Restless Grounds

About

Restless Grounds is a single player action game. It was developed by Zirael and was released on December 12, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Set in Poland under martial law, Restless Grounds is a cold war horror investigation where a secret soviet base accident unleashes monsters terrorizing Krzyżowiec. Players must manage a unique manual reloading mechanic while confronting diverse enemies and uncovering the town’s dark secrets, all presented in retro-stylized graphics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 77 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features a unique visual style that combines elements of horror, war, and political commentary, creating an engaging atmosphere.
The reloading mechanic is innovative and adds a layer of challenge to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
Despite its short length, the game offers a deep philosophical story and interesting character interactions, making it a memorable experience.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, which can significantly hinder gameplay and immersion.
Many players found the game too short, feeling that it could have benefited from a more in-depth story and additional content.
The reloading mechanic, while unique, can become cumbersome during combat, making it frustrating for some players.

gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique reloading mechanic that many players find engaging, though opinions vary on its execution during combat. While the game features straightforward mechanics and an interesting atmosphere, it is also marred by bugs and some cumbersome elements that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay offers a mix of enjoyable shooting and innovative mechanics, but could benefit from refinement and clearer explanations.
- “Unique gameplay, good atmosphere.”
- “The mechanics are straightforward, with a unique nuance in how you reload your gun, alongside the variety of foes you'll face.”
- “Great gameplay and nice story!”
- “If you want to make a game with ideological implications and gameplay (at least it looks like it has such an atmosphere), don't let battles become a burden and affect the overall narrative.”
- “The gun mechanic is interesting but not very fun during combat.”
- “Riddled with bugs and poor gameplay explanations.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's story is praised for its deep philosophical themes and charm, despite being short and linear. Reviewers appreciate the engaging narrative and dialogues, noting that the youthful perspective adds to its appeal. Overall, while some feel the story could benefit from more depth, it is considered enjoyable and well-integrated with the gameplay.
- “Deep philosophical story and ending.”
- “A fun free FPS with a great story that doesn't outstay its welcome.”
- “Great gameplay and nice story!”
- “Had this game been longer and more in-depth story-wise, I think it honestly would have been really amazing!”
- “A short linear shooter with story elements.”
- “It's pretty neat, there are some interesting mechanics, but the boss fights and story are quite janky.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, drawing players into a nostalgic PS1-era, Soviet-inspired setting that evokes strong emotions. Reviewers appreciate how the atmosphere enhances the gameplay experience, whether in a fun shooter context or through a more intense horror design, though some caution against letting combat detract from the narrative. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “A great little game with a good atmosphere that made me a bit emotional, even though I'm not really sure why.”
- “I really love the setting, the atmosphere, and the graphics.”
- “If you want to make a game with ideological implications and gameplay (at least it looks like it has such an atmosphere), don't let battles become a burden and affect the overall narrative.”
- “However, the true appeal of the game lies in its environments, which immerse you in a peculiar PS1-era, Soviet-inspired atmosphere.”
- “But that's intended game design used to emphasize a horror atmosphere.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's graphics are visually appealing and showcase a unique artistic choice, drawing inspiration from communist urbanism in Poland. However, some elements appear to be sourced from asset stores, leading to a mixed perception of originality. While there are occasional graphical issues, they are not significantly worse than those found in some high-budget titles.
- “I really love the setting, the atmosphere, and the graphics.”
- “Cool visuals and an interesting reloading mechanic make this one at least worth trying.”
- “The game graphics look better than you might expect, but that's just because it looks like some or all of them are 'borrowed' from asset stores or wherever.”
- “E got stuck on the top of a wire fence and encountered some graphical issues on the bottom half of the screen, but that is no worse than how some big-budget games get released these days.”
- “Now I would like to point out the aesthetic and artistic choice by the developer to use communist urbanism of Poland as a backdrop theme for this game.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The music in the game is generally considered fitting and adds a dynamic layer to the experience, though it can feel repetitive and abrupt, with some players wishing for more variety. While the original soundtrack has a grungy quality that complements the action, its short loops may detract from the overall immersion. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding its execution.
- “It's a complete project, with fitting music, interesting enemy designs, and cohesive art direction.”
- “Good game short and could use another song but it's a working game you can beat in like 30 mins.”
- “The music feels kind of abrupt and gets old rather fast.”
- “The grungy OST adds a dynamic layer to the action, even if it feels a bit amateurish at times.”
- “I wish the music didn't loop every ten seconds, though.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is noted for its charming designs and effective humor, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The character designs are charming and the humor adds a delightful touch.”
- “The depth of character development truly enhances the overall experience.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each interaction feel meaningful.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized as short yet highly amusing, blending elements of absurdity with a mix of humor and sadness. Overall, it delivers a unique comedic experience that resonates with players.
- “It was short but very funny.”
- “A little funny, a little sad, and 100% absurd.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by a significant number of bugs and glitches, which detracts from the overall experience. However, players acknowledge the developer's passion for the project, suggesting that improvements may be forthcoming.
- “Too many bugs and glitches.”
- “Simple, a bit buggy, but it's obvious the passion the dev has for his work.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game evokes a strong emotional response, often unexpectedly, thanks to its immersive atmosphere and storytelling elements.
- “A great little game with a good atmosphere that made me a bit emotional, even though I'm not really sure why.”