Serum

55%
Game Brain Score Based on 122 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • optimization
Serum Game Cover
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In "Serum," players must survive in a post-apocalyptic world filled with mutated creatures and toxic fog. With a timer on their arm counting down every second, they must explore different biomes, find clues about past events, and brew serums for unique abilities to survive. Players can also search for shelter and modify weapons for greater effectiveness in this race against time.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

55%
Audience ScoreBased on 122 reviews
story12 positive mentions
optimization9 negative mentions
  • The game has a unique concept with an interesting serum mechanic that adds urgency to gameplay.
  • The atmosphere and graphics are generally well-received, creating an immersive experience.
  • The game offers a solid progression system and engaging exploration, with a variety of crafting options.
  • The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to poor performance and frame rate drops even on high-end hardware.
  • Combat mechanics are clunky and unresponsive, with issues like hitbox registration and lack of impactful feedback.
  • Inventory management is tedious, requiring players to move items one at a time without a 'deposit all' option, which disrupts the flow of gameplay.
  • story48 mentions

    The game's story is described as having a strong premise and immersive atmosphere, but suffers from execution issues, including confusing tutorials and an incomplete narrative. Players appreciate the unique gameplay mechanics and exploration elements, yet many express frustration with the rigid quest system and lack of character development. Overall, while the story shows potential, it requires significant improvements and further content to fully engage players.

    • “The story is not bad, and the game is very atmospheric.”
    • “I really like this system and the core gameplay loop of venturing out, gathering materials for base and weapon upgrades and dragging them back to camp while also advancing your story quest while out and about works really well.”
    • “The storyline is fantastic, but there are times during play that you will have to find your own path, as the game does not directly point you in the direction of the next area of interest.”
    • “The main story line is unfinished; I had a quest to go to a certain area, but you have to finish the first two areas first.”
    • “See original review below: after slogging through to the two trolleys, the game just ends, saying 'you have completed all content, congratulations,' like they ran out of money or didn't even bother to finish the story. It's like they wrote chapter 1 and didn't finish the book.”
    • “The whole story seems like an afterthought, and there is no building of the characters, which is a shame because it feels like a neat core concept that could be a fun addition to the genre.”
  • gameplay39 mentions

    The gameplay of this early access survival game features a unique time-based mechanic that adds urgency and encourages exploration, though it is marred by inconsistent mechanics, a lack of polish, and frustrating inventory management. While the core gameplay loop of gathering resources and advancing the story is engaging, combat feels simplistic and the overall experience is hindered by bugs and a poorly designed tutorial system. Despite these issues, many players appreciate the innovative concepts and atmosphere, indicating potential for future improvements.

    • “Though still a work in progress being an early access game, what has been produced is rather solid with good atmosphere and progression not leaning too far into unfair situations or too easy encounters. The countdown mechanic really keeps you on your toes and has you keep moving, trying to make it to your objective and back to resupply. Being able to handle your wilderness gauge is key to such a struggle.”
    • “I really like this system and the core gameplay loop of venturing out, gathering materials for base and weapon upgrades, and dragging them back to camp while also advancing your story quest while out and about. It works really well.”
    • “The timer mechanic feels well done, giving players an incentive to return home eventually as well as making time a manageable resource.”
    • “Combat is very bland with the blocking, heavy attack, and regular attack mechanic, not to mention no area effects such as explosives or triggerable elements on the map.”
    • “Game is held back very hard by inconsistent mechanics, annoying audio, and poor optimization.”
    • “Cutting my move speed down 95% so I couldn't get to a chest to unload what had made me encumbered to begin with, coupled with no idea how to do it from inventory, and no meaningful tutorial explaining the mechanic is just chef's kiss level of annoyance.”
  • optimization23 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players experiencing low frame rates, stuttering, and inconsistent performance across various hardware setups. While some users report acceptable performance on high-end systems, the general consensus is that the game requires substantial improvements in optimization, especially given its early access status. Many believe that enhancing optimization could greatly enhance the overall gameplay experience.

