Survivalist: Invisible Strain

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,213 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Survivalist: Invisible Strain Game Cover
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"Survivalist: Invisible Strain" is an open-world game about building a community after civilization's collapse. Recruit survivors by earning their loyalty or fear, and manage their needs for food, warmth, and safety from dangers. Interact with living characters who have unique personalities, remember your actions, and give quests. This is the sequel to "Survivalist," but no prior knowledge of the first game is needed.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,213 reviews
gameplay55 positive mentions
grinding47 negative mentions
  • Unique blend of survival, community management, and crafting mechanics that keeps gameplay engaging.
  • Active development with regular updates and a responsive developer who listens to community feedback.
  • Challenging gameplay that rewards strategic thinking and careful planning, making victories feel satisfying.
  • Steep learning curve for new players, with little guidance on mechanics and controls.
  • AI can be frustratingly unpredictable, leading to community members making poor decisions that can result in deaths.
  • Combat mechanics can feel clunky and unbalanced, especially when facing multiple enemies or zombies.
  • gameplay187 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of survival mechanics, community management, and unique AI interactions, offering a diverse and engaging experience that evolves as players learn the mechanics. While the game features a steep learning curve and some clunky controls, many players appreciate the depth and variety it provides, particularly in its procedural generation and character relationships. However, issues such as combat mechanics and AI behavior have been noted as areas needing improvement, especially in this early access phase.

    • “This not only contributes to gameplay diversity but also ensures that each playthrough is a new and unpredictable experience.”
    • “Easy to understand and commonsense-based mechanics remove the need to watch hours of tutorials to learn the basic mechanics, like we see in other survival games.”
    • “With dynamic AI characters, an in-depth crafting and skill system, and challenging combat mechanics, the game offers a unique experience that will keep you entertained for hours.”
    • “Two of the worst designed mechanics: combat and recruitment.”
    • “The combat is so bad as well, some really shitty mouse mechanic that will ensure you are never hitting the correct zombie ever.”
    • “Unfortunately the controls and mechanics are just so clunky, it becomes a buggy slog after a short while.”
  • story136 mentions

    The game's story aspect is currently limited, as it is primarily in sandbox mode with no official story mode available yet. Players express anticipation for the future implementation of a story mode, noting that while the sandbox offers dynamic interactions and emergent narratives, it lacks the depth and structure of a traditional storyline. Many reviews highlight the potential for engaging narratives through NPC interactions and community building, but emphasize the need for more quests and a cohesive story to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The way a survival story simulation should be.”
    • “I love to see the twists and turns the story of my colonies take as it grows and shrinks in influence in the procedurally-generated post-apocalyptic world.”
    • “The story really does dynamically unfold around you, as NPCs come into contact with each other and either cooperate or fight based on the traits of their members and larger factions.”
    • “The main story of this game is unfinished and personally, not at all worth playing.”
    • “There's no storyline, compared to the original.”
    • “As of now, I can't recommend it since it feels empty without a story in sandbox mode.”
  • graphics100 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique comic book art style that some players find charming, while others feel it could use improvement, particularly in texture quality. Despite mixed opinions on the visuals, many reviewers appreciate the cohesive design and engaging gameplay, often stating that the graphics do not detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they contribute to the game's distinct atmosphere and appeal.

    • “Loved the comic graphic style.”
    • “The graphics are a comic book art style, which runs really well even on my toaster.”
    • “The game's art style reminds me of Telltale's The Walking Dead season 1 and 2.”
    • “The visuals are awkward, and the controls are the same, but the core of the gameplay is excellent.”
    • “The graphics can be a little odd at first.”
    • “The graphics could be better, and the sound is lacking, but the gameplay is cool and the AI intelligence is okay.”
  • grinding49 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while base building and farming mechanics are generally well-implemented and allow for some automation, tasks like cement production and resource management can feel tedious and time-consuming. The game offers options to speed up certain processes, but many still feel that the micromanagement and repetitive tasks detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, the depth of gameplay and community interactions provide a rewarding experience for those willing to invest the time.

    • “It isn't too grindy, but it also isn't too oversimplified. The entire relationship system, where you can make friends or foes for life, definitely adds flavor to the game. For example, if a guard dies in a zombie attack but you killed the zombies first, the trader might come in thinking you killed the guard, which shows that you can make two factions hostile towards each other by basically implicating them.”
    • “Pretty fun resource management, not too grindy and not too easy.”
    • “It's just a bit tedious and gamifies what is an otherwise fantastic survival experience.”
    • “While this seems exciting, it's quickly become apparent how tedious it is.”
    • “I have spent easily 30 minutes grinding trying to get something useful.”
  • optimization23 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant lag and performance issues regardless of their hardware capabilities. Many note that the AI and large maps contribute to poor performance, especially in co-op mode, and there are frequent frame rate drops and synchronization errors. While some acknowledge that the game is in early access and may improve, the current state is deemed insufficient for a positive experience.

    • “Needs optimization, especially in co-op, but it's expected in an early access release.”
    • “Although the game itself can probably be optimized a bit more, I don't know how and it could just be the engine (Unity).”
    • “It could stand further optimization, but it's not bad for early access.”
    • “No matter what the performance of the computer is, it will be too laggy.”
    • “The AI is very poorly optimized; you can even play this game with 1000 FPS on the strongest video card, but the AI causes lag even when it's on the other side of the map.”
    • “The optimization is quite poor; there are FPS drops on high-end PCs when fast forwarding.”
  • stability18 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report minor bugs and glitches typical of many games, others express frustration with more significant issues that affect gameplay. Despite these problems, many reviewers acknowledge the developers' efforts to improve the game and note that it remains enjoyable and functional for the most part. However, the presence of bugs, particularly with AI behavior and controls, suggests that further refinement is needed.

