Sun Down Survivors

About

Sun Down Survivors is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Pixel Sprout Studios and was released on February 24, 2023. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Sun Down Survivors" is a defense game set in an alternate timeline of Sun Haven where Dynus, the Moon Dragon, has conquered the lands. As a hero, defend your home against quirky but dangerous monsters using a variety of weapons, spells, abilities, and pets. Upgrade your skills and abilities to wage a heroic last stand against the monsters, all while completing objectives, befriending neighbors, and even getting married.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

53%

Audience ScoreBased on 238 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

grinding48 negative mentions

The game has a cute art style and engaging gameplay that combines elements of farming and action roguelike mechanics.
Many players find the game fun and addictive, especially if they enjoy similar titles like Vampire Survivors.
There is potential for the game to improve with future updates, and some players appreciate the unique mechanics and character interactions.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including crashes, black screens, and issues with character selection, making it unplayable for some users.
Many players feel that the game lacks content and polish, with a need for better balancing, clearer mechanics, and more engaging progression systems.
The game is often described as feeling incomplete or like an early access title, leading to disappointment among players expecting a fully finished product.

grinding
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
96%
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding elements, often leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. While some players appreciate the blend of farming and action mechanics, many find the experience tedious and unbalanced, with complaints about lag and a lack of clear guidance on gameplay mechanics. Overall, the grinding aspect is a divisive feature, appealing to those who enjoy repetitive tasks but alienating others seeking a more relaxing experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Art assets seem oddly less detailed for half of the sprites in the game, and nasty lag/client freeze issues make this game more grindy than it should be.”
- “It was released in an alpha state and while 1.1 was quickly released after, it's still incredibly unbalanced and generally just grinding - nothing really 'fun' about it.”
- “There isn't a tutorial to introduce you to the materials needed to build the turrets that will aid in a successful run (which I've yet to accomplish after 3 hours of grinding). This 'action roguelike' is a terrible grind thus far.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
8%
The gameplay is described as thrilling and addictive, with enjoyable combat mechanics and unique features, but it suffers from rough progression and a lack of quality-of-life improvements. Many players feel the game is in need of further development, as it currently lacks depth and replayability, with some mechanics feeling overly simplistic or confusing. Overall, while the core gameplay is fun, it requires significant refinement to enhance the overall experience.
- “Sooo much fun to play - I love the ideas in the game, the gameplay is thrilling, enjoyable, and wildly addictive.”
- “Sure, the mechanics did have a bit of a learning curve without a clear tutorial, but as I figured it out, I was having fun trying to add my new knowledge to better my strategies to make it through the night.”
- “I really love the combat mechanics in this game.”
- “Gameplay and progression just feels too rough.”
- “As a lot of other reviewers said, this should be in early access, but in reality, it feels more like a test bed for path-finding and the fighting mechanics for the much better game, Sun Haven.”
- “There's a lack of quality of life features, like a 'sell all' button, and gameplay features that are confusing, like entire resources becoming completely obsolete at a certain point with nothing to do with them.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The game's story is minimal and not the focus, with players noting that it is light and simple, which some find beneficial to avoid frustration. There are no in-depth narratives or character development, and while the backstory exists, it does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, those seeking a rich storyline should look elsewhere.
- “The story is kept light, but it's not to its detriment - I think if it were more plot-oriented, I'd get really frustrated and give up seeing as I can only make it to day 34.”
- “The graphics and even the simple plot are well done.”
- “Oh right, it also mentions how this is some story where the moon dragon won or something and is sending enemies at you?”
- “If you're looking for a story-heavy game, this one isn't for you.”
- “Don't go into this expecting an in-depth story or characters.”
- “There's no story.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes, crashes, and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as problems with the character selection screen and delayed button responses. Despite its addictive nature, players report that these bugs can lead to frustrating experiences, particularly during critical moments like leveling up. Overall, the game's performance is marred by these persistent technical problems, which detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “However, every time I level up and after I've chosen the upgrade, the game freezes.”
- “The game is quite addicting; however, since one of the latest updates, it constantly freezes, lags, and ultimately stops responding.”
- “The amount of times I have died on a run early on because the game freezes up after collecting a chest, which causes you to level up, is just insane.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics of the game are described as having a cute art style reminiscent of "Sun Haven," with well-executed aesthetics and characters that many players enjoy. However, some reviewers criticize the graphics for being unfinished and unpolished, noting a lack of visual changes with the seasons, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The graphics and even the simple plot are well done.”
- “I really love Sun Haven, so the aesthetics and characters of this game are fun.”
- “Cute art style of Sun Haven plus Vampire Survivors-like play!”
- “I'm a person of the 'shorter games, worse graphics' persuasion, but that doesn't stop me from looking at this unfinished, unpolished mess and saying 'eight dollars?'”
- “I'd hardly say your farm is ever 'thriving' in this, and the 'four changing seasons' just refers to the top right corner of the screen since there's no graphical change to the game as seasons progress (which is a shame since there's a lot of this in Sun Haven).”
- “---{ graphics }---”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
62%
13%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, allowing players to immerse themselves in the rhythm while transitioning between different activities. However, there is criticism regarding the lack of unique sound effects and feedback for abilities and item interactions, which detracts from the overall auditory experience.
- “You definitely feel yourself zoning into the rhythm of the music and switching gears from farming to defending.”
- “The music is great, the gameplay loop is solid, but all the details surrounding it are so early access without the title.”
- “The music is killer but there's not a lot of effects or feedback for the abilities that make them feel unique, or a lot of fun sound feedback for picking up items or buying them.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to the diverse perk selection available upon leveling up, which ensures a unique experience with each playthrough. This variability keeps gameplay fresh and engaging, making it a key aspect that enhances overall enjoyment.
- “It has high replayability capability due to the fact that each time you level up, you’re able to select a perk from a variety of options, and they're different each time. You never know what skills you're going to end up with as you're fighting for your survival while trying to collect resources.”
- “Replayability is a factor that all games should have in some way or another (whether it's the main gameplay or DLCs) because you'll never get bored of playing, and that's the best part of a game.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting its epic quality, particularly in relation to its connection to the beloved ambiance of "Sun Haven."
- “I love games like this, and the fact that it comes from the Sun Haven atmosphere is just epic.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment and expecting a more thoughtful approach.
- “Expected better than a cash grab like this.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its relatable and self-referential qualities, with players finding amusement in shared experiences and critiques of the game itself.
- “This is funny because it was also my first critique of Sun Haven early access!”