Empyrion: Galactic Survival

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 17,016 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Empyrion: Galactic Survival Game Cover
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Empyrion: Galactic Survival is a space survival adventure game that lets players build and pilot their own space ships and stations. Explore, mine, and fight across procedurally generated planets and alien structures in a vast, open universe. Experience a mix of sandbox construction, survival, and combat gameplay, with a heavy emphasis on player freedom and creativity.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 17,016 reviews
gameplay529 positive mentions
stability827 negative mentions
  • gameplay2,113 mentions

    The gameplay of Empyrion: Galactic Survival is characterized by a mix of building, crafting, and survival mechanics, offering players a sandbox experience that encourages creativity and exploration. While many players appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay options, including ship and base construction, there are frequent criticisms regarding the clunky mechanics, steep learning curve, and numerous bugs that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game is frequently updated, and many players find it rewarding once they overcome the initial challenges.

    • “Multiplayer servers over vanilla: for the best gameplay experience, skip the vanilla game and join community servers like HWS or Pegasus, which offer custom features, a dynamic environment, and an active community.”
    • “The building mechanics are as complex as you choose to make them, and if you're a fan of creative games, this one takes the cake.”
    • “The gameplay itself is fun at first; it's not too grindy, you can build lots of cool designs and fly them, planets are a flat surface with a teleport at each side which teleports you to the other side of the map if you cross it, giving the illusion of being on an actual planet.”
    • “The learning curve is steep; this is due to the mechanics being fairly in-depth, a variety of unintuitive systems, a disjointed tutorial, and a lackluster UI.”
    • “Gameplay was clunky.”
    • “The UI feels busy and clumsy, and the gameplay in the tutorial gives the game a very cheaply made impression.”
  • story1,870 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it is incomplete and often buggy. While some appreciate the potential for a rich narrative and the inclusion of quests, others criticize the execution, citing repetitive missions, lack of engaging dialogue, and a general feeling of disconnection from the storyline. Players recommend using mods like "Reforged Eden" to enhance the experience, as the base game’s story and quest systems are seen as lacking depth and polish. Overall, while there are elements of a story present, many feel it needs significant improvement to match the game's other features.

    • “Great sandbox game with a lot of story to explore!”
    • “The story is rich and worth taking the time to do.”
    • “The expanded universe/storyline and some of the custom servers are endless fun!”
    • “The game's story mode isn't even complete!”
    • “The main quest line is incomplete and I was very frustrated and disappointed that they released the game without finishing the main story!”
    • “The story feels like it was written by an angry 10-year-old and feels disjointed and ends abruptly.”
  • graphics1,712 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated and reminiscent of early 2000s titles. While some appreciate the aesthetic charm and the game's ability to run smoothly on lower-end hardware, others criticize the low-quality textures, animations, and overall visual fidelity compared to modern standards. Despite these shortcomings, many players emphasize that the engaging gameplay and expansive building mechanics often outweigh the graphical limitations.

    • “The graphics are stunning, the world(s) are enormous, and everything else is simply excellent.”
    • “The visuals are fantastic and sometimes I forget what I am doing because I am just watching the scenery and sunsets.”
    • “The graphics are great, the gameplay is fantastic, and the developers have put an absolutely overwhelming amount of work into the game.”
    • “The graphics are still horrible; on max, it looks like it was created in 2011.”
    • “The graphics for this game are a bit taxing, and some computers may either not be able to run the game beyond 5 fps, or they may have to deal with bad graphics.”
    • “The graphics are very blocky and basic, and the controls are clunky and awkward.”
  • stability859 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting it as a "buggy mess" that remains unpolished even after years of development. Many players experience frequent crashes, glitches, and unresponsive gameplay, leading to frustration and loss of progress. While some acknowledge the game's potential and enjoy its core mechanics, the overwhelming consensus is that the persistent bugs significantly detract from the overall experience, making it difficult to recommend in its current state.

    • “As of right now, it runs great on my Linux system.”
    • “It is relatively bug free and reasonably optimized.”
    • “The game is well programmed; it even runs great on some year-old hardware.”
    • “Unfinished, buggy mess.”
    • “The game is buggy, crashing a lot.”
    • “Great promise but terrible jank execution and instead of fixing great bones, they partnered with Funcom (terrible) and released an unfinished buggy shallow DLC when the main game isn't even complete.”
  • optimization593 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from users, with many citing severe performance issues, bugs, and a lack of polish. Despite some updates aimed at improving performance, players report inconsistent frame rates, stuttering, and high resource demands even on capable hardware. Overall, the game is considered poorly optimized, with many reviewers recommending waiting for further improvements before fully engaging with it.

