Overgrowth Review Summary

Despite smooth combat, exceptional physics, and praised parkour, the game is abandoned, too short, and overpriced.

Combat is smooth and fluid: Players consistently praise the combat for being smooth, fluid, fast-paced, and responsive. The mechanics are described as brutal, satisfying, and simple to control yet complex to master.

Physics engine is exceptional: The physics-driven combat and ragdoll effects are frequently cited as unique and satisfying. The ragdoll system is described as unmatched, adding to the visceral and entertaining gameplay.

Parkour mechanics are praised: Parkour and freerunning are highlighted as well-executed and enjoyable, with realistic physics and fun wall-running and wall-jumping. The parkour is considered challenging but rewarding.

Combat and parkour balance well: The integration of combat, parkour, and stealth is praised for working well together. Players enjoy the mix of mechanics, finding them well-balanced and excellent in combination.

Game is fun and engaging: General enjoyment of the game is expressed, with players finding it fun, good, and one of the best. The overall experience is positively received.

Game abandoned by developers: Several clusters indicate the game has been abandoned or neglected by developers, with no updates or new content for years. Development progress is seen as stalled.

Campaign and game too short: Multiple clusters highlight the extremely short campaign length, often under 3-4 hours for the main story and around 8 hours for all content. Players feel the game offers very little playtime for the price.

Overpriced for what you get: Many reviews state the game is not worth its full price, calling it overpriced or a rip-off given the limited content and quality. The price-to-value ratio is a major complaint.

Game feels unpolished and unfinished: Reviews describe the game as rough, amateur, and incomplete, with a lack of polish and a feeling of being unfinished. Multiple clusters echo this sentiment.

Story is mediocre or absent: The story is widely criticized as mediocre, shallow, uninspired, or barely present, often ending on a cliffhanger with no resolution.

Emphasis on combat system: The combat system is highlighted as a core, tight, and unique feature of the game. It is described as fast-paced and a primary mechanic.

Core parkour and combat: The game blends parkour mechanics like wall-running and flipping with combat, creating a unique action experience. Movement and fighting are closely tied together.

Physics-based combat mechanics: Combat relies heavily on ragdoll physics and a physics engine for realistic movement, impacts, and environmental interactions. This creates dynamic and unpredictable fights.

Player character is Turner the rabbit: Players control a nimble rabbit character named Turner, who is a fighter. The game features cute rabbits engaged in violent combat.

Level editor and mod support: The game features a built-in map editor for creating custom levels. It also supports Steam Workshop for sharing and downloading mods, maps, and visual enhancements.

Frequent game crashes: Multiple reviews mention crashes on startup, shortly after launch, or repeatedly during play. Examples include 6 crashes in 15 minutes and crashes every 10 minutes.

Loading times too long: Players report loading times lasting from 30 seconds to several minutes, even on low settings. This issue is widespread and affects gameplay flow significantly.

Poor performance optimization: The game is described as unoptimized, causing lag, glitches, and overheating even on decent hardware. Lowering settings is often required for acceptable performance.

Glitches and bugs: Players report numerous glitches and bugs, making the game feel unstable. This is a consistent complaint across several reviews.

Works on low-end systems: Some players report the game can run on a poor computer or MacBook Pro with acceptable performance after adjustments.

Buy on sale: Many players say the game is only worth buying when discounted. They recommend waiting for a sale rather than paying full price.

Generally recommended: A number of players give a positive recommendation overall, saying the game is worth playing and would recommend it to others.

Recommended for fighting fans: Players suggest the game is best suited for fans of fighting games, especially those who enjoy martial arts and hand-to-hand combat.

Not for everyone: Some players caution that the game has a niche appeal and is not suited for all types of players. They advise potential buyers to check if the game fits their taste.

Consider price and expectations: Some players note that the game may be very short or not a conventional game, so it is only recommended if the buyer has realistic expectations and buys it cheap.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00.

Game completion: 8.0h.

Story completion: 3.0h.

Overgrowth initially delights with its unique combat and parkour, but repetitive levels, poor story, and lack of meaningful progression cause enjoyment to fade quickly for many players.

Friction: bad tutorial; repetitive levels; poor story; lack of progression; limited content.

Combat & Parkour Enthusiast: Aggressive, arena-focused, seeks high-difficulty brawls and utilizes environment for movement. Motivation: Mastering fluid parkour and challenging physics-based combat encounters. Stance: sale.

Sandbox & Mod Creator: Experimental, creative, spends most time in editor and modded arenas. Motivation: Creating custom levels, modding content, and messing around with physics in a sandbox environment. Stance: sale.

Price-Conscious Gamer: Cautious buyer, may wait for sales before engaging with content. Motivation: Getting worthwhile entertainment per dollar spent; avoiding perceived ripoffs. Stance: deep sale.

Steam Deck: The game suffers from severe performance issues, frequent crashes, and compatibility failures on Steam Deck, despite being marked as verified. Users experience stuttering, FPS drops, launch failures, and instability across campaigns and mods.

Linux and Proton: The two user reviews indicate that, despite its Steam Deck verification, the game runs poorly on Linux/Proton with frequent stutters and severe fps drops. No positive Linux/Proton experiences were reported, and no workarounds or tweaks were mentioned.

Monetization: No evidence of microtransactions, pay-to-win, gacha, loot boxes, or any in-game purchases. All user complaints are about the base purchase price being too high for the amount of content provided. These are standard price-value complaints, not predatory monetization.

Long development history: The game was in development for many years, with some reviewers noting a development cycle of nearly 20 years, 9 years, or a lengthy early access period. This long history is a frequently mentioned point.

Limited base game content: Reviewers mention that the base game has very little content, with a short main story of around 3 hours and a lack of world building. This is a common criticism.

Includes prequel Lugaru: The game includes the prequel Lugaru as part of the package, either as a campaign or a remake. This is a key selling point for fans of the series.

Described as a tech demo: The game is often described as more of a tech demo than a full game, with reviewers noting it feels like a proof of concept. This perception lowers its value as a complete title.

Mods may cause crashes: While mods are supported, they can sometimes cause crashes and require troubleshooting. This is a drawback for some users.