Sker Ritual

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,471 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Sker Ritual Game Cover
A decent evolution of the CoD: Zombies formula held back by technical issues.
Starting at $7.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store

The co-op survival FPS and spiritual successor to the award-winning occult horror, Maid of Sker. Play solo or up to 4 players to survive the supernatural onslaught of the Quiet Ones.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Epic Games
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,471 reviews
story107 positive mentions
optimization23 negative mentions
  • Sker Ritual offers a refreshing take on the classic survival horror genre, reminiscent of older Call of Duty Zombies games.
  • The game features engaging cooperative gameplay, interesting wonder weapons, and a variety of enemies that keep the experience fresh.
  • The developers are actively working on updates and improvements, showing a commitment to enhancing the game based on community feedback.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer, leading to frustrating experiences.
  • Weapon damage scaling is poorly balanced, making it difficult to keep up with enemy health in higher rounds.
  • The lack of communication options, such as voice chat, hinders teamwork and coordination during gameplay.
  • story438 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, with players appreciating its atmospheric storytelling and engaging quests that blend easter eggs with main objectives. While some find the narrative to be a bit linear or uninspired, many enjoy the guided missions that allow for easier progression without needing extensive outside help. Overall, the story adds a layer of depth to the gameplay, making it a fun alternative to traditional zombie modes.

    • “The atmosphere, style, graphics, and story were amazing.”
    • “I absolutely love this game, amazing story/lore, fun round-based survival, and even the easter eggs and secret easter eggs were super fun.”
    • “The story is charming, the enemies are unique, and the weapons sound and feel awesome to use.”
    • “The amount of times I get one-tapped by a boss after spending an hour doing these long, time-wasting story missions is garbage.”
    • “The missions in the game are 80% the same on every map - worst part is escorting the zombie through the entire map, super boring - bosses have the same mechanic; you get hit constantly from stuff that isn't even close to you because the hitboxing is just terrible.”
    • “Overall, the game still needs a lot of work put into it to make it feel worth the hassle of getting through the story with its current gameplay problems and actually being able to involve yourself with the story.”
  • gameplay341 mentions

    The gameplay of "Sker Ritual" draws heavily from the Call of Duty Zombies formula, offering a mix of cooperative play, strategic mechanics, and atmospheric storytelling. While many players appreciate the nostalgic elements and engaging mechanics, some criticize the game for technical issues, repetitive objectives, and a lack of polish in animations and hit detection. Overall, the gameplay is seen as fun and addictive, particularly in multiplayer, but it requires further refinement to fully realize its potential.

    • “With its atmospheric storytelling, engaging cooperative gameplay, and a focus on strategy, it’s a thrilling alternative that will keep you and your friends on the edge of your seats.”
    • “The gameplay blends intense first-person action with eerie, unsettling environments, creating a genuinely chilling atmosphere.”
    • “The variety of enemies and strategic gameplay keeps things fresh and exciting, while the cooperative mode adds a fun twist, allowing you to team up with friends to survive the nightmare together.”
    • “My 6 hours of gameplay consisted of just crashed games.”
    • “The missions in the game are 80% the same on every map - the worst part is escorting the zombie through the entire map, which is super boring. Bosses have the same mechanic, and you get hit constantly from stuff that isn't even close to you because the hitbox is just terrible. Overall, you can play it for a few hours, then you'll just quit because it's coded horribly.”
    • “Unfortunately, although it is early access and only just released, the gameplay is very lacking and clunky.”
  • graphics118 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the fresh aesthetic, captivating visuals, and atmospheric design, while others criticize outdated animations and performance issues. Many users report that adjusting graphical settings can improve performance, but there are still complaints about stuttering and low frame rates in certain maps. Overall, while the game has a unique style reminiscent of classic titles, it is often described as needing significant graphical upgrades and polish.

