Settlement Survival

About

"Settlement Survival" is a survival city-builder game where you lead your people to a new settlement, providing shelter, food, and protection while managing well-being, happiness, education, and employment. Shape your settlement layout near resources, build housing, recruit Mayors, and prepare for seasonal disasters and environmental threats. Attract residents from foreign cities and create a thriving, prosperous community.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,222 reviews

graphics160 positive mentions

grinding82 negative mentions

Settlement Survival offers a deep and engaging gameplay experience, reminiscent of Banished but with more complexity and features.
The game has a vibrant art style and a variety of buildings and resources, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
Frequent updates from the developers show a commitment to improving the game and addressing player feedback.

The AI can be frustrating, with villagers often failing to perform tasks efficiently, leading to resource shortages and population decline.
The tech tree can feel convoluted and unbalanced, making it difficult to progress without running into bottlenecks.
Some players have reported bugs and performance issues, particularly in late-game scenarios with larger populations.

graphics
470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming, cartoonish art style and detailed environments, while others criticize the simplistic and low-poly visuals that can become visually tiring over time. Many users note that the graphics are reminiscent of "Banished," with some improvements, but feel that they lack the depth and polish of more modern titles. Overall, the aesthetic is generally considered pleasant and easy on the eyes, though opinions vary on its appeal and execution.
- “Well done, graphics and setting are detailed.”
- “Beautiful art style!”
- “The graphics are easy on the eyes with a bright color palette, the constructions are beautifully and impressively designed.”
- “Graphic design seems cute at the start but after a time it gets to an eye-hurting experience.”
- “Unfortunately, the art style and gameplay were so bad that I had to seek a refund from Steam.”
- “I really tried to like this game as the recommendations all stated it was similar to Banished (which I adore), but the graphics are horrible, reminding me of an old DOS game; you can barely see the colonist, and information is always popping up on the screen.”
gameplay
466 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The gameplay of this city-building simulation is heavily influenced by "Banished," featuring a familiar progression from survival to complex economic systems, with a focus on resource management and production chains. While many players find the mechanics engaging and addictive, there are criticisms regarding the steep learning curve, clunky UI, and some frustrating mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game offers a rich tech tree and various gameplay options that enhance replayability, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.
- “This game is not merely a survival simulation; it is a masterclass in immersive gameplay and strategic thinking.”
- “What truly sets settlement survival apart is its ingenious gameplay mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is addictive and engaging, and I found myself constantly wanting to build and expand my settlement.”
- “The gameplay loop is a full repeat.”
- “Did not get to the proper gameplay because the game feels clunky and not user-friendly to me.”
- “The whole gameplay system feels a bit chaotic, there's so much served all at once, it is very hard to figure where to start.”
music
162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it enjoyable and relaxing, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. Some users suggest muting the in-game music and using their own playlists instead, as the soundtrack can become monotonous over time. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its calming qualities, there is a strong desire for more diverse tracks to enhance the gaming experience.
- “The music on this game is absolutely beautiful!”
- “I've always loved these kinds of games, the music is cozy, and while it does take you a few tries to figure out what you're doing, it's honestly pretty fun.”
- “The graphics are charming; music is good (though it can be repetitive); and the mechanics feel smooth to play.”
- “The music is kind of boring and repetitive; I had to turn it off and use Spotify in the background.”
- “All you hear is the music loop, which is the same tune; there's zero variety.”
- “The music needs a lot of work; basically, more music is needed.”
grinding
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
9%
89%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be quite tedious, particularly in managing resources, farming, and the research chain, which often feels overwhelming and illogical as the game progresses. Players frequently mention the need for micromanagement and the frustration of random seed and livestock acquisition, leading to a sense of stagnation in town development. While some enjoy the depth and replayability, many agree that the game can become excessively grindy, requiring significant time investment to maintain efficiency.
- “It had only minor bugs, is not as slow-paced as others such as the upcoming gridless foundation; kind of standard fare but enjoyable to expand and conquer your maps, and the achievements can be a challenge to get, for the most part not the tedious kind.”
- “Late game can be a bit grindy.”
- “My 40+ hours of play time weren't without enjoyment, but in the end the game becomes needlessly grindy and illogical.”
- “Production of everything becomes exceedingly tedious and more difficult as you expand.”
story
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
77%
13%
The game lacks a cohesive storyline, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of a campaign or structured objectives. While players can create their own narratives through sandbox mode, the lack of a defined plot or missions leads to feelings of boredom and frustration after extended play. Overall, the desire for a more engaging story-driven experience is a common theme among reviews.
- “I would love if it would have a campaign/story mode with specific objectives, such as Frostpunk or Pharaoh, for example.”
