Review of Spacepunk Survival on Nintendo Switch

Spacepunk Survival, developed by Nejcraft and Tavern Tale Studio, brings a multiplayer horde experience to the Nintendo Switch and drops players into the eerie confines of Iapetus Station. Once a bustling research facility, it’s now teeming with menacing alien lifeforms, constantly keeping you on your toes. As you attempt to endure the relentless onslaught, remember that surviving is more about resilience than conquest since these aliens aren’t going down easily. It’s worth noting that joining the multiplayer skirmish requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

If you’re jumping into this first-person shooter, expect to navigate your surroundings using the left analog stick, while the right one fine-tunes your aim. Want to pick up the pace? Simply press down on the left stick to sprint. Jumping is as simple as hitting the B button, and for those close encounters, executing a melee attack is done by pressing in the right stick. Ready to face off against your alien adversaries? Aim with the ZL button and fire with the ZR button. Don’t forget to keep an eye on your ammo count and reload by pressing Y when necessary.

At the heart of Spacepunk Survival is a straightforward yet compelling gameplay loop. Your mission: dispatch as many aliens as you can to advance through the intense waves, earning money with every enemy you take down. This cash is your ticket to acquiring new weapons and perks, helping you maintain momentum. And while you’re checking out the surroundings, keep an eye out for weapons scattered throughout the rooms, each offering its unique stats for damage, magazine capacity, and reload times.

Speaking of perks, several options can give you a fighting edge. Consider the Captain perk, which doesn’t just slash shop prices but also boosts your mobility and support speed. Plus, for each fallen player, your damage output and reload speed get a handy bonus. If you’re more of a sharpshooter, the Gunslinger perk might catch your fancy, reducing reload time while delivering a powerful double-damage punch with the first shot. Marksman is another smart choice, steadily increasing your damage with each successive hit on the same foe. And for those who relish precise shots, the Scavenger perk offers extra cash rewards for headshots, alongside extended health and faster regeneration.

Unfortunately, while the concept sounds enticing, this game struggles to live up to expectations. It’s plagued with performance issues—framerate drops and a jarring pop-in despite limited visibility make navigation a challenge. Moreover, the alien foes have a knack for surrounding you unexpectedly, dealing massive damage from concealed spots. Consequently, the online multiplayer experience feels lackluster at best, increasingly pushing players towards solitary gameplay sessions. Despite the potential, Spacepunk Survival on the Switch, available for $9.99, might not be the best investment for your time.

This assessment of Spacepunk Survival was crafted using a Nintendo Switch code bestowed by Nejcraft.