Ceres

About

Ceres is a single player role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Jötunn Games and was released on October 16, 2015. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Ceres" is a single-player Science Fiction Role Playing game with a good plot set in a ravaged solar system where Earth has been destroyed. The solar system has been changed due to the malfunctioning of the Gate, a device built to connect Earth to other stars. Now, human factions are at war, monstrous machines and alien creatures roam, and real dangers and myths intertwine in this cold, dangerous world. However, be aware that the game is very buggy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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55%

Audience ScoreBased on 101 reviews

story9 positive mentions

stability15 negative mentions

The game offers a deep and intricate space combat experience with a variety of tactical options and ship customization.
Despite its bugs, the game has a dedicated developer who is responsive to feedback and actively working on improvements.
The RPG elements, such as leveling up captains and managing a fleet, add significant depth and engagement to the gameplay.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs that can make it frustrating and nearly unplayable at times.
The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and command difficult, especially for new players.
Many players find the learning curve steep, with a lack of adequate tutorials and guidance leading to confusion and frustration.

story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
76%
6%
The game's story is described as having potential, with a well-crafted universe and interesting missions, but it suffers from bugs and a lack of clarity that can hinder progress. While some players find the narrative engaging and original, others criticize it as mediocre and generic, often overshadowed by gameplay issues and a steep learning curve. Overall, the story is seen as a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its depth and complexity, while others feel it is underwhelming and unfinished.
- “The writing is quite good and the story and universe are well crafted and felt real and lived-in.”
- “Lots to do and explore and a compelling and complex story/environment; it feels like a labor of love and those that remember the early days of PC gaming when one person/a small team could create a world of their own will find much to enjoy here.”
- “So far, I'm intrigued by the story.”
- “The story is unfinished and the ending left me wondering if I beat the game or not.”
- “To each his own here, and while I consider myself pretty forgiving, the story and voice acting are both very underwhelming.”
- “The game has quite a few shortfalls though with weird design decisions that won't really jive well with gamers new to the genre, weird glitches that crop up without much rhyme or reason and either require loading a save or restarting the game, a fairly generic storyline that is serviceable but won't enthrall anyone.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the aesthetic appeal and performance on mid-range machines, while others criticize them as dated and lacking polish. Although there are positive remarks about the artwork and certain graphical elements, many users feel that the visuals do not meet modern expectations and could benefit from further optimization and refinement. Overall, the graphics are seen as a notable aspect of the game, but they fall short of being truly impressive.
- “The graphics have aged just fine; I ran a re-shade over it and it looks better.”
- “Great graphics are a plus but do not seem to bog down even a mid-range machine.”
- “The graphics are good without being too demanding, so heavy fighting hardly slows down at all, making for some seriously intense battles.”
- “The game has quite a few shortfalls though with weird design decisions that won't really jive well with gamers new to the genre, weird glitches that crop up without much rhyme or reason and either require loading a save or restarting the game, a fairly generic storyline that is serviceable but won't enthrall anyone and the graphics are quite dated all told.”
- “Only downsides thus far is dated graphics which can improve and the need for more optimizations to allow a lag-free environment with lots and lots of individual ships.”
- “- the art style falls into that awkward category of games that look old but don't pull it off in some charming way.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
63%
16%
The gameplay is characterized by its depth and complexity, requiring significant time investment to master ship controls and mechanics, which may deter casual players. While it offers engaging features like fleet building, ship customization, and unique boarding mechanics, the game suffers from a lack of polish and modern design elements, leading to some frustrating experiences. Despite its flaws, many players appreciate the intricate systems and immersive gameplay, finding it rewarding for those willing to invest the effort.
- “The capture mechanics work also to build your fleet.”
- “Lots of detailed gameplay, mining, ship customization, and hiring the crew for ships and watching them evolve is a plus as well.”
- “There is an entire fleet system mechanics, formations, a loot system, and what seems to be a very in-depth drone system that I haven't even touched yet... I'm addicted and haven't even scratched the surface at how much depth this game has.”
- “Gameplay is not straightforward; I tried twice and I can't even move the ship without lots of tutorials. If you want to spend hours learning to play, maybe it's a good game, but if you want a casual sci-fi experience, it is not the case.”
