VEIN
" Immersive post-apocalyptic survival RPG with deep mechanics but clunky combat animations "
VEIN Review
VEIN is an ambitious early access zombie survival game developed by only two passionate developers, offering a deeply immersive and highly interactive sandbox experience reminiscent of Project Zomboid but in first-person 3D. The game impresses with its intricate systems such as vehicle maintenance, electricity and water management, detailed crafting, and a realistic survival model including hunger, thirst, and medical conditions.
Players praise the extensive interactivity, from scavenging and base building to watching movies on in-game TVs, and find the world design atmospheric and engaging. The developers maintain active communication with the community, regularly fixing bugs and implementing player suggestions, which fosters a strong, involved player base.
However, the game is still in early access and shows signs of needing polish, including clunky animations, some UI and gameplay roughness, lack of progression incentives, and occasional bugs. Despite these issues, the potential for growth and depth makes VEIN a promising title for survival enthusiasts willing to support its development journey.
Highlights
Players highly praise VEIN's deep and realistic gameplay mechanics, including vehicle part replacement, electricity grids, water systems, and medical treatments like insulin for diabetics. The game's world interactivity is exceptional, allowing interaction with nearly every object, and features like playing full movies in-game add immersion.
The graphics and atmosphere receive positive notes for being detailed and fitting the survival theme, while the storyline and level design, including creepy locations like mass burial sites, enhance the experience. The developers' active communication and responsiveness are also frequently highlighted as a major strength.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the game's current lack of polish and clunky animations, especially in combat and movement. The UI and hitboxes are sometimes frustrating, and the gameplay loop can feel repetitive due to minimal progression and weak zombie threat.
Players note the small map size and occasional bugs, as well as some tedious mechanics that add unnecessary complexity. The absence of advanced features like NPCs, quests, and more challenging enemy scaling limits long-term engagement. Many recommend patience as the game requires more development time to reach its full potential.
Pros
- • Extensive interactivity with nearly every object in the world enhances immersion.
- • Deep and realistic survival mechanics including hunger, thirst, and medical systems.
- • Detailed vehicle maintenance system with replaceable parts and realistic behaviors.
- • Active and responsive development team engaging closely with the community.
- • Highly customizable gameplay akin to Project Zomboid in first-person 3D.
- • Atmospheric and well-designed levels with creepy, unique points of interest.
- • Functional electricity and water grids affecting gameplay regions dynamically.
Cons
- • Clunky and jerky combat animations reduce fluidity of gameplay.
- • Lack of meaningful progression and endgame challenges limits replay value.
- • User interface and hitboxes need improvement for better usability.
- • Zombies currently pose little threat, making combat less engaging.
- • Small map size restricts exploration and long-term immersion.
- • Some mechanics feel tedious with excessive steps for simple tasks.
- • Outdated character and enemy models lower visual polish.
Rating Criteria
VEIN is a post-apocalyptic survival multiplayer sandbox game. Gather supplies to survive, explore abandoned buildings, defend your home, and rebuild society, whether alone or with friends.