Recent reviews by SaraZol

===[ ❤ Audience: ]===
☐ Kids
☐ Everyone
☑ Casual players
☑ Pro players

===[ ☼ Graphics: ]===
☐ Potato
☐ Really bad
☐ Bad
☐ OK
☑ Good
☐ Beautiful
☐ Masterpiece

===[ $ Price/quality: ]===
☐ Full price
☑ Wait for sale
☐ Average
☐ Refund it if you can
☐ Don't do it

===[ ☣ Requirements: ]===
☐ 90' PC
☐ Minimum
☑ Medium
☐ Fast
☐ High end
☐ NASA computer

===[ ☼ Difficulty: ]===
☐ You just need 2 arms
☐ EZ
☑ Easy to learn / Hard to master (However, difficulty can be customised)
☐ Hard (first few hours)
☐ Dark Souls


===[ ۞ Game time/length ]===
☐ Really short ( 0 - 2 hours)
☐ Short ( 2 - 8 hours)
☐ Few hours ( 8 - 12 hours)
☐ Long ( 12+ hours)
☑ Endless!

===[ ♬ Story] ===
☑ It doesn't have (However, there are lore elements)
☐ Still better than Twilight
☐ Average
☐ Good
☐ Fantastic

===[ § Bugs ]===
☐ Game itself is one big BUG
☐ Bugs destroying the game
☐ Lot of bugs
☑ Few Bugs
☐ You can use them for speedrun
☐ Nothing

===[ ✦ Play Options: ]===
Multiplayer: Yes
Singleplayer: Yes

===[ Other Notes: ]===
As an OG fan of 7 Days to Die, I have been playing this game since 2016 in its early access on Steam, and it’s been amazing to see how much it has improved over the years. Back then, it was much rougher around the edges, with simpler mechanics and more bugs, but the developers have been consistently updating and expanding the game. It’s clear they’ve put a lot of effort into improving it, and it shows in the deeper crafting systems, better visuals, and more varied gameplay.
7 Days to Die blends survival, crafting, and base-building with a sprinkle of zombie horror. Set in a post-apocalyptic open world, the game challenges you to scavenge, craft, and fend off increasingly challenging zombie hordes, particularly during the infamous “blood moons” every seven days.

MY LIKES:
The core mechanics of survival, crafting, and base-building in 7 Days to Die have remained enjoyable, but the game has added a lot of depth over the years. The atmosphere is one of the best parts; whether it’s the eerie silence of the wasteland or the tension of hiding from hordes during the night, the game truly nails the survival experience. The developers have done a PHENOMENAL job capturing the terrifying essence of navigating the wasteland, especially through the game's sound design. The contrast between the dangers of the outside world and the relief you feel when returning to your home base is perfectly executed. There’s something deeply satisfying about the ability to build and modify your base however you want, allowing for endless creativity (though the game's physics can be a bit frustrating at times). As you gather better weapons, gear, and resources, the progression feels rewarding, especially when preparing for the intense Blood Moon hordes (Be sure to double-check your defences, 'cause nothing says 'oops' like running out of ammo when they're banging down your door). The recent updates have significantly improved the game’s graphics and performance, which were major issues in the past, and it’s clear that a lot of care has gone into updating the game. Overall, 7 Days to Die continues to shine with its immersive survival mechanics and constant improvements. I can tell that a lot of care has gone into updating this game, and it shows!

MY DISLIKES:
While 7 Days to Die has come a long way, there are still some issues that can break the immersion or make gameplay feel frustrating. One of the biggest complaints I have (and that I’ve seen from the community) is the clunky AI. Zombies can sometimes act in ways that feel unintentionally goofy, with their pathfinding being inconsistent. This lack of AI polish, particularly during horde nights, can undermine the tension that the game strives for. Another issue is the performance optimization. Despite the improvements, the game can still struggle to run smoothly on mid-range PCs, especially in later stages when the map is heavily populated with zombies and structures. This results in frame rate drops and stuttering, which can negatively affect the overall experience.
Additionally, while the random world generation is impressive, it can feel a bit repetitive. Some biomes or areas lack variety, and the world can sometimes feel too sparse or uninteresting to explore, making it hard to stay engaged with the environment. There’s also been some criticism regarding the lack of meaningful end-game content. While building and surviving is fun, once you’ve built up a powerful base and stockpiled resources, the game can feel like it loses some of its momentum, especially for players who prefer a more narrative-driven experience. Lastly, the game’s buggy elements are still a source of frustration. While there have been improvements, issues like clipping, texture bugs, and occasional crashes remain, and these can take players out of the experience (I can't tell you how many bones I've broken from the drawbridge glitch). The lack of a dedicated story also leaves some players wanting more structure and direction beyond the survival aspect.
These drawbacks don’t make the game unplayable, but they can occasionally detract from the overall experience, especially for those who are looking for a more polished, seamless survival game.