    • “The atmosphere, style, graphics, and story were amazing.”
    • “The graphics are great, and there is a bit of unexpected humor throughout the game.”
    • “The visuals and overall gameplay of the game are just great.”
    • “Graphics are middle of the road, zombie animations are from 2010.”
    • “The game needs a lot of work in the graphics; even on high, it's not worth the 20 bucks, and even if I grabbed the DLC on sale, I don’t think it's worth it.”
    • “I can get past the 10-year-old graphics, but it plays like someone modded COD: WWII zombies into COD: WAW zombies, clunky controls with terrible gunplay.”
  • optimization114 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting serious performance issues, including stuttering, frame drops, and lag, even on high-end systems. While some users have experienced smoother gameplay after recent updates, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization and polishing to enhance the gaming experience, particularly in multiplayer and during intense action sequences. Despite these challenges, many players still find the game enjoyable and express hope for future improvements.

    • “Overall, I think the game is worth playing and I definitely think that the optimization issues are outweighed by the game being good all around.”
    • “Performance is substantially better after the newest update; I'm getting a consistent 110 fps.”
    • “Overall, a great game with lots of potential. Currently, the performance really needs more optimization, which is expected on an early access game. The game still feels a little bit empty, but I'm sure future updates will fill that in.”
    • “However, the PC version currently suffers from some serious performance and refresh rate issues, therefore I cannot recommend this game.”
    • “Good game destroyed by micro stutters and bad performance for no reason.”
    • “The current game is almost unplayable on lower-end systems and the poor performance is even viable on high-end systems.”
  • stability110 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder the gameplay experience. While some users acknowledge the game's potential and express enjoyment despite these issues, the overall consensus is that it requires substantial polishing and fixes to address the numerous technical problems, particularly in multiplayer modes. Players are hopeful for future updates to improve stability, but currently, the game is described as a "buggy mess."

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck as well.”
    • “Game runs great and has a good feel to it.”
    • “Very good, as good if not better than most COD zombies, not buggy; don't listen to complainers.”
    • “Sucks having a good run, then all of a sudden the game freezes and crashes.”
    • “Game is very buggy in its current state even after the hotfixes.”
    • “Fun game, but it's a broken, buggy mess.”
  • grinding42 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over the lack of meaningful rewards for their efforts. The perk upgrade system and mission objectives are often described as monotonous, leading to a sense of burnout rather than enjoyment. While some appreciate the potential for progression and the game's unique elements, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding mechanics need significant balancing and improvement to enhance the overall experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The perk upgrade system is insanely grindy and it's boring as hell, just stat increases across the board. Every single perk is just rehashed from zombies.”
    • “Overall, the game is just tedious and gets old really quickly.”
    • “It takes an eternity to even reach half of the pass, so imagine grinding over and over on the same map, same objectives, same monsters, and so on.”
  • atmosphere41 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its spooky and immersive qualities, enhanced by strong graphics, sound design, and engaging storytelling. Many players appreciate the blend of horror elements with cooperative gameplay, creating a genuinely chilling experience. However, some critiques highlight issues with animations and audio that detract from the overall atmosphere, suggesting that while the visuals are impressive, the execution could be improved for a more impactful experience.

    • “This game offers a spooky and atmospheric experience that's perfect for those who love a good horror challenge.”
    • “The gameplay blends intense first-person action with eerie, unsettling environments, creating a genuinely chilling atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredibly creepy and exciting, with fantastic graphics and sound design that really draw you into the terrifying world of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere is still just so mid, I want to feel something when I play a horror shooter, not just feel like I'm going through the motions.”
    • “- atmosphere ruined by bad animations.”
    • “I'd like more atmosphere in the levels, in terms of audio.”
  • music37 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during intense moments. However, some players feel that the overall sound design is lacking, with a desire for more active background music and thematic tracks, especially during gameplay. Suggestions for improvement include adding music easter eggs and more diverse soundscapes to better match the game's atmosphere.

