Give Me Basic [Early Pack] Game Cover

"Give Me Basic " is a budget-friendly game that offers a sandbox experience similar to "Astroneer." Players can explore, gather resources, and build structures in a procedurally generated world, but may find that the game lacks some of the realism and polish of its inspiration. The game's Early Pack edition includes access to early updates and additional content. Follow the installation instructions provided in the game's YouTube video to get started.

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 94,936 reviews
gameplay2,702 positive mentions
stability3,102 negative mentions
  • gameplay6,974 mentions

    The gameplay of Astroneer is characterized by its engaging exploration, base-building, and resource management mechanics, which many players find relaxing and enjoyable. However, some users note that the gameplay can become repetitive after a few hours, with limited content and a lack of clear objectives, leading to a grindy experience. While the game features charming visuals and intuitive controls, it also suffers from bugs and clunky mechanics, particularly in vehicle handling and inventory management, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Very fun, highly recommend if you enjoy the mechanics of Factorio with a simplicity and aesthetic of little toys.”
    • “It's a great, relaxing space sandbox game with easy-to-pick-up mechanics that also allow for a lot of creative freedom in base building and terraforming planets.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging and the graphics are breathtaking, making it a truly immersive and satisfying experience.”
    • “Most of the late game recipes and mechanics are pointless since they aren't needed in any way to finish the game, and spending the time to gather the materials to make them doesn't pay off and just adds to the frustration.”
    • “The gameplay loop is boring: find materials to craft oxygen poles to gather more materials to craft more objects.”
    • “The gameplay loop is terribly repetitive and grindy, with your only apparent 'reward' being more planets to explore, which are mostly just new colors with new resources to harvest.”
  • graphics6,602 mentions

    The graphics of *Astroneer* are widely praised for their charming, low-poly art style and vibrant color palette, creating a visually appealing and immersive experience. Many players appreciate the game's unique aesthetic, which combines a whimsical atmosphere with engaging gameplay mechanics, although some have noted performance issues and a lack of detailed graphics settings. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's relaxing and enjoyable exploration and crafting experience.

    • “The presentation is beautiful, both the visuals and audio - I love the sound design of the industrial machines, the soothing music, and the exodynamics aesthetic.”
    • “The game features a beautifully vibrant and colorful low-poly aesthetic that perfectly complements its whimsical and otherworldly setting.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, with a vibrant and colorful art style that truly brings the planets to life, immersing players in a universe filled with wonder and discovery.”
    • “God awful graphics and just boring as can be.”
    • “The graphics may well be simple, and that's okay, but a game has to justify that by having some substance elsewhere.”
    • “The graphics suck and are a complete eyesore... so I cannot tell you anything about the game except I literally got sick from the horrible pink sheets of something that call themselves graphics the first minute into the game and had to refund.”
  • story3,930 mentions

    The story aspect of "Astroneer" has received mixed reviews from players. While some appreciate the light narrative and the sense of exploration it offers, many feel that the game lacks a substantial storyline or clear objectives, often describing it as a sandbox experience with minimal direction. The introduction of missions has been seen as a positive step for guiding players, but some argue that it detracts from the open-ended exploration that initially defined the game. Overall, players enjoy the gameplay mechanics and visuals, but many express a desire for a more engaging and cohesive story.

    • “Honestly if you want a game to play with a loved one or, just like a good story then I recommend this game.”
    • “The game is light on the storytelling elements, but with enough lore to give some context behind the world and some mystery to uncover.”
    • “The missions help you learn and give you some guidance if you get bored or stuck.”
    • “For god knows what reason, however, they decided to remove it from the game and replace it with quests that tell you what to do but not how, and text.”
    • “I will say since there isn't really a story the ending was just kind of meh, like when I finally beat it was just kinda like me shrugging my shoulders and saying well that happened.”
    • “The missions are fairly pointless, and nothing more than a checkbox, even the rewards are boring.”
  • stability3,242 mentions

    The stability of Astroneer has been a significant point of contention among players, with many noting that the game is plagued by a variety of bugs and glitches. While some players find the glitches amusing and part of the game's charm, others report serious issues such as freezing, crashes, and game-breaking bugs, particularly in multiplayer mode. Overall, while the game shows promise and has improved over time, it remains unstable and can be frustrating for players, especially those expecting a polished experience.

