State of Decay: YOSE
- April 26, 2015
- Undead Labs
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam"State of Decay: YOSE" is a remastered version of the ultimate zombie survival-fantasy game with improved graphics and gameplay. Explore an open world, recruit survivors, build and fortify your base, and complete new missions for rare equipment. Your decisions determine your survival in the post-outbreak world.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- story1,849 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in "State of Decay" is often described as simplistic and underwhelming, with many players noting that it feels secondary to the gameplay mechanics. While the game features a variety of missions, including dynamic side quests and a main storyline, the repetitive nature of these tasks can detract from the overall experience. Players appreciate the character development and the community management aspects, but many express disappointment in the lack of depth and coherence in the narrative, leading to a feeling of monotony as they progress through the game.
“The story is engaging and you feel isolated and constantly in danger with hordes jumping inside your base, throwing you out of your cars and climbing on you.”
“The campaign story is great, a lot of memorable and relatable characters, some intriguing and sad events.”
“The story keeps you on your toes, the grind is a bit repetitive but it is fairly accurate as to what you would be doing if a zombie apocalypse were to occur.”
“The story is very light, and dialogues brief.”
“The storyline is extremely bland and forgettable.”
“The story in the game can easily be forgotten and is just boring, as they don't really explain how or why things happened.”
- gameplay829 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *State of Decay: Year One* is characterized by its engaging survival mechanics, strategic resource management, and the tension of permadeath, which adds depth to the experience. However, players frequently note the presence of bugs, clunky controls, and repetitive missions that can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, many find the core gameplay loop of scavenging, base building, and character management to be addictive and rewarding, making it a notable entry in the zombie survival genre.
“The heart of *State of Decay* lies in its open-world gameplay, where every decision you make can impact your survival.”
“The game's dynamic world and emergent gameplay events create a sense of unpredictability and tension.”
“The gameplay is fun, captivating, and has a special charm that no other video game I have played has.”
“The gameplay is fine, but the zombies can get buggy or respawn ridiculously.”
“The missions lack variety and depth, leading to gameplay that becomes tedious after a few hours.”
“The gameplay loop is a little repetitive, but I have an undying passion for this game.”
- graphics704 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of *State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition* have received mixed reviews, with many players noting noticeable improvements over the original, particularly in texture quality and resolution. However, several users criticize the graphics as still feeling dated and lacking polish, with persistent bugs and glitches detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciate the enhanced visuals and smoother gameplay, others feel that the graphical upgrades are minimal and not worth the price for existing players of the original game.
“State of Decay: Year One is an enhanced version of the original, and the graphical improvements are immediately noticeable.”
“The enhanced visuals give the game a more polished and modern feel while maintaining the gritty, survival-focused atmosphere that made the original so appealing.”
“The graphics are good for the time that the game came out.”
“The graphics make the game feel like it’s stuck in a low-budget simulation from 2008.”
“I’ve seen better visuals in mobile games from five years ago.”
“The graphics were incredibly pixelated and the lack of customization in the settings made it difficult for me to get the game running smoothly.”
- stability380 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay. Issues include zombies phasing through walls, graphical problems like flickering shadows, and performance drops even on capable hardware. While some players find the glitches amusing or manageable, many express frustration over the game's lack of polish and persistent technical problems, leading to a generally negative perception of its stability.
“No glitches and looks good.”
“I've experienced no glitches yet either.”
“There are no glitches that I've found (yet), which is awesome.”
“It's glitchy and buggy with zombies going through objects or getting stuck, and playing over 1920 x 1080 causes constant lighting flickering.”
“The game is a buggy mess, and I've had zombies hide inside the walls of buildings and bite me when I pass by, unaware of their existence.”
“The amount of glitches, bugs, and controls is more frustrating than fun at this point.”
- optimization182 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and bugs, even on high-end systems. While some users noted improvements in graphics and smoother gameplay compared to the original version, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, making it difficult to recommend for those with average hardware. Despite its enjoyable gameplay, the persistent technical problems detract from the experience, leading to frustration among players.
