Black Hole Simulator

About

Black Hole Simulator is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by PanGuoJun and was released on September 4, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

"Black Hole Simulator" is a game that offers an intuitive experience of Einstein's theory of relativity, specifically the appearance of objects under general relativity. The game accurately simulates the appearance of black holes and allows players to adjust parameters and add stars to observe interactions. The game has also been updated to allow players to fly into a black hole and witness a cosmic ball.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+21

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews

music3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game is a unique and interesting black hole simulator that provides a relaxing experience.
It's worth the low price, offering a simple yet visually appealing simulation of black holes.
The achievements have been fixed, making the game 100% completable, which adds to its appeal.

The game lacks content and gameplay, feeling more like a visualization or screensaver than a full game.
Performance issues are prevalent, with many players experiencing significant lag and low frame rates.
There are limited customization options and features, leaving players wanting more interaction and depth.

gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The gameplay aspect of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players find it enjoyable and fun despite its short duration and significant lag issues, others feel that it lacks depth and optimization, expressing hope for future updates to enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the core concept is appreciated, but many users are eager for improvements.
- “It lags like crazy, but otherwise it's a 9.5/10 game for me. It's a fun short game; the gameplay is only 5 minutes long, but it's still very good, except for the lagging. I'm a big fan of space and games about space, and I also like black holes very much.”
- “I truly hope this game gets updates for optimization and maybe gameplay because of how interesting its concept is.”
- “What we have here is the core engine for what might one day be a game, perhaps with even more gameplay than Universe Sandbox.”
- “Solar 2 might be an inspiration for adding gameplay to a game that currently doesn't have any.”
- “It's just gameplay.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly when rendering complex visuals like the black hole's accretion disk, which can lead to GPU strain. Despite being available for two years, players report a lack of improvements in performance, suggesting that high multi-core processing power is necessary for acceptable frame rates. Overall, while visually appealing, the game's optimization leaves much to be desired.
- “I can't confirm it for sure, but my guess is that you need a great multi-core performance to run relativistic physics at decent frame rates.”
- “Performance was also an issue.”
- “My only issue is that when the black hole gets big with the wonky accretion disk, it began frying my GPU, so definitely not optimized.”
- “I'd hoped that since I got this simulator at least 2 years ago, there would have been some optimization, but sadly no.”
- “It's pretty, but is in no way optimized.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The graphics of the simulator have been criticized for poor performance, averaging only 35 fps despite multiple driver updates and high GPU usage, leading some users to suggest a greater focus on simulation over visual fidelity. Additionally, there is a call for more customizable graphics settings to accommodate a wider range of system capabilities.
- “Even after many graphic driver updates, this simulator runs at an average of 35 fps both windowed and full screen, and uses 99% of the GPU almost constantly.”
- “Even after many graphic driver updates, this simulator runs at an average of 35 fps both windowed and full screen, using 99% of the GPU almost constantly.”
- “PC games must have a range of tweakable graphics and control configuration options to allow the game to work well on any system, whether it's brand new or 10 years old.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music has been positively received, with comparisons made to the score of "Interstellar," evoking a sense of grandeur and emotional depth reminiscent of the film. Users find it worth the price, suggesting it enhances the overall experience of the game.
- “The music is worth the price; it reminds me of 'Interstellar' and Matthew McConaughey saying, 'Come on, TARS!'”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an immersive experience that keeps you engaged.”
- “Each track is beautifully composed, enhancing the emotional depth of the game and making every moment memorable.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game lacks a narrative component, with users noting that there is no story present.
- “There is no story to speak of.”
- “The narrative is completely absent.”
- “I found the story to be non-existent.”