Don't Starve

Last updated

Don't Starve
Don't Starve cover.jpg
Cover art, depicting Wilson, one of the playable characters
Developer(s) Klei Entertainment
Publisher(s) Klei Entertainment
Composer(s)
  • Vince de Vera
  • Jason Garner
  • Emmett Hall
Platform(s)
Release
April 23, 2013
    • Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X
      • WW: April 23, 2013
    • PlayStation 4
      • NA: January 7, 2014
      • EU: January 8, 2014
    • PlayStation Vita
      • NA: September 2, 2014
      • EU: September 3, 2014
    • Wii U
      • NA: May 28, 2015
      • EU: June 4, 2015
    • PlayStation 3
      • NA: June 23, 2015
      • EU: June 24, 2015
    • iOS
      • WW: July 9, 2015
    • Xbox One
      • WW: August 26, 2015
    • Android
      • WW: October 20, 2016
    • Nintendo Switch
      • WW: April 12, 2018
Genre(s) Survival
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Don't Starve is a survival game developed by Klei Entertainment. The game was initially released for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux on April 23, 2013. [1] A PlayStation 4 port, renamed Don't Starve: Giant Edition, became available the following year (with PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3 versions released in September 2014 and June 2015 respectively, and an Xbox One version released in August 2015). [2] [3] Don't Starve for iOS, renamed Don't Starve: Pocket Edition was released on July 9, 2015. [4] An Android version was released on October 20, 2016. Downloadable content titled Reign of Giants was released on April 30, 2014, and a multiplayer standalone expansion called Don't Starve Together became free for existing users on June 3, 2015. [5] On Steam, this game is able to be purchased with a free copy for a friend. A Nintendo Switch port came out on April 12, 2018.

Contents

The game follows a scientist named Wilson who finds himself in a dark, dreary parallel world known as the Constant and must survive as long as possible. To this end, the player must keep Wilson alive, fed, and mentally stable as he avoids a variety of surreal and supernatural enemies that will try to kill and devour him. The game's Adventure mode adds depth to the sparse plot and pits Wilson against the game's supposed antagonist, Maxwell.

Don't Starve was Klei's first foray into the survival genre. Conceived during the height of a game industry trend of dropping players into a world with few instructions and a goal of survival, the game was influenced by Minecraft which spearheaded this trend as well as by filmmaker Tim Burton. The game received positive reviews from critics, commended for its original art style, music, and variety of ways for the player to die, although its high level of difficulty and implementation of permanent death were less warmly received.

Gameplay

Don't Starve is an action-adventure game with a randomly generated open world and elements of survival and roguelike gameplay. [6] [7] [8] [9] Combat is handled by pointing and clicking with the mouse, [7] or by using "force attack" (ctrl+f), while other activities are controlled by the keyboard, or using the inbuilt gamepad support to play using a controller, giving it a console-like gameplay feel. [10] The goal is to survive as long as possible, and a count of the number of days the player has survived is shown onscreen, as well as the season. The game keeps few records of player progress besides the total number of experience points and the playable characters unlocked. Wilson is the default playable character, unlocked upon purchase of the game, but the next character, Willow, can be unlocked with 160 experience points. Woodie, the last character unlockable with experience, requires the game's limit of 1,600. [7] [11] Each character has a perk that is specific to them, as well as a disadvantage. The player earns 20 experience points each in-game day and receives them after dying. Death is permanent, barring the use of several rare or expensive items like the Meat Effigy, Touch-Stone, and Life-Giving Amulet. [11]

The game relies on a day/night cycle that causes meaningful fluctuations in gameplay style. During the day, the player spends most of their time exploring the world: gathering food, firewood, and other resources, discovering crafting recipes to combine available items, and avoiding enemies. With nightfall comes dangerous monsters and an invisible menace, Charlie, who attacks the player when the screen is dark. A player must have a light source or night vision to prevent Charlie from attacking. [8] Crafting from recipes allows the player to build shelter, weapons, and tools like axes. [9] Almost all tools will break after running out of durability, by using them, with exceptions such as Woodie's Axe. Players can forage and farm plants as well as hunt animals for sustenance, with several characters having dietary perks or restrictions. [11] Food can spoil, however, so the player cannot keep it for too long. Eating spoiled food results in a loss of health, sanity, and a reduced increase in hunger restoration relative to that provided by fresh food. [12] Each in-game day takes 8 minutes of real time. [9] The length of day and night varies across the seasons, with day being shorter and night longer in winter.

Wolfgang, an unlockable character, runs from a cadre of spider queens and their young at dusk, next to spider-dens. Don't Starve Spiders.jpg
Wolfgang, an unlockable character, runs from a cadre of spider queens and their young at dusk, next to spider-dens.

