Genesis Alpha One

Genesis Alpha One is an extremely rare beast. A confident marriage of FPS, space sim, roguelike and strategy elements, it is quite simply the first essential indie title of 2019.

68%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, grinding

64% User Score Based on 1,473 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 20 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $2.73

Buy NowGet on Steam $19.99 Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store Buy NowGet on Epic Games Store

About

Genesis Alpha One is a single player survival role playing shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Radiation Blue and was released on January 29, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Genesis Alpha One is a first-person shooter and base-building game set in space. Players must build and upgrade their spaceship, recruit crew members, and fight off alien threats while searching for a new home for humanity. The game also includes survival and roguelike elements, with procedurally generated levels and permadeath.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+10

Skip User Reviews

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,473 reviews

gameplay105 positive mentions

story20 negative mentions

Unique blend of space exploration, ship building, and survival mechanics that creates an engaging gameplay loop.
Atmospheric design reminiscent of classic sci-fi films, enhancing the overall experience.
The ability to clone crew members and mix alien DNA adds depth and variety to gameplay.

The AI for crew members and enemies is often unresponsive and can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Infestation mechanics can become tedious, requiring constant micromanagement to prevent alien outbreaks on the ship.
The game lacks multiplayer support, which could have significantly enhanced the experience.

gameplay
410 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
60%
14%
The gameplay in "Genesis Alpha One" is characterized by a repetitive loop of resource gathering, ship building, and managing infestations, which can become tedious over time. While the core mechanics offer an interesting blend of exploration, survival, and base management, many players find the execution lacking, with unrefined shooting mechanics and unclear game systems detracting from the overall experience. Despite its potential and unique concepts, the game suffers from a lack of depth and polish, leading to a mixed reception regarding its long-term engagement.
- “Upgrading your base and weapons is satisfying and adds real depth to the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop is satisfying to me even after all this time and I still occasionally discover something new about it.”
- “Genesis Alpha One combines space exploration, base-building, and survival mechanics in a unique sci-fi setting.”
- “Gameplay is definitely repetitive and tedious; it needs a lot more polish, but there's a diamond trying to peek out here.”
- “The core gameplay loop feels lackluster, where the act of earning resources is sluggish, and after the first 30 minutes of playing, you don’t really do anything new.”
- “The infestation mechanic is a core mechanic of the game, but it does become tedious as time goes on.”
story
213 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
83%
9%
The game's story is often described as minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a sandbox experience than a narrative-driven adventure. While there are elements of a dystopian backdrop and some lore through audio logs, the repetitive missions and lack of character development detract from the overall storytelling experience. Players express a desire for more engaging storylines and mission variety to enhance the game's potential.
- “It's the usual dystopian future story with a twist.”
- “As the captain of a genesis starship, you journey into uncharted space on a mission.”
- “The story concept is good, though.”
- “There is no worthwhile story, and the aesthetic portrayed in the trailers is a complete fabrication.”
- “I cannot believe I got this for so cheap in humble bundle, the gameplay loop is perfect and it's like an FTL kind of deal where you have to travel from sector to sector farming, fighting off an invasion on your ship from contaminates brought back from your missions to the surface etc.”
- “Personally, I would say the lack of story and character is the main thing missing from the game; you don't care about your team, they are all clones and utterly characterless. Adding story/events etc. would give the game more direction and purpose.”
graphics
168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
61%
8%
The graphics of the game evoke a retro-futuristic aesthetic reminiscent of classic sci-fi films from the '70s and '80s, which many players appreciate for its unique charm. However, opinions are divided, with some praising the visuals and atmosphere while others criticize them as outdated or poorly executed, leading to a mixed reception overall. While the art style is often highlighted as a strong point, technical issues such as poor lighting and lack of graphical options detract from the experience for many players.
- “The graphics and sound design really capture the feeling of being lost in space.”