    • “The game is regularly updated, improving both its visuals and performance.”
    • “This game has had a lot of work put into it since then, ranging from adding content such as items and locations to optimization of the game itself.”
    • “The developers actually went ahead and heavily optimized the game and that's a great thing!”
    • “This game is a poorly optimized, bug-ridden mess that gets in the way of most of the fun you can have.”
    • “The game is filled with bugs, has poor optimizations which cause graphical skipping, and no option available to completely turn off the enemy drones which means that unless you equip any space-faring ship with weapons, you'll be destroyed in moments.”
    • “The optimization is terrible, and the mechanics need a lot of work.”
  • grinding540 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the early stages where resource gathering can feel overwhelming. While some appreciate the depth and complexity that grinding adds to crafting and building, others criticize it for detracting from the overall enjoyment, especially when compounded by bugs and performance issues. Overall, the game offers a blend of grinding that can be rewarding for those who enjoy survival mechanics, but may frustrate players seeking a more streamlined experience.

    • “I enjoy that it's not too grindy, yet grindy at the same time.”
    • “On survival, it took us quite a while to actually get into space, but it isn't too grindy - it's just filled with plenty of other things to do.”
    • “But you can save the blueprints of anything to build/design for future use, and the game isn't too grindy as far as resource acquisition goes when you learn the efficient ways of doing things.”
    • “Years of development result in an obtuse, grindy, and bland experience.”
    • “The constant bugs and glitches are also very annoying, as is grinding for certain resources; because of course this game needs to have a grind to it.”
    • “The game is a tedious grind for extremely little reward.”
  • atmosphere297 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, featuring diverse planetary environments, dynamic weather effects, and a sense of adventure that enhances exploration. Players appreciate the thrill of breaking through a planet's atmosphere into space, although some report technical issues like lag during transitions and limitations on weapon use in atmospheric conditions. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as engaging and rewarding, with a strong emphasis on creativity and survival mechanics.

    • “The immersive atmosphere draws players into a world filled with endless possibilities, where they can explore unknown territories, mine resources, and encounter unique challenges.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is really unique and outstanding.”
    • “The visuals and atmosphere of this game are top tier, especially when it comes to lighting and celestial body effects.”
    • “The transition from orbit to the atmosphere is just jarring and the ground seen from orbit does not match the ground when you enter the atmosphere.”
    • “Random crashes, freezes, and issues when entering or exiting a planet's atmosphere can be frustrating.”
    • “The atmosphere: there is a striking and extreme lack of atmosphere in this game.”
  • humor106 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as unintentional and derived from its numerous bugs, awkward animations, and clunky mechanics, leading to a mix of frustration and laughter among players. While some find the game's quirks amusing, others feel that the humor falls flat, particularly when it comes to the poorly executed AI and graphics. Overall, the game's comedic elements seem to stem from its unfinished state, making it a source of both entertainment and annoyance for players.

    • “It's funny like when you try to sue the iron company for burning your leg because you didn't bother to read the warning tags that explicitly say not to iron while wearing the clothes themselves.”
    • “The game is lifeless, the NPCs you encounter are so poorly animated it's actually funny; most of them just stand there with their mouths open while they spew a page of dialogue you have to read as there's no voice acting for the one storyline quest the game has.”
    • “I have had a lot of fun playing this game figuring things out, making my first ship from scratch and finding that it only flew upside down, then flipped around constantly. Yes, it was a disaster and funny as hell; I could not stop laughing at my newbish design flaws.”
    • “Game evolved into an unfunny, unstable mess over the last game versions.”
    • “The humor is clearly Russian and not funny, like: 'Oh no, there's a big rock in my cereal.' The tutorial is suffering from severe misspellings and grammatical errors.”
    • “Is not funny, just jumping around without finding anything. The game was once good before they made the galaxy infinitely large; the fun of the game is completely gone, and you never see another player again.”
  • music99 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience, while others criticize it for being repetitive and uninspired. Many users noted that the soundtrack can be soothing and fitting for exploration, but also expressed a desire for more variety and better sound design overall. Overall, while the music has its moments of brilliance, it often falls short of expectations, leading to a somewhat lackluster audio experience.

