Strife

About

Strife is a single player and multiplayer open world hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by S2 Games and was released on May 22, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Strife pits two teams of players against each other, both teams are based at opposite corners of the map in their respective bases. Bases consist of one central structure, creep spawn points, three generators and a hero spawning pool. The goal of the game is to destroy the central structure of the opposite base. Players achieve this by selecting heroes with unique skills to combat the other team,…

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,391 reviews

gameplay81 positive mentions

grinding28 negative mentions

All heroes are free to play from the start, no pay-to-win unlocking of champions.
Unique features like pets with active/passive abilities and personal couriers for each player.
Shared gold among teammates and out-of-combat health/mana regen make the game less frustrating and more casual friendly.
Fast-paced team fights, easier to pick up for beginners, yet with depth for more skilled players.
An enjoyable, colorful art style with a non-toxic and friendly community.
Supports cross-platform and can run well on low-end PCs, including Linux support.
Continuous updates and developer communication was noted positively by some players.

The player base is very small, resulting in long queue times and sometimes no PvP matches.
The matchmaking can be unbalanced due to low population and premade party skewing.
Penalties for leaving games can be harsh and may punish players leaving bot matches caused by bugs.
The game has bugs and technical issues ranging from freezes, crashes, and loading problems.
Some game mechanics unbalanced, such as overly strong towers and certain heroes.
Lack of wards and vision system differs from other MOBAs and takes adjustment.
Item crafting system can be confusing, grindy, and sometimes considered pay-to-win by players.
Limited hero pool, slow content updates, and unpolished UI and controls for some users.

