Don't Starve

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1134 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 869 out of 1134
  2. Mixed: 203 out of 1134
  3. Negative: 62 out of 1134

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  1. metacritic2adel
    May 4, 2013
    10
    One of the best indie games i have ever played so far. I don't care if you say this game is a copycat of Minecraft. To me i think this game is way better than Minecraft
  2. stranglehold
    Apr 24, 2013
    8
    Very fun game, great music. Great game over all, but the game gets pretty repetitive after a while. Its very fun for about 10 to 15 hours, after that, that's about it. This game is very fun though i recommend it.
  3. Andrew4556
    Apr 24, 2013
    9
    The game is amazing overall the combat is great, the scavenging for items is great, and the hardcore survival right as you think it's getting easy, winter arrives and you are struggling for survival, is also very fun. I think the game deserves every bit of credit for it's great gameplay and awesome survival aspect. The price of the game on steam is phenomenal for just $13.49 at the momentThe game is amazing overall the combat is great, the scavenging for items is great, and the hardcore survival right as you think it's getting easy, winter arrives and you are struggling for survival, is also very fun. I think the game deserves every bit of credit for it's great gameplay and awesome survival aspect. The price of the game on steam is phenomenal for just $13.49 at the moment because of the 10% off. The one and only thing I have a problem with in this game is......... NOTHING. I can't think of anything that would make me not want to play this game.… Expand
  4. Karkona
    Apr 25, 2013
    10
    Wilderness survival with highly stylized aesthetics. You can find inspiration from other survival type games, but this one is unique and full of innovation. It has a dark and challenging tone throughout the game and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you play this game, remember nothing is certain, you never know when your next breath is your last.
  5. Ghostwalker3322
    Apr 30, 2013
    10
    Excellent Game Also Enjoyed Getting Team Fortress items, This Was a very simple game but put into a aspect that i never really Sean before. The Survival Actions will hook you in into a new world full Of Monsters, And Survival, This Is a very good game,
  6. Ndi
    May 3, 2013
    9
    A compact game, very addictive, very few bugs, quite nice time waster, quick to load and play and no major annoyances.

    A well deserved 9. I'd say 10, but it's a bit expensive for such a game that could have been a free flash game with little difference. As it will drop in price, most likely, soon (this review is about a week after release), I warmly recommend it.
  7. DarthBaws
    May 5, 2013
    10
    This game might seem silly first, but it's far from it anyone who loved Minecraft will definitely love this

    The game's art is refreshing and it's dark humor is even better. Game utilizes crafting system that's extremely basic compared to Minecraft but it seems to be best that way. You need to build "Science machines" to research for magic, armors weapons etc. When it's night    This game might seem silly first, but it's far from it anyone who loved Minecraft will definitely love this

    The game's art is refreshing and it's dark humor is even better.

    Game utilizes crafting system that's extremely basic compared to Minecraft but it seems to be best that way.

    You need to build "Science machines" to research for magic, armors weapons etc.

    When it's night time you need to build a fire and stay near it otherwise a giant invisible monster gets you,

    Overall, this game is a refreshing change it knows how to keep you entertained through the game with the weather changes AND with the sanity/food bar system.    … Expand
  8. AzuraReviews
    May 6, 2013
    8
    Great game. It takes the survival aspect and just makes it full on crazy. There's great monsters to kill and a whole lot of machines along the way to help you, most importantly DON'T STARVE.
  9. Majeye
    May 7, 2013
    10
    Been playing this game for quite some time. Absolutely brilliant. It never gets old, and it's constantly being updated.