    • “To my absolute surprise, the music is actually damn good.”
    • “The combination between the music (which is quite good) and the lighting just makes surface exploration feel oddly satisfying.”
    • “The music is very atmospheric and doesn't get irritating.”
    • “I can't quite tell the exact amount, but it seems like around half the sounds, the music, and the game and art assets are from stock websites, if not more.”
    • “The soundtrack is bland and the sound effects feel very 1999.”
    • “Music assaults you off the bat and destroys your ears.”
  • replayability99 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many players noting the nearly infinite possibilities offered by procedurally generated worlds, extensive modding options, and diverse gameplay modes. Users highlight that each playthrough can feel unique due to the variety of choices, structures, and scenarios available, making it a compelling choice for fans of survival and exploration genres. While some mention that replayability may diminish over time, the overall consensus is that the game provides substantial content and freedom, ensuring players can enjoy it repeatedly.

    • “Almost limitless replayability with choices about everything along the way.”
    • “This was a game with huge content, a good storyline, and lots of replayability.”
    • “The multiple possible paths to take, endless options, and replayability of Empyrion is well worth taking a look at.”
    • “The replayability is getting thin for me and my friends.”
    • “I don't think that this is, right now, a game with a lot of replay value but maybe they'll be adding more content to change that.”
    • “Their latest experiments are even to replace random terrain generation with static maps for most planets, reducing the appeal of exploration and replayability.”
  • monetization77 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to its reliance on early access, poorly executed DLCs, and the introduction of microtransactions. Players express frustration over the perceived lack of content and quality, suggesting that the developers prioritize profit over delivering a polished product. Concerns are particularly heightened following the partnership with Funcom, known for aggressive monetization practices, leading to skepticism about the game's future direction.

    • “As a general rule of thumb, before playing on a multiplayer server, do some research into their monetization scheme before you get invested in it.”
    • “You don't have to play on any server that charges microtransactions.”
    • “Bottom line, I rate this 10/10 due to its current state being fully playable & give the dev props for doing what the devs of Star Citizen promised without massive monetization schemes.”
    • “It's nothing but a rushed cash grab release; I'd say it looks hideously amateurish, but the amateur-led fan-based mods are actually quite good - wildly better than this release.”
    • “Funcom is taking the same route as any other developer that has tried to introduce shady monetization options, and that route is down.”
    • “Considering the blatant disregard for fixing many old bugs that have plagued this game for so long, poor design choices, both of which have no fix in the foreseeable future, and a shameless cash grab in the form of DLC, I can no longer recommend this 16 GB game.”
  • emotional37 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often experiencing a mix of joy and heartbreak through their adventures, such as the thrill of exploration and the pain of losing hard-built creations. Many describe moments of genuine emotional impact, including laughter and tears, particularly during significant gameplay milestones or losses. Despite its flaws, the game evokes strong feelings of attachment and nostalgia, reminiscent of formative gaming experiences.

    • “It made me cry, but what can you do?”
    • “Never before in my whole life did I cry after finishing a game tutorial... it was very emotional... I really did laugh/cry at the end of it.”
    • “Leaving the planet and entering space for the first time is an emotional experience.”
    • “The new starter worlds lack any real threats, resulting in a boring storyline that fails to engage or teach players.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters is severely lacking, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
    • “The game tries to evoke emotions but ends up feeling shallow and uninspired, leaving players disconnected from the narrative.”
  • character development11 mentions

    Overall, reviews indicate that character development in the game is lacking, with many players expressing a desire for more depth, individuality, and engaging progression systems. Critiques also highlight poor character design and AI, suggesting that enhancements in these areas could significantly elevate the game's appeal. While the gameplay is enjoyable, the absence of robust character development and customization options is seen as a major drawback.

    • “This game is so good I would happily pay more for DLC, especially character development and more hostile aliens.”
    • “Great game, very fun; it's like Space Engineers but with more RPG content and player character development.”
    • “I don't really have any dislikes other than I wish the developers would consider content, character development, character individuality, weapon and armor development, more creatures, more pois, and caves!”
    • “There isn't near enough character development or itemization in the game.”
    • “Character design is pathetic, needs to be better.”
    • “The plot/character development system also really needs expansion in depth and purpose.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

150hMedian play time
545hAverage play time
30-600hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 288 analyzed playthroughs

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