ZERO Sievert

About

ZERO Sievert is a single player survival role playing game. It was developed by CABO Studio and was released on October 23, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Zero Sievert" is a post-apocalyptic first-person shooter set in a radiation-soaked wasteland. Players must scavenge for supplies, navigate treacherous environments, and engage in intense gunfights against hostile mutants and factions. With a focus on survival and tactics, every decision could mean the difference between life and death in this harsh, unforgiving world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,074 reviews

gameplay380 positive mentions

grinding120 negative mentions

Great blend of Tarkov and Stalker mechanics in a 2D pixel art style.
Addictive gameplay loop with customizable difficulty settings that cater to different playstyles.
Engaging sound design and atmosphere that enhances the survival experience.

Frequent bugs and performance issues, including crashes and UI glitches.
Combat can feel unbalanced, with enemies having unfair advantages like off-screen targeting.
Lack of clear tutorials and guidance for new players, leading to confusion and frustration.

gameplay
1,051 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The gameplay of "Zero Sievert" is characterized by a solid core loop that combines elements from extraction shooters like "Escape from Tarkov" and survival mechanics reminiscent of "Stalker." Players engage in tense, strategic gameplay involving looting, crafting, and combat against AI enemies, with a focus on resource management and survival in a post-apocalyptic setting. While the mechanics are generally well-received, some players note issues with balancing, UI design, and certain gameplay elements that can feel clunky or frustrating, particularly for newcomers. Overall, the game offers an addictive experience with significant replayability, though it may require some patience to fully appreciate its depth.
- “Super fun, addictive looting and gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay loop is especially good.”
- “The core gameplay loop is fun, the mechanics are deep and interesting, and it seems there's a dedicated developer behind the project which promises continued improvement.”
- “The gameplay loop is very basic and repetitive.”
- “The core gameplay loop has promise, but the progression is painfully slow, and the maps get repetitive very quickly.”
- “The gameplay is needlessly clunky and slow, and the animations (or lack thereof) provide you with zero feedback.”
story
1,022 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
83%
5%
The story in "Zero Sievert" is primarily conveyed through quests and interactions with NPCs, drawing inspiration from games like "Escape from Tarkov" and "S.T.A.L.K.E.R." While players appreciate the atmosphere and the potential for deeper storytelling, many find the narrative to be sparse and the quests repetitive, often revolving around fetch tasks or combat objectives. The game is still in early access, and while it offers a solid gameplay loop with engaging mechanics, there is a consensus that the story and quest design need further development to enhance player immersion and satisfaction.
- “The story, gameplay loop, loot, etc. are all what I would expect from a game like this, but the bigger issue is stability.”
- “The story kept me engaged too, while maybe nothing groundbreaking it was still a good time, and caught me off guard a few times.”
- “The narrative unfolds subtly, primarily through environmental storytelling and the missions you receive from NPCs in your bunker.”
- “The story is very bare bones compared to Stalker.”
- “The quests are soulless and just feel like doing some errands that don't really contribute to the game much.”
- “The story exists, but it is all mostly in interacting with the bunker residents and any friendly you encounter in the maps.”
graphics
431 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that resonates well with fans of retro aesthetics, although opinions vary widely. While many players appreciate the nostalgic visuals and find them fitting for the game's intense atmosphere, others criticize them as simplistic or difficult to navigate, particularly in terms of enemy visibility. Overall, the graphics are seen as a blend of appealing and basic, serving the gameplay effectively despite some technical issues and optimization concerns.
- “Love the pixel graphics, and the ambience is great.”
- “Graphics are cool and not demanding, the pixel style mixed with effects and art directions is 10/10.”
- “Absolutely love how Zero Sievert blends the gritty aesthetics of Stalker, Tarkov, and DayZ into a stunning pixel-art, top-down roguelike.”
- “My computer is way past the requirements for this game, and to top it off this game is a top-down shooter with 2D graphics that aren't really anything worth talking about.”
- “The graphics are not great on a practical level: it's often difficult to make out what is happening, and the different enemies are not distinctive enough to be able to easily tell them apart.”
- “The graphics are basic; the story is drawn directly from its two obvious inspirations: Stalker and Escape from Tarkov.”
grinding
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
4%
94%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious, particularly in the early stages. While some appreciate the depth and progression it offers, others criticize the repetitive nature of tasks and the frustrating mechanics that make grinding feel like a chore rather than an engaging experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that while grinding can lead to rewarding moments, it often detracts from the enjoyment of the game due to its monotonous and time-consuming nature.