    10/10

    -Majeye of Majeye Gaming
  10. Kyruka
    May 10, 2013
    9
    I've been paying attention to this game for a long time, and was always on the fence about buying it or not. I finally decided to buy it after much debating with myself and i'm very happy to announce that it was a brilliant purchase! The game is a very interesting and challenging game with really unique graphics amongst other things that really make it stand out. My favourite part aboutI've been paying attention to this game for a long time, and was always on the fence about buying it or not. I finally decided to buy it after much debating with myself and i'm very happy to announce that it was a brilliant purchase! The game is a very interesting and challenging game with really unique graphics amongst other things that really make it stand out. My favourite part about this title is the lack of instructions (what can I say, dying over and over really gets me addicted to a game) and am enjoying figuring out different things about the game. It has yet to feel repetitive during the time I have been playing as every game/round/life (however you consider it) I have tried something different, something that will hopefully let me last just that little while longer and I can honestly recommend this game to anyone who really is looking for a survival game, and to a degree a horror as well. Playing this game can go from relaxing to stressful in one simple event and I love the fact that a game can keep me on my toes like this. Overall, if you want a fun, unique and interesting survival horror (horror can be subjective to the person playing, I personally find it to be gripping at times) I highly recommend you pick up this game!… Expand
  11. GuntPlumber
    May 11, 2013
    9
    Don't Starve is easy to pick up and start, and is continually becoming more and more complex as features are added. You have to stay on your toes to survive and a simple mistake can be the end of it. Currently have played it for 20 hours, but I'll sure be playing more!
  12. sqectre
    May 15, 2013
    9
    This is absolutely not a game that will hold your hand. There is no tutorial period and when you die, you start over. It's old school like that, almost as if it's a remastered game from the golden age of Nintendo. The difficulty in progressing through your first in game year of play will frustrate and turn a lot of people off, but the satisfaction in independently solving the myriadThis is absolutely not a game that will hold your hand. There is no tutorial period and when you die, you start over. It's old school like that, almost as if it's a remastered game from the golden age of Nintendo. The difficulty in progressing through your first in game year of play will frustrate and turn a lot of people off, but the satisfaction in independently solving the myriad challenges relentlessly thrust upon your character in this hostile world is exhilarating.

    Yeah, you should try not to starve. But honestly, the ever present threat of starvation is hardly the greatest obstacle to your character's survival. Maintaining sanity amidst violent monsters both real and imagined, protecting yourself from the harsh climate, even escaping the lethal darkness of night provide more than enough of a challenge for those willing to put in the work it takes to discover this surprisingly large world.

    I've had an absolute blast with this game, expecting to play only around 15 hours. I've now logged 70+. A survival management simulation at it's core, this game really can't be much better for it's price. So don't starve, but really, watch out for those Hell Hounds.    … Expand
  13. noo24z
    May 18, 2013
    9
    This game has a very nice art style,a little bit of cartoonish but it's fine to me.The enemies in this game are just perfect and really scary.The first time i saw a spider i got goosebumps all over my body.I like the characthers,especially Wilson.I love that after every 4th day(i think)his beard grows up for a bit.The maker of this game made a pretty good work.The only thing that annoys meThis game has a very nice art style,a little bit of cartoonish but it's fine to me.The enemies in this game are just perfect and really scary.The first time i saw a spider i got goosebumps all over my body.I like the characthers,especially Wilson.I love that after every 4th day(i think)his beard grows up for a bit.The maker of this game made a pretty good work.The only thing that annoys me is the camera angle.I hate that when i chop trees there is a wood on the other side,and i just have to click q or r to turn the camera.But overall great experience! 9/10… Expand
  14. MatthewK
    May 20, 2013
    9
    Don't Starve is a survival game etched in challenge. I rather enjoy challenging games, as that is what drew me to this game. If you hate repetitive games (like all games), then don't get it. This is a game not about finding a way to escape your situation, but to instead survive long enough that you can find a way out. Odds are, you will not accomplish this task on your first go. PossiblyDon't Starve is a survival game etched in challenge. I rather enjoy challenging games, as that is what drew me to this game. If you hate repetitive games (like all games), then don't get it. This is a game not about finding a way to escape your situation, but to instead survive long enough that you can find a way out. Odds are, you will not accomplish this task on your first go. Possibly not even after you have played for several days. The game sets it's rules: 1) Don't take what is not yours; 2) Many things are docile until you attack; and 3) Don't starve.
    The game follows these rules to the end: there is no way around it.    … Expand
  15. Toosk
    May 22, 2013
    8
    Don't Starve is a 2D/3D game where the objective is to survive. Although the game is called Don’t Starve, that is the least of your worries in this game. This game has permanent death implemented which I do like, but it can be really annoying to say you have put a lot of hours into a world and it all goes away with in a blink of an eye. However you can prevent this by either playing itDon't Starve is a 2D/3D game where the objective is to survive. Although the game is called Don’t Starve, that is the least of your worries in this game. This game has permanent death implemented which I do like, but it can be really annoying to say you have put a lot of hours into a world and it all goes away with in a blink of an eye. However you can prevent this by either playing it safe or getting enough materials to bring you back to life, but you can only use this once.
    The art style is fantastic with an old fashioned style so to speak, with everything being outlined with black and have that depressing but nice to look at style.
    This game is getting updated around every 30 days, and has had caves recently added, and this is really buggy at the moment. It closed down my entire Don't Starve game every time I tried to load it, due to the fact that I was in a cave which really did annoy me. They should not release content that is in alpha stage (content that isn’t complete). So, would I recommend it? Yes I definitely would it’s fantastic, simple and fun to play and kill some time.    … Expand
  16. PopACoolDown
    May 22, 2013
    10
    I keep being drawn back to this game. I recommend playing it in 2-3 hour chunks and don't look up any wiki. It is fun to explore and discover new ways to interact with this fun but deadly world. I cant get everything done before the next free bit of content comes along so i am sure there will be many more hours of fun in this game for me. It's worth every penny of the £11 i paid for it andI keep being drawn back to this game. I recommend playing it in 2-3 hour chunks and don't look up any wiki. It is fun to explore and discover new ways to interact with this fun but deadly world. I cant get everything done before the next free bit of content comes along so i am sure there will be many more hours of fun in this game for me. It's worth every penny of the £11 i paid for it and a great experience for one of my first indie games, which has intrigued me to try more.… Expand
  17. jonahtroy
    Jun 5, 2013
    9
    Don't Starve is a brilliant game in which you start out as a guy named wilson and you appear in the wilderness with a man named maxwell hinting you find food before it gets dark. You are left to fend for yourself in a natural survival game with animals that seem almost natural but some with a monsterous twist. Such as a plain old rabbit or the twisted deerclops you never know what toDon't Starve is a brilliant game in which you start out as a guy named wilson and you appear in the wilderness with a man named maxwell hinting you find food before it gets dark. You are left to fend for yourself in a natural survival game with animals that seem almost natural but some with a monsterous twist. Such as a plain old rabbit or the twisted deerclops you never know what to expect. The only minor criticism I have is that many new players are steered away from the game after dying after spending many hours with one character which can lead to some raging and smashing of computers :D… Expand
  18. LeonRPGPlayer
    Jun 11, 2013
    9
    Interesting game, I don't really have good words for it, but i loved the game, Its such a interesting type of game, survival and really open, i loved the game, i just don't give it a ten because it could use some good interesting story to make the best game ever, very cool.
  19. ThatBum
    Jun 27, 2013
    9
    It is amazing. The first game I actually bought on Steam in ages. Maybe I have a soft spot for games that are rougelike/survival/procedurally generated/whatever you want to call it, but I'm having loads of fun. I don't understand why everyone thinks it's repetitive, I've gotten through playthroughs of 60+ days and am still finding things to do. If you're just sitting at your base campIt is amazing. The first game I actually bought on Steam in ages. Maybe I have a soft spot for games that are rougelike/survival/procedurally generated/whatever you want to call it, but I'm having loads of fun. I don't understand why everyone thinks it's repetitive, I've gotten through playthroughs of 60+ days and am still finding things to do. If you're just sitting at your base camp surviving, go exploring and find things you haven't seen before, that's what the game's about!

