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 794 reviews

story54 positive mentions

stability36 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with fast-paced action and a variety of characters to play as.
Improved graphics and atmospheric effects enhance the overall experience.
The RPG elements, such as character upgrades and skills, add depth to the gameplay.

Frequent crashes and technical issues, particularly on modern systems.
Short campaign length and lack of meaningful story development compared to the original.
Repetitive gameplay with limited enemy variety and few boss encounters.

story
295 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
69%
13%
The story aspect of the games reviewed varies significantly, with some titles featuring engaging narratives and well-developed characters, while others are criticized for their lack of depth and coherence. Games like "My Furry Teacher" are praised for their charming characters and heartwarming plots, whereas titles like "Shadowgrounds: Survivor" are noted for their shallow storytelling and reliance on gameplay mechanics over narrative substance. Overall, while some games successfully weave compelling stories that enhance the experience, others fall short, leaving players wanting more in terms of plot and character development.
- “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
159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The gameplay is generally praised for its smooth mechanics and engaging RPG elements, such as character leveling and unique skills, which enhance the overall experience. However, some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with criticisms aimed at the wave-based enemy mechanics that detract from strategic play. While improvements over the original game are noted, including better graphics and a more polished interface, the absence of online co-op and some frustrating design choices have led to mixed reviews.
- “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 game has pretty much everything going for it; engaging gameplay, immersive atmosphere, a great soundtrack, and a ton of blood.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
graphics
155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
66%
6%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the significant improvements in visual quality, character models, and lighting effects compared to its predecessor. While some players appreciate the stunning HD artwork and cozy atmosphere, others note that the graphics have aged poorly and exhibit various technical issues, particularly with water reflections. Overall, the visuals are considered serviceable for the game's era, though they may not meet modern standards.
- “The HD artwork is stunning, the soundtrack is relaxing, and the overall atmosphere is cozy.”
- “Graphics: the graphics showcase a significant improvement, featuring visually appealing environments and character models.”
- “The graphics are so nice and clean and realistic—everything.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning HD artwork, immersive soundtracks, and a blend of cozy and dark elements that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the engaging gameplay set against a backdrop of atmospheric lighting and environmental effects like rain and snow, which contribute to a suspenseful and gripping sci-fi ambiance. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is strong, certain gameplay elements and story depth may not meet expectations, particularly in the sequel, Shadowgrounds Survivor.
- “The game has pretty much everything going for it; engaging gameplay, immersive atmosphere, a great soundtrack, and a ton of blood.”
- “The game also has an incredible, thick atmosphere that has been enhanced thanks to upgraded environment elements such as heavy rain, lightning, and snowstorms.”
- “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
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as freezing, FPS drops, and character duplication. While some users found the game mostly bug-free during their sessions, the overall consensus leans towards it being unpolished and requiring extensive troubleshooting to enjoy. Consequently, many reviewers advise against purchasing it due to its instability and the frustration it causes.
- “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.”
- “But unplayable because of glitches and bugs.”
- “This one though has almost no story, is lacking almost all the tension of the first and has worse progression as well as being a buggy mess that you will need to use multiple workarounds to even get to run, much less play through to the end.”
- “Game doesn't work out of the box without user troubleshooting.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
38%
9%
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the relaxing and immersive soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some reviews noted that sound effects could be lacking, the soundtrack is often described as top-notch, effectively transitioning between different moods and contributing to the game's engaging gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, complementing the visuals and gameplay experience.
- “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 game has pretty much everything going for it: engaging gameplay, immersive atmosphere, a great soundtrack, and a ton of blood.”
- “Well-structured and well-written (though the plot was predictable, the characters were memorable and brilliantly voiced), with a consistently creepy aesthetic and a very good soundtrack.”
- “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.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “Likewise, the music and ambient layers of the title are superior in comparison to the former release.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "my furry teacher 🐾" emotionally engaging due to its charming characters and heartwarming narrative, which sets it apart from other furry visual novels. Despite some shortcomings, the game is praised for its emotional depth, although some reviewers note a lack of connection between the characters' stories. Overall, it delivers a delightful and touching experience.
- “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
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The game offers limited replayability, primarily featuring hidden secrets and a survival mode to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players have enjoyed replaying the campaign several times due to its fun factor, the absence of online co-op and overall low replay value are notable 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.”
- “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
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing minor but persistent stuttering issues, which detract from the overall experience, despite the engaging performances that enhance the narrative.
- “The physics in this game cause minor but annoying stuttering, regardless of settings.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Shadowgrounds Survivor is characterized by its absurd physics and occasionally poor voice acting, which adds a comedic touch to the gameplay. Players find the barrel rolls particularly hilarious, contributing to the game's fun and chaotic atmosphere. Overall, the humor is a notable aspect that enhances the enjoyment of the game.
- “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.”
- “Shadowgrounds Survivor is a fun, challenging, and hectic game with plenty of upgradeable weapons to wreak havoc with. The voice acting is pretty poor but sometimes funny at certain points.”
character development
4 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 development of its three characters. Overall, the consensus is that the character arcs are underwhelming and fail to engage players meaningfully.
- “The game is short, the story is shallow, and character development was lacking with only three different characters in 5 and a half hours.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the frequent and prolonged arena battles that detract from the overall experience. Exploration is also criticized for lacking the engaging quality of the original game, leading to a sense of confusion and frustration. Overall, the grinding elements contribute to a less enjoyable gameplay experience compared to its predecessor.
- “Now, single player top view shooters tend to be tedious.”
- “Fighting in arenas way too often and for way too long gets very boring and tedious.”
- “Exploration doesn't feel all that great compared to the first game, making the experience feel repetitive.”

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

Buy Shadowgrounds Survivor

3h Median play time

3h Average play time

2-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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Shadowgrounds Survivor

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PC Review - 'Shadowgrounds Survivor'