Underplayed Gems

Survivalist: Invisible Strain (2020)

Survivalist: Invisible Strain cover
Developer
Bob
Publisher
Ginormocorp Holdings Ltd
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG, Simulation, Strategy
Rating
4.3 of 5, 4,395 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 26 hours
Where to get it
Steam

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The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

Managing a community of named survivors with their own personalities and memories while scavenging and building in a zombie-filled open world.

survivalcolony-buildingcharacter-drivenopen worldzombie apocalypserelationship-focusedreactivestrategic

What players say

Players compare it to Project Zomboid and State of Decay, praising the deep social simulation and camp management. The invisible strain gimmick is loved once understood, but the UI, controls, and lack of tutorial frustrate many. Combat is weak, especially against humans who stun-lock easily. Players are split on story mode quests locking progress.

Screenshots

Survivalist: Invisible Strain screenshot 1Survivalist: Invisible Strain screenshot 2Survivalist: Invisible Strain screenshot 3Survivalist: Invisible Strain screenshot 4Survivalist: Invisible Strain screenshot 5Survivalist: Invisible Strain screenshot 6

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More by Bob the Game Development Bot

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.