Everspace

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,564 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Everspace Game Cover
You know, I’ve yearned for another arcade-style space shooter ever since growing tired of playing Project Sylpheed on the Xbox 360.
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"EVERSPACE is a single-player Sci-Fi shooter with roguelike elements, a captivating plot, and stunning graphics. Engage in intense space combat, collect and mine resources, and encounter unique characters in a procedurally generated universe. Despite being grindy, its unique atmosphere and replayability make for a wholesome story and countless hours of hilarious fun."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Gog Com
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,564 reviews
story674 positive mentions
grinding378 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and stunning visuals that create an immersive experience.
  • Engaging and fast-paced combat that keeps players on their toes.
  • Satisfying progression system that allows players to upgrade their ships and pilot skills after each run.
  • Repetitive gameplay loop that can become tedious after multiple runs.
  • Difficulty spikes can feel unfair, especially for new players.
  • Limited ship variety and lack of depth in the story and character interactions.
  • story2,573 mentions

    The story in Everspace is generally viewed as simplistic and not particularly engaging, often serving as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate the integration of the roguelike mechanics into the narrative, many find the plot underdeveloped and repetitive, with a lack of depth in character development and story arcs. The addition of the Encounters DLC is noted to enhance the narrative experience, providing more missions and character interactions, but overall, the story is seen as a minor aspect of the game, primarily appealing to those who prioritize gameplay over narrative depth.

    • “I love the story and how it was told throughout the game, and I loved the repeated runs with new perks/strength that let you push just that little bit further each time.”
    • “The story is interesting, but not very long, and so there really isn't much to chase regarding run-to-run content.”
    • “The story is well tied up with the rogue-like elements of the gameplay (launch, fight, die, repeat) and adds elements that extend the endgame and introduce new objectives and elements to the run.”
    • “There's no exciting story.”
    • “I would argue that story-content wise this game is heavily lacking with just the base content.”
    • “The story is almost nonexistent, which is a bummer because I have played Freelancer over and over because of its nice story.”
  • gameplay2,126 mentions

    The gameplay of Everspace is characterized by its fast-paced, arcade-style space combat combined with roguelike mechanics, where players must navigate through procedurally generated sectors, engage in dogfights, and manage upgrades after each run. While many players appreciate the addictive nature of the gameplay loop and the variety of ships and weapons, some criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth, particularly in terms of story and mechanics. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning experience with solid controls, but opinions vary on its long-term engagement and depth.

    • “Everspace is faster than light realized in full 3D, with engaging dogfighting mechanics and flexibility that allows a variety of playstyles.”
    • “The gameplay in Everspace is centered around space combat, and it excels in delivering an intense and rewarding experience.”
    • “Super addictive gameplay loop, fun and unique controls, incredible combat, rewarding exploration, entertaining story, upgrade system is very fulfilling and has a noticeable impact on gameplay and getting good at the game feels incredibly satisfying.”
    • “The gameplay is boring.”
    • “The gameplay is very boring and repetitive.”
    • “It's just the gameplay is so terrible that you get weary of getting nowhere fast very quick.”
  • graphics2,021 mentions

    The graphics in Everspace are widely praised for their stunning quality and immersive design, often described as breathtaking and visually impressive, particularly in the context of space environments. Many players highlight the game's ability to create a sense of scale and beauty, with detailed textures and vibrant colors that enhance the overall experience. However, some reviews note that while the graphics are excellent, the gameplay can become repetitive, and there are occasional performance issues, especially in VR settings.

    • “The graphics in this game can be absolutely beautiful at times, and they have favored content over realism in the space environments.”
    • “The sense of scale as you navigate through the vastness of space is truly awe-inspiring, and the game's graphical fidelity contributes significantly to its immersive quality.”
    • “Everspace is a spacefaring roguelike that takes players on an exhilarating journey through the cosmos, combining fast-paced combat, stunning visuals, and roguelike elements to create a unique and compelling gaming experience.”
    • “Underwhelming graphics, crappy storyline.”
    • “The graphics are really bad, even on epic settings and take away a lot from the appeal of this game.”
    • “Garbage graphics, glitchy as hell, not fun.”
  • grinding390 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players, with many noting it can be excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring players to repeatedly complete the same missions for minimal upgrades. While some appreciate the grind as a necessary part of the roguelike experience that adds depth and progression, others find it frustrating and feel it detracts from overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of stagnation. Ultimately, the game's appeal may hinge on individual tolerance for grinding, as it is a core element of the gameplay loop.

