Cargo Commander

About

In Cargo Commander, you play as a solitary space miner, tasked with salvaging valuable cargo from alien-infested containers. With procedurally generated levels and fully destructible environments, each sector offers a new challenge. Compete with other players for promotions and high scores, collecting over 80 different cargo types in your quest to earn your way back home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 604 reviews

gameplay60 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Unique concept combining platforming and cargo retrieval mechanics in a vast space setting.
Addictive gameplay loop with a compelling progression system and leaderboard integration.
Charming atmosphere with a cozy soundtrack and humorous elements that enhance the experience.

Game progress is stored on an online server, making offline play impossible and risking loss of progress if the server is down.
Repetitive gameplay with limited enemy types and weapons, leading to a lack of variety over time.
Some technical issues and performance optimization problems, such as framerate drops and bugs.

gameplay
151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The gameplay of "Cargo Commander" is characterized by its unique blend of platforming and cargo retrieval mechanics set in a space environment, offering an addictive loop of collecting loot and upgrading equipment. While the game features innovative elements like zero-gravity navigation and procedural generation, many players find the gameplay can become repetitive over time, with a lack of depth and variety in tasks. Overall, it provides a fun and engaging experience, particularly for fans of the genre, despite some technical issues and a simplistic design.
- “Cargo Commander introduces a fresh and innovative concept, combining platforming with cargo retrieval mechanics in the vastness of space.”
- “The mechanics of navigating through zero gravity, dealing with the vacuum of space, and facing unexpected dangers add depth and excitement to the gameplay.”
- “At its core, Cargo Commander is a roguelike platformer of sorts, where you spend your time exploring cargo crates for loot items and bringing them back to base while also trying not to get killed by enemies, but it has a lot of smart mechanics that keep the experience interesting.”
- “The gameplay is also quite simple and unvaried; the first hour of gameplay will be basically the same as the tenth.”
- “Taken together, it made for very disorienting, monotonous, tedious gameplay.”
- “Uninspired and stale gameplay drag down a relatively decent game.”
music
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and fitting, enhancing the sense of loneliness and immersion in the space setting. However, many players note that the soundtrack is limited, consisting of only a couple of tracks, which can become repetitive over time. Fortunately, the option to play custom music adds a layer of personalization, allowing players to enhance their experience beyond the default audio offerings.
- “This is an excellent platformer/action/roguelite hybrid with intriguing environmental storytelling and a soul-crushing soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is nice, the art is nice, and the gameplay is fun and quick, and for £0.69 it's soooo worth it :)”
- “Fun & funny little platform game with a great soundtrack.”
- “While the game features atmospheric sound design and music, some players may find the audio elements lacking in diversity or impact.”
- “There are only 2 music tracks for the game that, despite being pretty cool, become grating and repetitive after a couple of hours in.”
- “It is nothing more than an earworm: the same awful song over and over; tacked on to the shallowest gameplay imaginable.”
story
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
78%
4%
The game's story is delivered primarily through emails and packages, creating a backdrop of disconnection and loneliness that contrasts with its platforming mechanics. While some players appreciate the darkly humorous and dystopian narrative, others find it lacking depth, with a focus on high scores rather than a compelling storyline. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a subtle yet rewarding element, though many feel it could have been expanded for a more engaging experience.
- “The gameplay mechanics, story, music, and online elements all help to create this wonderful story of disconnection and loneliness.”
- “Cargo Commander has a surprisingly dark, dystopian plot propping up the platforming, told through darkly funny emails from corporate and charming letters and packages from your family.”
- “A compelling story about a man on a quest for food money for his loving wife and son gives way to going salvaging in space and blowing whatever tries to take a bite of you into a fine yellow mist.”
- “It's a single player game, but without any storyline or campaign mode.”
- “The small amount of storytelling included in the game, subtle as it is, is something that definitely should've been expanded upon as well.”
- “But this is just random levels without any storyline.”
graphics
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
47%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming and playful art style, particularly its cel-shaded elements, while others note that the visuals can be basic or reminiscent of older systems like the PS1. Many players appreciate the effective use of simple graphics that complement the gameplay, though some experience performance issues that detract from the overall visual experience. Overall, the graphics are generally considered acceptable and fitting for the game's aesthetic, even if they don't reach the level of stunning visuals.
- “Engaging gameplay with stunning visuals!”
- “It has beautiful 3D graphics with just a touch of cel-shading in the mix.”
- “What a truly incredible game this is... lovely cell-shaded graphics, effects are amazing and is packed with great gameplay.”
- “Now mix this in with graphics circa arguably the PS1, and there's the long and the short of Cargo Commander.”
- “The graphics kept slowing down to a crawl every time I left the inside of a crate.”
- “The environments are bare and repetitive, so don’t expect to be awed by the graphics.”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of light-hearted and darkly comedic elements, often conveyed through optional text such as emails and letters that add charm to the gameplay. While some players appreciate the clever writing and find it enhances the experience, others feel the humor can be hit-or-miss and sometimes distracts from the core gameplay. Overall, the game is noted for its amusing moments, though opinions vary on how effectively the humor integrates with the gameplay itself.
