Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Aug 31, 2020
    100
    Windbound might come across as repetitive in some ways due to the genre of the game, but the journey is well worth every second. I would have liked to have seen a larger map or more challenges to overcome but I still firmly believe that the current balance of elements within the game is already at a good pace that it doesn’t become over or under whelming. Having completed the game, I can see where there would be room for further updates down the track but right now, Windbound is a brilliantly thought out game with amazing execution. Perfect for gamers of all ages, skill levels, and interests.
  2. Sep 14, 2020
    80
    More enticing systemically than it is narratively, Windbound nevertheless succeeds as a sojourner's adventure of striving for survival and greater understanding.
  3. Aug 28, 2020
    80
    Windbound was most definitely inspired by Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but with a much heavier focus on survival and crafting. If you enjoy survival games and want something to scratch that Zelda itch, you should check this game out.
  4. Aug 28, 2020
    80
    I think the most important thing to keep in mind when playing Windbound on Xbox One is that there is a bit of an adjustment period to picking up the game. I didn’t boot it up and immediately fall in love with it; the visuals and premise drew me in, while the mechanics took some adjustment. But after a while everything begins to feel pretty good.
  5. Sep 19, 2020
    78
    In Windbound we will embark on a survival with a great atmosphere and crafteo system. That unfortunately wrecks in their fights and a repetitive development.
  6. Aug 27, 2020
    78
    Windbound is a game as beautiful as deadly. This survival game of spectacular design brings us a great challenge with a brilliant soundtrack. Manage your resources, hunt so you don't die of hunger and discover what happened, but most importantly, survive.
  7. Aug 27, 2020
    69
    Windbound is a tough and mean spirited survival adventure. The concept is clever in its simplicity and it makes the game more difficult in other ways from the normal methods. The game is quite basic in its design but makes up for it in its challenge. I would have enjoyed the challenge more if the combat was handled a little better, the camera angles weren’t such a nuisance and the sailing wasn’t so slow and awkward. The pace can feel very slow at first but if you commit enough time to it you can speed things up as you progress and learn to balance survival better.
  8. Aug 31, 2020
    65
    Windbound is a story based survival game set across five procedurally generated worlds. It features a cool boat building mechanic and a strong sense of discovery, but some of its systems and mechanics get in the way and can strip the fun away.
  9. Sep 1, 2020
    60
    Windbound is a fantastic adventure wrapped in a questionable package. I remember distinctly being super excited for this game from the trailers. I wanted it to be a Zelda-style adventure in the absence of titles like it recently. The mixture of mystique and survival though just doesn’t work well here. The things that make each of these genres interesting are not combined effectively most of the time. What I wanted to do in discovering Windbound’s mysteries felt at odds with its base mechanics. I wanted to love this title a lot more than I ended up doing.
  10. Sep 1, 2020
    60
    Windbound starts off promisingly, but after a few hours it already seems to have shown everything it has to offer and from there we will only be hooked on solving its narrative mystery based on repeatability of objectives.
  11. Aug 28, 2020
    60
    A solitary experience, directionless and without contextual form. Gorgeous, yes, and presented as an ambitious and familiar package with an equally resonant soundtrack, but oddly empty.
  12. Aug 27, 2020
    58
    While Windbound failed to shake my sails, being too repetitive and pressured, it should appeal to survivalists. Respect must be afforded to the interesting sailing mechanics, which elevates the exploration.
  13. 55
    Windbound is a beautiful artistic accomplishment in terms of presentation, but fails to make good on its promise of bringing together an open-world single-player game and typical crafting-survival elements. Despite attempts to make it approachable for all, it is an ultimately frustrating affair that squanders its potential with the same rigid survival mechanics that we've seen in a lot of other games and that's a real shame.
  14. Sep 14, 2020
    50
    I had a hard time with understanding the purpose of Windbound. The concept set forth is relatively easy to understand but the execution fell flat and left me with more questions than answers. Aside from the graphics being gorgeous beyond expectations, Windbound wasn't a game that I found I enjoyed thoroughly. Some gamers may appreciate the survival mechanics and the overall style though. Windbound for me isn't a game I'd jump on my raft and cross oceans for, so I think I'll set up camp and chill on my island.
  15. Sep 1, 2020
    50
    Despite its genuinely breathtaking scenery and interesting castaway premise, Windbound is ultimately a let down. Neither compelling as a survival simulation nor captivating as a story-based experience, Windbound is fundamentally all at sea and should be given a wide berth.
  16. Aug 28, 2020
    50
    If the gods of random generation line everything up in your favour, Windbound could be a truly captivating adventure. It’s unlikely to happen that way though, and sadly its many frustrations outweigh the beautiful game it could have been.
User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 11
  2. Negative: 5 out of 11
  1. Sep 6, 2020
    6
    Windbound : The survival genre has been around for decades, but it seems that the rising prominence of indie game development over the lastWindbound : The survival genre has been around for decades, but it seems that the rising prominence of indie game development over the last decade has led to survival games experiencing something of a renaissance, much like the Metroidvania and roguelike genres. The story of Windbound follows Kara, a silent protagonist who finds herself shipwrecked and alone after a dangerous encounter with a massive Kraken-like creature. Kara’s goal is, of course, to find her way back home, but there’s a bigger narrative at play which is slowly unwound by encountering a series of mysterious magical shrines dotted about the islands of the strange waters she's been cast into. There’s a fairly extensive crafting system at Kara’s disposal, as almost everything in her surroundings - from grass and sticks to animal bones and hides - can be gathered and converted into rudimentary tools like shovels and hammers or enhancements to her boat in order to make sailing speedier. As much as I disliked the act of sailing, I did enjoy the process of building a sturdy boat. In typical survival game fashion, as you find new materials you unlock access to new recipes. There's a thing that actually frustrating me when you on dry island you are literally spending your whole time escaping from the monsters there's only few monsters that probably would ignore you as long as you stay away from their personal space. Windbound was a game that I've been waiting for a long time but it's really making me sad when I play a game that I've been waiting for a long time and after I play it I'm going like oh this so much on my Xbox One. Full Review »
  2. Sep 2, 2020
    3
    Windbound, a game that heavily emphasizes the fact that it wants to be like Windwaker. Which is a false comparison. Windbound is a shallowWindbound, a game that heavily emphasizes the fact that it wants to be like Windwaker. Which is a false comparison. Windbound is a shallow randomly generated survival game in a sea of Raft's and Stranded Deep's. Bizarre and punishing difficulty that detracts from the relaxing quality of semi-realistic sailing. Little to no story elements, NPC's or quests that would make this an adventure game like Windwaker. Hollow crafting and progression, wonky controls and crafting placement on Xbox. Lack of challenge and reason to build the toughest boat you can, as its not needed for any of the final islands. Lack of island variety or progressive changes to environments, size or complexity as the chapters progress. Broken boat physics and glitches, that don't seem to be alleviated by your own construction choices or hull placement to balance things out. Short, far too expensive for what you get and lacking even for a casual survival game. Watch my review here: https://youtu.be/g_1M6FJxfYo Full Review »
  3. May 19, 2023
    1
    Another garbage gold game with unity ugly graphics the graphics look budget to throw this garbage in the bin