gameplay
243 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The gameplay of the game is praised for its smooth, easy-to-learn mechanics that blend popular MOBA elements from Dota and League of Legends with unique features like shared gold, personal couriers, out-of-combat regeneration, and a pet system, creating a less toxic and more casual-friendly experience. While some find it simplified and less mechanically deep compared to major MOBAs, the game offers fun, fast-paced, and cooperative gameplay that appeals to both newcomers and casual players, though issues like matchmaking, player base decline, and occasional bugs hinder the overall experience.
- “The hero design is top notch as well, and each one plays fluidly and has a strong unique gameplay theme.”
- “Strife is an addicting moba with many playable characters, good visuals, easy to learn and hard to master gameplay, fit for both casual and competitive.”
- “Strife is a very refreshing take on the moba experience, its new features bring much needed relief to the genre such as personal couriers, shared gold from kills, new wave mechanics to keep matches from going into hour long timewasters.”
- “Total rip off of Dota and LoL as well as heroes.. looks like it should be for 5 year olds and the mechanics are horrid!”
- “While the game is well made from a gameplay perspective, it disconnects me every 5 minutes for the entirety of the match, and I can't find a fix for the problem which makes the game basically unplayable.”
- “Take all the very familiar mechanics and appeal, and leave them by the wayside in favor of convoluted progression and an interface that is counter-intuitive at best.”
graphics
193 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
44%
4%
The game's graphics receive mixed reviews, with many praising its colorful, cartoonish, and aesthetically pleasing art style that runs well on low-end PCs, while others criticize it as simple, inconsistent, or mediocre compared to leading MOBAs like Dota 2 and League of Legends. Optimization issues and occasional graphical bugs were noted, but overall the graphics strike a balance between visual appeal and performance, making them suitable for casual and competitive play alike.
- “Graphics are absolutely amazing and the story and lore behind it even more.”
- “Strife runs on the Kodiak engine made by S2 Games, an evolution of the K2 engine used for Heroes of Newerth, a pretty solid graphics renderer (in my opinion even better than Source) and very light to run on relatively low performance computers.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the champions/heroes are pretty fun to play and you get your own personal courier, and also did I mention that you can regen when you're out of combat!?”
- “The graphics are simple, which most of the time is nice; but they aren't good at all.”
- “Graphics - very poor on high settings.”
- “Horrible voice acting, sub-par graphics, and over simplified gameplay make this a very poor competitor to the over-saturated free-to-play MOBA genre.”
story
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The game features a unique and engaging story mode uncommon in MOBAs, with appealing characters and lore that many players find refreshing and enjoyable. However, the story content is currently limited, often consisting of only one episode or hero campaign, leaving much potential untapped and some users frustrated by slow pacing or technical issues. Overall, the story is praised for adding depth and aiding gameplay tutorials, but fans eagerly await further expansions to fully realize its promise.
- “The characters are refreshing and unique all their own, and I was rather impressed by the intro tutorial and especially the optional story in which you play the character Bastion.”
- “Not only is the tutorial simple and to the point, but it comes with an added story to give you something to care about while learning the game mechanics at the same time.”
- “The game is planning a campaign or story system which the first chapter is released and it is really fun to have lore in a game that is playable.”
- “The bloody "story" is a horrendously designed tutorial that treats the player like an idiot, as if this game is targeting players who find games like Dota or LoL too difficult and thus choose this easier alternative.”
- “All you can do is play with bots against bots or do the crappy story mode.”
- “Chapter 2 of the story mode has been 'coming soon' for almost a year.”
grinding
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
7%
90%
Grinding in this game is generally seen as less tedious and faster compared to traditional MOBAs, with shared gold mechanics, shorter games, and meaningful item customization reducing long farming phases. However, some players note that certain systems like pet unlocking and item crafting still require significant grinding or payment, introducing minor pay-to-win elements. Overall, the grinding is more streamlined and less punishing, promoting a quicker, more engaging experience.
- “No grinding credits like in League of Legends.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Unless you are in love with endless grinding and holding your bladder, this game is not for you.”
- “The grinding isn't the worst in games I've seen but, at least 10 plus matches for crafting of your own choice and interest.”
humor
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The game's humor is widely praised for its funny characters, entertaining voice acting, and amusing in-game moments, making matches enjoyable and lighthearted. While some find its colorful, comic style charming and funny, others note occasional irritating voiceovers and bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the humor contributes positively to its appeal, especially compared to other MOBAs.
- “+ Voice acting is funny and entertaining.”
- “If you die, it's usually to the most hilarious of things; example of funny deaths.”
- “All of the heroes have interesting abilities and funny personalities.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The game's stability is mixed, with frequent reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes causing screen freezes and gameplay interruptions, especially due to the lack of dedicated servers leading to lag and connection issues. While some users experience smooth play and find it mostly bug-free, others encounter significant technical problems that impact their experience, particularly on certain platforms. Overall, stability remains a major concern that the developers need to address for a more reliable experience.
- “Runs great on Linux :)”
- “+bug free”
- “- My main issue right now is that due to the lack of dedicated servers, this game can be unplayable in most matches. The lack of players means you're stuck with global matchmaking, which results in enormous lag, causing literal screen freezes of up to 3 seconds where you can get killed easily without even having the opportunity to react.”
- “I can play for like 10 minutes but then it freezes until I quit.”
- “Lost lots of glitches. Yesterday I was playing a game and midway through my character stopped moving, everything else was working but my character wouldn't move and I couldn't chat. Later it might be a good game but as it is, I'll stick to other MOBAs.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The music in the game is widely praised for its dynamic and atmospheric quality, shifting from mellow and soothing to dramatic and intense during battles, effectively enhancing the gameplay experience. Many users find the soundtrack enjoyable and immersive, with some even recommending purchasing the soundtrack. However, a few players prefer to listen to their own music instead, indicating mixed engagement with the in-game music.
