XenoShyft
- July 17, 2015
- CMON
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple StoreXenoShyft Onslaught is a co-op base defense game for 1-4 players, where you defend against alien attacks as a NorTec Corporation commander. Its deck-building system and intense difficulty require strategic planning and coordination among players. The game features beautiful illustrations and is playable solo.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- XenoShyft offers a challenging and engaging deck-building experience that rewards strategic planning and cooperation, especially in multiplayer.
- The game is a faithful digital adaptation of the physical board game, providing a similar thematic experience with well-designed mechanics.
- It has a solid solo play mode, allowing players to enjoy the game even without a large online community.
- The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, leading to frequent misclicks and frustration during gameplay.
- There are numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode, which can disrupt the gaming experience and lead to game freezes.
- The game can feel overly simplistic and luck-based at times, diminishing the strategic depth that players may expect from a deck-building game.
- stability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent freezes, bugs, and glitches that disrupt gameplay and require restarting the game. While some players have experienced improvements over time, many still find the issues frustrating, particularly in multiplayer modes. Overall, the game is enjoyable but needs substantial patching to enhance stability and user experience.
“Freezes constantly without recovery; seems this has been a known issue for some time.”
“Buggy, tends to not let you advance sometimes to the next turn. I have to close the whole game down and reopen it, hoping it works if I reload my save.”
“It's still a fun core game, but the glitches and game issues make it too frustrating.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Xenoshyft is characterized by its challenging mechanics that require players to engage with the tutorial for optimal experience. While some players appreciate the core mechanics and thematic elements reminiscent of the "Aliens" movie, others criticize the simplicity of the card mechanics and the presence of numerous bugs that can disrupt gameplay. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation but suffers from technical issues that detract from the experience.
“Hard gameplay, make sure you do the tutorial to get the most from this game!”
“I find Xenoshyft both thematically and gameplay-wise like you are participating in the second arc of the movie Aliens (defending the base, supporting each other).”
“The mechanics were easy to understand and pick up, and the card selection and balance seemed fine.”
“Some (or many?) game mechanics are chosen badly.”
“Mechanics are too simple, the game looks braindead to me, the sounds and ambiance are really unimpressive, it had no atmosphere to me, it did not reach me at all.”
“The reason I'm currently not recommending this game is due to the myriad game-breaking bugs that we found in only about 4 hours of gameplay.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game heavily relies on advertisements, with users expressing frustration over the lack of a straightforward quit option and the intrusive nature of ads at both startup and shutdown. Players must navigate through ads to exit the game, highlighting a bold and aggressive approach to marketing that detracts from the overall experience.
“Cannot quit the game without seeing ads.”
“In fact, there is no quit option in the menu... but there are several links to advertisements.”
“Marketing and ads are a cornerstone for this game at startup and end -- the designers are very bold in their approach.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unengaging, with many describing it as simple yet overly repetitive, detracting from their overall enjoyment.
“This game is tedious to play.”
“Simple but grindy... it was not fun for me.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with users noting that they function effectively. The artwork, particularly in close-up scenes, is praised for its excellence, albeit with a macabre aesthetic.
“The artwork is excellent in the close-ups, even if it's macabre.”
“The graphics work fine.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's significant replayability, noting the enjoyment of experimenting with different factions and the added value brought by the Nortec Elite and Hive expansions.
“Tons of replay value.”
“I enjoyed trying to win with each faction, and I feel that both the Nortec Elite and Hive expansions added a great amount of replayability to the game.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with some users appreciating its thematic connection to a "Starship Trooper" vibe, enhancing the overall experience.
“I like the Starship Trooper vibe of the card art, and the music is not bad either.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game has been widely criticized, with users finding it lacking in depth and engagement. Many describe the visuals and sound design as unimpressive, contributing to an overall feeling of emptiness and disconnection from the game experience.
“The mechanics are too simple; the game feels brain-dead to me. The sounds and ambiance are really unimpressive, and it had no atmosphere at all. It did not resonate with me.”
