Subterrain

I really had a blast with this game especially considering that you can pick it up very cheap on sale. After a quick tutorial level you learn that you need do several things pretty much all at once. 1) Don't die, Eat, Sleep, Drink, Piss, ♥♥♥♥, and Keep your infection rates down. Keep the global infection rates down, keep the individual sector infection rates down. Don't run out of power (ammo and flashlight), oxygen or let yourself freeze to death. 2) Manage the reactor cores, if the reactor goes down, its over and yes there will be invasions. 3) Find upgrades for your base, which includes 4 sectors and the reactor cores and more. 4) Loot everything with your tiny backpack so you can keep upgrading your equipment, which includes armor, guns, grenades, drugs, and medicine... and more. 5) Manage your time effectively so you don't fall behind on anything from numbers 1 through 4. The main thing you'll need are the data chips for the 4 sectors, problem is you don't know where they are... and neither does the game (for most of them) because its randomized... If this sounds like a lot, its because it is, and the game does not do a very good job teaching you any strategy for how to handle all of this or even really where to start other than to just find those data chips... somewhere out there, but once you start to understand the flow of the game its gameplay loop is really fun, go out, survive, kill, loot, comeback research, repair, sleep... and slowly over time you'll go from barely hanging on to winning back the planet. Making tangible progress felt amazing, and kept me coming back, I would get excited about finding a new upgrade chip or maxing out my SMG research or making all new cores for the reactor or finally being able to grow tomatoes. I'm gonna give everyone a hint here... it's much better if you kind of spread the love around, but not too much. Stick close to home and do just 1-2 levels of an area, then retreat, repeat that only at the closest 4 locations until you have all your level 2 chips... by now you should know enough about the game to get your feet under you, and what you need to do to push ahead. On the down side the game is so overwhelming at times that almost anything you've missed or screwed up can feel like a mistake or bad design or a bug... if you miss a critical keycard or quest item, that can be real trouble. It can be crippling if you've dropped it somewhere you shouldn't have (don't drop stuff anywhere but your base). Subterrain can get pretty darn repetitive as you have a lot of areas to explore... like nearly 80 floors of rooms and doors and corridors. I will admit the game almost wore me out but I wanted to see the end, and I'm glad I did. There's multiple endings and I think overall the story was actually pretty good. To sum it all up I had a fantastic time with Subterrain and I think it could really appeal to a lot of people who like survival shooters, or crafting, upgrading, planning and time management. Especially for the low price point... its an amazing value, if you manage to figure out those first few steps. For the most sadistic there's also higher difficulties and permadeath modes to play through.

Score: 3/5 An interesting set-up/setting for survival-horror ruined by very poor balance/execution/polish in too many areas, especially regarding tedious inventory management and survival mechanics, and the distinct lack of post-launch support from the dev(s) who went on to make a sequel. [b]The Good[/b] 1. Writing and Setting 2. Atmosphere. Heavy, dreadful survival-horror. 3. Audio/SFX, Music/Soundtrack. a. Good variation on footsteps depending on the material you are walking/running on. Audible enemy reactions to being hit. b. Beeps from powered equipment to keep track of remaining charge. 4. Solid UI/UX. A lot of readouts/information from your equipment about your state, the state of the environment, location, time and date, etc. Pop-ups on many items/pieces of gear. Good “scan nearby area” feature to see what parts of the environment are interactable. 5. Responsive controls. 6. Saves, load times between levels, and when opening menus are all very quick. Also, smooth menu navigation (there’s a lot of it). 7. Stamina values are solid, including penalties, action costs and temporary action cost reductions, and regeneration rates. [b]The Bad[/b] 1. Combat balance is rough. a. Ranged weapons overheat too easily and use too much energy. Durability is a bit too low for some weapons (melee and ranged) and moderately too low for others (especially a handful of melee options). The repair station counteracts a good bit of tedium around durability though. Melee weapon damage is mildly-to-moderately too low, and ranged weapon damage is moderately too low. b. Enemy attacks’ contamination damage/rate is too consistent. c. Although some enemy combat behaviors / attack patterns are good, requiring moderate timing and thoughtful strategy to overcome, most enemies have very limited move-sets, including creatures that should mainly using melee attacks having no melee attack. d. Very little enemy variety. Although some enemies have different types of a similar/related units in their group that will make them fun to fight, the group will almost never have enough variation. 2. Survival mechanics are also imbalanced and tedious. a. Safe food is too difficult to secure. b. Contamination rates are absurd for farmed foods and tap water, and farmed foods have ridiculously low hunger/thirst reduction values. 3. Inventory management. a. The bags do not have nearly enough max slots, and the max amount of slots each item can take up is 1, with many items being stackable. But because many key items do not stack and are extremely small, slot management makes inventory management unpleasant overall. Even after quadrupling max slots for each bag/backpack through modding, it was still very tedious. Additionally, the train’s storage is laughably restrictive. b. Weight values (kg) are often too low, and rarely too high, but that favors the player and reduces some of the tedium from other mechanics, including slots, so it gets a pass from me. c. No sorting feature. d. Good controls for breaking item stacks into smaller stacks or removing single units. 4. Crafting costs and disassembling results are too harsh for many key consumables and pieces of gear. 5. Minor technical issues. Enemy AI/behavior will somewhat frequently glitch (or was poorly coded), and will not react to being hit with ranged weaponry, just standing still until you kill it. This only occurred rarely with melee weaponry though. Because the grab object button is shared with a key combat action, I often activated the battery-draining combat action when I didn’t mean to. 6. Although it has a small bit of official mod support, which is appreciated, modding was difficult. There is only a single, out-of-date mod on the Nexus. Acquiring the files/software to mod the files myself it was moderately rough/unintuitive, and many parts of the official modding files/software either don’t work when edited or work in bizarre ways that will not give you an intended/intuitive result.

