Steam specs (min / recommended)
Minimum: Système d'exploitation *: Windows 7 64bit, Windows 8.1 64bit Windows 10 64bit Processeur : 3 GHz 2 Core Mémoire vive : 4 GB de mémoire Graphiques : AMD Radeon HD 7870 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 （2GB Model or higher） DirectX : Version 11 Réseau : connexion internet haut débit Espace disque : 8 GB d'espace disque disponible Carte son : DirectX 11 sound device Notes supplémentaires : XInput Controller
Recommended: Système d'exploitation *: Windows 7 64bit, Windows 8.1 64bit Windows 10 64bit Processeur : 3.2GHz 4Core Mémoire vive : 8 GB de mémoire Graphiques : AMD Radeon HD 7970 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 （3GB Model or higher） DirectX : Version 11 Réseau : connexion internet haut débit Espace disque : 8 GB d'espace disque disponible Carte son : DirectX 11 sound device Notes supplémentaires : XInput Controller
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair
The sheer volume of players who refuses to quit after 25 hours speaks volumes: 277 out of the sampled 495 never stopped once they started. The weapon-fueled carnage keeps the majority hooked for the long haul.
In-game
In players' words
Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.
What players say, by aspect
Detailed data (table)
| Aspect | Mentions | Positive | Mixed | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gameplay | 163 | 152 | 2 | 9 |
| Multiplayer | 28 | 24 | 2 | 2 |
| Content / longevity | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 |
| Stability / bugs | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 |
| Performance | 13 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| Story / writing | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Interface / UX | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Graphics / art | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Value for money | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Audio / music | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Positive reviews by playtime
🎮 Players who like it have spent 31 h on median; those who dislike it: 9.5 h.
Fixed or still broken? Sentiment over time
% of positive reviews per month (months with ≥ 15 sample reviews).
💶 Price history
Steam price tracked automatically since Jul 19, 2016 · All-time low: €6.71 (Nov 17, 2022)
100% completion difficulty ("platinum")
of players have unlocked the rarest achievement — the upper bound of those who "100%'d" it. 51 achievements in total; the median achievement is unlocked by 2,4 % of players.
What creators say (YouTube)
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Strengths
- The core loop of chaotic, weapon-heavy action draws the most praise: 152 positive mentions out of 163.
- Cooperative play shines bright, with 24 out of 28 mentions calling it a highlight.
- Even long-time veterans keep coming back: players with over 25 hours rate the experience 98% positive.
Weaknesses
- The user interface frustrates more than it helps: 8 out of 9 mentions call it unintuitive.
- Bugs and performance hitches crop up often enough to annoy: 7 out of 16 players cite them as a downside.
- The story barely registers for most, with only 5 out of 12 players finding anything to praise.
Who is it for?
Fans of unapologetic arcade-style destruction who crave cooperative chaos and don’t mind the occasional technical hiccup will find a home here. Anyone seeking deep narrative or polished polish should look elsewhere.
Is EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair worth it in 2026?
Yes — player reception is very positive: 95% of 10,485 Steam reviews are positive (player score 95/100). Most-praised strength: The core loop of chaotic, weapon-heavy action draws the most praise. Current price: 16,79€.
Verdict
This is a love-it-or-laugh-at-the-glitches affair. The sheer volume of players who keep coming back proves the formula works, even if the UI and stability occasionally betray it. If you’re in it for the explosions and camaraderie, you’re set; if you need refinement, tread carefully.
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