UNLOVED
- September 29, 2016
- Paul Schneider
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam"Unloved" is a horror shooter game with fast-paced, old-school gameplay and modern co-op features, allowing 2-4 players to team up in a procedurally generated underground world filled with deadly monsters. The game boasts good graphics, a spectacular soundtrack, and compelling replayability, but can be grindy and buggy. Its atmosphere is masterfully unsettling, with the goal being to survive the nightmarish, ever-changing basement levels.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Fun gameplay with a mix of horror and fast-paced action reminiscent of classic Doom.
- Unique heat system that spawns enemies based on player actions, adding strategic depth.
- Great atmosphere and sound design that enhances the horror experience.
- Graphics are dated and can be unpolished, leading to a less immersive experience.
- Repetitive gameplay with limited enemy and weapon variety can lead to boredom.
- Multiplayer is often dead, making it difficult to find games without friends.
- gameplay293 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Unloved" is characterized by fast-paced, chaotic action reminiscent of classic FPS titles like Doom, featuring a simple yet engaging loop of exploration, item collection, and combat against randomly generated enemies. While the game offers a unique "heat" mechanic that influences enemy spawns and a variety of customization options, many players find the mechanics can be obtuse and the gameplay repetitive over time, particularly for those seeking deeper complexity. Overall, it provides a fun experience, especially in co-op mode, but suffers from some frustrating mechanics and a lack of polish that can detract from the enjoyment.
“Unloved is an intense, rogue-like FPS that delivers a unique blend of chaotic action, eerie atmosphere, and satisfying progression mechanics that keeps you coming back for more.”
“The gameplay loop is simple, but well done, and while rooms repeat really often, the randomly generated environment removes a bit of the boredom and makes every run fresh and unique.”
“The gameplay is fun and addicting because of the randomness including ammo/weapon spawns and other stuff.”
“The gameplay feels rather floaty, and the item pickup mechanic is frustrating.”
“The gameplay is stale and boring, alone and with a friend it's just tedious and empty, no real hordes form or risks appear.”
“The main thing holding back the gameplay is that it takes the Doom gameplay formula of grabbing keys and bringing them to doors but with randomly generated maps, which means levels can blend into one mess of square rooms that don't feel very unique or interesting.”
- graphics145 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic old-school horror aesthetic, reminiscent of 90s titles, which some players appreciate for its gritty and disturbing atmosphere. However, opinions are mixed, with many noting that while the visuals contribute to the game's eerie ambiance, they can also appear dated and simplistic, leading to a less polished overall experience. Despite the graphical shortcomings, the game's unique art style and atmosphere are often highlighted as strengths that enhance the horror experience.
“The graphics in the game resemble the style of the 90s, and it causes nostalgia - as if you returned to an era when everything was simpler, and your enemies looked like cartoon characters.”
“The graphics are well done and it's playable on my Dell XPS 15 9570 with a GTX 1050 Ti at UHD with the graphics on low.”
“The graphics in Unloved are grim and stylized, embodying a horror aesthetic that gives players a sense of desolation and dread.”
“The graphics are bad; there's no rhyme or reason to anything going on in the game, there's a terrible unlockables system that seems like a huge grind that totally is not worth it.”
“The graphics in this game are obnoxious.”
“The graphics are poor in unloved even on the highest settings.”
- atmosphere114 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Unloved" is consistently described as dark, creepy, and intense, effectively enhancing the horror experience through its simplistic yet unsettling environments, haunting sound design, and gritty visuals. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a sense of constant danger and unease, reminiscent of classic horror shooters, while the procedural level generation adds to the unpredictability of the atmosphere. Overall, the combination of eerie ambiance, effective sound effects, and oppressive settings contributes to a deeply immersive and thrilling gameplay experience.
“The atmosphere is further enhanced by excellent sound design, including haunting echoes, terrifying screams, and footsteps that keep players constantly on edge.”
“Unloved is a dark and intense FPS inspired by classic horror shooters, offering a unique experience filled with terrifying atmosphere and adrenaline-pumping combat.”
“There's a dark, gritty, thick anxiety-ridden atmosphere that grips the player and refuses to let them go until the bitter end.”
