Rebel Galaxy
So here it is-my Rebel Galaxy review. Full disclosure-I’m friends with the devs and got an advanced copy of the game. That said I’ve done my best to be impartial.My Tl’dr opinion? I love it and was well over 100 hours in before I took a break from it. This is so many things about space games I love rolled into one.
The Setting.
The game goes for a Firefly/Wing Commander:Privateer/Freelancer vibe. The solar systems in this game are on the wrong side of the galactic tracks and haven’t had a bath in aeons. They’re rude, crude and filled with rocks and junk. Rebel Galaxy features an interesting cast of characters. It’s one of the games unfortunate downsides that you never really get to know any of them very well. It’s loaded with the kind of wink/nudge humor you’d find in TV series like Farscape or Firefly-for example one of the commodities you can trade is called ‘Narco-cola’ and it is just that. Powerful narcotics in the form of carbonated beverage. If you’re a fan of stuff like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy you’ll appreciate the humor.
– Real player with 137.6 hrs in game
Read More: Best Space Sci-fi Games.
The more I play Rebel Galaxy, the more I’m reminded of Freelancer, which is unfair to both games. The only thing that they really have in common is that they are both space-games in the vein of Elite, but with a thin story to get you into the game. Aside from that, they have very little in common in terms of gameplay or story or mechanics (aside from what they’ve inherited from Elite.
You play as a nameless, faceless space jockey who’s been left a broken-down corvette (the way you do) by your aunt, and told to meet up with her. This thrusts you into the story which introduces mechanics such as scanning, communicating, mining, trading, and mainly getting around the space. Like Freelancer, you’re initially restricted to just the first sector, though in this case, it’s not because of story, but because (a) you don’t have a jump drive and those are expensive and (b) you’ll probably die immediately because of the higher level enemies.
– Real player with 69.0 hrs in game
Black Sun
In this game, you fly a space ship through an open world. Your sidekick is an AI assistant who understands your text-written commands and helps you to steer the ship, survive heavy space combat or to find the next gas station.
"Space is a terrible place. The kidnapping of my brother and the Captain’s death didn’t make it easier. Thank god, there is Hopper."
You play Eli, a young man stranded on the antique star freighter Lucky Beggar. You don’t like space yet here you are.
Features
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Text freely in natural language with your AI assistant Hopper: let her fly the ship, get her help during combat or ask for a market analysis to maximise your trading profit. She knows a lot - including terrible space jokes.
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A large 2D open-world universe containing numerous solar systems, space stations and ships to discover. Large means astronomical and impossible-to-fly-through. Be grateful if the jump engine works properly.
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Find your kidnapped brother while making interstellar friends and enemies. An over 5-hours long cinematic storyline is waiting for you!
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Enjoy epic space battles with hundreds of ships.
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You decide how you pay the bills for fuel and supplies: be a smart trader, solve rewarding quests or take missions from shady people in the space pub.
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Your ship is a temple. Repair it, get upgrades and don’t fly it into asteroid fields. Those dents stay.
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Put on the headphones, fasten your seat belt and relax: one hour of orchestral soundtrack - originally composed just for this game!
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Modding encouraged! Most of the game’s content is freely changeable by using a beginner-friendly script language and images. Add your own quests, ships or places. Teach new commands to the AI assistant.
Read More: Best Space Sci-fi Games.
Heroes of the Galaxy
Become a spaceship pilot and defend galaxy. Heroes of the galaxy is a Sci-Fi space adventure game where the skill to react the situation and predict attack of enemies determine the outcome of battles.
An open world with a lot of galaxies and missions. Choose your own carrier and build empire. Become a space pirate or a brave space ranger.
Unique missions and enemies.
Fantastic and amazing space adventure with multiple worlds to unlock.
Read More: Best Space Cyberpunk Games.
BlazeSky
While not perfect, the game is very well done from a mechanics standpoint. The story lines can be a bit janky at times and in its current state there are quite a few issues in the second half of the game where apostrophes and extra line breaks make the text less than ideal. At its core, this is a shoot-em-up space combat game on a two dimensional plane so more like driving than flying, but the visuals are interesting and the gameplay solid. Interested to see more development on this one.
– Real player with 20.0 hrs in game
Multiple Gun Setups
Multiple Ships and Secret Unlockables
Multiple Upgrades
Great galaxy mapping system
Star systems really submerge the player; all of them have multiple points of interest, ways to make credits, quest lines and possible enemies or places to upgrade your ship.
