Receiver

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,115 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Receiver Game Cover
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"Receiver" is a first-person shooter that emphasizes gun handling mechanics and randomized levels. Players are equipped with a handgun and an audio cassette player, and must navigate a building complex filled with automated turrets and drones while uncovering the mystery of the Mindkill. The game features unordered storytelling and offers a unique take on the traditional FPS experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,115 reviews
gameplay236 positive mentions
optimization26 negative mentions
  • Unique and realistic gun mechanics that require players to manually operate every aspect of their firearm.
  • Tense atmosphere that keeps players on edge, especially with the threat of instant death from enemies.
  • Randomly generated levels and enemy placements provide replayability and a fresh experience each run.
  • Poor optimization leading to lag and performance issues, even on high-end machines.
  • Limited content with only three guns and two enemy types, which can become repetitive.
  • The game can feel unfair due to random enemy placements and the potential to spawn in front of turrets or with no ammo.
  • gameplay697 mentions

    The gameplay of Receiver is centered around intricate and realistic gun mechanics, requiring players to manually handle every aspect of their firearms, which adds a unique layer of challenge and immersion. While the mechanics are praised for their depth and realism, the overall gameplay experience is often described as repetitive and lacking in content, with minimal objectives and simplistic enemy interactions. Despite its shortcomings, the game is recommended for those who appreciate detailed gun simulations and are willing to invest time in mastering its complex controls.

    • “The mechanics feel solid and well thought out, the controls are well done for how in-depth it can be, and sure there's not much to the game at the moment, but Receiver 2 does exist.”
    • “If you want a game with a high skill ceiling, engaging gameplay that is as fast-paced or as slow-and-steady as you want it to be with adrenaline-pumping moments, this is exactly it.”
    • “The gun mechanics are complex and interesting, and with Steam Workshop support, one can get custom weapons that are quite different from the basic pistols.”
    • “The gameplay itself is shallow; you fight two types of enemies and collect tapes in a slender game fashion to beat the game.”
    • “Gameplay itself feels like something thrown together in Unity over a weekend, which is true to how it was actually developed.”
    • “The gameplay is focused around running around an RNG level with a randomly picked weapon (a Glock 19, M1911, or some kind of double action revolver), a flashlight, and a random number of bullets/magazines.”
  • story263 mentions

    The story in "Receiver" is delivered through a collection of cassette tapes that players must find, providing a vague and nonlinear narrative set in a dystopian world. While some players appreciate the intriguing and mysterious elements of the story, many criticize it for being sparse, poorly presented, and difficult to follow, often feeling more like a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus. Overall, the narrative is seen as an interesting concept that could benefit from further development and clarity.

    • “There is a fantastic score, very interesting nonlinear story, and some very fitting world building that really immerses you.”
    • “The story is interesting, if sparse.”
    • “The story unravels as you collect more tapes, each with a message revealing the secrets of mindkill (or mindtech).”
    • “The story is a mess.”
    • “There is literally no story, so you kind of use your imagination for this game.”
    • “The story line is poorly thought out and not carried out very well.”
  • graphics154 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users describing them as simplistic, low-poly, and reminiscent of older titles. While some appreciate the minimalist aesthetic and argue that the visuals do not detract from the gameplay experience, others find them bland and poorly optimized, leading to performance issues. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics are not a strong point, the game's engaging mechanics and atmosphere can still provide an enjoyable experience for players willing to overlook visual shortcomings.

    • “The graphics are great, even on the lowest setting.”
    • “Despite the sparse world and somewhat rudimentary graphics, sound design and aesthetics are brilliant, and I haven't been so kinetically into a game since the days of Atari 2600.”
    • “It's not the graphics, it's what you show with them; the drone enemies in this game look like flying blenders from 1997, yet are literally the scariest video game enemies I've ever fought.”
    • “My one gripe is this: the visuals are so basic and low poly that I can't keep looking at it without craving a different experience!”
    • “The graphics are old and a little bit made of squares (you see the walls and objects are just squares) but the game is very, very hard and enjoyable.”
    • “The graphics suck; even trying to name the style as 'minimalistic' is not correct.”
  • optimization76 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including drastic frame rate drops and stuttering, even on high-end systems. Despite its simple graphics, the game is described as "horribly optimized," leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. While some updates have attempted to address these issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized and often unplayable.

