Shadowgrounds Survivor

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

60%

Audience ScoreBased on 396 reviews

story27 positive mentions

stability18 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a mix of action and RPG elements, allowing for character and weapon upgrades.
Improved graphics and atmospheric effects compared to the original game, enhancing the overall experience.
Fun and nostalgic top-down shooter that appeals to fans of the genre, providing a decent amount of entertainment.

Frequent crashes and technical issues, particularly on modern systems, making it frustrating to play.
Short campaign length, often completed in under 5 hours, leading to a lack of content for the price.
Weak storyline and character development, with repetitive gameplay that can become tedious over time.

story
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
69%
13%
The game's story is generally described as simple and lacking depth, often serving merely as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the charming characters and emotional moments, many criticize the sequel's storytelling as shallow and less engaging compared to its predecessor, with repetitive missions and minimal character development. Overall, the story is seen as adequate for gameplay purposes but fails to leave a lasting impression.
- “The art style is top-notch, and the storyline, though simple, is deeply moving.”
- “The story is captivating, the characters are lovable, and the artwork is breathtaking.”
- “With its captivating story, beautiful artwork, and relatable characters, it's a game that every furry fan should play.”
- “Infuriating garbage game without lore, story or any kind of goal.”
- “The story feels inconsequential and merely serves as a setup for the emphasized survival mode, suggesting it was an afterthought.”
- “The game is short, the story is shallow, character development sucked (3 different characters in 5 1/2 hours).”
gameplay
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The gameplay is generally praised for its smooth mechanics and user-friendly interface, allowing players to focus on the story while engaging in enjoyable combat. Many reviews highlight improvements over the previous installment, such as the introduction of RPG elements, character variety, and enhanced graphics, although some players note that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth in customization. Overall, while the game offers a fun and engaging experience, it is marred by some technical issues and a less compelling narrative.
- “The mechanics are simple yet effective, allowing players to focus on the story.”
- “The gameplay is damn fun and is like Diablo meets Doom.”
- “The design is much better and the gameplay is more smooth and enjoyable.”
- “If you're new to the game, some enemy mechanics might initially be confusing.”
- “There's also no longer a manual save mechanic; it has been replaced by game-created save points that are only at the start of each level; if you die, you go back to the beginning, and that really blows.”
- “Still, the gameplay is repetitive and there is still no online co-op.”
graphics
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
6%
Overall, the graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the significant improvements in visual quality, character models, and lighting effects compared to previous titles. While some players appreciate the beautiful HD artwork and atmospheric design, others note that the graphics have aged poorly and may not meet modern standards. Despite these criticisms, the visuals are generally considered serviceable and contribute positively to the game's overall experience.
- “The HD artwork is stunning, the soundtrack is relaxing, and the overall atmosphere is cozy.”
- “The graphics showcase a significant improvement, featuring visually appealing environments and character models.”
- “The original Shadowgrounds already had some solid graphics, and these are markedly improved upon in Survivor.”
- “I would highly recommend this game to anyone who can tolerate the graphics shown in the screenshots.”
- “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.”
- “The graphics at first look alright, then once you continue strolling through the drab environments you really start to notice just how bad the character and enemy models look with a second glance.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its stunning HD artwork, immersive soundtracks, and a cozy yet suspenseful environment that enhances gameplay. Reviewers highlight the effective use of atmospheric elements like weather effects and lighting, which contribute to a gripping sci-fi experience filled with tension and excitement. However, some note that while the atmosphere is strong, certain gameplay aspects, such as story depth and character development, may not meet the same high standards.
- “The HD artwork is stunning, the soundtrack is relaxing, and the overall atmosphere is cozy.”
- “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.”
- “It's an isometric shooter with a dark atmosphere that's all about killing aliens and trying to survive.”
stability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as character duplication and freezing issues. While some users experienced a mostly bug-free experience, the overall consensus leans towards the game being unpolished and requiring extensive troubleshooting to run properly. Consequently, many reviewers find the game's stability to be a major drawback, making it difficult to recommend.
- “I am unsure if I can recommend this game, but it was mostly bug-free when I played it, so I guess it is okay for what it is in the end, a bird's eye shooting game.”
- “Too buggy for my liking.”
- “But unplayable because of glitches and bugs.”
- “Game doesn't work out of the box without user troubleshooting.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The music in the game has received a generally positive reception, with many players praising the soundtrack for its ability to create a relaxing and immersive atmosphere. While some reviews noted that sound effects could be lacking, the overall quality of the music, including its transitions and ambient layers, significantly enhances the gaming experience. However, a few critiques mentioned that the music can feel minimal or overshadowed by other elements in the game.
- “The HD artwork is stunning, the soundtrack is relaxing, and the overall atmosphere is cozy.”
- “The soundtrack is top-notch surprisingly; it really does help sell the atmosphere and knows how to transition from that feeling to pure hectic fun when it wants to.”
- “The best points are the great soundtrack and character upgrade system.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “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.”
- “With attractive isometric graphics and an above average soundtrack, Shadowgrounds: Survivor is a quality action shooter.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"My Furry Teacher 🐾" captivates players with its charming characters and heartwarming narrative, offering a unique emotional depth compared to other furry visual novels. Despite some shortcomings, the overall experience is delightful, though some users noted a lack of connection between the stories of the three main characters.
- “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.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game offers limited replayability, primarily through hidden secrets and a survival mode, but lacks an online co-op feature. While some players find the campaign enjoyable enough to replay multiple times, overall, the replay value is considered average.
- “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.”
- “Limited replayability.”
- “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.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users noting minor stuttering issues related to physics, which detracts from the overall experience despite the engaging performances.
- “The engaging performances breathe life into an otherwise lackluster story.”
- “Performance optimization is seamless, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “The game runs exceptionally well, with frame rates consistently high and load times minimal.”
- “The physics in this game cause minor but annoying stuttering, regardless of settings.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Shadowgrounds Survivor is characterized by a mix of poor yet occasionally funny voice acting and absurd physics, particularly highlighted by the comically 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.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is criticized for being inadequate, with players noting that the short playtime of 5.5 hours limits the depth of the story and the growth of the three characters. Overall, the experience feels shallow and unsatisfying.
- “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.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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. The exploration elements are also seen as lacking compared to the original, with some levels feeling confusing and poorly designed.
- “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.”