Mission progression setup well; by following the progression of mission the player gets deeper into the game.
Battles seem fast and fun
Multiple enemy types to deal with; some fast and less accurate, others slower but more powerful
– Real player with 15.8 hrs in game
No Man’s Sky
Hello Games did not deliver on what they promised when they released this game and had hells brought down upon them for it (deserving).
Since then they have fixed bugs, added tons of polish, tons of content, tons of extras and have delivered the game they had promised and then some - all WITHOUT ASKING FOR AN EXTRA DIME!
Whereas some other developers released VR versions of their games and had the nerve to charge another $50+ for it, Hello Games released a fantastic and very polished VR play style for NMS, again, without asking for a dime.
– Real player with 566.4 hrs in game
I like this game alot but it has some issues that could be fixed.
issues:
base building is a pain because in freecam I cant move the camera up and down with a button like i can in screenshot mode.
and free placement is nice if i could move the part up and down with a button instead of it being completely tied to the camera
The battery until discharged timer is broken(it counts up not down) making figuring out how many solar panels you need difficult
last thing there are very annoying restrictions on where you can summon your ship and freighter and odd restrictions in multiplayer(LAN) like not being able to have two player owned freighters in the same system like how would that be a issue as players are spread so far apart. And the long range inventory access letting you access the freighter inventory and not your storage containers when not in the same system like they are on the same ship why cant i access them.
– Real player with 391.0 hrs in game
PULSAR: Lost Colony
i really like this game the only thang i really what is a radio to play music why playing that all this game needs ;]
– Real player with 76.9 hrs in game
The roles in Pulsar explained:
Pilot: shout at the engineer to give you more power, get shouted by the weapons officer for a firing solution, practice your “ooops” every time you crash into stuff, die suddently because the entire ship is on fire and you were focusing on the external camera
Scientist: you never have enough power for anything because everyone thinks you’re useless, except when the ship is swarmed by viruses and/or they need urgent healing. It’s like IT, you are only ever acknowledged when something goes wrong
– Real player with 49.8 hrs in game
Rodina
What is more frightening than a God?
This question was posed to me upon completing Rodina’s main story, as well as the answer, in quick succession. Not literally, of course, but thematically; I felt that this was the underlying thesis of the entire work. My interpretation, anyway.
That’s probably a pretentious way to start. Okay! I’ll talk about the game now in more literal terms.
Short version:
Do I recommend? That depends. Rodina is quickly becoming one of my favorite games, but that’s because it’s both a fun activity that revolves around interesting exploration in a vast, vast world and a vehicle for philosophical quandaring through some pretty excellent writing. If this does not appeal to you, then no, I don’t recommend. If it sounds remotely intriguing, then yes, I whole-heartedly recommend. Do it. Play the demo. Then pay the 250 that this company sorely deserves (if I had that on hand I would do so in a heart-beat).
– Real player with 80.0 hrs in game
Absolutely amazing game, the scale of it blows me away. Even just racing through the massive, deep and extraordinary ‘cracks’ in the service of the ice planet is fun, but Rodina is not perfect.
The story is told through text, which may put some people off, but for me it seems to get the main story line across and some how create a immersive lore.
On the other hand, the story isn’t really present in the gameplay. The story makes out that there is news stations and various interesting characters… when really you get to see none of them. In this sense the gameplay can seem quite removed from the story; The enemy you fight is faceless (they could be anything for all it tells you) and seem to be the part with very little lore apart from ‘they are bad’ (however this does create mystery).
– Real player with 46.0 hrs in game
Solar System Colonist
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1440340/Cannon_Foundry_Simulator/
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Prepare your spaceship and travel through the void.
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Try different vehicles (space, land, atmosphere, sea and underground).
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Build and expand your station – add rooms, wings and specialized spaces.
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Focus on discoveries, researches or just on admiring this completely new worlds.
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Put on the space suit and go outside the station to explore the surroundings.
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Use the latest technology – weapons, drones and robots.
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Research or steal plans and parts and customize your own army and workforce.
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Become self-sufficient, expand your base.
It’s high time that humanity went beyond Earth! People have set out to space and explored the Solar System, claiming it a new home. Asteroids, planets and orbital stations – all of these have been annexed by the brave daredevils and mercenaries hired to protect them. The space is now crowded and resources are worth their weight in gold. Some people have signed contracts to work for the corporations, but you are a lone wolf – freedom over safety, right?!
