Misery

About Misery

Misery is a co-op survival shooter from Platypus Entertainment, released in October 2025 for PC. Set in a post-nuclear wasteland, you and up to four friends play as PMCs scavenging for resources in a procedurally generated Exclusion Zone. The game blends base-building, crafting, and combat as you defend against monsters, anomalies, and hostile NPCs. Each session starts with a 60-second scramble to grab supplies before heading into the open world. The narrative follows a crumbling research institute, SIRZEZ, as factions vie for control of mysterious artifacts. It’s a mix of urgency and planning, with randomized maps keeping replays fresh. Best for groups who enjoy chaotic team survival.

Gameplay

Each day begins with a timed sprint to gather resources before the bunker closes. You’ll search military bases, ruined cities, and irradiated wastelands, battling mutated creatures and rival scavengers. Combat is fast-paced but unpolished, with basic weapon mechanics and a focus on quantity over skill. Crafting requires managing radiation exposure and resource efficiency, overstocking is risky, understocking is deadly. Base-building lets you fortify your bunker, but upgrades are slow. Multiplayer adds chaos; teammates can be lifesavers or liabilities. The procedurally generated world ensures no two runs feel the same, though repetitive enemy patterns and clunky UI detract from immersion. Sessions last 1, 2 hours, with high stakes and frequent permadeath.

What Players Think

Misery holds a 72% critic score and 7.5/10 on review aggregation sites. Community ratings average 4.3/5, but only 30% of players complete the main story. Average playtime is 18 hours, with 15% finishing all side quests. Community moods are split: 55% enjoy the co-op scramble, while 35% gripe about repetitive crafting and enemy AI. One reviewer wrote, “It’s thrilling to survive with friends, but the base-building feels like busywork.” Achievements total 50, with a 1,000-gamer score. The game launched at $39.99, now on sale for $29.99. Steam users report 22% playtime in multiplayer, 60% in single player.

PlayPile's Take

Misery is a solid but flawed pick for co-op survival fans. The 60-second bunker sprints and procedural exploration deliver addictive chaos, especially with friends. However, clunky systems and lack of solo modes may deter others. At $30, it’s a fair midweek pick for groups. Skip if you prefer polished mechanics or solo play. The achievements are manageable, but don’t expect a long-term investment. Worth a try if you’ve got a squad and 20 bucks to spare.

Storyline

You play as PMCs guarding a secret research institute in the Republic of Zaslavie. The Scientific Institute for Research of the Zaslavie Exclusion Zone (SIRZEZ) was built before the war to study anomalies and artifacts. Over time, these artifacts became the cause of conflict between international military blocs. Neither side could allow artifacts to fall into enemy hands, ultimately leading to nuclear war. A siren sounds — a nuclear bomb is incoming! You have 60 seconds to grab whatever you can and make it to the bunker. Then, the survival begins. Each day, you venture into the Exclusion Zone to scavenge procedurally generated locations: abandoned military bases and research stations, radioactive wastelands, and ruined cities.