- “Cargo Commander has a surprisingly dark, dystopian plot propping up the platforming, told through darkly funny emails from corporate and charming letters and packages from your family.”
- “The e-mails from the company have some kind of humor, so it's not only text to skip - it makes you smile, if you died the tenth time and read an e-mail from your company that they are proud of their new all-time-dying-employee.”
- “This game is hilarious while still being fairly challenging.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
13%
The game boasts high replayability due to its procedurally generated infinite sectors, multiple game modes, and leaderboards, which encourage players to return for new experiences. While some users noted a drop in replay value due to limited progression mechanics, many found the randomized exploration and various completion strategies to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. Overall, it offers a compelling incentive for repeated play, especially at its affordable price point.
- “While the game is simple, having 4 weapons and a few enemy types, the procedurally generated infinite sectors and leaderboards add a great deal of replayability.”
- “With an infinite number of levels and several game modes, this game has a great replay value, especially at its price point.”
- “The randomly generated levels and leaderboards provide plenty of replay value.”
- “- no real replayability”
- “Since you can't spend the cargo you find on anything after you receive parcels, the replay value drops drastically down to journey and weekly struggle.”
- “Maybe I'll come back for another struggle or some journeys, but due to the low replay value I guess that's mostly it for me.”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
13%
13%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, effectively capturing the vast loneliness of space and the tension of survival. Players appreciate the unique blend of chill and thrill, with solid sound design and engaging gameplay that enhances the overall experience. While some note a lack of audio diversity, the emotional depth and environmental details contribute to a memorable and impactful atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere this deep space game provides (ironically) gives you the sense of being alone and somewhat trapped in desolate parts of space with the only company there is the countless containers that have crystal mutants in that certain port of the container that you will always drill into.”
- “Cargo Commander has a very nice atmosphere to it that truly immerses you in the vast loneliness of space and the horrors of running out of oxygen while drifting between containers.”
- “Amazing game, best atmosphere/game world I've ever played.”
- “The atmosphere this deep space game provides (ironically) gives you the sense of being alone and somewhat trapped in desolate parts of space, with the only company being the countless containers that have crystal mutants in the certain port of the container that you will always drill into.”
- “At least for me, this game's atmosphere really needs to be experienced.”
- “Great platformer with rogue-like elements and an ironic atmosphere.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the initial hours are enjoyable and engaging, the gameplay can become monotonous and tedious over time. Many reviewers note that the repetitive nature of farming for items and upgrades leads to a sense of disorientation and frustration, particularly during extended play sessions. Overall, the game offers fun mechanics but suffers from a grindy meta-game that can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Taken together, it made for very disorienting, monotonous, tedious gameplay.”
- “Please note my playtime: I enjoyed this game for about 10-12 hours with 40% of achievements, then I started a hate-grind for the other 20 hours in those damned containers.”
- “I never reached the point where the random items collected seemed in any way meaningful; the promised upgrades simply didn't factor into what quickly became a tedious exercise in racing through boring stages.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report minor bugs and glitches, such as lag during magnet and console use, texture issues, and occasional freezing, others note that the final build runs smoothly without major problems, particularly on Linux. Despite some technical hiccups, the core gameplay remains enjoyable and functional.
- “Even though the game is both indie and simple, there are no bugs, no glitches, no crashes, and no major problems in its final build.”
- “Runs great on Linux.”
- “Game was a little buggy for me; each magnet use or console use was a bit laggy.”
- “I guess some glitches can’t be fixed by further updates.”
- “There were some minor technical issues (e.g. the game freezes for a bit when entering/exiting/skipping some screens).”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's optimization has received criticism for technical issues, including frequent framerate drops, crashes, and stuttering, which detract from the overall gameplay experience and stability.
- “Some players may encounter technical issues or performance optimization problems, such as framerate drops or crashes, impacting the overall enjoyment and stability of the game.”
- “It's frozen on me more than a couple of times and there's a lot of stuttering to be found in some areas.”
- “Technical issues and performance optimization concerns.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its surprisingly emotional depth, effectively conveying feelings of loneliness in space without disrupting gameplay. While it may not offer a deeply engaging story, its subtle emotional touches enhance the overall experience, making it a worthwhile pick for platformer fans.
- “It is an absolute gem and surprisingly emotional.”
- “It's very subtle and doesn't interrupt the game experience, but it's kind of touching nonetheless and it helps keep you going until you reach the end.”
- “Needs a better tutorial, but ultimately a fun little game which manages to nail the emotional loneliness of space.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization in the game is criticized for being heavily reliant on microtransactions, which some players find off-putting and indicative of a lack of engaging gameplay. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to detract from the overall experience, leading to dissatisfaction among users.
- “The monetization in this game is excessive, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine experience.”
- “I feel pressured to spend money to enjoy the game fully, which ruins the overall experience.”
- “The constant push for microtransactions detracts from the gameplay and makes it frustrating.”