Runic Survivor
- December 31, 2023
- STEELDUCK Studios
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Runic Survivor" is an action-packed roguelike game where you play as a powerful Runic Warrior fighting against hordes of enemies in procedurally generated dungeons. Utilize a variety of runes to cast spells and defeat enemies, while collecting loot to improve your character's abilities. With permadeath and random events, each run presents a new challenge in this pixelated adventure.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a fun and engaging spell crafting system that allows for creative combinations and strategies.
- At its low price point, the game offers a decent amount of entertainment and replayability, especially for fans of the genre.
- The core mechanics are enjoyable, and players can experience a satisfying sense of progression as they build powerful spell combinations.
- The game suffers from performance issues, particularly when too many effects are on screen, leading to significant lag and unplayability.
- There is a lack of content and variety, with limited spells and upgrades available, making runs feel repetitive after a short time.
- The developer has abandoned the game, leaving it without updates or improvements, which diminishes its long-term value.
- gameplay25 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable, featuring unique mechanics like spell crafting and linking attacks, which many players find satisfying and engaging. However, some users note issues with enemy feedback, UI explanations, and a lack of challenge, suggesting that while the core mechanics are solid, the game could benefit from more options and clearer communication of its systems. Overall, it offers a fun experience, particularly for those who appreciate bullet hell RPGs, but may frustrate players seeking a more challenging or polished experience.
“Once you grasp the mechanics, you become overwhelmingly powerful very quickly.”
“Its simple, but a very good gameplay and game loop!”
“The gameplay is fun; crafting your own spells and chain effects is very satisfying.”
“Actual gameplay has a lot of enemies with no feedback for anything - like you can't tell if you are doing anything to them when you hit them until they die, and you can't tell if you get hit by any projectiles because your character has no feedback when hit.”
“UI and mechanics are not well explained.”
“The trigger mechanics can be linked several times which is really interesting, but at the current state, you don't get to use them very much.”
- optimization22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is currently a significant issue, with players experiencing severe lag and frame rate drops, especially during intense moments with multiple spells and enemies on screen. While some improvements have been noted in recent patches, the performance remains inconsistent and can lead to unplayable conditions, particularly in later stages of gameplay. Many users express hope for future optimizations to enhance the overall experience.
“If they add enough unique modifiers/spells and iron out some of the performance issues when you end up with a build that has a lot of particles, then I think this will be a real winner.”
“Performance is better, and you're able to create somewhat ridiculous spell combinations without FPS death, although when going absolutely ham, the frames still do suffer significantly.”
“Currently, the optimization needs to be addressed as later in the runs it becomes nearly unplayable before the 20 minutes has ended a run.”
“Right now it's barely more than a poorly optimized proof-of-concept.”
“However, it's in a very rough state still right now with some big performance issues, as it only seems to use the CPU to run the game and barely hits the GPU.”
“Currently the optimization needs to be addressed as later in the runs it becomes nearly unplayable before the 20 minutes has ended a run.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the retro aesthetic for its simplicity and clarity, while others criticize the lack of detail and animations, describing them as mediocre and sometimes confusing. Although the visuals are considered charming by some, there are concerns about distinguishing between various elements in the game, indicating a need for improvement in clarity and overall visual appeal. Overall, while the graphics have their supporters, many feel they fall short of expectations and could benefit from more effort and refinement.
“Graphics and sound design are good, mechanics are solid, hit-boxes feel good.”
“I like the retro graphic style for simplicity and clarity as things can get hectic.”
“I think this game brings a lot of elements from other games together in a neat and fun way with great production value, it's a great visual blend of retro graphics and modern effects, good sound effects and feedback.”
“Just because your graphics are simple, you can't just call it 'a charming retro aesthetic' to excuse a lack of effort being put into the aesthetic.”
“I saw a little amount of updates, graphics are not entertaining, and the goal is unclear.”
“The visuals are not great; it's hard to distinguish between the various enemies, the background objects, and the guardians, as well as the spell effects and enemy projectiles.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent glitches, lag, and a clunky menu system, which can render it unplayable at times. Many users express disappointment with the lack of quality of life features and recommend against purchasing it, even at a discount, due to its buggy nature. Overall, the consensus is that the game feels unfinished and not ready for full release.
“It glitches and lags so often it can be unplayable.”
“The game lacks essential quality of life settings and controls on top of bugs and glitches that can end a run; I don't recommend buying the game even on sale.”
“I'm surprised this isn't in early access - I found it to be too buggy for prime time.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable and varied enough to warrant multiple playthroughs, others feel it lacks sufficient content and diversity between runs. The reliance on RNG for builds adds an element of fun, but the limited upgrades may hinder long-term engagement for some players.
“Super fun game with good replayability despite it being in early access and brand new - already, you gotta rely a bit on RNG working for your build, which is super fun.”
“It's very Vampire Survivor-esque, but offers so much more in terms of a creative playing style, and therefore replayability.”
“It lacks the replayability that most roguelite games have because the content is limited and feels same-y with other upgrades.”
“It's got great bones, and I've managed to beat the highest difficulty with any focus rune, but there isn't quite enough replayability or variance between runs.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its quality and fit with the graphics, others find it jarring and poorly looped, suggesting it doesn't align well with the game's theme. Additionally, there are calls for improvements in sound design and overall implementation.
“The graphics and music suit this game very well; some might say that the lack of animations and hit sounds is a minus, but I think it's better without them.”
“Good music, good graphics, good concept.”
“The music of the game is jarring; it isn't a seamless loop, and you can tell when it starts again.”
“Minor details that could be improved: sound design and implementation could use some polish, and the music doesn't fit very well with the theme.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted to be overshadowed by frustration, with some players feeling that while there are funny elements, they are not enough to enhance the overall enjoyment of the gameplay, which they find lacking compared to other survivor-likes.
