The Black Death

53%
Game Brain Score Based on 819 reviews
  • gameplay
  • stability
  • graphics
The Black Death Game Cover
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"The Black Death" is a medieval multiplayer game set in a plague-infested 14th century Europe. Players must survive by fighting for scarce resources, learning new crafting techniques, and avoiding the plague. The game encourages cooperation with other players, but also the risk of betrayal in a land ravaged by disease and scarce resources.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

53%
Audience ScoreBased on 819 reviews
gameplay27 positive mentions
stability78 negative mentions
  • gameplay108 mentions

    The gameplay of this game is characterized by a mix of promising mechanics and significant issues, including bugs, clunky combat, and a lack of engaging multiplayer experiences. While some players appreciate the crafting and survival elements, many express frustration over repetitive tasks, server stability, and the overall execution of gameplay features. Overall, the game shows potential but requires substantial improvements to its mechanics and user experience to fully realize that promise.

    • “The atmosphere is absolutely fabulous (in the sense that everything is dark and depressing), the gameplay has a lot to offer in terms of mechanics and systems, and surviving is just downright hard (which if you enjoy survival games as much as I do, you will find it incredibly enjoyable).”
    • “The attention to detail that the developers have invested in authentically capturing medieval Europe at the height of the plague is truly breathtaking, while the combination of multiplayer RPG and survival genres delivers a uniquely rich and highly enjoyable gameplay mechanic.”
    • “What there is by way of content and gameplay currently is incredible and in the short while that I have played the game I have enjoyed it far more than other survival games.”
    • “The repetitive tasks and dull gameplay have somehow managed to bore me into a state of PTSD, and now every time I set foot in a forest, I am convinced that bandits are lurking behind every tree.”
    • “There is a really beautiful concept to this game, but execution is a huge problem and the gameplay is clunky and frustrating.”
    • “The game is now one year old, and you still lose your progression when server crashes. You lose your gold that took hours to collect, and yet still your house that you buy will reset, so you lose that as well. One year on, the game has not solved the basic gameplay mechanics that I first purchased this game for.”
  • stability80 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues that hinder gameplay. While some acknowledge that these problems are expected in early access, many express frustration over the game's current state, describing it as unplayable or a "buggy mess." Despite the potential for improvement, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game is not worth purchasing until substantial fixes are implemented.

    • “You want a bug-free, finished game that you can play for 100 hours without a single crash.”
    • “Buy it; it runs great with lots to do. In-game chat makes it feel real.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess.”
    • “I bought this game months ago and it is still nearly unplayable due to how buggy it is.”
    • “It is empty, buggy, and unoptimized.”
  • graphics78 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are decent and even beautiful in some aspects, there are also significant issues such as visual bugs and optimization problems. Some praise the unique art style and overall aesthetic, particularly in the context of its dark medieval theme, while others criticize the graphics as basic or lacking polish. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics show promise, they require further refinement and optimization, especially given the game's early access status.

    • “The graphics are amazing, a lot better than I had expected.”
    • “The graphics and all-around environment detail is astonishingly good - already way better than other survival MMOs I've played.”
    • “The art style is stunning and it feels like a believable world that I'm getting lost in.”
    • “The graphics are just ugly to look at.”
    • “It is extremely buggy, laggy, the graphics are awful, you literally can't see anyone at night.”
    • “The graphics are decent but it's far from optimized as you would expect.”
  • story38 mentions

    The game's story is criticized for its lack of direction and depth, with players feeling lost due to minimal guidance and repetitive, uninspired quests. Many reviewers express disappointment over the absence of a meaningful main storyline, suggesting that the current tutorial missions do not provide sufficient engagement or purpose. Overall, the narrative elements are seen as underdeveloped, leaving players to create their own stories in a world that feels empty and uninviting.

    • “Somewhat reminiscent of Pathologic in terms of story and overarching objective of curing a plague.”
    • “After playing games like The Witcher 3 with so much interaction in each town and on the roads with characters and quests that are actually meaningful, this game seems to have interesting ideas and hopefully it will be interesting in time.”
    • “There are lots of spaces to add in stuff like NPCs with quests and rewards.”
    • “Currently it lacks single player story/quests/lore (these quests that already exist are only for tutorial needs).”
    • “The game, and map looks great, however.. not knowing where you 'spawn' and not knowing where to go first to 'start your story' is even worse, or not even a 'tutorial' is so bad.”
    • “It's boring and hard to find missions or purpose.”
  • atmosphere35 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and authentic depiction of a plague-ridden 14th-century world, characterized by dark beauty and a grim, sullen tone. Players appreciate the attention to historical detail, environmental sound effects, and the overall eerie ambiance that enhances the survival experience. Despite some technical issues, the unique atmosphere is seen as a strong foundation for the game's potential.

