Stranded: Alien Dawn

About

"Stranded: Alien Dawn" is a survival simulation game where players must lead a marooned group on a deadly alien planet. Manage survivors' needs, health, and happiness, construct shelters, and defend against alien creatures in an expansive 3D world. The Premium Edition includes the base game and the "Robots and Guardians" DLC for additional challenges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+17

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,013 reviews

gameplay117 positive mentions

grinding108 negative mentions

The game offers a beautiful 3D world with impressive graphics and attention to detail.
Gameplay is engaging with a mix of survival, resource management, and character dynamics.
The observation mechanic for discovering flora and fauna adds a unique twist to the gameplay.

AI pathing and task management can be frustrating, with survivors often ignoring priorities and making inefficient choices.
The game lacks depth and replayability, with limited scenarios and a shallow tech tree.
Frequent enemy attacks can become tedious, and the overall pacing may feel slow for some players.

gameplay
407 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The gameplay of "Stranded: Alien Dawn" is often compared to "RimWorld," featuring similar mechanics such as colony management, resource gathering, and survival elements, but presented in a 3D environment. While many players appreciate the engaging core gameplay and beautiful graphics, criticisms arise regarding the game's depth, repetitiveness, and some poorly implemented mechanics, particularly in AI behavior and combat. Overall, the game shows promise with its solid foundation and potential for future updates, but it currently lacks the complexity and polish found in its predecessor.
- “The ability to direct the survivors and customize the level of actions and threats keeps the gameplay engaging.”
- “With its immersive atmosphere, challenging gameplay, and intriguing storyline, Stranded: Alien Dawn offers a thrilling experience that will keep players on the edge of their seats.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are intuitive and well-balanced, ensuring that players never feel overwhelmed or bored.”
- “The current content isn't worth the normal price, plus there are things that are not working as intended like the schedule mechanics and hunger level conflict.”
- “The gameplay gets very monotonous.”
- “The game is almost a direct copy of RimWorld but with prettier 3D graphics, down to the social mechanics, work priority assignment screen, mental breaks, color of building schematics, etc. It would not be unfair to say they plagiarized RimWorld, an indie game made and maintained by a single person!”
graphics
388 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The graphics of "Stranded: Alien Dawn" have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the game's stunning visuals and detailed 3D environments, often comparing them favorably to those of "RimWorld." Players appreciate the vibrant alien landscapes, character animations, and overall aesthetic quality, which enhance the immersive experience. However, some critiques mention that while the graphics are impressive, they come at the cost of gameplay depth and complexity, making the game feel like a simplified version of its predecessor.
- “The stunning visuals and attention to detail in the environment design contribute to the immersive experience, making players feel truly stranded and alone in a hostile extraterrestrial landscape.”
- “The graphics and environments are gorgeous, and I love the work that has gone into animating the characters.”
- “The graphics are top-notch, and the sound design adds to the tension and atmosphere of the game.”
- “Aside from the graphics, it is, in almost all ways, less interesting and more poorly put together than RimWorld.”
- “The graphics are meh, the AI pretty weak, managing happiness is nowhere near as good.”
- “This game is basically a copy of RimWorld with better 3D graphics and a few simpler mechanics.”
story
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
80%
7%
The game's story is often described as lacking depth and engagement, with many players feeling it does not compare favorably to similar titles like RimWorld or Dwarf Fortress. While there are intriguing elements and character backstories, the overall narrative feels repetitive and underdeveloped, leading to a sense of stagnation after a few missions. Players express a desire for more varied missions, deeper storytelling, and the ability to create multi-story buildings to enhance the immersive experience.
- “The story, depth of possibilities, and evolution of one playthrough is legit.”
- “The game's story is intriguing and keeps players engaged throughout the entire experience.”
- “I loved to play through the story and to experience saving my characters one by one while it got more difficult and exciting after each one.”
- “It doesn't feel like you're telling a story like RimWorld or other self-directed experiences; nothing that interesting ever happens.”
- “The main storyline is lacking.”
- “The story, as it is, is so bare bones, it feels nonexistent.”
grinding
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating due to excessive micromanagement and repetitive tasks like farming, crafting, and resource gathering. While some enjoy the building and crafting mechanics, they often feel overwhelmed by the need to constantly manage survivors and their tasks, leading to a sense of monotony, especially in the mid to late game. Overall, while the game offers engaging elements, the grind can detract from the overall enjoyment, making it feel more like a chore than a fun experience.
