Where is the story? There's nothing to progress the game forward.

[m4rski]

I couldn't really get into this game too much as this is one of those games that is a lot more fun to watch more talented people play than myself. Although, I did play Raft first a couple years ago, so this isn't my first survival/crafting game of this caliber.

I am still not quite sure what it is about this game. With 6+ hrs of playing, I don't see any real drive to complete anything. Maybe it's just a phase for me. I guess I am just bad at the game mechanics and I get frustrated with the constant hunger and thirst requirements. The lack of an overall story arch from what I am used to with high budget games is a big deal too. I felt that way too with Raft at first, but I eventually grew accustomed to the hunger and thirst requirements..

For this game...it's missing the drive factor. I just don't care if I make it to the end or not. So, I ended up messing around quite a bit and watched some videos online, but even after seeing what people can do in the game, nothing is quite hitting the mark.

I really, reeeeeeallllllllyyyyy love the idea of surviving on an island, or many islands type of game. The story needs moooooore. I also didn't know this game came out in 2015, while Steam said 2022. My mistake on that one. I thought it was a copy of the Raft game.

Maybe there is a game out there that is the mold of Far Cry 3 on an island of course, and this game or Raft. Again, the lack of story really hurts my incentive to play, yet I do wholeheartedly understand that this game is about crafting and exploring too.

Honestly, if some studio/people/person can come up with an island survival type game like this mixed with Far Cry 3 story elements or so, that would be furiously fun to play. I am now looking at Subnautica this past week to possibly try for a survival type game. I might just do that soon.

I still appreciate this game for what it is with its graphics and features, as I will probably come back to it to see if it rings any more bells, so please don't think I created this post just to bash this game.

[luftatmer]

Originally posted by m4rski:

I just don't care if I make it to the end or not.

Say no more. Probably this game is not for you. No game is for everyone. Just go on and play another game.

[fluxtorrent]

Been heavy into Survival: Fountain of Youth this week, very much has the stranded deep vibe with more story elements

[Sayori]

Stranded Deep isn't about story. It's about survival.
If anything, fighting the bosses and rebuilding the plane feels more tacked on than anything, just to give players an ultimate goal to work towards.

Stranded Deep is very much a sandbox, with the only true goal being whatever the player sets out for themselves. If you need the game to tell you what that goal is, you're going to be very disappointed. The "story" being kill 3 bosses and fly away is very underwhelming.

Also, try playing with friends if you can. My partner and I are addicted to the game right now because we are having so much fun in it together.

If a survival game with a story is what you're after, go check out something like The Forest. Or Sons Of The Forest if your pc can handle it. Both are fantastic.

[GrandpaGamer]

Originally posted by Sayori:

Stranded Deep isn't about story. It's about survival.
If anything, fighting the bosses and rebuilding the plane feels more tacked on than anything, just to give players an ultimate goal to work towards.

Stranded Deep is very much a sandbox, with the only true goal being whatever the player sets out for themselves. If you need the game to tell you what that goal is, you're going to be very disappointed. The "story" being kill 3 bosses and fly away is very underwhelming.

Also, try playing with friends if you can. My partner and I are addicted to the game right now because we are having so much fun in it together.

If a survival game with a story is what you're after, go check out something like The Forest. Or Sons Of The Forest if your pc can handle it. Both are fantastic.

The sandbox feeling is what I enjoy most about this game. In my current play-thru I built a 20 story lighthouse and a huge stone castle with 3 story walls, a gate house, main keep, and five 5 and 6 story towers.

[53yoGamer]

I also love Survival games WITH A STORY very much and I also can't motivate me on Sandbox games without one.
Here are my recommendations for you: SURVIVAL games WITH a decent STORY:

1. SUBNAUTICA (best game ever. you need to know it.) and also BELOW ZERO (supposedly Subnautica 2, not as good as the first but with more voice and even more story)
2. GREEN HELL is very realistic if you like to care for your wounds and illnesses all the time
3. SURVIVAL - FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH (comes closest to Stranded Deep regarding the Castaway feeling and has a fantastic story and quests)
4. if you like Science Fiction setting with weird humor, try BREATHEDGE. It is brilliant.
5. if you like Horror, the two FOREST games (2nd is SONS of the Forest) are good. best graphics ever.
6. also an excellent Science Fiction Survival game and if you want to play COOP with friends, check out PLANET CRAFTER
7. looking much forward to the new game FOREVER SKIES which is in early access still.
Have fun !

[fluxtorrent]

I'd add Star Sand to that list too, it's not "island" survival but it very much fits the vibe

[Murder Medic]

Originally posted by m4rski:

Honestly, if some studio/people/person can come up with an island survival type game like this mixed with Far Cry 3 story elements or so, that would be furiously fun to play. I am now looking at Subnautica this past week to possibly try for a survival type game. I might just do that soon.

.

I didnt scope out your game list to see if you had it or not, I too love these kinds of games. Might I suggest Valheim? You can scratch the itch of sailing, building, questing and surviving in that game. There are an unbelievable amount of mods to use as well, very easy to install using a modmanager. I suggest Valheim as its one of those games (like Stranded Deep) that i bought and never really played. Was bored one day and before I knew it, I was living on an island figuring out how to make medical potions with coconuts...somehow days of playing it turned into weeks before i knew it.

Likewise, I started Valheim and didnt really care for it. Then one day was bored, hopped in and after discovering that if I do not build a chimney for my fireplace, the smoke bothered my character "OH! I need to build a chimney!!! COOL!"

I also enjoy how things are unlocked and the progression with Valheim. You have to find items and materials to unlock crafting options. Was a little dissappointed with the limited inventory space, did a search for Valheim mods and was blown away by the plethora of options. It all started with a Quiver mod for arrows, then a back pack mod... how about we enchant our weapons? Id like more build pieces, dang I really wish I could tame a bear, I wonder if there are more boats out there? I CAN BUILD MY OWN BOAT???!!! Ok Im sold

Point is, the graphics are a little dated but I prefer to use the word stylized. Now I play Valheim with one vanilla save, and another character and world (on a server I rent for my Father and I) using 102 mods... Everything from custom build pieces, to more crops, cooking stations.. But, like stranded deep, you go and do what you want, theres a story arc players follow to unlock certain crafting stations, so some things are "soft-locked" behind defeating bosses. But you can play your own pace. Want to build a dock in each biome? Build a mansion on an icy mountain? A treehouse in the swamp where you actually get to use the tree as a foundation? Or how about a massive tree village with rope bridges to connect each building high up in the trees? Once you can craft magic and magic items, in order to process "Eitr" (in game magic) it blew me away when I figured out that the Eitr as its processing will damage my structures! So you kinda have to build what i think is called a "Faraday Cage" You surround the Eitr processing machine with Iron bars and black marble build pieces as they do not get damaged in the refinement process, pretty cool. Can defiently let your imagination go wild.

Edit, Surprised to see nobody mentioned Valheim yet, though the other titles mentioned were all pretty cool too

[Zombits]

this is one of those very small Indy, gameplay is priority, no story.

you are the story, your own survival