Distant Space

About

"Distant Space" is a 2D pixel art real-time strategy game set in the vastness of space. As the captain of a space fleet, players must manage resources, build and upgrade ships, and engage in tactical battles against alien threats. The game offers a procedurally generated galaxy, providing unique challenges and opportunities in each playthrough. Exploration, diplomacy, and combat are key elements of this engaging space exploration experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 411 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

music9 negative mentions

Simple and addictive gameplay reminiscent of classic arcade shooters like Galaga.
Quick to complete, with easy achievements that can be unlocked in about 20-30 minutes.
Retro graphics and sound design provide a nostalgic experience for fans of old-school games.

Extremely short game length with repetitive gameplay and minimal content.
Lack of full-screen support and poor graphics can lead to a frustrating experience.
Boss fights are tedious and lack clear indicators of health, making them feel drawn out.

graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
79%
9%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players criticizing them as bland, painful to look at, and reminiscent of outdated retro styles, often likening them to early arcade games. While some appreciate the retro aesthetic and simplicity, others find it visually unappealing and difficult to navigate, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, the graphics seem to lack polish and innovation, detracting from the overall experience for many players.
- “The graphics are great and look really good in-game; the videos do not do it justice!”
- “The graphics could be right out of an early 80's vector-based Atari arcade machine or a Vectrex, with the improvement of a nice interference effect all over the place, so it should appeal to all you retro gamers out there.”
- “The retro graphics are a nice touch.”
- “Bland, uninspired graphics that make the eye bleed, a 'soundtrack' that promises a headache.”
- “Graphics make the game physically hurt my eyes; I'm either blind or the graphics are too harsh because sometimes I can't even see the bullets.”
- “Distant space looks and plays like an average Atari 2600 game, except with much uglier graphics.”
music
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
48%
27%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and lack of variety, leading to frustration over time. While some appreciate the nostalgic 8-bit style and catchy tunes, others find the soundtrack bland and headache-inducing, often opting to mute it in favor of their own music. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight for its retro appeal, but its repetitiveness detracts from the overall experience.
- “Very simple design but catchy soundtrack and short levels that mostly aren't difficult but fun enough.”
- “A very enjoyable little 'shoot them up' with its 8-bit music, very entertaining and very short (26 min for me) for those nostalgic for old games from the 70s-80s.”
- “The music is quite cool too.”
- “Any moderately competent flash game on the same 15-20 year old platform would have had persistent upgrades, a different soundtrack for boss fights, a non-headache-inducing background, some customizable spaceships and a check for loss of focus, just to name a few things off the top of my head.”
- “The soundtrack gets repetitive quickly, and the game becomes boring after a while.”
- “The mixture of repetitive music on loop with eye-gouging visuals, boring gameplay with no power-ups, replenishment, and little variation; would not even be a suitable torture device even for the most underfunded prison in a third world country.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
65%
16%
The gameplay is largely described as simplistic and repetitive, drawing heavy inspiration from classic titles like Space Invaders and Galaga, but lacking depth and variety. Players report a short playtime of around 20-30 minutes, with minimal mechanics and little strategic engagement, leading to a generally boring experience. While some find it nostalgic and addictive in its simplicity, many criticize it for being mindless and lacking replay value.
- “The gameplay is pure, nostalgic chaos, reminding us that sometimes, all you need is a good old-fashioned shoot 'em up.”
- “Simple but addictive gameplay.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the patterns are easy to get a feel for.”
- “The 'nishikado motion' that came about in Space Invaders due to hardware limitations, but made it so engaging, is replaced by erratic movement patterns that are understandable in an effort to restore some amount of difficulty. However, as a result, the natural ebb and flow of Space Invaders gameplay is just replaced by half-hearted dodging.”
- “The mixture of repetitive music on loop with eye-gouging visuals, boring gameplay with no power-ups, replenishment, and little variation; would not even be a suitable torture device even for the most underfunded prison in a third-world country.”
- “Extremely simple in its mechanics, virtually no strategy or necessary player interaction involved (just dodge lol), yet completely trivial in what it provides you, not a single interesting decision, with the least effort imaginable in graphics and sound design.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a coherent story, with multiple users expressing disappointment over the absence of a narrative or engaging storyline. Overall, it is characterized as having no story at all.
- “This game reminds me of the story that my uncle Habibullah Suleyman Imam Mahmud Saifullah once told me.”
- “Actually, the art is not good, and there is no storyline.”
- “This game has no story.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and uninteresting, often leading to boredom, especially during lengthy boss fights that feel drawn out due to their bullet sponge nature. Many suggest that the game would be better suited as a free title, as the grinding does not provide a rewarding experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Def should be a free game if I have ever seen one, got bored after grinding to round 10.”
- “12 of those minutes were just on tedious bullet sponge bosses.”
- “Just kind of tedious and uninteresting.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game has been criticized for its lack of depth in gameplay, leading to low replayability. Users noted the absence of features like a scoreboard, which further diminishes the incentive to replay. Overall, it received a low rating for replay value.
- “No depth in its gameplay, not very replayable at all.”
- “It doesn't have a scoreboard, meaning it doesn't even have replayability.”
- “Replay value: ★★”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this pixel-style space shooting game is well-received, with players finding it amusing and reminiscent of childhood gaming experiences. However, the game is noted to be quite short, with a completion time of around 22 minutes, making it a quick but enjoyable play for those seeking lighthearted fun.
- “Funny game, it takes me back to my childhood.”
- “Very funny.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game is notably intense, with some players reporting feelings of discomfort and nausea shortly after starting, indicating a strong and potentially overwhelming emotional experience.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is highly optimized, allowing it to run smoothly even on low-end hardware, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
- “Runs smoothly on a toaster.”
- “The game is incredibly well-optimized, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I was surprised at how well the game performs; it maintains a steady frame rate without any noticeable lag.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization aspect of games made with GameMaker Studio is frequently criticized for resulting in shovelware and lazy cash grabs, indicating a tendency for developers to prioritize profit over quality.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience.”
- “I can't enjoy the game without being bombarded by ads and in-app purchases.”
- “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, making it frustrating for free players.”