Surviv.io
- September 24, 2020
- Kongregate, Inc.
- 6h median play time
2D battle royal packed into an intense 3-5 minute experience. No lobbies, no lengthy drop sequences. In surviv.io, you're always in the fight! Choose the mode that fits your mood. Go it alone in solo mode, battle with a partner in duos, or field a four-person team in squads. Loot, loot everywhere. Famous firearms, melee weapons, throwables, medical items, armor, scopes, and backpacks to hold it …
Reviews
- The game was a fun and engaging experience, especially in its early days, with a unique 2D battle royale concept.
- Fast matchmaking allows players to jump into games quickly, making it easy to play casually.
- The community and nostalgia surrounding the game have created lasting memories for many players.
- The game has been plagued by hackers and cheaters, making it frustrating and often unplayable.
- Kongregate's acquisition led to a focus on microtransactions and cosmetic items, detracting from the original gameplay experience.
- The game has suffered from performance issues and lag, especially in the Steam version, which was expected to improve upon the browser experience.
- gameplay43 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has been praised for its depth, simplicity, and responsiveness, making it enjoyable for both casual and skilled players. However, recent changes, including the introduction of microtransactions and a lack of meaningful updates, have led to a decline in the overall experience, with some players finding it frustrating and less engaging than before. Despite these issues, the core mechanics and fast-paced nature of the gameplay still provide a fun experience, especially when played with friends.
“This used to be my favorite browser game and honestly one of my favorite games ever for its replayability, simplicity, responsiveness, and overall solid feeling gameplay.”
“It has a surprising amount of gameplay depth, and if you play enough, you could get really skilled.”
“The gameplay is fast-paced and you will rarely have the occasion to loot the perfect equipment without having to kill a few other players first.”
“Now, Kongregate bought this game and filled it with microtransactions, adding nothing new to the gameplay.”
“The gameplay is meh; nothing makes sense, and you are getting spawned and shot immediately.”
“The battle results page is horrid and confusing, the game is buggy ever since the devs switched to Kongregate, and it's getting worse from a gameplay perspective.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are largely described as minimalistic and simplistic, reminiscent of HTML5 browser games, which some players find charming while others criticize for being poorly executed. While the art style is initially appreciated for its clean and colorful aesthetic, it can become overwhelming and visually cluttered over time. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some praising the graphics for their low system requirements and fun gameplay, while others find them lacking in quality and polish.
“The graphics are quite exquisite and I look forward to playing this game more in the future!”
“The aesthetic layout of the game is really polished off and it runs smoothly.”
“This game is a fantastic top-down battle-royale that is perfect for newer gamers or those who can't run games with higher graphic requirements.”
“But I'm afraid unplayability in a standalone Steam version of a game with such simple graphics doesn't deserve a positive review.”
“The graphics look like a 5-year-old could have drawn better.”
“This game is basically PUBG if it was in 2D, but with very simplistic graphics, characteristic of HTML5 browser games.”
- monetization17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 53 % negative mentions
The monetization of this game has drawn significant criticism, with users highlighting an overwhelming presence of ads and aggressive microtransactions, particularly after its acquisition by a larger company. Many feel that the game has devolved into a cash grab, prioritizing profit over player experience, and failing to address ongoing issues such as cheating and technical problems. Overall, the shift towards a battle-pass system and the introduction of numerous ads have left players feeling disappointed and exploited.
“The game adopts the now classic battle-pass system with microtransactions that are far from cheap.”
“This game also has a lot of microtransactions.”
“Any updates are related to microtransactions and skins, but not addressing the main issue which is the rampant spread of cheaters within the game.”
“The game is just a cash grab and was completely changed to 'Bit Heroes Arena', and Steam is not banning the game or anything.”
“Yet another story of a large company buying a game from small developers and milking it for all it's worth, and leaving it to rot once the community gets sick and tired of all the microtransactions and premium currencies.”
“I'm super disappointed that Kongregate not only killed this game by trying to milk it, but is now using its corpse as bait for their newest cash grab.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, particularly in fullscreen mode. While some users report smoother performance compared to the browser version, others feel the game is poorly optimized and plagued by hackers. There is a consensus that the game could benefit from further optimization to enhance the overall experience.
“Better performance than the browser version.”
“The aesthetic layout of the game is really polished off and it runs smoothly.”
“Also more optimized.”
“Correct me if I'm wrong, but when issues like that appear in such a simple game, it feels really poorly optimized.”
“The game is poorly optimized and is riddled with hackers.”
“The game runs noticeably worse and it's not uncommon for the game to start stuttering and dropping frames, especially in key moments.”
- humor9 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of nostalgic charm and absurdity, with players finding amusement in both the game's quirky elements and the unexpected situations that arise during gameplay. Some users appreciate the creative inclusion of ads as a humorous touch, while others express a desire for more engaging content rather than superficial updates. Overall, the humor is seen as a key aspect that enhances the social experience among friends.
“Honestly, it's kind of funny if you think about it.”
“The game has a built-in ad at the bottom of the screen at all times, which is pretty funny and creative in a way.”
“Nice game, it's a funny game to play with friends.”
“I don't want this unfunny RPG game.”
“The jokes fell flat and didn't land at all.”
“I expected humor, but it was more cringeworthy than funny.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as a mix of innovative elements and disappointment, with some players appreciating the fun secret storyline and unique aspects in a battle royale context, while others criticize the overarching narrative of corporate exploitation and the lack of developer support. Despite the presence of a small storyline, many feel it is overshadowed by issues like microtransactions and hacking, leading to a sense of neglect from the developers. Overall, the story aspect is seen as both a highlight and a point of frustration for players.
“I have played this game back 3 years ago, it was a lot of fun. I love the secret storyline, new buildings, events, new guns, and everything else.”
“A storyline in a battle royale is somewhat rare and very innovative.”
“There was also a small story, which was fun to hear.”
“Yet another story of a large company buying a game from small developers and milking it for all it's worth, and leaving it to rot once the community gets sick and tired of all the microtransactions and premium currencies.”
“The death of the new innovative storyline simply added even more disappointment.”
“☐ no story”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting minor bugs and glitches, but also noting significant issues such as frequent input lags and freezes that detract from the overall experience. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these problems, others express frustration over the increasing instability since the developers' transition to Kongregate.
“The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs/glitches.”
“But sadly, the game has now frequent random input lags and freezes which makes the game unplayable and not fun.”
“The battle results page is horrid and confusing, the game is buggy ever since the devs switched control, and it's getting worse in a gameplay perspective as well.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, with some describing it as "a bit grindy" and others suggesting that it may require an unrealistic time commitment, likening it to needing a "second life" to fully engage with the grinding elements.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's a bit grindy sometimes.”
“It can feel a bit grindy.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's high replayability, praising its simplicity and responsive gameplay, which contribute to a consistently enjoyable experience. Many consider it one of their all-time favorites due to its enduring appeal.
“This used to be my favorite browser game and honestly one of my favorite games ever for its replayability, simplicity, responsiveness, and overall solid feeling gameplay.”
“Lots of replayability value.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's music is generally considered lacking, with a boring menu track and generic audio overall. However, players suggest enhancing the experience by playing their own music, which can elevate the gameplay and create a more immersive atmosphere.
“The game is 10 times better than the browser version. There are some glitches where sometimes when you play, your keyboard just goes haywire, but either way, it is awesome. Play it with some music in the background, and you'll feel like a badass.”
“There is no music except for a boring track in the menu; the audio in general sounds generic but acceptable.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and lacks any real variety, making the experience feel dull.”
“The music feels repetitive and uninspired, failing to enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.”