XenoShyft

About

XenoShyft is a single player and multiplayer casual turn-based strategy game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by CMON and was released on March 29, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In this base-defense deck-building card game you and your teammates will have to work together to survive the continuous onslaught of powerful alien threats and horrors!

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67%

Audience ScoreBased on 92 reviews

graphics2 positive mentions

stability13 negative mentions

The game is a challenging and engaging deck-building experience that captures the essence of the original board game.
It offers a good amount of replayability with various divisions and expansions that enhance gameplay.
The solo play mode is enjoyable and allows for strategic planning, making it a solid choice for fans of turn-based games.

The user interface is clunky and frustrating, leading to frequent misclicks and a lack of clarity in gameplay mechanics.
There are numerous bugs, particularly in multiplayer mode, which can render the game unplayable at times.
The game can feel overly punishing, with some players finding the difficulty level unbalanced and the mechanics too simplistic.

stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is significantly hampered by numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with location powers, freezing, and problems advancing turns, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. While some players have reported improvements over time, many still find the game challenging to enjoy due to these persistent technical issues. Overall, the game may appeal to those who can tolerate its instability, but many recommend opting for the physical board game instead.
- “The problem is the location powers are buggy and sometimes do not even work.”
- “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; gotta close the whole game down and reopen it and hope it works if you reload your save.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The gameplay of Xenoshyft is characterized by its hard mechanics and a thematic focus on cooperative defense, reminiscent of the second arc of the movie "Aliens." While some players appreciate the core mechanics and find them easy to grasp, others criticize the simplicity of the card mechanics and report significant technical issues, including bugs that can lead to game-breaking scenarios. Overall, the gameplay experience is mixed, with enjoyment stemming from the concept but hindered by design and technical flaws.
- “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.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 startup and upon exiting. 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.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unengaging, with many describing it as simple yet overly repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “This game is tedious to play.”
- “Simple but grindy... it was not fun for me.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are generally well-received, with users noting that the artwork is excellent, particularly in close-up details, despite its macabre themes. Overall, the visuals are considered effective and fitting for the game's tone.
- “The artwork is excellent in the close-ups, even if it's macabre.”
- “Graphics work fine.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with some users appreciating its thematic connection to the "Starship Troopers" vibe, enhancing the overall experience.
- “I love the Starship Trooper vibe of the card art, and the music is not bad either.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”