VERDICT:
Overall, 7 Days to Die has come a long way since its early days, and as a long-time fan, I can confidently say it’s improved massively over the years. While there are still some bugs and technical issues that can occasionally disrupt the experience, the core gameplay remains incredibly satisfying, especially if you're a fan of survival crafting and base-building. The atmosphere, sound design, and progression system really shine, and there’s a real sense of accomplishment when you successfully defend your base against the Blood Moon hordes. The recent updates have made a noticeable difference in the game’s performance and visuals, which is a huge plus. That said, there are still some areas that could use refinement, such as AI pathfinding, performance optimization on mid-tier PCs, and more endgame content. However, if you enjoy survival games and the freedom to create your own experience, 7 Days to Die is well worth a try. I’d recommend picking it up during a sale for the best value. It’s a game that's worth playing, but not without its flaws. It’s definitely one of the better survival games out there at full price too. I’m honored and beyond excited to continue witnessing the growth and evolution of 7 Days to Die in the years to come!
(DISCLAIMER- I originally purchased 7 Days to Die in 2016 for $11.19, and have been playing it ever since. My experience and perspective are based on this long-term engagement with the game, as well as the significant updates and improvements made over the years.)
I give this game a 7.5/10! 👍

===[ ❤ Audience: ]===
☐ Kids
☐ Everyone
☑ Casual players
☑ Pro players

===[ ☼ Graphics: ]===
☐ Potato
☐ Really bad
☐ Bad
☐ OK
☑ Good
☐ Beautiful
☐ Masterpiece

===[ $ Price/quality: ]===
☐ Full price
☑ Wait for sale
☐ Average
☐ Refund it if you can
☐ Don't do it

===[ ☣ Requirements: ]===
☐ 90' PC
☐ Minimum
☑ Medium
☐ Fast
☐ High end
☐ NASA computer

===[ ☼ Difficulty: ]===
☐ You just need 2 arms
☐ Ez
☑ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Hard (first few hours)
☐ Dark Souls


===[ ۞ Game time/length ]===
☐ Really short ( 0 - 2 hours)
☐ Short ( 2 - 8 hours)
☑ Few hours ( 8 - 12 hours)
☐ Long ( 12+ hours)
☐ Endless

===[ ♬ Story] ===
☐ It doesn't have
☐ Still better than Twilight
☑ Average
☐ Good
☐ Fantastic

===[ § Bugs ]===
☐ Game itself is one big BUG
☐ Bugs destroying the game
☐ Lot of bugs
☑ Few Bugs
☐ You can use them for speedrun
☐ Nothing

===[ ✦ Play Options: ]===
Multiplayer: No
Singleplayer: Yes

===[ Other Notes: ]===
So you play as Garret, a 'Master Thief' in a city where the Baron’s Watch spreads a rising tide of fear and oppression.
You progress through the story sneaking behind the shadows of city, stealing as much valuable loot as you can as quietly as possible. This is a game that is not your friend if you prefer to go full carnage-mode rather than stealth-mode. If you're not into stealth games, this is not the game for you.

MY LIKES:
The stealth system is where Thief works best. I really liked the swooping mechanic using the space bar that allows you to dash 10ft forward that really made Garret feel like a ninja. The parkour felt smooth and effortless. The graphics looked great. As a puzzle-lover, I really loved the puzzles and lock-picking opportunities the game presented you with and I really wish there was more of it!
I absolutely loved the chapter where Garret explored the asylum. Based on this chapter I felt like Thief also had a great potential to be part horror-game as well if it wanted to be. Aesthetically, the visuals and sound effects in the game were very limited, although wonderfully ambient for the setting that it was trying to portray.

MY DISLIKES:
An issue that I had with some of the levels in this game is that they're small and so...empty-feeling. Some levels are even smaller than the levels that are in Dishonoured. Speaking of Dishonoured, this game felt too much like it was trying to be Dishonoured.
The guards are pretty dumb and easy to exploit. As long as you keep yourself within the shadows, doesn't matter if you're just two feet away from the face of a guard, they somehow don't manage to spot you. Their field of vision is very limited and even laughable at times. Even if they do happen to spot you, there is no challenge in running away from them. If you play this game, crank up the difficulty mode to Master Thief or you won't have any challenge beating the game.
When it comes to the story of the game, the narrative was fairly bland, filled with rather dull and under-developed main characters (including Garret).
While the parkour felt smooth and effortless, it was pretty inconsistent at times. Places where you feel like you should have been able to climb or jump on oftentimes were not an option.

VERDICT:
Overall I found this game to be pretty fun for a stealth game. I personally found the story to be pretty unsatisfying, (especially the ending) but other than that I really did enjoy the core game.
I bought this game when it was on sale for $7, and I would say it's definitely worth it for that price. I would say that the game is even worth it for $20. Anything more than that price I would argue to be a bit of a stretch.
I give this game a solid 6/10 👍

Great game for those who like puzzles, highly recommend.