Active Matter Reviews
Embark on dangerous expeditions and engage in PvP combat within unstable quantum zones, where rich loot awaits. You will encounter an intriguing world filled with anomalies, though it may gradually begin to feel repetitive.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
If you’re a fan of Stalker, SCP and similar titles or just want a cleverly made extraction game, there’s a lot to like here, but keep in mind this is not a game for the faint of heart.
Active Matter at its core is unique extraction shooter with a solid foundation. It is fairly unforgiving to the average solo player and I feel is likely best with friends. Getting started can be a bit overwhelming with the amount of min-maxing available and the overall layout of loading into a match. Thankfully, there are some guides around to help out new players. There is a lot of detail thrown into the game. However, it was just very jarring to encounter the AI voice. Especially when she keeps repeating the same lines over and over rather than talking conversationally. So not the best game I’ve ever had the chance to review, but certainly not the worst. It’s one of those niche things that earns a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Active Matter is not trying to reinvent the extraction-shooter genre. Perhaps it does not need to. Instead, it takes a familiar formula and gives it a personality of its own, using its setting, narrative framework, and supernatural elements to stand apart in an increasingly crowded field. It is a game that understands where its strengths lie, particularly when it steps back and allows the player to determine how much risk a raid is worth. There is rarely a definitive right answer. There is only the decision you are willing to live with. Do you search one more building for better loot, or leave while you still have everything you came for? Do you confront the creature blocking your path, or find another way around it? Do you enter the field with your best equipment, knowing exactly what is at stake, or take a more conservative loadout? These choices may seem small in isolation, but together they form the foundation of Active Matter’s identity. The game’s tension comes from more than the danger surrounding you. It comes from the value of everything you have already managed to secure. Loot matters because you can lose it. Ammunition matters because you cannot afford to waste it. And extraction matters because the closer you get to safety, the harder it becomes to justify taking one more unnecessary risk. Active Matter is at its best when it understands that the most effective source of tension is not always what is waiting around the next corner, but the knowledge that you could lose everything you have already earned. The experience is not without its weaknesses. The early economy can feel overly restrictive, some encounters lean too heavily into punishment, and certain supernatural enemies can demand an excessive amount of ammunition to bring down. The opening hours can also be a difficult introduction for players unfamiliar with the genre. These are meaningful shortcomings, and they prevent Active Matter from becoming a truly exceptional extraction shooter. What is encouraging, however, is how much progress the game has made since our previous experience with it. The current version is smoother, more stable, and more confident in its own design. Combat, exploration, inventory management, progression, and its supernatural threats now fit together with enough cohesion to give the game a distinct voice rather than simply another variation on a familiar formula. Active Matter is not going to be for everyone. It can be demanding, occasionally frustrating, and at times less generous than it should be. But there is a clear idea at its core, and when its systems align, that idea works. How much are you willing to risk before what you have becomes more valuable than what you might still find? That question sits at the heart of every raid. Active Matter does not answer it for you. It simply gives you enough to lose to make finding the answer matter.
Active Matter is an incredibly ambitious extraction shooter that feels a bit different from the others out there. With its mind-bending atmosphere and anomaly-driven gameplay, it is a consistently tense rollercoaster. I found this to be one of the more punishing shooters I’ve ever played, but the setting and exploration kept drawing me in for more. If you’re big into extraction shooters or even shooters in general, then you may find lots of hours here. Co-op crossplay allows you to dive in with friends if you don’t want to go it alone. With the bonus of Xbox Play Anywhere, you can play this anywhere your Xbox library allows. Fancy picking up a copy for yourself? You can do so HERE.
I knew it's an extraction shooter, so I wasn't very enthusiastic about it. I was totally shocked when Active Matter turned out to be one of most fun games I played last months. I had such fun playing both PvE and PvP modes with my friends!
Review in Polish | Read full review
Active Matter finds a good position within an increasingly competitive genre, even arriving in a very discreet way. It doesn't reinvent the extraction shooter, but it has enough personality, atmosphere, and systems to justify its existence and the interest of those who seek it out.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Active Matter proves to be a solid, highly atmospheric take on the extraction shooter genre. Blending quantum-anomaly sci-fi with demanding, tactical gunplay, it delivers genuine tension and memorable firefights—perfect for those seeking a cooperative experience with real character. However, some performance hiccups on Series X (especially during intense moments), a controller-unfriendly inventory interface, and a solo experience that still needs refinement keep the title from reaching the very top tier of the genre. Even so, it remains a solid product and one of the sector's most promising titles, all at a more-than-reasonable price.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Active Matter mixes tactical extraction gameplay with time loops, horror, and reality-bending anomalies. Rough edges hold it back, but its risk-heavy raids and unusual systems give the shooter a personality of its own.
Active Matter blends sci-fi themes with elements of horror, shooting, and tactical combat in one of the most innovative offerings we’ve seen on the market recently. The visuals are truly incredible, the gameplay feels fluid, and the vast array of activities per raid helps keep the experience fresh and challenging... The multiverse has never been this tactical.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Active Matter has plenty of good ideas, original level design, and a wide range of mechanics, but its cluttered interface, steep learning curve, and technical issues make the overall experience feel too messy at this stage. It remains a demanding title that could nevertheless appeal to fans of extraction shooters.
Review in French | Read full review