Swarm Grinder
- April 22, 2024
- Last Bite Games
- 16h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The gameplay loop is satisfying, with a nice balance of slashing and shooting through alien hordes.
- The game features a unique mechanic where players must manage fuel consumption while spawning enemies, adding a layer of strategy.
- The art style and soundtrack are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game currently lacks content, with only a few characters and maps, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- Performance issues arise during longer runs, causing significant lag and stuttering.
- The upgrade system feels limited and unbalanced, with many upgrades not providing meaningful benefits.
- gameplay141 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized by a unique fuel mechanic and engaging enemy spawn dynamics, which set it apart from typical survivor games. While the core gameplay loop is enjoyable and offers a variety of strategies, many players find the fuel system cumbersome and the overall experience can be marred by performance issues and a lack of late-game content. Despite these drawbacks, the game is praised for its art style, sound design, and the potential for future updates to enhance gameplay depth.
“Whether you're experimenting with new combinations or perfecting your favorite strategies, the variety keeps the gameplay dynamic and engaging.”
“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.”
“The gameplay is fairly simple, and the lack of an overabundance of skills makes it possible to create a desired build every run (or every other run).”
“Another big issue is the game's severely demanding fuel resource mechanic, which makes the fuel-related skill a requirement, not a choice.”
“Fuel mechanic ruined this game for me.”
- music57 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its energetic and engaging quality, with many reviewers highlighting the adrenaline-pumping tracks that enhance gameplay, especially during swarm attacks. However, there are consistent mentions of repetitiveness, as the limited number of tracks can lead to them becoming stale over time. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered a strong point, players express a desire for more variety to maintain its freshness throughout the game.
“The music is excellent!”
“Can't really get enough of that metal tune, especially the drums when the swarm waves attack you... it will make you bob your head to the music and give you a nice dose of endorphins!”
“The soundtrack is amazing.”
“The OST is thankfully pretty solid, but as stated earlier, there are only 3 stages, so you'll be hearing those same songs a lot.”
“Music style fits the theme but is repetitive.”
“The soundtrack is repetitive, but okay.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant art style and polished visuals that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some users report performance issues, such as low frame rates and stuttering during intense action, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the aesthetics are generally well-received, concerns about repetitiveness and simplicity in design are noted, indicating a need for more variety in visual elements.
“Graphics: amazing.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Now I know this isn't a rocket or anything, but I really expect a pixel graphics game to work in 75 fps (vsync) without any issues.”
- optimization43 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance drops, particularly during longer sessions and when numerous enemies are on screen. While some users noted improvements in recent updates and decent performance on specific systems, others reported severe stuttering and lag, especially on lower-end hardware and the Steam Deck, leading to an overall sentiment that the game requires further optimization to enhance playability.
“Perfectly optimized for macOS, great for quick gaming sessions, and a true candy for fans of bullet hell games!”
“On top of that, I've noticed a significant improvement in optimization with recent updates.”
“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.”
“I love the gameplay loop, progression, and style, but this game seems very poorly optimized.”
“The game is fun, but the performance is really bad.”
“Regarding performance, the GPU never went above 30% and the CPU around 27% at max. A very poorly optimized game; this is the reason I do not recommend.”
- grinding30 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, with many players finding the progression slow and uninteresting, often feeling like a waste of time. While some appreciate the unique mechanics that shift focus from traditional enemy grinding to objective-based leveling, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the lack of variety and the randomness of upgrades. Despite some fun moments, the grind is often described as tedious and not rewarding enough to justify the time investment.
“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.”
“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.”
- story13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is centered around a repetitive mission structure where players pilot a mech to clear alien-infested zones for resource mining. While the core concept is intriguing, players express frustration over the lack of mission variety and the limited number of builds, leading to a grind-heavy experience that detracts from the overall narrative engagement. The dynamic between mission objectives and enemy encounters is noted as a positive element, but the overall execution feels lacking.
“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.”
“I'm stuck on this quest for a few hours.”
“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.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited but with potential for improvement. While some players appreciate the roguelike elements and variety in characters and maps, many feel that the current selection is too thin and lacks depth. However, there is optimism for future updates to enhance replay value through additional content and features.
“Rogue-like element makes it very replayable.”
“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).”
“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.”
“Replay value is meh.”
“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, purchases which can offer permanent enhancements to your bot - but it seems a little thin, like replayability won't be huge.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by several bugs and glitches, including issues with AI navigation and freezing upon death, which can severely hinder progression. While it remains playable, players have reported frustrating performance issues and unregistered achievements that can lead to wasted time. Overall, the game shows promise but requires significant stability improvements.
“Glitches, honestly not many, but just one that exists ruins the game; your bot gets stuck on walls like they are tarred and magnetized.”
“Looks very promising, but unfortunately when I die, the game more or less freezes, making 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 in the game.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its cohesive and harmonious design, effectively evoking a sense of swarm warfare through its music and mechanics. Players appreciate the synergy between various gameplay elements, which enhances the overall immersive experience.
“The mechanics, balance, pace, and atmosphere—everything about the game is consistent and in harmony.”
“It feels cohesive and contributes to the dire atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere and music of the game evoke the sensation of swarm warfare.”
“It feels cohesive and lends to the dire atmosphere.”
- emotional3 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 immersion, such as being slowed down by touching walls, which detracts from the overall experience. This inconsistency in gameplay can lead to feelings of annoyance rather than engagement.
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its cool and funny visuals, though technical issues like framerate drops can detract from the experience. Players find the humor particularly engaging, often expressing their frustration in a humorous way, which adds to the overall enjoyment.
“The amount of obscene words I have yelled at my monitor while playing this game is hilarious.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing and unexpected twists that keep me laughing.”
“I love how the game combines absurd situations with witty dialogue, making every moment entertaining.”
