The Unliving

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In "The Unliving," play as a powerful Necromancer bringing a storm of death to a corrupted realm. Raise undead armies, utilize strategic spells, and explore a dark pixel-art world while turning enemies into your own tools of destruction. Meet unique characters and unlock the secrets of necromancy on your quest to change the world order.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 352 reviews

gameplay34 positive mentions

stability17 negative mentions

The game has a fantastic concept and unique mechanics that allow players to control a horde of undead.
The art style and graphics are visually appealing, creating an immersive atmosphere.
There is a lot of potential for depth in gameplay with various spells, upgrades, and strategies.

The AI for the minions is poor, often resulting in them getting stuck or not attacking enemies effectively.
There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and long loading times.
The progression system feels unsatisfying, with upgrades not providing a significant impact on gameplay.

gameplay
114 mentions
30 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the core mechanics of necromancy and horde management, but expressing frustration over clunky controls, poor AI, and a lack of clarity in mechanics. While some find the gameplay loop engaging and fun, others criticize it for being repetitive and poorly balanced, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game shows potential but requires significant improvements to its core systems and mechanics to fully realize its concept.
- “Hard to find a game with better necromancy gameplay.”
- “Interesting story, beautiful art and music, super fun gameplay, and despite what the other reviews will say, the AI is excellent.”
- “The gameplay has a few gaps here and there but overall is fun.”
- “The main mechanic - building an army of undead and using them to cut down waves of the living - is broken in that your army just stands around idling in the middle of combat regardless of how many attack commands you've issued.”
- “A lot of the time I wasn't even really dying to any mistakes I was making and was just dying to the horrible AI, allies getting stuck on each other, having to try and hit allies to get them to the front, etc. There's no commands but 'go here, attack this', so there's no ways to create proper formations, even flanking is hard, etc. The game is incredibly unfinished from a gameplay perspective, all the visuals are there but none of the actual game.”
- “The gameplay loops is decent enough, it has some difficulty, which is great. However, after an hour the gameplay mechanic feels very dull and the environment samey.”
story
57 mentions
40 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and well-integrated into the roguelike mechanics, while others feel it lacks depth and can become repetitive. Many appreciate the art and character design, noting that the lore is compelling, but some criticize the minimal voice acting and occasional confusion in the narrative. Overall, the story serves its purpose in driving gameplay forward, but it may not be enough to captivate all players.
- “Great lore and story rich!”
- “The storyline captured my imagination, as it felt like I was transported back to the cherished tales of my childhood.”
- “The game story is fairly straightforward but it serves the game well: it isn’t more complicated than it needs to be, it is just fun and interesting enough to drive the game forward and keep you engaged.”
- “The story starts with audio just a few sentences and that's it, and it gets confusing and boring.”
- “All the care and detail of the game make it seem indeed that this would be a promising story from talented developers, but it's not quite like that.”
- “You don't feel compelled to the story and the lore at all.”
graphics
32 mentions
56 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful pixel art style and charming aesthetic, with many reviewers highlighting the high quality of the visuals and the engaging atmosphere. However, while the art and design are considered top-notch, some players feel that the gameplay mechanics do not live up to the visual appeal, leading to frustration despite the game's artistic merits. Overall, the graphics are seen as a standout feature, but they are overshadowed by gameplay issues that need addressing.
- “I love the artwork, especially the backgrounds and atmosphere.”
- “Graphics are a masterpiece within pixel art.”
- “The pixel art style of this game has completely won me over with its charm and beauty.”
- “A lot of the time I wasn't even really dying to any mistakes I was making and was just dying to the horrible AI, allies getting stuck on each other, having to try and hit allies to get them to the front, etc. There's no commands but 'go here, attack this', so there's no ways to create proper formations, even flanking is hard, etc. The game is incredibly unfinished from a gameplay perspective; all the visuals are there but none of the actual game.”
- “Long loading for some game that didn't take a lot of graphic card power.”
- “Please improve, despite everything I said, I had so much fun trying it out until now, the concept, story, bosses, enemies and allies, the art style, I love this kind of stuff and beside all the other spooky themed games I came across lately this is one of the most promising, just not really refined enough at all.”
stability
18 mentions
17 % positive mentions
-11 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with numerous users reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly related to AI behavior and NPC movement, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players have noted that the game runs well on older hardware without crashes, many recommend waiting for further updates and improvements before purchasing due to the current instability and frustrating gameplay issues. Overall, the game shows promise but is hindered by its buggy state at this time.
- “The optimization is impressive; it runs solidly on my old GTX 1080 with no freezes or crashes so far.”
- “I've experienced no stability issues at all; the game runs smoothly and consistently.”
- “The game maintains a stable performance throughout, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
- “The more things you use, the more buggy it becomes.”
- “Dying due to buggy AI is incredibly awful in a roguelite style game; the game feels bad and is hard to control whether on controller or mouse. Don't get this until it's either out of early access or it's had numerous AI updates.”
