The Front

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,657 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • grinding
The Front Game Cover
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"The Front" is a post-apocalyptic sandbox game set in a world overrun by mutants and hostile factions. Players must join forces to combat imperial forces, explore ruins, craft weapons, build bases, and defend them with tower defense-style traps. With anticipated updates, players will also be able to customize and upgrade vehicles for added combat capabilities.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,657 reviews
gameplay82 positive mentions
grinding157 negative mentions
  • gameplay304 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Front" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its potential but highlighting significant issues such as clunky controls, poor optimization, and numerous bugs. While some appreciate the unique mechanics and the blend of elements from popular survival games like Rust and 7 Days to Die, others criticize the tediousness of the gameplay loop and outdated building mechanics. Overall, the game shows promise but requires substantial improvements to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The gameplay is tight, graphics are great, unlimited features, and unlimited potential from this title.”
    • “The mechanics are smooth and intuitive, allowing players to easily adapt to the controls while providing enough depth to keep things interesting.”
    • “The game has its own unique atmosphere and gameplay, similar to Rust, with some mechanics borrowed from Conan Exiles.”
    • “It just a below mediocre game that is trying real hard to be the baby of Rust and 7 Days to Die but fails at design and gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay in general is completely tedious, melee combat just sucks, the menu design... when I hold a wooden club and I want to open the menu it forces me to unequip it first. That made me laugh a bit, I don't really mind it but it's more than a year old and they don't fix something like this?”
    • “It's a laggy mess with no originality or real gameplay to speak of.”
  • graphics206 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the visuals and lighting effects as decent to good, while others criticize them as outdated, poorly optimized, and inconsistent in performance. Many users report issues with frame rates and graphical fidelity, suggesting that despite some appealing elements, the overall graphical experience falls short of expectations, especially for a 2023 release. Overall, while there are glimpses of potential, significant improvements are needed to enhance the visual quality and performance.

    • “The graphics are good, the lightning storms and weather are gorgeous.”
    • “The graphics are breathtaking, offering a level of realism that transports you to a world that feels alive and pulsating with energy.”
    • “From the moment I stepped into the game world, I was immediately struck by the stunning visuals and attention to detail.”
    • “This game should not even be on Steam for any amount of money. It is not what it portrays in the Steam store video. I crashed repeatedly and the game's graphics are very bad.”
    • “The performance in this game is abysmal for no reason; the textures are visibly low quality no matter what graphics setting you are at.”
    • “The graphics are horrible; it was like I was playing with glasses on when you don't need glasses. Hella blurry graphic setting changes seemed to do nothing.”
  • grinding161 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging gameplay element. While some enjoy the grind as part of the survival experience, others criticize it for lacking meaningful progression and content, leading to frustration, especially when compounded by bugs and server issues. Overall, players suggest that the game requires a significant time investment, and those who appreciate grinding may find it more enjoyable, while others may be deterred by its repetitive nature.

    • “Not too grindy, lots of parameters you can adjust, lots of content already in the game despite it being in early access, haven't run into too many bugs.”
    • “Yes, I'm enjoying it but it is still a work in progress; not grindy as such, though at the beginning you need to work at it obviously.”
    • “It's a very fun game, and I definitely recommend it; overall, it's a super fun game.”
    • “Very disappointing, I lost everything except my levels and it took me 12 hours of farming to get there, plus another 12 hours of AFK farming on the drill.”
    • “The insane amount of grinding needed to get anywhere only for you to get raided and lose days of resource collecting.”
    • “It's so slow-paced and grindy that you'll easily go past the 2-hour refund time.”
  • optimization158 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and low frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some users appreciate the game's potential and graphics, they emphasize that substantial optimization is necessary for a smoother experience. Overall, the consensus is that the game is currently poorly optimized and requires urgent attention to performance improvements.

    • “The game feels well optimized, even for being in early access.”
    • “All in all, this game has a ridiculous amount of potential, and seeing as it's already fairly polished and optimized in early access with a very promising roadmap, I feel like I'm going to be sinking a lot of hours into this one.”
    • “I 100% love this game; however, it is really resource-intensive and runs very poorly even for a decent computer. I just wish it was a little more optimized for most players rather than those with really good PCs.”
    • “Horrendous optimization, poor movement, non-existent combat, empty world... save your time and money.”
    • “The game is simply terribly optimized; instead of doing optimization, they simply add useless content to the game.”
    • “The performance is terrible, and the game looks like it was released at least a decade ago.”
  • stability118 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that significantly detract from the experience. Many express frustration over the lack of updates and communication from developers, leading to a perception of neglect. While some acknowledge the game's potential and note that it is still in early access, the overall sentiment leans heavily towards disappointment due to its current unstable state.

    • “Game is fun and for early access, it's pretty bug free.”
    • “Runs great and relatively bug free for an early access.”
    • “The rollout has been pretty bug free; servers aren't crashing and the game is stable.”
    • “Was excited for this game as it had potential, but with no updates, no communication and just... so buggy.”
    • “The player count dropped, and negative feedback and reviews increased due to numerous bugs, glitches, poor communication (the biggest issue), and a lack of updates and new features.”
    • “At this point there are so many glitches and random issues this game is unplayable, hopefully here in the near future the problems will be fixed.”
  • story83 mentions

    The game's story is criticized for being underdeveloped and lacking depth, with many players noting the absence of lore and a coherent narrative. While some appreciate the potential for a compelling backstory and engaging quests, the current implementation feels disjointed and task-oriented, often requiring players to rely on friends for progression. Overall, there is a consensus that the game needs a more structured storyline and improved quest design to enhance the player experience.

