UBOAT
- August 2, 2024
- Deep Water Studio
- 19h median play time
"UBOAT is a WWII submarine simulator and survival sandbox game, focused on the life of German sailors with crew management mechanics. Players must maintain their crew's physical and mental health while dealing with extensive damage and unprecedented situations in the hostile Atlantic. Realism and creativity are key in this atmospheric and challenging title."
Reviews
- story2,684 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Uboat" is largely criticized for its lack of depth and variety, with many players noting that missions often feel repetitive and scripted. While there are some unique missions, such as espionage and mine-laying, the overall narrative lacks a cohesive campaign structure, leading to a sense of aimlessness. Players express a desire for more engaging storylines and historical context to enhance immersion, as the current mission framework primarily revolves around basic objectives without significant narrative development.
“As commander of a German U-boat, players must navigate treacherous waters, evade enemy patrols, and engage in thrilling naval battles as they carry out a variety of dangerous missions.”
“Whether it's hunting enemy convoys, laying mines, or launching torpedo attacks on enemy warships, every mission is a pulse-pounding test of skill and strategy.”
“The fact that you have the ability to choose missions for your boat from a number of different missions offered by Kriegsmarine command, that are not simply patrol an area & sink ships, you can lay mines, drop a spy on the enemy coast which are challenging, with sub nets, sea mines to & other defenses to be aware of.”
“There's literally one way most of the missions and conversations go, and all the dialog choices presented make no difference.”
“The missions get a bit repetitive but im sure that will change out of early access.”
“The game doesn't get any better, no more mission variety is introducted, and the flawed mechanics become glaring.”
- gameplay1,850 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Uboat" is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and significant challenges, including a steep learning curve and numerous bugs. Players appreciate the depth of crew management and the realistic simulation of submarine warfare, but many express frustration with the lack of clear tutorials and the clunky user interface. While the game offers a rich experience for fans of the genre, it is still in early access, leading to a mix of enjoyment and annoyance due to technical issues and repetitive gameplay.
“Great game if you love sub sims, realism is great, graphics are amazing, and love the gameplay.”
“The gameplay is superb, the world is completely alive... it's not all instanced spawns or 100% scripted encounters.”
“The gameplay is immersive and very tense when in combat since the pacing isn't fast nor is it at a snail's pace leaving you in control.”
“I have lost interest in modded silent hunters since there is always an extra level of nuisance, be it crashing, lack of tutorials, or just pure chore of gameplay.”
“This is particularly concerning given that the game was purchased for $40 and has caused numerous crashes and issues during gameplay (from August to September 24).”
“The game still suffers from fundamental issues, including bugs and errors in its core mechanics, which force players to reload saves due to frozen missions.”
- graphics1,694 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Uboat" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning detail and immersive quality, particularly in the depiction of the submarine's interior and the ocean's realism. Many players highlight the game's ability to run smoothly on high settings, although some report occasional graphical glitches and performance issues, especially on lower-end hardware. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant strength of the game, enhancing the experience of submarine warfare in a historically rich setting.
“The graphics are absolutely stunning, bringing the underwater world and the interior of the u-boat to life with incredible detail.”
“The graphics are stunning, the lighting is stunning, the fact it can run all of this plus an entire ocean of water at a solid 90 fps on my pc on max graphics is mind boggling.”
“The visuals and attention to detail in this game is on another tier entirely.”
“There are bugs and graphical glitches galore within the game.”
“The graphics are unfortunately lacking seaweed at final release and not the most detailed land-based and sea-based.”
“The graphics are out of date.”
- stability1,032 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting it as "incredibly buggy" and "a buggy mess." Players frequently encounter crashes, glitches, and AI issues that disrupt gameplay, particularly during tutorials and missions. While some acknowledge the game's potential and appreciate ongoing developer support, many recommend waiting for further updates before purchasing due to the current instability.
“For an early access game, it is very enjoyable and relatively bug free!”
“I dropped the game (due to external life things) only to find out when I could play games again that this game had evolved into something that is not only playable, but virtually bug free now!”
“Switching from the outside cutaway view and zooming right down to first person is almost instant and no glitches at all.”
“Devs don't give a damn about this game, buggy to all hell, no place you can go to seek help about bugs, constantly run into AI issues where they do not carry out orders or outright remove the order from queue, time skipping is janky and will consistently stop working and pause at complete random without any system to disable this autopause, irritating as hell game.”
“This game is a buggy mess.”
“The game is extremely buggy and unstable.”
- optimization424 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, especially on older hardware, leading to crashes and stuttering. While some users have noted improvements following updates, the overall consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization to run smoothly across a wider range of systems. Players recommend waiting for further updates before fully committing, as the current state is often described as unplayable for those with lower-end setups.
“Optimized for modern computers.”
“The first thing I want to say about this game is that it's possibly the best optimized game I have ever played.”
“With the constant updates, visuals and performance have improved greatly since the start.”
“However, it feels not quite optimized, runs quite badly on older hardware, crashes at least once per session, and has a lot of strange quality of life and UI quirks.”
“I wouldn't call this a complete game; it still needs a ton of optimization. When I played it, it was so laggy I couldn't finish the tutorial.”
“The optimization is terrible; I have an i7, 8GB GPU, and 16GB RAM, and my PC struggles with this game when it really shouldn't.”
- atmosphere238 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and detailed representation of life aboard a U-boat during WWII, enhanced by stunning graphics and atmospheric sound design. Players appreciate the ability to tailor their experience, whether opting for a casual or hardcore simulation, and many highlight the game's ability to evoke tension and realism, particularly during intense gameplay moments. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is strong, it occasionally lacks the depth and historical context found in other submarine simulations, suggesting room for improvement.