    • “The optimization update was much needed, and worked like a charm!”
    • “It needed simply some optimization which was given and they even prettied up the game a little.”
    • “The optimization is good for the most part, though I did find some minor stuttering and slowdowns here and there when loading a new cell.”
    • “It's fantastic as an experiment in gameplay, but the performance of this game is where it falls short.”
    • “It's badly optimized, and lags when generating a new area.”
    • “The optimization is shockingly poor even on high-end machines; the game has zero polish, and the gameplay ends up being more finicky trial-and-error than challenging fun.”
  • atmosphere68 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to create tension and immersion, often described as eerie, bleak, and intense, despite its basic graphics. Players appreciate the combination of sound design, moody lighting, and intricate gun mechanics that enhance the overall experience, making it feel both rewarding and frightening. While some reviews note that the game may lack depth in other areas, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that captivates and engages players throughout their experience.

    • “Despite the barebones graphics, the game manages to create a thick atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is the strongest I've felt in recent games - the oppressive 'hunted' 'survival' feel combined with the technical dexterity you have to employ to use the firearms make it feel quite intense at moments.”
    • “The intricate gun mechanics coupled with a survival situation that greatly reminds me of Slenderman are a good mix and the sinister audiotapes that serve as the game's objectives add to the atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is bleak, but bleak to the point where it is beyond what the developers may have intended.”
    • “Overall, the game has a cool idea but the poor optimization and annoying instakill enemies with tiny weak points ruin a game that could have had some really tense atmosphere.”
    • “The rest of the game is pretty basic; textures are a luxury, geometry is flat and neutral, the atmosphere is eerie in a Deus Ex way, and the lore behind the recordings is rather interesting.”
  • music60 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the overall experience, despite some noting it can become repetitive over time. The synthwave and electronic soundtracks effectively contribute to the game's dystopian setting, creating a sense of tension and intensity, although some players recommend turning it off to better hear in-game sounds. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, adding depth and mood to the gameplay.

    • “A deeply enjoyable little gem with a fantastic modding scene that I would highly recommend to anyone who yearns for a deeper gunplay system wrapped up in a bow of dystopian future and hypnotic soundtrack.”
    • “The music sets the atmosphere just right and the gunplay feels tight with all the mechanics working in unison.”
    • “Coupled with the plain gray walls, harsh lighting, and subdued electronic soundtrack, this sinister setup gives the game an absolutely fantastic atmosphere for your somber treks.”
    • “Turn off the music and listen to danger.”
    • “The music is very eerie and fits well, but can inhibit gameplay from not being able to hear the enemy.”
    • “Nice game but full of frustrating bugs, such as map load lag deaths, getting stuck to random corners of the map, the music not playing even when next to an enemy (because it's supposed to warn you) and stupid stuff like that.”
  • replayability42 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the random generation of maps and weapons that enhance replay value, others note a lack of depth and content that can limit long-term engagement. The introduction of mods and workshop features has improved replayability for some, but the simplicity and repetitive nature of gameplay may deter others after a few hours. Despite these criticisms, several reviews highlight the game's addictive challenge and unique mechanics as strong factors contributing to its replayability.

