Experience the world of Omega Crafter, a fantasy open-world survival game with a touch of sci-fi, developed by Preferred Networks. You control robots called Grammis, explore randomly generated worlds, battle monsters, and build and automate your city. Here are my thoughts after spending almost two hours with the demo.
Graphics
The character creation screen in Omega Crafter reminds me of the trainer avatars from Pokémon Scarlet, while the monstrous elements, especially the mushrooms, make me think of Ravenlok, another game I reviewed last year. The design of the Grammis feels like a nod to EVE from Wall-E.
While the environment is vibrant, I sometimes felt the world could be a bit empty after gathering resources and hunting animals. Venturing outside the grasslands biome to find more activities turned it into what felt like an empty walking simulator at times. However, the scattered loot boxes and utilizing my Grammi companion for resource gathering helped add some depth.
Gameplay
I appreciate the customization available for the Grammis, such as color-coding them based on their tasks. Even though many games offer automation features, Omega Crafter puts its unique spin on it. The Grammis act like your robotic citizens, similar to Pals in Palworld. You can gear them up to craft recipes, gather resources, and perform various other tasks using either preset codes or custom routines, which streamlines the gameplay experience.
In terms of weapon and armor maintenance, the game takes a more relaxed approach by eliminating the need for constant repairs. I find the history bar in the build menu very useful, and base building feels satisfying with options for both free-form and snap-to-grid designs.
Exploration & Combat
Omega Crafter’s expansive world encourages exploration with its varied terrains, from stone temples to encounters with typical fantasy creatures. Challenges in the demo include destroying summoning gems and fighting mushrooms and wolves. Hunting boars and deer also provides materials for armor and resources for your base.
The game incorporates basic controls and a stamina system, adding a strategic layer that fans of soulslike games will appreciate. The demo ends with a boss fight against a Treant, whose move set reminds me of Valheim’s Eikthyr, with added difficulty due to summoning additional monsters.
Verdict
After spending two hours exploring and defeating the Treant boss, Omega Crafter showcases the essential elements of a survival game. However, the lack of fast travel locations and limited activities after initial exploration can make it feel slow. I was hoping for something more engaging, similar to Against The Storm’s demo. Despite these setbacks, I’m looking forward to the full release later this year, as the game shows a lot of potential.