“The atmosphere in this game is great and immersive, and the sound effects cause a lot of this.”
“Graphically, 'Uboat' does an excellent job capturing the gritty, claustrophobic atmosphere of submarine warfare.”
“The atmosphere is very genuine and captures the look and feel of life on a u-boat in historical context.”
“Let me explain better: the game lacks the atmosphere of the movie; it lacks all the historical and artistic context that made the movie famous.”
“This game doesn't have the flow and the atmosphere from Silent Hunter 3.”
“Here the game lacks that atmosphere, that extra 'quid' capable of making you feel there.”
- music186 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of variety and limited radio options, often relying on mods to enhance the experience. While the atmospheric soundtrack is praised for fitting the wartime setting, players express frustration over the inability to disable or adjust music effectively, as well as the repetitive nature of the in-game radio. Overall, the community is hopeful for future updates that could expand the music selection and improve audio functionality.
“Furthermore, Uboat boasts stunning visuals and a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack that bring its wartime setting to life in vivid detail.”
“On a positive note, the soundtrack for this game is very atmospheric and I love listening to it.”
“The soundtrack in this game sounds fantastic, it's very well made and thought out by the team, giving you that WWII Germany pride feel; they nailed it.”
“You cannot disable the music throughout this ship using the music volume slider, because it is regulated by the effects slider while on the boat.”
“The checkbox to disable music for FPV does not function.”
“Radio channels and music are very limited and annoying.”
- grinding166 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 76 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, particularly regarding crew management and mission execution. Many players find the micromanagement aspects overly complicated and repetitive, leading to frustration, while others appreciate the depth it adds to gameplay. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has potential, the grinding elements can detract significantly from the enjoyment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Sub management is not too tedious and can be fun.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game gets very tedious near the end of the upgrade path with little to do other than, go here, sink as many ships as possible.”
“I'm an old school Silent Hunter fan and love the whole sub thing but this game is far too tedious to be enjoyed; you literally have to control every crew member on the boat to do every tiny task. I mean really, a trained crew who don't know their jobs or how to do them without being kindergartened through it.”
“The graphics are amazing but it is overloaded with tedious tasks without a helpful UI to back it up.”
- replayability86 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, offering a variety of missions and sandbox options that keep players engaged for extended periods. While some users note that patterns may become recognizable over time, the inclusion of mods and workshop support significantly enhances the game's depth and replay value. However, a few reviews mention limitations in replayability, suggesting that the experience may not be as varied as other titles in the genre.
“The game is extremely long, has a lot of replayability, and is easily worth the money.”
“You can follow missions or do your own thing, so there is an infinite amount of replayability.”
“With fantastic graphics, amazingly accurate day/night geographical realism, and varied replayable gameplay, U-Boat delivers a package that can keep you playing for several months.”
“However, it's worth noting that Uboat does suffer from limited replayability.”
“However, its limited replayability may deter some players from returning for multiple playthroughs.”
“Simply put, there are too many moving parts, and too many variables that must be accounted for before anyone can really enjoy it and tap into its potential for any kind of replay value.”
- humor62 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and glitches, which players find both amusing and frustrating. Many users highlight the comedic aspects of the gameplay, such as absurd ship behaviors and unexpected events, which contribute to a lighthearted experience despite the game's technical issues. Overall, while the humor can enhance enjoyment, it often borders on the ridiculous, leading to mixed feelings about the game's overall quality.
“The tutorial hilariously is like, 'Okay, time to learn how to shoot a torpedo.'”
“Funny part is the u-boat did a gator roll leaving the port.”
“The bugs, although immersion breaking, are hilarious.”
- monetization26 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the absence of pay-to-win mechanics and microtransactions, while others criticize it as a potential cash grab due to delayed updates and a lack of polish. Players express concern over the developers prioritizing advertising partnerships over existing customers, leading to frustrations about the game's incomplete state. Overall, while there is no immediate monetization pressure, the game's pricing and development practices raise doubts among some users.
“All seems like cash grab titles, I guess that sums it up...”
“Oh and if you want more reason to stay away from this or proof it's just a cash grab with zero passion behind it, this is the same people who have 1000 simulator games from hobo simulator to lawnmowing simulator, and this is double the price of all their other games.”
“Unless they change their new pay-per-install cash grab, Uboat will remain on the seabed, slowly running out of air until all the crew are no more.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of frustration and emotional engagement with the game, highlighting the challenges of managing crew tasks and the feeling of helplessness when systems fail. The detailed expressions of the crew add a layer of emotional depth, but the overall experience can evoke feelings of inadequacy and disconnection, reminiscent of iconic characters like Scar from "The Lion King."
“The crew looks detailed and has an emotional expression.”
“This game made me feel dumb for having played it.”
“We were all touching distance of each other.”
- character development6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game features solid character development mechanics that enhance player investment in shipmates, fostering a sense of care for their welfare. Reviewers express optimism for future improvements and expansions in character progression and role-playing elements as the game matures. Overall, it is regarded as the best u-boat simulator currently available, with a strong foundation for character development.
“Currently the best U-boat simulator available, with proper progression mechanics from boat upgrades to character development.”
“To me, it is the best sub sim I've ever played and I cannot wait for it to fully mature and to have a complete campaign, lots more character development, tech, upgrades, missions, etc.”
“You find yourself starting to really care about the welfare of your shipmates, and I hope that character development and role-playing will be improved with time.”
“Currently the best u-boat simulator available, with proper progression mechanics from boat upgrades to character development.”
“To me, it is the best sub sim I've ever played, and I cannot wait for it to fully mature and to have a complete campaign, lots more character development, tech, upgrades, missions, etc.”