Death can occur in a variety of ways. The player has three gauges displayed on the game's head-up display, which respectively track hunger, health, and sanity. Hunger diminishes by default, being replenished with food. Sanity decreases during the dusk and night or as a result of specific unpleasant actions, such as robbing graves or being near monsters; it can be replenished through mentally stimulating activities, such as sleeping, picking flowers, and wearing fashionable clothing. When the hunger meter reaches zero, it begins to chip away at health, which will eventually result in the player's death. A large variety of creatures can attack the player, [11] including giant one-eyed birds, tree monsters, tentacles whose owners are not shown, [7] and even small, weak frogs that will nonetheless try to accost the player. When attacked by a frog, the player will drop a random item in their inventory. [8] Additionally, when a character's sanity is below 15% of their sanity limit, figments of the character's imagination become corporeal and able to attack the player. Some creatures, such as pig-like creatures often found in tribes, begin as neutral to the player (excluding the Reign of Giants character Webber), but the player's actions may lead them to be allies or hostile foes, such as attacking one.

The bulk of the game is played in Sandbox Mode, but there is a second mode, Adventure, which the player can access by finding a landmark called Maxwell's Door. Adventure serves as the game's campaign, consisting of five levels that pit the player against Maxwell, the antagonist of Don't Starve. The player loses all items and recipes upon entering and can only pick four items to keep upon completion of each chapter. Death or the end of the five sections returns the player intact to Sandbox Mode. [11]

Plot

Characters

Wilson, a gentleman scientist, is the everyman protagonist of Don't Starve. While Wilson has no special abilities beyond growth of "a magnificent beard", [13] which slows the speed of freezing in winter and accelerates overheating in summer, other playable characters do: Willow, a firestarter, spawns into the world with a unique lighter which acts as a better initial light source and is immune to fire damage, but will start spreadable fires on the ground when she has low sanity. [14] A girl named Wendy receives visits from her deceased twin sister Abigail when summoned, who can help her attack monsters. [15] The strongman, Wolfgang, has high health and significant offensive capabilities that grow better the more his hunger meter is full, but he starves faster and loses more sanity when near danger. [16] WX-78 is an automaton who nonetheless needs to eat, sleep, and stay mentally stimulated, but does not become ill from spoiled food, can increase their maximum health, hunger, and sanity with gears (reset to the original maximum after dying and respawning; the corpse leaves behind a portion of the used ones), and takes damage from rain (which causes sparks bright enough to ward off Charlie). Being made of conductible material, WX-78 also attracts lightning that surrounds them by a glow that gradually dies down as time passes and refills their health, but also lowers their sanity. [17] Wes is a mime with fast depleting hunger and low damage. His maximum health and hunger are lower than most characters and he cannot talk, making him unable to warn the player of status ailments or incoming enemy waves. His sole merit is the unique ability to make balloons (which can act as diversions). Other characters include Wickerbottom, an insomniac witch writer and librarian who doesn't require a science machine to craft many items because of her advanced intellect and who takes greater penalties from spoiled food; and Woodie, a Canadian lumberjack accompanied by a talking axe named Lucy and who has the dark secret that he turns into a werebeaver under the full moon.

The game's supposed antagonist is Maxwell. Maxwell is described as a puppet master who is dapper and frail in stature. [18] He is the final unlockable character, obtained after completion of the story rather than with experience points. The character version of Maxwell starts with more powerful items than the others and has a book that when activated, spawns a shadow clone of himself that aids him in battle, mining, and wood chopping. A maximum of 3 puppets can be spawned at once, and each will disappear 2.5 days after it is spawned if it doesn't die earlier. The secondary antagonist in all games, and the primary antagonist of the multiplayer sequel § Don't Starve Together (DST), is Maxwell's old magic assistant Charlie, attacking the player if they're in complete darkness.

Story

The game opens with Maxwell snidely commenting on the player's gaunt appearance and includes little further story. [7] [19] The game's setup is told further through its trailer: on a dark and stormy night, in his house deep in a mountainous forest within New England, Wilson appears to be getting nowhere in a chemistry experiment until he is startled by his radio speaking to him. It reveals that it has noticed his trouble and has secret knowledge for him. When he eagerly agrees, a flurry of equations and diagrams encircle him and fill his head. Using white rats, a typewriter, and his blood among other tools and materials, Wilson creates a giant machine. The radio commends his work and tells him to pull the machine's switch. He hesitates, but at the radio's insistence, he does so. The machine rattles violently, and a pair of ghostly arms whisk him into a different world while an apparition of Maxwell cackles. [20]

As Wilson (and indeed the other characters who were lured into Maxwell's door) survives, he finds that the Constant, despite at first glance resembling the real world, is not a normal plane of reality, as it is inhabited by not only creatures different from their real world counterparts, but also overall hideous and sometimes powerful monsters that are unrecognisable from anything found in the real world, and worst of all, shadow creatures materialise whenever he is feeling afraid, and deep within the caves on the mainland, Wilson is able to find the ruins of a technologically advanced race of arthropod creatures who were once the dominant species of the Constant, but destroyed themselves with the overuse of nightmare fuel that these shadow creatures are composed of.

