Don't Starve

GameZebo ( ) (100%)

In many ways, Don’t Stave is the quintessential indie game, with the perfect blend of depth and simplicity, and the flawless premise to keep you playing for days and days on end. After spending more hours than I would care to admit with this game, I still feel like I have barely even scratched the surface on everything this one has to offer. Do yourself a favor and see how long you can survive in Don’t Starve, but make sure you always keep that growling stomach happy!

Cheat Code Central (4.7 out of 5) (94%)

If you like survival games, if you enjoy Tim Burton-esque artwork, or if you’re just looking for an unforgiving challenge of a game, pick up Don’t Starve immediately. Pretty much everything about this game is fantastic, and you’ll undoubtedly fall in love with it. In fact, if you like survival games at all, I’m pretty sure Don’t Starve will be your new addiction.

Indie Game Reviewer ( ) (90%)

In fact Don’t Starve is easily one of the most engaging and entertaining games of 2013 or any year, in any category – the artwork, with its Georges Méliès styled undulating ocean waves, the beautifully sinister Klezmer soundtrack and woodwind-voiced avatars, the time management game design are all creatively first-rate and compose a deliciously villainous universe to romp around and tinker with. The animations all feature lovely subtle variation, and every object in the world feels alive, even expressive – from the way the trees pop up or shrivel, to the vast array of critters fluttering, skittering, crawling and stalking about, all with unique proximity responses to your player character.

God is a Geek (9 out of 10) (90%)

We expected big things from the studio behind Mark of the Ninja and Shank, and in Don’t Starve, we got them. It’s a wonderfully dark survival-craft game with great scope for emergent, unique experiences, even if it will make you rage occasionally. The UI betrays the PC roots and can be a little hard to use on a smaller TV, and there are those who will find Don’t Starve just too mean-spirited to fully appreciate, but as an intentionally unforgiving survival sim with a sinister twist, it absolutely excels. Even if you can’t grab it while it’s free on PS+, it’s totally worth the £11.99 price tag.

Official UK PlayStation Magazine (9 out of 10) (90%)

Really this is all about the journey. You begin scraping through the dirt; barely making it from one day to the next but over time grow into a grizzled survivor. A veteran who has no time for weakness and shrugs off the first 20 days with a stern beardy look (possibly while playing Dark Souls for fun). Your only fear? Winter. Seriously, winter can do one.

Indie Game Reviewer ( ) (90%)

In fact Don’t Starve is easily one of the most engaging and entertaining games of 2013 or any year, in any category – the artwork, with its Georges Méliès styled undulating ocean waves, the beautifully sinister Klezmer soundtrack and woodwind-voiced avatars, the time management game design are all creatively first-rate and compose a deliciously villainous universe to romp around and tinker with. The animations all feature lovely subtle variation, and every object in the world feels alive, even expressive – from the way the trees pop up or shrivel, to the vast array of critters fluttering, skittering, crawling and stalking about, all with unique proximity responses to your player character.

Indie Game Reviewer ( ) (90%)

In fact Don’t Starve is easily one of the most engaging and entertaining games of 2013 or any year, in any category – the artwork, with its Georges Méliès styled undulating ocean waves, the beautifully sinister Klezmer soundtrack and woodwind-voiced avatars, the time management game design are all creatively first-rate and compose a deliciously villainous universe to romp around and tinker with. The animations all feature lovely subtle variation, and every object in the world feels alive, even expressive – from the way the trees pop up or shrivel, to the vast array of critters fluttering, skittering, crawling and stalking about, all with unique proximity responses to your player character.

3D Juegos (8.9 out of 10) (89%)

Simplemente genial. Solo así podemos valorar a esta excelente aventura de supervivencia extrema, que ha sabido jugar muy bien sus cartas ofreciendo una experiencia de juego tan desafiante como original. Con innumerables opciones de juego, pocos títulos atrapan del modo en el que lo hace Don't Starve. Un imprescindible.