“The game runs smoothly, with fewer technical issues than its predecessor, ensuring a better overall experience for players.”
“On top of that, the game is super well optimized compared to a lot of games right now and is only like a 3 GB download.”
“The controls are smooth, and I haven't had any hiccups with the game's performance, staying at a nice consistent 60fps on ultra, even where there was a lot of things going on in the background.”
“Just like the second one, garbage and has so much motion blur. Never playing this trash again; also a waste of money. Do not buy this glitchy, unoptimized cash grab.”
“The game itself is fun to play, but performs very poorly no matter what PC you have; it's always stuttering.”
“I don't understand how the developers can charge money for this game given the performance... it is nigh unplayable on a 3070 with stuttering and pop-in everywhere.”
- grinding90 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the mindless fun of resource management and zombie combat, the lack of variety in missions and the presence of bugs contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, players suggest that the game requires a significant time investment for grinding, which can become monotonous and detract from the narrative and gameplay.
“A game should be fun and engaging, not tedious like a job.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“While it starts off simple enough, it soon becomes the most tedious resource management simulator I've seen.”
“The missions lack variety and depth, leading to gameplay that becomes tedious after a few hours.”
“It's just tedious and feels like running on a hamster wheel, with no sense of progression or end-goal.”
- music86 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many players noting its immersive quality during both combat and exploration. Composed by notable artists like Jesper Kyd, the soundtrack is described as both haunting and soothing, effectively matching the game's tense moments and providing a nostalgic experience. While some reviews mention a few tracks as less memorable, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's emotional depth and engagement.
“The music is awesome; it changes in different situations, preparing you for what's coming, and feels really immersive.”
“The iconic soundtrack is both haunting and soothing as its tunes change throughout the day into the night.”
“The soundtrack is incredible, one of the best, and it helps to improve the atmosphere and encourages you to play!”
“Soundtrack exists only in the menu and... well, it is just one good track and that is all.”
“Because it is a random selection of lines, the game will essentially put you on hold as it thumbs through the audio files like an elderly DJ at a skate rink thumbing through records for the right song to fit the mood.”
“Tons of B-game disappointments: poor voice acting, music, sound effects, repetitive character models, etc. Maybe if they had a bigger budget these would be better and the story more engaging.”
- replayability82 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to various factors such as multiple character stories, different gameplay modes, and the inclusion of DLCs that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the ability to explore different strategies and outcomes, as well as the randomization of events that keep each playthrough fresh. However, some users note that the game can become repetitive over time, and a few express that the base game lacks sufficient replay value without the additional content.
“The game offers a good amount of replay value, as you can try out different strategies or explore different outcomes based on the choices you make.”
“When the story is all said and done, its alternate modes provide near-infinite replayability.”
“The game's unique mechanics, such as permadeath and the ability to switch between different characters, add an extra layer of depth and replayability.”
“Once you see everything, it's a very tiny repetitive world and it has virtually no replay value.”
“Unfortunately, the base game mode has no difficulty, so no replayability (where you would skip the tutorial).”
“Has somewhat replayability, but after replaying it that second time you'll have a good enough fill of the game.”
- humor51 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -4 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a blend of chaotic gameplay and amusing glitches, creating a unique experience that often leads to unexpected hilarity. Players appreciate the comedic elements in character interactions, absurd situations, and the game's many bugs, which can range from frustrating to laugh-out-loud funny. While the humor may not be intentional, it adds a lighthearted touch to the survival mechanics, making the game enjoyable despite its flaws.
“The game really nails that thrill of scavenging while feeling like you’re juggling a meltdown at a family reunion where everyone wants to be the hero—and it’s hilarious!”
“The base building is hilariously terrible as well because they implemented all these different facilities you can build but the game design railroads you into choosing just three: workshop, infirmary, and garden, since most bases only have three slots for building and these three are hard requirements for keeping your base functional.”
“I think it's an overall good game; the random things they say can be very funny, like how one character randomly commented on why, in a zombie apocalypse, did everyone steal the toilet paper first above food and guns—are they stupid and think they can eat it?”
