Survivors of the Dawn
- November 6, 2023
- indieGiant
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Survivors of the Dawn" is a run-based roguelite bullet heaven where you face off against quintillions of alien hordes with strategic sci-fi weapon-item synergies. Die and level up to unlock power-ups and max out weapon classes, while leading invader hordes into extinction in different areas. The newly available Bleumer update introduces a new character, critical weapon-item decisions, and challenging hazards in a new biome.
Reviews
- The game features engaging gameplay with a satisfying progression system, allowing players to feel powerful as they level up and unlock new abilities.
- Visually impressive with great graphics and a solid soundtrack, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The unique map objectives and variety of weapons provide a fresh take on the genre, making each run feel distinct and enjoyable.
- The game suffers from a lack of content and variety, with only a few characters and weapons available, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- Many players have reported bugs and crashes, which can disrupt the gaming experience and hinder progression.
- The difficulty balance is inconsistent, with some levels being too easy while others are frustratingly hard, making it challenging to maintain a smooth gameplay experience.
- gameplay52 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Survivors of the Dawn" is characterized by fast-paced action and engaging mechanics, drawing inspiration from other titles in the genre, particularly with its node travel system. While many players find the core gameplay enjoyable and addictive, some criticize it for lacking innovation and polish, with certain mechanics feeling underdeveloped or overly simplistic. Overall, the game offers a solid experience with potential for improvement, particularly in content variety and quality of life features.
“Survivors of the Dawn hooks you from the start with its fast-paced, action-packed gameplay.”
“This game is a remarkable fusion of classic bullet heaven gameplay mechanics with innovative elements from various gaming genres, resulting in an immersive gaming experience.”
“It's rich in content and mechanics, and when you change your build, it feels like you're playing something entirely different.”
“Unfortunately, most of the other mechanics at play don’t bring much new to the genre, and ultimately, there’s nothing revolutionary about the game.”
“...[i]Survivors of the Dawn[/i] has the lack of polish of a late alpha, and is missing both gameplay (like bonuses for levels after maxing regular levels) and qol features (like ability to check your loadout - or even any sort of indicator in the UI how many weapons you can equip) expected of the bullet heaven genre...”
“The system is there, but I don't think that it adds a lot to the gameplay both because of the limited content in the game and the system's implementation.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising the vibrant visuals, enemy designs, and overall aesthetic, often highlighting it as one of the most graphically advanced titles in its genre. However, some critiques mention a lack of polish in certain environments and a simplistic UI, suggesting room for improvement. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, enhancing the engaging gameplay experience.
“I love the graphics, the gameplay, the music (really, I love it!) and it's a lot of fun to beat all those creepy creatures down.”
“Survivors of the Dawn (SOTD) is one of the most graphically advanced 'survivors like' games I have played, successfully delivering brilliant visuals without being overwhelming.”
“The graphics and presentation are nice, and the combat is satisfying.”
“Animations are decent, and core gameplay keeps the player engaged, but I am not the biggest fan of the overall art style; environments could use a bit more polish to add more personality to the game's world.”
“There just doesn't seem to be a huge draw to the game other than maybe the 3D graphics.”
“Graphics are passable but feel very bland.”
- music27 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its energetic and fitting soundtrack, often described as a mix of rock and synthwave that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some players note that the soundtrack can feel repetitive and lacks variety for different in-game situations. Overall, while the music is a highlight for many, improvements in audio mixing and diversity could elevate the experience further.
“That's a fun bullet heaven game with a great soundtrack!”
“A bullet hell with a banging soundtrack - the music perfectly fits the nature, setting, and tone of the game.”
“The music is great, the visuals are awesome, and the price is really affordable; definitely worth my time.”
“Decent soundtrack, but the sound mix is all over the place. It's a noticeboard mechanic that still can't break free of the '+1' railroad, and it's way too easy - all content completed on the first try in about four hours, and I hadn't even bothered with half of the roster yet.”
“As much as I like the soundtrack, there are times when it feels a bit repetitive.”
