Shadowgrounds Survivor

56%
Game Brain Score Based on 268 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Shadowgrounds Survivor Game Cover
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"Shadowgrounds Survivor" is a spin-off/sequel to the original Shadowgrounds, taking place on Jupiter's moon Ganymede where humans are under alien attack. The game features 3 playable characters, each with new tactics, and an RPG-like upgrade system for weapons and characters. With a campaign mode deepening the Shadowgrounds story and a survival mode focused on alien slaughtering action, the game offers new features like the Sentry Turret and powerful Mech, as well as enhanced graphics.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

56%
Audience ScoreBased on 268 reviews
story24 positive mentions
stability9 negative mentions
  • Improved graphics and gameplay mechanics compared to the original Shadowgrounds.
  • Engaging action with a variety of characters, each having unique skills and weapons.
  • Fun and addictive gameplay, especially in survival mode.
  • Lacks a compelling story and character development, making it feel shallow.
  • Frequent crashes and technical issues, particularly on modern systems.
  • Short playtime with repetitive gameplay elements and limited weapon variety.
  • story101 mentions

    The story in "Shadowgrounds: Survivor" is generally considered weak and lacking depth compared to its predecessor, "Shadowgrounds." While some players appreciated the attempt to present multiple character perspectives, many found the narrative shallow, with minimal character development and a simplistic plot centered around an alien invasion. Overall, the game serves its gameplay well but fails to deliver a compelling story, making it less engaging for those seeking a rich narrative experience.

    • “The story is simple but it's okay.”
    • “The story as I said in talking about the story, you play as three people trying to survive the alien attack; I really liked that as we get some different perspectives on the alien attack.”
    • “The voice acting in Survivor is better, the story is less silly, and the way the story unfolds by switching between characters gives the gameplay some variety.”
    • “Infuriating garbage game without lore, story, or any kind of goal.”
    • “The game is short, the story is shallow, character development sucked (3 different characters in 5 1/2 hours).”
    • “Also the biggest factor why this is a pale sequel - it seems to have no real narrative - no real story - nothing that makes you want to explore the levels even more mostly because they are too small but also there is no storyline reasons to really except go from here to there and kill waves of aliens.”
  • gameplay62 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the introduction of new mechanics, such as controlling three characters with unique skills, which adds variety to the experience. However, many have criticized the repetitive nature of the gameplay, the lack of engaging story elements, and technical issues like glitches and poor aim mechanics. Overall, while there are improvements over the previous installment, the gameplay is often described as lacking depth and excitement.

    • “I like the new mechanics that make you control 3 characters instead of 1, each with unique weapons and skills that you can improve over time.”
    • “The game has pretty much everything going for it: engaging gameplay, immersive atmosphere, a great soundtrack, and a ton of blood.”
    • “The design is much better and the gameplay is more smooth and enjoyable.”
    • “Boring, boring, boring gameplay.”
    • “The monsters are all boring and repetitive, the color palette mostly consists of brown and grey, the plot and voice acting are both bad, the physics serve almost purely to make navigating past boxes and chairs annoying, and worst of all, the gameplay was outright dull.”
    • “Still, the gameplay is repetitive and there is still no online co-op.”
  • graphics55 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant improvements over its predecessor, while others criticize them as outdated and plagued by technical issues. While many appreciate the enhanced visuals and atmospheric effects, others find them sub-par by modern standards, with specific complaints about graphical bugs and a lack of substantial upgrades. Overall, the graphics are considered serviceable but not spectacular, reflecting the game's age and the limitations of its design.

    • “Some people here say that Shadowgrounds: Survivor is no different from Shadowgrounds, that's not true, this game is a big improvement over the old one in terms of both graphics and gameplay, it feels way more complete.”
    • “The original Shadowgrounds already had some solid graphics and these are markedly improved upon in Survivor.”
    • “With attractive isometric graphics and an above average soundtrack, Shadowgrounds: Survivor is a quality action shooter.”
    • “I don't hold the dev team ultimately responsible for not updating, but these shouldn't be sold on the Steam site; they are simply unusable by today's standards, not for any graphical or gameplay issues either, simply running on today's machines.”
    • “An oldie with very serious graphical and game-breaking bugs.”
    • “A game from 2007, its graphics have aged poorly, but not nearly so poorly as its predecessor; still, close-ups on faces look quite terrible.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, enhanced by dynamic environmental elements like weather effects and a strong soundtrack. Players appreciate the blend of horror and sci-fi elements, with atmospheric lighting contributing to suspenseful encounters. However, some critiques note that while the atmosphere is compelling, certain gameplay aspects and story depth may not meet expectations, particularly in the sequel, Shadowgrounds Survivor.

