Xenoraid: The First Space War

About

"Xenoraid: The First Space War" is a challenging vertically scrolling shoot'em up game with advanced shooting mechanics and AI-driven enemies for dynamic combat. You control a squadron of four fighters, each with unique weapons, and must switch between them strategically to survive. The game features over 40 missions, including intense boss fights, with procedurally generated elements for replayability. Fight against alien threats in mankind's first space war.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Xenoraid: The First Space War screenshot

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 74 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The ship swapping mechanic adds a unique strategic element to the gameplay, allowing players to adapt to different combat situations.
The game features a variety of ships and weapons, providing players with different playstyles and upgrade paths.
The combat is engaging and easy to pick up, with a good balance of challenge that keeps players invested.

The mouse controls are poorly implemented, making it difficult to aim and maneuver effectively during combat.
The game can feel repetitive due to a lack of diverse enemy types and level design, leading to a monotonous experience.
Some players find the difficulty spikes and RNG elements frustrating, particularly in later levels and survival mode.

gameplay
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
55%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of unique mechanics, such as ship swapping and weapon overheating, which add strategic depth to the traditional shoot-'em-up formula. While some players find the controls a bit floaty and the enemy behavior repetitive, the overall experience is described as solid and engaging, with a blend of challenge and variety that sets it apart from typical shmups. The procedural generation and local co-op features contribute to a dynamic gameplay experience, though some mechanics, like shop interactions, may feel underwhelming.
- “The combat mechanics are simple and nice, with lots of variation in attackers.”
- “The mechanics of changing and weapon heating are awesome, working like a 'Dark Souls roll' or dodge, and even combos with two of the ships!”
- “Xenoraid: The First Space War is an unusual take on the vertical shoot-em-up genre, stepping away from the euroshmup subgenre and into something slower and more strategic, offering gameplay that feels very different from the likes of Tyrian or Jets ‘n’ Guns.”
- “There is this floatiness to moving left and right which completely ruins the gameplay.”
- “The enemies are quite repetitive, the cool-down for the shooting is a chore and the overall graphics and gameplay are not really engaging.”
- “As it stands, Xenoraid is an interesting novelty with ideas that can grow into something more interesting if expanded on, but the slow pace and deliberate gameplay will probably scare off those looking for a more traditional shoot 'em up.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The story is described as decent, providing a framework that connects missions and keeps players engaged, though it lacks depth and variety. Players progress through five campaigns with missions that feel repetitive due to limited enemy types and similar upgrades. While the narrative serves its purpose, it is considered unremarkable, with some dissatisfaction regarding the terminology used to describe mission generation.
- “There are 5 campaigns which are each broken down into separate missions.”
- “Your ships are valuable not only because you have to retry if you fail a mission: your ships are gone forever, and you need to recruit new ones to replace them.”
- “Completing missions awards money, which can be spent on repairing, upgrading, or even replacing fighters.”
- “The term they used to describe the missions sounds like something completely different, more like a Diablo-type experience, which is not what you're getting here.”
- “Other than that, it's nothing special - there are not enough enemy types, levels only differ by enemy composition and asteroid count, the plot and art are simply okay, and clearing out teleporting starfishes is a chore.”
- “Upgrades are pretty much the same story: you'd be going over the same upgrades, doing some essential first and some useful later, completely ignoring the rest.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
The music in the game is widely praised for its epic and beautiful compositions, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users note a lack of variety in the soundtrack, suggesting that while the quality is high, the number of tracks could be improved. The background music effectively complements the sci-fi theme, contributing to the game's atmosphere.
- “The OST is really beautiful.”
- “What makes it good instead of passable is great music (not nearly enough tracks, though), ship outfitting, asteroid physics, and enemies coming around to take another swing at you if you miss them.”
- “The background music is a conventional and solid sci-fi theme.”
- “The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it easy to tune out.”
- “The music doesn't match the intensity of the gameplay, resulting in a disjointed experience.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The graphics of the game are generally considered decent, with some reviewers noting they are above average for the genre and visually pleasant compared to pixelated alternatives. However, there are criticisms regarding repetitiveness and a lack of engagement in the overall visual experience.
- “The graphics are above adequate for the genre, the game responds excellently (sucks knowing it's your fault you flew into a missile), and each enemy type requires a little strategy and coordination to overcome.”
- “The game's graphics are quite pleasant, far from the pixelated confusion present in other examples of the genre.”
- “Mediocre graphics.”
- “The enemies are quite repetitive, the cool-down for the shooting is a chore and the overall graphics and gameplay are not really engaging.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game offers high replayability, particularly through its survival mode after completing the campaign. However, players express frustration with the limited in-game currency and the high costs of essential upgrades, which can hinder the experience and enjoyment of replaying.
- “Replayability seems high.”
- “It provides high replayability, but limited money and overly expensive yet fundamental upgrades can easily strain your budget, without giving your ships decent armament.”
- “Survival adds replayability once you've beaten the campaign, but the money required for tech and upgrades can be frustrating.”
- “Maybe they could add this mode as this would add to the replayability.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be random and tedious, often exacerbated by a lack of sufficient enemies to engage with. While the upgrade mechanics are integrated into the gameplay context and reward mastery rather than sheer playtime, the overall experience can still feel frustratingly difficult.
- “The upgrade mechanics are not overly 'gamified' - they are within a context of a run and reward mastery, not grinding or playtime.”
- “Random, tedious, and difficult in frustrating ways.”
- “It's kind of tedious because there aren't enough enemies!”
- “The upgrade mechanics are not overly 'gamified' - they are within a context of a run and reward mastery, not grinding/play time.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is noted for its intriguing linear plot, which enhances the overall immersive experience. Players appreciate how the atmospheric elements contribute to the storytelling, creating a captivating environment that draws them in.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its intriguing linear plot.”
- “The game's environment is rich and detailed, creating a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “Every element of the atmosphere contributes to a sense of tension and excitement, making each moment feel significant.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with AI navigating asteroid fields effectively, although some players report instances of ships getting trapped due to poor spawning. These occurrences are perceived as normal rather than indicative of bugs, suggesting a well-functioning system overall.
- “When you're in an asteroid field, they'll try to dodge rocks as best they can, though some with a bad spawn get trapped anyway (and not in a bad, buggy way; it appears normal and reasonable).”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is highlighted as quick and funny, enhanced by its engaging mechanics and local co-op features, which contribute to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience. The procedural elements also add to the unpredictability and comedic moments throughout gameplay.
- “The humor in this game is spot on, making every session a laugh riot!”
- “I love how the witty dialogue and funny scenarios keep me entertained throughout the gameplay.”
- “The comedic elements are cleverly woven into the mechanics, making for a truly enjoyable experience.”