XERA: Survival
- September 26, 2021
- Spotted Kiwi Interactive
- 43h median play time
Get on Steam"XERA: Survival is a open-world, post-apocalyptic MMO shooter set in 2035. Scavenge for resources, craft and customize weapons, build bases, and battle other players in a vast, dynamic world with unpredictable weather and day/night cycles. Fight for survival and climb the leaderboard in this immersive, PvP-focused experience."
Reviews
- The game has good graphics and runs smoothly, providing an enjoyable experience.
- The community is active and supportive, with developers responsive to feedback.
- The looting and crafting mechanics are engaging, allowing for quick gear acquisition.
- The game suffers from a lack of content and repetitive gameplay, leading to a quick loss of interest.
- There are issues with hackers and cheaters, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The PVP mechanics can be frustrating, especially for solo players facing teams.
- gameplay59 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth mechanics, enjoyable PvP, and nostalgic elements reminiscent of titles like Rust and DayZ. However, many users noted that the gameplay loop can become repetitive, particularly in early access, and criticized the lack of content and depth, leading to frustrations with camping mechanics and a grindy experience. Overall, while the core mechanics are solid and the game runs well, there are significant concerns about player engagement and content variety.
“The gameplay is smooth and fun, although lacking in content momentarily.”
“Awesome gameplay, love it! Great game in general, keep up the good work!”
“Gameplay and gunplay are solid, and the overall performance of the game is great.”
“No difficulty or gameplay beyond wandering around with minimal loot.”
“Lacks any sort of real gameplay.”
“The gameplay loop is too grindy for the player interactions to be too far spread out.”
- graphics41 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as solid and visually appealing, especially for an early access title, while others criticize them as outdated or reminiscent of older consoles. Many users note that while graphics are not the primary focus of the gameplay experience, they can significantly impact immersion and enjoyment. Overall, the consensus suggests that the graphics are decent but have room for improvement, particularly in optimization and detail.
“I enjoy the graphics and sounds; it's relaxing but exciting at the same time.”
“This game has good graphics for a one-person project, fun to play, good PvP, great gameplay, and runs smoothly.”
“Very nice graphics and runs really smooth; considering this is in alpha, this is pretty good. Cannot wait for the future of this game, especially since I heard there will be quests and more.”
“Graphics are PS2 level.”
“The graphics are outdated, choppy, and look like they could be made in Roblox Studio editor.”
“Graphics are pretty garbage, with less-than-average performance if you aren't on low settings.”
- optimization22 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received positive feedback, with many players reporting smooth performance and high FPS, particularly for an early access title developed by a small team. While some users noted issues with graphics quality and occasional performance dips in specific areas, the majority found the game to be well-optimized and enjoyable, especially in multiplayer settings. However, a few reviews pointed out that there is still room for improvement in overall optimization and content.
“This game has a promising future and is one of the most optimized games I've played. When you team up, it's a really fun experience.”
“Its really good for early access coming from a small group of devs, with really good hit detection and good optimization. With that being said, 8/10 because every game could use something more!”
“I was shocked by the outstanding performance this game has at the early access stage.”
“Graphics are pretty garbage, with less-than-average performance if you aren't on low settings.”
“Lacking in optimization, content, proper looting mechanics, enjoyable PvP, sound lacking any quality outside of a bathroom recording, a voice actor reminiscent of an uninspired high school newscast.”
“Overall lag and performance needs an uplift.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and unbalanced, particularly in resource gathering and building mechanics. Many express frustration over the time required to farm materials for even basic structures, with some likening it to a chore rather than an engaging gameplay element. While some appreciate the rewarding nature of grinding when balanced with PvP, the overwhelming consensus is that the current system detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Farming stone is a nightmare, even worse than DayZ.”
“Wasted 40 hours of farming for nothing.”
“The only issue is the gameplay loop is too grindy for the player interactions to be too far spread out.”
- stability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth gameplay with minimal bugs, others encounter various glitches, particularly with vehicles and AI. The consensus suggests that while the game is generally fun and performs well, it still has notable issues that need addressing, especially in its early access phase.