3D Juegos (8.9 out of 10) (89%)

Simplemente genial. Solo así podemos valorar a esta excelente aventura de supervivencia extrema, que ha sabido jugar muy bien sus cartas ofreciendo una experiencia de juego tan desafiante como original. Con innumerables opciones de juego, pocos títulos atrapan del modo en el que lo hace Don't Starve. Un imprescindible.

3D Juegos (8.9 out of 10) (89%)

Simplemente genial. Solo así podemos valorar a esta excelente aventura de supervivencia extrema, que ha sabido jugar muy bien sus cartas ofreciendo una experiencia de juego tan desafiante como original. Con innumerables opciones de juego, pocos títulos atrapan del modo en el que lo hace Don't Starve. Un imprescindible.

Jeuxvideo.com (17 out of 20) (85%)

Se lancer dans Don't Starve est une expérience qui ne laisse pas indifférent. Une fois submergé par cet univers merveilleusement terrifiant et horriblement magique, il est alors extrêmement difficile de quitter les yeux de l'écran. Réussir sa meilleure partie, survivre le plus longtemps possible, crafter cet objet qui permettra de vivre quelques jours de plus, il y a toujours une raison pour continuer, quelque chose à faire, à voir, à explorer, à combattre sans aucun autre but que celui de se surprendre soi-même. Malgré quelques défauts agaçants et la nécessité de devoir trop souvent répéter les mêmes gestes, ce Don't Starve n'en demeure pas moins une expérience intense et incroyablement addictive. A 14 €, il serait dommage de s'en priver.

Destructoid (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

The feeling of accomplishment when you manage to fend off countless cruel beasties, survive unrelenting foul weather, and fill your belly is potent. Mastering the wilderness is a difficult road, but from it comes a sense of empowerment. Of course, you could still lose it all in an instant. Such is the fickle nature of Don't Starve.

3D Juegos (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Realmente sorprendente. Solo así podemos describir a esta excelente aventura de supervivencia extrema, que ha sabido jugar muy bien sus cartas ofreciendo una experiencia de juego tan desafiante como original. Con innumerables opciones de juego, pocos títulos atrapan del modo en el que lo hace Don't Starve.

Games Finder (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

The game does a great job of creating a realistic survival experience and literally throws you in the deep end to learn for yourself how to survive in the unforgiving world of Don’t Starve. Fans of other games in the genre such as Minecraft will love what Don’t Starve brings to the table while newcomers to the genre will find this game a great and creepy place to start.

3D Juegos (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Realmente sorprendente. Solo así podemos describir a esta excelente aventura de supervivencia extrema, que ha sabido jugar muy bien sus cartas ofreciendo una experiencia de juego tan desafiante como original. Con innumerables opciones de juego, pocos títulos atrapan del modo en el que lo hace Don't Starve.

Gameplay (Benelux) (83 out of 100) (83%)

Don't Starve koppelt een open wereld aan uitdagende gameplay en levert hiermee een bijzonder complete survivalgame af vol verrassing en dramatiek. Goed voor vele uurtjes speelplezier!

GameStar (Germany) (82 out of 100) (82%)

Wie oft habe ich mir jetzt schon vorgenommen, Don't Starve nicht mehr zu spielen, weil ich mal wieder hopps gegangen bin. Und jedes Mal habe ich danach doch wieder angefangen. Sammeln, entdecken, bauen, ausprobieren. Die Minecraft-Suchtspirale funktioniert auch hier. Besonders angetan haben es mir die freispielbaren Charaktere, die mindestens ebenso schräg sind wie Protagonist Wilson. Das Baumenü dürfte Klei Entertainment gerne nochmal überarbeiten, aber das ist Meckern auf hohem Niveau, denn das Ding macht einfach richtig Spaß. Und jetzt, kaufen!

