Stories from the Outbreak

About

Stories from the Outbreak is a single player survival role playing game with a post-apocalyptic theme. It was developed by Coldwild Games and was released on February 20, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

The year is 2020. A new virus – the New Death – has begun turning people into violent zombies. The government has collapsed, and a brutal paramilitary group has taken control over most of Latvia. The streets are not safe, and the police or army will not protect you. You turn the radio on. The military is announcing that one last ferry will be heading out to Iceland from the western shore. Escape w…

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 136 reviews

gameplay15 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Engaging and strategic turn-based combat system rewarding careful planning and character synergy.
Deeply thematic and atmospheric setting with evocative pixel art and fitting music enhancing immersion.
High replayability with varied characters, multiple endings, meaningful choices, and challenging roguelike elements.

Game can feel repetitive with limited enemy variety, scenarios, and content leading to lack of long-term engagement.
User interface is clunky, with occasional input issues and visual clutter affecting gameplay experience.
Steep difficulty curve combined with RNG elements and balance issues may frustrate new or casual players.

gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
56%
7%
The gameplay offers a challenging, punishing roguelike experience with a unique blend of tactical combat and character development, though it can feel repetitive and slow-paced at times. It features steep learning curves and occasionally unintuitive mechanics, yet rewards players who invest time in mastering character synergies and strategies. While the combat loop is generally engaging and supports replayability, some players find the mechanics shallow or unbalanced and desire more polish and faster pacing.
- “As the journey unfolds, relationships can strengthen or fracture depending on how situations are handled, and the loss of a party member is felt both mechanically and narratively.”
- “Each survivor has unique skills and backstories, and their development over time adds depth to the gameplay and narrative.”
- “Gameplay is tough but not especially frustrating; there's some variety of enemies and strategy is required in most encounters, and learning different skill and party combinations is a satisfying loop with the three maps that are complete.”
- “The gameplay is very repetitive and the mechanics are not very deep.”
- “The gameplay loop can be somewhat tedious at times depending on what strategy you're using, as some are very repetitive and spamming a single thing to manage your resources mid combat.”
- “Has a steep learning curve and some mechanics are unintuitive.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
70%
13%
The story in "Stories from the Outbreak" is character-driven and emotionally grounded, emphasizing tactical survival and human struggles in a collapsing world. While some find the narrative engaging with hidden quests and emergent storytelling, others note it is somewhat sparse and slowly revealed, with room for more depth and branching paths as the game develops. Overall, it offers a solid, immersive experience that resonates best with players who enjoy thoughtful, strategic storytelling rather than extensive lore.
- “Stories from the Outbreak is a turn-based roguelike RPG developed and published by Coldwild Games that places a strong emphasis on tactical decision-making, emergent storytelling, and the psychological weight of survival in a collapsing world.”
- “This focus on character-driven storytelling elevates the game beyond a purely systems-based roguelike, transforming it into a series of interconnected human stories that explore fear, desperation, and fleeting hope.”
- “Taken as a whole, Stories from the Outbreak is a thoughtful and emotionally grounded take on the zombie survival genre, one that prioritizes meaningful choices, character-driven storytelling, and strategic depth over spectacle.”
- “The story, gameplay, sound, and everything else is just grain.”
- “While the storytelling is sparse, the game compensates with its intense combat and decision-making scenarios.”
- “I do worry though that the story will quickly become repetitive and generic, much like in FTL.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
18%
19%
The music in the game is generally praised for its fitting, atmospheric, and well-crafted soundtrack that complements the pixel art and gameplay, enhancing the overall mood and setting. However, some users find the music repetitive and short, though still effective and enjoyable. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong element that reinforces the game's tone and immersion.
- “The game has a very nice atmosphere with fitting music and appealing pixel art.”
- “The music is incredible and I enjoyed listening to the different songs for the different areas.”
- “Music and sound effects are repetitive and boring.”
- “Music is very short and repetitive.”
- “This minimalist approach pairs well with the audio design, where subdued music and ambient sounds reinforce the sense of isolation and tension without overwhelming the gameplay.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The graphics feature detailed, atmospheric pixel art that effectively conveys a bleak, grim, and apocalyptic mood, supporting the game’s thematic focus. The visuals are cohesive, evocative, and complemented by excellent background art and sound design, creating a strong, immersive aesthetic despite a basic, retro style.
- “Great graphics, especially the backgrounds are really gorgeous and varied.”
- “The pixel art style is great, and there's so much replayability.”
- “It's very basic, though it is a decent game overall; the roguelike part works well and is fun, if a little repetitive due to how similar runs can be.”
- “While the visuals are not flashy, they are cohesive and purposeful, supporting the game’s thematic focus on bleak realism and emotional weight.”
