The burgeoning genre exemplified by titles like Vampire Survivors has undeniably taken the gaming world by storm, prompting a flurry of endeavors seeking to ride the wave of its popularity. (Remarkably, the sheer abundance of such titles, often sporting the ubiquitous term “Survivor” in their nomenclature, is staggering.)
Among these, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring numerous iterations, with a penchant for those that inject fresh elements into the formula: whether it’s Boneraiser Minions with its companion-driven dynamics, 20 Minutes Till Dawn’s frenetic combat, or the diverse classes and gear of Death Must Die and Halls of Torment.
Enter Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, the latest addition to this ever-expanding roster, freshly debuted on PC. At first glance, one might dismiss it as merely another entry in the saturation of Survivor-like auto-shooters, complete with the obligatory early-access launch and strategic use of the genre-defining keyword in its title—a formula seemingly etched in stone for such ventures.
However, what sets Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor apart is its innovative approach, offering players more than the typical enemy-slaying grind.
Make no mistake, dispatching foes remains central to the experience; akin to its predecessors in the Vampire Survivors vein, progression hinges on leveling up to enhance your combat prowess—striving for that ideal combination of gear and perks that border on the game-breaking. As with most titles of this ilk, your weaponry handles the firing while you concentrate on maneuvering and positioning.
Yet, true to its Deep Rock Galactic lineage, mining emerges as a pivotal gameplay element, distinguishing Survivor from its counterparts. The procedurally generated caves are rife with mineable walls, serving multiple purposes: accessing vital resources for immediate use or permanent upgrades, forging expedient pathways, and, crucially, manipulating enemy movement by crafting tunnels.
While digging may seem mundane, this ability to reshape the terrain introduces a layer of complexity and strategy, elevating the gameplay beyond mere gunplay and positioning.
Channeling adversaries into chokepoints can provide a decisive advantage while diverting their path can buy precious seconds for escape. Factor in certain enemies’ ability to destroy walls, and the result is a dynamic environment demanding constant attention and adaptation.
Moreover, mining presents a slew of risk-reward scenarios. Whether pursuing bonus objectives or succumbing to the lure of valuable resources for upgrades, players are compelled to weigh the gamble against their current run’s safety—a tension that adds a thrilling dimension to gameplay, punctuated by moments of exhilaration or frustration.
Survivor boasts a diverse arsenal of weapons, from deployable sentries to directional shotguns, each adding another layer of strategy. Stages culminate in a frenzied 30-second escape to a drop pod, forcing players to balance the urge for additional mining or experience against the imperative of survival.
Despite being in its early access phase, Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is already captivating with its compelling gameplay loop, evidenced by the countless hours I’ve lost to its irresistible “just one more run” allure.
While future enhancements such as varied bosses and side objectives, along with the potential for cooperative play, promise to enrich the experience further, Survivor unequivocally proves itself as more than a derivative Survivor clone—it’s a standout among its peers, carving its own path in the genre landscape.
