7 Days Blood Moons

7 Days Blood Moons is a spin-off of the popular 7 Days to Die franchise, offering a more fast-paced, competitive multiplayer experience where players alternate between survivors and a zombie mastermind. The game features a unique blend of FPS and RTS elements with a stylized Borderlands-like art style. Players loot, build defenses, and survive waves of zombies, while the zombie master deploys hordes strategically to overwhelm survivors. Despite its ambitious concept and some enjoyable gameplay loops, especially for the zombie master role, the game suffers from significant technical and design issues. Players report long matchmaking times, poor optimization, frustrating hit registration, and a lack of tutorial or clarity on mechanics. The player base is currently very small, making multiplayer difficult to access, and the game is plagued by bugs and crashes. Monetization through pricey cosmetic items that are simple recolors also frustrates users. Overall, the game feels unfinished and unpolished, with many players recommending waiting for future updates before purchasing.

Highlights

Players praise the core gameplay loop of looting, building, and surviving waves, which condenses the 7 Days to Die experience into shorter, more intense matches. The zombie master mode is noted as strategically engaging and fun, providing a unique twist that requires tactical planning. The art style, though divisive, is recognized for its distinctiveness and appeal to some fans. The game also benefits from an active developer presence willing to engage with the community and address issues. Unlockable weapons and progression systems add depth and encourage continued play for some users.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include poor performance and optimization, with frequent crashes, long load times, and lag spikes even on powerful hardware. Hit registration is often described as unreliable, making combat frustrating. The matchmaking system is hampered by a very small player base, leading to long wait times or inability to join matches, especially as the zombie master. The game lacks a tutorial or clear instructions, causing confusion for new players. Many find the gameplay repetitive and grind-heavy, with limited building options and unbalanced difficulty favoring zombies. Additionally, the monetization model is seen as exploitative, with expensive cosmetic items and a slow grind for in-game currency.