Loved the opening hours but eventually hit a wall where progression stopped being fun and became more tedious. There is an absolute gem of a game here hidden under a few poor design decisions. I recommend heeding the warning of the negative reviews that detail this. Yet, still I recommend giving it a try. The atmosphere and overall gameplay loop for those first few hours is just so darn appealing it's worth seeing if the entire game is for you.

Задумка очень классная, но зачем так душить игрока в самом начале накидывая сразу все механики игры залпом? И реактор им почини, ресурсов добудь, баллонов насобирай и наполни, предметы создай, ключ карты найди итд, и приправлено все это ну очень мелким интерфейсом хоть с лупой сиди читай простыни текста. Надо постепенно механики игры раскрывать, а не в самом начале за раз все вываливать. За час игры голова вскипела. Не удивительно что только 60% процентов игроков прошли обучающий уровень. И самое главное, ГГ хочет в туалет по большому, идем делаем свое дело, через две минуты он хочет по маленькому! А совместить два дела никак за раз нельзя было?! И делать это надо в строго отведенных местах!!! А не где попало, ведь Вексу плевать что там темнота, инфекция, монстры и каждая минута дорога, главное добежать до сортира во тьме. Ох уж эти тупые игровые условности=)))

Subterrain, developed and published by Pixellore Inc, is a demanding top-down survival horror game that blends intricate resource management with a persistent sense of environmental collapse. Set in an underground Martian colony that has fallen into chaos after a mysterious outbreak, it places players in the role of Dr. West, one of the few remaining survivors. Rather than focusing on action or spectacle, the game builds its identity around pressure—constant, layered pressure that forces players to think carefully about every decision they make. What immediately sets Subterrain apart is the complexity of its survival systems. Instead of a handful of basic needs, the game introduces a network of interconnected mechanics that must be managed simultaneously. Hunger, thirst, fatigue, oxygen levels, body temperature, and health conditions all require attention, and neglecting any one of them can quickly lead to failure. These systems are not isolated; they interact in ways that create cascading consequences. Venturing too far without proper preparation can result in running out of oxygen, while exposure to environmental hazards can trigger additional complications that spiral out of control. The result is a gameplay loop that demands planning, awareness, and constant adaptation. Beyond personal survival, the game extends its mechanics to the colony itself. The facility is not a static backdrop but an active system that must be maintained. Power distribution, oxygen generation, and temperature control all play a role in keeping the environment livable. Players must decide which areas to prioritize, often under limited resources, creating a strategic layer that goes beyond moment-to-moment survival. This broader responsibility adds depth, as the player is not just trying to stay alive but also attempting to stabilize a deteriorating system that continues to degrade over time. Combat is present but secondary to the overall experience. Players can craft and use a variety of weapons, but encounters are rarely straightforward. Enemies evolve and become more dangerous as the game progresses, and engaging them without proper preparation is often a mistake. Success in combat depends less on reflexes and more on positioning, resource management, and understanding the situation. In many cases, avoiding confrontation or finding alternative solutions is the safer option, reinforcing the game’s emphasis on survival over aggression. The pacing is deliberately slow and methodical, which may not appeal to everyone. Subterrain does not guide players gently into its systems; instead, it expects them to learn through experimentation and failure. The early stages can feel overwhelming, with a steep learning curve that requires patience to overcome. However, once players begin to understand how the various systems interact, the experience becomes more rewarding. Progress feels earned, as each small success is the result of careful planning and execution rather than chance. Visually, the game adopts a minimalist top-down perspective that might seem simple at first but works effectively within its context. The underground colony feels confined and hostile, with dimly lit corridors and abandoned spaces contributing to a strong sense of isolation. The lack of visual excess allows players to focus on the mechanics, while the subdued presentation enhances the oppressive atmosphere. Sound design complements this approach, using ambient noise and subtle cues to reinforce tension without relying on overt horror elements. Crafting and progression systems add another layer of depth. Players gather materials, break them down into components, and use advanced tools to create equipment and upgrades. Research plays a key role, unlocking new technologies that improve survival chances. This progression is meaningful but never trivial; every upgrade requires effort and often involves taking risks to acquire the necessary resources. The balance between risk and reward is a constant theme, shaping how players approach each new challenge. Despite its strengths, Subterrain is not without its issues. The complexity that defines the game can also make it difficult to approach, particularly for new players. The interface and tutorials do not always provide sufficient guidance, leading to moments of confusion. Some systems can feel cumbersome to manage, especially when multiple factors demand attention at once. Additionally, the game lacks the polish of larger productions, with occasional inconsistencies that can disrupt the experience. Ultimately, Subterrain is a game that prioritizes depth and challenge over accessibility. It offers a layered survival experience that rewards careful planning and persistence, creating a sense of immersion that few games in the genre achieve. While its steep learning curve and demanding systems may limit its appeal, those who invest the time to understand it will find a deeply engaging and rewarding experience. Rating: 8/10