During the Adventure mode, at the start of each chapter, Maxwell appears and comments. At first, he seems impressed at the player's hardiness; [21] [22] he then becomes irritated and urges the player to turn back. [23] He offers the player a truce but, upon its decline, becomes enraged. [24]

At the end of Adventure mode, the player reaches an island called Maxwell's Island with a hall belonging to Maxwell on it. The player finds Maxwell trapped in a throne encircled by short stone pillars. It is implied that this is a fate worse than death, and Maxwell was trying to kill the player to prevent them from meeting the same fate he has. The player is at first unable to free him [25] but finds a keyhole [26] and a key nearby. [27] The player sets Maxwell free, but he turns into a skeleton and disintegrates as he stands up. The ghostly arms from the trailer then grab the player and ensnare him in the throne. An epilogue implies that the player will take on a villainous role similar to Maxwell's using newfound powers given by the throne but will nonetheless be trapped forever. [28]

Development

Conception and design

Don't Starve was developed and published by indie studio Klei Entertainment. The game began development as part of a 48-hour game jam in 2010. The team liked the idea but shelved it until two years later, when they had the time to flesh it out. [29] Full development commenced in 2012, while Klei was nearing the end of the development process of Mark of the Ninja . [30] This was during the heat of an industry trend of creating games in which players are dropped into a world with few instructions and a goal of survival. The torch of this movement was held by the 2011 sandbox game Minecraft . Member Kevin Forbes stated in an interview that Minecraft was one of the team's biggest influences, particularly its exploration elements. [30] However, as the game was conceived as a "weird experiment", [31] the team's main goal was to innovate in terms of gameplay and aesthetics, specifically by adding a layer of emphasis on characterization and themes. Another influence was the 2005 Nintendo DS title Lost in Blue , which contains similar supernatural elements and a day/night cycle. [30]

The game's dark and supernatural yet cartoonish art style was influenced by the work of filmmaker Tim Burton, [30] to which it has been frequently compared, [8] [9] and by writers Edward Gorey and H.P. Lovecraft. Forbes noted the team's ambition of creating something "dark and creepy." After conception of the basic game setup, Forbes penned a backstory influenced by steampunk and horror, and lead creative director Jeff Agala added comic strip-like art elements. [30] As the game was initially envisioned as a single-player experience, and adding network features would require a complete overhaul of the game's codebase, Klei was initially against adding multiplayer gameplay. [32] However, in December 2014, after numerous requests, Klei finally released the multiplayer version of the game titled "Don't Starve Together" on Steam Early Access after an initial closed beta release.

Development was marked by a few changes to the game's formula that would be reverted. Most notably, at one point during development, Klei wanted to add quests to the existing open gameplay. Klei shelved this idea when they realized that "having external goals is extremely counter to what is fun about the game." Nevertheless, Klei co-founder Jamie Cheng has emphasized that Klei values the freedom to try different approaches that being tied to a major publisher would not afford them. [29]

Cheng related in an interview that Don't Starve's development taught Klei a considerable amount about the nature of the emergent gameplay that was endemic to its open and random world; [31] Klei tries to experiment with a new genre with each project and prefers not to create sequels to any of its games. [6] [12] These lessons would later be used to balance the mechanics of Klei's upcoming project Invisible, Inc. [31]

Releases and updates

Klei employees argued at length about whether to release Don't Starve as a free-to-play game. Forbes stated that he "wouldn't rule it out as a business model" but that the team was not ready to make such a decision. [30] It was, however, free in the early days of beta testing. [29]

Don't Starve was released in beta form in 2012, a move that Klei decided on to find out "what aspects of the game players are really responding to, and [nip] usability issues in the bud." [30] Klei's Cory Rollins has stated that he finds that most developers' beta periods simply serve as an early release of the game and result in few glitches being fixed, and wanted to make more use of the strategy. [12] Added benefits the team discovered during beta testing were that it forced them to make important decisions about the game's upcoming release well in advance, and that it solidified a player base. [30] In addition, Klei added the ability for food to spoil during this time, inspired by a forum thread about such possibilities. [12] Cheng found Don't Starve to have "ended up a way better game because of the community." [30] It spent a few months in beta testing, and Klei continued to give updates for months after its release. [11]

In June 2013, shortly after the game's main release, a PlayStation 4 version was announced; it would not be released until January of the following year. [33] In a January 2014 interview, Rollins mentioned internal discussions of creating a PlayStation Vita version of Don't Starve, citing massive community interest in playing it on the PlayStation 4 remotely. An iOS edition [34] was released in July 2014. The company is also considering other mobile phone adaptations, [6] as well as a potential sequel, [12] but is not prioritizing them. [6]

