SCUM

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"SCUM is an open-world, massively multiplayer survival game with horror elements, where players start as prisoners on a treacherous island. The complex simulation emphasizes the importance of every detail, from diet and injury prevention to combat and crafting. With vast terrain, numerous threats, and various modes including PvP and co-op, SCUM offers a unique, immersive, and highly replayable experience."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 42,012 reviews

gameplay1,093 positive mentions

optimization403 negative mentions

gameplay
3,838 mentions
28 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Scum" is characterized by its intricate survival mechanics, including a detailed metabolism system that requires players to manage their character's nutrition and health meticulously. While many players appreciate the depth and realism of these mechanics, they also note a steep learning curve and occasional clunky controls that can detract from the overall experience. The game offers a mix of exploration, crafting, and combat, but some users find the core gameplay loop repetitive and frustrating, particularly due to issues with loot availability and the mechanics of player interactions.
- “The game offers an incredibly detailed experience, where managing your character’s health, metabolism, and resources adds a strategic layer to gameplay.”
- “This survival game stands out for its realism and depth, with detailed mechanics like metabolism and crafting.”
- “Scum is a hardcore survival game that offers a deeply immersive experience with detailed mechanics, from managing hunger and fatigue to crafting and combat.”
- “However, the game’s steep learning curve can be a barrier for new players, especially when it comes to crafting and combat mechanics, which may feel clunky or unintuitive.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and boring, there is barely anything to do.”
- “The mechanics are actually quite deep, even if the game is still a work in progress.”
graphics
2,008 mentions
53 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Scum" have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the stunning visuals and attention to detail in the environment, such as realistic weather effects and intricate character models. However, some users have reported performance issues, including frame rate drops and graphical glitches, particularly on lower-end systems, indicating that optimization remains a concern. Overall, while the graphics are often highlighted as a strong point of the game, the need for further optimization and stability is a common theme in player feedback.
- “In terms of graphics, Scum offers stunning visuals with a beautifully detailed world, from dense forests to urban ruins, all running smoothly on high settings.”
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning—everything is so crisp and detailed, it’s really immersive.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, and the survival aspects are pretty cool.”
- “Graphics on the map are not the best and trees, grass, and bushes pop up when you come near them even on the highest settings.”
- “The graphics are ram hungry despite looking basic; Skyrim looks better as a 13-year-old game and the PC doesn't have to suffer for it either.”
- “The graphics are not very impressive at all.”
optimization
1,424 mentions
17 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
28 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frame rate drops, stuttering, and lag, particularly in densely populated areas or during intense gameplay moments. While some users have noted improvements and satisfactory performance on high-end systems, others with mid-range or lower-end setups struggle to achieve playable frame rates, leading to frustration. Overall, the game is seen as needing substantial optimization work to enhance the experience for a broader range of players.
- “Scum’s optimization gives it an edge, providing a more stable and visually appealing experience, especially on higher-end systems.”
- “The game runs incredibly smooth, no stuttering or frame drops at all, which makes the gameplay feel seamless.”
- “Game is beautiful and runs great with new optimizations and graphics options.”
- “Scum has faced criticism for performance problems, including frame rate drops, stuttering, and general optimization issues.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, running at sub-30 fps with a GTX Titan X graphics card.”
- “The performance issues are bad, and the game is a stuttering mess.”
stability
1,188 mentions
5 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While some players acknowledge that such problems are typical for early access titles, the sheer volume of complaints about game-breaking glitches, server instability, and frustrating mechanics suggests that the game is still far from polished. Despite these issues, there are also mentions of potential and ongoing updates, indicating that the developers are actively working to improve stability over time.
- “The game runs great with minimal bugs, which is incredible given games of this nature.”
- “Game is beautiful and runs great with new optimizations and graphics options.”
- “Over the years this game has turned into the ultimate survival game, runs great and looks great.”
- “Game is just broken, bugs, glitches and problems everywhere, it's not enjoyable anymore at all and every patch they come with it's getting worse and worse, I'm not happy with this product at all.”
- “Game is a buggy mess and you should not buy this game in this state.”
- “Despite ongoing updates and patches, the game still suffers from various bugs and glitches.”
story
909 mentions
9 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is widely criticized for its lack of depth and content, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of missions, quests, and meaningful narrative elements. While some appreciate the backstory and potential for future development, the current gameplay is described as aimless and repetitive, leading to boredom after initial exploration. Overall, players are eager for the introduction of NPCs, quests, and a more structured storyline to enhance their experience.