- “Base defenses aren't too tedious to manage.”
- “No tedious replacing of every piece of knocked down wall after every attack.”
- “It's just tedious and possibly lazy game design.”
- “The same insects keep attacking over and over and you realize you've spent all this time grinding to get to the fun part of the game... which has not been implemented.”
- “This game is mostly tedious and annoying with little fun to be had.”
music
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance immersion, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. Many users express a desire for more diverse tracks, as the limited soundtrack can become monotonous over time. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's mood, it often falls short of expectations, leading some players to seek out mods for improvement.
- “They snuck in new music that is awesome, really adding to the world.”
- “Most of the time, I am just sitting there, chilling, helping my colonists survive and thrive while vibing to the really good soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is atmospheric and fitting, perfectly capturing the sense of wonder and danger that accompanies exploring an alien world.”
- “The music is horrible, so you are forced to use mod ones (I ended up making one). The game is not that bad, but it's nothing that hasn't been done before. If you can get it on sale, then I guess you can get your money's worth. Other than that, I find nothing that stands out.”
- “There are only two music tracks that get constantly repeated like untreated diarrhea.”
- “After almost 80 hours into my first playthrough, the music is quite a nightmare.”
replayability
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
Overall, the game exhibits a high degree of replayability due to its procedurally generated worlds, diverse scenarios, and various character combinations, which ensure that no two playthroughs are the same. However, some players express concerns about potential limitations in replay value if additional content, such as new scenarios or biomes, is not introduced. While many find the game engaging and fun, a few reviewers note that the replayability may diminish after several playthroughs unless further updates enhance the experience.
- “The different scenarios with very different goals and access to different techs makes for great replayability.”
- “With its procedurally generated world, diverse biomes, and dynamic events, Stranded: Alien Dawn offers a high degree of replayability.”
- “There are many different seeds, different teams that you can choose, different biomes, and two additional scenarios, not to mention an active modding community, that make the game almost endlessly replayable.”
- “I do worry about the limited amount of replayability; however, if more scenarios or biomes are not introduced.”
- “It's fun at first but very quickly dies off in all entertainment and replay value.”
- “Good game but for the money, there is little to no replay value or a reason to keep playing or trying new ideas.”
stability
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
6%
77%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent freezes and crashes, particularly during gameplay. While some users have noted minor glitches and bugs, others have experienced significant issues that hinder progress, especially in the early access phase. Overall, while the game shows potential and has moments of polish, it is still plagued by stability problems that may frustrate players.
- “Still, it is relatively bug free (only one on exit, and I'm on Linux with Proton) and has its own charm, and a much better graphics engine.”
- “It's already quite polished and bug free; free access seems just to be here to help with balancing and quality of life adjustments before release.”
- “From what I've seen so far, it's in really good shape already and not very buggy, although I have a small problem with lag now.”
- “I've played this game's tutorial but the main game freezes my computer after playing for less than one in-game day.”
- “Dont buy it, too many game freezes.”
- “The game crashes randomly; when the enemy spawns, the game freezes all of a sudden, then the soundtrack stops, and there's a chance the game freezes or crashes.”
optimization
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing significant performance drops, especially during large enemy waves or on higher difficulty settings, while others report smooth gameplay even on older hardware. Issues such as CPU optimization, AI task management, and the impact of Denuvo's anti-piracy measures have been highlighted as areas needing improvement. Overall, while many enjoy the graphics and gameplay, there is a consensus that further optimization is necessary for a more stable experience.
- “On a positive note, the game is gorgeous and runs smoothly with no bugs or issues.”
- “Performance is optimized and runs well on high settings even on fairly dated hardware.”
- “The game is also very stable with solid performance, and so far I haven't run into a single bug or major issue.”
- “The game is poorly optimized; it's running at 15 fps on medium settings. I have an i9, 2080ti, and everything on an SSD. The game needs a lot of optimization.”