“The environments look simplistic, which adds to the horror atmosphere, but overall, it feels like a fever dream—random rooms with no windows, lacking rhyme or reason in their layout.”
“No consistency, tone is all over the place, atmosphere does not exist.”
“The atmosphere generated is very creepy with a few cheap jump scares to begin with until you quickly become immune to them.”
- story83 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely minimalistic and often considered non-existent, with many players expressing a desire for a more developed narrative. While some elements of lore can be uncovered through collectibles, the overall gameplay focuses more on action and procedural generation than on storytelling. As a result, those seeking a compelling plot or immersive narrative may find the experience lacking.
“The story in Unloved is minimalist, serving more as a backdrop for the atmosphere and action.”
“There is some story that is only told through journal entries which you unlock by collecting photos in the level.”
“The tidbits of story it gives you for collecting photos is interesting so far, and I am intrigued to find more.”
“With so many games that have hand-crafted levels that delight, amuse, surprise, or tell a story, I am 100% done with random assortments of rooms and corridors.”
“First off, there is no story to this game whatsoever.”
“If you're looking for storytelling and structured gameplay, you'll likely be disappointed.”
- music61 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience with a fitting soundtrack that ranges from eerie ambiance to intense percussion. Many reviewers highlight how the music complements the gameplay, creating a sense of immersion and tension, particularly in horror settings. However, some users note that the music can feel repetitive at times, and while it generally adds to the game's atmosphere, there are mixed opinions on its originality and execution.
“The music is atmospheric, the lighting is blinding at times, the level generation can screw you over, and even with the good and the bad, it is still really fun.”
“A very good, underrated doom-style shooter horror game with a seriously good and fitting soundtrack, paired with a thick dark atmosphere and deep, mysterious, intriguing lore.”
“And unloved has great monster and ambient noises, as well as a perfectly fitting soundtrack: when there aren't many enemies roaming the rooms, the music is soft and eerie, and when they start rushing in and trying to kill you, the music keeps building up and it gives you both energy and tension to kill the monsters.”
“The music is just filling noises/no music.”
“The greatest thing about the game might be the trailers, a bit of the music, and sound design - however the way everything is implemented was disappointing due to repetition with little variation in sound playback.”
“But this is not a mod of any game, this is a full blown release, and yet it's one that feels like a very amateurish mod throughout, from the graphics to the out-of-place music that sounds more like something straight out of one of those Max Payne 3 levels set in Brazil.”
- grinding48 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the game features significant grinding, often described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly when trying to level up or obtain better gear. While some players find the grind rewarding and enjoyable, especially in co-op mode, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the difficulty spikes that make progress feel unfairly reliant on luck. Overall, the grinding aspect is a double-edged sword, offering depth for dedicated players but potentially leading to boredom for those less inclined to invest the time.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Once you hit the harder difficulties, you get to a point where it becomes so grindy and unfairly difficult that it is purely RNG whether or not you win.”
“It goes from a fun game to an absolutely infuriating, mind-numbing experience of grinding the same difficulty over and over again and praying the game doesn't decide that your run has to end by spawning endless waves of enemies.”
“You will spend countless hours grinding up meaningless amounts of demon chests just to have a shot at making it through to unearthly difficulty.”
- replayability45 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Replayability in this game is generally praised, with many players highlighting the benefits of procedurally generated maps, diverse weapons, and unlockable items that keep each playthrough feeling fresh. While some reviews note that the core gameplay may not be strong enough to sustain long-term engagement, the inclusion of various game modes, challenges, and cooperative play significantly enhances replay value. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with high replayability, especially when played with friends.
“Replayability: every playthrough feels fresh due to procedurally generated maps.”
“Coupled with the variety of weapons, items, and enemy types, each session delivers new challenges and surprises, which adds considerable replay value.”
“Unloved offers so much replayability, which is an amazing feat for being a rogue-like.”
“The replay value is there, it just needed more polish and refinement to be a great game.”
“To add to this, the replayability is further hampered by the practically invisible effects of the equipment you unlock through playing, such as a 10% bonus to shotgun reload speed or a 10% bonus to melee damage.”
