Stories from the Outbreak
- February 20, 2024
- Coldwild Games
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam"Stories from the Outbreak" is a turn-based roguelike zombie RPG set in 2
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features solid depth in combat mechanics and a unique pixel art style that enhances the atmosphere.
- It offers a variety of character abilities and strategic gameplay, making each run feel different and engaging.
- Despite its steep learning curve, the game is fun and challenging, providing a rewarding experience for fans of turn-based roguelikes.
- The game suffers from balance issues, with some enemies being overly difficult and punishing, leading to frustrating experiences.
- Content is currently limited, making the game feel repetitive after a few hours of play, with a lack of diverse scenarios and events.
- The learning curve is steep, and many mechanics are unintuitive, which can be off-putting for new players.
- gameplay30 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by solid combat mechanics and a steep learning curve, with players noting that while the combat can feel slow and some mechanics are unintuitive, the overall experience is engaging and addictive. The game features a variety of characters and strategies, though it can be punishing due to random elements and challenging enemy encounters. Despite some repetitiveness and a desire for deeper character interactions, the gameplay loop offers good replayability and satisfaction as players learn to navigate its complexities.
“Love the graphics and the gameplay, and it still can feel challenging!”
“Fun gameplay loop and tons of replayability with each run; the little detours to unique scenarios are really enjoyable too.”
“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.”
“Has a steep learning curve and some mechanics are unintuitive.”
“Combat is interesting although sometimes I would fail encounters because a new enemy/mechanic appeared that I hadn't seen before and was not prepared to deal with.”
“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.”
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a mix of engaging hidden quests and vignettes, though it is currently sparse and drip-fed, leaving some players wanting more depth and branching narratives. While the initial storytelling is compelling, it risks becoming repetitive, especially given its early access status. Overall, players appreciate the potential for future story development alongside the game's intense combat and decision-making elements.
“Although it's not a big game, there are a variety of little hidden quests and vignettes that you can pursue during a run if you know what you're looking for. Now that I've cleared the final boss a few times, I've been having a ton of fun chasing down each one.”
“For a game with 'stories' in the title, it really just drip feeds you the story; and I don't think that's a negative thing.”
“It's a bit of a unique mix of turn-based combat in a way often seen in JRPGs, but with a grim zombie apocalypse story and environment.”
“I didn't read any of the story because the game didn't interest me to want to read it.”
“There is no definite story but there are texts and decisions to make it a bit more immersive.”
“I do worry though that the story will quickly become repetitive and generic, much like in FTL.”
- music11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its fitting and enjoyable soundtrack. While some mention that the music can be short and repetitive, overall, it is described as "top notch" and a standout feature that complements the engaging pixel art and solid gameplay mechanics.
“The game has a very nice atmosphere with fitting music and appealing pixel art.”
“Incredibly solid turn-based combat with a heavy focus on manipulating the turn-order timeline to your advantage, with fantastic pixel art and a jamming soundtrack.”
“The music is incredible and I enjoyed listening to the different songs for the different areas.”
“The music is very short and repetitive.”
“The soundtrack is small but very effective.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their retro pixelated style, effectively complementing the game's bleak, apocalyptic atmosphere. Players appreciate the art design and audio, which enhance the overall aesthetic and gameplay experience.
“The visuals and audio design successfully capture the bleak, apocalyptic atmosphere.”
“The aesthetic and setting are fantastic.”
“Graphics are the pixelated type and feel retro in a good way, and the music and sound are top notch and help the atmosphere.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a successful blend of retro pixel art and high-quality audio design, effectively capturing a bleak, apocalyptic vibe. While some players feel that voiceovers could enhance the experience, the overall visuals and music contribute positively to the game's ambiance.
“Graphics are the pixelated type and feel retro in a good way, and the music and sound are top notch and help the atmosphere.”
“The game has a very nice atmosphere with fitting music and appealing pixel art.”
“The visuals and audio design successfully capture the bleak, apocalyptic atmosphere.”
“The game feels lifeless and fails to immerse players in its world.”
“Despite the potential, the atmosphere is flat and uninspired, lacking any real tension or engagement.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability, with players enjoying the diverse stories and the opportunity to explore new strategies, particularly in boss encounters. Overall, it successfully delivers on its promise of engaging content that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“Delivers on its promise and offers lots of replayability.”
“Decent replayability, especially if you like finding new strategies for the bosses.”
“I've really enjoyed the stories from the outbreak, and I appreciate how replayable the game is.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is seen as a promising concept, with local tropes providing some laughs, but it suffers from poor balance and could benefit from voiceovers to enhance the atmosphere. Overall, while the game is solid and free of bugs, its comedic potential feels underutilized.
“Solid game, no bugs, local tropes are funny.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the lengthy runs and random event outcomes that can unfairly penalize certain choices. The repetitive nature of some strategies, especially in resource management during combat, further contributes to the feeling of monotony.
“Discovering the optimal ways to resolve random events was pretty tedious given the length of runs and node RNG. I especially disliked how 'evil' choices were 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 strategies are very repetitive and involve spamming a single action to manage your resources mid-combat.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the game is exceptionally stable, with no bugs or issues encountered during gameplay.
“Bug-free in every sense.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
“I haven't encountered any stability issues; it feels very polished.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be deeply emotional and often heartbreaking, highlighting its ability to evoke strong feelings and resonate on a personal level.
“This game, man, this is heartbreaking.”
“The emotional depth of the characters left me in tears.”
“I felt a profound connection to the story that resonated with my own experiences.”
