Distant Space

About

Distant Space is a single player casual action adventure game. It was developed by PixelMouse and was released on December 20, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

"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

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 979 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

story10 negative mentions

Simple and addictive gameplay reminiscent of classic arcade shooters.
Quick completion time of around 20-30 minutes, making it a good choice for casual play.
Easy achievements that can enhance your Steam profile.

Repetitive gameplay with little variation in levels and enemy patterns.
Lack of a health bar for bosses makes encounters feel tedious and drawn out.
Technical issues such as no fullscreen option and mouse cursor not being locked to the game window.

gameplay
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
64%
12%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and retro-inspired mechanics, primarily involving exploration, scanning, and basic shooting elements reminiscent of classic arcade games. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and straightforward controls, many find the experience repetitive and lacking depth, with most sessions lasting around 20-30 minutes. Overall, the game offers a casual, easy-to-pick-up experience, but it may not hold long-term engagement due to its limited variety and challenge.
- “Gameplay revolves around exploring procedurally generated planets, scanning creatures (some cute, some not), managing oxygen and heat, and slowly building better gear.”
- “The gameplay is straightforward and easy to pick up, which makes it relaxing and fun to play, especially if you enjoy retro-inspired games.”
- “There’s no pretense of deep narrative or elaborate mechanics—just pure, reflex-driven gameplay built on the timeless appeal of dodging bullets and firing back.”
- “This game is just 30 minutes of gameplay where you just repeat the same pattern over and over again.”
- “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.”
- “I've seen everything it has to offer in 15 minutes, actually got bored almost immediately, but just played on hoping that there would be some twist or new gameplay mechanic.”
graphics
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
80%
8%
The graphics in the game are a mixed bag, with many users appreciating the retro aesthetic and simple, clean visuals that evoke an old-school arcade feel. However, some players criticize the graphics as bland, minimalistic, or even painful to look at, with complaints about poor visibility and repetitive designs. Overall, while the nostalgic pixel art and stylized graphics have their charm, they may not appeal to everyone, particularly those seeking more modern or polished visuals.
- “The visuals are simple but clean, and the ambient soundtrack makes drifting through space genuinely calming.”
- “The graphics are so superb—no, suburb, because they’re so good they gentrified my retinas—that I briefly had to consider whether it was safe for a mortal to witness such cosmic beauty.”
- “The visuals feature colorful, stylized graphics that bring alien worlds and spacecraft to life, while the atmospheric soundtrack enhances the sense of adventure and discovery.”
- “Extremely boring basic gameplay, graphics, and 30-second music loop.”
- “An arcade shooter with visuals somehow worse than the retro games it's unsuccessfully trying to mimic.”
- “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.”
music
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
51%
23%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its nostalgic and catchy qualities, particularly in the context of retro-style gameplay. However, a common criticism is its repetitiveness, as several users noted that the soundtrack often loops the same track, leading to boredom over time. While some found the music immersive and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others felt it detracted from the overall experience due to its lack of variety.
- “The visuals are simple but clean, and the ambient soundtrack makes drifting through space genuinely calming.”
- “The music, however, slaps — like someone fed an ‘80s synthwave playlist into a blender and hit 'turbo nostalgia.'”
- “The serene visuals and ambient soundtrack create a meditative experience, though gameplay can feel repetitive and slow-paced.”
- “Music starts with a hell yeah but gets boring near the end.”
- “The music is just one song and the background feels like watching a 3D movie without glasses.”
- “The music is repetitive; make different songs for different phases or different levels.”
story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
53%
36%
The game lacks a traditional narrative, with multiple reviews emphasizing that there is no story to engage with. Instead, it focuses on straightforward gameplay and mission objectives, offering a simple and repetitive experience that prioritizes skill over storytelling. While it may not leave a lasting impression, its simplicity can still provide enjoyment for casual play.
- “It’s a compact experience, straightforward in its goals yet satisfying in its immediacy, echoing an era when gaming was more about skill and rhythm than cinematic storytelling.”
- “While not a game that will linger long in memory, it fulfills its mission with precision, proving that sometimes simplicity can still shine brightly, even in the vast emptiness of space.”
- “The missions are varied, keeping you engaged with different objectives and new enemies to face in every level.”
- “The game has no story.”
- “It has no story and 26 levels that were really easy.”
- “This game reminds me of the story that my uncle Habibullah Suleyman once told me.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that it requires excessive effort for minimal reward. Boss fights are particularly noted for their high health, making them feel like bullet sponges and contributing to the overall grindiness. While some players appreciate the game for achievement farming, the consensus leans towards it being a less enjoyable experience, often suggesting it would be better suited as a free title.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The only recommendation to play is if you got the game for free - or for achievement farming, and even then - it's hard to recommend playing.”
- “Just kind of tedious and uninteresting.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
56%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many users noting a lack of high scores and depth in gameplay, leading to minimal incentive to replay. However, some players appreciate the progression system that allows for experimentation with different ship configurations and tactics, which adds a degree of replayability.
- “The game’s progression system encourages experimentation with different ship configurations and tactics, adding replayability.”
- “Once you beat the game, there is no replayability.”
- “No high scores, no replayability.”
- “It doesn't have a scoreboard, meaning it doesn't even have replayability.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
12%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke a sense of loneliness and vastness in space, enhanced by solid visuals and a calming soundtrack. Players appreciate the old-school arcade feel combined with a deep, contemplative exploration experience, making it both relaxing and immersive. Overall, the game's presentation successfully captures the essence of distant space exploration.
- “Distant space is a surprisingly relaxing and atmospheric exploration game that feels bigger than it looks.”
- “The visuals feature colorful, stylized graphics that bring alien worlds and spacecraft to life, while the atmospheric soundtrack enhances the sense of adventure and discovery.”
- “The atmosphere is the real winner here - it's lonely, quiet, and captures the feeling of vast, empty space really well.”
- “The visuals, simple mechanics, and overall presentation do a great job of capturing that old-school arcade atmosphere.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
86%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report minor bugs and glitches, others experience significant issues, describing it as a "big terrarium for bugs." However, a few users have noted that their gameplay was largely unaffected by glitches, allowing them to enjoy the experience.
- “The game was so fun, and I liked every single bit of it. There were no glitches, and the bosses were challenging.”
- “I experienced no stability issues throughout my gameplay, which made for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
- “The game runs flawlessly, with no crashes or bugs to disrupt the adventure.”
- “The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs/glitches.”
- “After troubleshooting, my best guess is that the trigger only works when trackpad pressure is greater than 0, meaning you can't use it when lifting your thumb to adjust or being stationary.”
- “Minor bugs/glitches.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it funny and reminiscent of childhood experiences. However, some note that the game is quite short, with a typical playtime of around 22 minutes. Overall, it offers a lighthearted and enjoyable experience, especially for those looking for a quick laugh.
- “Funny game, it takes me back to my childhood.”
- “Small funny space shooting game in pixel style. I actually had fun playing it, but it's really short; I finished it in 22 minutes. If you have nothing else to play, try it.”
- “Very funny.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some users report significant lag issues, others note that it runs smoothly even on low-end hardware.
- “Runs smoothly on a toaster.”
- “The optimization is just awful, as it was constantly lagging.”
- “The game suffers from severe performance issues, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
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, possibly overwhelming emotional experience.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of games developed with GameMaker Studio is frequently criticized for resulting in low-quality, "shovelware" titles that appear to prioritize profit over player experience, leading to perceptions of lazy cash grabs.
- “Very often, game maker studios are used to create shovelware and lazy cash grabs.”