Rise to Ruins

About

Rise to Ruins is a single player survival role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Rayvolution and was released on October 27, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

"Rise to Ruins" is a godlike village simulator that combines elements of real-time strategy, tower defense, and survival games. The objective is to build and manage a village, facing brutal survival conditions and learning from each failure to improve in subsequent attempts. The game offers three modes: Survival, Sandbox, and Peaceful, with Survival being the intended experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,433 reviews

gameplay325 positive mentions

grinding105 negative mentions

Unique blend of colony management, tower defense, and god game mechanics that keeps gameplay fresh and engaging.
Challenging yet rewarding, with a steep learning curve that encourages players to improve with each run.
Active developer who listens to community feedback and continues to update the game with new content and features.

Villager AI can be frustratingly unresponsive, leading to poor decision-making and resource management issues.
Game can feel repetitive after a while, with limited endgame content and a lack of variety in gameplay mechanics.
Performance issues arise in late-game scenarios, especially with larger populations, causing lag and slowdowns.

gameplay
1,065 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The gameplay of "Rise to Ruins" is a complex blend of city-building, tower defense, and god game mechanics, offering a steep learning curve that can be both rewarding and frustrating. Players appreciate the depth and variety of mechanics, though many express concerns about the lack of tutorials and clarity in gameplay, leading to confusion and a sense of aimlessness at times. While the game features engaging mechanics and a charming aesthetic, some players find the gameplay loop repetitive and the difficulty spikes overwhelming, particularly with the corruption mechanic that adds pressure to manage resources and defenses effectively.
- “The tower-defense mechanic mixed with the usual colony-builder with soothing pixel-art is fantastic.”
- “A superb cross between a city builder, tower defense game, and god game with a high difficulty curve that truly emphasizes understanding the game mechanics to succeed.”
- “Rise to Ruins has a high difficulty curve in my opinion, and some game mechanics (pathing, figuring out city layout, building proper mazes for tower defense) add to the difficulty, but in an engaging way - it feels like one more mechanic to overcome.”
- “No real depth after 30 hours; you figure out the mechanics enough that it feels like a job.”
- “A lot of the mechanics feel (or are) half-finished, and the gameplay loop is deeply unsatisfying once you figure out how the systems work.”
- “The gameplay loop isn't all that satisfying, unless you really like watching your city grow.”
graphics
518 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that many players find nostalgic and appealing, despite some criticisms regarding clarity and readability, especially for new players. While the simplicity of the graphics is often noted as a strength that complements the gameplay, some users express frustration with the lack of detail and the difficulty in distinguishing between different elements on screen. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for their aesthetic charm, though they may not meet the expectations of players seeking more modern graphical fidelity.
- “It's got tons of charm, unique mechanics, and an amazing art style.”
- “The graphics have so much pixely goodness that you just cannot fault it.”
- “The attention to detail in the pixel art style is commendable, and the music sets a perfect tone for the atmosphere of the game.”
- “The game's eyesore graphics and cumbersome UI immediately detract from the experience.”
- “The graphics are horrid.”
- “The pixel graphics were actually too pixely for me and it was often difficult to tell what the villagers were doing.”
music
376 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, effectively complementing the gameplay and enhancing the overall experience. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to create a calming ambiance, even during intense moments, while some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with many recommending purchasing it separately for its quality and charm.
- “The music is fantastic and matches the game perfectly, and the game loop is extremely addictive.”
- “The game's soundtrack is also noteworthy, with a mix of ambient and orchestral music that perfectly captures the game's mood.”
- “The music is beautifully composed and fits this setting.”
- “The biggest drawback to this game is the music; it is hands down the least appropriate/thematically correct music of any game I've ever played.”
- “The music is alright, but I turned it off since it feels like it could use more variety.”
- “The soundtrack gets repetitive quickly.”
replayability
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its high replay value due to sandbox elements, constant updates, and diverse gameplay modes. However, some reviewers note a lack of depth and repetitive mechanics that can limit long-term engagement. Overall, while many find it endlessly replayable, others feel it could benefit from additional features to enhance variety and challenge.