- “Other reviews mention similar problems, and while I thought that could be due to those players not fully understanding mechanics or how to schedule properly, I'm sad to say those are accurate criticisms. The optimization is so poor that it actually hurts the game massively.”
- “Additionally, occasional technical issues and performance hiccups may disrupt the otherwise immersive experience.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
7%
14%
The atmosphere in "Stranded: Alien Dawn" is widely praised for its immersive qualities, featuring stunning graphics, effective sound design, and a fitting soundtrack that enhances the sense of wonder and danger in the alien world. Players appreciate the game's ability to create tension and unease, contributing to a captivating sci-fi survival experience, although some find the music can become repetitive. Overall, the atmospheric elements significantly elevate the gameplay, making it a standout feature of the title.
- “With its immersive atmosphere, challenging gameplay, and intriguing storyline, Stranded: Alien Dawn offers a thrilling experience that will keep players on the edge of their seats.”
- “The ambient sounds, music, and atmospheric effects contribute to the immersion, heightening the suspense and creating a palpable sense of unease.”
- “The soundtrack is atmospheric and fitting, perfectly capturing the sense of wonder and danger that accompanies exploring an alien world.”
- “The graphics are top-notch and the sound design adds to the tension and atmosphere of the game.”
- “More importantly, the background ambient sound is enough to create the atmosphere.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is a double-edged sword; while it offers a deeper portrayal of character emotions and challenges players with managing emotionally fragile survivors, it can also lead to frustration due to frequent meltdowns and unpredictable behavior. Players appreciate the heartfelt animations and the immersive experience, but many express a desire for more stability and emotional intimacy among characters, as well as improvements in gameplay mechanics to better handle emotional crises. Overall, the emotional depth adds complexity but can detract from the enjoyment if not balanced effectively.
- “Animations are top notch, emotions of the characters are heartfelt by you, the player; and there was a huge sense of satisfaction when I got everyone off planet (sans Carl who fell to an early insect mob attack, rip Carl).”
- “You control 4 emotionally fragile survivors who have mental breakdowns twice a day no matter how much you pamper them.”
- “Relentless insects and pests ambushing my little survivors' hamlet... all the while my people are projectile vomiting all over the place. If that's not enough to deal with, all of them are freezing to death but still have the emotional awareness to build a friggin snowman... god I love this game; RimWorld's long lost beautiful sibling.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky interactions and unexpected events, such as settlers forming awkward relationships and experiencing comical disasters like projectile vomiting. Players find amusement in the absurdity of situations, like a married character falling for another and settlers humorously naming alien flora. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, creating entertaining moments amidst the challenges.
- “The communication system is top-notch, giving your settlers a Sims-like twist where their interactions can lead to some hilarious and sometimes awkward relationships.”
- “I cannot stop laughing at seeing the lightning strike in the distance and Rita just laying there, out cold.”
- “There is a fun little touch where, after observing/researching alien flora and fauna, your survivor plugs in funny naming conventions based around its closest Earth-like counterpart.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a strong sentiment that the game's monetization strategy resembles a cash grab, with some users comparing it to a clone of RimWorld. Critics express concern that the game is not ready for full release, suggesting that its current state prioritizes profit over genuine development.
- “The game is nowhere near ready for full release and this smells more like a cash grab than actual game development (this is coming from someone who was unfortunate enough to be a Starforge backer, so I tend to know what a cash grab looks like at this point).”
- “Cash grab and run type of deal here.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Character development in the game has been noted as a weaker aspect, with players expressing a desire for more depth and interaction among characters. While the gameplay and base building are praised, the lack of variety in enemy encounters and a more engaging story detracts from the overall experience.
- “The character development in this game is truly engaging, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
- “The depth of character development adds layers to the story, making it a more immersive experience.”
- “There is significant room for improvement in the story and character development.”
- “The character arcs feel underdeveloped and lack depth.”
- “I found the character development to be shallow and unengaging.”

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33h Median play time

69h Average play time

13-100h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 34 analyzed playthroughs

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