Swarm Grinder
- April 22, 2024
- Last Bite Games
- 16h median play time
"Swarm Grinder" is a fast-paced, procedurally generated game where you navigate an alien mining system filled with hostile bugs. Your goal is to collect upgrade parts and extract valuable resources while avoiding being overwhelmed by the constantly changing and evolving swarms. With a variety of skills and upgrades to choose from, you can customize your playstyle and build unique synergies to help you survive and thrive.
Reviews
- The game features a unique mechanic where players must manage fuel consumption while actively engaging with enemies, creating a fun balancing act of risk vs reward.
- The art style and soundtrack are well-executed, enhancing the overall gaming experience and immersing players in the gameplay.
- The upgrade system allows for various builds and interactions, providing a satisfying sense of progression as players unlock new skills and abilities.
- The game currently lacks content, with only a few characters, weapons, and a single map, leading to repetitive gameplay after a short time.
- Performance issues, including lag and frame drops, especially during intense moments with many enemies on screen, detract from the overall experience.
- The upgrade options often feel underwhelming or poorly balanced, with many upgrades providing minimal impact on gameplay, making it difficult to feel a sense of growth or power.
- gameplay250 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized by a unique blend of mechanics, particularly the fuel system, which adds a layer of strategy but can also feel cumbersome and detracts from the core experience. While many players appreciate the addictive gameplay loop and the fresh take on the survivor genre, others criticize the lack of depth in meta-progression and the clarity of mechanics, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its flaws, the game offers engaging visuals and sound design, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre, albeit with some reservations regarding balance and complexity.
“A simple but fun vampire survivors game, the exploration factor combined with the fuel mechanics changes things up and makes it fresh compared to others of the same genre.”
“The gameplay is challenging yet addictive, requiring quick reflexes and strategic movement to survive the onslaught.”
“This game brings a fresh perspective to the genre, offering new mechanics and twists on old favorites that make for a truly thrilling gaming experience.”
“Another big issue is the game's severely demanding fuel resource mechanic, which makes the fuel-related skill a requirement, not a choice.”
“Fuel mechanics end up being an annoyance that never comes back around to be anything but a second health bar, making the game even less fun when you're getting screwed. I know they exist so you can stall, but all that means is if you lose half your runs to a timer, which just feels terrible (either dying to fuel loss or being forced to dive into a group of enemies to get the quickly fading fuel pickups).”
“The fuel mechanic doesn't add much, and the main conceit of the game (enemies spawning as you approach instead of over time like in similar games) really doesn't do anything besides make it much more cramped and claustrophobic in a genre where maneuvering around enemies is top priority.”
- music100 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its solid quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during intense moments like swarms. However, many users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive due to the limited number of tracks and a lack of variety across different stages. Overall, while the music is generally well-received, there is a desire for more diverse tracks to keep the experience fresh.
“The soundtrack is amazing.”
“Banger music for a game that is fun to play.”
“What really sets Swarm Grinder apart from other rogue-like games is its unique art style and captivating music.”
“The soundtrack is repetitive, but okay.”
“Music style fits the theme but repetitive.”
“Maybe I'm just early, but a little more soundtrack variety would be tight; the current stuff I've heard is still pretty good, just can definitely see it getting a little stale.”
- graphics82 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and polished visuals, which enhance the overall experience. However, some players note performance issues, such as stuttering during intense moments and repetitive color schemes, detracting from the enjoyment. Overall, while the aesthetics are generally well-received, technical limitations and simplicity in design are common criticisms.
“With its vibrant visuals and smooth performance, it’s a perfect fit for the Steam Deck, allowing you to enjoy the chaotic action anytime, anywhere.”
“It has the best graphics I've seen in its genre.”
“The graphics look polished and I really vibed with the colors.”
“The final big issue is that the game heavily stutters when there are a lot of enemies on screen, which for a game with this basic of graphics, seems ridiculous.”
“After 3 runs I will say for how low quality the graphics are... it doesn't take much for the game to start dragging FPS-wise.”
“Graphics are a bit too simple for my taste, but the gameplay is definitely fun; more stressful than most of the games I've played in this genre.”
- optimization64 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues, particularly during late-game scenarios where stuttering and frame drops become prevalent. Despite some improvements noted in recent patches, the overall experience remains hampered by lag spikes and inadequate performance on both high-end and lower-end systems, leading to a lack of enjoyment. While the game shows potential, many reviewers cannot recommend it until significant optimization updates are implemented.
“With its vibrant visuals and smooth performance, it’s a perfect fit for the Steam Deck, allowing you to enjoy the chaotic action anytime, anywhere.”
“Optimization seems to have improved and getting a special weapon now feels ... special.”