- “Progression loop isn't too grindy.”
- “Best progression in a game I've ever played, keeps you interested, but it's not too grindy where you get bored.”
- “The worst thing about the game is probably how grindy the beginning of the game is.”
- “Generally I don't mind grinding for stuff but I find that the developers have artificially made the game longer by increasing the number of things you need to really progress, and it is incredibly frustrating due to this.”
- “I enjoyed the game for 110 hours prior to patch .31, and have tried to give it a chance playing for almost 20 more hours on it, but it's such an unenjoyable, broken, grindy slog.”
atmosphere
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
41%
4%
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its immersive sound design and tense, post-apocalyptic setting that enhances gameplay. While some find the atmosphere to be exceptional, contributing to a sense of danger and urgency, others criticize it for inconsistencies, such as distracting sound effects and a lack of background music. Overall, the game's ability to create a gritty and atmospheric experience is highlighted, making it appealing to fans of survival horror and extraction shooters.
- “Zero Sievert is an intense and atmospheric survival horror experience that plunges players into a bleak, irradiated world where every decision matters and tension is ever-present.”
- “The atmosphere perfectly sets the tone for the gameplay, enhancing the sense of desolation and danger lurking around every corner.”
- “The environment, atmosphere, sound design, combat, mechanics, and the abundance of different AI mobs blend together so perfectly to form this little chaotic wasteland.”
- “The atmosphere has no focus; it doesn't change, it just blasts or mutes.”
- “Lacks atmosphere with no background music, making gameplay boring.”
- “No atmosphere; lots of missing noises like the silent steam engine that takes you to every location.”
stability
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and performance issues even after its full release. Many players describe the experience as frustrating due to unpolished mechanics, clunky inventory systems, and AI problems, leading to a consensus that the game feels more like an early access title than a completed product. While some players find enjoyment despite these issues, the overall sentiment is that the game is too buggy and unrefined for a 1.0 release.
- “Brilliant game, runs great on low-end PCs. I play it on a Microsoft Surface Pro 9 when traveling (I use a normal mouse and keyboard, not the Surface keyboard and mouse).”
- “The experience itself was nearly bug-free with no performance drops. Although I received the product for free, it’s certainly one worth paying for and sinking some long hours into.”
- “Like a crossover between Tarkov and Stalker in 2D, runs great, is very fun, very reasonably priced, not many bugs, and nothing game-breaking that I've seen so far. I've gotten about 20 hours of gameplay out of the quest line.”
- “Buggy, janky, and unfixed for years - your time isn't valued.”
- “For a 1.0 release, the game is terribly buggy, unbalanced, and broken.”
- “It's plagued with issues - both technical glitches and balance-related.”
optimization
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
61%
25%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, bugs, and frame rate drops, particularly after recent updates. While some users have noted improvements in performance settings that help on lower-end PCs, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization work to enhance stability and playability. Despite its engaging gameplay, the persistent optimization problems detract from the overall experience, leading many to recommend waiting for further updates before diving in.
- “Very enjoyable game, been using a controller, works nicely. I really appreciate the performance and visual settings; it helps with my potato PC and makes everything run smoothly as intended.”
- “Zero Sievert is a good game in its own right - mechanically sound, stupendous performance, incredible sound design, and impressive graphics for what it is.”
- “It's a great game, needs a little polishing in its current state (performance issues, UI improvements, etc.), otherwise it's exactly what I've been missing.”
- “Apparently the most recent update caused serious optimization problems, and slows everything to a crawl.”
- “God-awful optimization that makes the game unplayable.”
- “On top of incredibly unbalanced gameplay, this game is so poorly optimized that it drops below 10 fps on my high-end computer, especially when bringing anomalies with artifacts onto my screen.”
replayability
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by memorable challenges, procedurally generated maps, and diverse gameplay options such as different skills and factions. Many players find the experience fresh and engaging, with the potential for extensive playtime, although some critiques mention a lack of depth in story and certain gameplay elements that could hinder replay value. Despite these criticisms, the consensus is that the game offers significant replayability, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of the genre.
- “Memorable high-risk challenges provide meaningful consequences, ensuring strong replayability and continually fresh experiences.”
- “Replay value is high due to the different skills, factions, weapons, and difficulties.”
- “The maps are procedurally generated, which really helps with the replayability.”