    • “Achievements are reasonable and not too grindy.”
    • “The crafting system isn't tedious, yet also very rewarding.”
    • “Not too grindy, just the right amount of getting items and upgrades, and each new run is a new adventure.”
    • “This game is one of the best space shooters I have played yet, but good lord, it is so grindy!!!”
    • “The levels are not procedural, so after a few playthroughs, it starts to feel very grindy and tedious.”
    • “The game is just about shooting down enemy fighters and grinding money, dying, and using the money to upgrade the ship, repeat for hours until you get bored.”
  • music387 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during exploration and combat. However, some find the soundtrack repetitive or lacking in variety, suggesting it can become dull over time. Overall, while the music is generally considered decent and fitting for the game's setting, it does not stand out as exceptional, leading some players to prefer using their own playlists.

    • “The story is intriguing, the environments and effects are great, and the sound design and music composition is amazing.”
    • “Places you visit look gorgeous, sometimes I just hang in the middle of nowhere, absorbing the cosmic beauty with the great soundtrack accompanying me in my melancholy.”
    • “The visuals are awe-inspiring and the soundtrack is perfect for setting the mood of smuggling in space.”
    • “I don't like the music, it's repetitive and triggers to things it shouldn't. I had the same fight song trigger on the last fight of the run as previously and after that on a single turret engage.”
    • “Music is surprisingly lackluster - games like this should have great music!”
    • “The music for me personally is the lowest point of the game.”
  • replayability315 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, particularly due to its roguelike mechanics and procedural generation, which keep each playthrough fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the variety of ships and upgrades, although some note that replay value diminishes after completing the main story. Overall, it offers a fun and immersive experience with significant replay potential, especially for fans of space combat and exploration.

    • “The rogue-like aspect gives it almost infinite replayability in small chunks.”
    • “Its replayability and challenging gameplay make it a standout title in the space genre.”
    • “Incredible replay value with seamless, randomly generated areas and encounters.”
    • “Once you've finished the storylines, replayability drops off even harder.”
    • “All in all, the game is good fun for its runtime, but doesn't have much in the way of replay value past it (I did not play the expansion content, and feel no real desire to get the expansion).”
    • “The lack of variety with the range of weapons and ships to reward obsessive replayability, and the frequent sense when completing all the tasks in a sector that the game is just a lot more empty than it ought to be for its price, does sadly detract from the experience.”
  • optimization228 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and beautiful graphics across a range of hardware, including lower-end systems. However, there are notable issues with VR performance, where users experience significant stuttering and low frame rates, indicating that VR support needs further refinement. While most players enjoy a stable experience, some have encountered specific performance drops during intense scenarios or when using certain settings, suggesting that optimization could still be improved in certain areas.

    • “First of all, it's well optimized!”
    • “Rarely do you find a small studio game that manages to look this gorgeous and still be so well optimized.”
    • “The game runs smoothly, even on a lower mid-end rig, thanks to Unreal Engine optimization.”
    • “The performance makes the game unplayable, there's smearing every time you turn and it is constantly hitting low fps.”
    • “Biggest issue: it seems like it tries to render everything on your monitor as well as your HMD, leading to huge performance issues (even at the lowest graphic settings).”
    • “Unfortunately it has some performance and usability issues in that mode which make it not enjoyable to play in VR mode.”
  • atmosphere136 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics, immersive sound design, and engaging music, which collectively create a captivating experience. While some players note that the environments can become repetitive and the immersion may not reach AAA levels, the overall aesthetic and atmospheric elements are considered top-notch, enhancing both exploration and combat. The game successfully evokes a range of feelings, from relaxation to tension, making it a visually impressive and enjoyable space shooter.

