Astro Colony

Starting at $9.40Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on itch.io Store

Astro Colony is a space exploration and automation game set in an infinite, procedurally generated universe made of destructible voxel planets. Build unique transport systems, recruit astronauts, research technologies, and play with friends in co-op mode to traverse and discover unknown grounds. But be careful, danger lurks around every corner.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,035 reviews

gameplay36 positive mentions

grinding45 negative mentions

The game has a unique concept of combining factory building with space exploration, allowing players to dock with and mine asteroids and planetoids.
The developer is very active in updating the game, addressing bugs, and responding to community feedback, which shows commitment to improving the game.
The gameplay loop is engaging, with a satisfying progression from manual resource gathering to automation.

The controls and user interface are clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to navigate and understand the game mechanics.
Multiplayer functionality is buggy and often unplayable, with issues such as desync, crashes, and players being unable to join or stay in games together.
The game lacks depth in its colony management aspect, with colonists feeling unnecessary and not contributing significantly to gameplay beyond basic research.

gameplay
123 mentions
29 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating its engaging mechanics and resource gathering systems, but also noting issues with intuitiveness and pacing. While some find the core gameplay loop satisfying and the mechanics promising, others criticize the tutorial's effectiveness, the tech tree's design, and various bugs that disrupt the experience. Overall, the game shows potential for improvement, but current gameplay can feel slow and occasionally frustrating.
- “The gameplay loop is quite good.”
- “The mechanics are intuitive and easy to pick up, allowing players to dive right into the action.”
- “The gameplay of Astro Colony is both engaging and addictive.”
- “The tutorial system has been recently updated but still does not do a great job of teaching the player anything other than the mechanical aspect.. what does it produce?”
- “But sadly the longer I play, the more issues and weak gameplay design I see.”
- “While I've figured out the general mechanics and gameplay, for a factory game, there still isn't much defining exactly what the usage and production rates are, which is problematic the further into the game you get.”
graphics
56 mentions
41 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their solid visuals and engaging aesthetic, with many players appreciating the simplicity and detail even at lower settings. However, some users report issues such as graphical glitches, lag, and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems, indicating that while the visuals can be impressive, they are not without technical challenges. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, contributing to an immersive experience, though they may require optimization for smoother performance.
- “From the moment I started playing, I was captivated by the game's stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and well-crafted narrative.”
- “One of the standout features of Astro Colony is its breathtaking graphics.”
- “Amazing graphics and a great idea of a game for casual builders.”
- “I may have logged only 4 hours, but in the two weeks since purchase and download, the graphical issues of lagging assets, stuttering movement, and even freezing have become rampant.”
- “I've got a decent machine but it freezes and crashes even on the lowest graphics settings.”
- “There is something wrong with the graphics modes as I generally run 1440p, yet the only option for 1440p is an odd 5k resolution. The nearest to 1440p is a bizarre 2650x1400, which as far as I'm aware is not a standard resolution.”
grinding
50 mentions
4 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the early stages, where players often feel overwhelmed by the lack of automation and the need for manual resource gathering. While some players appreciate the slower pace and find enjoyment in the grind, many express a desire for better balance and more engaging content to alleviate the repetitiveness. Overall, the game offers a mix of grinding experiences, with opinions varying widely on its impact on enjoyment and progression.
- “Mechanics are good for building and building is fun, not grindy.”
- “It would be nice if it weren't so grindy, but once you start unlocking automation and whatnot, it gets better.”
- “There is no incentive to continue grinding more research.”
- “Getting rid of 'empty' islands and planets is extremely tedious; there is no machine or drone for it, so it has to be done by hand and takes literally forever.”
- “I think this game is a lot slower paced and more grindy than I was ready for, especially coming from Satisfactory and Planet Crafter.”
stability
38 mentions
11 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant number of bugs, including crashes, graphical glitches, and issues with multiplayer functionality. While some users report smooth gameplay in single-player mode, the overall consensus is that the game is still quite buggy, particularly with transport and mining bots, leading to a frustrating experience at times. Despite these issues, players express optimism for future updates and improvements.
- “I play it on PC with my son on Steam Deck, and it runs great on both systems.”
- “Gameplay has been mostly bug-free and very smooth once in-game.”
- “It has a solid, mostly bug-free single player that is both fun and at times challenging.”
- “The game has its share of 'early access' issues: random crashes, inconsistent resource usage and production rates, robots that just stop working, ghost objects that appear to be there but aren't, graphic glitches.”
- “Crashes, freezes, conveyor belts frozen in time for one person, incorrect readouts on every current material, the inability to mine, falling through your platform, the entire platform having a grand mal seizure when the platform is in motion, bots still not working despite repeated promises that they were fixed, colonists disappearing from sight, materials disappearing from storage, your entire colony being able to fusion dance with entire planetoids but asteroids explode into a gajillion pieces when so much as gently caressed by the platform.”
- “They update often so they react quickly but it also shows how buggy it is that the devs need to patch the game three times a day and still haven't got all the bugs.”
optimization
33 mentions
21 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
24 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly during the tutorial and as they progress towards the end game. However, others have praised the game's performance on lower-end hardware and noted improvements following updates, particularly after transitioning to Unreal Engine 5. Overall, while there are commendable aspects of optimization, many users feel that the game still requires substantial fine-tuning and consistent updates to address ongoing performance problems.
- “I really don't want to make this entirely a comparison between the two, but for those wondering, here are some key things for me in the difference: the tech tree is much more streamlined and less annoying than the satisfactory tiers, and it is better optimized in a lot of other ways related to gameplay, with things like a more intuitive and natural feeling grid that doesn't feel forced but also has lots of freedom.”
