– Gameplay splits into day (crafting, managing supplies) and night (sneaking for resources)
– Constant resource scarcity forces tough moral choices between helping defenders or civilians
– Currently 90% off on Steam ($2.50), matching its lowest price ever
– Criticized for dated graphics and low replay value, but 79% positive Steam reviews
Surviving the Siege
In Siege Survival: Gloria Victis, players do not lead glorious heroes. Instead they control a small group of medieval civilians who have barricaded themselves inside a besieged city and can do little more than keep the defenders supplied. For survival strategy fans looking for a challenge, the title is likely worth a look. On Steam, Siege Survival is currently 90% off at $2.50 instead of $25, which, according to SteamDB, matches its previous record-low price. Steam Deck compatibility is listed as “Playable.”
Gameplay Mechanics and Phases
In terms of gameplay, Siege Survival: Gloria Victis is reminiscent of This War of Mine – only in a medieval siege scenario. The gameplay is divided into two phases. During the day, players work in the safe camp: cooking food, crafting weapons and arrows, tending to the wounded and managing resources so that both civilians and soldiers can somehow survive. At night, they sneak through the ruined city in search of supplies while watching out for patrolling guards.
Moral Choices and Longevity
In Siege Survival, the pressure comes less from the besieging forces themselves and more from the constant scarcity of resources – and the moral decisions that follow. Do players give the last supplies to the defenders so the walls can hold out for a few more days, or do they feed the starving civilians so the supply situation does not collapse completely? As the game progresses, the survival game proves merciless: the longer the siege lasts, the more challenging it becomes. Reviews are mixed. On Metacritic, Siege Survival has a Metascore of 69 and a User Score of 6.3. The roughly 1,700 Steam reviews paint a somewhat better picture, with 79% positive ratings. Criticism focuses not only on the dated graphics, but also on the limited replay value. According to players, the gameplay loop quickly becomes monotonous. At a price of $2.50, however, that should be easier to overlook.