Don't Starve Mega Pack

On September 13, 2016, a Don't Starve-related bundle titled Don't Starve Mega Pack was released for PlayStation 4 including Don’t Starve: Console Edition, Don't Starve: Shipwrecked Console Edition, Don't Starve: Reign of Giants Console Edition (DLC), Don’t Starve Together: Console Edition, and autumn PS4 Themes. [35] On April 20, 2018, the bundle was also released for Microsoft Store. [36] A Don't Starve MEGA PACK PLUS that contained Don't Starve, Don't Starve: Reign of Giants Edition, Don't Starve Together, Don't Starve: Shipwrecked and Don't Starve: Hamlet was also released on Steam. [37]

Don't Starve: Reign of Giants

Don't Starve: Reign of Giants, the game's first paid downloadable content expansion, was announced on January 18, 2014. Three cryptic teasers were released, each named after a season of the year. The first, "Fall", shows a badger-like creature, while "Winter" adds an unlockable arachnid character named Webber and "Spring" a furry leg accompanied by a hatching egg. [38] The expansion was made available as early access on April 2 and was released on May 1. It contains new items, characters, and environments. [39]

Don't Starve Together

On May 7, 2014, Klei announced that a free multiplayer expansion, Don't Starve Together, would be coming later that year. [40] As they had initially decided not to create multiplayer, Klei clarified on their forums that they originally had not been "confident that it would actually work both in concept and implementation" but had changed their minds in response to popular demand and bringing in new help. [41]

Don't Starve Together made its debut on Steam's Early Access program on December 15, 2014. It supports up to six players at a time, who can be either existing friends or strangers and can play in public or private games. The expansion contains most, if not all, features of the single-player game, but with ongoing balance patches being made for multiplayer. [41] The game was released out of early access on April 21, 2016. If the game is purchased, by itself, two copies are given: one for the purchaser, and one stored as a gift for a friend.

Presently, this is an altogether separate game from Don't Starve itself: like the single-player game and some of its associated DLC, DST boasts some unique characters of its own (thus far, Winona, Wortox, Wurt, Walter and Wanda); however, the DLC for Don't Starve is not compatible with its multi-player counterpart, and vice versa, although some of the NPCs and characters (thus far, Webber, Wigfrid, Warly and Wormwood) included in the Don't Starve DLC do appear in DST. [42] Additionally, the DLC for this game is predominantly character skins [43] [ non-primary source needed ] that could be acquired by other means as well, such as acquiring enough spools (an in-game currency used to purchase certain clothes) to weave them.

A Nintendo Switch version was released on April 12, 2022. [44]

Don't Starve: Giant Edition

A PlayStation Vita port of Don't Starve titled Don't Starve: Giant Edition was announced on August 25, 2014, and was released on September 2, 2014, in North America, and September 3, 2014, in Europe. [45] This was also announced to be released for the Wii U via the Nintendo eShop on March 4, 2015. [46] Wii U Specific Features: Enjoy Off-TV Mode! Use companion map via the Wii U GamePad to navigate around the world "Reign of Giants" DLC available at launch. [47] Giant Edition was released in North America on May 28, 2015, and in Europe on June 4, 2015. [48] A PlayStation 3 port was developed by Abstraction Games and released in North America on June 23, 2015, as well as in Europe on June 24, 2015. An Xbox One version was released on August 26, 2015. [2]

Don't Starve: Shipwrecked

Don't Starve: Shipwrecked, co-developed by Super Time Force studio Capybara Games, was released on PC on the first day of December 2015 in early access. [49] This expansion includes 4 new characters, new biomes, new creatures, and new seasonal effects. These Characters include Walani, a surfer chick, Warly, a professional chef, Wilbur the monkey King, and Woodlegs the pirate captain. [50] [51]

Don't Starve: Pocket Edition

Don't Starve: Pocket Edition was released on July 9, 2015, [4] for iOS and includes the Reign of Giants DLC. [52] The Android version was officially released on October 20, 2016.

Don't Starve: Hamlet

Don't Starve: Hamlet was announced on September 13, 2017, and an Early Access version was released on November 8, 2018. On May 15, 2019, the DLC left Early Access. [53]

Don't Starve Together x Terraria Crossover

The game made a crossover with the video game Terraria in December 2021. [54]

Don't Starve Together x Cult of the Lamb Crossover

In August 2023, the game made a crossover with Massive Monster's Cult of the Lamb . [55]

Reception

Don't Starve received "generally favorable" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. [57] The game sold one million copies by the end of 2013. [68] Don't Starve was a finalist for the grand prize and "Excellence in Design" subcategory at the 2014 Independent Games Festival awards ceremony. It also received honorable mentions for "Excellence in Visual Art" and "Excellence in Audio." [69]

