EVE Online

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,092 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
EVE Online Game Cover
A compelling virtual world that stands the test of time with an incredible 15-year history.
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EVE Online is a player-driven spaceship MMO where your choices shape the universe. Experience large-scale warfare, exploration, piracy, crafting, trading, and a thriving player economy in a vast, persistent online world. Collaborate with others to build and fight for your own empire in a sandbox where consequences are real and lasting.

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Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,092 reviews
story42 positive mentions
grinding136 negative mentions
  • EVE Online offers a unique and immersive experience with a player-driven economy and vast sandbox gameplay.
  • The game has a dedicated community that can provide support and guidance to new players.
  • There are countless activities to engage in, from mining and exploration to intense PvP battles.
  • The game has a steep learning curve, making it difficult for new players to get started without guidance.
  • Recent changes have made the game feel more pay-to-win, with significant advantages for paying players.
  • The community can be toxic, with experienced players often preying on newcomers for easy kills.
  • story418 mentions

    The story aspect of EVE Online is largely player-driven, with minimal scripted content from NPC missions, which many players find repetitive and lacking depth. While the game offers a vast universe and a sandbox environment for players to create their own narratives, the missions often feel like tedious grind-fests with little reward or engaging storyline. Overall, players appreciate the potential for unique experiences but express disappointment in the lack of a cohesive, immersive narrative within the game's structured missions.

    • “The story is entirely player-driven, and you can interfere with developer-driven events if you so choose - for example, the leader of one of the NPC empires was chosen by a player tournament, and at the ceremony, other players were noted for their support/opposition of the proceedings, and all of this is now official lore.”
    • “Eve online is one of those games that if you love it or hate it you will have a story to go with it.”
    • “Join and become part of the story - the single unique story that is Eve, your actions will reverberate through the game.”
    • “The missions/quests have very little depth and only about a dozen scripts, so no real lore or story to help compel you forward.”
    • “The game is very fun to play and it's very open world, but there is no actual storyline and you have to pay monthly to access all the ships.”
    • “There's very little story, other than the stock 'MMO' story, and you'll mostly aimlessly float around, in your tiny part of the galaxy, talking to people while you mine for 6 hours, then skirmish with NPCs, die from players, and move packages from one base to the other.”
  • gameplay363 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a steep learning curve and complex mechanics that can be overwhelming for new players, often leading to frustration. While some players appreciate the depth and emergent gameplay opportunities, many criticize the pay-to-win elements, slow pacing, and a toxic community that can detract from the overall experience. Despite its unique sandbox nature and potential for rewarding gameplay, the game requires significant time investment and can feel tedious or unengaging at times.

    • “With endless gameplay options, a dynamic player economy, and a strong sense of community, it's a game that rewards dedication and strategy.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics allow the game to be 100% in your hands and under your control; you are the pilot after all!”
    • “Eve online is fantastic for any player looking for a real sandbox-style game with consequences, sci-fi and space sim fans alike, and those seeking gameplay that you simply can't find anywhere else.”
    • “Really bad game; you'll never play long enough to get all the mechanics, let alone skills.”
    • “The core gameplay is dreadfully boring.”
    • “The gameplay is well alright; it's a point-and-click game plus resource management game, but at one point you could be anything, a raider, miner, captain of a faction, repair and support team, or a person in charge of an area.”
  • graphics183 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received significant praise for their stunning quality and continuous updates, making them competitive with modern titles despite the game's age. Players appreciate the beautiful ship designs, immersive space environments, and dynamic effects, although some have noted issues with performance during large fleet battles. Overall, the visuals are considered a major highlight, contributing to the game's appeal and enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The game has seen great improvements over the years, particularly the graphics which look as good as any game in 2023, let alone one that came out 20 years ago.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, it's well optimized that even a relatively low-end computer can play it, the ships are very uniquely designed and sleek, the weapon effects look very futuristic as they should.”
    • “Stunning graphics, unique gameplay, and extensive customization that allows you to develop your character however you see fit.”
    • “It's had a few graphics upgrades but still many of the ship textures and space backgrounds are super pixelated.”
    • “The graphics are really crap unless you zoom right up to shit.. and you'll never end up doing that because everything you kill is far far away.”
    • “On the downside, the game is very demanding graphically, and only people who can afford very fancy graphics cards should consider playing a game of this intensity.”
  • grinding144 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, often leading to a monotonous experience that can detract from enjoyment. While some players appreciate the depth and strategy involved in grinding for resources and skills, many find it overwhelming, especially for newcomers, and feel that the game's pay-to-win elements exacerbate the grind. Overall, the game demands significant time investment, with players often feeling that their efforts can be easily undone by others, making the grind feel unrewarding.

