Sub Rosa

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,308 reviews
  • gameplay
  • humor
  • story
Sub Rosa Game Cover
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Sub Rosa is a multiplayer first-person shooter about tense deals, double-crosses, and the occasional high-speed car chase.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,308 reviews
gameplay42 positive mentions
graphics7 negative mentions
  • Sub Rosa offers a unique and hilarious gameplay experience, combining elements of business deals and chaotic shootouts.
  • The physics engine allows for funny and unpredictable interactions, making each session feel fresh and entertaining.
  • The community can be fun and engaging, with many players willing to help newcomers learn the ropes.
  • The game has been largely abandoned by the developer, with no significant updates in years, leading to a stagnant player base.
  • The community is often toxic, with many players engaging in random deathmatching rather than the intended gameplay of making deals.
  • The controls and mechanics can be confusing and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to get into the game.
  • gameplay138 mentions

    Gameplay in this game is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying its unique mechanics and humor, but also expressing frustration over technical issues, a toxic community, and a lack of updates. While some find the learning curve rewarding and the physics-based interactions entertaining, others criticize the gun mechanics and overall complexity, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel convoluted and unpolished. Ultimately, the enjoyment of gameplay heavily relies on player interactions and server conditions, making it a hit or miss depending on the community dynamics.

    • “With good gameplay of how guns fire with a learning curve to it, it's fun for simple random fun to be had for gags and jokes.”
    • “The complete absurdity of the physics paired with the retro mechanics and style is top notch.”
    • “The gameplay loop itself is engaging with needing other players to organically complete the objectives set out and depending on the other team even if they might be against you.”
    • “The majority of the time I spent playing this game was trying to fix it (about 2 minutes of gameplay).”
    • “This is another example in the gaming industry of an amazing concept that is ruined by horrible gameplay and controls.”
    • “The client is barely functional, the controls are nonsensical, the features lack any meaningful purpose in the gameplay, the community is seemingly toxic to the point of ridiculousness, and of course, on top of that, it looks terrible.”
  • humor126 mentions

    The humor in the game is a significant draw, with players frequently highlighting the hilarious interactions and chaotic situations that arise from its physics-based mechanics and multiplayer dynamics. While many find the community to be a mix of genuinely funny individuals and toxic players, the potential for comedic moments remains a core aspect of the experience. Overall, the game is described as a source of laughter and absurdity, making it a memorable choice for those seeking a lighthearted gaming experience.

    • “One of the best games for creating funny situations between players.”
    • “This game is absolutely hilarious, the community is funny, but toxic, and the mechanics and gameplay are groundbreaking.”
    • “If you are looking for a game to piss yourself laughing at, this is it.”
    • “But then one of them said something that made my heart drop: 'What are you doing with this RP stuff? It's not 2019; that stuff's not funny anymore.'”
    • “Is that supposed to be funny?”
  • story68 mentions

    The game's story revolves around players joining factions to complete missions, often involving combat and trade, but many reviews highlight a decline in mission variety and player engagement due to recent updates. While some players enjoy the chaotic interactions and the thrill of planning deals, others find the missions repetitive and the community toxic, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the narrative potential is overshadowed by gameplay issues and a lack of meaningful player cooperation.

    • “The appeal of old Sub Rosa was how it was a simple game based on player interaction and missions.”
    • “This is my first time playing, I join, spawn in the subway, I get recruited by a huge group and join their association. We start fighting, I find out I'm a girl, they call me 'the woman', me and another guy are both called 'the women'. We have the most insane firefight that ends up killing the entire enemy team, we all are proud, and then get a huge money boost since people completed a mission on computers. This is the best gaming experience I have had with people in such a social game.”
    • “Some play to cause chaos, some for the missions, some for the experience, or a combination of the three.”
    • “The missions can get repetitive fast, and along with the AI having complete contrast aim, they make them really not that fun.”
    • “I wanted to actually try the missions and play the game, but you can't because there are so many people that interfere with deals, or kill you outright in the street, or simply have nothing better to do than to ruin your day in a game that you want to chill in.”
    • “You just do one mission over and over, there is nothing to spend money on and there's nothing to do in general, so it gets boring very quickly.”
  • graphics49 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting a simplistic and outdated art style that can be visually appealing at times, but often suffers from significant performance issues and bugs. Users with AMD graphics cards report particularly poor performance, while others express frustration over the lack of adjustable graphics settings. Overall, while the game's aesthetic may resonate with some, the technical execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a consensus that improvements are necessary for a better experience.

    • “The combat is cool, the art style is simplistic but easy on the eyes, and the outdoor map of the city is amazing.”
    • “Before the release it was very fun, and the art style is amazing.”
    • “I can appreciate the minimalistic, polygonal, old-fashioned graphical style the game is going for.”
    • “If you have an AMD graphics card, do not purchase this game.”
    • “I can run most games on medium to high graphics on my 10-year-old laptop, and still get at least 60 fps; however, with this game, I got like 5 fps.”
    • “The trailer made the game look pretty cool, but when you actually get into the game, the graphics are nothing like the trailer.”
  • stability28 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Many describe it as a "buggy mess" that feels unfinished and abandoned by developers, leading to frustrating gameplay, including lag and audio problems. Despite these flaws, some players still find enjoyment in the chaotic nature of the game, suggesting it has potential if future updates address the stability issues.