Subterrain is an interesting game. It's a game that's been on my mind for a long time, it's a game I had meant to 100% for literally years until I got around to it this year, or last year. It's also something of a tenuous recommend from myself. I recommend the game for what I like about it, what I find interesting, and what it's trying to do. What holds this game back is some of its mechanics feeling surface level, the enemies being dull, and it's incredibly padded playtime. I think it's a really interesting and fun concept for a survival game, its specific type is the kind of thing that drilled into a soft spot in my skull. I would *love* to see a game like this, more in depth or expanded in some way. The game goes like this: You wake up in prison, break out because the power failed, discover that everyone is dead and mutants are all over the mars complex, you head down to the central hub area that becomes your base of operations and you launch excursions out into other parts of the facility connected to the tram network in an attempt to figure out what's going on and get out alive. You'll be scavenging for materials, junk, and food as you progress through what are effectively dungeons with various levels, anywhere from 2-10, to find what you need. All the while you're racing against the clock, as enemy density and threat level marches ever onward, eventually to the point where you'll be facing regular invasions on the central hub where hordes of mutants attempt to destroy the reactor powering the facility. Actual upgrades and "Progress" (player wise) comes from sticking items into researching machines, destroying them in the process but allowing fabrication machines to construct higher tiers. Past a certain point, items are considered a higher 'tier', and as such more advanced software for the machines must be found, researched, built, and slotted into the machines so you can access stronger items. There's also a botany and mining area that you'll always have running to produce minerals, fruits and veg for you to break down into useful crafting resources. The big problem with this game is its padding. What I mean by this is that toward mid and late game, these "Dungeons" (other areas in the facility, like casinos, shopping districts, and so on) begin to get LONG. You end up having to explore entire levels so you don't miss something potentially important, as the Software Upgrades don't tend to be designated with specific floor numbers, just the district. As enemy density and threat goes up, this turns every floor into a real slog. Paired with your limited time on excursions (hunger, thirst, fatigue, the need to use the toilet, battery life, lifesupport), you end up shooting through the same enemies for extended periods of time. This isn't too bad on the normal and easy difficulties, most of the tedium comes at that point from going through very samey looking areas that don't have anything *interesting* in them to do or interact with other than blindly sprinting around while you're shot up on speed boosting drugs, on the higher difficulties, though, you very quickly end up in a spot where all of the higher health, more dangerous, enemies spawn. This means it takes longer, which means enemy density and threat goes up, feedback loop and all that. It all adds up to make a very boring, repetitive experience. Coupled with the fact you don't have enough power for a lot of the game to keep areas running to run the life support in those areas, IF you find them, to slow down enemy spawn rates for that area. Spoilers from here onward: In the end game, you find "Purifiers" that not only slow down enemy spawns drastically, but are able to COMPLETELY remove enemies and their spawns from areas, completely securing them. This is required to be able to fight the two final bosses, which are not great, and this doubles spawn rate once you acquire the blueprints. You are warned ahead of time, of course, and you should only do this once you have all the best gear. On the highest difficulty, this meant that every single area