“Absolutely great game, super fun, not buggy at all, very smooth gameplay.”
“Fun game, runs great at 100 fps or more.”
“Outside of that, it was fun and kind of buggy.”
“The ATV, the only vehicle in the game, is buggy.”
“Several bugs and glitches when moving around, either while running or driving.”
- story12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a PvP experience than a narrative-driven adventure. While some express hope for future updates that may introduce quests and character backstories, the current state is seen as lacking meaningful storytelling, with missions feeling repetitive and uninspired. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics over a compelling narrative.
“Epic story.”
“Like playing 'Temple Runners' for the story.”
“☑️ This game has no story.”
“At least give them a name, a backstory, something.”
“Still early access but even for early access with a closed alpha, there just isn't really anything besides dumb robots running at you and people camping you out while you're completing missions. There isn't much of a game here; this is like a stage demo for a game concept.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a strong sentiment that the game's monetization strategy leans towards being a cash grab, with some users expressing skepticism about its long-term viability. While there are mentions of no microtransactions and a desire for ad options, the overall impression is that the game may prioritize profit over player experience, particularly in the context of a free-to-play model.
“I love the respawning system; there are no microtransactions.”
“The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't feel intrusive.”
“I appreciate that the game allows for progression without needing to spend extra money.”
“If this isn't a cash grab, I would be amazed.”
“I'm so glad this genre has returned, after a few shady companies showed great promise, only for things to turn out to be a cash grab. I'm hopeful of a grand return.”
“The toxic community, the rampant hackers, and a game that is nearly unplayable for more than 15 minutes, with no depth at all. I understand it's new and everything, but holy hell is it an embarrassment to the survival game era. All this game is a free-to-play game for a quick cash grab.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the reviews primarily stems from players' experiences and frustrations with the game's mechanics, particularly the high headshot multiplier and the challenges of survival gameplay. Many find it amusing to see others struggle with the game, especially when they leave negative reviews after short play sessions. Additionally, the irony of developers making promises without delivering updates adds a layer of humor to the community's discussions.
“Game style: 4.0 / 5 ---> it's hard to find a casual survival game where you can easily find weapons and go PvP, and that's pretty funny, especially when playing with friends.”
“Funny to see people playing this game for 5-10 hours and give it a bad review :D .. you can't give a bad review just because you died on your first enemy .. it's still in early access and there are better patches every week .. Xera: Survival gives a huge nostalgic throwback to WarZ/ISS, with of course some bugs because it's in early access.”
“But what I am saying is that the reviews were really funny to read.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as decent but lacking in immersive ambient sounds, which diminishes the tension crucial for PvP gameplay. While some players appreciate the creepy sound design that enhances the experience, others feel that the absence of zombies detracts from the intended apocalyptic vibe, suggesting a missed opportunity for deeper atmospheric engagement.
“Creepy atmospherics and sound give a great feel.”
“This game has a definite zombie apocalyptic feel.”
“In a game like this, the PvP element is crucial for the atmosphere and tension, and since it's lacking completely, I do not recommend this game for any other than casual gamers who are fine playing alone with only PvE gameplay.”
“Zombies would make the atmosphere so much better. This game has a definite zombie apocalyptic feel, but personally, they went for the easy development option (robots).”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable, especially after the enhancements introduced in season 4, which have significantly increased its fun factor. Many express hope for a consistent player base to sustain this replayability.
“I bought the game when it came out in May 2019, and I really hope it gains a consistent player base. The game is really fun, and Season 4 has made it a lot more replayable.”
“Infinitely replayable.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it enjoyable and cool. There is a desire for enhancements, such as the addition of more voice acting and music, particularly in the context of potential PvE-only servers, which could further enrich the gaming experience.
“The music is really cool.”
“If they introduce PvE-only servers and add more music, more voice acting, and more crate drops, they will have the recipe for success, in my opinion.”
“If they introduce PvE-only servers and add more music, voice acting, and crate drops, they will have the recipe for success, in my opinion.”
