Ravenfield (video game)

Ravenfield
Designer(s)	Johan "SteelRaven7" Hassel
Engine	Unity
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux
Release	WW: 18 May 2017 (early access)
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player

Ravenfield is a first-person shooter game developed by Swedish programmer Johan Hassel, who goes by the pseudonym SteelRaven7. It was released on 18 May 2017 as an early access title for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Plot

While Ravenfield has no plot per se, during the 2019 Halloween Event, SteelRaven7 hinted at the possibility of an underlying plot in the game. It is speculated that more will be revealed in future updates to the Conquest game mode.

Gameplay

The game incorporates rag-doll-like physics, with many options to give users the ability to control the AI, including a 'battle plan', and many other game factors such as AI count. Ravenfield consists of multiple team game modes that revolve around capturing check points and gaining the most points by killing the enemy team. The game pays homage to large scale multiplayer first-person shooter games such as the Battlefield franchise and Star Wars: Battlefront franchise. As such the game has a focus on large scale maps and vehicle based combat with the teams controlling the more powerful vehicle spawn points often gaining the advantage in battle. The game is available on Steam and is currently in Early Access although it is reaching the end of its development. The game also supports mods VIA the Steam Workshop, with creative users making up for the lack of a single player campaign by designing their own maps, factions, and vehicles. A second mode has been released, titled Conquest, that mixes the preexisting elements of large scale combat with turn based strategy, similar to the Galactic Conquest mode seen in Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005 video game).

Reception

Christopher Livingston of PC Gamer called the game "glitchy” and "fun".

The game boasts a 10/10 on Steam, and a 4.8/5 on itch.io.

Nathan Grayson of Kotaku criticized Ravenfield as "glitchy" and "barely functional in some places"; however, he noted its ability to support a high number of computer-controlled players and expressed fascination with its good reception by players on Steam. The game supports Steam Workshop, and creators from the community have added new weapons, vehicles, maps, and features that add to and expand the game's vanilla feel, which was well received by players.