    • “It has a beautiful atmosphere thanks to excellent graphics and sounds, and the gameplay is very solid.”
    • “The music and atmosphere are incredible and the amount of customization is deep and fun.”
    • “The graphics are stunning and the soundtrack is atmospheric.”
    • “The immersion is not there at the moment and the atmosphere is in the 'casual shooter' category, definitely not AAA grade.”
    • “It controls like something that doesn't belong in an atmosphere, but looks like something that does.”
    • “But some things you uncover can emit an eerie atmosphere.”
  • stability112 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of bugs and crashes, while others have encountered frequent freezes, crashes, and glitches, particularly in VR. Many users noted that the game runs well on older hardware, but issues with the interface and control responsiveness persist. Overall, while some players enjoy a stable gameplay experience, others find the game's stability problematic, especially in certain modes and configurations.

    • “Game runs great, even stable to alt-tab, change controllers, pause and walk away for a while, come back and it's always running correctly.”
    • “Lastly, it is bug free for me and I haven't noticed any drops in frame rates or any annoyances.”
    • “Game runs great and I've had zero issues with bugs or crashing.”
    • “I really want to like this game, but the frequent crashes and buggy interface just can't be overcome.”
    • “The game is good but freezes and crashes a lot.”
    • “Spent half an hour trying to get it to stop crashing at launch via various troubleshooting options they have provided online.”
  • humor80 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the witty dialogue and amusing interactions, particularly with the AI companion. Many reviews mention the game's ability to deliver funny moments through NPC banter, humorous achievements, and lighthearted storytelling, contributing to an overall enjoyable and engaging experience. While some aspects of the humor may feel immature or nonsensical, the comedic elements are generally well-received and enhance the game's replayability.

    • “I swear it was hilarious the first time I was like 'yeah I can take all you on' then a giant cruiser shows up and I just screamed and hit the warp/FTL button and jetted.”
    • “The lore is not as strong as in the X series, but the AI that accompanies you and guides you throughout the various worlds tells you all you need to know in a hilarious manner.”
    • “It starts off all cheery and fun with the protagonist and the ship's AI mocking each other and submitting somewhat funny one-liners regarding the situations you randomly find yourself in.”
  • emotional26 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as lacking depth, with attempts at character attachment feeling shallow and delayed until the end. While some players find the experience fun and exciting, they also note moments of heartbreak and frustration, particularly related to the game's difficulty and the emotional weight of repeated failures. Overall, the game offers interesting narratives but does not foster significant emotional investment.

    • “Fun, exciting, and heartbreaking in its unforgiving nature.”
    • “I just want to cry and admire the beauty of this game.”
    • “This game is hard, heartbreaking, and slightly grindy.”
  • monetization14 mentions

    The game's monetization model is free of microtransactions, which is a positive aspect; however, players express frustration over misleading advertising regarding VR support and the rarity of blueprints, which feels like a grind designed to encourage spending. While perks can be earned through gameplay, the overall experience is marred by a lack of transparency in marketing.

    • “A great dogfighter with a light story, a quirky humorous AI in your head, four ship classes to choose from, no microtransactions, and a feeling of relative freedom as you plod along from sector to sector shooting things.”
    • “Perks only require a few tens of hours to grind to get most of them, but blueprints are so rare that they almost feel like evil-game-microtransaction bait (this game does not have microtransactions, though).”
    • “Perks 'only' require a few tens of hours to grind to get most of them, but blueprints are so rare that they almost feel like evil-game-microtransaction bait (this game does not have microtransactions, though).”
    • “This game lies to you right from the start - even the advertising misrepresents the game.”
    • “They need some truth in advertising.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in this game is minimal, serving primarily to support the gameplay loop rather than offering a deep narrative experience. While fans of RPGs may find it lacking, it fulfills its purpose adequately within the context of a one-shot format.

    • “It's not big on story or character development, but it's there to hold the game loop together and gets the job done.”
    • “As a fan of RPG games and character development, I wasn't sure that I'd like the one-shot kind of experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

Buy Everspace

Play time

20hMedian play time
436hAverage play time
6-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 96 analyzed playthroughs

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