- “The game's sandbox elements allow for endless replayability.”
- “This game is extremely fun and replayable.”
- “There's so much replayability here, especially with custom, sandbox, and the map editor.”
- “Just don't expect the same amount of depth and replayability as many other city builders.”
- “Fun little RTS/survival game but fairly shallow with little replayability.”
- “Ultimately a very shallow game without any replayability.”
grinding
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
The reviews overwhelmingly describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, with players noting that resource management, micromanagement, and repetitive tasks detract from the overall enjoyment. Many express that the game lacks a satisfying progression system, leading to a sense of aimlessness and burnout, particularly in the late game where challenges become overwhelming without adequate rewards. While some players appreciate the depth of management required, the consensus is that the grinding mechanics often feel excessive and detract from the fun.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “There is no grinding through this stage; adapt or die.”
- “Lots of grinding.”
- “Been trying to find a way to enjoy this game, but it just feels remarkably tedious no matter what I do.”
- “Overall it's a lot of grinding for resources and pretty slow-paced.”
- “It makes what could be a fun and interesting learning curve downright tedious and painful to figure out and optimize.”
story
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
79%
10%
The game "Rise to Ruins" lacks a traditional story or campaign, which has led to mixed feelings among players. While some appreciate the freedom to create their own narratives through gameplay, others express disappointment over the absence of a structured plot or character development, suggesting that the game could benefit from a more defined storyline or quest system to enhance engagement. Overall, the emergent storytelling from player experiences is noted as a potential strength, but many feel that the game misses opportunities for deeper narrative integration.
- “The reason DF is fun when you lose, often without any fault of your own, is that each loss tells a story which can be quite complex and nuanced.”
- “This game brings back the feeling of my SNES and PSX games, when I was so into games I could almost feel I was living a real story when playing.”
- “One’s personal quest to build each city more efficiently than the last is exhilarating and an enjoyable time sink.”
- “No story, no dialogue, just action.”
- “There is no overarching story or campaign.”
- “If you require story, this game will disappoint, because so far I haven't noticed a story, unless you extrapolate one from the abandoned structures you find in each map.”
optimization
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
73%
12%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly in late-game scenarios where frame rates drop drastically due to high particle effects and large populations. While some users have noted improvements over time and commend the developer's responsiveness to performance concerns, others express frustration with the game's inability to maintain smooth gameplay, especially on lower-end hardware. Overall, while there are signs of progress, optimization remains a critical area needing further attention to enhance the gaming experience.
- “I have been playing since early access and have seen tremendous growth and improvements in the gameplay and performance.”
- “The game has great performance, surprisingly detailed well-made graphics, and is well worth the asking price of $10.00.”
- “This game gets better and better as the wonderful dev continues to implement fixes, changes, balance, optimization, etc. - all getting the game to be more immersive than ever.”
- “Unoptimized hell later in the game even on lowest settings, constant corpse clear, millions of particles.”
- “My one complaint is that the optimization versus the graphics is really bad.”
- “Performance issues are the real end boss.”
stability
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
2%
76%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing frequent freezes and performance issues, particularly when managing larger populations. However, others report a generally stable experience with minimal bugs, especially for an early access title, and praise the developer's responsiveness to issues. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, particularly under heavy load, many players find the game enjoyable and functional.
- “This game runs great and every time I play it, I'm hit with a new but fun challenge.”
- “Nicely polished game that isn't buggy.”
- “No glitches, bugs, or crashes that I have encountered so far.”
- “I've spent hours trying multiple different ways to get this game to work, but it freezes during the load startup screen every single time.”
- “Fun and really addictive game, but, at least for me, unplayable after about 100 villagers due to lags and constant freezes.”