    • “The game offers a completely player-driven economy, the largest PvP battles of any MMOs by far going into four digits, exploration I can't accurately describe because I thought KSP was a large map, very in-depth ship modification, a very enticing story, a beautiful soundtrack, and a leveling system with no grinding.”
    • “Unlike other MMORPGs, skilling is based on real-time and not grinding, so all players advance as time goes on.”
    • “They do your 'training' or 'leveling up' system differently; it is based on actual time passing, not grinding.”
    • “It's incredibly grindy, has an absolutely immense learning curve, and is not new player friendly to the slightest degree.”
    • “Hours and hours and hours of doing nothing but grinding, farming and running errands, fueled only by the hope of someday getting some enjoyment out of it in a form of a good ship or some nice equipment.”
    • “It feels like endless grinding for something that can be lost in a matter of minutes -- and I'm not against that necessarily, but the grinding isn't particularly fun, either.”
  • music57 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with soothing and relaxing soundtracks that complement the vastness of space. Many players find it enjoyable to listen to while engaging in various activities, although some note that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and emotional depth.

    • “Fantastic soundtrack that makes me feel lonely and content all at the same time.”
    • “The game's soundtrack is the most soothing, relaxing music I've heard in a game before.”
    • “The graphics and overall atmosphere in this game are amazing, and the musical score is wonderful and beautifully written.”
    • “The music in EVE passes the time well, but bring your own music because even good music gets boring after your 15th material haul.”
    • “I really wanted a fun space game and this game seems to have everything I wanted... combat, exploring, mining, building/producing items, customization of ships, but it's all so hollow and mundane; there is no sound really other than music. Combat is click to target, orbit around target, now hit the auto fire... there's no dog fighting, no skill input at all... whoever has the best ship/weapons wins... plus no combat sounds make it even worse.”
    • “Auto do this, auto do that, this is the lift music of MMOs.”
  • monetization36 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players labeling it as opportunistic and predatory, particularly due to the introduction of aggressive microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics. Many feel that the focus has shifted from enhancing gameplay to maximizing profits, leading to a frustrating experience that undermines the game's original design. Overall, the community expresses disappointment over the shift towards cash grab tactics, which they believe detracts from the game's quality and sustainability.

    • “Personally, I believe it could be a monetization middle-ground, make a voucher that is good for a market transaction for the correct ship or something.”
    • “Eve has taken that under consideration and employed skill injectors for in-game purchases.”
    • “It has since adopted changes to its business model, including cosmetic item monetization and features like the skill point injectors and clone states that give players in-game advantages in exchange for money.”
    • “While the game offers an enormous, player-driven universe that I find myself returning to every couple of years, it's also drawn ire for some poor business decisions, including microtransactions that have upset the balance for some players.”
    • “CCP's focus has long since shifted from game improvements and quality content additions to trying to bleed their stone of every dollar they can get out of it, and in the recent couple of years they've even stopped trying to stray away from less popular monetization methods in favor of doing whatever they can regardless of player opinion.”
    • “Eve monetization is opportunistic, predatory, and unfair.”
  • humor33 mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from the chaotic and unpredictable interactions between players, leading to hilarious moments, especially when playing with friends. Many players find amusement in the absurdity of situations, such as losing expensive ships or witnessing others struggle with basic game mechanics. Overall, the game's blend of dark humor and lighthearted camaraderie creates memorable experiences that players cherish, even amidst the challenges.

    • “Just don't forget to bring a sense of humor (and a healthy supply of tissues for when you inevitably lose that shiny new battleship).”
    • “When you fly with friends, it's always fun; it always makes for some hilarious memories.”
    • “Fun to play, addicting, hilarious to watch idiots try to grasp basic concepts like... reading mission details.”
  • atmosphere15 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics and immersive audio, creating a captivating experience in a vast, ever-changing universe. While some players note a toxic community and a steep learning curve, many appreciate the depth and intricacies that contribute to a unique and engaging environment. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals, a compelling soundtrack, and player-driven dynamics enhances the game's atmospheric appeal.

