Ace In Space
- February 14, 2020
- Cadaver Carnival Studios
Get on Steam"Ace in Space" is an asexual dating sim/visual novel featuring Adrian Clarke, a non-binary main character who starts a new life on a distant planet. You can build relationships with five different characters, or choose not to date anyone. The game is created by an LGBT duo and supports asexual and non-binary representation. A trigger warning list and achievement guide are available on the website.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features strong representation of asexual and non-binary identities, providing a refreshing perspective in the dating sim genre.
- The art and music are praised for their quality, contributing to a wholesome and engaging atmosphere.
- The narrative, while touching on heavy themes like terminal illness, is handled with care and encourages players to appreciate life and relationships.
- Many players found the romances to be short and abrupt, lacking depth and connection between characters.
- The game is criticized for being misleadingly marketed as a dating sim, as it focuses more on narrative and less on interactive gameplay elements typical of the genre.
- Several endings are described as dark or disturbing, which may not align with players' expectations for a light-hearted dating sim experience.
- story62 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story is a bittersweet exploration of identity, featuring diverse characters and themes of asexuality and non-binary representation, which many players found refreshing and educational. However, the narrative is criticized for being too short and lacking a central conflict, leading to rushed endings that leave players wanting more depth and development. Despite its shortcomings, the game successfully blends fun and poignant moments, resonating with players who appreciate its unique take on life and relationships.
“Even 'bad' endings and failed dates add to your story, the same way the game encourages you to enjoy life while you have it.”
“First off, I'm incredibly happy to see more ace and enby representation, and the fact that this story touched on both identities in detail and even aromanticism a couple of times was amazing.”
“The characters are lovable, and I love how no matter what ending you get, there is still so much information on the identities seamlessly written into the story, and not so much to the point where it's obnoxious, but enough that it can help people learn.”
“The world-building and other elements of the story were also lacking.”
“I have to agree with several other reviews: the plot and writing are unfortunately underwhelming and oftentimes kind of weird.”
“As in, the story lacks a central conflict.”
- music26 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its catchy and fitting soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience. Many players noted that the music is pleasant and well-matched to the characters, with some even expressing a desire to continue listening to it after finishing the game. While there were minor critiques about occasional silence and repetition, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“The music is good, too, and I am saying that as someone who usually turns the music off in games, but left it on this time.”
“I liked the evident effort to make music match each character.”
“The soundtrack is really catchy and electronic; I liked it a lot!”
“Sometimes the music would go silent and then repeat itself slightly.”
“The soundtrack and aesthetic were fantastic, though.”
- emotional22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its wholesome and heartwarming portrayal of teen romance, particularly featuring an asexual protagonist, making it a sweet and enjoyable experience for players seeking non-sexual yet validated romantic relationships. While many found the emotional moments touching, some felt a sense of ambivalence towards the endings. Overall, it is recommended for those looking for a feel-good visual novel, though caution is advised for younger audiences due to potential emotional triggers.
“I thoroughly enjoyed this game, it was sweet and wholesome and just what I needed this past week.”
“Overall, I absolutely recommend this game, super sweet and wholesome.”
“Ace in Space is overall a lovely, sweet, and heartwarming experience.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are widely praised for their beautiful artwork and charming character designs, contributing to a visually appealing aesthetic. Reviewers appreciate the overall quality of the visuals, which complement the game's soundtrack and enhance the overall experience.
“But credit where credit is due: the artwork is overall very nice, the soundtrack is fitting, the price of admission is low.”
“The art style is beautiful and I love the varied personalities of the characters.”
“The soundtrack and aesthetic were fantastic, though.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on reading the story and making limited choices, lacking the interactive elements typically found in classic dating sims. Players seeking a more engaging experience may find the gameplay too simplistic, as it resembles a visual novel rather than a traditional game.
“This game is a visual novel, so the gameplay primarily involves reading the story and making a few choices.”
“Players looking for a game with more gameplay than a visual novel with limited choices may be disappointed.”
“The gameplay elements typical of classic dating sims are largely absent.”
“Almost all the gameplay elements from classic dating sims are missing.”
“I am looking for a game with more gameplay than a visual novel with a handful of choices.”
“As this game is a visual novel, the gameplay is simply reading the story and picking a few options.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Despite the limited time frame of 1-2 hours, players found the character development engaging and expressed a strong affinity for the characters.
“There is only so much background story and character development you can put into a 1-2 hour game, but I ended up really liking the characters.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Despite its short length, the game offers strong replayability, particularly praised for its excellent ace and non-binary representation. Players find value in revisiting the experience.
“The ace/enby representation is perfection, and though the game is short, it has great replay value.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for effectively enhancing the emotional depth of various scenes, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“It really helped establish the atmosphere and emotions in different scenes.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a stable experience with the game, noting that the menu is easy to navigate and that they encountered no glitches during gameplay, saving, or loading.
