Swarmlake

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Swarmlake is a single-player shooter game with masterful gameplay, outstanding graphics, and splendid music. Players fight a record-breaking swarm with an overpowered weapon, soaring through the sky by jumping off of enemies in an infinite, deterministic arena pulsating to the original music. The game offers a smooth and fun highscore-chase with countless enemies and online replays, making it very replayable.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 891 reviews

gameplay67 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Swarmlake offers chaotic and satisfying gameplay that keeps players engaged and coming back for more.
The minimalist design and great soundtrack enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable to play.
The game is easy to pick up and play, making it a perfect time killer for short sessions.

The game can feel random and unfair at times, with unclear mechanics regarding how players die.
There is a lack of variety in gameplay, which can lead to repetitiveness after extended play sessions.
Some players may find the absence of a tutorial or clear instructions frustrating, making it difficult to understand the mechanics.

gameplay
167 mentions
40 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and addictive nature, offering fast-paced, chaotic action that encourages players to improve their skills and compete for high scores. While some players appreciate the straightforward mechanics and engaging loop, others criticize the lack of variety and clarity in gameplay elements, leading to confusion and frustration. Overall, the game provides a fun, arcade-like experience with potential for replayability, though it may require players to invest time in mastering its mechanics.
- “The gameplay is simple: you have a machine gun as well as the ability to double jump, and you must survive as long as possible thanks in particular to the bombs present on the map (which appear from time to time).”
- “A simple yet incredibly refined gameplay loop makes for a highly addictive game that makes you go for another round over and over again.”
- “It's fantastic, frantic, and both super simple to understand in terms of game mechanics and highly complex without changing mechanics as you progress through a run.”
- “I can't really see any patterns, any strategic or tactical gameplay; I can't even tell if I'm going to be hit or not.”
- “The game has no guide at all and doesn't teach you even basic mechanics and better ways to play; you have to keep playing and understanding bits by bits of its mechanics and how the enemies work.”
- “From a gameplay perspective, it's mindlessly shallow.”
music
133 mentions
64 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many players highlight the seamless looping of the soundtrack, which complements the fast-paced action and keeps them engaged, while some express a desire for more variety. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's addictive nature and atmosphere.
- “The dev struck a great balance between tense gameplay, engaging systems, and a great soundtrack.”
- “The music is amazing, and the dev should really put the soundtrack up on the game page.”
- “The endless mayhem in this game provides a mindless and addicting game, and a great soundtrack that really complements the game.”
- “Wasn't too into the music or art style.”
- “I can’t remember any of the music at all.”
- “The soundtrack is repetitive but I don't even care because it's awesome.”
graphics
60 mentions
40 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist aesthetic, featuring simple, low-polygon models that prioritize performance and clarity over complexity. While some players appreciate the clean and colorful visuals that enhance gameplay, others criticize the graphics as lazy or lacking depth, likening them to retro designs from the early 1990s. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for their ability to maintain smooth performance even with numerous on-screen elements, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.
- “From its captivating gameplay mechanics to its stunning visual aesthetics and immersive audio design, every aspect of the game is a testament to the talent and vision of the developer.”
- “The graphics are simple: the enemies are geometric figures, like pyramids and spheres, and the arena is empty, but this keeps the game running smoothly even when there are thousands of objects on the screen, and helps you focus on the swarm itself and how it’s moving.”
- “Graphics wise it’s pretty amazing; crisp low poly models and glow gives it a somewhat unique style.”
- “Graphics tweaks don't matter much with such lazy, shortcut/afterthought graphics, however.”
- “The lack of textures is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent/interest in doing the graphics properly and trying to disguise it under the name of 'art', or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
- “The graphics are very simple; you are given a little prompt on screen as to what the controls are and off you go!”
replayability
19 mentions
47 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by fast-paced action, engaging gameplay, and a competitive high score system. However, some players note that the repetitive nature of the content can diminish the replay value for those seeking novelty. Despite this, many find the game enjoyable enough to return to repeatedly, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.
- “A solid shooter with a lot of replayability as well as a really frantic and cool style.”
- “Awesome soundtrack and intense gameplay, got the hang of it pretty quick and can see hours of replay value even when I complete the 10k achievement.”