was *fully* red. This meant I spent real life hours slogging through every district, one by one, to slowly clean them out of all the highest tier, spongiest, boring and deadly enemies in the game. I open a door, and it's a monster closet with 30 of those mutants that throw giant exploding balls at you that insta kill you on that difficulty. I signed up for that, so I can't complain about the difficulty (I will a little - arbitrarily inflating health values isn't a fun approach to difficulty.), and paired with my earlier complaints about level design... The enemies aren't that interesting? You have Dude That Punches You, you have Dude That Spits At you, the weird eyeball thing that opens doors, and the Floating MUtant Dude That Super Murders You With Energy Projectiles. And The Eggs That Are There To Indicate Enemies Being Spawned In And For Some Reason Take Like 500 Shotgun Rounds To Destroy. Another point I'd like to make is the weapon modding? There's the idea here that Weapons are "Modular", Weapon CORES determine the functionality of the gun, be it a pistol, SMG, or shotgun. Barrels modify the Crit, Spread, and some other affects, Heatsinks cool the gun faster and allow more heat to be built up before it overheats. In reality, these are strictly linear in progression, if that makes sense. There's no player expression to making guns, no interesting designs, every higher tier barrel is a strict upgrade. Every higher tier heatsink is a strict upgrade. There's no barrels here that give you more crit, but more spread, or modify how a gun might shoot. There's no heatsink here that has a super high capacity, but low cooling. And the Cores only allow you to put as many points into them that are relevant to the tier - so you always use the same, or below barrels/heatsinks. Despite all that, I still enjoy it for the most part. I probably won't revisit the hardest difficulty, though. I like the vibes. I enjoy the music, for what little there is, some of it has... pretty decently fitting vibes for how alone I feel in this game. The desolate districts still stocked and full of things as if everything had just come to a stop naught but a few hours ago. The occasional signs of struggle you see here and there, the few times the game employs a bit of mystique and hides things behind doors or barriers you'll never get across, a glimpse into a bit of story of a person within the world. The text logs that fill in details about the corrupt higher ups of the mars base. I wish the environmental story telling and such things occured more often, the tens upon tens of floors I've done might stand out more if they had anything going for them. Hell, I even like what little voice acting there is in this game. I'd take a thousand games that make the same mistakes on the path to game development and expanding the skill of game development than I would one more ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ bit of AI Slop ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. I'd take any of the stuff I'd complain about here, or anywhere else for that matter, just because it at least represents human work that people put into it. At least this is an honest bit of work. Some of the big indie hits all use that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ AI Gen Voice, or use Gen AI in concept art phases or designing things for them. I'd take a lot of weird little out the products, like this game or anything else, over people consigning their thought processes to ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ *AI*. What's the point of concept art if you just get AI to make it for you, man.

I can't manage to finish this game, the atmosphere just keeps dragging on you and there's no levity anywhere. It just moves me into disinterest every time I set up shop at the main hub.

Funky little indie survival horror that you can put a decent amount of hours into. It's a bit grindy with regards to resource management/weapon durability and I did have to look up some guides to figure some things out but overall its pretty fun.