Stranded: Alien Dawn

Stranded: Alien Dawn was an exceptionally crafted survival, base-building simulator game that I could not out down, and it has only been in early access.

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"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

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,039 reviews

gameplay342 positive mentions

grinding306 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and immersive environments enhance the gameplay experience.
Engaging mechanics that blend base-building, resource management, and survival elements.
Unique character traits and backstories add depth to the gameplay.

AI pathfinding issues lead to frustrating moments where survivors ignore tasks or make poor decisions.
Limited content and repetitive gameplay can make the experience feel shallow over time.
Frequent crashes and bugs detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
1,246 mentions
27 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Stranded: Alien Dawn" is often compared to "RimWorld," featuring solid mechanics and an engaging loop, but many players find it lacks depth and variety, leading to repetitive experiences. While the game offers a visually appealing 3D environment and some unique mechanics, it suffers from issues like clunky controls, unbalanced systems, and a lack of content that can diminish long-term enjoyment. Overall, it shows promise but requires further development to enhance its replayability and complexity.
- “The gameplay is a compelling blend of base-building, resource management, and keeping your crew from having interstellar meltdowns.”
- “The game’s immersive world and innovative mechanics provide a deep and satisfying experience that is both challenging and rewarding.”
- “With seamless gameplay and the promise of exciting updates on the horizon, stranded: alien dawn is an adventure that's well worth every moment of your time.”
- “I think all of us have played RimWorld, and this is a very pale copy with fancier graphics but simpler gameplay.”
- “The game also fails to capture the spark of either of the games I mentioned; it lacks the depth and absolute insanity of RimWorld, the gameplay is inferior to RimWorld, and it doesn't utilize the 3D aspects of the world in a way that would make it live up to Kenshi.”
- “The gameplay gets very monotonous.”
graphics
1,148 mentions
47 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Stranded: Alien Dawn" have been widely praised for their impressive quality and detail, particularly in comparison to "RimWorld." Players appreciate the transition to 3D visuals, which enhance immersion and provide a more modern aesthetic, although some note that the gameplay depth is lacking compared to its predecessor. Overall, while the graphics are a significant highlight, many reviews suggest that the game feels like a simplified version of "RimWorld" with fewer mechanics and content.
- “The graphics are beautiful and there was clearly a lot of love put into the visuals.”
- “Graphics are gorgeous.”
- “The graphics are very good and give you the feeling of another (habitable though) planet.”
- “I think all of us have played RimWorld, and this is a very pale copy with fancier graphics but simpler gameplay.”
- “RimWorld is among the ultimate colony simulators, but man, the graphics leave a lot to be desired.”
- “The only thing going for it are its graphics, which already leave a lot to be desired if it is to be considered its redeeming factor.”
story
494 mentions
15 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Stranded: Alien Dawn" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of depth and variety in the narrative. While some appreciate the character backstories and mission-based gameplay that injects a sense of adventure, others criticize the game for its repetitive missions and minimal overarching plot, likening it to a more visually appealing version of "RimWorld" without the same level of emergent storytelling. Overall, players express a desire for more engaging story elements and quests to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “Really enjoyed those aspects the most, and I felt having each survivor with a little backstory made it more interesting.”
- “The game's narrative, especially in the forced landing scenario, weaves a compelling story that builds palpable tension and a sense of achievement as you progress.”
- “The story, depth of possibilities and evolution of one playthrough is legit.”
- “Aside from their predicament (stranded), there is no story.”
- “What I don't like about this game is the developer is too lazy to make a storyline about this.”
- “The story, as it is, is so bare bones, it feels nonexistent.”
grinding
316 mentions
1 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game can become tedious, particularly in the mid to late stages, where players often find themselves waiting for resources to accumulate or for survivors to complete tasks. While some players appreciate the complexity of base management and farming, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of tasks, inefficient NPC behavior, and the lack of automation options, which can lead to a monotonous gameplay experience. Overall, while the game offers engaging mechanics, the grind can detract from the enjoyment, especially as players progress.
- “Base defenses aren't too tedious to manage.”
- “No tedious replacing every piece of knocked down wall after every attack.”
- “While it was addictive, I found that the final stage of the game was quite tedious, as I waited for rescue ships to pick up each survivor individually.”
- “Firstly, the minimal number of survivors makes all chores a tedious endeavor to pursue, with no way of quickly collecting resources later on slowing any progress to a crawl.”
- “My only real complaint is that the ending of the scenario where you are evacuating people one by one gets pretty tedious.”
replayability
260 mentions
36 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players highlighting the variety of characters, scenarios, and procedurally generated maps that contribute to a unique experience each playthrough. However, some users express concerns about potential staleness after multiple runs and the need for additional content or mod support to enhance long-term replay value. Overall, while there is significant replayability, it may require further updates to maintain player interest over time.
- “There is so much replayability with the different game scenarios, characters, difficulty settings, moon settings, advanced game rules, procedurally generated worlds, and achievements that every new game is very different.”
- “With its procedurally generated world, diverse biomes, and dynamic events, Stranded: Alien Dawn offers a high degree of replayability.”
- “Different scenarios, characters, and random map generation provide nearly endless replayability.”
- “Replayability gets a bit stale after you finish a couple of scenarios, in my opinion.”
- “I do worry about the limited amount of replayability; however, if more scenarios or biomes are not introduced.”