“But this is very polished and runs smoothly without any bugs (at least what I saw).”
“Another survivors-like, time killer but not worth buying over any of the others on the market, and plagued by awful performance issues.”
“The game is ok with good potential, unfortunately it currently suffers greatly from a stuttering issue making it unenjoyable and headache inducing which is particularly disruptive on the third mech.”
“With the current state of the game's performance, I can't recommend it despite loving its ideas.”
- grinding60 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and unfulfilling, often feeling like a waste of time due to slow progression and minimal rewards. While some appreciate the unique mechanics that shift focus from traditional grinding to objective-based leveling, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the grindy nature of upgrades and achievements, which can feel overly repetitive and lacking in variety. Despite these criticisms, a few players noted that once initial upgrades are obtained, the game can become more enjoyable, though the grind remains a significant hurdle.
“Progression is uninteresting, grindy in the worst way and far too slow for the minor payoffs.”
“Grindy, not in the stimulating and dopamine-inciting way this genre is reputed for, but in the tedious, tangibly time-wasteful way.”
“But it's grindy in a way that is incredibly disrespectful of your time.”
- story26 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around piloting a mech to clear alien-infested zones and establish mining operations, but players find the narrative lacking in variety and depth, as it primarily revolves around repetitive missions with limited objectives. While the dynamic of enemy encounters adds some interest, the overall experience is marred by a grindy structure and a reliance on a few weapon types, leading to a sense of stagnation in gameplay.
“In this game, your mission is to pilot a mech through a field of relentlessly respawning alien eggs to clear a total of 25 mining zones.”
“The great tie between mission objective and enemy encounter by popping cells adds a great dynamic to the game I haven't seen before.”
“You keep on grinding through missions with too little variety.”
“So far, there's only one mission type to choose from: establish 25 mining zones by clearing the area around them.”
“For a game where a single mission lasts about 15 minutes, these are incredibly low statistics.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is seen as limited, with some players noting a lack of character and skill variety, which diminishes long-term engagement. However, the roguelike elements and potential for future updates offer a glimmer of hope for increased replay value, as there are enough current features to provide a decent experience. Many reviewers express optimism that additional content could enhance replayability in the future.
“Rogue-like element makes it very replayable.”
“Replayability has been on their minds, and it sounds like they've addressed it more than I expected.”
“The game is still in early access for the time being, but honestly there are enough characters, maps, and ascension levels for increased difficulty that there's plenty of replayability and content even without the rest of the game, whatever that may be (likely different game modes and increased permanent upgrade options).”
“Not saying the game is a piece of shit or anything like that, and I get that even little things like art and animations can be time-consuming, but in a genre that relies on replay value, you could do better than three lazy and generic characters.”
“There are a few bots to uncover, a few weapons/abilities, some difficulty scaling, and purchases which can offer permanent enhancements to your bot - but it seems a little thin, like replayability won't be huge.”
“While there's not a huge variety of skills and characters to choose from right now, the potential to diversify the builds and increase the replayability with future updates is incredibly promising.”
- stability10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by several bugs and glitches, with one particularly problematic issue causing characters to get stuck on walls, significantly hindering gameplay. While it remains playable, players report frustrating freezes upon death and unregistered achievements, which can lead to wasted time and disrupted progression. Overall, the game shows promise but requires further stability improvements to enhance the player experience.
“Looks very promising, but unfortunately when I die, the game more or less freezes, and this makes progression impossible.”
“There are a few glitches and performance issues as of the current patch. It's still playable, but please be aware that this can be very upsetting at certain points during gameplay.”
“To add insult to injury, some of the skills and related achievements are buggy, so you could potentially waste your time grinding for 30 minutes to an hour, only to have a pleasant surprise when you realize it didn't register.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its cohesive and harmonious design, effectively evoking a sense of swarm warfare through its music and mechanics. Players appreciate how the consistent balance and pace contribute to a dire and immersive experience, enhancing their enjoyment of the gameplay.
“The mechanics, balance, pace, and atmosphere—everything about the game is consistent and in harmony.”
“The atmosphere and music of the game evoke the sensation of swarm warfare.”
“It feels cohesive and lends to the dire atmosphere.”
“The mechanics, balance, pace, and atmosphere are all consistent and in harmony.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players' frustrations with mechanics that disrupt gameplay, such as being slowed down by minor obstacles, which detracts from the overall experience. This suggests a disconnect between player expectations and the game's design, leading to feelings of annoyance rather than engagement.
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game's humor to be entertaining and engaging, often leading to moments of frustration that result in humorous outbursts. Despite technical issues like framerate drops, the comedic elements of the game are a highlight for many users.
“The amount of obscene words I have yelled at my monitor while playing this game is hilarious.”