Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil!

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Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! is a single player real-time strategy game with warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by SvenRahn Games and was released on June 16, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Grimstar is a real-time strategy game with a story-based single-player campaign. Your brother's sudden death has hit you hard, but the laws of the corporation for which he laid down his life dictate that you must take his place until his contract is fulfilled...

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Play Modes

Single-Player

Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! screenshot

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Grimstar offers a refreshing blend of old-school RTS mechanics with modern storytelling elements, making it engaging for both newcomers and veterans.
The visuals are clean and colorful, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
The game features smooth controls and a sense of progression through hero units, which adds depth and keeps players invested.

The writing and story development are not very strong, lacking the depth and polish found in higher-budget titles.
There are limited graphical options, which may disappoint players looking for customization in visual settings.
Some players found the gameplay awkward and the user interface to be subpar, detracting from the overall experience.

graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The graphics are generally praised for their clean, colorful, and high-quality design, contributing to an engaging atmosphere without overwhelming the player. While some users note limitations in graphical options and imperfections in writing, the visuals effectively enhance the gameplay experience, particularly in creating tension and immersion. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, especially given the game's price and genre context.
- “The visuals are clean and colorful without being overly busy, and the gameplay is easy to pick up, perfect for newcomers but with enough challenge to keep things interesting.”
- “The graphics are simple but nonetheless high-quality, and I like the colorful cartoonish-like touch and that the screen isn't fully scattered with foliage and stuff.”
- “The visuals and soundtrack do a fantastic job of building this eerie, oppressive atmosphere — it feels like the planet itself is watching you.”
- “The graphics are simple but nonetheless high-quality, and I like the colorful, cartoonish touch. However, the screen isn't fully scattered with foliage and other distractions.”
- “It does have its quirks - the writing is not AAA level, and there are very few options to adjust graphical fidelity. This is disappointing, especially for players who value visual customization.”
- “The visuals are clean and colorful without being overly busy, but they lack the depth and detail that would elevate the overall experience.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The gameplay is accessible and engaging, making it suitable for newcomers while still offering enough challenge to retain interest. Players appreciate the progression of hero units and the variety provided by different planets, although some find the mechanics can feel awkward at times. Overall, it strikes a balance between strategic depth and straightforward mechanics, complemented by a fitting narrative.
- “The visuals are clean and colorful without being overly busy, and the gameplay is easy to pick up, perfect for newcomers but with enough challenge to keep things interesting.”
- “The hero units that carry over and grow stronger after each mission are a great touch, and the different planets keep the gameplay varied.”
- “The gameplay feels awkward.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are quite easy to understand even for beginners of the genre - though it does get challenging at some points.”
- “The story is quite fitting for an RTS: enough to get engaged and answer the 'why am I doing this?' questions, not too much to get in the way of the actual gameplay.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The game's story is praised for its balance of context and progression, featuring voiced missions and a personal story arc that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some players feel that the story development is insufficient and progresses too slowly, detracting from the overall engagement. The inclusion of persistent hero units and diverse missions adds depth and variety to the narrative.
- “The game blends old-school real-time strategy with modern ideas — voiced missions, a personal story arc, and a sense of progression through leveling and unlocks.”
- “It takes the formula and puts a nice little spin on it, with a voiced campaign, a story, diverse missions, and nice visuals.”
- “Controls are smooth, the story gives just enough context without dragging things down, and the persistent hero units add a nice sense of progression.”
- “The story development is too little, too slow and doesn't mix well with the game.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in Grimstar is characterized by an eerie and oppressive feeling, enhanced by striking visuals and a haunting soundtrack that create a sense of dread, as if the planet itself is aware of the player's actions. This unique blend transforms the game from a classic RTS into a more immersive and unsettling experience.
- “Grimstar starts off like a classic RTS, but there’s this constant sense of dread in the atmosphere — like the planet knows you’re mining it.”
- “The visuals and soundtrack do a fantastic job of building this eerie, oppressive atmosphere — it feels like the planet itself is watching you.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music effectively enhances the game's eerie and oppressive atmosphere, creating a sense of tension and unease that complements the visuals. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack contributes to the feeling of being watched and the overall vibe of exploitation throughout the experience.
- “The visuals and soundtrack do a fantastic job of building this eerie, oppressive atmosphere — it feels like the planet itself is watching you.”
- “The tension builds slowly, and the music and visuals really sell the vibe of exploitation and unease.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! is a real-time strategy game with warfare and science fiction themes.

Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! is available on PC and Windows.

Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! was released on June 16, 2025.

Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! was developed by SvenRahn Games.

Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its gameplay.

Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! is a single player game.

Similar games include 9-Bit Armies: A Bit Too Far, Tempest Rising, Starship Troopers: Terran Command, Cataclismo, Re-Legion and others.

Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil!

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