The Surge
May 16, 2017 9 years ago
The Surge is a sci-fi spin on Dark Souls, from the Lords of the Fallen team. A catastrophic event has knocked you out during the first day on the job... you wake up equipped with a heavy-grade exoskeleton, in a destroyed section of the complex. Robots gone haywire, insane augmented co-workers and rogue AI - everything wants you dead. Defy deadly enemies and huge bosses in tight, visceral melee combat. Target and slice specific limbs off your foes, with a next-gen loot system where you loot what you dismember. Equip, upgrade and craft new weapons and armors sliced from enemies, and make yourself stronger through a fresh take on leveling-up.
What it’s like
The Surge delivers a gritty, industrial sci-fi experience that reinterprets the Souls formula through a lens of technological horror. You awaken in a dystopian corporate complex overrun by rogue machinery and augmented workers, navigating tight, claustrophobic environments with a sinister tone. The core appeal lies in its visceral combat system, which demands precision as you target specific enemy limbs to harvest their components for crafting and upgrades. This 'loot what you kill' mechanic adds a strategic layer to the traditionally random drop systems of the genre. While the narrative setup borrows familiar tropes and the protagonist remains somewhat generic, the game excels in pacing and atmosphere. It effectively blends the fear of technology run amok with methodical exploration, offering a satisfying loop of challenge and reward for players who enjoy mastering difficult mechanics over deep character drama.
Strong in CombatGameplay / MechanicsAtmosphere / MoodDifficulty / ChallengePacingProgression / Replayability
Keep in mind The linear level design can feel restrictive compared to more open Souls-likes, and the story is often criticized for being generic and lacking memorable characters. Some players may find the visual style too dark and cramped, making navigation occasionally frustrating.
AI-generated from catalog data, informed by reviews from ign.com, pcgamer.com, metacritic.com, reddit.com, gamespot.com.
Screenshots
Releases
| Platform | Region | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC (Microsoft Windows) | Worldwide | Full release | May 15, 20179 years ago |
| PlayStation 4 | Worldwide | Full release | May 16, 20179 years ago |
| Xbox One | Worldwide | Full release | May 16, 20179 years ago |