“The combat itself works reasonably well and it has some replayability value because of its procedurally generated levels but it comes saddled with far too many issues to deserve a recommendation.”
- optimization24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, including inconsistent frame rates, lag spikes, and poor netcode, particularly in online play. While some users have found workarounds and improvements following updates, the general consensus is that the game could benefit from further optimization to enhance the overall experience. Despite these challenges, the gameplay remains enjoyable for many, especially when played with friends.
“The performance is pretty good, with a nice set of graphics options.”
“Update: been playing for a couple of months now, still not bored, great fun with friends, engine has been optimized and game tweaked in a recent update 1.0.8c.”
“Reminiscent of Doom, a bit slower overall, small performance issues with the game, but otherwise, good atmosphere; this game is easily worth the price tag.”
“Performance is pretty bad at times unless you use v-sync, which has atrocious mouse lag.”
“The only problem I have is that the game is a little unoptimized and it is hard to find a game online unless you gather up some friends.”
“Performance is terrible too; I've played other UE4 games that look way better than this and play much better.”
- stability15 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous glitches, bugs, and poor AI behavior that detract from the overall experience. While some players find enjoyment in the gameplay, many express frustration over the lack of support from developers and the presence of game-breaking issues, particularly in multiplayer scenarios. Overall, the game is seen as needing significant improvements in stability and polish to meet player expectations.
“Enjoyable game, but hard. I have played it on and off since I started playing in 2019, and I have enjoyed it. I would like it more if I had friends to play it with, but overall, I would say if you like FPS, Doom games, and horror, this game would be for you. The game even runs great in 1080p on my AMD Radeon 590 at 60fps.”
“Changing my review to negative. The game is great, but it's full of bugs and glitches, and the creators don't support this game at all anymore.”
“There's even a so-called allergy during which the match completely freezes up for one or multiple players due to join lag and similar reasons, lasting from a few seconds to even minutes, or even kicks a player.”
“It is full of glitches and lacks features that it promises.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its chaotic co-op gameplay, where playing with friends amplifies the comedic experience, despite the game's overall quality being questionable. Many players find the character and monster designs amusing, often describing them as more funny than frightening, with moments of absurdity that contribute to the game's charm. Overall, while the game may not excel in horror, its humor shines through in its ridiculousness and chaotic interactions.
“Playing with friends in co-op mode makes it even more funny and chaotic.”
“For an old game, it's really funny.”
“The gore is just there and everything comes off more humorous than scary.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is marked by well-executed character designs, though the dark maps hinder their appreciation. While enemy designs range from scary to humorous, the player character lacks visual appeal, and there is a call for more variety in customization and gameplay elements. The introduction of roguelike mechanics adds a layer of character development, but overall, the experience feels uneven.
“The 'game' version of Unloved ventures into more roguelike territories, introducing randomly generated levels, customization, and character development of sorts.”
“The character designs are well done; many characters are scary, but the maps are too dark, making it challenging to appreciate the designs.”
“Some of the character designs are more humorous than disfigured or horrifying, such as the faceless nurse that looks like she has her head stuffed in a turkey.”
“The movement of enemies could be a bit more fluid; some of the character designs are more humorous than disfigured or horrifying, such as the faceless nurse that looks like she has her head stuffed in a turkey. I feel that it could use more variety in the level choices and loot/weapons department.”
“Only cons I see are that the character design (the player uses), not the enemy, is really bland and very uninviting to see when playing with others.”
“The 'game' version of unloved ventures into more roguelike territories, introducing randomly generated levels, customization, and character development of sorts.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers a solid 50 hours of gameplay without any microtransactions, which is a positive aspect for players. However, it suffers from misleading advertising and a small player base, suggesting a need for better promotion to attract more users.
“The game offers around 50 hours of content without any microtransactions, which is a refreshing change.”
“I appreciate that there are no microtransactions, allowing me to enjoy the game fully without interruptions.”
“It's great to see a game that provides so much content without relying on microtransactions.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the intense visual effects, particularly the muzzle flash, can evoke strong physical reactions, such as nausea, highlighting the game's ability to create a visceral emotional experience.
