is the atmosphere of the game.”
“The atmosphere falls apart when it's so fast-paced.”
“I just like the atmosphere that this game presents because I have given negative reviews for much less in other games.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted by its engaging mix of first-person shooter mechanics and predator gameplay, offering a fun experience that encourages repeated play. While some players note a lack of meaningful content updates, the steady unlocking of new weapons, items, and cosmetics up to level 100+ provides a satisfying progression system that enhances replay value.
“Wonderfully created with its replayability that goes on forever, mixes a first-person shooter with the predator which makes one of the best combinations I have seen!”
“Really fun game with a lot of replayability.”
“As for replay value, you steadily unlock new weapons, items, and cosmetics all the way up to level 100+, leveling up is not too slow, but not too quick as to burn through everything you can acquire.”
“The DLCs have all been simply more playable predators, with no updates adding more maps, weapons, or anything more meaningful.”
“4/15 game time/replayability.”
“As for replay value, you steadily unlock new weapons, items, and cosmetics all the way up to level 100+. Leveling up is not too slow, but not too quick as to burn through everything you can acquire.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that character development in the game is lacking, with many feeling it falls short compared to even lower-budget titles from the mid-2000s. The overall execution of character design and progression does not meet player expectations.
“The character development feels shallow and uninspired, lacking the depth and complexity that would make me care about their journeys.”
“I found the characters to be one-dimensional, with predictable arcs that failed to engage me emotionally.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in character progression made the experience feel monotonous and unfulfilling.”