Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander

Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander is a deeply-involved game with a huge number of things to keep players busy.

77%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

83% User Score Based on 1,175 reviews

Critic Score 71%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

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About

Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander is a single player role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Massive Damage, Inc. and was released on September 8, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander" is a strategy game where you reclaim and rebuild a derelict starbase to stop an impending alien invasion. Using gathered resources, you'll build station facilities, research new technologies, establish alliances, and manage diplomatic efforts. Inspired by classic games like Star Control and Master of Orion, Halcyon 6 also features base building and exploration.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+15

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,175 reviews

story93 positive mentions

grinding153 negative mentions

Engaging mix of turn-based combat and resource management, reminiscent of classic RPGs and strategy games.
Charming pixel art and humorous writing that adds personality to the game.
Variety of alien factions and unique abilities for officers create interesting gameplay dynamics.

Repetitive gameplay that can become tedious, especially in the mid to late game.
Resource gathering can feel like a chore, requiring constant micromanagement.
Difficulty spikes and lack of clear guidance can lead to frustrating experiences for players.

story
405 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
74%
3%
The story in the game is generally described as humorous and engaging, featuring a mix of quirky alien interactions and a straightforward sci-fi narrative centered around defending humanity from an alien threat. However, many players feel that the pacing is uneven, with repetitive missions and a lack of depth in character development and side quests, leading to a grindy experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the writing and art style are praised, some reviewers express disappointment in the story's simplicity and the absence of meaningful choices, suggesting that it could benefit from more variety and complexity.
- “The story is compelling, but the game also has a wonderful soundtrack to really get you in the mood.”
- “Great game with a good story and great lore.”
- “The story itself is also fresh and funny, perfectly working with the game's mechanics, which at times can be a bit grindy.”
- “I'm not sure what plot there is beyond the first several hours of gameplay; nothing interesting seems to be happening to me anymore.”
- “The charm and fascination of 'playing Star Trek' quickly wears off as the nonexistent storyline and repetitive gameplay result in a grind that can't be sustained until the game's end.”
- “The story is largely forgettable, based around you being the commander of a base that is pretty much the only real military left for the Terran race.”
gameplay
278 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
66%
8%
The gameplay of Halcyon 6 is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of turn-based combat, resource management, and base building that initially captivates players but quickly becomes repetitive and grind-heavy. While the mechanics are well-designed and offer depth, many players find that the excitement diminishes after a few hours due to a lack of engaging story elements and a tedious gameplay loop. Overall, the game has potential but requires further refinement to enhance the player experience and reduce monotony.
- “The gameplay is great: from turn-based strategy, resource management, base building, to a minimal form of RPG where you name your fleet, ships, and officers - that alone deserves a recommendation.”
- “Great gameplay depth, but still intuitive enough to pick up quickly.”
- “The gameplay combines simple territorial expansion aspects, traditional turn-based battle mechanics, and base management.”
- “The core gameplay—battle—becomes pretty repetitive.”
- “At the beginning it's really engaging, but halfway into the game it becomes too grind-heavy and extremely repetitive.”
- “The charm and fascination of 'playing Star Trek' quickly wears off as the nonexistent storyline and repetitive gameplay result in a grind that can't be sustained until the game's end.”
graphics
202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
54%
1%
The graphics of the game are predominantly in a charming pixel art style, reminiscent of classic 16-bit and retro aesthetics, which many players find appealing and nostalgic. While some reviews note that the pixelated visuals may not be to everyone's taste, they are generally praised for their clarity and the immersive atmosphere they create, complementing the game's humor and storytelling. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some critiques regarding their simplicity and occasional graphical glitches.
- “The pixel graphics are spot on and dazzle.”
- “The graphics are splendidly retro, without feeling outdated, and the soundtrack is exactly what you would expect.”
- “The artwork and music really immerse you into the action.”
- “The visuals, though also 2D like FTL, just looked really rough, cheap, and amateurish. I think it has to do with the pixel resolution of images that they use to compose each scene.”
- “Bland, boring, lifeless, homogenized garbage with no originality wrapped up in a pixel aesthetic.”
- “The graphics suck; they are pixels, but the game works well with the graphics it has. They do a really good job of working with what they got.”
grinding
154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
99%