- “The game's open-world environment is vast, and the player-driven story can lead to countless hours of exploration and interaction.”
- “Scum also features a compelling story that explains the lore, blending PvE elements with PvP challenges to keep you on your toes.”
- “The backstory is also great as you're on a reality show like the old movie 'The Running Man'.”
- “The game lacks meaning or story.”
- “Absolutely no story.”
- “There are no missions, no campaign, no NPCs besides vendors.”
grinding
674 mentions
1 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with players often feeling that the effort required to gather resources, craft items, and build bases outweighs the rewards. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of tasks such as farming, looting, and crafting, which can lead to frustration, especially when compounded by bugs and glitches that can erase hard-earned progress. While some players appreciate the depth and realism of the survival mechanics, the overwhelming consensus is that the game demands a significant time investment, making it less enjoyable for those who prefer a more streamlined experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding, better start reincarnating.”
- “Everything matters in this game, and it's not tedious; it's just not a fast-paced get to end game in 3 hours if done right like on Rust gameplay.”
- “I found nowhere off limits as a soloist; bunkers are hard, and the airport definitely takes planning and patience, but it was all great fun, not grinding at all.”
- “It's not worth your time to spend weeks grinding to build a proper base only to be raided in a time span of four hours.”
- “You will spend hours grinding to end up with nothing.”
- “The crafting system is the most painful and tedious of any game that I've ever seen so far.”
humor
358 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting its quirky and often absurd comedic elements, such as the antics of "laughing zombies" and the game's playful take on survival mechanics, including humorous bodily functions. Many reviews emphasize that playing with friends enhances the comedic experience, leading to memorable and hilarious moments, despite the game's ongoing bugs and optimization issues. Overall, the developers' lighthearted approach and the game's eccentric humor contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a fun experience for those who appreciate a mix of dark and silly comedy in a survival setting.
- “Scum started off as a DayZ clone with a twist - better points of interest, a real backstory besides 'hehe zombies in Russia', a vastly improved game pacing, and a much appreciated sense of humor.”
- “The game has great mechanics and ideas but the desync and lag when it comes to PvP makes the game really frustrating at times but also provides the funnies and gives a good sense of achievement and/or feeling of loss.”
- “I had some funny moments with my friend over voice chat while we navigated this new game.”
- “This game is not funny anymore... so the game is scum like your game name.”
- “It's such a long, drawn-out experience that it's not funny anymore.”
- “The 'marketing' team usually jokes about the updates and the player base gets the joke, but at this point, it's not funny or fun anymore.”
atmosphere
123 mentions
53 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by stunning graphics, dynamic weather, and a rich sound design that includes ambient noises and environmental effects. Players appreciate the tension and excitement created by the game's survival elements, as well as the sense of danger from both zombies and other players, which contributes to a thrilling experience. However, some users feel that certain aspects, such as repetitive sound effects and clunky mechanics, detract from the overall atmospheric experience, indicating room for improvement.
- “The atmosphere is rich, making exploration and survival even more engaging.”
- “The sound design further enhances the atmosphere, with ambient noise and environmental effects adding to the sense of immersion.”
- “The day-night cycle and dynamic weather further contribute to the immersive atmosphere, creating an ever-changing landscape that impacts your survival strategies.”
- “For beginners it sucks, the fighting with zombies is clunky, not much atmosphere.”
- “There are no nice sound effects/ambient noises and the atmosphere isn't giving me that feeling like you really need to survive, like similar games in the genre.”
- “On paper looks better than DayZ but sadly lacks the atmosphere and immersion.”
monetization
116 mentions
3 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
84 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many players expressing frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions, misleading advertisements, and the release of paid DLCs before the game is fully developed. Users feel that the developers prioritize profit over player experience, leading to a lack of essential updates and fixes, which has resulted in a negative perception of the game's value and integrity. Overall, the sentiment is that the game exploits its player base financially while failing to deliver a polished and complete product.
- “Monetization of cosmetics continues.”
- “My only hope is that Croteam and Gamepires will not ruin their own game with cheap monetization and keep making SCUM what it can evolve into – the de-facto open world survival game.”
- “The dev decisions, both in their gameplay design and monetization, have proven time and time again that they are pushing their game in a direction devoid of fun, while preying on players' pocketbooks.”
