Dead State

 PC
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 95 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 95
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 95
  3. Negative: 23 out of 95

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  1. DaggettDBeaver
    Nov 26, 2015
    9
    First off, i want to clarify that i write this review as a big fan of turn-based strategy games like XCOM or Jagged Alliance, a huge fan of classical role-playing games and as somebody who doesn't really look at graphics first. If you want a perfectly polished title, Dead State might not be the game you are looking for.

    I think many of the reviewers have the problem that they quit the    First off, i want to clarify that i write this review as a big fan of turn-based strategy games like XCOM or Jagged Alliance, a huge fan of classical role-playing games and as somebody who doesn't really look at graphics first. If you want a perfectly polished title, Dead State might not be the game you are looking for.

    I think many of the reviewers have the problem that they quit the game to fast. Yes, it is damn hard to get into it, the escape from the burning plane feels more annoying than comforting and the first mission doesn't show the best part of the game either. I had some hard time starting the game as well and nearly quit at the beginning. But i didn't - and because of that i could see what a great game it was.

    Dead State is probably the best mixture of strategy and role-playing game i ever played - and i don't say that lightly. It has its weaknesses, like a bad AI and Zombies moving out-of-vision to fast and seemingly appear out of nowhere when you are to loud, but that's okay. But it makes up for that by a really nice atmosphere, good characters, a good storyline, a good base management system, a good general game balance and lots of other very positive things.

    The scavanging, searching for food and discovering new places is just a great mechanic overall and the crisis events are a great way for character developement.

    I only wish that DoubleBear had some better programmers, because when we look at it, the programming (AI, Bugs, malfunctioning user interface elements) is really what keeps this game from getting 10 out of 10 points from me. But still, after all, i would consider it the best game i have played in 2015 so far.    … Expand
  2. MNCCritic
    Sep 14, 2016
    9
    This is very underrated product with hours of play. Dead State is an entertaining, imaginative game that focuses on building a community of conflicting personalities in a crisis. I have no affiliation to the game creators and I signed onto this site just to defend this title. Would love to see further development on this title.

    The Good: Community building, conflict resolution,    This is very underrated product with hours of play. Dead State is an entertaining, imaginative game that focuses on building a community of conflicting personalities in a crisis. I have no affiliation to the game creators and I signed onto this site just to defend this title. Would love to see further development on this title.

    The Good: Community building, conflict resolution, character development, standard and specialized resources, story telling.

    The Bad: Graphics are a little primitive, but not that bad. I like high resolution in first person shooters, but 'illustration graphics' are fine in an isometric. Pathfinding could get weird.

    The Ugly: The turn based combat could use a little refinement.

    I did not find any bugs that broke my game play or really annoyed me. I have played a lot of games over the years and this one wasn't that bad...HEY PEOPLE, Kickstarter or not, you can only go so far with the budget you have and they delivered a fine product.    … Expand
  3. wolf-mvp
    Oct 12, 2015
    10
    Dead state it is great game.
    Dead state = Fallout (1,2) + This War of Mine

    Game mechanic = 9/10
    Music = 8/10
    Atmosphere = 9/10

    Good, but underrated game.

    10 zombies/10
  4. Rygar
    Mar 1, 2015
    8
    Dead State is a survival game with RPG influences. Your job is to lead a group of survivors and keep them alive.

    The game overall is quite good, it definitely keeps you thinking about how you're going to spend resources, and balancing risk versus reward as you go scavenging. Combat is turn based and reminiscent of Fallout and Wasteland 2. You have the opportunity to influence how    Dead State is a survival game with RPG influences. Your job is to lead a group of survivors and keep them alive.

    The game overall is quite good, it definitely keeps you thinking about how you're going to spend resources, and balancing risk versus reward as you go scavenging. Combat is turn based and reminiscent of Fallout and Wasteland 2.

    You have the opportunity to influence how some of your NPCs grow by making choices that determine their growth path, though many you cannot influence.

    The game is overall in good condition today with only a few bugs remaining and I've not run into any gamekilling bugs. NPC's are generally well written and believable. You do find yourself making hard choices, such as leaving competing groups alone or engaging them even though they aren't overtly hostile.

    The "Leveling" mechanics are innovative. You don't gain levels from killing things, you gain them from scavenging and making decisions.

    It does have a few cons, variety of loot becomes repetitive after a bit, and NPC gifts are almost completely dependent on the random generator, making it very difficult to find some things. Another minor annoyance is that some areas are locked so you can walk over them and never see anything until someone tells you about it.