“The soundtrack was repetitive but pretty good.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its freshness and immersive qualities, setting it apart from similar titles. Reviewers highlight the impressive artwork, animations, and sound design that enhance the overall experience, creating a captivating environment that keeps players engaged. Many consider it to have one of the best atmospheres in its genre, effectively complementing the gameplay.
“The artwork and animations are really good, creating a very well accomplished atmosphere.”
“The game's atmosphere breaks free from the monotony of similar titles, making you feel like you're truly inside the game.”
“This game has the best atmosphere among games of its kind.”
“The atmosphere and the creatures keep you on the edge.”
“Slay monsters in a dark atmosphere?”
“Details such as VFX and sound complement each other very well with the atmosphere.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance even during intense gameplay and with numerous visual effects. However, some users noted that performance issues can arise in the later stages, particularly when system resources are heavily taxed. While initial experiences are positive, there is a consensus that further optimization work is needed to enhance performance consistency across all levels.
“Frankly, what I liked the most about the game was its optimization; there were full creatures on the screen, but I was able to play the game for hours without experiencing any lag.”
“Despite the numerous visual effects, there are no optimization issues; the optimization is well-tuned.”
“Despite the graphics, the optimization is excellent, and I played it smoothly.”
“I also think that this game needs to be better optimized, as I can hear my PC get louder and louder as the waves increase (it's a high-end setup and does not stutter nevertheless).”
“However, in higher levels of the game, performance issues start to show up.”
“There is a lot of work needed for optimization.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is primarily driven by engaging side quests and random events that enhance the gameplay experience, with players appreciating the variety of missions and interactive elements on the map. While the main objective revolves around surviving enemy waves, the inclusion of small missions and the potential for future story mode expansions suggest a work in progress that could deepen the narrative experience. Overall, players find the missions and dynamic map interactions contribute significantly to the game's enjoyment.
“I think it's still a bit of a work in progress, so I look forward to seeing more additions to the game, maybe more maps or weapons or characters, maybe a bit of a story mode.”
“When it comes to the missions in the game, I can't put it into words the pleasure I got from the random map events and stores that increased my gaming experience to a very high level.”
“The missions within the game, the ability to determine where I'll go on the map, and more have added a wonderful depth to it.”
“I think it's still a bit of a work in progress, so I look forward to seeing more additions to the game, maybe more maps or weapons or characters, maybe a bit of a story mode?”
“Your primary mission is to withstand the enemy waves or hordes for as long as possible, or until the timer runs out.”
“Like in every point, you have the same mission.”
- stability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous bugs, crashes, and poorly implemented quality-of-life features reported by users. Many players find the hitboxes confusing, weapon balance uneven, and essential information lacking, leading to a frustrating experience. While some enjoy the game despite these issues, the overall impression is that it feels under-tested and unstable.
“The game runs great without any crashes or glitches.”
“I appreciate the stability; it never lags during intense gameplay.”
“The performance is solid, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“The game is buggy, its systems are poorly explained, hitboxes on some bosses are confusing and frustrating, certain weapons are vastly superior to others, items aren't highlighted onscreen for you and are often buried under mob models, there is no minimap, you can't see prior upgrades for your weapons, way too many elements on your stats screen completely lack a tooltip, and by design each stage forces you to leave behind a ton of resources, leading to this constant feeling of scrambling to get something resembling a decent build going.”
“Buggy, basic quality of life features are missing, feels like it hasn't been tested at all.”
“Not great, limited options, extremely buggy, especially with audio, difficulty curve doesn't seem appropriate, one character clearly overpowered compared to another.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the frantic decision-making involved in farming for experience and currency, many feel that the grinding can become excessive and tedious over time. Despite the fun elements, the necessity to grind for upgrades and progress is a common point of frustration.
“Cons: too much grinding.”
“The early game meta for me is making choices between standing in a zone or farming experience orbs.”
“I have played for 10 hours, which might seem not that long, but trust me, grinding and trying to upgrade for the next difficulties and upgrades is important.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers decent replayability, rated 5/10, with enjoyable visuals that enhance the experience, though it may not provide enough variety to keep players engaged long-term.
“The game offers a variety of choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and different character paths, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
“The dynamic gameplay elements ensure that no two sessions are ever the same, keeping it fresh and exciting.”
