SCUM 1.0 Review: Somethings Left, Something’s New

SCUM has finally exited Early Access after nearly seven years, arriving at its 1.0 milestone as a complex, visually stunning survival sandbox. Developed by Gamepires, this ambitious title throws players into a harsh and unforgiving world brimming with realism, risk, and systemic depth.

SCUM is a hardcore open-world survival game developed by Gamepires, originally launched in early access on PC (Steam) in August 2018, with a full release on June 17, 2025. Set in a dystopian reality-show scenario, players manage everything from nutrition to reputation while navigating combat and crafting in extreme detail.

After 7 Years, we are finally here

SCUM is set on a sprawling and isolated prison island run by the sinister TEC-1 corporation. Here, players assume the role of one of the inmates in a dark televised reality experiment. Each character has a neural implant that monitors their vitals, location, and actions, with escape hinging on its removal. The massive island features diverse landscapes, including military bases, abandoned villages, dense forests, and underground bunkers inspired by Croatian terrain. Dangerous puppet-like NPCs roam the area, making every encounter risky. Beneath the battle royale gameplay lies a dystopian sci-fi story exploring human resilience in a corporatized survival show.

After 7 years of early access, SCUM has finally reached its 1.0 release. This full retail version introduces a range of enhancements, quite notably in graphics and optimization. Visually, the island world looks more alive than ever, with enhanced lighting, shadows, foliage, and terrain textures. Thanks to support for DLSS 3 and Vulkan, high-end GPUs (especially RTX 40/50 series cards) now hit consistent frame rates of 140–180 FPS on ultra settings. Mid-tier systems with 30-series RTX GPUs also benefit from smoother performance and less stuttering.

For Better or Worse

Gameplay depth remains SCUM’s standout strength. The metabolism system is unmatched in the genre, tracking everything from vitamin levels and hydration to wounds and physical exertion. New additions like tractors, seaplanes, and armed NPC patrols shake up exploration and combat. Crafting, farming, and base-building have matured with expanded systems and recipe trees. The introduction of a proper quest system and fame persistence finally gives players long-term progression, letting them develop characters across multiple lives.

Despite leaving Early Access, SCUM still retains some of its unfinished edges. Features such as dynamic hair growth, tattoos, and several fan-favorite vehicles (like the Hellrider truck and sport bike) were quietly removed and sadly haven’t returned. New character creation limits have eliminated previously planned skills like Sailing, Programming, and Animal Handling. These cutbacks feel like missed opportunities to enrich character personalization.

The puppet spawn system—meant to create dynamic encounters—still suffers from erratic enemy placement, often spawning foes directly behind players during looting. Melee combat remains sluggish and clunky, with unreliable hit detection and dated animations. The inventory UI and game menus haven’t received any meaningful quality-of-life updates, and the in-game map still lacks basic functionality such as waypoints or custom markers.

Most notably, SCUM still does not support native controller input. Despite reaching a full release, the only way to play with a controller is through community Steam layouts or external remapping tools like reWASD. For players used to couch-friendly or console-style gaming, this is a major omission and a disappointment. Given its versatile control scheme on PC, playing it with a controller is a near-impossible task. Still, considering that the console ports are currently in development, we should be getting official controller support anytime soon.

The Community

SCUM’s community is one of the most tight-knit ones, with many long-term players who’ve helped shape the game since early access in 2018. These veterans often serve as mentors on forums and in-game, especially on private servers where admin teams foster custom events, survival challenges, and modded content. You’ll find plenty of roleplayers weaving their own stories into the island’s harsh setting.

The vibe shifts depending on the server type. Private servers are generally more welcoming and organized, with active Discord groups and well-enforced rules. Roleplay and PvE servers offer peaceful interactions, cooperative building projects, and faction dynamics, while PvP servers attract hardcore survivalists who thrive on adrenaline-fueled ambushes and strategic combat.

One drawback the game faces is maintaining fair play, as cheating remains an issue, especially on official servers. Although anti-cheat measures exist, many players prefer well-curated private communities to sidestep the frustration. Despite this, SCUM’s player base remains creative, passionate, and deeply engaged in the survival mechanics and social storytelling the game provides. And the best place to start engaging with these communities is on their official Discord handles.

Real Talk

After a lengthy early access period, SCUM impresses with its full release, boasting excellent performance and a stunning visual overhaul. The metabolism system and progression are still among the best in the genre. However, several key features removed during its early access builds remain absent, which seems like a greatly missed opportunity.

FINAL SCORE: 75/100