Abiotic Factor (video game)

Abiotic Factor
Developer(s)Deep Field Games
Publisher(s)Playstack
Director(s)Geoff "Zag" Keene[1]
EngineUnreal Engine
Platform(s)
Release22 July 2025
Genre(s)Survival
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Abiotic Factor is a 2025 survival game developed by New Zealand-based independent developer Deep Field Games and published by Playstack. It was released for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S on 22 July 2025, following an early access release in May 2024.

Players take on the role of scientists who craft, build, and survive in an underground facility full of paranormal containment failures.[2]

Gameplay

Abiotic Factor is a survival game played in a first-person perspective. As scientists trapped in an underground research facility called GATE in the year 1993, players must craft tools and weapons, fight various alien creatures, and build their own home bases, alone or online with up to five other players.[3] The game's low-resolution stylized three-dimensional graphics and sense of humour are inspired by Half-Life.[4][5][6]

Players create their own character and assign them one of various science-inspired specialisations which determine their uniform, attributes, and may add permanent buffs or debuffs. The game features an experience system and a skill tree which lets players upgrade their characters after the initial character creation.[7][8]

While exploring and progressing through the GATE complex, players need to manage their personal needs—such as hunger, thirst, continence, and fatigue—as well as their protection from environmental factors like temperature and radiation. A day-night cycle determines the players' access to power; at night, all lights in the research facility are turned off and interdimensional portals may appear around player bases, allowing enemies to attack them.[7] To defend against these raids and various alien creatures inspired by the SCP Foundation[8], as well as robotic and human threats roaming the facility, players need to disassemble furniture and collect items in order to craft improvised weapons and gear.[9][10]

Abiotic Factor's linear story leads players through several sectors of the underground complex which can be unlocked by crafting specialised tech, and through multiple alternate dimensions (called "Anteverses") accessible by portal. These portal worlds range in style and function and offer unique resources. Unlike the main building, they also reset twice a week. Players are thus encouraged to repeatedly visit and gather crafting materials from these worlds.[11][3] The game's plot is conveyed through audio logs and emails found on numerous terminals throughout the facility; Voiced non-player characters (NPCs) provide additional exposition and guidance for progressing the story.[12]

Development

The game's director, Geoff "Zag" Keene, criticised the survival genre's "grindy" nature in an interview with PC Gamer. As a result, one goal during the development of Abiotic Factor was to create a less punitive style of gameplay that focused on exploration, adventure, and role-playing. Keene said the team was inspired by The Indie Stone's Project Zomboid and its "Moodle" system, which reduces reliance on meters, instead using voice lines and HUD pop-ups. In the same interview, he also noted that immersive sims had an unintended influence on the game.[10]

The game was released in early access on Steam in May 2024. By August 2024, it had sold 600,000 copies.[13][14] In June 2025, the "Cold Fusion" update was scheduled for the following month, marking the end of early access.[6][15] This followed over a year of updates that added new mechanics and ecosystems. At the same time, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions were announced.[16] Upon its full release in July 2025, Abiotic Factor was also included on PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass at launch.[17][18]

Reception

Abiotic Factor received critical acclaim upon its full release. At Metacritic, as of August 2025, the game holds a score of 88/100 based on 4 critic reviews.[19]

PC Gamer described it as "one of the greatest survival crafting games ever made" and a "classic in the making," awarding it a score of 92%.[3] XboxEra described Abiotic Factor as "charming take on the survival genre, full of great mechanics and systems, an engaging story and world" and praised it as "an absolute blast to play with friends." They scored it 8.2 out of 10.[7] Game8 awarded Abiotic Factor a score of 86/100, commending its blend of "humour, tension, and sci-fi chaos," as well as its replayability. However, Game8 also notes a couple of rough edges—some mechanics remain unexplained, and solo play can feel overwhelming—although these issues don't detract from the overall satisfying experience.[12]

References

  1. ^ "About Us". Deep Field Games. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  2. ^ "3 Excellent Indie Games to Play This Month August 2025". How To Geek. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Abiotic Factor review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Half-Life style survival game Abiotic Factor lays out big new roadmap". PCGamesN. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  5. ^ Zwiezen, Zack (23 July 2025). "That Cool Survival Game That Mixes Minecraft And Half-Life Is Out Now On Game Pass". Kotaku. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Abiotic Factor's next update brings in an upgrade system, a chilly new zone, and best of all, functioning bins". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "Abiotic Factor Review". Xbox Era. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  8. ^ a b Bolding, Jonathan (17 December 2023). "I urge you to playtest Abiotic Factor, a survival game about scientists trapped in a vast underground black site". PC Gamer. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  9. ^ Park, Morgan (22 December 2024). "Abiotic Factor restored my faith in survival games". Yahoo Tech. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Abiotic Factor Interview". PCGamer. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  11. ^ Adams, Robert N. (31 July 2025). "Guide to Abiotic Factor Portal Worlds and Renewable Resources". TechRaptor. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  12. ^ a b Reyes, Allisandra (6 August 2025). "Abiotic Factor Review | Brilliant Mess of Science and Survival". Game8. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Abiotic Factor sold 600,000 copies in three months". Games Industry Ecosystem. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  14. ^ "The State of Indie Games in 2024 and Beyond". Superjump. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  15. ^ "You should buy our favorite co-op survival game of 2024 on sale now for $20—because the price goes up to $35 in May". PCGamer. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Abiotic Factor Set To Leave Early Access in Late July". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  17. ^ "The Next Viral Sensation Launches Next Week, Releasing Day One On Game Pass & PS Plus". Screenrant. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  18. ^ "That Cool Survival Game That Mixes Minecraft And Half-Life Is Out Now On Game Pass". Kotaku. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Abiotic Factor Reviews". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
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