- “On the technical side, I'm very impressed with the performance of the game and how well all these systems work together.”
- “Game updates just keep making the game better looking, easier to manage productions and even better optimizations.”
- “Got lots of stuttering during the tutorial, gave up after about 10 minutes and refunded.”
- “Let me start with this: the game is not flat out bad, it has some good ideas, but it suffers from poor optimization and design decisions that are just incomprehensible.”
- “First it was slightly lower fps and stuttering, then it got worse, and today it's literally unplayable because of 10-30 second stutters.”
music
32 mentions
34 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ethereal quality and ability to enhance immersion, while others criticize its repetitiveness and lack of fitting sound design. Some players noted similarities to other games' soundtracks, suggesting a lack of originality, and mentioned issues with abrupt transitions that disrupt immersion. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its emotional impact, it may overwhelm players during quieter moments, indicating a need for more variety and depth.
- “The music in Astro Colony perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and providing an extra layer of immersion.”
- “It's a beautiful, ethereal soundtrack that truly immerses me into the scenario.”
- “Really great game and really relaxing, love the graphics, music and overall smoothness of the game.”
- “Music doesn't even have fade-in/out and terminates with a terrible cut, destroying player immersion.”
- “Poor sound design with music that doesn't fit the scene; most items are missing sounds completely.”
- “The soundtrack, while nice, is repetitive.”
story
25 mentions
12 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, with many players expressing a desire for a more developed narrative or campaign to enhance engagement. While the gameplay is enjoyable and intuitive, the lack of depth in storytelling and objectives leaves players wanting more, particularly in terms of lore and progression. Overall, the consensus is that the game would benefit significantly from the addition of a structured story or scenario missions.
- “The story unfolds in a way that keeps you invested in the fate of your colony and its inhabitants.”
- “I'm really looking forward to some story, or even progression checkpoints.”
- “It needs a proper guided 'story'-like tutorial.”
- “Although there is no storyline to this, I like building stuff.”
- “This game either needs a sort of campaign or a set of scenario missions, or it needs a lot more depth (beyond conveyors and mining) to remain interesting.”
- “The story seems ... light.”
atmosphere
11 mentions
45 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is described as immersive and relaxing, effectively transporting players to an otherworldly setting, enhanced by complementary music. However, some users note inconsistencies, such as the lack of a visible atmosphere on planets and the absence of wildlife, which detracts from the overall experience. While the graphics are mixed, the game's performance at high frame rates contributes positively to the atmospheric immersion.
- “It creates an immersive atmosphere that truly transports players to a distant, otherworldly setting.”
- “The music in Astro Colony perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and providing an extra layer of immersion.”
- “Gameplay is solid and the atmosphere is relaxing.”
- “Planets and asteroids never have their own atmosphere (visibly at least), but often plants grow.”
- “The game literally lacks 'atmosphere' and wildlife, which it could do rather easily.”
- “Graphically the game is standard fare, pretty in some respects and 'meh' in others, but running at 120 fps the atmosphere is there for the immersion effect of struggling to create and maintain your builds in space.”
humor
10 mentions
90 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often derived from its quirky design choices, such as the escalating cost of requesting colonists, which players find amusing rather than frustrating. Additionally, the juxtaposition of advanced technology with a simple climbing axe adds a layer of absurdity that players appreciate. Overall, while some aspects of gameplay may not be humorous, the lighthearted elements contribute positively to the experience.
- “What is funny is that you have to pay an increasing amount of gold bars for each colonist you request at the same time.”
- “It starts at 2 gold bars for 1 colonist, then 5 gold bars for 2 etc. and it just made me laugh because why would I bother asking for more than 1 colonist at a time if the shuttle will be back in another 2 minutes?”
- “I have nuclear power, lasers, gravitational factories and all the other high-tech, futuristic buildings and materials... but... I got a climbing axe... just seems odd and at times funny.”
- “The humor in the game falls flat, and the multiplayer experience is completely broken.”
- “I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
- “The attempts at humor feel forced and often miss the mark.”
replayability
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while different seeds and the ability to optimize strategies provide some variation in each playthrough, many players feel that once all resources are unlocked and the game is "beaten," there is little incentive to continue. Some users appreciate the potential for experimentation and learning from previous runs, suggesting that initial playthroughs can be engaging, but the lack of endgame goals diminishes long-term replay value. Overall, it offers a decent amount of replayability for fans of the automation genre, but may fall short for those seeking sustained challenges.
- “Replayability: the basic tenets of the game are the same no matter the run; advance through technology, optimize and create new colonies, but the inclusion of different seeds makes it so the journey is different every time.”
- “There's a good amount of replayability, in terms of trying to build a more efficient vessel, etc. I really love the game.”
- “Although there's more than enough for days, if not weeks, of play and replayability... the fact you can either build a factory ship or grab an island and build a colony on your favorite biome or even build multiple little waystations producing different resources.”
- “The problem is there's not much replay value - once you have every resource, there's no reason to expand or explore anymore, and you've beaten the game.”
- “I feel like the game's replay value is very low, since at the end when you have everything unlocked and build a big base, there is nothing to work for.”
- “-lack of replay value for endgame”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the effective use of music, which enhances key moments and immerses players in the experience. However, some users feel that the tutorial and controls detract from the overall enjoyment, making gameplay feel burdensome. Additionally, the developer's humorous and emotional presence on YouTube adds a unique charm to the game's community.
- “I must say Tefel is the funniest and most emotional developer I have seen on YouTube, and I mean this in the best way possible!”
- “The music in Astro Colony perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and providing an extra layer of immersion.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the developers' efforts to avoid a cash grab approach, indicating that the monetization strategy is fair and respectful to players.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases makes it feel like the developers care more about profits than player satisfaction.”