    Overall it is a fun survival RPG and I'd recommend it to anyone who is ready for a non-standard RPG.    … Expand
  5. Zell
    Jul 26, 2015
    9
    You get this game for the writing. Some of the best in the business. Gameplay can get repetitive after a while, and by mid game zombies become speed bumps. If you liked the first 2 fallouts combat is in that style, but the graphics are not those of a AAA game. That said its amazing what they were able to do with a 10 person team, and a small budget. I paid full price and feel like I got myYou get this game for the writing. Some of the best in the business. Gameplay can get repetitive after a while, and by mid game zombies become speed bumps. If you liked the first 2 fallouts combat is in that style, but the graphics are not those of a AAA game. That said its amazing what they were able to do with a 10 person team, and a small budget. I paid full price and feel like I got my monies worth with it. Is it perfect no, but does it deliver on the experience of managing a shelter during a zombie out break yes. This is not an action game its a thinking game, and those who enjoy that will enjoy this a lot. Personally I am ready to throw another 50 at an expansion.… Expand
  6. ebonyiii
    Aug 11, 2015
    8
    I've played a lot of zombie game in the last few years, and I have to say that Dead State, at the moment, is one of the best of them. It is similar to Stat of Decay: SoD has better graphic, a more dynamic combat system, and a good shelter mechanics.
    I like anyway Dead State tactical combat system, and I like its RPG inclinations, even if It could have been better implemented (ie too few    I've played a lot of zombie game in the last few years, and I have to say that Dead State, at the moment, is one of the best of them. It is similar to Stat of Decay: SoD has better graphic, a more dynamic combat system, and a good shelter mechanics.
    I like anyway Dead State tactical combat system, and I like its RPG inclinations, even if It could have been better implemented (ie too few dialog options).
    I've played only the "reanimated version" of the games, and at the moment I've not seen so many bug (probably they've resolved most of them).
    A good game.    … Expand
  7. Adast_Adamov
    Dec 7, 2014
    10
    This game is masterpiece. It reminded me of classic Fallout so much that i almost cried. Way better than Wasteland 2. Great characters, good graphics, challenging but also simple battles. The only drawback is quantity of bugs and glitches, which, i hope, will be resolved soon.
  8. MrPink
    Dec 7, 2014
    8
    Finally, a zombie game which ISN'T about combat. This game is about survival. Scavenging for survival, fighting for survival, and managing your resources, trying to keep people's morale up, so that they can help you survive.
    Combat is actually quite difficult and unpredictable, and human enemies are very dangerous. It's a refreshing change of pace. For once, you have to consider    Finally, a zombie game which ISN'T about combat. This game is about survival. Scavenging for survival, fighting for survival, and managing your resources, trying to keep people's morale up, so that they can help you survive.
    Combat is actually quite difficult and unpredictable, and human enemies are very dangerous. It's a refreshing change of pace. For once, you have to consider whether or not going into combat is even worth it. Combat costs you ammunition (if you use firearms) and medical supplies(for the impending injuries you'll receive) and possibly deaths. You need to weigh up the possible scavenging benefits to all of that. Especially since you don't get EXP from combat (which i love). Much better off sneaking in, scavenging, and sneaking out, then you are fighting. Very much enjoying this game, and definitely re-playable.    … Expand
  9. Csmyky
    Jan 15, 2015
    10
    Permanent repairs and upgrades.
    Huge idea well executed.
    Zombie game is now trendy.
    The game is still hope will improve a lot.
    Building and character development & Survival Skills
  10. FlorianGh
    Dec 6, 2014
    10
    As a fan of true RPG's I must say that I am liking this game very much. It really matters every thing that you do in the game, every weapon that you use makes an amount of noise. Killing in this game does not earn you XP so it really make you think twice before engaging an enemy. I love the fact that the game is very hard and I didn't found any setting for difficulty :). It really showsAs a fan of true RPG's I must say that I am liking this game very much. It really matters every thing that you do in the game, every weapon that you use makes an amount of noise. Killing in this game does not earn you XP so it really make you think twice before engaging an enemy. I love the fact that the game is very hard and I didn't found any setting for difficulty :). It really shows that the game was made by experts in RPG's like Brian Mitsoda who work at Troika and made Arcanum and Vampire : Bloodlines.… Expand
  11. Joseph65
    Sep 3, 2020
    8
    All the atmosphere of the "walking dead" tv series is perfectly captured by this complex, multi-layered strategic game of survival during the zombie apocalypse. On the strategic level, you need to secure a shelter, gather food, fuel, other fellow survivors and try to keep your little community expanding, thriving and, mostly surviving each passing day. when you choose your foraging partyAll the atmosphere of the "walking dead" tv series is perfectly captured by this complex, multi-layered strategic game of survival during the zombie apocalypse. On the strategic level, you need to secure a shelter, gather food, fuel, other fellow survivors and try to keep your little community expanding, thriving and, mostly surviving each passing day. when you choose your foraging party in the morning (and at the same time assign other less exciting tasks to those who stay behind in the shelter), you go out to look for what you need to survive in a dreadful, apocalyptic world of death. Then you get to meet the enemy: zombies -yes- but especially other human survivors, who are often more dangerous than the living dead.
    Tactical combat (turn based-JA2 style) follows with a good many options and weapons. I find also this part of teh game very satisfying, and cannot say I have found all the glitches and bugs other reviewers mentioned (after the "reanimated" patch of mid may 2015). Overall, I love this game, but it still has room for improvement: a) overall morale of the shelter seems to have a limited game effect b) more dialogue option would be beneficial c) you cannot kneel or go prone in combat d) there seem to be little option to use stealth usefully in combat. I hope the developers will address some of these points.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. CD-Action
    Mar 17, 2015
    50
    It’s a game that does some things really well and other really badly. If you’re willing to endure the latter and you’ve already finished Wastelands 2, you can give Dead State a chance. [03/2014, p.78]
  2. Everyeye.it
    Feb 9, 2015
    65
    It's a sometimes interesting starting point, but to compete with the many zombie games out there, it still lacks content.
    Read full review
  3. Games.cz
    Jan 28, 2015
    70
    Dead State game offers a great experience that combines the struggle for survival, the party and shelter management, entertaining RPG part and a tactical combat. The game grabs and holds you for dozens of hours, so you are willing to forgive it its obsolete visuals. We’d like to see bugs disappear a bit faster though.
    Read full review
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