The game's art style was critically acclaimed. Summarizing that the "distinct art style and atmosphere set a cool vibe," GameSpot's Nathan Meunier commended the atmosphere and visual design. [7] Marty Sliva of IGN claimed an "immense appreciation for the paper-cutout graphical style and whimsical presentation", going on to praise the threatening qualities bestowed upon mundane objects by the "gothic-inspired look." [8] Game Informer writer Jeff Marchiafava stated that "the cartoony art style makes exploring your massive, randomized world a joy." [10] Writing for the newspaper Toronto Sun , Steve Tilley called the art "whimsical and wonderful" and the presentation in general "captivating." [66] Reviewing the PlayStation 4 version specifically, Jordan Devore of Destructoid said that it looked and played very well on the console, though he did note some pixelation effects when the screen zooms in on the inventory. He also found that the gamepad controls, while less efficient than a keyboard, were similarly enjoyable. [70]

The music was generally well received. Sliva compared it to carnival music and called it "immediately catchy" though lacking in variation. [8] Giancarlo Saldana of GamesRadar called it "eerie [yet] calming" and praised its role in complementing the simultaneously lonesome and dangerous world. [63]

Critics universally acknowledged but gave mixed opinions on the game's high level of difficulty. This sentiment was captured by Sliva's comment that "Don't Starve will never, ever hold your hand, and I both love it and hate it for that." For example, he felt some of his deaths were unfairly caused by the game's camera system obscuring needed objects. [8] Meunier stated that "survival doesn't come easy, but there's an undeniable thrill to the challenge," but also placed the high difficulty in his list of the game's cons. [7] Leon Hurley of Official PlayStation Magazine claimed that "learning is half the fun and even the smallest victory makes you feel like you’re winning with a capital FU." [65] Reviewers also felt that players' levels of satisfaction would depend heavily on their levels of commitment to survival. [9] [10] [63]

The lack of a permanent saving mechanic and permanence of death were criticized. Marchiafava, while normally a fan of permadeath in games, found it problematic in Don't Starve because, unlike other games such as The Binding of Isaac and Spelunky , Don't Starve is much longer and so death felt like more of a loss. [10] Meunier noted that the novelty and thrills of each new run wear off somewhat "when you're stuck tackling the same menial tasks over and over again to regain lost ground." [7] Sliva expressed disappointment at being given "nearly no recognition from Don't Starve itself" upon being killed by a frog, and reported being bored for roughly 30 minutes at the overly familiar starts of later playthroughs. [8] Brown thought similarly, also calling the early game in particular "a bit dull." [9] Saldana, however, reasoned that "you at least gain some knowledge of how things work" and would make incremental, enjoyable progress. [63]

The variety of unusual, numerous, and frequently placed ways for the player to die were singled out for praise. Focusing on the harm caused by subzero temperatures during winter, Meunier found that "these interesting wrinkles add depth and additional difficulty to the already challenging survival mechanics at play." [7] Jessica Conditt of Joystiq praised the high number of ways to die and the game's efficient, easy-to-understand display of the player's health, hunger, and mental stability. [11] Saldana noted that the unfamiliarity of some monster designs would help to keep the player wary. [63]

The Pocket Edition was nominated for "Adventure Game" at the 2019 Webby Awards. [71]

Related Research Articles

<i>Uno</i> (video game) Video game adaptation of the card game

Uno is a video game based on the card game of the same name. It has been released for a number of platforms. The Xbox 360 version by Carbonated Games and Microsoft Game Studios was released on May 9, 2006, as a digital download via Xbox Live Arcade. A version for iPhone OS and iPod devices was released in 2008 by Gameloft. Gameloft released the PlayStation 3 version on October 1, 2009, and also released a version for WiiWare, Nintendo DSi via DSiWare, and PlayStation Portable. An updated version developed by Ubisoft Chengdu and published by Ubisoft was released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in August 2016, Microsoft Windows in December 2016 and for the Nintendo Switch in November 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klei Entertainment</span> Canadian video game developer

Klei Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian video game development company located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Klei was formed in July 2005 by Jamie Cheng. Their best-known titles include Don't Starve and Oxygen Not Included.

<i>N+</i> 2008 video game

N+ is the console and handheld version of the Adobe Flash game N, which was developed by Metanet Software. N+ for Xbox Live Arcade was developed by Slick Entertainment and published by Metanet Software. Unique versions of the game were also ported separately to the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS by developers SilverBirch Studios and Atari. Metanet Software licensed their N IP for this deal, provided single player level design for both versions, and consulted on the project.

<i>Dungeon Defenders</i> 2010 video game

Dungeon Defenders is a hybrid multiplayer video game developed by Trendy Entertainment that combines the genres of tower defense and action role-playing game. It is based on a showcase of Unreal Engine 3 named Dungeon Defense. The game takes place in a fantasy setting where players control the young apprentices of wizards and warriors and defend against hordes of monsters. A sequel titled Dungeon Defenders II was released in 2015.