    • “This game is exceptional and mostly bug free.”
    • “10/10 game, runs great on my Steam Deck and looks amazing on it too.”
    • “Has amazing graphics and runs great on most computers.”
    • “Game has glitches like random sudden death in co-op as well as anything with wheels just desyncing into the ground, granted itll take you about 5-10min to dig it up but these bugs have gone unaddressed for 7 years and can be really tilting.”
    • “From vehicles being sucked down beneath the ground to planet cores not unlocking, a game this mature should not still be this buggy :( granted, it doesn't happen all the time, but it still happens enough to be a real hazard.”
    • “The game is fun, but isn't very replayable and plagued with potentially game-breaking glitches.”
  • music2,250 mentions

    The music in "Astroneer" is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, enhancing the game's serene exploration experience. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to create a relaxing atmosphere, often describing it as soothing and fitting for the game's vibrant visuals. While some find the music repetitive over extended play sessions, many consider it a standout feature that significantly contributes to the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The soundtrack complements the serene yet adventurous atmosphere, creating an immersive backdrop for your cosmic escapades.”
    • “The music, sound effects, and geometry are all very bubbly, and every destination has with a meaningful difference has its own visual style to distinguish it.”
    • “The music is relaxing, the visual design is amazing, the game is?”
    • “The soundtrack is basically just ambiance, not really music.”
    • “The only hated things about this game is the repetitive music and the developers focusing more on decorations with a paywall rather than actual content, though both can be ignored to still love this game.”
    • “Controls are bad, music is non existent?”
  • grinding1,836 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it can be enjoyable and rewarding, it often becomes tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game. Some players appreciate the grind as a core part of the experience, particularly when playing with friends, while others find it overwhelming and frustrating, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game is described as fun and engaging, but the grinding can detract from the overall enjoyment, particularly for solo players.

    • “This game is like if No Man's Sky was actually good, not grindy, and incredibly cute.”
    • “Fantastic chill exploration game, progression is cool and exciting, not too grindy since it takes small amounts of new resources to create new tools; environments and general aesthetic are awesome, co-op is fun.”
    • “In the early game to the end game, it is very entertaining and not too grindy, but trying to get all the achievements can take up a lot more playtime.”
    • “Ultimately, I found this game very frustrating - exploration is dull, resource gathering and crafting is tedious, building is limited and the automation is half-baked.”
    • “There is so much grinding for so little that playing this started to feel like a day job.”
    • “The gameplay loop is terribly repetitive and grindy, with your only apparent 'reward' being more planets to explore, which are mostly just new colors with new resources to harvest.”
  • optimization1,606 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some commend the improvements made over time, particularly in single-player mode, many report significant performance issues, especially in multiplayer and late-game scenarios, where frame rates can drop drastically. Overall, players express a desire for further optimization to enhance gameplay, particularly for those using lower-end systems.

    • “While I encountered bugs sometimes, I'm amazed how technically well this game is made: procedural generation, convenient landscaping, seamless planet exploration and interplanetary travel, a huge amount of objects that don't impact performance and remain where you left them, oxygen/power/rail networks that can span to the planet core, vehicles movement, etc.”
    • “I've been playing this game since it came out and the amount of optimization made the game so much more enjoyable.”
    • “The game is well-optimized, has appealing visuals, and piles of things to do.”
    • “The only downside I would say is as you edit the world, your save slowly becomes more performance intense.”
    • “It is fine, but the optimization in late game is a thing; 3070ti and Ryzen 7 3700x 16GB RAM; 25fps in late game, optimization not too good, but is a very good game to be honest.”
    • “The game overall is very amazing but it is not optimized at all.”
  • atmosphere1,026 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Astroneer" is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful graphics and a serene soundtrack. Players appreciate the unique environments of each planet, which contribute to a whimsical and inviting exploration experience, making it feel both therapeutic and engaging. Despite some technical issues, the game's vibrant art style and atmospheric sound design create a captivating backdrop for creativity and adventure in a relaxing space setting.

    • “Even when I'm just AFK for a while to wait for a certain resource to fill up a container, the atmosphere alone was calming and inviting to just take it all in, giving a sense of a breath of fresh air~ no regrets going on a long 12-hour streamathon on this game alone.”
    • “The ever-changing skies and atmospheric lighting further enhance the immersive experience, making every moment in the game feel like a visual treat.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the serene yet adventurous atmosphere, creating an immersive backdrop for your cosmic escapades.”
    • “Very simple game, very cliché concept, very barren atmosphere, lacking content.”
    • “But after 110 hours of playing off and on for 2 years it does get kind of boring...simply because there are no mobs or enemies really besides flora and the atmosphere of some planets.”
    • “The game has no bosses, no levels, and a bare bones plot, but the atmosphere of the game is immaculate.”
  • humor900 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting its comedic moments and funny glitches, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews mention the amusing interactions, such as vehicles behaving unpredictably and characters getting into absurd situations, which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Overall, the game's charm lies in its ability to create laughter through both intentional humor and the quirks of its mechanics.