Gameblog.fr ( ) (80%)

Alors que je profite d'un entre-deux parties pour commander ma cinquième livraison de bouffe jap à trois minutes de la fermeture depuis le début de la semaine, je réalise la délicieuse ironie dont je suis victime : la survie de mon avatar dans les contrées sauvages de Don't Starve m'importe désormais plus que la mienne. La satiété de Wilson a sournoisement supplanté la plénitude de mon propre estomac dans ma petite pyramide de Maslow personnelle alors que me voilà repris par la fièvre des explorateurs et des grands inventeurs. J'engloutirai ces quelques tranches de poisson crû le plus vite possible : il reste bien trop de défis à relever, de recettes à expérimenter et de mystères à élucider pour que j'accorde à ce morne repas la moindre minute de trop. Par son simple titre, Don't Starve m'interdisait de me laisser mourir de faim. Bien joué Klei Entertainment, très bien joué.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (8 out of 10) (80%)

And that's fine, because Don't Starve really isn't a game for everybody. It's never stronger than in its opening hours, and if it never quite recaptures that first heady whiff of discovery, it at least keeps you on the edge of your seat thanks to its punishing design, the stakes rising in tandem with your achievements. So while the game starts to falter in the long term, fans of hardcore roguelike adventures and uncompromising survival gameplay alike won't go hungry.

Softpedia (8 out of 10) (80%)

Don’t Starve is not a must buy for any PlayStation 4 owner, but the fact that it is free to those who subscribe to PlayStation Plus means that it’s relatively easy to get access to an interesting experience and see how indie developers can benefit from the launch of the new Sony console.

Gameblog.fr ( ) (80%)

Alors que je profite d'un entre-deux parties pour commander ma cinquième livraison de bouffe jap à trois minutes de la fermeture depuis le début de la semaine, je réalise la délicieuse ironie dont je suis victime : la survie de mon avatar dans les contrées sauvages de Don't Starve m'importe désormais plus que la mienne. La satiété de Wilson a sournoisement supplanté la plénitude de mon propre estomac dans ma petite pyramide de Maslow personnelle alors que me voilà repris par la fièvre des explorateurs et des grands inventeurs. J'engloutirai ces quelques tranches de poisson crû le plus vite possible : il reste bien trop de défis à relever, de recettes à expérimenter et de mystères à élucider pour que j'accorde à ce morne repas la moindre minute de trop. Par son simple titre, Don't Starve m'interdisait de me laisser mourir de faim. Bien joué Klei Entertainment, très bien joué.

JeuxVideoPC.com (16 out of 20) (80%)

A condition d’aimer les jeux bac à sable du type de Minecraft et de ne pas être sujet aux petites frustrations du quotidiens, Don’t Starve est l’une des plus belles surprises de cette année. Malgré son apparence de jeu gentillet avec ses graphismes naïfs et cartoon Don’t Starve est un jeu terriblement punitif, particulièrement dur mais aussi très addictif. L’aspect survie en milieu hostile est un modèle du genre, la génération aléatoire des cartes permet une rejouabilité pratiquement infinie et les futurs mises à jours prévues par les développeurs devraient finir de corriger les quelques petits défauts du jeu. Amateur de challenge, d’expérimentation et de construction, ce titre a été spécialement fait pour vous.

APGNation (8 out of 10) (80%)

Don’t Starve is an amazing game, especially if you put the time into learning what it takes to stay alive instead of quitting when a frog kills you. There are times when you will die for no reason, there are times when you will die because you messed up and weren’t prepared for a situation. In a world where games are just carbon copies of some other games, Don’t Starve is refreshing. It’s different. That will be the reason you start a new game after dying at day 5, day 60 or day 200. There is plenty to do in this game. It’s not all about crafting and running for your life. There are plenty of places to explore – swamps, savannas and grasslands. When you get done with that, you can go explore the caves, and if you manage to survive the caves, there are ruins to navigate through.

APGNation (8 out of 10) (80%)

Don’t Starve is an amazing game, especially if you put the time into learning what it takes to stay alive instead of quitting when a frog kills you. There are times when you will die for no reason, there are times when you will die because you messed up and weren’t prepared for a situation. In a world where games are just carbon copies of some other games, Don’t Starve is refreshing. It’s different. That will be the reason you start a new game after dying at day 5, day 60 or day 200. There is plenty to do in this game. It’s not all about crafting and running for your life. There are plenty of places to explore – swamps, savannas and grasslands. When you get done with that, you can go explore the caves, and if you manage to survive the caves, there are ruins to navigate through.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (8 out of 10) (80%)

And that's fine, because Don't Starve really isn't a game for everybody. It's never stronger than in its opening hours, and if it never quite recaptures that first heady whiff of discovery, it at least keeps you on the edge of your seat thanks to its punishing design, the stakes rising in tandem with your achievements. So while the game starts to falter in the long term, fans of hardcore roguelike adventures and uncompromising survival gameplay alike won't go hungry.