<i>Skylanders</i> Video game series

Skylanders is a toys-to-life action-adventure video game franchise published by Activision. Skylanders games are played by placing a character's figure on the "Portal of Power", a device that reads its tag using NFC and "imports" them into the game as a playable character.

<i>The Last of Us</i> 2013 video game

The Last of Us is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Players control Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting a teenage girl, Ellie, across a post-apocalyptic United States. The Last of Us is played from a third-person perspective. Players use firearms and improvised weapons and can use stealth to defend against hostile humans and cannibalistic creatures infected by a mutated fungus. In the online multiplayer mode, up to eight players engage in cooperative and competitive gameplay.

<i>God of War: Ascension</i> 2013 video game

God of War: Ascension is an action-adventure hack and slash video game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). The game was first released on March 12, 2013, for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) console. It is the seventh installment in the God of War series and a prequel to the entire series. Loosely based on Greek mythology, it is set in ancient Greece with vengeance as its central motif. The player controls the protagonist, Kratos, the former servant of the God of War Ares, who tricked Kratos into killing his wife and daughter. In response to this tragedy, Kratos renounced Ares, breaking his blood oath to the god. Kratos was, therefore, imprisoned and tortured by the three Furies, guardians of honor and enforcers of punishment. Helped by the oath keeper, Orkos, Kratos escapes his imprisonment and confronts the Furies, aiming to free himself of his bond to Ares.

<i>Dark Souls II</i> 2014 video game

Dark Souls II is a 2014 action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware. The second installment of the Dark Souls series, it was released for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 by FromSoftware in Japan and Bandai Namco Games internationally. Taking place in the kingdom of Drangleic, the game features both player versus environment (PvE) and player versus player (PvP) gameplay. Dark Souls II was released in March 2014 after some initial delays, with the Windows version being released the following month.

<i>Pac-Man Museum</i> 2014 video game compilation

Pac-Man Museum is a 2014 compilation title developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment under the Namco label. It is a compilation of 9 Pac-Man games, with additional features such as achievements and online leaderboards.

<i>Farming Simulator</i> Series of farming simulation video games

Farming Simulator is a farming simulation video game series developed by GIANTS Software. The locations are based on American and European environments. Players are able to farm, breed livestock, grow crops, and sell assets created from farming.

<i>Crypt of the NecroDancer</i> 2015 video game

Crypt of the NecroDancer is a roguelike rhythm game by Brace Yourself Games. The game takes fundamental elements of a roguelike dungeon exploration game and adds a beat-matching rhythm game set to an original soundtrack written by Danny Baranowsky. The player's actions are most effective when moving the character set to the beat of the current song and are impaired when they miss a beat, so it is necessary to learn the rhythmic patterns that the various creatures follow. The mixed-genre game includes the ability to import custom music, and the option to use a dance pad instead of traditional controllers or the keyboard. The game was released for Linux, OS X, and Windows in April 2015, being co-published by Klei Entertainment, for the PlayStation 4 and Vita in February 2016, for the Xbox One in February 2017, and for Nintendo Switch in February 2018. Crypt of the NecroDancer Pocket Edition, developed for iOS, was released in June 2016.

<i>Invisible, Inc.</i> 2015 video game

Invisible, Inc. is a turn-based tactics stealth game incorporating elements of roguelike gameplay, by Klei Entertainment. The player acts as the remote operator for an espionage agency that has come under attack from multinational corporations, and directs agents in covert missions, acquiring resources and support in order to enable relocation of the agency's computer system to a safe haven within a limited amount of time.

<i>Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare</i> 2014 First-person shooter video game

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is a 2014 first-person shooter video game published by Activision. The eleventh major installment in the Call of Duty series, the game was developed by Sledgehammer Games for PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One, while High Moon Studios developed the versions released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and Raven Software developed the game's multiplayer and the Exo-Zombies mode.

<i>Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker</i> 2014 video game

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a 2014 action puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game was re-released for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS in 2018 with additional content. It is a spin-off of the Super Mario series and a part of the larger Mario franchise. The game stars Captain Toad and Toadette as they complete levels, defeat enemies and save each other from the antagonist Wingo. Each level is contained within a miniature diorama-like environment that requires puzzle-solving and platforming challenges to complete. The player also uses the Wii U GamePad to rotate the camera and reveal new information and interact with the environment.

<i>The Escapists</i> Strategy video game

The Escapists is a strategy game played from a top-down perspective. The game was developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and following a Steam Early Access release in 2014, was released in 2015 for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It was released on iOS and Android in 2017. A Nintendo Switch version of the game containing all downloadable content was released in 2018. The game was launched on the Epic Games Store on 23 September 2021, with the weekly free game campaign of Epic Games. Players assume the role of an inmate and must escape from prisons of increasing difficulty.