    • “The graphics are excellent, having recently had the starter regions graphics upgraded as part of a game-wide overhaul, and the audio and music are both atmospheric and immersive, even though in space 'no one can hear you scream' ;)”
    • “The game is so huge in depth that it takes a long time to understand in its entirety, but is not as hard as you might think at first impression, and most of the fun is in its ever-changing atmosphere since it's the players that act most of that change.”
    • “Graphics and music: the graphics and overall atmosphere in this game are amazing and will stay that way. CCP continues to update this game visually over the years, so that every time you log in and undock into space, you just stare with amazement at the beautiful wonder of space, and on top of it all, the musical score is wonderful and beautifully written.”
    • “Eve Online has a toxic community, a horrid atmosphere, and a go-nowhere grind; even past all of that, it's dated.”
    • “They try to pretend there is an open atmosphere, but the reality is that if you don't adapt to boomer speech and mentality, you aren't welcome and feel like an outsider.”
    • “The atmosphere of space is very well done, but this is not an MMO space simulator; it's an MMORPG.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    Players express a wide range of emotional responses to the game, from feelings of rejuvenation and personal connection to their characters, to heartbreak over losses and frustrations with the community. While some find the emotional investment rewarding and transformative, others describe the experience as dull and emotionally draining, highlighting a divide in player sentiment. Overall, the game elicits strong emotional reactions, both positive and negative, making it a deeply engaging yet potentially painful experience.

    • “Last I logged in, there was this cool captain area that you could walk around in that made me feel like my character was real versus just a photo on my profile.”
    • “Upgrading the ships and your perks feels very personal, so when you battle and lose it, it's heartbreaking.”
    • “So yeah, Eve ain't for the faint of heart, but it is worth every heartbreaking second.”
  • optimization11 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews. While the recent visual revamps are praised for their stunning quality, players report that performance issues persist, particularly during large fleet battles, necessitating lower settings for smoother gameplay. Despite being playable on lower-end systems, many users feel that the game remains unoptimized after nearly two decades, with some aspects of performance lagging behind modern standards.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, it's well optimized that even a relatively low-end computer can play it, the ships are very uniquely designed and sleek, the weapon effects look very futuristic as it should, and the in-game economy is well designed.”
    • “There is a little to offer everyone and with the promise of more content and optimizations for the game franchise, it will continue to grow over time.”
    • “It's not only a modern marvel in terms of server hardware and performance, having 20k-60k and above players online at a time, on one server, but it's also beautiful to behold, hard to master, time-consuming, requires intelligence, strategy, and in the low or no security areas, requires teamwork and tactics.”
    • “There also needs to be improvement to single-thread performance in order for the large fleet battles to be more enjoyable.”
    • “My in-game performance is exactly the same today as it was 12 years ago.”
    • “It has far too much downtime waiting for things to happen and the game itself is unoptimized despite being almost 2 decades old now.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is described as passive and slow-paced, with a focus on resource management rather than dynamic growth. While the character design offers a wide variety of choices, the overall experience may feel tedious to some players. However, those who appreciate long-term progression and meaningful interactions may find depth and enjoyment in the character development system.

    • “Character development, combat preparation, and industrial endeavors all have the feel of managing your resources.”
    • “This unique approach means that a player's skills continue to advance, providing a sense of persistence and depth to character development.”
    • “Many of the activities you can do in the game might be seen as 'boring,' but if you find enjoyment through long-term character development and making meaningful connections with real people, then you will discover why this game can be so interesting.”
    • “Character development is passive.”
    • “Character development and your progression as a player is relatively slow-paced.”
    • “A wide variety of choices in the character design window, but other than that, the game is just a bit boring.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, video freezing, and startup glitches, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these problems, some players believe the game has potential worth persevering through the technical difficulties.

    • “No troubleshooting steps found on Google solved the issue.”
    • “The audio works but the video freezes.”
    • “The game gets so buggy at times.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers moderate replayability, suggesting that while there are some elements that encourage players to return, it may not provide enough variety or incentives for extensive repeated playthroughs.

    • “The game has moderate replay value.”
    • “Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
    • “The lack of varied endings makes replaying feel redundant.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy EVE Online

Play time

97hMedian play time
590hAverage play time
10-1000hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 45 analyzed playthroughs

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