The WILDS

About

The WILDS is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Gluten Free Games and was released on February 15, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

The Most Realistic Animal Role-Playing Experience Welcome to The WILDS, a unique journey into the unforgiving wilderness where you take on the lives of iconic animals tasked with just one thing, survival. Learn to stalk through tall grass as a Cougar and ambush your prey. Forage for food and water as a Red Deer while staying vigilant for ferocious predators that are lurking in the depths of the f…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 494 reviews

graphics46 positive mentions

stability64 negative mentions

The game has beautiful graphics and a rich environment, making it visually appealing.
It offers a unique experience of playing as various animals, allowing for immersive gameplay.
The developer is responsive to feedback and shows a lot of passion for the game's development.

The game is still in early access and has many bugs and glitches that affect gameplay.
There is a lack of content and objectives, leading to repetitive gameplay and boredom over time.
Performance issues, such as lag and crashes, make it difficult to play on lower-end PCs.

graphics
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
28%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and high quality, with many users highlighting the realistic animal models and stunning scenery. However, some critiques mention issues with animal animations and occasional graphical glitches, suggesting that while the visuals are impressive, there is room for improvement in realism and performance. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a visually engaging experience.
- “The graphics are very beautiful, and I'm loving all the mechanics it currently has.”
- “Although still in beta, the graphics are incredible; the animal models are so realistic and the scenery is beautiful!”
- “Graphics are superior, gameplay is superior, rigging is superior, etc. I absolutely recommend giving the wilds a shot and sticking around for its development.”
- “The graphics are only pretty in the screenshots: the animal movements are awkward and/or unnatural, especially in combat as well as in flight, where crows and eagles can hover in mid-air like hummingbirds.”
- “There are some graphical shenanigans going on, and at the start, the legs of the wolf look weird.”
- “Very beautiful game, fun to play; the only issue is it lags on even the lowest graphics settings. Besides that, I love it.”
stability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is currently experiencing a significant number of bugs and glitches, which is typical for early access titles. While many players find these issues to be minor and not game-breaking, they can detract from the overall experience. Despite the instability, there is a consensus that the game has potential and is enjoyable, especially considering it was developed by a single individual.
- “There are many bugs and glitches (several will require restarting the game to solve), and also clunky controls and camera (I hate the dynamic camera, and even locking it, it still feels bad/makes gameplay worse on keyboard/mouse; the camera keeps moving horizontally or vertically even when it's locked).”
- “So many bugs and glitches, it's barely playable.”
- “Poorly developed and full of bugs and glitches.”
gameplay
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The gameplay of this early access title is characterized by beautiful graphics and a variety of mechanics, including customization and family dynamics, which show promise for future development. However, players have noted a lack of engaging challenges, insufficient tutorials for basic mechanics, and various bugs that detract from the experience. While the game offers a calming atmosphere and enjoyable elements, many reviewers express a desire for more depth and refinement in gameplay.
- “The gameplay is fun (and is still getting worked on by the developer).”
- “So good so far, not a lot of bugs, enjoyable gameplay, a lot of customization, and good playables, fun hunting.”
- “While it is full of bugs, it has a beautiful map with beautiful scenery, and a variety of animals to choose from with differing gameplay depending on your pick.”
- “You get no tutorials for the basic mechanics such as hunting (the mechanic I was able to find yet I couldn't hunt a single thing), some prey animals will just sit and chill next to you despite you being a predator.”
- “There are many bugs and glitches (several will require restarting the game to solve), and also clunky controls and camera (I hate the dynamic camera, and even locking it, it still feels bad/makes gameplay worse on keyboard/mouse; the camera keeps moving horizontally or vertically even when it's locked).”
- “The game isn't bad at all (maybe a bit boring after around 20 minutes) I do wish there were more mechanics in the gameplay, there's also a bug with the raccoon when it idles, it dips into the ground every 5 or so seconds, I'd upgrade/work on the AI a bit, it seems a bit wonky, and maybe more smoother animations.”
story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
82%
9%
The game's story aspect is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the realistic survival theme and the potential for multiple storylines, while others criticize the lack of depth and variety in quests, noting that it often feels more like a walking simulator. Many users express a desire for more engaging narratives and additional playable species, as well as improvements to AI behavior. Overall, while the foundation for a compelling story exists, it is still in development and requires significant enhancements to meet player expectations.
- “Made an entire storyline with lore off of a lighting glitch, 10/10 would recommend.”
- “ god tier story.”
- “3 multiple storyline modes.”
- “Like many people said, it's a walking simulator; you do like 3 quests or just hunt... over... and over... and over again.”
- “▶ This game has no story.”
- “It feels like it's meant to be more quest and level oriented than full realism survival.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
50%
29%
The game currently suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly on lower-end PCs and devices like the Steam Deck, leading to poor performance and glitchy gamepad controls. While players acknowledge the developer's active engagement and potential for improvement, many feel that substantial work is still needed to enhance overall gameplay and control responsiveness.
- “There are things that need to be worked on, some optimization and more gameplay, but the dev is very active and clearly loves this game.”
- “It could be optimized or improved for clarity, and I think the markers need work.”
- “Has promise, needs to be optimized better.”
- “Not optimized at all for lower-end PCs.”
- “Definitely worth it on sale; however, the performance is abysmal for whatever reason on my Steam Deck.”
- “Just seems really badly optimized and gamepad controls are glitchy.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is described as very loud, with a non-functional music slider, leading to quick burnout for some players. Despite this, the overall aesthetic of the game, particularly the lighting, is appreciated, and it may appeal to those who enjoy animal-themed gameplay. However, players who get bored easily might want to reconsider.
- “The music slider doesn't work since the music is very loud.”
- “I experienced a quick burnout after the 58-minute mark, and while the game is visually appealing, the music can be overwhelming.”
- “Overall, the music is too loud, which detracts from the experience.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Players express a strong desire for enhanced replayability, highlighting the need for more playable species, diverse AI interactions, and additional quest items to enrich the gaming experience.
- “ Infinite replayability.”
- “I would love to see more playable species, a higher variety of AI, and more quest items.”
- “I would love to see more playable species, a higher variety of AI, and more quest items.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is primarily derived from its quirky character designs, particularly the amusingly odd facial expressions of animals like the cougar, wolf, and fox. While some players find the humor in the game's bugs, there is a consensus that the comedic elements could use further refinement.
- “The best thing about this game is probably the environment; the cougar, wolf, and fox have very funny faces to me. I don't know, it just seems very off with the eyes, lmao.”