- “Its very buggy and feels aggressively unfun to play.”
optimization
10 mentions
20 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware like the Steam Deck. Others report smooth performance on higher-end systems, such as a GTX 1080, but note that the game struggles with lag when managing large numbers of characters. Overall, while some users find the game playable, the optimization appears inconsistent and in need of improvement.
- “Optimization - runs solid on my old GTX 1080, no freezes or crashes so far.”
- “Everything else runs smoothly as far as I can tell.”
- “My biggest issue has been often running into terrible stuttering after reaching the third area.”
- “Finishing or getting killed doesn't reset this stuttering, and instead is only fixed after exiting the game and restarting.”
- “Unoptimized, starts to lag around 100 undead under your control.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be repetitive and tedious, often leading to frustration due to a lack of checkpoints and the necessity to replay levels multiple times. While some acknowledge that grinding is a common element in rogue-likes, many feel that the current implementation detracts from the overall enjoyment, making progression feel more like a chore than a rewarding experience. There is hope for improvement, but as it stands, the grinding mechanics are seen as a significant drawback.
- “The lack of checkpoints (or maybe I missed it), replaying is fun for the first few times but I can see this getting pretty tedious soon enough.”
- “Beating a group of enemies never felt satisfying, just grindy.”
- “The progression is so tedious; even though there is some variability, it's not worth mentioning. The levels feel the same all the time. You have two paths: one is progression and the other is goodies. Progress too far, miss the goodies. After running through the graveyard, which is the first level, like 50 times, it feels more like a task. 'Ugh, I died at the third boss, guess I'll have to die 2 times at the first one and 4 times at the second one to even get to the third again.' Just really, really tedious.”
replayability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it lacking due to minimal impact from weapons and spells, others praise its extensive replay value, citing features like extra dialogue, achievements, and new gameplay mechanics that enhance the experience. The introduction of permanent progression and higher difficulty levels contributes to a sense of near-endless replayability, making it a worthwhile investment for many players. Overall, the game offers a solid replay experience, especially for an early access title.
- “Additionally, there is great replayability.”
- “I have all of the achievements and have beaten all bosses at least twice. There's extra dialogue if you beat an area more than once, and there's a lot of replayability for an early access game too, definitely worth full price.”
- “Not dreadful but not much replay value; weapons and spells add little value.”
- “I have all of the achievements and have beaten all bosses at least twice. There's extra dialogue if you beat an area more than once, but overall, the replayability feels limited.”
- “That coupled with the new perma-progression and higher difficulties give the game near endless replayability.”
music
7 mentions
57 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the gameplay effectively. Reviewers appreciate the beautiful soundtrack, noting its ability to elevate key moments, although some express disappointment that the soundtrack is offered as separate DLC. Overall, the music, along with sound effects and art, contributes significantly to the game's charm and immersion.
- “The music also serves its purpose well; it is mostly very atmospheric (which in this case is very much a good thing) and just raises in intensity in some key specific moments.”
- “Otherwise, the music, the sound effects, the pixel art, and gameplay are all really nice!”
- “Very charming art style; sound effects and music feel great and very in touch with the game.”
- “I wish the soundtrack and digital art book were part of the game, not separate DLC. I really feel bad when developers do that.”
- “The music is mostly very atmospheric, which is a good thing, but it raises in intensity in some key specific moments.”
- “Otherwise, the music, sound effects, pixel art, and gameplay are all really nice!”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky characters and clever narration that adds both charm and wit to the experience. Players appreciate the well-developed personalities and the self-referential jokes, which enhance the overall atmosphere and align well with the game's themes. The blend of necromancy humor and playful nods to other games creates a unique comedic tone that resonates with players.
- “For me, these quirky little characters bring both humor and heart to the adventure, making it an unforgettable experience.”
- “Atmospheric levels, interesting gameplay, necromancy humor - just what you need for Halloween!”
- “There aren’t many characters in the game, but the ones in it are nicely designed, with well-developed personalities and traits, and the narration has a cool sense of humor that I enjoyed throughout.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating artwork and immersive backgrounds, complemented by light and engaging dialogue. Players appreciate the atmospheric levels and humor, particularly suited for a Halloween theme, while the music effectively enhances the overall experience, intensifying during key moments.
- “I love the artwork, especially the backgrounds and atmosphere.”
- “The dialogue in the hub is not too pretentious and maintains a light and relaxing atmosphere.”
- “The music also serves its purpose well; it is mostly very atmospheric (which in this case is very much a good thing) and just raises in intensity in some key specific moments.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by unique and interesting designs, particularly in the pixel art style, which enhances the overall aesthetic. Players appreciate the distinct features of enemies and bosses, contributing to an epic feel during events and showcasing impressive animations.
- “The character designs are also very interesting; the enemies are different, with unique features!”
- “The character designs are very cool, especially the pixel art versions. The game bosses and events look truly epic, and the animations are stunning.”