- Fun and engaging gameplay
- Enjoyable survival mechanics
- Extensive mod support
- Removal of well-liked features
- Biome progression system flaws
- Developers ignoring community feedback
Emotions
Verdict
Mostly negative
Summary
Positive 8% · Negative 92%. Score: 92 / 100
Verdict
Predatory
Summary
The game has introduced several predatory monetization practices, including a gacha-like equipment system, selling previously free content as paid DLC, significantly increasing the game's price, and simplifying core gameplay mechanics to sell solutions. These practices have led to a high level of user dissatisfaction and complaints about the game's monetization. Score: 95 / 100
Top points
- Paid Gacha / Lootboxes - High
- Day-1 DLC - High
- Overpriced DLC - High
- Create Problem, Sell Solution - High
Verdict
Mods Enhance but Not Mandatory
Summary
The analysis of user feedback reveals that while many players prefer using mods to enhance their gameplay experience in '7 Days to Die,' there is a notable reliance on community fixes to address issues not resolved by the developers. Some users find certain aspects of the game unplayable without mods, particularly for PVE players. However, the consensus does not indicate that the game is broken or unplayable without mods for the majority of users. Score: 30 / 100
Top points
- Preference for Mods - Low
- Reliance on Mods for Fixes - Medium
- Gameplay Experience - Medium
Verdict
Needs Improvement
Summary
The user feedback highlights significant issues with game stability, inventory management, and game mechanics. Many users report frequent glitches and bugs that require external fixes, which severely impacts the user experience. Additionally, the need to constantly refer to external wikis for inventory management and crafting is a common complaint. The shift in game mechanics from open-ended gameplay to more rigid and less enjoyable mechanics has also frustrated many users. Score: 10 / 100
Top points
- Bugs and Glitches - High
- Inventory Management - High
- Game Mechanics and Design - Medium
Verdict
Needs Significant Improvement
Summary
The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with the game's performance, stability, and anti-cheat software implementation. Users frequently report lag, frame rate drops, and crashes, particularly during high-difficulty missions or after updates. The Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) software has caused compatibility issues, especially for Linux and Steam Deck users. Controller support has also been noted as problematic, with users experiencing broken functionality and worsened support. Additionally, the user interface is criticized for being unclear and having small text, while poor optimization leads to overheating and constant FPS drops even on powerful systems. Score: 75 / 100
Top points
- Performance Issues - High
- Crashes and Instability - High
- Anti-Cheat Software Issues - High
- Controller Support Issues - Medium
- User Interface and Optimization - Medium
Positives:
- Players find the game highly enjoyable, especially when playing with friends. The gameplay is immersive and does not get boring, offering a fantastic and challenging experience.
- The survival aspects of the game are particularly praised. Players find the survival gameplay fun, challenging, and rewarding, making it one of the better survival games available.
- The game has a strong modding community, with plenty of mods available that enhance the gameplay experience and add variety.
- The game is considered one of the best zombie survival games, with players praising its zombie survival and crafting elements.
- The game is generally well-received, with players describing it as awesome, good, and great. It is considered one of the best games ever by some players.
Negatives:
- Developers have removed several features that were well-liked by players, including customization options and certain gameplay mechanics. This has led to frustration among the player base.
- The biome progression system is seen as tedious and poorly implemented. Players find the restrictions and repetitive challenges frustrating, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The community feels that the developers are not listening to their feedback and are ignoring important issues raised by players. This has led to a disconnect between the developers and the community.
- Players are dissatisfied with changes to zombie AI and the lack of variety in zombie types. The AI is seen as poorly implemented and the limited variety makes combat repetitive.
- Players feel that recent updates have made the game less enjoyable. The changes are seen as detrimental to the overall fun and gameplay experience.
Gameplay:
- The game heavily focuses on survival mechanics, including crafting, scavenging, and resource gathering. Players emphasize the importance of these elements in the gameplay experience.
- Base building is a core aspect, with players highlighting the mechanics of building, strengthening, and defending bases against enemies. This includes a variety of blocks and structural freedom.
- Players discuss the behavior of enemies, particularly zombies, including their AI, variety, and specific behaviors during combat and horde attacks.
- Open-world exploration is a significant part of the game, with players appreciating the freedom and variety in exploring different biomes and dungeons.
- The game features a progression system with quests, including fetch quests and dynamic quests. Players also mention a skill progression system tied to finding books.
Performance:
- The game frequently experiences performance problems, including low FPS and stuttering, which significantly affect gameplay.
- Many players have reported that the game suffers from poor graphics quality and bad optimization, leading to an overall subpar visual experience.
- The game is prone to random crashes and has been reported to cause severe hardware issues, including high GPU and CPU usage and even damaging hardware in extreme cases.
- Players have encountered numerous glitches and bugs, including physics issues and unexpected building collapses, which disrupt the gaming experience.
- Storms and other weather events in the game lead to significant visibility issues and performance drops, including lag and FPS drops.
Recommendations:
- Many players do not recommend the game due to recent updates, particularly update 1.3, which seems to have negatively impacted the game experience.
- Several reviews mention that the game is worth the price only if purchased on sale, indicating a perception of the game being overpriced at its current full price.
- Players express a desire for more structured gameplay elements such as factions, which could determine missions and endings, and clear end goals like finding a cure in a final boss laboratory level.
- Players suggest trying other games like Project Zomboid, Kenshi, Rust, or Minecraft with survival zombie mods instead of this game.
- Some players recommend playing older versions of the game, suggesting that recent updates have not been well-received.
Miscellaneous:
- Some players suggest that handing the game over to modders might result in better balance and content delivery. This indicates a desire for more community involvement in the game's development.
- Players have noted that the game has had a long development cycle. This could indicate anticipation for the game or frustration with the wait.
- There are mentions of DLC, which could imply that players are discussing additional content for the game. This could be either positive or negative depending on the context.