    • “The story itself is amusing, but zero lore, background, tutorial, etc. make this game hard for first timers.”
    • “One of the standout features of 'the front' is its gripping storyline.”
    • “You'll find yourself emotionally invested in the fate of the characters and the outcome of the story, which is a testament to the writing and storytelling.”
    • “The game lacks any story or background in playthrough, so unless you read the description of the game at the storefront, you will have no knowledge of what the game is about.”
    • “I don't feel like there's anything 'new' yet, but I also don't really care; this game is just getting started, so if the story or AI (ain't is more like it) or whatever is missing, it might be coming.”
    • “The so-called introductory 'lore' given to the player is that they are part of a 'resistance' that has this mission of taking down the rise of a 'tyrannical' empire.”
  • music25 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the immersive soundtrack that enhances gameplay, while others criticize the lack of options to adjust or mute the music, particularly during tense moments. Many find the ambient sounds and music relaxing, but some feel it detracts from the survival experience, especially when it feels out of place. Overall, while the soundtrack has potential, players desire more control over the audio settings to better suit their gaming experience.

    • “The soundtrack, of course, is fire.”
    • “The ambient music is peaceful when exploring and hectic when in combat situations.”
    • “The immersive soundtrack complements the on-screen action perfectly, enhancing the overall experience and making you feel like you're part of the world.”
    • “I don't like peaceful music when I'm being killed or out running zombies in a game.”
    • “I find music being played when you are running around nowhere near any place for music to be played takes away from the survival aspect.”
    • “There is no ability to lower the menu music aside from basically muting the whole game.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from its quirky mechanics and unexpected player interactions, such as the absurdity of swimming on land or the comical consequences of poorly designed controls. Players find amusement in the game's glitches, like hitboxes and the ineffective combat system, as well as the self-referential nature of its anti-cheat measures. Overall, while the gameplay can be tedious, it offers moments of hilarity, especially in multiplayer settings.

    • “They must have thought it was funny to make the suicide key the end key, which I always use as sprint, so every time I try to sprint, I die.”
    • “Even small animals can take what feels like millions of bullets and they'll chase you for a hilarious distance [seriously like 2 miles].”
    • “Mindless fun solo and hilarious group play.”
  • monetization12 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" that lacks quality and depth. Reviewers express concerns about the game's unfinished state and the developers' focus on profit over player experience, suggesting that it prioritizes revenue generation through aggressive advertising rather than delivering a polished product. Overall, there is a strong sentiment that the game is not living up to its potential and may be more about financial gain than genuine gameplay improvement.

    • “This game is a blatant cash grab with absolutely zero redeeming qualities.”
    • “Right now my thoughts are the game was a big cash grab with no plans to ever leave alpha/beta.”
    • “Requested a refund; this isn't an early release, it's a cash grab.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game, with some feeling frustrated by technical issues and gameplay mechanics that detract from immersion. However, many also highlight a strong emotional investment in the characters and story, praising the writing and storytelling as compelling and engaging. Overall, the game is seen as a promising adventure that, despite its flaws, offers significant emotional depth.

    • “You'll find yourself emotionally invested in the fate of the characters and the outcome of the story, which is a testament to the writing and storytelling.”
    • “I can't recommend this game highly enough to anyone who craves adventure, action, and emotional depth in their gaming experiences.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Players highlight the game's strong replayability due to its extensive content, diverse base design options, and engaging PvE elements, which encourage exploration and experimentation. Despite some technical issues, the potential for endless gameplay and enjoyment keeps players returning for more. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to provide countless hours of replay value.

    • “Really awesome game! I can say this game is replayable because it's always fun trying out new base designs and seeing which one works out the best.”
    • “This level of exploration adds countless hours of enjoyment and replayability to an already outstanding game.”
    • “Replayability is where it's at, people!”
    • “When/if it is in a more playable state, I'll edit this review.”
    • “And now, at the end of 2023, after a 5-hour party at the front, after I saw what kind of candy the front turned into (lagging? Yes. Bad looking? Yes. But at the same time, having a huge amount of content and replayability, an incredibly strong PvE component, insane hardcore, and simply endless content for replayability), I decided to finally give her a chance to see what it will turn into after so many years.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its unique sound design, which enhances the overall experience without being overly complex. It shares similarities with titles like Rust and Conan Exiles, creating an immersive environment that complements its gameplay mechanics.

    • “Overall, please pay attention to the sounds; they play a significant yet uncomplicated role in the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The game has its own unique atmosphere and gameplay, similar to Rust, with some mechanics borrowed from Conan Exiles.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
    • “Despite the game's potential, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
    • “The sound design is minimalistic to a fault, leaving the atmosphere feeling empty and lifeless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

37hMedian play time
214hAverage play time
8-400hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 52 analyzed playthroughs

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