GamesRadar ( ) (80%)

Don’t Starve starts off slow and punishing and continues to get even harder as you play. Its merciless difficulty coupled with its monotonous gameplay can leave some players feeling frustrated and bored. Those who enjoy a good challenge, however, will relish in the satisfaction they’ll get when they manage to outlive their previous record or clear the game’s evil Adventure mode. It may not be for everyone, but if you’re looking for a roguelike game filled with charm and challenge, be sure not to miss Don’t Starve.

Games TM (8 out of 10) (80%)

The magic of Don't Starve comes from this bold experimentation: it comes through the discovery of wormholes, or the altars that will bring you back to life (without your previous items of course) or even a village full of docile pig-men. It offers a surreal experience that's only let down by the annoying reset of your character at the beginning of each new game. Ultimately though, it's a game that just keeps giving, even as it tears your life from you.

GamerGen (16 out of 20) (80%)

Don't Starve est un titre qui se déguste, qui s'apprécie, un titre qui se savoure et dont il est difficile de se passer. Un jeu captivant et envoûtant qui mérite vraiment que vous vous y intéressiez.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (8 out of 10) (80%)

And that's fine, because Don't Starve really isn't a game for everybody. It's never stronger than in its opening hours, and if it never quite recaptures that first heady whiff of discovery, it at least keeps you on the edge of your seat thanks to its punishing design, the stakes rising in tandem with your achievements. So while the game starts to falter in the long term, fans of hardcore roguelike adventures and uncompromising survival gameplay alike won't go hungry.

GamesRadar ( ) (80%)

Don’t Starve starts off slow and punishing and continues to get even harder as you play. Its merciless difficulty coupled with its monotonous gameplay can leave some players feeling frustrated and bored. Those who enjoy a good challenge, however, will relish in the satisfaction they’ll get when they manage to outlive their previous record or clear the game’s evil Adventure mode. It may not be for everyone, but if you’re looking for a roguelike game filled with charm and challenge, be sure not to miss Don’t Starve.

PC Games (Germany) (79 out of 100) (79%)

Darüber, ob der Perma-Death-Modus spannend oder nervig ist, kann man trefflich streiten. Deshalb gibt es nur zwei Möglichkeiten: Ihr werdet dieses Spiel entweder lieben oder hassen. Don't Starve schafft mit seiner gelungenen Mischung aus Entdecken und Ausprobieren aber den Spagat zwischen Frust und Spielspaß. Das liegt zum Großteil an der spannenden Entdeckungsreise, auf die Sie das Spiel mitnimmt. Den Reiz, es auch nach dem Bildschirmtod Ihres Helden erneut zu versuchen, zieht Don't Starve vor allem aus der zufallsgenerierten Welt, die beständig erweitert wird. Trotz kleiner Macken: unbedingt ausprobieren!

4Players.de (75 out of 100) (75%)

Don't Starve ist auf der PS4 die gleiche zwiespältige Erfahrung wie auf dem PC. Die skurrilen Kreaturen, der morbide Humor und die umfangreichen Möglichkeiten zu überleben (oder eben auch nicht) überzeugen und locken mich immer wieder in die bizarre Wildnis. Dennoch leidet der Survival-Trip auch unter den gleichen Schwächen: durch den wiederholten Totalverlust bei Wilsons Tod werden Einstieg und die Ressourcensammelei schnell zur nervigen Routine. Zudem fehlt es nach wie vor an einem echten erzählerischen Überbau, der die Motivation langfristig aufrechterhält. Die technische Umsetzung für die PS4 ist hingegen gelungen – auch wenn nicht alle Möglichkeiten des DualShock 4 ausgenutzt werden.