    • “Super buggy for something released three years ago.”
    • “Unfortunately the controls and mechanics are just so clunky, it becomes a buggy slog after a short while.”
    • “Yes, the game is buggy and (currently) may seem unfinished; however, the features are still usable and work mostly without a problem.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying the absurdity of chaotic scenarios, such as zombies stumbling comically and the antics of AI characters making poor decisions. Many find the interactions and random events amusing, contributing to a fun and immersive experience, despite some technical issues. Overall, the blend of brutal gameplay and hilarious moments keeps players entertained and engaged.

    • “Hurling dozens of molotovs over the walls of a bandit faction's base while laughing maniacally can be fun.”
    • “The way the zombies run is hilarious until a raider gang comes to say hello.”
    • “The interactions with the different survivors are pretty cool; I like the different things they say, and it's been pretty funny what kind of things happen just from trying to learn the game and not knowing what to do in some situations.”
    • “I'm having a lot of fun; it's almost not funny.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
    • “I expected more clever humor, but it mostly misses the mark.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it bland and annoying, particularly criticizing the menu music as off-beat and poorly composed. However, others appreciate the ambient tracks that enhance the game's atmosphere, noting that while the music may not be exceptional, it complements the overall experience and is better than many AAA titles in the genre. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a minor flaw in an otherwise engaging game.

    • “I could also listen to the game's soundtrack for hours on end if I could extract, download, or buy the DLC for it (if it was a thing).”
    • “Gameplay, graphics, and music/audio is amazing.”
    • “The gritty graphics and low-key music bring to life its austere environment (with seasons, dynamic weather, and day/night cycles that dictate character body temperature and crop viability).”
    • “The music has strange patterns that can be a bit annoying, but it's not a dealbreaker.”
    • “The musical score and sound effects world is also a bit bland, but not low quality.”
    • “My main complaints would be the music in the game; it's not completely awful, but a lot of the time it just feels like some kids banging on random instruments and calling it a day.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    The game is praised for its high replayability, largely due to its sandbox nature and random map generation, which offers players endless exploration opportunities. While some users note that the current content is limited, they believe that future updates and potential mod support could enhance replay value even further. Overall, players find the game enjoyable and capable of providing hours of engaging gameplay.

    • “Overall, really enjoyable with tons of replay value.”
    • “Fantastic sandbox game with endless replayability potential.”
    • “The randomly generated sandbox map gives constant replayability, which compared to the first game, I hadn't played again since completing the story.”
    • “The randomly generated sandbox map gives a constant replayability, in my opinion. Compared to the first game, I haven't played it again since completing the story; however, it left a mark on me to the point I knew I wouldn't be mistaken by buying the sequel, which seems to draw influence from games such as Mount and Blade and State of Decay.”
    • “If more people buy the game and create mods for it, this game will become even more replayable.”
    • “Despite it being early access, this game feels complete and has plenty of replayability.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, evoking childhood memories and a strong sense of survival amidst a zombie infection. The comic-style graphics enhance the overall experience, contributing to a unique and engaging apocalyptic setting that resonates with players. While some find the graphics dated, they argue that this adds to the game's charm and atmosphere.

    • “The atmosphere and the sounds bring me back to childhood, running around in the woods with BB guns and friends.”
    • “The comic-like graphics and the survival atmosphere are awesome.”
    • “The survivalist invisible strain creates a fantastic atmosphere, making you feel like an ordinary person caught in the middle of a zombie infection.”
    • “Pretty but dated feeling graphics (makes the apocalyptic atmosphere better)”
    • “And don't get me started on the atmosphere.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with moments of connection and heartbreak stemming from the AI's unique relationships and unpredictable behaviors. While the gameplay offers a sense of immersion and replayability, the emotional weight can be heavy, particularly when friendly interactions turn sour unexpectedly, leading to feelings of disappointment and frustration. Overall, the game evokes a range of emotions, from joy in exploration to sorrow in betrayal.

    • “I'm happy to be a part of this wholesome experience, can't wait for the final product.”
    • “One of the first quests is to find a friendly base and yet every time I finally made it through a crazy spawn surrounded by zombies to a base, in the middle of a conversation about their name or trade, they would suddenly say 'you've been on this land too long' and start asking for gold or attacking... heartbreaking.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highly praised for its depth, allowing players to cultivate specialists and enhance skills as they progress. The constant threat from zombies adds an engaging layer of tension, ensuring players remain vigilant and invested in their character's growth.

    • “Character development is pretty great and makes you want to have specialists around, providing more options as you progress in any skill. However, any three zombies at any point can hunt you down, and I like that; you never have to lose your awareness.”
    • “The depth of character development keeps the gameplay engaging, as each choice you make influences your character's abilities and interactions with the world.”
    • “I love how character development is tied to the story; it feels rewarding to see my character grow and change based on the decisions I make throughout the game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been widely criticized as a blatant "cash grab," with users expressing strong dissatisfaction over its exploitative nature.

    • “I can't put into words how horrible this 'cash grab' is.”
    • “The monetization system feels exploitative and ruins the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

42hMedian play time
89hAverage play time
18-133hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 15 analyzed playthroughs

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