    • “Receiver is strikingly simple, and endlessly replayable.”
    • “I eagerly recommend the game to anyone seeking an addictive challenge with near infinite replayability.”
    • “The premise of the game is also interesting, too, and the procedurally generated levels allied to one-hit vulnerability and permadeath add lots of replayability.”
    • “However, this replayability can be hampered by the lack of tile/map variation.”
    • “Not terribly replayable after a few hours, but pretty entertaining nonetheless.”
    • “Unfortunately, it doesn't have much replay value.”
  • stability18 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, graphical glitches, and frequent freezing during room transitions, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Players have encountered issues such as getting stuck in walls and inconsistent physics, particularly on certain platforms like Linux. Despite some updates and community mods attempting to address these problems, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized and in need of significant polish.

    • “This game is buggy as all heck. I've gotten stuck in walls, stairs, and more times than I can even remember, all in just under an hour of play. That is unacceptable. It was really annoying when I got clipped into stairs and flung through the wall into a turret and died.”
    • “The game itself is a bit buggy, but the modding community has made a mod that fixes a couple of bugs and adds weapons.”
    • “There's a load time between some rooms that freezes the game for a few seconds; the resulting disorientation has gotten me killed many times.”
  • grinding13 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with repetitive tasks like gun handling and navigation through self-similar maps contributing to a sense of monotony. While some appreciate the added realism and depth, many feel that the gameplay becomes shallow and tiresome after a few runs, detracting from overall enjoyment.

    • “Shallow and tedious gameplay”
    • “The map starts looking very self-similar and the gunplay gets tedious after just a couple of runs.”
    • “The gun handling mechanic is fun but walking around in the randomly generated levels devoid of anything but droids and cameras became tedious super fast.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of dark and situational comedy, with players finding amusement in the absurdity of gameplay mechanics, such as the panic induced by drone encounters and amusing bugs that lead to unexpected deaths. Additionally, the quirky interactions with weapons and the relentless nature of the murder-bots contribute to a lighthearted yet chaotic atmosphere, making the challenging gameplay feel more entertaining. Overall, the humor is appreciated for its blend of political satire and slapstick moments, enhancing the gaming experience.

    • “Sound design is amazing; that beep the drones make will quickly become the most terrifying noise you know, and the panic of having one fly at you while trying to remember how to put bullets in your gun is hilarious.”
    • “There's still one bug that's a bit funny too, which can be triggered if you manage to jump on the pipes on one of the roof levels and get in the corner. If you crouch and go under the pipe, you won't be able to continue your journey, and instead, if you stand back up, clipping into the pipe, you get shot into the air, dying then from fall damage.”
    • “The murder-bots are hilarious too (as in they'll fly at you relentlessly to maim you).”
  • emotional9 mentions

    Players report a profound emotional experience while engaging with the game, highlighting feelings of accomplishment and desperation intertwined with moments of heart-wrenching intensity. The game's mechanics, such as the detailed reloading system, enhance immersion, making players feel both empowered and vulnerable in high-stakes scenarios. Overall, the emotional impact is significant, with many expressing a desire to relive the experience despite its intensity.

    • “This game is undeniably one of the most heart-wrenching games out there.”
    • “11/10 would cry again.”
    • “No other game has made me feel so bad*ss and so desperate at the same time.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is viewed as a double-edged sword; while it adds depth and a rewarding gameplay experience reminiscent of classic shooters, it also suffers from aggressive tactics similar to low-quality mobile apps that bombard players with ads and push for purchases of a "full" version.

    • “The price of every crappy app on a cell phone that does nothing but pester you to buy the 'full' version while smothering you with ads.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is primarily centered around mastering weapon mechanics, with a focus on learning and managing the firearm rather than traditional character growth or narrative depth. The gameplay emphasizes control and manipulation of the weapon, suggesting a limited scope for character evolution beyond this aspect.

    • “Learning this weapon and keeping it fed is all the character development you really need, given the addition of maybe a dozen extra control buttons devoted purely to manipulating the firearm.”
    • “The character development feels shallow, as it primarily revolves around upgrading weapons rather than exploring personal growth or meaningful story arcs.”
    • “I expected more depth in character development, but it seems like the focus is solely on combat mechanics instead of building a rich narrative.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
43hAverage play time
6-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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