    • “The 14th century details are incredible and the atmosphere of a plague-ridden, empty yet darkly beautiful world is profound.”
    • “The dark, gritty atmosphere really makes a great first impression and retains its charm over time.”
    • “Great atmosphere and the middle age plague era fits perfectly in the survival genre.”
    • “I heard nothing but the sounds of coughing and vomiting, constant slow-walking NPCs, and everything you touch kills you... I just didn't want to spend real-life time surrounded by the atmosphere, environmental sound effects, and go through multiplayer human interaction on top of it all... Rarely has a game sent me faster away from itself than this one has.”
    • “The NPCs are extremely glitchy, and to create a better atmosphere for the game, I would like to see some hardcore NPC battles and actions.”
    • “Not to mention the spooky 'plague' atmosphere. Still, some work needs to be done and updates to be made, but hell, it's early access!”
  • grinding32 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious, with players often losing hard-earned resources due to frequent server crashes and limited resource availability. While some find enjoyment in the grind, especially when playing with friends, many feel that the repetitive nature of farming and resource collection detracts from the overall experience, leading to a sense of stagnation and frustration. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate grind-heavy gameplay, but it may not satisfy players looking for a more balanced or engaging experience.

    • “This game was fun for about 5 hours; it was an enjoyable experience that wasn't too grindy. However, later on, it felt like there was nothing to do but explore, and dying can be very punishing.”
    • “Basically everything that you farm to make these tedious items are lost each time the server crashes, and they crash every single day.”
    • “The game is very grindy and leveling takes a while, which keeps the game kind of stale.”
    • “The amount of grinding in this is disgusting.”
  • optimization18 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that it is playable and regularly updated, while others criticize it for being buggy, laggy, and poorly optimized, especially on higher settings. Many users acknowledge that the game is in early access and may improve over time, but current performance issues, including low frame rates and animation problems, detract from the overall experience. Overall, while there are signs of potential, significant optimization work is still needed.

    • “The game is constantly being updated with new content, optimizations, server-side optimizations/tweaks, and more!”
    • “Nice graphics and well optimized it seems.”
    • “I believe people just have to give this game a chance and understand that it is early access, meaning the game isn't supposed to be running the greatest or have the best optimization.”
    • “I just loaded it up and whilst they have updated it a lot, the game seems to be a buggy, laggy, low performance mess.”
    • “It is empty, buggy, and unoptimized.”
    • “This game has a lot of potential to be a really good and fun game but the game's current state is crap, full of bugs and glitches; it's not even optimized!”
  • humor8 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game to be a highlight, often stemming from amusing bugs and quirky character animations, such as the drunken character's exaggerated movements. The comedic elements, including funny voice lines and situations, contribute to an overall enjoyable and laugh-inducing experience.

    • “But it's workable and I enjoy laughing at them or using the greasy default guy's voice to tell them they aren't going to catch me, and it makes my wife laugh.”
    • “Also, when your character is drunk, their top half flops all around and is utterly hilarious for me when I make them run in circles.”
    • “It is hilariously and pathetically obvious.”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and fitting dark medieval atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users have reported issues with the audio settings, such as the inability to adjust volume or turn off music, which detracts from the gameplay experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated, technical problems with audio controls have been a point of frustration for players.

    • “The music and the feel of the game is really good, dark medieval times at its best.”
    • “A little rough here and there, but the look is beautiful and the music is great.”
    • “If you buy the game, I recommend Radio Rivendell or your favorite fantasy soundtrack to play alongside the game.”
    • “The intro music is turned to full-blast, so I can blow out my eardrum... but the screen never progresses after they display their company logo.”
    • “Can't turn off the music, can't turn off full screen, can't change the resolution.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with users labeling it as a cash grab due to poor performance and lack of transparency regarding system requirements. Many feel that the developers have abandoned the game, prioritizing profit over quality, leading to frustration among players who feel misled about the product's viability. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with warnings against investing in the game.

    • “Abandoned and moved on to the next cash grab project :-(”
    • “Nowadays, most games that have promise get killed off by the devs and left abandoned as easy cash grabs for their half-baked work.”
    • “This is just a cash grab.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional response to the game is mixed, with some players feeling disappointment due to technical issues that detract from the experience, particularly in beautiful environments that are overshadowed by constant threats. While there is potential for a great game, the current state may lead to frustration rather than emotional engagement.

    • “It looks like it's going to be a great game. If you want to take part in bringing this game to life, it's for you. But if you want to cry about all the bugs and problems, don't buy it. Wait a while; it's going to continue to get better, but for now, they need people who are willing to help find the problems.”
    • “It kind of made me feel disappointed about walking (or rather running) through the forest - which actually looks very nice. There's a new forest between Freeman's Port and Raven's Reach - as I never got the chance to really appreciate the beauty of it as I was constantly being chased by wolves.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers a tense and exciting experience, but its replayability is hindered by a lack of players and limited activities outside of towns. While the initial gameplay can be enjoyable, the grindiness and disappointing loot system may lead to boredom over time. Overall, it has potential but requires more content and a larger player base to enhance replay value.

    • “The game has real potential, offering a grindy yet tense experience. The combat, while sluggish, brings an element of excitement as most things can kill you in the right situation. I enjoyed the 12 hours I spent in it, but I feel it needs more players to enhance replayability.”
    • “I love the idea and the look of the game. It has a lot of replayability potential, but it needs more to do outside of towns, like more NPCs, caravans to trade or attack, and better loot from tough enemies.”
    • “While I had fun and recommend the game, I think it could greatly benefit from more players online to make the experience more engaging and replayable.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Users express frustration with the character development in the game, noting that the time invested in developing characters can be quickly undermined or rendered irrelevant.

    • “Hours of character development will go by in an instant.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack meaningful growth throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by how quickly the character arcs were resolved, leaving little room for depth.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
6-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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