- “Tight and responsive controls with a pretty simple core concept that gives you endless hours of replayability.”
- “The only problem is that the game has the repetition and replayability of a mobile game.”
- “Replay value isn't that high unless you are really seeking high scores.”
- “Zero replay value for me.”
optimization
14 mentions
57 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The game is highly praised for its exceptional optimization, allowing it to run smoothly even on older hardware while displaying a vast number of enemies without performance drops. Players report consistent high frame rates, impressive graphics, and a well-designed engine tailored for optimal performance. Continuous updates from the developers further enhance the game's efficiency and overall experience.
- “I'm fairly positive this game was made with black magic as there's probably tens of thousands of entities on screen at once and still somehow runs smoothly on the laptop equivalent of a potato.”
- “Insanely fast, great soundtrack, splendid optimizations (constant 300fps when there are literal tens of thousands of enemies on the screen), great gameplay choices: you don't have to hold the button to shoot - the gun is always shooting.”
- “It also runs surprisingly well on my old computer: it's not a miracle or anything, but it does show that optimization was at least a concern in the development, and I appreciate that.”
- “Firstly, I would like to give applause to the developer for continuously updating this game and optimizing the performance.”
- “It's also impressive how it can display a tremendous amount of enemies on screen at the same time without experiencing any drop in performance.”
story
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its effective use of pixel art as a storytelling medium, conveying themes of perseverance and the unpredictability of life. While some players appreciate the simplicity and fun of the experience without a deep narrative, others note that the story can enhance engagement, especially for those who invest time in it. Overall, the game offers a quick, enjoyable experience that doesn't rely heavily on a complex storyline.
- “I would honestly say that this is a testament to the power of pixel art as a storytelling medium, proving that beauty can be found in even the smallest of pixels.”
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Short story is that it is a very great value and a super fun experience, but the video goes into much more depth.”
- “In comparison to those big games, Swarmlake does not need a large world or a deep story to keep you playing.”
- “It's a quick experience, play as little or as much as you like with no story and no need to fuss.”
- “Now for a story.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is largely enhanced by its beautiful music and sound effects, which create an engaging and colorful experience, particularly during intense gameplay moments. While some players feel the atmosphere is more casual and less immersive, others appreciate the addictive nature of the game and the involvement it fosters when striving for high scores. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere, making it a standout feature for many players.
- “The game's music and sound effects enhance the atmosphere and enrich the gaming experience.”
- “The visuals are colorful and the music is pumping, making for a great atmosphere.”
- “I think the music in this game adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
- “So if you're looking for an arcade game like Daggers but with less of the horror atmosphere, then Swarmlake is for you.”
- “[b]Atmosphere - [i]Okay[/i][/b] - (The game itself doesn’t create an atmosphere because it's meant to be played casually; however, you do get quite involved when trying to beat a score.)”
- “[b]Atmosphere - [i]Okay[/i][/b] - (The game itself doesn’t create an atmosphere because it's meant to be played casually; however, you do get quite involved when trying to beat a score.)”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of frustration and tension in the emotional experience of the game, highlighting the challenge of navigating danger while managing the fear of instant death. The constant threat of being overwhelmed by enemies creates a sense of anxiety, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay fully. Overall, the emotional impact is characterized by a struggle between survival instincts and the desire to progress.
- “I'm not scared to play a game where you die in one hit, but it's kind of hard to parse when your brain constantly tells you something's touching you.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players noting that it elicits genuine laughter and enjoyment, even in moments of failure. The lighthearted and amusing nature of the game contributes to an overall hilariously fun experience.
- “And yet, whenever I die, I'm smiling and laughing like a madman!”
- “A hilariously fun game.”
- “Funny 10MB game.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment, likened to needing a "second life" for achievement grinding. The experience is described as intense and frenetic, contrasting sharply with more leisurely gameplay styles.
- “And that, by the way, is not that easy for achievement grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Swarmlake is the amphetamine-laced teeth-grinding raver to Refunct's beard-and-backpack-hiking weekend.”
stability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game demonstrates excellent stability, running smoothly at high frame rates even on low-end systems. This contributes to a positive gameplay experience.
- “Unique gameplay, runs great.”
- “Being able to play a game like this at a high FPS is also important, and it seems the requirements are very low; it runs great for me.”