    And the adventure mode! My God. It's challenging and captivating. Each level's harder than the rest. The ending is...terrifying.

    The updates just keep coming as well. The devs are committed to the wellbeing of this game.

    If you think you will enjoy it, you will. Buy it immediately. If you don't, you probably won't. Rougelikes aren't for everyone.    … Expand
  20. xZippy
    Dec 31, 2013
    8
    One of the most creative games I've ever played in my life. Imagine if Tim Burton, Minecraft and possibly Amnesia: The Dark Descent had a strange three-way kid. It's deeply interesting and too fun. The game can be very hard, but you're able to edit worlds to your liking and unlock new characters which adds more to the replay value.
  21. Hurzdligh
    Jul 15, 2013
    9
    A great game. I only gave it a 9 because it lacks co-op (not multiplayer, but co-op with maximum 2-3 players).

    It has almost everything a survival game needs, and it is growing still with constant patching (free of charge). Most of the bad reviews are made by people that can`t cope with dying in games (permanent death) or with harsh environments that punish bad decisions and rewards    A great game. I only gave it a 9 because it lacks co-op (not multiplayer, but co-op with maximum 2-3 players).

    It has almost everything a survival game needs, and it is growing still with constant patching (free of charge).

    Most of the bad reviews are made by people that can`t cope with dying in games (permanent death) or with harsh environments that punish bad decisions and rewards intelligence.

    A beautiful, challenging game. Do yourself a favor and buy this game, it is really that good.    … Expand
  22. DQT
    Nov 25, 2013
    8
    Pros:
    + Randomly generated worlds with varying resources and NPC's
    + The option to create custom worlds + Tons of items to harvest, craft, use and eat + Immense world to explore + Original and fitting art style + Great sound design and music + Immense replayability and depth + Supports mods + Frequent content updates + Gain experience after each death to unlock additional    Pros:
    + Randomly generated worlds with varying resources and NPC's
    + The option to create custom worlds
    + Tons of items to harvest, craft, use and eat
    + Immense world to explore
    + Original and fitting art style
    + Great sound design and music
    + Immense replayability and depth
    + Supports mods
    + Frequent content updates
    + Gain experience after each death to unlock additional characters to play as; each character has their own passive abilities that changes the way you play

    Cons:
    - Large learning curve with no in-game help or tutorials
    - Combat is frustrating and basic
    - The game is designed around grinding, and you'll never do anything but.

