XERA: Survival
- September 26, 2021
- Spotted Kiwi Interactive
- 43h median play time
"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 a lot of potential and is very enjoyable for fans of survival games like WarZ and H1Z1.
- Smooth gameplay and good performance, with a solid gunplay experience.
- Active developer engagement with the community, responding to feedback and implementing changes.
- The game suffers from a lack of content and feels repetitive after a short time.
- There are issues with hackers and cheaters affecting the gameplay experience.
- The healing mechanics and PVP balance need improvement, as players can easily heal during fights.
- gameplay121 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth mechanics and enjoyable combat, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth, particularly in solo play. Many appreciate the active development team and the potential for future improvements, but concerns about grindiness and the prevalence of camping mechanics have been noted. Overall, while the game offers a solid foundation and nostalgic elements reminiscent of titles like Rust and DayZ, it currently struggles with content and player engagement.
“Great mechanics, love the looting and robot killing.”
“It offers a wealth of things to do and smooth gameplay to make those things enjoyable.”
“Absolutely great game, super fun, not buggy at all, very smooth gameplay.”
“Lacks any sort of real gameplay.”
“The only issue is the gameplay loop is too grindy for the player interactions to be too far spread out.”
“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.”
- graphics81 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as decent or even good for an early access title, while others criticize them as outdated and reminiscent of older consoles like the PS2 or original Xbox. Many users note that while graphics aren't the primary focus of the game, they can significantly impact the overall experience, with calls for optimization and improvements in lighting and foliage. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics are not the game's strongest aspect, they are acceptable for its current stage of development.
“Having the ability to run the game on epic graphics without it cooking up my computer.”
“Great graphics, runs smooth.”
“Very nice graphics and runs really smooth, wish there were more central servers perhaps & 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 etc.”
“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.”
- optimization45 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and high FPS, particularly for an early access title developed by a small team. While some players noted issues with graphics quality and occasional performance dips in demanding 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 terms of content and certain gameplay mechanics.
“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.”
“I was shocked by the outstanding performance this game has at the early access stage.”
“It's very optimized and was made by one person.”
“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.”
- grinding34 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and unbalanced, particularly in resource gathering for building and raiding. Many express frustration over the time required to farm materials, with some stating that the gameplay loop feels slow and unengaging due to the vast map and sparse player interactions. While some acknowledge that grinding can be rewarding, the overwhelming sentiment is that it 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.”
- stability24 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. Many acknowledge the presence of bugs as typical for an early access title, but some feel that the game is less buggy compared to similar games. Despite these issues, the majority find the experience enjoyable and fun.
“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.”
- story24 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its absence, 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 described as lacking depth, resembling a demo rather than a fully realized game. Overall, the focus remains on gameplay mechanics rather than storytelling.
“🔲 epic story”
“Very nice graphics and runs really smooth, wish there was more central servers perhaps & 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 etc.”
“☑️ This game has no story.”
“At least give them a name, a backstory, something.”
“Pretty much a PvP game, no one has any interest in the story, or killing droids, just killing other players.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a strong sentiment that the game's monetization strategy leans towards being a cash grab, with several users expressing skepticism about its long-term viability. While some appreciate the absence of microtransactions and the respawning system, others criticize the game's depth and community issues, suggesting that it may not offer a sustainable or engaging experience. Overall, there is a mix of hope for improvement and concern over exploitative monetization practices.
“I love the respawning system; there are no microtransactions.”
“If this isn't a cash grab, I would be amazed.”
“The toxic community, the rampant hackers, releasing a game that is near unplayable for more than 15 minutes and has 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.”
“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.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often derived from the community's reactions and experiences, particularly the irony of players giving negative reviews after short play sessions. Many find the game's casual survival mechanics amusing, especially when playing with friends, and there’s a nostalgic charm that adds to the fun, despite the bugs and early access status. Overall, the humor is highlighted by the contrast between player expectations and the game's current state, making for entertaining commentary within the community.
“Game style: 4.0 / 5 ---> it's hard to find a casual survival where you can easily find weapons and go PvP, and that's pretty funny, as I said, 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 only 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.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as decent, primarily featuring typical ambient sounds, but lacking in tension due to the absence of PvP elements. While some players appreciate the creepy sound design that enhances the experience, others feel that the inclusion of zombies would significantly improve the overall atmosphere, which currently leans towards a generic woodsy setting.
“Creepy atmospherics and sound give a great feel.”
“This game has a definite zombie apocalyptic feel.”
“The atmosphere is decent.”
“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).”
“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 (zombies).”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % 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 and longevity. Many express hope for a consistent player base to further enrich the experience.
“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”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it enjoyable and cool. There is a desire for additional music, voice acting, and in-game elements like crate drops to enhance the overall experience.
“The music is really cool.”
“If they introduce PvE-only servers and add music, more voice acting, and more crate drops, they will have the recipe for success, in my opinion.”