Dread Nautical Reviews
With tons of character customization options and non-irritating procedurally-generated level design, Dread Nautical has enough meat on it to justify several playthroughs. Tactics fans shouldn't hesitate to pick this one up.
This game has been so much fun to play. Even when I am cursing at the screen during a boss fight, Dread Nautical has me coming back for more.
Dread Nautical was simply amazing to sit down to. The turned based elements mesh perfectly with the Roguelike setting that has been presented through a cruise ship stuck somewhere out there in the high seas. With plenty of possible party members, tons of replayability, and simply just being fun to play, I can only hope to see more of this down the line and maybe a Dread Nautical inspired Pinball Machine.
With its engaging story and enjoyable combat mechanics, Dread Nautical has the potential to make a splash on the Nintendo handheld. Even after making it through the demonic ship, there’s enough variety and a strong enough combat system to encourage multiple playthrough.
Dread Nautical is chock-full of charm and finds the perfect balance of difficulty to be accessible to someone who’s more interested in story than advanced tactics while still having appeal for genre veterans at harder settings.
The many elements of Dread Nautical culminate in a formula that makes it enjoyable to chip away at the challenging campaign.
Dread Nautical does a lot of things well but it feels a bit unpolished on Nintendo Switch.
While there are a few solid survival games on the Switch they’re a pretty eclectic bunch, ranging from more action-oriented to more strategic and each with their own degree of challenge and some other unique qualities...
Dread Nautical provides a very good turn-based adventure underneath an unfortunately cartoonish presentation. It can't quite figure out if it wants to be scary or goofy, but the gameplay and level designs are deep enough to keep players engaged throughout.
Dread Nautical has the unenviable position of following two genre giants that moved into its launch window, but it holds its own as a worthy opening act.
Dread Nautical is a solid and intriguing turned based, tactical roguelike RPG, just don’t expect your tense horror itch to be scratched, because you’ll be very much looking in the wrong place. The gameplay isn’t too overbearing for newcomers and the games primary characters certainly are fun to explore this doomed ship with, the story is twisty and keeps you engaged, and the hard mode will test your metal beyond much else around at the moment, but there’s very little here you haven’t seen before elsewhere and executed with more panache.
Dread Nautical is an exploration and survival adventure that, combining elements of strategy games, turn-based RPGs, and roguelites, create an interesting experience. It has its drawbacks, such as micro-management of survivors, or a certain repetitiveness, but they are still interesting, and the Lovecraftian story is a plus.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
GOOD - Dread Nautical is a tactical turn-based RPG with some roguelike elements. Mixing these elements with a compelling story, interesting characters, and the classic risk and reward systems works well. Ultimately it reminded me of the board game Clue come to life mixed with a little bit of XCOM. The repetitive layout of the ship and enemies put a damper on what otherwise is a great concept for a game.
Dread Nautical is a roguelike game that wants to do a lot of things, but it can’t do that so well as we expected. The gameplay is confusing and it seems unpolished, but we loved the minimalist art style.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A good start for new genres within Zen Studios. His Lovecraft background style and resource management will put you at the controls of a game that you enjoy or hate equally.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dread Nautical lacks what most roguelikes offer: challenge. When it’s not wasting your time with long encounters, it is by forcing into you a false sense of progress with its base building mechanics. A big letdown after Operencia.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dread Nautical is an interesting title that is unique in its core concept. It doesn’t ham up its sense of foreboding, nor does it hammer you with difficulty in the lowest setting. Its user friendly approach wants you to enjoy everything it has to offer before you move on. Team and resource management are 2 key elements that keep you playing. Who do you save, and who fends for themselves? You have limited food, who eats, and who starves? It’s tough, but as the group leader you must decide! Do I recommend it? Absolutely! A copy can be purchased here! Search, gather, help, fight, and sound that horn. This is your life until you solve the mystery surrounding your presence on the good ship “The Hope”.
Dread Nautical has a fantastic minimalistic art style with a classic polygon feature that adds to that retro feeling.
We were hoping to find in Dread Nautical an uncut gem. In the end, we received a game that does not live up its potential and becomes monotonous pretty quickly. The lack of variety and depth turn this interesting concept into a mediocre game. The mix of RPG and tactics although well thought out, shortly turn into a routine without any joy. There is no thrill or scare, but plenty of annoying moments generated by the chores of item management. Dread Nautical wanted to be a place of madness, but it turned into another dimension of boredom.
At the end of the day, Dread Nautical suffers from repetition, a big spike in difficulty, and a clunky interface. It’s really a tough one to recommend.