Game Informer Magazine (7.5 out of 10) (75%)

A small group of hardcore gamers will revel in Don't Starve's punishing difficulty, but without a better sense of overarching progression or purpose, there are more entertaining and rewarding gaming experiences to spend your time on. I'm interested to see what Klei introduces in promised future updates of the game, but even when playing in a world that's customized to your liking, the thrill of Don't Starve is fleeting.

Rely on Horror (7.5 out of 10) (75%)

If you are in the mood for a surreal adventure with a compelling artistic style, then this game is definitely for you. It has some regrettable problems, but Klei has already promised up to six months of free updates and content, so I am sure most of them will be resolved over time.

4Players.de (75 out of 100) (75%)

Ich mag Survival-Spiele. Und Don’t Starve habe ich in den letzten Tagen mit einem Permaschmunzeln verschlungen. Es inszeniert mit einfachen Mitteln eine ebenso stimmungsvolle wie skurrile Welt – schräge Figuren, makabrer Humor und süffisanter Horror erinnern an Tim Burton. Zwar vermisst man eine Story sowie einen Adventure-Modus, der den Namen verdient hätte, aber gerade in den ersten Sitzungen wird man von all den Sammel- und Baureizen sowie den glaubwürdigen Abläufen immer wieder in den Überlebenskampf gelockt: Tag, Nacht, Klima, Gift, Feuer, Eis - alles wirkt sich spürbar aus, alles wächst und vergeht, es gibt seltsame Maschinen und bekloppte Kreaturen.

XGN (7.5 out of 10) (75%)

Heb jij in games behoefte aan een tutorial en een duidelijk doel, raak je buiten zinnen als je een game over-scherm ziet en kun je er niet tegen om hetzelfde te moeten doen, dan is Don’t Starve niks voor jou. Ben je wel in voor een uitdaging waarvoor je best hard moet werken, dan is Don’t Starve een heerlijke game waarin je weken kunt steken. Je bent bovendien zelf de persoon die bepaalt welke richting de game opgaat, dus als je het niet leuk vindt, dan ligt dat helemaal aan jou. Best gemeen eigenlijk, maar niemand heeft ooit gezegd dat overleven makkelijk was!

IGN (7.5 out of 10) (75%)

Like most roguelikes, progress in Don't Starve oftentimes feels like a Sisyphean task. Time spent battling shadow creatures, building a farm, and ultimately, an inevitable death are rewarding once they get going, but failure to recognize success robs them of meaning. While I appreciate the world, atmosphere, and mechanics, I can't help but wish that there was a light at the end of Don't Starve's dark and lonely tunnel.

Inside Mac Games (IMG) (7.25 out of 10) (72%)

Overall, Don't Starve is a lot of fun. As you learn from your mistakes and play a new character, you find you delve deeper and deeper into the mysteries of the world and the characters, monsters, and items therein. Since there are so many variations possible it is almost endless. Each experience is defined by how you have your character interact with the environment that was given. This makes Don’t Starve a game you can play over and over again. It’s an excellent choice as a game and a way to while away your free time! Great game, but don’t forget to eat….

Game Sphere (72 out of 100) (72%)

Dans tous les cas, difficile de noter Don’t Starve, d’autant que les développeurs ont promis 6 mois de support avec mises à jour de contenu, et que le jeu supporte les mods. Du coup, on ne peut savoir ce que va en faire la communauté, ou où les développeurs vont emmener le jeu par la suite. Il en résulte donc un jeu très sympathique, mais hautement subjectif. Si on accroche au design, ainsi qu’au côté super solitaire, alors on tient là une petite perle avec un sacré potentiel de rejouabilité.

Jeuxvideo.fr (7 out of 10) (70%)

Même si, au bout de dix, cinquante, cent ou deux cent jours, la mort finira toujours par nous cueillir. On retournera néanmoins au dénuement et à la précarité fort de l'expérience acquise au combat pour sa survie. De sorte que les décisions seront prises avec de plus en plus de clairvoyance, l'usage des ressources se fera prudent et réfléchi, et la vie toujours plus précisément réglée. Au bout du compte, une forme de routine finira par s'installer, qui pourra en décourager certains. Mais c'est ainsi et le concept même de Don't Starve pouvait difficilement y échapper. L'expérience vaut tout de même vraiment le coup d'être tentée et se trouve désormais à la portée des possesseurs de PlayStation 4 qui découvriront-là une adaptation parfaitement exécutée par Klei Entertainment.