- “Graphics are the pixelated type and feel retro in a good way, and the music and sound are top notch and help the atmosphere.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game offers solid replayability through its roguelike mechanics, multiple endings, varied character interactions, and strategic depth, encouraging multiple playthroughs. While some find the experience satisfying and engaging over time, others feel the content may become repetitive after a few runs, suggesting its value depends somewhat on price expectations. Overall, it provides a good replay value for those who enjoy gradual mastery and discovering new strategies.
- “In terms of replay value, the game offers a satisfying loop built around gradual mastery and long-term progression.”
- “With multiple endings and varied character interactions, the game encourages multiple playthroughs to experience all it has to offer.”
- “I appreciate how replayable the game is, especially enjoying the stories from the outbreak.”
- “It's a challenging game that feels barebones, not worth the 20€ at all but would recommend at a price point around 7-12€. As far as replayability goes, it's a roguelike with team building. You can play as much as you want but after 3.5 hours (3 runs, 2 wins-1 loss) I didn't feel compelled to keep playing.”
- “- Decent replayability, especially if you like finding new strategies for the bosses.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The game's atmospheric pixel art and retro-style visuals effectively convey a grim, apocalyptic mood, enhanced by top-notch music and sound design. However, some players note limited visual variety and repetitive elements that can diminish the overall immersion. Voice-over narration could have further improved the atmospheric experience compared to text-only dialogue.
- “The visuals and audio design successfully capture the bleak, apocalyptic atmosphere.”
- “The game has a very nice atmosphere with fitting music and appealing pixel art.”
- “Graphics are the pixelated type and feel retro in a good way, and the music and sound are top notch and help the atmosphere.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated for its quirky character abilities and casual, lighthearted approach, especially in managing battles with poison and bleed effects. However, some players feel that better balance and the addition of voice acting could have enhanced the comedic atmosphere. Overall, local cultural references add a solid touch of humor without bugs disrupting the experience.
- “The fact that you can cheese the whole game with a little planning and having the doctor character (the one that gives cheat death to the whole team) plus the poison-centered character that can deal damage through armor is funny and makes the last boss a waiting game of managing bleed/poison and maintaining cooldowns.”
- “Funny thing is, I think the boss battle you get before actually getting to the boat is the easiest one.”
- “Solid game, no bugs, local tropes are funny.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels emotionally through well-developed, distinct characters and a cohesive, purpose-driven visual style that emphasizes bleak realism. It delivers a heartfelt, character-driven narrative focused on meaningful choices and emotional depth rather than flashy spectacle, making for a deeply affecting zombie survival experience.
- “Character development is another standout aspect, as survivors are not interchangeable units but individuals with distinct personalities, backgrounds, and emotional states.”
- “Taken as a whole, Stories from the Outbreak is a thoughtful and emotionally grounded take on the zombie survival genre, one that prioritizes meaningful choices, character-driven storytelling, and strategic depth over spectacle.”
- “This game, man, this is heartbreaking.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game can feel tedious due to long runs and unpredictable event outcomes, with inconsistent penalties for certain choices adding frustration. Additionally, some strategies involve repetitive resource management, making the gameplay loop monotonous for certain playstyles.
- “Discovering the optimal ways to resolve random events was pretty tedious given the length of runs and node RNG; especially disliked 'evil' choices being punished in one type of event but not another. It sucks to be handicapped by an event because you had no way of knowing the outcome.”
- “The gameplay loop can be somewhat tedious at times depending on what strategy you're using, as some are very repetitive and involve spamming a single action to manage your resources mid-combat.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highly praised for portraying survivors as unique individuals with distinct personalities, backgrounds, and emotional states, rather than interchangeable units. This depth adds significant immersion and engagement to the game.
- “Character development is another standout aspect, as survivors are not interchangeable units but individuals with distinct personalities, backgrounds, and emotional states.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its exceptional stability, running flawlessly without any bugs or crashes.
- “Bug free in every sense.”

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Stories from the Outbreak
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12h Median play time

12h Average play time

12-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Stories from the Outbreak is a survival role playing game with post-apocalyptic theme.

Stories from the Outbreak is available on PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 12 hours playing Stories from the Outbreak.

Stories from the Outbreak was released on February 20, 2024.

Stories from the Outbreak was developed by Coldwild Games.

Stories from the Outbreak has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked Stories from the Outbreak for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Stories from the Outbreak is a single player game.

Similar games include Astronarch, Legend of Keepers, Gordian Quest, Dead Age, Chrono Ark and others.

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