Prepare your spaceship and travel through the void between celestial bodies as well as glide above their surface. Try different vehicles and test yourself as a pilot. Upgrade your ship and wisely choose the destination – navigate between space junk and trace the route to your new home. Learn the history of the planets and impact their future – shall they can become bridgeheads of trade between colonies, research facilities or military bases? Choose the place that suits your needs best and settle down!
Red surface of the Mars, acid winds of the Venus or the icy, cold world of the Neptune – whichever environment you choose to live in, it will be filled with opportunities and adventures. Become a space cowboy and claim the new territory for yourself, but be aware that you are not the only one trying your hand in the colonization. Defend yourself against the corporations, other colonists and even against the pirates. In space no one can hear you scream!
Build and expand your station – add rooms, wings and specialized spaces. Focus on discoveries, researches or just on admiring this completely new world. Determine direction of development – the success of the colonization rests entirely on your shoulders! Put on the space suit and go outside the station to explore the surroundings and decide upon the best strategy. Be aware that the environment is quite hostile. You have to do everything in your power to survive!
Who knows what may lay beneath the thick layer of gases called the atmosphere? People aren’t the only threat in this new, briefly explored world.
Who knows what biological experiments were carried out here?
And by whom?
Who said life must be biological?
Maybe someone wants to buy samples?
To have equal chances, you will have to use the latest technology – weapons, lasers and also robots. The latter may be treated as just tools, but can be befriended as well. You’ll need all the help you can get, since the danger is constant and the encounter – inevitable. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Clear ceiling and dark space behind it. No one to bother you, no one to disturb you, but also no one to help you… Become self-sufficient, expand your base, explore the planet’s surface and earn some money. If you don’t feel like settling down on the planet, then simply change it! After all, you are the Solar System colonist experiencing the dawn of a new era in human spaceflight!
StarMade
After FFXIV 1.0 i never thought i’d see a bigger shitshow, but so help me this game came through and then some!
TL;DR review:
1 : Game has ZERO gameplay, all you can do in the game is build and there are no plans for adding any.
2 : Developer is completely alienated, doesn’t listen to community at all except small echochamber and bans people that speak out against bad design decisions.
3 : Developer has NO IDEA WHAT THEY WANT TO MAKE. Read on for details.
4 : Recently destroyed the notion of competitive/mechanical building by replacing functional blocks with an arbitrary “skill tree”, eliminating your ability to trade one attribute for another, limiting the amount of stat enhancing blocks based on ship length of all things… Building is now largely a cosmetic deal and ships have no purpose anyway, but at least you used to be able to duel with them.
– Real player with 2329.6 hrs in game
I started off loving Starmade…then we broke up. Now I spend time thinking about maybe giving it a another shot. I got into the game just after the big graphical re-boot having played Minecraft for years and checking out every voxel based, procedurally generated game I could find. I trolled Greenlight and found many wanna be contenders but Starmade impressed me with it’s vision of what it wants to be. Like any relationship we fall in love with what could be, an ideal, sometimes a projection we place onto the other. I am love with what Starmade is trying to be, but has not yet become.
– Real player with 1375.7 hrs in game
VoidExpanse
I can’t really speak to multiplayer as I haven’t gotten into it yet but my solo experience thus far has been a lot of fun.
I started out as a fighter, I knew that combat was going to be prevalent no matter where I went so I wanted a little head start in that department. After taking a good look at the skill trees I decided that I actually wanted most if not all of them so throughout my playtime I have been carefully managing what I invest in next. The game can be a little grindy, especially if you’ve chosen to grind as I have, but it’s always felt rewarding. Getting that next skill, being able to buy and then use that shiny new hull or weapon or ship upgrade is satisfying.
– Real player with 180.3 hrs in game
I’m currently 12 hours in, and I have no idea why the reviews for are “Mixed.” I am in love with this game!
Please note that my review is for single player only. This review won’t do you much good if you want this game for multiplayher
So many of the reviewers are reviewing this as if it’s a AAA game with AAA production values and money. It’s not. It’s $15. However, if the idea of a top-down 2D Freelancer-style game appeals to you, in which you can feel awesome by controlling a spaceship using WASD and the mouse, then this is definitely a good buy.
– Real player with 50.5 hrs in game