    • “Decent game with acceptable performance.”
    • “Performance is okay; I have a 3060 Ti, Ryzen 5 5600X, 32GB RAM, and with DLSS quality, it runs smoothly at 60 FPS.”
    • “Game is enjoyable and really grindy, but it could be a lot better; it definitely needs a lot of optimization, bug fixes, and quality of life improvements.”
    • “I'm at medium settings for everything and DLSS performance, and it's 4-29 fps.”
    • “Game is held back very hard by inconsistent mechanics, annoying audio, and poor optimization.”
    • “The game optimization is a disaster.”
  • graphics15 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the art style and immersive environments, while others criticize the overall quality as underwhelming and not optimized, leading to issues like screen flickering and poor framerates. Although there are moments of visual appeal, many feel it falls short compared to expectations for a 2024 title, indicating that further improvements are needed.

    • “Honestly, I love a lot about the art style and the concepts in this game.”
    • “Graphics: 10/10”
    • “The game's visuals are stunning, and the atmosphere is genuinely creepy at times, enhancing the immersive experience.”
    • “The graphics are lackluster, despite being very demanding (not optimized well, but it's early access, so excusable).”
    • “Graphics are in the okay category; I wouldn't call it outstanding in max graphics compared to a 2024 paid game.”
    • “I'm having a problem I don't see anywhere in discussions: no matter what graphics settings I use, the screen flickers almost constantly, a bit like cheap LED lightbulbs, giving me a massive headache.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to issues with farming mechanics, inventory management, and bugs that disrupt gameplay. While the game has potential with its crafting and upgrade systems, many feel that it requires significant optimization and quality-of-life improvements to enhance the overall experience.

    • “Tedious and frustrating doesn't even begin to cover it.”
    • “- bugs my entire farm did not work, it kept deleting any plants I put in it which was insanely annoying and basically broke the entire game for me because farming is a vital mechanic.”
    • “- inventory management sucks, moving things from your inventory to storage is tedious as you have to re-select an item once the previous stack has been moved over one item at a time.”
  • stability7 mentions

    The game's stability has been criticized for being buggy, with players reporting various glitches that affect gameplay, such as issues with the serum system that can lead to resource loss without benefits. While some users find it manageable compared to other early access titles, the overall experience is marred by these persistent bugs and a lack of quality-of-life improvements.

    • “A buggy mess.”
    • “However, the serum glitches were a significant annoyance.”
    • “Tldr: game has a cool setting, gameplay mechanics are frustrating, game is buggy, and quality of life is extremely lacking in this game.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive environment, stunning visuals, and a genuinely creepy ambiance that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and progression, with mechanics that keep them engaged and on edge, although some note a significant jump in difficulty that may require frequent backtracking. Overall, the game successfully creates a compelling and atmospheric setting that draws players in.

    • “Though still a work in progress being an early access game, what has been produced is rather solid with good atmosphere and progression not leaning too far into unfair situations or too easy encounters. The countdown mechanic really keeps you on your toes and has you keep moving, trying to make it to your objective and back to resupply. Being able to handle your wilderness gauge is key to such a struggle.”
    • “The game's visuals are stunning, and the atmosphere is genuinely creepy at times, enhancing the immersive experience.”
    • “Great concept, great atmosphere, great immersion, great mechanics.”
  • music2 mentions

    The game's music and voice acting are generally praised for enhancing engagement, though some players find certain tracks annoying. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the gaming experience, despite mixed opinions on specific pieces.

    • “I wanted to say that this game is awesome; the voice acting and soundtrack are enough to keep you interested.”
    • “I'm not a fan of some of the music, which I find annoying.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the absurdity of navigating menus with invisible buttons, which adds a layer of frustration that some players find amusing. This quirky design choice elicits laughter, showcasing a playful approach to user interface challenges.

    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
    • “I love the quirky characters and their hilarious dialogue; it adds so much charm to the gameplay.”
    • “The absurd situations you find yourself in are genuinely funny and make for a memorable experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
1-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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