Ceres

55%
Game Brain Score Based on 101 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Ceres Game Cover
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"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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

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.
  • Players appreciate the vastness of the game world and the freedom to explore, trade, mine, and engage in combat.
  • The developer is responsive to feedback and actively works on bug fixes, showing dedication to improving the game.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches 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 tutorial lacking and the learning curve steep, which can deter casual gamers from enjoying the experience.
  • story50 mentions

    The game's story is described as interesting and well-crafted, with a rich universe and extensive missions, though some players find it generic and mediocre in execution. While the narrative has potential, many reviewers highlight significant bugs and interface issues that hinder gameplay, making it difficult to fully engage with the story. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a mixed bag, with some appreciating its depth and others criticizing its execution and the lack of guidance.

    • “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.”
  • graphics20 mentions

    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 the artwork is noted as attractive, many feel that the graphics do not meet modern expectations and could benefit from further optimization and refinement. Overall, while the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they are considered serviceable for the gameplay experience.

    • “The graphics have aged just fine; I ran a reshade 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.”
  • gameplay19 mentions

    The gameplay is described as complex and requiring a significant time investment to master, with many players finding it challenging to navigate without extensive tutorials. While it offers depth through mechanics like fleet building, ship customization, and unique boarding systems, some users note that the controls can be difficult initially and that the game lacks polish compared to larger titles. Despite its flaws, many players appreciate the intricate gameplay and the sense of involvement it provides, though some feel it could benefit from improved graphics and fewer exploits.

    • “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; it should have spent more effort improving the graphics, gameplay interactions, and controls during development.”
  • stability15 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, making it feel almost unplayable at times. While some users acknowledge that the developer is actively working on fixes and that minor issues remain, the overall experience is marred by frustrating control problems and design flaws. Despite a promising concept, the game's stability issues detract from enjoyment and accessibility, particularly for newcomers to the genre.

    • “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.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music and sound design in the game effectively complement the 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 in future 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.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players appreciate that acquiring new ships doesn't require extensive grinding for minerals, allowing for a more enjoyable experience. However, they find certain aspects of gameplay, such as managing multiple ships and transferring 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?”
  • humor2 mentions

    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 to mine asteroids. 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!'”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Replayability is noted to be moderate, as players will encounter many of the same battles in subsequent playthroughs, but the experience can vary significantly with different captains and skill trees.

    • “The replayability is impressive; while many of the same battles will be fought if you play through again, you can experience them with different captains and skill trees.”
    • “Each playthrough offers a fresh experience, as you can choose different strategies and character builds that significantly change the gameplay.”
    • “The game encourages multiple runs, with various choices and outcomes that keep each session feeling unique and engaging.”
    • “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 significant variation in gameplay makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is emphasized as a significant aspect of the game, allowing players to specialize their classes and tailor their characters to their preferred playstyles.

    • “Character development is crucial, allowing players to specialize their classes effectively.”
    • “The depth of character development really enhances the gameplay experience.”
    • “I love how character development allows for unique builds and personal playstyles.”
    • “Character development is lacking; it feels like the characters don't grow or change throughout the game.”
    • “The choices you make don't seem to impact character development in any meaningful way.”
    • “I was disappointed by the shallow character arcs; they felt predictable and uninspired.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its poor optimization, leading to performance issues and a subpar experience for players.

    • “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.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    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 sense of tension or excitement.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

18hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
10-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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