    • “Congratulations System Era for creating a wonderfully funny, creative and logistically solid game.”
    • “Whether you're accidentally launching your buddy into orbit or suffocating because you forgot to bring oxygen, you'll be laughing so hard you'll wonder if you've been hit by a laughing gas meteorite.”
    • “There's nothing like laughing together as you accidentally launch each other into orbit or get tangled in a mess of tethers.”
    • “So bad, it's actually funny.”
    • “Finally, the inventory system is definitely creative but not funny once your sandbox hoarding habit kicks in, and you realize that it's in vain since there is not much to work towards.”
    • “In need of someone saying 'this review is not funny.'”
  • monetization628 mentions

    The monetization strategy in Astroneer has drawn significant criticism, primarily due to the introduction of cosmetic microtransactions that many players view as unnecessary and predatory, especially in a paid game. While some users acknowledge that these purchases do not affect gameplay, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment, with many feeling that the focus on monetization detracts from the game's development and experience. The presence of a premium currency system and high prices for cosmetic items has further fueled concerns about the game's direction and the developers' priorities.

    • “There are in-game purchases offered, but those are only cosmetic.”
    • “Yes, there are microtransactions, but they are not to affect any of the gameplay itself, they are just for cosmetics, if you want to look different than your friends when playing together, go for it, but it has no effect on the gameplay.”
    • “The developers have continued to work on the game and to freely provide new content since the release, and have opted for voluntary in-game purchases of entirely cosmetic choices for the player character, which is fair enough.”
    • “The audacity to add microtransactions at all to this pile of rubbish shows where the priorities of the developers at System Era Softworks lie.”
    • “The majority of content they add now is seasonal/limited-time, and the introduction of microtransactions was a dark day, to be sure.”
    • “Microtransactions were slapped on to make some extra dough, which I'm never a fan of, but at least cosmetics are the only things paywalled.”
  • replayability526 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it offers a wealth of content and enjoyable multiplayer experiences, it can become repetitive after the initial playthrough. Some players appreciate the potential for endless exploration and creativity, especially with friends, while others criticize the lack of meaningful progression and the grindy nature of gameplay, leading to limited replay value. Overall, the game's replayability is enhanced by regular updates and community engagement, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more structured or goal-oriented experience.

    • “Tons of replayability, the amount you can do after finishing the main missions feels endless.”
    • “This game is an amazing experience with endless replayability; absolutely would recommend.”
    • “The devs have put so much work into this game, and I am very impressed with its replayability.”
    • “The big problem with it is that even when no two save files are the same, the replayability is practically zero, because you do all the same things in mostly the same order.”
    • “But after you beat the game there is nothing to do, no replay value.”
    • “This game has no replay value at all.”
  • emotional220 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players expressing that it evokes genuine feelings, including tears, through its beautiful storytelling and wholesome gameplay. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a heartfelt experience, often describing it as a relaxing and immersive journey that resonates deeply, making it a memorable adventure. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully delivers an emotional and enjoyable experience.

    • “It's a 10/10 from me, a game that resonates on an emotional level and even brings tears to my eyes.”
    • “To the devs: I must confess, it is truly rare for a game to extract tears of genuine emotion from me. I commend the skillful construction of this game's story and all of its cute and adorable assets. I pray blessings upon you for making something that has kept me immersed and has truly made me feel something I have not felt in a long time.”
    • “I highly recommend this game to anyone who wants to have a meaningful and emotional experience with someone they love.”
  • character development20 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its whimsical and colorful character designs, which are visually appealing and fun. However, many users feel that the game lacks depth in storytelling and AI interactions, leading to a sense of emptiness in character progression and overall narrative contribution. While the art style and character aesthetics are praised, there is a desire for more substantial character development and engagement within the game world.

    • “The character design is adorable, the controls are fairly intuitive, the landscapes are awesome, and there's a decent amount to do given the fact that the game is not complete.”
    • “Colorful, a vibrant palette, great functional character design - although a little clunky; curious objects, etc. the landscape and horizon create a beautiful combination and did not grow boring at any time.”
    • “Yes, the surface of planets can feel empty. Although this isn't a game based on combating enemies, there could have been more AI for character development and more of an actual story, given that there isn't really anything you're contributing to at large.”
    • “The style is unlike any other space game with its bright colors, squishy character designs, and happy music as you suffocate or get crushed by debris in a sandstorm.”
    • “Colorful, a vibrant palette, great functional character design - although a little clunky; curious objects, etc. The landscape and horizon create a beautiful combination and did not grow boring at any time.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Give Me Basic [Early Pack]

Play time

20hMedian play time
537hAverage play time
8-80hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 836 analyzed playthroughs

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