“So casual, not funny, didn't laugh.”
“The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
“I expected more wit, but it was just cringeworthy.”
- atmosphere49 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and gritty portrayal of a zombie apocalypse, enhanced by polished visuals and effective sound design that includes eerie ambient noises and a fitting soundtrack. Players appreciate the tension created by the survival mechanics and the sense of dread that permeates the environment, making it a compelling experience for fans of the genre. Despite some technical flaws, the overall atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, drawing players into its world and keeping them engaged.
“The enhanced visuals give the game a more polished and modern feel while maintaining the gritty, survival-focused atmosphere that made the original so appealing.”
“It's a great game though, with a good comfy atmosphere that simultaneously turns creepy at night, and a healthy amount of fear and anxiety, as some of the undead can one-shot you and cripple you.”
“This game has magic, and once you cross that first bridge: the atmosphere is intoxicating.”
“A little buggy and lacking atmosphere, but other than that, really the pinnacle of games in this genre.”
“The game does well with its eerie atmosphere, but it fails to encapsulate the zombie survival genre.”
“If you let them kill your character (very nice permanent death btw, I like it), then you are just very bad at video games; graphics are bland, too bloody bright for the zombie apocalypse atmosphere.”
- emotional27 mentions
- 93 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional investment in their characters, feeling genuine sadness and shock when they experience permadeath after building them up through skills and relationships. The game’s open world and survival mechanics create high emotional stakes, as players navigate both physical and social needs of their survivors. However, technical issues and a lack of unique character traits can detract from the overall emotional impact, leading to frustration amidst the thrill of survival.
“Watching your survivors level up and improve their skills creates a strong sense of investment, and losing a character after they’ve become stronger is always a tough, emotional decision.”
“I have become so emotionally attached to my characters that I have felt legitimate shock and sadness when they die.”
“Each character also suffers permadeath and nothing is more heart-breaking than watching a character you built get destroyed by a silly move in a routine scavenging mission although after one or two deaths, you'll usually know when to pick your fights.”
“It’s a boring story; the gameplay is a buggy piece of trash. State of Decay sucks; it’s one of the worst games ever developed. The developers must be lazy or something. Go play something great like Dying Light or Days Gone.”
“Almost every mission I played is repetitive. I had to kill zombies, save survivors, or gather resources in its uninspired, boring story. Every mission—no matter if it’s main or side—feels the same.”
- monetization25 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to its unoptimized performance, lack of significant improvements from the original, and the high price point for what feels like a repackaged version. Despite the absence of microtransactions, players express disappointment over the developers' apparent disregard for quality and player experience, leading to a consensus that the game is not worth the investment. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with many recommending against purchasing it.
“It still surprises me that there are no microtransactions in this version of the game.”
“The devs don't care about you, they don't care about the game, they won't fix the game, and they only care about you paying for their poor excuse of a cash grab.”
“Shameful cash grab for something that should have been free, or at least sold as an upgrade, rather than a separate game for full price.”
“Still one of the worst cash grabs I can remember - it barely fixed anything from the original release, it launched with brand new bugs (performance + gameplay) and it barely had any new content to justify the inflated price point.”
- character development13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and the impact of permadeath on gameplay, while others criticize the lack of unique stories and meaningful character arcs. Although the game attempts to draw inspiration from narratives like "The Walking Dead," many feel that the overall character development is insufficient and could benefit from more complexity and emotional weight. Overall, while the game offers solid mechanics and engaging survival elements, the character development aspect leaves room for improvement.
“One of the best things about State of Decay is the character development.”
“A really fun game which keeps you on your toes due to the character development and the fact anyone can die with permadeath.”
“Mix that with great action, probably the best story we have seen in a zombie survival game, and good character development, you have yourself a game worth every penny.”
“Story and character development are light.”
“There were no attempts at character development or unique stories to unlock.”
“Aside from the general character stats, there isn’t enough character development in-game.”
