Zephon

About

Zephon is a single player and multiplayer survival role playing game with warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by Proxy Studios and was released on November 8, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Zephon is a post-apocalyptic 4X strategy game built on Proxy’s unique tactical combat system. Guide survivors through a grimdark future, navigating unexpected disasters, eldritch horror and cyberpunk monstrosities. What will you do to survive?

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 957 reviews

gameplay71 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Engaging and immersive lore that draws players into a unique post-apocalyptic world.
Improved combat mechanics and tactical depth compared to previous titles, making battles feel meaningful.
Customization options for gameplay settings and the ability to unlock mutators enhance replayability.

Limited faction diversity, as all factions share the same tech tree and units, leading to a lack of unique gameplay experiences.
AI behavior can be inconsistent, often leading to unchallenging gameplay or frustrating situations.
The pacing can feel off, with the endgame crisis triggering too early and making it difficult to fully explore the tech tree.

gameplay
233 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
69%
1%
The gameplay of Zephon is generally praised for its solid mechanics and engaging combat, building on the foundation established in Warhammer 40,000: Gladius. While it retains many core elements of its predecessor, such as exploration and tactical battles, some players feel it lacks diversity among factions and gameplay variety, with many factions sharing similar mechanics. The introduction of new features like diplomacy and unlockable mutations adds depth, but some reviewers note that the overall experience could benefit from more unique gameplay elements and a greater variety of missions.
- “The quests and escalation mechanic is a great touch to the game.”
- “The gameplay itself is solid: good combat mechanics set in a hostile world with various terrain effects to modify behavior and combat effects.”
- “If you appreciated the core gameplay of Gladius but wanted more depth, better storytelling, and richer strategic layers, this is exactly the kind of evolution you were hoping for.”
- “While the aesthetics of factions seem appealing and unique, their specific game mechanics are unrefined, uninteresting, and sometimes not even working.”
- “But it lacks gameplay diversity, like more missions or maybe some global events where you have to collect pearls like in Endless Legend or whatever.”
- “Without a satisfying ramp-up in military power, the gameplay feels meaningless and pointless.”
story
209 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The game's story is a compelling blend of grimdark themes and rich lore, drawing players into a unique sci-fi setting that feels both original and immersive. Each faction features distinct backstories and quests that enhance gameplay, although some players note that the narrative can feel repetitive over time and lacks depth in certain areas. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its atmosphere and character-driven quests, making it a significant improvement over its predecessor, Gladius, while still leaving room for further expansion and refinement.
- “It takes the best parts of a tactical wargame and successfully blends them with deep 4x strategy and a grimdark story that pulls you in.”
- “The worldbuilding and story beats are insane.”
- “The writing is excellent, all the leaders have unique dialogue with each other rather than canned responses when doing diplomacy, and the quest lines and general setting of the game is absolutely fantastic; the writers really nailed the Lovecraftian theme.”
- “The problem most may have with it is you could probably play it once and be done with it as whatever story this game does have is like that and all I have to say to that is make the game harder for yourself with the custom settings and mutators.”
- “The story makes no sense and is rather ominous and very poorly defined.”
- “Regarding the lackluster storyline: it takes a lot of work to have enough details in a game to paint its story as realistic and interesting, and the devs really didn’t deliver on this.”
graphics
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
3%
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, detailed animations, and unique art style that effectively blends sci-fi and horror elements. Many players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and the quality of unit designs, though some note that the graphics can appear busy or less detailed from a distance. Overall, the graphical improvements over the previous title, Gladius, are seen as significant, contributing to a visually captivating experience.
- “The graphics are fantastic; I often zoom right in for a close look.”
- “Overall, it’s a beautiful game with stunning visuals and immersive graphics.”
- “The graphics are stunning, especially when experienced on a big screen, truly bringing the game’s world to life in vivid detail.”
- “The graphics are rather dreary, and every unit shouting the same message every time you click them had me turn off the sound within a couple of minutes of gameplay.”
- “Lots of smaller quality of life improvements over Gladius, but the graphics are a blur; you can't make out what's what in a game that is keen on details.”
- “With grayish uninspiring graphics.”
music
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
44%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as exceptional and a standout feature. The combination of thematic compositions and ambient sound design contributes significantly to the game's captivating experience, although some noted occasional periods of silence that detracted from the ambiance. Overall, the music is described as a perfect complement to the game's art style and gameplay, making it a memorable aspect for players.
- “The musical score also has some killer soundtracks that will really ramp up usually near the 'last days on earth' (end times).”
- “The music provides perfect ambience, and the overall gameplay is fun.”
- “In addition, the ambient music is kinda dull.”
- “The environment, music, lore, units, and flavor in general of this game is really satisfying.”
- “The game’s lighting, color palette, particle effects, and creative unit designs help Zephon stand out and combine with its soundtrack full of synths, didgeridoo, and rumbling percussion to create a unique and atmospheric 4x experience.”
atmosphere
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
25%
6%