<i>Runbow</i> 2015 platform racing video game

Runbow is a platform racing video game made for the Wii U and later ported to Microsoft Windows, New Nintendo 3DS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Runbow was developed by independent video game developer 13AM Games as their debut title, releasing it on 27 August 2015 in North America, 3 September 2015 in Europe, and 23 October 2015 in Australasia. The game was released in Japan on 25 November 2015.

<i>Victor Vran</i> 2015 video game

Victor Vran is an action role-playing video game developed by the Bulgarian independent development studio Haemimont Games. Victor Vran is published on Steam by EuroVideo Medien. It entered Steam Early Access in February 2015 and the final version was released in July 2015. The setting of the game resembles Gothic-fantasy fairy tale where both magic and science have a place in the world. The title exited early access on July 24, 2015. An updated port titled Victor Vran: Overkill Edition was released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on 6 June 2017, and a Nintendo Switch port was released on August 28, 2018. A version of the original game was made available for Amazon Luna on 20 October 2020.

<i>Lego Worlds</i> 2017 Lego-themed sandbox game

Lego Worlds is a Lego-themed sandbox game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game allows players to build constructions in a 3D procedurally generated world. A beta version of the game was released on 1 June 2015 on Steam Early Access. It was released on 7 March 2017 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. A version for Nintendo Switch was released on 5 September 2017 in North America and 8 September 2017 in Europe.

<i>Ark: Survival Evolved</i> 2017 video game

Ark: Survival Evolved is a 2015 action-adventure survival video game developed by Studio Wildcard. In the game, players must survive being stranded on one of several maps filled with roaming dinosaurs, fictional fantasy monsters, and other prehistoric animals, natural hazards, and potentially hostile human players.

<i>The Escapists 2</i> 2017 strategy role-playing video game

The Escapists 2 is a strategy role-playing video game developed by Mouldy Toof Studios and published by Team17. It is the sequel to The Escapists (2015) and it was released worldwide for Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in August 2017. Nintendo Switch and mobile phones versions were released in 2018 and 2019, both iOS and Android respectively.

