Raft Review by AI

Raft Review by AI

 

Raft Game Review

Raft is a survival game that transports players into a vast, open ocean, where the main objective is to survive by gathering resources, building, and managing the environment around you. Developed by Redbeet Interactive and published by Axolot Games, Raft first gained popularity through its early access release and has since evolved into a compelling, immersive experience.

Premise and Gameplay

The game begins with you, the player, stranded on a small raft in the middle of the ocean, with nothing but a plastic hook to gather debris floating around you. The open world is full of challenges, including the need to build and expand your raft, manage hunger and thirst, and defend yourself against hostile creatures like sharks.

You start with a small raft, but as you gather materials—wood, plastic, scrap metal, and more—you can gradually build structures, create useful tools, and craft furniture and equipment. The game allows players to expand their raft into a floating base with different rooms, a garden, water purifiers, and even cooking stations.

One of the game’s most notable mechanics is the reliance on the environment. You'll need to fish, grow crops, and set up renewable resources like water purifiers and crop plots. As you explore, you'll find abandoned islands, floating debris, and other points of interest that can be scavenged for new materials, blueprints, and treasures.

Co-op Multiplayer

Raft offers a cooperative multiplayer experience, which significantly enhances the gameplay. You can team up with friends (or strangers) to tackle survival challenges together. The ability to collaborate on gathering materials, building, and exploring makes the game more dynamic and enjoyable. Having multiple players also allows for specialization; one player can focus on fishing, another on building, while others explore and defend the raft.

Crafting System

The crafting system in Raft is comprehensive and essential for progress. You’ll need to craft tools, weapons, and equipment to survive and thrive. The crafting menu is simple to navigate, and recipes are unlocked as you progress, making it rewarding to discover new ways to improve your raft.

From simple spears to fend off sharks, to advanced engines that allow your raft to sail across the ocean, there’s a steady sense of progression as you gather more resources and unlock new items.

Exploration and Islands

Exploration is a major part of Raft. The world is vast, and you can encounter various islands—each with different biomes, animals, and resources. Some islands have rare materials like clay and metal ores, while others might hold key story elements or unique items. These islands also present dangers in the form of aggressive wildlife (like bears or wild boars) that can damage your raft or harm you.

Navigating between islands requires crafting sails, engines, or even using a rudimentary paddle. This part of the game involves not only gathering materials but planning your route to avoid running out of fuel or drifting too far off course.

Survival Elements

The survival aspect of Raft can be both relaxing and intense. Players must manage hunger, thirst, and health, all while dealing with the dangers of the ocean. Finding fresh water and food becomes a top priority early on, and the game requires players to manage resources carefully. Sharks, in particular, present a constant threat, nibbling at the raft as you try to expand or gather supplies.

As you progress, you’ll craft more advanced systems to meet your needs, such as fishing rods for catching food, purifiers for fresh water, and even advanced cooking stations for more nutritious meals. However, the constant need to gather and survive can become repetitive after a while.

Graphics and Atmosphere

Raft is visually appealing, with a colorful and stylized art style that emphasizes the beauty of the ocean. The water effects, the way the raft sways with the waves, and the ever-changing sky give the game a calming atmosphere. However, the graphics aren’t hyper-realistic; instead, they focus on creating a vibrant, yet simple environment that’s accessible and enjoyable for most players.

The weather system, including storms and night cycles, adds another layer of immersion. The changing conditions not only affect visibility but can also impact the functionality of certain systems like solar panels or the safety of your raft.

The Story and Progression

While Raft can be played entirely as a sandbox survival game, there is also a light story element that ties everything together. As you explore and gather resources, you uncover notes and logs about a mysterious global catastrophe. These clues gradually lead you towards uncovering more of the game's plot and advancing to new areas, such as large, abandoned research stations and even potential answers to the disaster that stranded you at sea.

The story progression is optional, and players can choose how much they want to delve into it, but it adds depth and gives players a sense of purpose beyond just surviving.

Challenges and Repetitiveness

While Raft offers a compelling experience, the game can feel somewhat repetitive over time. The mechanics of gathering resources, building, and expanding your raft become second nature, and the lack of an extensive variety of events or challenges can make the mid-game feel slow. However, the addition of new story elements, quests, and islands helps keep the game interesting.

The combat with sharks and other animals is relatively basic, and while this is expected in a survival game of this style, it may not appeal to players looking for more complex action mechanics.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Raft offers a unique and enjoyable survival experience. Its cooperative multiplayer, expansive crafting system, and dynamic environment make it stand out in the survival genre. While there are moments of repetition and a lack of deep complexity in certain areas, the game’s relaxing atmosphere, gradual progression, and sense of discovery keep players engaged.

For fans of survival games or those looking for a more laid-back survival experience, Raft is a fantastic choice, especially if you enjoy playing with friends. With the developers continuously adding new content and updates, Raft has the potential to keep players coming back for more.