    Summary: Despite the low budget, Don't Starve is an original take on the survival genre that's every bit as unpredictable as it is satisfying.

    Who should by this game:
    * Gamers who like the survival genre; Minecraft, terraria etc.
    * Those who enjoy rogue-likes
    * Fans of Klei Entertainment
    * Gamers who enjoy a challenge
    * Fans of indie-games

    Who shouldn't buy this game:
    * People who hate indie-games
    * People who enjoy casual games with easy gameplay
    * Those who prefer their games to have multiplayer components
    * Those who like fast-paced, twitch-based games as opposed to slower, cerebral games

    Verdict: 8    … Expand
  23. iseeall
    Jul 26, 2013
    8
    The game is good overall, and it was very interested to play for 2 days. After that I got bored. Then another day of playing, and bored again.
    The good:
    - interesting art (I am not really a fan of this style myself, but still it's very cool) - great humor in many places (the sounds of the spiders attacking are excellent!). Really great humor - the game is done with style - i like that    The game is good overall, and it was very interested to play for 2 days. After that I got bored. Then another day of playing, and bored again.
    The good:
    - interesting art (I am not really a fan of this style myself, but still it's very cool)
    - great humor in many places (the sounds of the spiders attacking are excellent!). Really great humor
    - the game is done with style
    - i like that when you die you have to restart. I used to play ADOM a lot Actually, I expected a more difficult game after reading reviews, but Don't Starve is much easier than ADOM. I didn't even feel said when dying.
    The bad:
    - there is no wiki or any other info source inside the game. Namely, you have to jump into a wormhole and die so as to learn that wormholes kill you and you shouldn't jump into them. You have to die just because it got dark to learn that in darkness you die (wtf! this makes no sense) Same with most other stuff. I ended up just reading an inofficial wiki of the game to be able to understand most of the concepts. This is not a good sign at all! Sorry guys, but dying from something you couldn't even know is no fun.. It just teaches you that no matter what you do next time and no matter how good you play, you will die from something you didn't know until finally you have a feeling that it's pointless to keep repeating to just learn the game "the hard way" and quit.
    - combat is totally awkward. I died quite a few times just because I couldn't click precisely on a moving mob and the character would try to walk to the clicked spot instead of attacking the mob. Very frustrating. Actually, a SHIFT key should stop the character from moving and force a stationary attack, just like in Diablo 1.
    - no ranged weapons in the beginning of the game. I know, it's easier to make a spear than a bow, but there are lots of players like me who like ranged characters more than melee. You could make the bow a low damage weapon or introduce other disadvantage (limited arrows, slow reload time, low accuracy, whatever) but still let the player fight in his own style early.
    All in all, an artistically excellent game spoiled by bad combat system and lack of in-game help.    … Expand
  24. SilentINU
    Jul 11, 2013
    8
    Well, i have to say this game is a great survival game and has an interesting design and i love artistic games like this one. Personally i didn't complete the adventure mode yet but i plan to, to unlock the last characters and the best part of this game is that almost (if not) every month, Klei Entertainment release a new update with new and useful stuff and now mods are supported. ThereWell, i have to say this game is a great survival game and has an interesting design and i love artistic games like this one. Personally i didn't complete the adventure mode yet but i plan to, to unlock the last characters and the best part of this game is that almost (if not) every month, Klei Entertainment release a new update with new and useful stuff and now mods are supported. There was only some disappointing things:
    1. Combat I didn't like the combat, the monsters just destroyed me, and i know that i didn't played that much to get great equipment but anyway, the enemies where to strong for me;
    2. Adventure mode I don't like the way it was done, not being able to carry your equipment through the worlds but i guess that raise the difficulty and challenge and the portal to travel between the worlds that need to be found and sometimes can't be found because your generated world is stupid and confusing.

