ESA SHIELD

About

ESA SHIELD is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Hochschule Darmstadt Games Lab and was released on August 19, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

ESA SHIELD - Earth's Safety Starts with You!Become head of the European Space Agency's Space Safety Department and protect Earth from real cosmic hazards like Asteroids, Space Debris, and Space Weather. This science-based Planetary Protection Simulator combines tower defense, roguelite, and strategy elements to create a unique gameplay experience grounded in reality. Before you can defend Earth…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 15 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game has a unique and interesting concept that offers a fun and educational experience.
There is potential for expansion and depth, with players eager to see more content and challenges in the future.
The art style has a charming simplicity that adds to the overall appeal of the game.

The user interface and experience are poorly designed, with many buttons unresponsive or difficult to access, making the game frustrating to play.
Gameplay feels linear and lacks challenge, with mechanics that can make it feel like a chore rather than an engaging experience.
The game is currently very short, ending abruptly after a single mission, leaving players wanting more content and tasks.

gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Gameplay is criticized for its linearity and an abundance of in-game currency, which diminishes the challenge and utility of resource management. Despite these issues, players find a core enjoyment in the mechanics, suggesting potential for future improvements.
- “For all my criticism, there is an enjoyable little core of gameplay in there.”
- “I can see a future for this game, but not in the current style and mechanics.”
- “You get way too much money, so the money mechanic is sort of useless because you can just keep plopping down endless telescopes and research stations.”
- “Some elements of the gameplay also don't quite gel well yet.”
- “The gameplay looks very linear, even too much.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game's stability is compromised by a buggy user interface, particularly noting frustrations with placing ground stations.
- “The UI is buggy; placing down a ground station is frustrating.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
- “I experience constant lag and glitches that ruin the gameplay.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's graphics are praised for their charming art style, characterized by a simplistic design that enhances its overall appeal.
- “I really appreciate the art style of the game; its simplistic nature gives it a unique charm.”
- “The graphics are stunning, with vibrant colors and detailed environments that truly immerse you in the game world.”
- “The visual design is breathtaking, showcasing a perfect blend of creativity and technical skill.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of post-mission engagement, leaving players wanting more opportunities to explore and complete additional objectives. Additionally, some users feel that certain elements, like the total mission completion interface, appear poorly designed and detract from the overall experience.
- “I wish it allowed you to play after the deflector mission was completed, as I still had much to do in completing the tech tree and launching satellites.”
- “The total mission completion part feels like it was just added to the game without much thought, almost as if it was made in GIMP.”