Windbound

 Switch
Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. Nintendo Life
    Sep 1, 2020
    70
    Windbound is most certainly not the Zelda-lite adventure that you may have expected it to be, but it still manages to pull off an impressively well-made survival experience that’s fun to roam around in for a few hours. The open-ended progression, pleasing art style, and relaxing pace make this one an easy recommendation for fans of the survival genre, though it’s held back from greatness due to issues with repetition. Still, it’s tough to go wrong with what’s on offer here; you might want to give this one a look.
  2. GAMINGbible
    Aug 27, 2020
    70
    Windbound might not be a perfect game that delivers on all of its promises, but it comes close. Those of you looking to scratch that open-world survival itch could do a heck of a lot worse. While it could definitely have used a little more time in the oven to really smooth over its rougher aspects, 5 Lives has still managed to create a seafaring adventure that, for the most part, feels truly grand.
  3. Gameblog.fr
    Oct 6, 2020
    60
    Windbound is a survival game with rogue lite components. If the game has good ideas and design, the controls lacks of ergonomy, and the game is quite repetitive.
  5. Digitally Downloaded
    Aug 31, 2020
    60
    This tedium would be unacceptable in an action game, but Windbound is a survival game. In survival games, death is supposed to mean something. Loss of progress represents the stakes; repetition is the barrier of entry. For players ready to take that plunge, there are some far-and-few-between moments of Windbound which are exhilarating. There’s nothing quite like stalking down the player’s first Gorehorn or Gloomharrow and seeing the game’s possibilities open right up as a reward for some intrepid hunting skills. But that being said, it’s a kind of enjoyment which needs to be really scrapped for and earned, and for most people, I suspect Windbound is going to feel a little too much like work.
  6. IGN
    Sep 1, 2020
    50
    Neither compelling as a survival simulation nor captivating as a story-based experience, Windbound is all at sea.

Awards & Rankings

63
#63 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 29
  3. Negative: 5 out of 29
  1. pieguard
    Aug 29, 2020
    9
    Honestly, I've only known about this game for a week, and I was a bit thrown off by critic reviews as it sounded like such an awesome concept.Honestly, I've only known about this game for a week, and I was a bit thrown off by critic reviews as it sounded like such an awesome concept. After getting through the story, I have to say that I am having an awesome time. It is immensely fun sailing around, scavenging for boat and gear upgrades etc. I am fine with the minimalist story, as I kind of like the freedom it allows. I HOP that the developers add some new game modes. I feel like this game could have so much potential if there was just a free mode where you could just roam the procedurally generated ocean discovering new lands.… Full Review »
  2. Low_Ink
    Sep 2, 2020
    10
    I've spent 13 hours in this game and i loved every second of it. I'm probably going MUCH slower than other people but at least I'm in chapterI've spent 13 hours in this game and i loved every second of it. I'm probably going MUCH slower than other people but at least I'm in chapter 5! It kinda reminds me of wind waker sailing? I really enjoy the raft building aspect in it, and I ended up getting the mothership achievement in normal gameplay. Overall if a AAA studio released this game it would probably have less glitches and more boimes, but for a $30 indie game I really enjoy it! So while I originally thought this was gonna be a Zeldalike I'd say i'm much more pleased than I would have been with a rip off. Don't trust the reviews of people who thought it was more like Zelda than a survival game. 9/10… Full Review »
  3. StrawVulcan
    Sep 1, 2020
    8
    Initially painfully frustrating, I now love existing in this world. The main difference between my first impression and now was realizing IInitially painfully frustrating, I now love existing in this world. The main difference between my first impression and now was realizing I needed to maintain a hectic pace to survive, and that I’d get my relaxing breaks from the sailing. You do indeed need to learn to sail, and then it’s a delight. That said, the game seems unfinished in several ways: crashes, bugs, control quirks, sparse mechanics intros, and a very short story. I’m here rating the game I expect it *will* be later this week when they release a bug fix patch, and I very much hope they fill out the game and polish it into a 10/10.… Full Review »
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