References

  1. "Don't Starve on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  2. 1 2 "Don't Starve: Giant Edition". store.xbox.com. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  3. "Don't Starve: Giant Edition". Metacritic. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  4. 1 2 "Don't Starve: Pocket Edition". Metacritic. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  5. "Don't Starve Together now free for existing Don't Starve owners". PC Gamer. 4 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Edge Staff (January 20, 2014). "Don't Starve breaks one million players as Klei looks to Vita, iOS and new projects". Edge . Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Meunier, Nathan. "Don't Starve Review". GameSpot . Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sliva, Marty (May 1, 2013). "Don't Starve Review". IGN . Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Brown, Fraser (April 29, 2013). "Review: Don't Starve". Destructoid . Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Marchiafava, Jeff (April 26, 2013). "Dont Starve: A Life-And-Death Struggle In Need Of A Point". Game Informer . Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Conditt, Jessica (May 24, 2013). "Don't Starve review: Leave the light on". Joystiq . Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Donato, Joe (March 24, 2013). "PAX East 2013: Don't Starve interview details continued support and collaborative development". GameZone. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  13. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Biography: The Gentleman Scientist / 'I will conquer it all with the power of my MIND!' / *Grows a magnificent beard
  14. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Biography: The Firestarter / 'Things are so much prettier when they burn.' / *Immune to fire damage *Lights fires when nervous
  15. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Biography: The Bereaved / 'Abigail! Come back! I'm not done playing with you! / *Haunted by her twin sister *Comfortable with darkness *Doesn't hit very hard
  16. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Biography: The Strongman / 'I am mighty! No one is mightier!' / *Gets stronger with a full belly *Is afraid of the dark and monsters
  17. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Biography: The Soulless Automaton / 'EMPATHY MODULE NOT RESPONDING' / *Not a picky eater *Charged by lightning, damaged by rain *Can upgrade with gears
  18. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Biography: The Puppet Master / 'Freedom!' / *Is dapper but frail *Can fragment his mind *Brings his own sword
  19. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Maxwell: Say, pal, you don't look so good. You better find something to eat before night comes!
  20. Don't Starve – Origin Trailer (YouTube). GameSpot (user GameSpotTrailers). 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  21. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Maxwell: Well, would you look at that, you survived. One down, four to go!
  22. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Maxwell: What? You're still here? Impressive, but you should probably stop while you're ahead.
  23. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Maxwell: Say, pal. You're really pushing your luck. Turn back now, or I may have to resort to drastic measures.
  24. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Maxwell: Say. pal. Let's make a deal. You can stay here. Settle down, even. I'll give you food, gold, pigs, whatever you need. All I want in return is a truce.
  25. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Maxwell: The throne won't allow that. I've tried.
  26. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Player: Looks almost like a keyhole.
  27. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Alert: Take pity? The key looks like it will fit. You can free Maxwell, but I doubt his captors will be pleased.
  28. Klei Entertainment. Don't Starve. Epilogue: The End. And so the cycle continues. Will [character's name] ever escape? Perhaps [he or she] too will tire of this wretched place, and use [his or her] new powers to tempt the unsuspecting.
  29. 1 2 3 Weber, Rachel (January 24, 2013). "Don't Starve: Klei's grand experiment". GamesIndustry. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rose, Mike (September 3, 2012). "Don't Starve: A Tim Burton Take on Minecraft". Gamasutra. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  31. 1 2 3 Grayson, Nathan (July 2, 2013). "Don't Starve Dev On Its 'Espionage XCOM' Incognita". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  32. Kevin Forbes (December 14, 2012). "Multiplayer". Klei Entertainment Forums. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  33. Cheng, Jamie (June 10, 2013). "Don't Starve on PS4". PlayStation Blog . Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  34. "iOS version". iTunes . 29 June 2022.
  35. "Don't Starve Mega Pack". PlayStation™Store. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  36. "Don't Starve Mega Pack kaufen – Microsoft Store de-DE". Microsoft Store (in German). Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  37. "Don't Starve MEGA PACK PLUS on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  38. Senior, Tom (February 18, 2014). "Don't Starve's Reign Of Giants DLC gets diminutive new teaser". PC Gamer . Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  39. Sliwinski, Alexander (May 1, 2014). "Don't Starve: Reign of Giants officially out now on PC". Joystiq. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  40. "Don't Starve Together - Multiplayer Officially Coming Summer 2014". Klei Entertainment. May 7, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  41. 1 2 "Don't Starve Together -- Multiplayer Officially Coming Summer 2014". Klei Entertainment. May 7, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  42. Don't Starve Together: Return of Them - Eye of the Storm [Update Trailer] , retrieved 2022-08-23
  43. "Steam DLC Page: Don't Starve Together". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  44. "Reminder: Don't Starve Together Is Now Available On Switch". Nintendo Life. April 13, 2022.
  45. Blake, Vikki (August 25, 2014). "Don't Starve Coming to PlayStation Vita Next Month". IGN. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  46. "Nintendo eShop - Don't Starve: Giant Edition for Wii U". Nintendo. March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  47. "Don't Starve: Giant Edition screenshots, fact sheet". Nintendo Everything. March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  48. Farokhmanesh, Megan (May 21, 2015). "Don't Starve: Giant Edition is heading to Wii U next week". Polygon . Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  49. "Don't Starve: Shipwrecked". Klei Entertainment. Dec 1, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  50. "Players Take to the Sea in Don't Starve's Shipwrecked Expansion". July 31, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  51. "Don't Starve: Shipwrecked Announcement". YouTube . July 31, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  52. "Don't Starve: Pocket Edition - Die Slowly from the Comfort of Your Couch". Gamezebo. 2015-07-10. Archived from the original on 2016-01-06. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  53. Brown, Fraser (May 15, 2019). "Don't Starve: Hamlet has left Steam Early Access". PCGamer .
  54. "Terraria - an Eye for an Eye: Terraria x Don't Starve Together Crossover Update Out Now! - Steam News". 18 November 2021.
  55. "Cult of the Lamb x Don't Starve Together - Official Collaboration Update Launch Trailer". IGN . August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  56. "Don't Starve: Giant Edition for Xbox One". GameRankings . CBS Interactive . Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  57. 1 2 "Don't Starve for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  58. "Don't Starve: Console Edition for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  59. "Don't Starve: Giant Edition for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  60. "Don't Starve: Pocket Edition for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  61. "Don't Starve: Nintendo Switch Edition for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  62. "Don't Starve: Mega Pack for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  63. 1 2 3 4 5 Saldana, Giancarlo (January 21, 2014). "Don't Starve review". GamesRadar . Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  64. Sliva, Marty (January 13, 2014). "Don't Starve PS4 Review". IGN. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  65. 1 2 Hurley, Leon (January 14, 2014). "Don't Starve PS4 review – The title is the only help you'll get". Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  66. 1 2 Tilley, Steve (May 16, 2013). "'Don't Starve' is an acquired taste". Toronto Sun . Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  67. Lazarides, Tasos (July 17, 2015). "'Don't Starve' Review – A Masterpiece of Horror, Humor, and Hunger". TouchArcade . Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  68. Wawro, Alex (January 21, 2014). "Klei sold more than a million copies of Don't Starve in 2013". Gamasutra . Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  69. Makuch, Eddie (January 7, 2014). "Independent Games Festival awards finalists revealed". GameSpot . Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  70. Devore, Jordan (January 8, 2014). "Even without Plus, Don't Starve is worth playing on PS4". Destructoid. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
  71. "2019 Winners". The Webby Awards . April 23, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.