The Underground Man

About

The Underground Man is a single player action game. It was developed by Mehsoft and was released on September 1, 2016. It received negative reviews from players.

In "The Underground Man," you emerge from a radioactive, post-apocalyptic Moscow with the mission of proving the existence of underground survivors to those on the surface. Scavenge for resources, adapt to harsh conditions, and ensure the survival of your fellow underground dwellers. Convincing the surface dwellers of your existence and capabilities is key to your success.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

37%

Audience ScoreBased on 220 reviews

humor46 positive mentions

gameplay6 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and humorous take on the post-apocalyptic genre, filled with dark humor and absurdity that some players find entertaining.
The retro graphics and music create a nostalgic atmosphere that appeals to fans of old-school games.
For those who appreciate challenging gameplay, the game provides a difficult experience that can be rewarding for persistent players.

The game features painfully slow text scrolling and unskippable dialogue, which can lead to frustration and boredom.
Players often face instant deaths for minor mistakes, requiring them to restart lengthy sections of the game without any save feature.
The humor and references may not translate well for non-Russian players, making it feel like an inside joke that many won't understand.

humor
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The humor in the game is polarizing, with many players finding it tedious and poorly executed, particularly in its English translation. While some appreciate its dark, meta, and Russian-style humor, others criticize it as unfunny and frustrating, often feeling that the jokes do not translate well across cultures. Overall, the humor may appeal to those familiar with specific Russian memes and styles, but it leaves many players feeling disengaged and annoyed.
- “If you like adventures, post-nuclear novels, corn dogs, black humor, and frustrating indie games, this game is for you.”
- “A game designed to torture you, but it's hilarious and fun in its own way.”
- “This game is really unique; it is witty and brilliant on so many levels and is absolutely hilarious.”
- “I really don't understand the positive reviews; this looks like a bad joke or a bad attempt. It fails miserably at both: it's not funny or smart, it's not engaging, it's plain stupid.”
- “It's aggressively unfunny, poorly translated, and oppressively slow.”
- “It's not funny, it's tedious.”
gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
63%
22%
The gameplay has been widely criticized for its poor mechanics, tediousness, and lack of engaging elements, often feeling more like a low-quality browser game than a polished title. Many players find the combat unfun and the user interface frustrating, with some suggesting that the developers intentionally designed the game to be bad as a parody, which ultimately detracts from the overall experience. While a few reviews mention unique aspects or a decent art style, the overwhelming sentiment is that the gameplay is clumsy, repetitive, and not worth the effort.
- “Unique gameplay”
- “10/10, gameplay on the end of fingers”
- “All - gameplay, story, music, graphics - 10/10”
- “The story the overseer tells is bleak and interesting but very poorly told, and nothing in this prologue prepares you for the actual gameplay.”
- “That's not such a bad thing except that the mechanics are very bad and the combat isn't fun at all.”
- “The gameplay of the underground man is boring and unfriendly because the developers tried so hard to capture the 'crapnes era experiences' that they forgot that people not only would have to play this game but people would be paying money for this product.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect, with some players appreciating the nostalgic retro pixel art and simplistic style, while others criticize it as outdated and lacking resolution options. Despite the charm of the visuals for some, there are complaints about choppy mechanics and overall poor graphical execution that detracts from the experience. Overall, the graphics receive mixed reviews, with a few praising the aesthetic and music, while many express disappointment in the quality and polish.
- “I'd almost be down with this game for the weird humor, the actually decent simplistic graphics, and music (got a real nice depressing post-apocalypse hum going for the walking sections) and an abusive deconstruction of a popular title.”
- “I thought the premise looked interesting, reminding me of emerging from Fallout's 'vaults,' and I thought the retro graphical style could be charming.”
- “They say that there is enjoyable retro graphics here.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “But it’s not true because in this game we have very bad (rather eye-damaging) graphics.”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
60%
15%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it poorly told and lacking immersion, while others praise its unique plot and engaging dialogues. Despite initial frustrations, a segment of the audience appreciates the depth and creativity of the narrative, particularly in its post-apocalyptic setting. Overall, the story is seen as a standout feature by some, contrasting sharply with the negative feedback from others regarding its execution.
- “Phenomenal story from the genius creators.”
- “The story may have a bump or two, but overall it is a wonderful experience – to become one of the underground men tribe and risk your life to save the future in a post-apocalyptic world.”
- “The world, atmosphere, and story of the underground man are all key parts of this hugely successful role-playing game.”
- “Hardly a success story; gamers just weren't all that interested in the game.”
- “The story the overseer tells is bleak and interesting but very poorly told, and nothing in this prologue prepares you for the actual gameplay.”
- “The language is very broken English, there is no immersion whatsoever, and the story is nearly unfollowable.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
23%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players finding it relaxing, nostalgic, and fitting for the game's atmosphere. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack complements the visuals and gameplay effectively, contributing to a strong emotional connection and engagement with the game. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, with many players rating it highly alongside other aspects of the game.
- “I'd almost be down with this game for the weird humor, the actually decent simplistic graphics, and music (got a real nice depressing post-apocalypse hum going for the walking sections) and an abusive deconstruction of a popular title.”
- “To my surprise, there is rather good music in the game.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “Somewhat decent music.”
- “Soundtrack.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
Players consistently describe the grinding in this game as tedious and frustrating, often likening it to a time-wasting chore that detracts from the overall experience. Many find the repetitive nature of the tasks and the poorly explained controls to be overwhelming, leading to a negative perception of the game's design and enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant drawback, making it difficult for players to engage with the game meaningfully.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game forces you to endure a tedious routine just to get to the character creator, for no other reason than to waste your time.”
- “A tedious, sadistic experience created by people that hate humanity.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with users noting its immersive wasteland setting that surpasses even Bethesda's Fallout series. The combination of world-building, atmosphere, and narrative contributes significantly to its success as a role-playing game.
- “I picked this up on sale for 85% off (74 cents), as I quite like atmospheric games.”
- “Has more wasteland atmosphere than any Bethesda Fallout.”
- “The world, atmosphere, and story of the underground man are all key parts of this hugely successful role-playing game.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of "The Underground Man" is criticized as a cash grab, with users labeling it as insincere and a product of low-quality development typical of Russian shovelware.
- “The Underground Man feels like a cash grab, resembling a minimum viable product from developers who prioritize profit over quality.”
- “This game seems to be just another example of shovelware, designed to exploit players rather than provide a meaningful experience.”
- “The monetization strategy is frustrating, making it clear that the developers are more interested in making money than delivering a polished game.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has been criticized, with some users questioning whether its performance issues are intentional, suggesting a commentary on modern society's aversion to reading. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be a point of contention among players.
- “The game runs like a slideshow on my system, despite meeting the recommended requirements.”
- “I can't believe how poorly optimized this game is; it crashes every time I try to enter a new area.”
- “The frame rate drops are unbearable, making it impossible to enjoy the gameplay.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for being buggy, which contributes to an overall sense of unfairness and boredom for players.
- “The game is not only unfair but also boring and buggy.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that made it impossible to enjoy the game.”
- “The constant glitches and bugs ruined my overall experience.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviews indicate skepticism regarding the developers' claims of a unique character development system, suggesting that players may not fully trust the effectiveness or originality of the mechanics presented.
- “The character development system is incredibly unique and allows for a deep and personalized experience.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
- “The depth of character development really draws you in, making you feel connected to their journeys.”
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving little room for meaningful growth.”
- “I was expecting a rich and engaging character arc, but instead, it felt like a series of missed opportunities.”
- “The choices I made had little impact on my character's development, making the experience feel hollow.”