- “If you are looking for a game that has a beautiful art style, great music, and a unique system, I recommend this one for sure.”
- “Sound: not only are the sound effects realistic, but the music is also awesome enough to make you buy the soundtrack.”
- “Strife has a dynamic music system. When you are running around in between fights and nothing is happening, the music is mellow and soothing. As a fight breaks out, the music becomes more dramatic and heart-pumping. If you are pushing the enemy base, the music switches to a battle trance-like state, getting you ready for the impending victory you feel you can almost grasp.”
- “The music and the announcer, everything sounded like blah.”
- “If you are pushing the enemy base the music switches to a battle trance alike, getting you ready for the impending victory you feel you can almost grasp.”
- “I just rather play music in the background than listen to in-game music, which is a bad thing.”
monetization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
22%
71%
The monetization in the game is heavily criticized for aggressive pay-to-win mechanics, overpriced DLC, and cash grab elements like costly item crafting that offer little gameplay benefit. Despite being non-essential, microtransactions overshadow development priorities, with players feeling the focus was on monetization over bug fixes and proper advertising. Many suggest optional ads could be a better funding method, as the current approach harms the game's longevity and player trust.
- “During my time there, there was a major focus on monetization and the priority of monetizing the game before they advertised it more (and properly, because last year, barely anyone had heard of it) and fixing bugs...”
- “This isn't really free as the game is infested with mobile app store-like pay-to-win monetization, including a whopping seventy-eight dollars worth of pay-to-win DLC.”
- “Item crafting (sounds good, right? Wrong!) was an obvious cash grab and utterly useless in-game; crafting items costs three times the price for a little extra passive like increased gold from assists.”
- “Yes, I understand this game is still in beta, but that is no excuse. They have time to create new heroes and items and updates to things that didn’t really need it, yet don’t fix major problems. It says to me: we don't care about your gameplay experience, buy our microtransactions before people realize this is a cash grab scheme and we have to find a new project to milk you with. This game will probably never leave beta and I suggest not downloading it.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The game generally runs well on older or low-spec computers due to its lightweight Kodiak engine, offering a good balance between visuals and performance. However, users report inconsistent optimization with occasional performance issues, high graphics card usage, and a distracting, unoptimized UI. Overall, it performs adequately for casual play but could benefit from improved optimization for low- and mid-range PCs.
- “This game runs smoothly on my Linux (Fedora) portable computer that is fifteen years old!”
- “Strife runs on the Kodiak engine made by S2 Games, an evolution of the K2 engine used for Heroes of Newerth, a pretty solid graphics renderer (in my opinion even better than Source) and very light to run on relatively low performance computers.”
- “While it may not be the most advanced graphics-wise, it strikes a good balance between performance and look.”
- “Great game for people who want to play a MOBA just for fun, easy and exciting to learn, but it needs better optimization for low/medium budget PCs.”
- “So far, it is a bit unoptimized, making my graphics card sweat even though it can easily handle Dragon Age Inquisition on ultra settings.”
- “I say this as a player who frequents other MOBAs like Dota and LoL: the HUD and UI seem very distracting and unoptimized, as if they were designed to be different rather than better.”
character development
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
Character development in this game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the unique and interesting character designs and voice acting, while others find the designs uninspired, trope-ridden, and lacking originality. Many players struggle to connect with characters due to forgettable personalities or perceived similarities to other MOBAs' champions.
- “Because Strife's character design for the most part is pretty uniquely different from other MOBAs.”
- “Great game, excellent game design and character designs.”
- “Enjoyable character designs with voice acting ranging from superb (Ace, Malady) to meh (Carter).”
- “And finally we get to the kicker: the biggest part of any MOBA game for me anyway is the character design, and I can't find one original character to relate with. There is a bad version of Jinx, Wukong, Garen, and even Udyr, Soraka, Umm, Lady Fortune. So you see the pattern here?”
- “Character design is bland and uninspired. The selectable heroes are either so forgettable that you can't really peg them down with a personality at all, or outright unappealing, often resorting to tropey weak design points such as 'it's a magical cowboy girl'.”
- “The character design resembled a style in LoL, and the 'don't fight your allies, fight your enemies' thing is essentially just to recasualize the game, so you don't have to worry about those strategies that most MOBAs are known for.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
62%
The game features a welcoming and positive atmosphere, enhanced by its cartoonish graphics and engaging soundtrack, which together create a casual, enjoyable experience reminiscent of World of Warcraft. This inviting environment, supported by unique characters and a well-designed map, encourages players to explore and return to the game.
- “It's also obvious to see that the developers tried to create a positive (and non-toxic) atmosphere for the community.”
- “I don't mean it could be a competitive MOBA but as a casual game the atmosphere and soundtrack (especially) is pretty good.”
- “Strife may not be my most played MOBA but its welcoming atmosphere and unique flairs keep me coming back.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Users find the game's replayability enhanced by the pet and crafting systems, which add depth and flexibility to gameplay. However, they suggest improvements like expanding multiplayer party size, adding more characters and items, and better league balancing to maintain long-term engagement.
- “The pet and crafting system add a ton of depth to the game and I can see it adding a lot to the replayability of the game as it fleshes out and I become more familiar with it.”
- “Crafting is unique, offers flexibility and replayability to the heroes.”
- “If you want to make this game more playable, the leagues must be more balanced. I'm in a bronze league and I play with people who are playing Strife for the first time.”
- “A few things I would like to see improved in the game are the ability to queue with more than two other friends, more playable characters, and more item selections.”
- “+Crafting is unique but needs more depth to truly offer flexibility and replayability to the heroes.”