Don’t Starve Together

Genre: Survival Adventure

Players: 1-2 Co-Op / Competitive (Local Split-Screen), 2-4 Co-Op / Competitive (Local Wireless / Online)

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Review:

Don’t Starve Together, first released in early access in 2014 on PC, was originally envisioned as a free expansion to Don’t Starve, but gradually expanded into its own separate version of the game, one that included much of the content of the original game as well as new characters, new content, and most notably new multiplayer co-op and competitive play (up to six players in the PC version, and up to 4 players in the Nintendo Switch version). This version of the game has been brought to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016 as its own standalone game, and then to Nintendo Switch in 2022.

At $15, it’s $5 cheaper than the original version of Don’t Starve on Nintendo Switch, and given its expanded content, that seems like an exceptionally good deal for those with an interest in the game. Loners can, of course, play the game on their own, but if you’re open to multiplayer, you can play with a friend in couch co-op, play with friends online, or even open your game up to random other players to join you online, if you want to roll the dice with those random players.

The core game here is much the same as the original Don’t Starve, and those wondering what I thought of that game, you can see my review here. The short version – this is just not a game that appeals to me, and while I know many elements of the genre are seen as features to those who are fans – namely, the way the game refuses to help newer players figure out what to do, the desaturated art style, and on the Nintendo Switch, I also have to mention the odd interface, which is difficult to see on the TV screen and even harder to see in handheld mode. Yeah, I’m not a fan of this game.

However, in the spirit of this game’s co-op focus, I will now turn the rest of this review over to Jenn Ip, who is a fan of the Don’t Starve franchise, but whose familiarity with the game rests mainly in the PC version. Jenn?

Wow, never thought I would end up writing something for Jake’s review. I honestly believe that if you want to play this game, you should play the PC version. A major update regarding an upgraded UI was pushed recently, which isn’t available in the Switch version. I also feel like a keyboard and mouse is far more suitable for the game than a controller. It was clunky trying to find the different items we had to use. Additionally, I don’t think the Switch is powerful enough to handle the game. There’s some lag spikes and input lag when we were playing co-op. Fortunately, if you want to play this game on the PC, you don’t need a powerful system to enjoy the game. The Switch can handle Don’t Starve Together, but if you want a smoother and satisfying experience, go play the PC version.

Now gameplay-wise, I love this game. I wish I had friends I could play this game with. It’s a grueling survival game and it doesn’t hold your hand. Don’t expect tutorials. While you get more characters to play, each person has their unique strengths and weaknesses. There are some obvious favorites by the way. The included Cave DLC gives the game some more depth and longevity, as it generates its own server. Another thing about this game is the longer you play, the more difficult the game gets. You really have to pay attention to how you manage your resources and your time. Having an extra pair of hands can either help or harm you, depending on how experienced you are with the game.

I know Jake isn’t a fan of the game himself, and I personally would give it a higher grade. I’ve put in at least 50 hours into this game (and counting). If you’re a die hard fan of survival games and don’t mind the top down perspective, I would suggest getting this game to play. But play it with friends, the social experience is much better than the single player experience.

Okay, this is Jake again, wrapping this up. So… yeah, it looks like each of us have our reservations about this game, but our reservations are different – I’m not a fan of the game itself, but I do recognize that it may just be an acquired taste that’s not for everyone. And Jenn isn’t thrilled with the Nintendo Switch version and finds the PC version to be preferable. However, I think we can both agree that if you enjoy a good Survival Adventure and want the option both to play this game on the go and to play with others, Don’t Starve Together is a solid improvement over the original game that should satisfy you.

tl;dr – Don’t Starve Together is a Survival Adventure that expands on the original Don’t Starve with additional multiplayer content, with a more attractive $15 price point. It’s still got many of the same positive and negative qualities as its predecessor, but if you’re looking for a portable version of Don’t Starve, this is a marked improvement over the original game.

Grade: C+

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