Stories from the Outbreak

About

Stories from the Outbreak is a single player role playing game. 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…

Genres & Tags

Role Playing

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game features a charming pixel art style and engaging turn-based combat that keeps players invested.
There is a good variety of characters with unique abilities, allowing for diverse strategies and replayability.
The game offers a challenging experience with clever synergies and decision-making that rewards strategic planning.

The game currently lacks content, leading to repetitive scenarios and a feeling of limited progression after several runs.
Balancing issues exist, as certain character combinations and enemy mechanics can lead to frustratingly unwinnable situations.
The learning curve is steep, with insufficient tutorials and unclear mechanics that may deter newer players.

gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
48%
11%
The gameplay is engaging and addictive, featuring a challenging combat system that requires strategic thinking and adaptation to various enemy mechanics. While the initial learning curve can be steep and some encounters may feel punishing due to RNG elements, players appreciate the unique character abilities and the replayability offered by different challenge modifiers. Overall, the gameplay loop is enjoyable, though it can become repetitive depending on the chosen strategies.
- “Love the graphics and the gameplay, and it still can feel challenging!”
- “Gameplay is addictive but difficulty ramps up quickly and a bad RNG event or grouping of specific zombie classes can wipe your team easily.”
- “Fun gameplay loop and tons of replayability with each run, the little detours to unique scenarios are really enjoyable too.”
- “Combat is interesting, although sometimes I would fail encounters because a new enemy or 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 involve spamming a single action to manage your resources mid-combat.”
- “The game is short enough that some of its mechanics, such as character stat upgrades and mood, are entirely negligible.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's story is characterized by a mix of engaging hidden quests and vignettes, though it is described as sparse and lacking depth, especially in its early access state. While some players appreciate the initial intrigue and potential for future development, others find the storytelling to be drip-fed and worry about its potential repetitiveness. Overall, the narrative offers a unique backdrop to the gameplay, but many are eager for more depth and branching storylines as the game evolves.
- “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.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its fitting and enjoyable soundtrack that complements the pixel art style. While some mention that the music can be repetitive, overall, it is described as "top notch" and "incredible," contributing positively to the gaming experience.
- “A great game for fans of turn-based roguelike RPGs with great pixel art and good music.”
- “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 very short and repetitive.”
- “The soundtrack is small but very effective.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The graphics are praised for their retro pixelated style, effectively complementing the game's bleak, apocalyptic atmosphere. Players appreciate the aesthetic and art design, which enhances the overall experience alongside high-quality audio.
- “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.”
- “The graphics are pixelated and feel retro, which may not appeal to everyone.”
- “The visuals lack detail and can feel outdated compared to modern standards.”
- “The character models are poorly designed and lack the polish expected from a contemporary game.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers strong replayability, with players enjoying the opportunity to explore different strategies and stories, particularly in boss encounters. Many users appreciate the game's ability to provide fresh experiences upon replaying.
- “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.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's atmosphere is effectively conveyed through its retro pixelated graphics and high-quality audio design, creating a bleak, apocalyptic setting that enhances the overall experience. The combination of appealing visuals and fitting music contributes significantly to the immersive atmosphere.
- “Graphics are the pixelated type and feel retro in a good way, and the music and sound are top-notch, enhancing 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 lacks depth and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that the game is exceptionally stable, with no bugs or issues encountered, contributing to a smooth gameplay experience.
- “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.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the incorporation of local tropes that add a comedic touch. Overall, the game is considered solid and free of bugs, enhancing the enjoyment of its humorous elements.
- “Solid game, no bugs, local tropes are funny.”
- “The humor is spot on, with clever jokes that kept me laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game uses puns and witty dialogue to enhance the experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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 story left me in tears.”
- “I felt a profound connection to the characters and their struggles.”