    • “I love this game! There are not too many bugs for an early access game. It runs great, and I love how you can legitimately take over the whole city if you have enough people.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive for an early access title. I haven't encountered many issues, and it runs smoothly.”
    • “I'm amazed at how stable the game is. It feels polished, and I can enjoy exploring without constant interruptions.”
    • “Buggy, unfinished, and abandoned.”
    • “The developers don't care for this game anymore so now it's just infested with glitches and bugs.”
    • “The game is so buggy it shouldn't even qualify for early access.”
  • optimization25 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues that hinder gameplay, including frequent FPS drops and choppy voice chat. Despite its potential and enjoyable moments, players recommend waiting for significant updates to address these optimization problems before purchasing, as current performance is deemed unacceptable even on high-end systems. Overall, the consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and not recommended in its current state.

    • “Might look like a game that any PC/laptop can handle; however, this game has a massive optimization issue where not all systems can run it smoothly.”
    • “I can't wait until we get a full release with optimization for both Mac and Windows.”
    • “10/10 little optimization fix and this game will be one of my favorite games in my library.”
    • “Might look like a game that any PC/laptop can handle, however apparently this game has a massive optimization issue where not all systems can run this game smoothly.”
    • “This game's optimization issues are a curse from the gods.”
    • “I tried to give this a try... I truly did, but in the condition this game is in after two years, it still looks like it could run on computers from 2002, and is poorly optimized to the point that FPS drops constantly.”
  • music15 mentions

    The music in the game serves as a chaotic yet integral backdrop, with players often blasting various tracks, from classic hits to 80s pop, creating a lively and sometimes overwhelming atmosphere. While some players appreciate the spontaneous musical moments that enhance the experience, others find the constant noise distracting and disruptive, contributing to a mixed reception of the game's audio environment. Overall, the music adds a unique layer to the gameplay, reflecting the game's no-rules nature and the diverse personalities of its community.

    • “Watching a guy with a music bot literally levitating while playing Bill Withers' 'Lovely Day' or 'Just the Two of Us' on full blast (shout out to that guy, literally became the de facto soundtrack to this game) as you're getting your stuff blasted by oxs.”
    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
    • “Never before have I listened to 4 different Kenny Loggins songs at the same time while doing drive-bys on other companies.”
    • “They'll play music over their mic, chat, rdm, all that normal stuff people do when there are no rules, and that's what this is, a no rules game.”
    • “Please get this game, we need more actually good people playing this, right now the game's filled with either edgy teens or tryhards that blare shitty music on their soundboard and kill everyone.”
    • “Can't even do good business without people rdm'ing every time or spastics who play music in their mics.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for being a cash grab, with sparse updates and a lack of advertising, leading to a perception that the developer has abandoned it. Users express frustration over the game's obscurity and the overall lack of engagement from the developers.

    • “Updates were sparse, advertising was non-existent, and the game was seemingly kept obscure intentionally, while the developer has moved on.”
    • “Cash grab, don't buy.”
    • “The monetization feels like a cash grab.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players report that the game evokes strong emotional connections, likening the experience to being immersed in the narrative depth of HBO's "The Sopranos." However, some users express a more humorous or lighthearted emotional response, comparing their feelings to the meme character Big Chungus.

    • “Made me feel like I was in HBO's hit show, 'The Sopranos'”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to the enjoyable interactions with other players, making it engaging over the long term. However, some users criticize its overall value, suggesting that it lacks sufficient content and development support, which diminishes its replay potential compared to free alternatives like Roblox or Unturned.

    • “I've been playing the game for years; it's a great experience with tons of replay value thanks to the fun people you can meet in-game.”
    • “The variety of choices and paths you can take keeps me coming back for more.”
    • “Every playthrough feels fresh and exciting, making it hard to put down!”
    • “You could get a lot more fun out of games like Roblox or Unturned, which are both free. Asking $20 for a broken game with a lack of replayability and no development plans is horrible to do to a consumer. This is an obvious money grab and should be avoided until the one-man developer actually invests in a decent development team.”
    • “The game offers little incentive to replay, as the content feels repetitive and lacks depth. Once you've experienced it once, there's not much left to draw you back in.”
    • “After finishing the game, I found no reason to return. The choices I made had minimal impact, and the lack of varied outcomes made replaying feel pointless.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be highly dependent on personal adaptability and tolerance for frustrating interactions, leading to experiences that can range from enjoyable to extremely tedious.

    • “Depending on how fast you can adapt to a situation and how much you can endure annoying people, this game will either be very fun or super tedious.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and often frustrating, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which quickly turned the experience into a chore rather than a game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

14hMedian play time
185hAverage play time
8-138hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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