    • “Recent additions of music easter eggs add to that want for discovering map secrets, which is very much a staple of the genre and a welcome change.”
    • “The music fits each moment and intensifies the encounter; monster designs are detailed and varied, even in the casual 'zombie'.”
    • “Tldr - for a game (in early access especially) the game is very well made and super fun, the soundtrack is great, gameplay loop is very enjoyable with a lot of replayability, more so recently with the addition of more story elements and player upgrades.”
    • “But when you enter a game, you are instantly hit with your loud footstep sound effects and almost no music.”
    • “Currently, it's kind of bare bones; it needs serious work on quality of life, communication, music, narrator, etc.”
    • “Only suggestion to the devs - we need ambient music in these maps; the visual atmosphere is incredible, but the feel is ruined because all I can hear during gameplay are footstep noises.”
  • replayability32 mentions

    Overall, the game boasts strong replayability due to its engaging enemy designs, diverse power-ups, and the innovative miracle system, which encourages players to explore different strategies and difficulties. Many users appreciate the variety of weapons and customization options, while some suggest that additional game modes could further enhance replay value. Despite some criticisms regarding grind and limited content in early access, the gameplay loop remains enjoyable, with players reporting significant hours of fun.

    • “The enemies are fantastic and the power-ups make the game have a great replay value.”
    • “I could probably milk a good 20-30 hours out of this (in its current state), but the future updates look promising for further replayability.”
    • “The miracle system gives great replayability and is something new for the genre.”
    • “Some additional game modes on the to-do list would probably be beneficial in keeping the game's replayability up (completed chapter 1 on our 2nd go-through).”
    • “All this means that replay value is minimal after you beat each level.”
    • “My only problem with this is that no one is online to play the game with you because there isn't much stuff to entice you in the replayability aspect of the game.”
  • humor19 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding the quirky sound effects, unique voice lines, and absurd situations—like customizable bag heads and humorous bugs—particularly entertaining. Many reviewers highlight the game's janky charm and the clever integration of cultural references, which add to the comedic experience, especially when playing with friends. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding solo play.

    • “The running sound effects sound like your legs are about 20cm long; it's totally hilarious.”
    • “Last side note (I swear): the voice lines are absolutely hilarious and unique.”
    • “This game is super scuffed and has so much jank; it's just hilarious to play.”
  • monetization16 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its consumer-friendly microtransactions and free battle passes, while others criticize it as a low-effort cash grab reminiscent of corporate greed. Players appreciate the absence of intrusive microtransactions beyond cosmetic packs, but express frustration over gameplay mechanics, particularly the aim assist and ads functionality, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “One of the best monetization practices I've seen.”
    • “- Consumer-friendly microtransactions so far.”
    • “- 100% free battle passes for each map loaded with themed cosmetics to target-grind (no microtransactions other than a few cosmetic pack DLCs).”
    • “Love that they made an attempt to dethrone Call of Duty Zombies, but the game is extremely low quality for the $25 price tag. Knowing this, the developers still have the nerve to add microtransactions, exhibiting the same corporate greed of Activision.”
    • “Idk, the more I played this, the more it made me realize that this feels like a low effort cash grab to prey on your nostalgia.”
    • “My biggest complaint is that the ads mechanic feels useless for almost all weapons, and there are occasional collision or AI issues with certain enemies.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting how it evokes nostalgia and a sense of joy reminiscent of childhood experiences. Despite some criticisms regarding polish, the overall sentiment reflects a deep appreciation for the fun and engaging gameplay.

    • “To the developers: thank you for such a fun game; it made me feel like a kid again, chasing objectives and high rounds!”
  • character development1 mentions

    In "Sker Ritual," early access reviews highlight a promising character development system that includes "miracles," allowing players to acquire usable equipment during runs, with the potential for persistent character growth to be implemented in future updates.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly engaging, allowing players to shape their heroes in unique ways.”
    • “I love how the choices I make during the game directly impact my character's growth and abilities.”
    • “The depth of character customization and progression keeps me invested in my character's journey.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to feel invested in the characters.”
    • “I was disappointed by the limited options for character growth; it feels like a missed opportunity to create a more engaging experience.”
    • “The lack of depth in character development makes it difficult to connect with the story or care about the outcomes.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

Buy Sker Ritual

Play time

12hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
4-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 21 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News