The atmosphere of Zephon is widely praised for its rich, immersive world, compelling lore, and striking visuals, creating a dark sci-fi ambiance that enhances gameplay. Reviewers highlight the game's exceptional sound design and artistic elements, which contribute to a unique and engaging experience, making it a standout feature of the title. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a significant strength, drawing players into its post-apocalyptic setting and enhancing the tactical depth of the game.
- “From the moment you dive in, its immersive atmosphere, stunning visuals, and hauntingly well-crafted sound design pull you deep into its world.”
- “Zephon is a game that is just pitch perfect in terms of atmosphere and setting.”
- “The game’s lighting, color palette, particle effects, and creative unit designs help Zephon stand out and combine with its soundtrack full of synths, didgeridoo, and rumbling percussion to create a unique and atmospheric 4x experience.”
- “The atmosphere and writing leaves you wanting for more and more, while the gameplay itself is very passable.”
- “The ingame lore, world, atmosphere, music, faction and unit designs are borderline as or more interesting than Warhammer itself.”
- “All are putting me to the atmosphere of the game.”
replayability
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
9%
Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the unique factions and customizable settings that enhance replay value, others criticize the limited number of factions and lack of content, which can lead to boredom over time. The game offers a solid foundation with potential for varied playstyles and enjoyable mechanics, but many reviewers feel that it needs more diverse factions and improvements in AI to truly shine in replayability. Overall, it seems to appeal more to those who enjoy sandbox elements and shorter matches, but may not satisfy players seeking deep, long-term engagement.
- “Each faction feels much more unique, which goes a long way for making a game last and replayable.”
- “The tech tree and affinity system make Zephon highly replayable.”
- “Love the accessibility and flexibility of the sandbox settings, plus the rewards for completing playthroughs are nice for replayability.”
- “Wanted to feel nostalgia for Civ: Beyond Earth, at first it feels like this but replayability is almost zero; you're just getting bored too fast for such a price.”
- “There's no replayability value or uniqueness to any faction.”
- “It's not a bad game, but there just isn't as much within to warrant this price or offer replay value at its current state.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with players reporting flawless performance even on older hardware and maximum settings. Many reviewers highlight the game's smooth gameplay, responsiveness, and lack of bugs, indicating that it runs efficiently without compromising on quality or gameplay experience.
- “Performance has also been flawless for me, playing on a 5+ year old rig on max settings.”
- “The game has good performance and feels responsive.”
- “You don't see this level of optimization in products of this quality much anymore.”
- “Performance wise, it runs buttery smooth without impact on the late game turn times and challenging AI without needing cheats to compete.”
- “Other than that, I really have to mention that optimization is solid.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight that while the early to mid-game offers engaging gameplay, the late game often devolves into tedious grinding, particularly due to the slow progression and lack of meaningful upgrades. Players express frustration with the micromanagement and repetitive tasks that detract from the overall enjoyment, making the experience feel drawn out and less rewarding. Despite some thrilling moments, the grind can overshadow the excitement, especially in longer sessions.
- “The early to mid-game is the best, you gotta analyze your starting point carefully to be successful and outpost contention is thrilling, the late game can be a bit tedious at times, but only for a little bit at the point where you are between researching and getting the high units.”
- “This isn't so bad early on, but in a long game with many units all over the map, it gets very tedious.”
- “New and improved units (what few there are) really don't feel like upgrades, and while it makes the mid-game tedious, it makes the end-game such a slog you forget what the point was.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally engaging, as it fosters a strong connection to each unit, enhancing their investment over extended playtime. Despite some areas needing improvement, the emotionally charged atmosphere keeps the experience entertaining and immersive.
- “There's just so much going on, and it's all so emotionally charged!”
- “It makes you care for each unit individually, which keeps the entertainment and emotional investment going for 100+ hours into the game.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting significant bugs, such as issues with saving and glitches affecting game choices, while others experience smooth performance without crashes, particularly on Linux with Proton.
- “First thing's first: the game runs fine, with no glitches or crashes.”
- “And it runs great (Linux + Proton, out of the box).”
- “Very buggy game.”
- “When playing with friends, only the host can save the game. If the host leaves, it closes the lobby. Additionally, when you pick a side at the end of the game, it often glitches and chooses an alien regardless of your choice. Please fix it!”
- “First thing first: the game runs fine, no glitches or crashes.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Reviews indicate mixed feelings about the monetization of the game, with some users hoping for fair DLC pricing but expressing concerns that it may feel like a cash grab. While some players enjoy the game, they also note that the monetization strategy could detract from the overall experience.
- “I also thought the distance from Slitherine could mean better monetization and fair DLC pricing.”
- “Also, another reason it may not be a game for Gladius owners is because, while I've actually learned to enjoy this game quite a lot, and actually kind of enjoy it more than Gladius, which is saying a lot seeing as Gladius is my favorite turn-based 4X game I own, it can feel like it's kind of a cash grab game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a playful and self-aware tone, often poking fun at the absurdity of combat mechanics and damage scales. Players appreciate the comedic elements that arise from exaggerated damage outputs and the developers' willingness to embrace humor in gameplay.
- “Ultimately, you will side with one faction or the other, and you can hit them for 3 damage here and 5 damage there while they hit each other for dozens of damage, sometimes resulting in a hilariously massive area of effect.”
- “Haha, you know what would be funny?”
- “So what, devs? It's funny, isn't it? Hehe... so maybe let's make this joke a reality?”