- “The wonky game mechanics will eventually creep up on you and ruin your immersion.”
- “Game works fine but it lacks its final polish; they should have spent more effort improving the graphics, gameplay interactions, and controls during development.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, making it feel almost unplayable at times. While some players acknowledge the developer's efforts to address these issues, the overall experience remains marred by persistent stability problems, particularly during fleet movements and interface interactions. Despite a few minor bugs being noted as manageable, the consensus is that the game requires substantial dedication to navigate its unstable environment.
- “It is buggy to the point of being almost unplayable without serious dedication to playing this game.”
- “I can tell you that I enjoy Ceres, but that's a half-truth - there are so many bugs and glitches in this game that playing it is like walking on eggshells.”
- “Way too buggy; I spent 20 minutes wrestling with the controls in the tutorial just trying to get my ship to move where I wanted it.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music and sounds in the game effectively complement its theme and enhance the overall atmosphere, though they may not be considered exceptional. Players express a desire for unique songs, suggesting the potential for additional content through DLC.
- “Maybe I'm a sucker for sound, but I really enjoy the music in the game.”
- “I would love to see some unique songs in a DLC that we could import into the game.”
- “The sounds and music, while not top notch, fit the theme well and add to the atmosphere.”
- “Maybe you can come up with some unique songs in a DLC and import them into the game.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate that acquiring new ships doesn't require extensive grinding for minerals, but they find certain aspects of gameplay, such as combat control and the slow process of moving captured ships and cargo, to be tedious and in need of improvement.
- “Combat control becomes really tedious when involving more than one ship.”
- “Some principles should be made less tedious. Why is moving a captured ship so slow while capturing is quite easy? Why is moving cargo between ships so tedious, like having to drop it into space and load it by drones?”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Replayability is noted to be moderate, as players will encounter many of the same battles in subsequent playthroughs, but can experience variations through different captains and skill trees.
- “The replayability is impressive; many of the same battles will be fought if you play through again, but with different captains and skill trees.”
- “Each playthrough offers a fresh experience, thanks to the diverse choices in characters and strategies.”
- “The game encourages multiple runs, as each decision leads to unique outcomes and challenges.”
- “The replayability is limited; many of the same battles will be fought if you play through again, even with different captains and skill trees.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to replay it since the experience remains largely unchanged.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in gameplay makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development is a significant aspect of the game, allowing players to specialize their classes and tailor their characters to fit their preferred playstyles. This depth in customization enhances the overall gaming experience.
- “Character development matters, and you can specialize your class.”
- “The depth of character development allows for unique playstyles and personal growth.”
- “I love how the character development system lets me shape my hero's journey and abilities.”
- “Character development matters, but the options feel limited and uninspired.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character development makes the experience feel shallow.”
- “While you can specialize in a class, the overall progression feels stagnant and unengaging.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for its poor optimization, leading to performance issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “Poor optimization.”
- “The game suffers from significant performance issues due to its lack of optimization.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and long loading times, indicating that the optimization is severely lacking.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is enhanced by fitting sounds and music that, while not exceptional, effectively complement the game's theme.
- “The sounds and music, while not top-notch, fit the theme well and add to the atmosphere.”
- “The overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
- “Despite some interesting visuals, the atmosphere fails to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its entertaining voice acting and the absurdity of chaotic situations, such as being hilariously pursued by an alien armada while attempting simple tasks. Players find that even in moments of frustration, the unique and comedic elements keep the experience enjoyable and engaging.
- “The voice acting is hilarious at times and really adds to the character.”
- “I died many times learning to play the game, but each time was entirely unique and entertaining. Seeing an alien armada warp in and pursue my tiny ship with laser cannons, missiles, and drones screaming after me had me laughing through the frustration: 'I'm just trying to mine a few asteroids!'”