- “Visually, the game has a distinct, retro-futuristic aesthetic that recalls classic sci-fi films from the '70s and '80s.”
- “Everything from the soundtrack to the art style just oozes atmosphere inspired by retro sci-fi and the Alien franchise.”
- “There is no worthwhile story, and the aesthetic portrayed in the trailers is a complete fabrication.”
- “Graphics are so bad you cannot tell your clones from the enemies, so you end up killing your own crew, or hesitate enough for the invaders to kill you.”
- “The graphics look so old and somehow bad, very slimy.”
grinding
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The reviews indicate that the game's grinding mechanics are a significant point of contention, with many players finding the repetitive tasks and resource collection tedious and frustrating. While some appreciate the challenge and potential for enjoyment in the grind, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leading to a sense of monotony and dissatisfaction. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, appealing to some players while alienating others who seek a more dynamic gameplay experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “Some players may find the repetition and procedural nature of the gameplay tedious over time, especially if they’re looking for a strong narrative or scripted set pieces.”
- “The majority of the time spent in this game is grinding 'hold x to blank' tasks like scanning scrap/planets, clearing infestations, fixing nodes, speeding up tractor beam collection and resource refinement, etc. Combat is mediocre but sometimes intense because I don't want my clones to die.”
- “The gameplay itself can get rather repetitive and tedious, since all you do is hang out at various stations and checking out that progress bar until the action is complete.”
atmosphere
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and tense qualities, drawing strong comparisons to classic sci-fi horror films like "Alien" and "Warhammer 40k." Players appreciate the detailed sound design, claustrophobic ship interiors, and the unique challenge of managing different atmospheres for various alien races, which enhances the overall experience. However, some critiques mention a lack of variety in planetary environments and repetitive gameplay that can detract from the initial atmospheric impact.
- “The atmosphere is very immersive and reminiscent of the 1979 movie Alien.”
- “Everything from the soundtrack to the art style just oozes atmosphere inspired by retro sci-fi and the Aliens franchise.”
- “The graphics and audio come together perfectly to create a very spooky and tense atmosphere ripe with jump scare potential.”
- “The music and sound effects create a chilling, anxiety-inducing atmosphere.”
- “A lack of atmosphere and immersion led me to uninstalling it.”
- “The variety of planets we visit all pretty much look the same except for some basic changes such as different atmosphere colors or flora that inhabits the planet, if there is any.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
65%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its retro 80s and 70s sci-fi style that enhances the atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some players find the soundtrack to be a standout feature that adds depth and mood, others criticize it for being repetitive or poorly mixed. Overall, the music is generally seen as enjoyable and fitting for the game's theme, contributing to its immersive qualities.
- “The soundtrack, included in the deluxe edition, complements the gameplay well, adding layers of mood without overwhelming the experience.”
- “Everything from the soundtrack to the art style just oozes atmosphere inspired by retro sci-fi and the Alien franchise.”
- “The music is futuristic with a mix of computerized sounds of a mechanized machine age while on the ship along with eerie planetary effects when on a planetary mission.”
- “The music is also, unfortunately, 'meh'.”
- “Also, the game is pretty dark, the music is oppressing, looping and monotonous.”
- “The soundtrack and intro will show just how weird and unsettling the tone of this game is.”
replayability
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The game offers significant replayability through diverse starting corporations, ship-building mechanics, and procedural elements that encourage experimentation with different strategies. While many players appreciate the depth and variety, some express concerns about repetitive gameplay and a lack of narrative, which may limit long-term engagement. Overall, the potential for multiple playthroughs is high, especially with the inclusion of unique upgrades and challenges, though some players feel it could benefit from additional features like co-op gameplay.
- “Each corporation offers different starting benefits, crew types, and ship modules, which adds replay value and encourages you to try different strategies.”
- “The challenge of the ever-rising difficulty combined with the roguelite elements that improve your next gameplay as you pick up new items while exploring gives this game good replayability.”
- “There are tons of goals to achieve and equipment to obtain, complemented by extensive replay value and impressive growth potential.”
- “The lack of a narrative gives this one a short shelf life for me personally, but the ship-building may give it some replay value for some.”
