The District

16%
Game Brain Score Based on 367 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • stability
The District Game Cover
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"The District" is a single-player action game with survival elements, set in an open world. With a playtime of around 2 hours, players must scavenge for weapons, produce supplies, and find shelter, all while adapting to the harsh conditions of a new life. The game is described as offering intense action combined with the need to survive in a challenging environment.

  • PC
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

16%
Audience ScoreBased on 367 reviews
graphics6 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • The graphics are decent for a low-priced game.
  • Some players found the atmosphere enjoyable, providing a sense of solitude.
  • The game offers Steam trading cards, which some players appreciated.
  • The game is essentially an asset flip with minimal content and gameplay.
  • Many players experienced bugs, crashes, and unresponsive controls, making it nearly unplayable.
  • There is a lack of meaningful gameplay, with most actions resulting in frustration and confusion.
  • graphics20 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the landscape visuals while others criticize them as poor and resource-intensive. Many users report performance issues, such as low frame rates and crashes, even on recommended settings, and express frustration over the lack of advanced graphics options. Overall, while there are some positive remarks about the graphics, the consensus leans towards disappointment due to technical problems and inadequate settings.

    • “Graphics are great, sound effects are good; it's kinda confusing when you first start out, but you learn how to play it over time.”
    • “Very good graphics.”
    • “+ Nice landscape graphics if you like walking simulators.”
    • “Gotta love when you get 12 fps on minimum graphics on a machine that meets the recommended settings.”
    • “Even on fast graphic settings I have like 2 fps?”
    • “Aside from the fact that this game is pathetic and broken and practically stolen as well, the graphics are awful and there are no actual survival mechanics in the game.”
  • gameplay14 mentions

    The gameplay has been widely criticized for being broken, laggy, and lacking content, with many users reporting frustrating mechanics and poor performance. Players have noted issues such as unresponsive controls, a lack of engaging activities, and significant technical problems that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus is that the gameplay fails to meet expectations, rendering it unenjoyable and incomplete.

    • “That's a very good game, it has no bugs, the gameplay is as good as Crysis 3.”
    • “Now, this was a quick summary of my first (and only) 10 minutes of gameplay.”
    • “Youtube gameplay; man I don't even know I watched a video from April 1st 2015 of this game and it looked fantastic however when I booted it up I was greeted with a shocking experience.”
    • “The gameplay and the game itself is missing huge amounts of content; it can't be called a game.”
    • “After dragging myself through an intensely laggy store-bought map for several minutes, I have yet to find any gameplay whatsoever.”
    • “Ok, I don't even know where to begin, but I'll start with gameplay: I don't know what happened, but you spawn in the middle of the street with a hatchet that doesn't work and a shotgun that you have to aim to use. The first town has one item in it (which is food), and you die of thirst in about 5 minutes. You walk slower than a crippled old man in honey, and sometimes your character decides to walk, and other times he just stands there. The sprint does the exact same thing. Also, back to dying of thirst, you start to die while you still have water, and instead of dying, your character just lies on the ground. When you press the W, A, S, or D keys, it makes a sound like you're walking, but you get a camera full of your dead character's backside.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, lag, and freezing issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players express frustration over the game's performance, describing it as "buggy" and "laggy," leading to a poor overall experience. Despite some appreciation for the content, the overwhelming consensus is that substantial improvements are needed to address these stability concerns.

    • “The game after starting freezes and nothing can be done; playing just sucks and I demand a cash refund on account of Steam.”
    • “This game is laggy even on the simplest details, the glitches are unrealistic, the controls are stupid, and it's a waste of £1.99.”
    • “Its content is good, but it needs a lot of improvement; it's buggy as hell and very dark. Maybe if it was better, I would play it.”
  • story5 mentions

    The game's story is described as lacking clear direction or exposition, with some players feeling it is an open-world experience without a compelling narrative. However, others praise the storyline for its depth, interesting characters, and strong voice acting, suggesting that there may be a rich narrative to uncover with further exploration. Overall, opinions on the story are mixed, with some finding it engaging and others feeling it is absent.

    • “Epic story, interesting characters, great voice acting, and an awesome experience!”
    • “Good story, graphics weren't that bad.”
    • “So starting off, you're placed in a snowy forest with some structures nearby. There is no story or anything that tells you what the buttons are. I'll give that to you: WASD keys for movement, space bar to jump, C to crouch, P to pause the game, E or left click to interact.”
    • “There is no story; honestly, it's just an open world without anything to do.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is derived from its absurdities, such as the decision to forgo a front door in a snowy setting and the presence of a health bar that serves no purpose due to the game's numerous bugs. Players find amusement in the game's glitches and the contrast between the broken version and the functional one from the Unity Asset Store.

    • “Considering the whole game is in the snow, the fact you decide the front door is unnecessary is hilarious!”
    • “This game is so bugged that it made me laugh!”
    • “The funny thing is that the one you download if you had a license from the Unity Asset Store actually works and is not broken.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues such as delays in movement and poor graphics quality. Many users express frustration over technical shortcomings, including sound problems and difficulties in gameplay mechanics, while also acknowledging the game's potential if the developers prioritize optimization improvements. Overall, a strong call for enhanced performance is evident among the reviews.

    • “I really believe in the developer; I'd like to see the progress in the optimization.”
    • “I feel that this game has a ton of potential but needs heavy optimizations and a little more to do within the confines of the 'open world,' which is relatively small at the moment. My laptop can barely run it at low settings but can run Saints Row 4 at high.”
    • “Focus on optimization mainly, and other things after.”
    • “First, this game needs a huge performance upgrade; there is a delay when you look around or try to move. This game is also kind of confusing at the start.”
    • “Now this game looks ugly... my eyes... bad optimization. Sometimes the sound starts to cut out, I don't see loot in the game, and my character wants to eat and drink, but I don't know where I can find them.”
    • “I feel that this game has a ton of potential but needs heavy optimizations. Additionally, there is a little more to do within the confines of the 'open world,' which is relatively small at the moment. My laptop can barely run it at low settings but can run Saints Row 4 at high.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing disappointment that the developers appear to have abandoned meaningful development in favor of pursuing other profit-driven projects.

    • “A cynical cash grab and nothing else!”
    • “Probably the devs dropped the development of the game and moved on to other cash grab projects.”
    • “Nothing but a cash grab.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its cool and engaging qualities, contributing positively to the overall gaming experience.

    • “I really enjoyed playing this game; the atmosphere is cool!”
    • “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be repetitive and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress. However, the addition of build mode and farming mode has been positively received, as they provide alternative ways to engage with the game and can alleviate some of the monotony associated with traditional grinding.

    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I wish there were more variety in the grinding mechanics; it gets repetitive very quickly.”
    • “The amount of time required for grinding is overwhelming and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking powerful feelings of nostalgia and familial bonds, particularly in moments that highlight the stakes of personal choices and their impact on loved ones.

    • “I was about 10 years old when my mother said to him, 'If you ever want to see your grandchildren graduate, you have to stop immediately.' Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers minimal replayability, leaving some users puzzled about its presence on Steam in its current form.

    • “It has very little in the way of replayability, and I'm a bit baffled as to why it's on Steam in its current state.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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