    • “Solid shooter that pits you against alien-esque hordes in a dark, atmospheric, and partially destructible sci-fi environment.”
    • “The game has pretty much everything going for it; engaging gameplay, immersive atmosphere, a great soundtrack, and a ton of blood.”
    • “The greatest strength of Shadowgrounds Survivor is once again its use of atmospheric lighting, which does a good job at turning otherwise bland encounters with the alien horde into something a little more suspenseful, lending somewhat from the horror genre.”
    • “Shadowgrounds Survivor has built upon the atmosphere of the original, somehow manages to be less gore-filled, the story is very shallow with no log pick-ups, hardly any exploration rewards, minimal weapons, small maps, auto-saves at the beginning of each level, and the bosses have been replaced by waves that are frankly boring.”
    • “There are drawbacks; some cinematic animations can be mediocre (animations in general are simple in nature), as with the voice acting, but I can let that slide, seeing as the atmosphere and gameplay still holds up as giving much more than what I paid for.”
    • “This game features a good atmosphere and solid gameplay, but I wouldn't recommend picking this up for full price.”
  • music11 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the relaxing soundtrack and effective ambient layers, although some sound effects may fall short. The presence of a music volume slider allows for personalized audio settings, contributing to the game's appeal.

    • “The game has pretty much everything going for it; engaging gameplay, immersive atmosphere, a great soundtrack, and a ton of blood.”
    • “Likewise, the music and ambient layers of the title are superior in comparison to the former release.”
    • “The HD artwork is stunning, the soundtrack is relaxing, and the overall atmosphere is cozy.”
    • “I liked the voiceovers the characters had, and the ambient music does provide the right feel for the game, but some sound effects are lacking.”
    • “It's amazing game, it involved me since I started to play, the music, the gameplay I felt like I was playing an old-school game, I'll keep playing this game as much as I can.”
    • “With attractive isometric graphics and an above average soundtrack, Shadowgrounds: Survivor is a quality action shooter.”
  • stability9 mentions

    The stability of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users reporting significant glitches and bugs that hinder gameplay, often requiring troubleshooting to get it to work properly. While some players noted occasional minor issues, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability, making it unplayable for many.

    • “But unplayable because of glitches and bugs.”
    • “Game doesn't work out of the box without user troubleshooting.”
    • “Far more buggy and just plain sloppy.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers some replayability through hidden secrets and a survival mode, but overall, it is considered limited. While some players have enjoyed replaying the campaign multiple times due to its fun factor, the absence of online co-op and generally low replay value are noted drawbacks.

    • “To the game's credit, it at least has some replay value in the form of secrets hidden throughout the levels, as well as other things such as survival mode.”
    • “Still no online co-op mode though, and replay value is so-so.”
    • “While replay value is low, I have played the full campaign 3-4 times just because it's that fun.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in Shadowgrounds Survivor is characterized by a mix of poor yet occasionally amusing voice acting and absurd physics, particularly highlighted by the hilariously exaggerated barrel rolls. Players find the game's chaotic and fun nature enhances its comedic elements, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.

    • “Frozenbyte has achieved something very funny and very nice ... I liked!”
    • “Something is up with the physics of this game; the graphics are definitely way better than the first game, but the barrel rolls in this game are hilariously absurd.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game "[i]my furry teacher 🐾[/i]" captivates players with its charming characters and a heartwarming narrative, distinguishing itself from other furry visual novels through its emotional depth and quality. Despite some minor flaws, the overall experience is described as delightful and touching.

    • “My Furry Teacher 🐾 hooks players with its charming characters and heartwarming story.”
    • “Compared to other furry visual novels, My Furry Teacher 🐾 stands out for its quality and emotional depth.”
    • “While it has its shortcomings, the overall experience is delightful and heartwarming.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development in the game is criticized for being inadequate, with players noting that the short playtime of 5.5 hours limits the depth and growth of the characters, resulting in a shallow narrative experience.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to truly connect with each character's journey and growth.”
    • “I love how the choices I make impact the characters' development, making every decision feel meaningful and personal.”
    • “The backstories and evolving relationships between characters add so much richness to the narrative, making me invested in their fates.”
    • “The game is short, the story is shallow, and character development was lacking, with only three different characters in just 5 and a half hours.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and repetitive, particularly criticizing the frequent and lengthy arena battles that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, exploration feels lackluster compared to the original game, with some levels suffering from confusing design issues.

    • “The original Shadowground was way better than this. The three characters are nice, but fighting in arenas way too often and for way too long gets very boring and tedious. Even exploration doesn't feel great like in the first Shadowground, and the sewer level has a problem with water reflection; it looks like a duplicated scene that is translated a bit but not flipped as it should be. Something went wrong with that, and the whole level is very confusing.”
    • “Now, single-player top-down shooters tend to be tedious.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Players report that the game's physics lead to minor but persistent stuttering issues, which can be frustrating and occur regardless of the chosen settings.

    • “The physics in this game cause minor but annoying stuttering, regardless of settings.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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