IGN (7 out of 10) (70%)

Like most roguelikes, progress in Don't Starve oftentimes feels like a Sisyphean task. Time spent battling shadow creatures, building a farm, and ultimately an inevitable death are rewarding once they get going, but failure to recognize success robs them of meaning, and there's a long period of doldrums at the start of every new game. While I appreciate the world, atmosphere, and mechanics, I can't help but wish that there was a light at the end of Don't Starve's dark and lonely tunnel.

Gamekult (7 out of 10) (70%)

Fini les ninjas classieux ou le découpage d'ennemis à la chaîne, bienvenue aux petits héros fragiles de Don’t Starve, dont le style graphique sympathique et cartoon n’est en fait qu’une façade. Vicieux, souvent difficile et sans pitié pour ceux qui échouent, mais du même coup addictif, prenant, et finalement assez riche, le dernier né des créateurs de Shank emplira de joie les bricoleurs fous, ceux qui aiment expérimenter dans tous les sens, et surtout les amateurs de challenge. Les moins patients et ceux qui aiment apprendre de leurs échecs en douceur en seront pour leurs frais, surtout que la nature même du jeu pourra vite le faire paraître très répétitif. Les autres relèveront le défi et feront durer le plaisir le long de parties ô combien stressantes, poussés par l’envie de tout découvrir. Qui plus est, avec du contenu promis pour les prochains mois, Don’t Starve a tout du bon investissement pour ceux qui aiment le genre.

Eurogamer.pt (7 out of 10) (70%)

Tal como provavelmente a grande maioria, senti-me perdido ao entrar neste Don't Starve e se experiências indie como Spellunky já haviam mostrado o que é ser difícil para um videojogo, este trabalho do Klei acrescentou ainda uma boa dose de confuso e conseguiu ser até intimidativo. No entanto, quando aquela pequena curiosidade fica para voltar a tentar e conseguir criar mais itens para sobreviver mais dias, ficamos presos ao jogo e à sua mercê para que este continue a "brincar" com o jogador enquanto este vai substituindo a sua irritação por determinação. Ou será teimosia?

GameSpot (7 out of 10) (70%)

The way Don't Starve blends its crafting, exploration, and survival elements makes for an enthralling and unique combination. This game will readily eat up many hours of your time if you let it, but the promise each run holds never seems to pan out thanks to the insidious challenges the game constantly stacks against you. The initial sense of wonder that comes from stumbling upon the surprises and discoveries of this interesting world rapidly fades away when you're stuck tackling the same menial tasks over and over again to regain lost ground for the hundredth time. It's disappointing, because Don't Starve otherwise packs a tremendous amount of charm, depth, and intrigue.

Metro.co.uk (6 out of 10) (60%)

An interesting stew of ideas and great presentation can’t make up for a game that goes out of its way to frustrate and discourage its players.

Hardcore Gamer Magazine (2.5 out of 5) (50%)

Don’t Starve serves as a somewhat interesting game that ultimately feels like the bare bones version of the future proper release. There’s every possibility that Don’t Starve may reach its potential by expanding upon the overall narrative as well as adding escalating challenges, but at this current time, it’s hard to say that you should splash out on the game. Unless there’s a major update in the near future, you’d be better off waiting until it inevitably becomes part of an indie bundle so that you can briefly jump in and enjoy its first few hours. Until then, your money and time should be spent elsewhere.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun N/A

The greatest strength of Don't Starve, though, is that it tells you nothing. Everything needs to be discovered yourself, and while the 'Science' menu which offers new building options provides a guide, how to use what you made or what function they serve in the great food chain is for you to suss out from trial, error, wastage and the occasional meagre meal. There's no instruction book in the wilderness, after all. Make do and mend. Make do and don't starve.