- “I've returned after some time to check out what's going on, and I'm saddened to see yet another project fall down the 'we've fooled you all into thinking this game will be for the players, but it's actually a cash grab with false promises' pipeline.”
- “The lack of optimization, bugs, and lackluster content make this a frustrating experience that ultimately feels like a cash grab.”
- “This game is turning out to be an enormous cash grab; it's not even out yet and it already has 2 support packs and 3 cosmetic packs.”
music
100 mentions
18 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the variety and quality of tracks available through in-game radios and the ability to add personal playlists. Some users enjoy the immersive experience that music provides during gameplay, while others criticize the reliance on music packs and the lack of ambient sound options. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's atmosphere, but opinions vary on its implementation and accessibility.
- “The music choice on the radio is great on all accounts.”
- “The music radio in this game can be heard through radios in hand or vehicles which is absolutely amazing.”
- “If you want a unique and in-depth immersive survival experience with great music, this is the game for you!”
- “Plus every time you log in, your ears get bombarded with the music from the video.”
- “No music, so you can enjoy the boring game atmosphere as they're hoping you fall asleep so you can't get your money back from this scam of a game.”
- “Menues and music are ugly junk, fonts look out of place, the animations are robotic (have you guys ever even tried to run anywhere?), and the damn grass is shiny.”
replayability
71 mentions
30 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly replayable due to its procedural content and character customization, others criticize the limited content and repetitive gameplay. Many users express hope that future updates will enhance replay value, with some noting improvements in playability over time. However, concerns about the current state of content and mechanics suggest that the game may not yet fully deliver on its replayability potential.
- “The game is designed to be highly replayable, with procedurally generated content and events.”
- “The replayability of this game is outstanding, due to the above mentioned features, along with its character customization.”
- “It's super cheap and filled with tons of content and thousands of hours of replayability!”
- “No mod support until the game is out of early access (so never), no promised map expansions because they'd be too heavy on performance (Unreal Engine 5 sucks), no content replayability whatsoever (there's only so much you can do when everything is either too easy or too hard to obtain).”
- “You had the replay value, devs...and you sold it in exchange for shoddy NPCs and random modular vehicle crap that still doesn't work like it's supposed to.”
- “In the current state with the lack of content and replay value, there is little to no reason someone should spend money on this.”
emotional
59 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of feelings, from frustration and heartbreak due to challenging mechanics and loss of progress, to moments of joy and nostalgia during gameplay. Players express a deep connection to their experiences, with some describing the game as both rewarding and punishing, leading to tears and regret. Overall, the game is seen as capable of evoking strong emotional responses, whether through its immersive survival elements or the community's interactions.
- “Heartbreaking, really was the best early access ever.”
- “It made me feel like all that work was a waste of time.”
- “Best game I've played in years; it made me laugh, cry, fear for my life, and has made me feel like I could survive out in a desolate wasteland.”
character development
25 mentions
20 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a polarizing aspect, with some players praising its depth and complexity, particularly in relation to metabolism and skills, while others criticize it as underwhelming compared to other titles in the genre. Many appreciate the intricate systems that affect gameplay, such as calorie management and physical attributes, but some feel that the character design options are limited and that the overall execution does not live up to the game's ambitious promises. Overall, the character development system is seen as a unique feature that, if further refined, could distinguish the game in the survival genre.
- “The realistic open-world environment, intricate character development, and dynamic gameplay make it a true gem in the genre.”
- “Scum's standout feature is its robust character development system.”
- “Scum is really well made and updates quite regularly, just the character development alone is pretty insane, everything you eat and do consumes calories that you have to burn off, your character can get overweight if you eat too much fatty food or they can get very athletic and buff if they have a high protein diet with lots of exercise, that in turn helps you run faster and further, decrease weapon recoil, carry more and perform various actions a little quicker.”
- “I actually hate this game now and will probably never play it again as it's basically a poor version of Escape from Tarkov with terrible PvE elements thrown in to make it feel unique. The main thing Scum advertises is that it's different from other games in the genre because of the character development, but I didn't find anything in the game that made character development rich or more robust than any other game, and the graphics are actually horrible.”
- “Character design is limited right now to four options for the female characters and six for the male.”
- “The female character designer is a choice between three presets, each worse than the last, with the black preset being particularly bad.”