This review of Geometry Survivor is based on the XBox Series S/X version of the game. It is also released on Steam (PC), Nintendo Switch and Playstation 4 and 5.
At the end of 2022, Vampire Survivors breathed new life into the roguelite genre. I’ve spent many hours playing this gem, with its simple yet addictive gameplay keeping me hooked for hours (92 hours to date). It’s no surprise that it spawned numerous clones trying to capitalize on its success. One of the latest clones is Geometry Survivor. If I hadn’t looked up the developer, I would have thought it was made by the Geometry Wars team, but alas, this isn’t the case.
Hordes of enemies
Geometry Survivor feels like the next entry in the Geometry Wars franchise, but with one significant difference: its core gameplay. Like in a typical VS clone, you navigate your character through hordes of enemies, which in this case are geometric shapes. Killing shapes earns you experience that you can use to acquire new weapons or defensive abilities. You can have up to six different abilities simultaneously, all of which can be upgraded multiple times. When they reach their maximum level, you can evolve them to make them even stronger. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
Short runs
A run of Geometry Survivor typically lasts around 20 minutes, depending on your skill level. Each time you get hit, you lose a life, and if you run out of extra lives, it’s game over and you have to start anew. Before doing so, you can spend your hard-earned money, gained by killing enemies, in the shop. Here, you can purchase permanent upgrades and ships that will make the next run easier.
So far, so good, and you might think this is a solid VS clone, but nothing could be further from the truth. Unfortunately, I found Geometry Survivor to be a rather dull experience. Whereas VS offers numerous characters to unlock, multiple maps, and various modes to conquer, Geometry Survivor lacks in all of these aspects. The game has only one map and mode to play. After completing it on only my third attempt, I felt no desire to continue.
Great control
It’s a shame because the game could have been a worthy VS competitor. The ship controls are spot on. I never felt I died due to inconsistent controls—deaths were purely my own fault. Enemies come in a nice variety, and the longer you survive, the more appear on screen, attempting to overwhelm you. The game is colorful, and the pumping soundtrack enhances the shooting experience.
The different ships you can purchase add a new layer of challenge to the game. They come with debuffs that increase the difficulty. Personally, I think it would have been much more enjoyable if the game had a leaderboard to introduce some competitive spirit. Unfortunately, there’s no online or local leaderboard to provide rivalry and make these ships more meaningful in my opinion.
Geometry Survivor tries to capitalize on the Vampire Survivor craze but does so in a rather uninspired way. The game lacks variety in game modes, and the absence of leaderboards makes it less competitive than it could have been. While Geometry Survivor has its moments with its colorful visuals and pumping soundtrack, overall, it's a rather boring experience.
Pros
- Colourful
- Responsive controls
cons
- Lack of game modes
- Only one map
- No leaderboard
