XenoShyft
- July 17, 2015
- CMON
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"XenoShyft: Onslaught" is a horror-themed, turn-based strategy game that combines base defense and deck-building elements. Players protect a NorTec base as hordes of alien enemies attempt to destroy it, each controlling a different division of the NorTec military. With support for 1-4 players, including single-player and local co-op options, players must work together to manage resources, deploy units, and fend off the enemy onslaught in this immersive and challenging game.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Xenoshyft: The Video Game is a faithful digital adaptation of the popular board game, providing a challenging and engaging cooperative experience.
- The game features a unique deck-building mechanic with various divisions, each offering distinct abilities that enhance strategic gameplay.
- Affordable pricing for the base game and expansions makes it an attractive option for fans of cooperative card games.
- The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, leading to frequent misclicks and frustration during gameplay.
- Many players have reported bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
- The game can feel slow and tedious due to excessive waiting times for card actions to resolve, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Xenoshyft is characterized by its straightforward mechanics, which some players find overly simplistic and lacking depth, leading to a perception of the game as "braindead." While the core mechanics evoke a thematic connection to the movie "Aliens," technical issues and game-breaking bugs significantly detract from the overall experience, overshadowing the otherwise solid port and card balance.
“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.”
“It is a pretty solid port, a few odd card interaction mechanics aside.”
“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, and 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.”
- stability8 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 application. While some players have experienced improvements over time, the overall consensus is that the game remains frustratingly unstable and in need of extensive patches to enhance the user experience. Despite these issues, the core gameplay is still considered enjoyable when functioning properly.
“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.”
- 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 options list... 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 them.”
- 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 overly simplistic and not enjoyable.
“This game is tedious to play.”
“Simple but grindy... 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 the card art, evoking a "Starship Trooper" vibe. Overall, it enhances the gaming experience without being a standout feature.
“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.”