- “There isn't a particular story in-game, but after you pass the tutorial, you start your first city on a map generated by your preference, creating your 'own' story.”
- “Storytelling at its best!”
- “Unfortunately, the game does not have any plot, story, or specific tasks to be performed to meet any challenges.”
- “My biggest gripe with the game is I eventually get bored because I don't have a storyline to follow.”
- “But, with the lack of a campaign, or even missions past a certain point, it's, for me, unenjoyable.”
stability
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The game is generally stable and runs well on various systems, with good graphics; however, it suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in AI pathfinding and saving functions. While players acknowledge that it is still in early access and expect improvements, many find the current level of instability frustrating and detrimental to gameplay. Overall, the game is enjoyable but requires significant bug fixes to enhance the user experience.
- “Runs great on my Radeon 2700X and RX 580X, so it doesn't require a beast of a machine to run.”
- “The AI isn't buggy like it is in Banished, and the UI feels much more intuitive.”
- “It runs great, looks great, and plays amazing.”
- “But it is so buggy, and the gameplay is uneven, and often illogical.”
- “The game did work okay before the last update; now every time I go to save, it just freezes. It does the same on the autosave.”
- “I know this is still an early access game, but it shouldn't become an excuse for a limited or buggy game.”
optimization
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
43%
11%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and fast loading times, especially for larger populations, while others report significant lag and performance issues as city sizes increase. Many users noted that despite the appealing graphics and charming atmosphere, the game struggles with optimization, particularly in late-game scenarios, and lacks sufficient options for veteran city builders. Overall, while there are positive aspects to the optimization, many players feel that improvements are still needed.
- “The game loads really fast, and is greatly optimized and has lots of things to specialize in.”
- “Absolutely addicting game, well optimized, clear path of succession and advancement.”
- “This game is optimized really well.”
- “In short, performance is awful.”
- “English translation is poor, tech tree unintuitive, game runs slowly; there's nothing to recommend here.”
- “Severely lacking optimization options for a veteran city builder.”
replayability
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
8%
The game is generally praised for its high replayability, bolstered by active development, regular updates, and a wealth of content that keeps players engaged. While some users note mild to limited replayability, many highlight the enjoyable mechanics and atmosphere that encourage multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a game with significant replay value.
- “There's so much replayability, and with the constant updates coming to the game there's always something new to look forward to.”
- “This game has super high replayability; I've downloaded and uninstalled it multiple times.”
- “And while the price tag may seem steep, the amount of content and replayability offered by the game more than justifies the cost.”
- “Limited replayability.”
- “Long time replayability I think will depend on how devs deal with the clunky UI aspects.”
- “If you played Banished and thought it was a bit short on replayability, then get this.”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often derived from its absurd design choices and the comical ineptitude of its characters, such as children with adult proportions and the hilariously unreliable citizens who starve while ignoring basic needs. Players find the tech tree both confusing and amusing, with many aspects of the game eliciting laughter due to their broken mechanics and unexpected scenarios. Overall, while the game has potential, its humor largely stems from its flaws and the ridiculous situations that arise during gameplay.
- “The tech tree is hilarious in the sense that you have to do calculus to actually figure out how it all goes together.”
- “Just, for the sake of your soul, don't zoom in on the people too much... it's hilariously awful how the kids are just shrunk down adults with adult proportions and full facial hair at 5 years old xd.”
- “There's no reason there should be issues from Banished in here, such as citizens being so hilariously unreliable while people starve to death lol.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game is praised for its captivating atmosphere and charming graphics, making it one of the best atmospheric city builders since "Banished." Players appreciate the complexity and replay value, noting that it effectively delivers on the style it promises. Overall, the atmosphere is described as engaging and immersive, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “One of the few games that truly delivers on the atmosphere and style that it sells.”
- “Best atmospheric city builder since Banished.”
- “Overall, the atmosphere is captivating and there is enough replay value for multiple runs.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game's music and atmosphere evoke strong emotions, immersing them in a sense of wilderness and danger, particularly during bleak winter scenarios. This emotional depth enhances the overall experience, contributing to feelings of survival and vulnerability.
- “The music made me feel like I was deep in the wilderness, and the winters felt bleak and dangerous.”
- “Settlement survival, emotional damage!”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of this city builder has been criticized as feeling exploitative, with many users likening it to an early access cash grab. Despite effective advertising efforts, players feel the game lacks value compared to other options in the genre.
- “Spend your money on other city builders; this one is not worth it yet and it really does feel like an early access cash grab.”
- “This feels like Banish but dumbed down. The devs have done a great job on ads; they even paid Skystomr to make a review video.”