    But overall the survival aspects, the hunger and the design of the game are awesome and deserve a 8. Maybe in some months i would give it a 9 if we get even better updates and i'm really hopping for multiplayer that was a big disappointment for me that the game didn't had one. I'm hoping the PS4 version brings one.    … Expand
  25. Rekia
    Jul 15, 2013
    10
    I was really pleasantly surprised by this game. It's a fantastic game if you enjoy trying to survive against all odds with no quest markers telling you where to go, no hand holding, no tutorial, just good old fashioned "figure it out yourself" gameplay. It's not overly complicated, it's really simple on the surface, but much more complex as you keep going and developing strategies to stayI was really pleasantly surprised by this game. It's a fantastic game if you enjoy trying to survive against all odds with no quest markers telling you where to go, no hand holding, no tutorial, just good old fashioned "figure it out yourself" gameplay. It's not overly complicated, it's really simple on the surface, but much more complex as you keep going and developing strategies to stay alive.

    It reminds me very much of Minecraft survival mode, but in a much harsher world. I've already put many more hours into this $15 game than I have in my last three $60 games combined.    … Expand
  26. Sparkles
    Jul 1, 2013
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A good game is from a good idea. Most people say that Don't Starve is similar to Minecraft. I must say yes, it is. But you don't have to say that it's a copy.

    In this game, you have to pick your own food, your own material, build, mix., try new things, discover more, be ready to a new adventure every minute, never be stop, avoid the darkness. Sometimes I keep hours and hours doing the same thing: playing Don't Starve.

    This is not a addicting game, but it is a nice game. I can fast feel tired of playing it because of the system of Don't Starve! Don't attack the shadows over there with low life! Don't be on the total darkness! I do like this game, but this little things make the game turns tiring.    … Expand
  27. Pedecola
    Jul 2, 2013
    10
    This game has a very nice artistic drawings and game mechanics, it really make you fell confortable when playing. If you like surviving games like Minecraft, I'm sure you'll enjoy playing Don't Starve. Klei updates are frequent and always add some more content to the game. I own this game from the first beta release.
  28. HelloMrHell
    Jul 2, 2013
    8
    A pretty good game, very good survival game, and THOSE GODDAMN HOUNDS! The Hounds are just, goddamn. Might as well put an entire video out of how to not die from the hounds.
  29. tiny3753
    Dec 29, 2013
    10
    This game is so fun! This game is survival hardcore game. Play like character willson, an intrepid Gentleman Scientist who has been trapped by a demon and transported to a mysterious wilderness world. Wilson must learn to exploit his environment and its inhabitants if he ever hopes to escape and find his way back home. Enter a strange and unexplored world full of strange creatures,This game is so fun! This game is survival hardcore game. Play like character willson, an intrepid Gentleman Scientist who has been trapped by a demon and transported to a mysterious wilderness world. Wilson must learn to exploit his environment and its inhabitants if he ever hopes to escape and find his way back home. Enter a strange and unexplored world full of strange creatures, dangers, and surprises. Gather resources to craft items and structures that match your survival style. Play it your own way as you unravel the mysteries of this strange land.… Expand
  30. HansiHarris
    Jan 7, 2015
    9
    Don't Starve is not just a game of survival. It is an adventure in which you start devoid of the essentials for survival. Searching for food , make a fire , a weapon with which to defend yourself. From there the exploration begins, the make you strong in an inhospitable world. You can play in several ways , creating a base where you strong or being a nomad and have several small sheltersDon't Starve is not just a game of survival. It is an adventure in which you start devoid of the essentials for survival. Searching for food , make a fire , a weapon with which to defend yourself. From there the exploration begins, the make you strong in an inhospitable world. You can play in several ways , creating a base where you strong or being a nomad and have several small shelters as you traverse the globe in search of objects that allow you to get out of this .
    The world where you appear is not the only thing you can visit the caves are much more dangerous , but instead find more useful items . Or find the portal to the world of adventures, where you propose several challenges and in case of death return to the original world as if nothing had happened. Hundreds of objects, characters and combinations. All your imagination quest to find that wants to create object with which to craft what you want .
    A world where not get bored as long as you do not die again and again . Recommended    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Best PC Game of 2013
40
#40 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
22
#22 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Gamer.nl
    Jul 19, 2013
    80
    Don’t Starve is a game for those who persevere. The infinitely playable survival RPG with an artsy appearance tests your endurance, but rewards players with a surprisingly unique experience.
    Read full review
  2. games(TM)
    Jun 28, 2013
    80
    It's a game that just keeps giving, even as it tears your life from you. [Issue#136, p.110]
    Read full review
  3. Polygon
    Jun 26, 2013
    85
    A refreshingly upfront experience, right down to the title. A game that shoves players into a complex, harsh world with little explanation, it can be tough to parse at first. But little by little, Don't Starve reveals itself via deep mechanics and an ever-evolving world. It started strong and got better.
    Read full review
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