- “There's a lot of effort made to give the game some replay value, but the gameplay or systems simply aren't deep or varied enough to entice multiple playthroughs.”
- “I don't recommend the game because while it'll be some mindless fun for a few days, it has very little replay value.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted that the game is playable without major crashes, the lack of polish and persistent issues make it feel unfinished and reminiscent of early access titles. Overall, the consensus is that the game suffers from significant stability problems, impacting gameplay and enjoyment.
- “The graphics are great, and it runs smoothly.”
- “It's a buggy, skin-deep mess with poor in-game or out-of-game resources to figure out mechanics.”
- “There are several bugs and glitches early/mid game that are kind of annoying but nothing game breaking; however, once you get later into the game, some extremely obvious and painful bugs appear that make the game almost impossible to play.”
- “Unfortunately, it is actually just a buggy mess.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
30%
50%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, including excessive resource usage and frequent mouse input stuttering that renders it nearly unplayable. Despite its intriguing concepts, the poor optimization detracts significantly from the overall experience, leading to frustration and disappointment among users. Many feel that the game's potential is undermined by these fundamental technical flaws.
- “Luckily your crew is not that incompetent even with their starting weapons, despite their performance cleaning up the ship, and you can bring turrets with you, thus becoming effectively blind is not necessarily a death sentence.”
- “Expect your drone-like crew to die, but you can clone new crew members, even splicing them with alien characteristics to possibly enhance their performance.”
- “Game is okay, but poorly optimized; it maxes out my GeForce RTX 2070 Super just looking at a wall.”
- “Great concept, seems great, but buggy and poorly optimized.”
- “As much as I would love to recommend this game due to its novel take on the ship-building and resource-gathering genres, the constant stuttering of the mouse input-handling makes it absolutely unplayable. This is a real shame because this game has so much potential, which is squandered by a lack of attention to such a basic feature.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its potential and the disappointment of its stagnation since the last update in 2020. While the gameplay offers moments of joy and satisfaction, the lack of updates and improvements leaves many feeling heartbroken about what could have been, creating a mix of nostalgia and frustration. Overall, the emotional experience is characterized by a longing for enhancement and a bittersweet appreciation for the game's current state.
- “Of course this wouldn't be too big a problem if the game had any hope of some kind of update, but seeing as the last update was in September of 2020, I think it's safe to say this game is dead, which is extremely heartbreaking considering the potential this game has.”
- “I came out of that adventure ten wholesome hours later, oddly enjoying myself despite the storm of mixed emotions it came with.”
- “People want to cry just to cry.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by Team17's signature campy style, providing laughs initially but becoming repetitive over time. While the game features amusing elements and potential for deeper engagement, it struggles with clarity in gameplay mechanics, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, players find the humor enjoyable enough to warrant continued play.
- “Then I realized the publisher is Team17, who are recognizable for painting their own campy, humorous takes on popular culture.”
- “It's funny that the actual title is 'Alpha One' because that's the development stage it feels like it's in.”
- “This game is worth buying, and after several hours, you will appreciate it even with all its funny details.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as predatory, with players feeling that it relies heavily on microtransactions and cash payments to progress, creating a sense of exploitation. Many reviewers perceive the game's approach as a cash grab, undermining its potential and failing to deliver on its advertised promises. Overall, the monetization practices have left a negative impression, suggesting a lack of genuine player consideration.
- “If this game had been made last year, it would still be utter garbage, but it would be garbage with an always online requirement and microtransactions would be required to actually survive to the end of a mission, along with a cash payout required to complete it.”
- “Smells like a cash grab after they have finished rinsing the Epic Store player base to me.”
- “Great concept but seems like a cash grab...”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development adds an RPG element to the game, enhancing the overall experience; however, the character design has been criticized as subpar.
- “The depth of character progression keeps me engaged throughout the game.”
- “I love how my choices impact the growth and relationships of the characters.”
- “The character development adds a touch of RPG.”
- “It has bad character design.”