- “My major issue with this game is, once you hit the mark of 250+ villagers, the FPS just drops or freezes, especially during the nighttime with the hordes of zombies coming to the villages.”
humor
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Rise to Ruins" is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with lighthearted elements, such as quirky villager names and amusing death messages. Players appreciate the game's ability to balance strategy with humor, creating a fun and engaging experience filled with easter eggs and funny glitches. Overall, the game's charm and comedic writing contribute to a delightful atmosphere, making it enjoyable despite its challenging gameplay.
- “It's like SimCity and The Walking Dead had a love child, and that child grew up to be a hilarious overachiever.”
- “The game also doesn't take itself too seriously, with villager names like Terminator Rex and death blurbs like 'that was probably your fault...' It finds its balance between humor and strategy.”
- “I enjoyed many hours in this game and I find it hilarious how sometimes, due to bad luck, my whole town is getting obliterated by successive blood moons, fireballs falling from the sky, and monsters invading at the same time. My towers only have that much amount of ammo!”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming pixel art, immersive sound design, and engaging music, which collectively create a captivating and relaxing experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the innovative blend of genres, although some feel that certain elements could benefit from additional ambient sounds. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both vibrant and mysterious, effectively enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “The attention to detail in the pixel art style is commendable, and the music sets a perfect tone for the atmosphere of the game.”
- “Creates atmosphere so to speak - for example how when you go over corrupt territory you can no longer hear the music but only the spooky sounds in the mist and darkness. The game is full of new good ideas I have never seen before and implemented some of those that were around for some time in the best way I can imagine.”
- “Great atmosphere, caused by even better music!”
- “I'd love to give this a positive review but, uhm... I come back after like 2 years, all 'sweet it's out of EA, let's see if my investment paid off; get some of that end game content, atmosphere, and polish' and the thing they added... was... trash...???”
- “The gameplay is rewarding, and the atmosphere is mysterious and dangerous.”
- “Collecting the essence involves moving your mouse around essence that results from enemy deaths or other triggers that have it free-floating in the atmosphere.”
monetization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game's monetization model is highly praised for its absence of microtransactions, paid DLC, and DRM, which many players find refreshing in today's gaming landscape. The developer is commended for their commitment to maintaining this model while providing free updates and content, fostering a strong relationship with the community. Overall, players appreciate the developer's integrity and dedication to enhancing the game without resorting to common monetization pitfalls.
- “Liked because of the developer's work and artistic integrity in not selling DLC, microtransactions, and loot boxes, and still updating the game for free.”
- “The developer works on this game constantly, resulting in frequent content additions, updates, bug fixes, etc. It is always nice to see a developer continue to support a game, especially one like this that has no microtransactions or paid DLC.”
- “Free content is always loved, and the developer saying he doesn't believe in microtransactions and paid DLC is always a nice thing.”
- “I do not believe in DRM, paid DLC, or microtransactions.”
- “I liked this game because of the developer's work and artistic integrity in not selling DLC, microtransactions, and loot boxes, while still updating the game for free.”
- “Hello Raymond, I wanted to thank you for making a game without any microtransactions or paid DLC.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the emotional aspect of the game as a blend of humor, heartwarming moments, and intense feelings of loss and frustration. Many find it to be a wholesome experience, with unique characters that evoke a strong connection, while others note that the emotional weight of the game can be challenging. Overall, it is seen as a labor of love that elicits a range of emotions, making it a memorable and engaging experience.
- “It's brutal, funny, and, yes, sometimes even heartwarming.”
- “The frustration and challenge can feel rewarding while the defeat can be absolutely heart-wrenching.”
- “This game truly seemed a labor of love to me, and it was heartwarming the message we got when it came out of early access.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the character designs and animations are charming, contributing positively to the overall aesthetic of the game. However, there is no specific mention of depth or progression in character development.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
- “The backstories and growth of each character are well-crafted, adding layers to the overall narrative.”