- “The content and story are linear, and except for a faction choice, there’s no replay value.”
- “Nothing feels right, nothing feels cohesive and I just don't feel like the replayability is there.”
- “Procedural generation - for those buying into this based on replayability and that particular selling point, don't.”
music
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the immersive sound design and atmospheric effects that enhance gameplay, while others criticize the limited soundtrack and grating menu music. Many players express a desire for more ambient music to deepen the experience, particularly in gameplay areas, as the current offerings are sparse and often lack variety. Overall, while the sound effects are generally well-received, the music aspect feels underdeveloped and could benefit from additional layers to enrich the atmosphere.
- “10/10 for the guitar music that plays when you're chilling by a campfire with your bros!”
- “The soundtrack and sound effects are meticulously aligned with the gameplay, heightening the tension and excitement.”
- “With its impressive graphics, atmospheric soundtrack, and intuitive combat system, Zero Sievert is a must-play for fans of the survival genre.”
- “- lacks atmosphere with no background music making gameplay boring”
- “Menu music is too loud and annoying (it is possible to turn it down though).”
- “There's no music to speak of and the sound effects can be a bit bland.”
humor
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often described as absurd and situational, with players finding amusement in the game's mechanics, such as unrealistic enemy behavior and quirky bugs. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements of gameplay, including the irony of serious situations leading to funny outcomes, and the entertaining interactions between players and the game environment. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the challenging gameplay, making for memorable and often hilarious moments.
- “Plus it can hilariously lead to a random bandit living in the dirt, having the inventory of an entire house in their pockets, along with enough bullets to supply an army somehow if you max out the sliders.”
- “But on the bright side, most enemies kill themselves by throwing grenades at their feet, which is pretty funny.”
- “I didn't find too many issues with this game aside from the one time that I loaded into a swamp and the map was literally just a road surrounded by water. I couldn't even get to extract, but leaving the match didn't cost me anything and it was quite funny that the procedural map did that lol.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the emotional experience of the game as deeply impactful, evoking feelings of mortality, resilience, and heartache. Many highlight its ability to create a sense of immersion and connection to the narrative, with moments of both uplifting beauty and profound loss. While some find the emotional weight overwhelming, others appreciate the game's capacity to draw them into its world, making it a memorable and poignant experience.
- “Zero Sievert is a heartwarming and enlightening experience that reminds us of the beauty that can emerge from the darkest of times.”
- “In summary, Zero Sievert is a touching and wholesome gem of a game that radiates positivity and resilience.”
- “I can't stop playing this masterpiece; the tension, the story, and the heart-wrenching sacrifice of a certain old man give this game so many layers of awesomeness.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users labeling it a cash grab and criticizing its lack of uniqueness and limited mod support. However, others appreciate the absence of annoying microtransactions and frequent content updates, suggesting that it offers a more enjoyable experience compared to typical mobile games. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some players finding value in the game while others feel it falls short.
- “There are constant content updates and no annoying microtransactions. All in all, this game is the chicken noodle soup for the soul of video games.”
- “Zero Sievert reminds me a lot of mobile games, without the awful monetization that usually implies. It's amazing to just pick up and play for fifteen minutes to do a raid or two.”
- “Another cash grab, don't buy unless you're desperate for an early access mobile game that's missing out on so much potential.”
- “There is nothing here that really stands out to me and makes the game unique, and with the balancing of things the way it is, this game sort of feels like a cash grab that took advantage of the lack of PvE in Tarkov at the time of its release.”
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Character development in the game is influenced by difficulty levels, player goals, and play styles, providing an enjoyable and immersive experience. The interactions and growth of characters contribute significantly to the narrative, enhancing the themes of resilience and determination. Players express a desire for further character development to enrich the story, particularly in relation to the franchise's legacy.
- “The character development and interaction add a rich layer to the experience, making it not just a game of survival but also a story of resilience and determination.”
- “High difficulty, tons of loot, and persistent character development, save before loading into a map, and marked extracts all make this game worth playing.”
- “The base building for character development depends on your difficulty level, character goals, and play style.”
- “That being said, I can't wait to see the story fully fleshed out and hopefully more character development, which drew so many into the Stalker franchise.”