- “Good game but for the money, there is little to no replay value or a reason to keep playing or trying new ideas.”
music
226 mentions
28 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric quality and its resemblance to the soundtracks of RimWorld and the Firefly TV series. However, a significant number of users find the limited variety and repetitive nature of the tracks to be a drawback, leading to irritation over time. While some enjoy the music's immersive qualities, others prefer to mute it in favor of podcasts or alternative audio, indicating a need for more diverse and engaging soundtracks.
- “The music is first rate.”
- “The soundtrack is atmospheric and fitting, perfectly capturing the sense of wonder and danger that accompanies exploring an alien world.”
- “The game is beautiful, the music is absolutely divine, and the gameplay runs smoothly.”
- “The music gets repetitive really fast and there's no option for game interruption on events such as an attack.”
- “The only currently available music track gets old really fast.”
- “After almost 80 hours into my first playthrough, the music is quite a nightmare.”
stability
150 mentions
20 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
76 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and significant bugs that hinder gameplay, particularly on platforms like the Steam Deck. While some players have experienced a relatively smooth experience with minimal issues, the overall consensus indicates that the game is still quite buggy and often unplayable for many users, suggesting that it requires further development and testing to improve stability.
- “I've encountered no glitches or crashes and the fundamentals are all there for a solid survivor/city builder.”
- “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.”
- “Game freezes on numerous occasions, can only be force-closed via task manager, tends to then force-reopen itself whilst still not responding to neither mouse nor keyboard, so the only way to really get rid of it is by killing it via task manager and then quickly uninstalling it.”
- “Crashes, black screen, freezes makes game absolutely unplayable for some users.”
- “The game crashes randomly, when the enemy spawns the game freezes all of a sudden then the soundtrack stops and has a chance the game freezes or crashes.”
optimization
138 mentions
23 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players praising its smooth performance and beautiful graphics, while others report significant issues such as stuttering, high CPU usage, and poor AI task management. Many users suggest that the game requires further optimization, particularly for character scheduling and resource management, to enhance the overall experience. Overall, while some players enjoy stable performance, others experience frustrating performance drops, especially in more demanding scenarios.
- “While the waves of aliens may be troublesome at times, the game is amazingly optimized with minor to no issues.”
- “The AI minimizes the need for micromanagement, and the beautiful graphics paired with stable performance enhance the overall experience.”
- “Performance is optimized and runs well on high settings even on fairly dated hardware.”
- “Performance could be better, I'm utilizing 99% of my 6800xt on medium settings just to hit 120fps.”
- “I really tried, but the game is really super slow after you build like 50% of the map; I check performance and it uses 100% of my CPU power (which is ridiculous).”
- “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.”
humor
34 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in the absurdity of situations, such as idle settlers and unexpected disasters like projectile vomiting. The interactions between characters often lead to hilarious and awkward moments, reminiscent of The Sims, while the quirky naming conventions for alien flora add a fun twist. Overall, the game delivers a blend of funny scenarios and chaotic events that keep players entertained, even if it lacks some features compared to similar titles like RimWorld.
- “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.”
atmosphere
34 mentions
76 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, with strong graphics and effective sound design that enhance the sense of survival and tension in an alien world. While many players appreciate the ambient sounds and atmospheric effects, some find the repetitive vocalizations and music to be less engaging over time. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating and suspenseful environment that keeps players invested in the experience.
- “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.”
- “While the soundscape successfully conveys the alien atmosphere, the survivors' repetitive vocalizations became a little grating over time.”
- “More importantly, the background ambient sound is enough to create the atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are top-notch and the sound design adds to the tension and atmosphere of the game.”
emotional
32 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a strong connection between players and their characters, as managing the moods and well-being of emotionally fragile survivors can be both satisfying and challenging. While some players appreciate the depth of emotional engagement, others find the frequent meltdowns and unpredictable behaviors frustrating, suggesting a need for better emotional stability among characters. Overall, the game successfully combines tactical gameplay with heartfelt moments, though it may require adjustments to enhance the emotional experience further.
- “Ultimately, it combines tactical challenges with a deep emotional connection, making it a noteworthy and memorable game.”
- “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).”
- “They're actually way more emotional than they are in RimWorld, which is mind-boggling.”
monetization
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism, with some players labeling it as a potential cash grab, particularly due to its unfinished state and concerns over future DLC content. Many suggest waiting for significant discounts or further development before purchasing, indicating a lack of confidence in the current value proposition.
- “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.”
- “Hopeful in the future they will flesh it out without a cash grab DLC trickle; buy on 50%+ sale or just wait for them to actually polish it with some love and care.”
character development
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its depth, with each crew member possessing unique skills and quirks that add complexity to interactions. However, there are criticisms regarding the overall execution, suggesting that both character interaction and story development could be improved.
- “Room for improvement on story/character development.”
- “Character development is deep, with each crew member having their own skills, quirks, and penchant for making life harder than it needs to be.”