The reviews indicate that the game suffers from significant grinding issues, particularly in the mid to late stages, where resource gathering and combat become repetitive and tedious. While some players find enjoyment in the initial gameplay and humor, many express frustration with the slow pacing and the need for excessive grinding to progress, leading to a sense of monotony and diminished fun. Overall, the game's potential is overshadowed by its grindy mechanics, which detract from the overall experience.
- “The management aspects aren't tedious, and I'm excited about doing research, developing new ships, hiring new crew, sending out more fleets, and discovering more of this universe.”
- “Grinding in this game feels rewarding, as every effort leads to tangible progress and new discoveries.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics encourage exploration and strategy, making each session feel meaningful.”
- “The game has variable difficulty, but even the normal difficulty is really difficult and incredibly grindy.”
- “Unfortunately, the game falls short of being fun and lands in being super tedious.”
- “The combat system is simple and fun, but the sheer amount of grinding the same actions eventually wore on me.”
music
123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its enjoyable and fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and complements the pixel art style. However, some players noted that certain combat tracks can be repetitive and not as memorable, leading to a desire for more variety. Overall, while the music is generally well-received, it may not stand out enough for some players to seek it out beyond the game itself.
- “The artwork and music really immerse you into the action.”
- “The music is incredible - totally reminds me of Star Wars (although it is definitely its own thing).”
- “Great visuals, entertaining music, and the story so far is terrific.”
- “The only thing I didn't like was the terrible combat music that sounded like it was out of tune.”
- “I had to turn the music off because it was so bad.”
- “There aren't many bugs left at this point, but the music can start to get a little repetitive.”
humor
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
3%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky and light-hearted nature, often drawing on sci-fi references and featuring amusing dialogues with eccentric alien races. Players appreciate the clever writing and comedic elements that provide a refreshing contrast to the game's strategic and resource management mechanics. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay experience, making it enjoyable for fans of both strategy and sci-fi genres.
- “The interactions with the other alien races are humorous and provide some much welcomed relief from the nonstop resource gathering and battles.”
- “The story itself is also fresh and funny, perfectly working with the game's mechanics, which at times can be a bit grindy.”
- “The humor is light and quirky enough that it doesn't detract or overstay its welcome.”
- “The story is not funny or interesting, despite trying very hard to be.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced throughout the game.”
- “I found the jokes to be stale and unoriginal, lacking any real wit.”
replayability
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
43%
9%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the variety offered by multiple difficulty levels, random events, and different playstyles, which contribute to a solid replay value. However, some reviewers feel that the novelty can wear off quickly, leading to a perception of limited long-term replayability. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replaying, opinions vary on how much value this adds after the initial playthrough.
- “I love the infinite replayability and random events that pop up affecting your entire game experience, especially with the crew and officers.”
- “The fairly multilayered gameplay offers hours of replayability.”
- “This is a hardcore, unadulterated, no-holds-barred sci-fi space epic with near infinite replayability potential.”
- “This game was well worth the money I paid for it, although it comes with little replayability value, unlike FTL and similar games.”
- “Main problem I have is that the replayability isn't there.”
- “I am also not sure that this is a game for massive replayability.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
15%
21%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its excellent blend of art style, music, and storytelling, creating an immersive experience reminiscent of sci-fi classics. Reviewers highlight the beautiful pixelated visuals and engaging soundtracks that enhance the overall vibe, making it both aesthetically pleasing and functionally effective. The combination of humor and creativity further enriches the atmosphere, contributing to a captivating gaming experience.
- “The artwork does well in delivering very atmospheric vibes to various areas of the game, serving both aesthetic and functional roles.”
- “Great atmosphere, beautiful 8-bit art, and a very interesting storyline!”
- “The atmosphere of the game feels like Star Trek as written by Douglas Adams, and for me at least, there were a lot of laugh-out-loud moments.”
- “A little on the short side for the price, but between the gameplay, art style, music, atmosphere, and even a bit of decent humor, this rogue-like sci-fi game is a real gem.”
- “+music is top-notch and really adds to the atmosphere”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
92%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs, such as mission alerts not closing and graphical glitches, though these issues are generally described as minor and not game-breaking. Some users noted a commitment from developers to address these bugs through patches, while others experienced a surprisingly smooth playthrough with minimal glitches. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, the game shows potential for improvement.
- “Just finished playing through the near-original version; the new one has more content, but my playthrough was bug-free.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches, making for a seamless experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is; I didn't encounter any issues during my entire playthrough.”
- “On top of everything else, this game is a buggy piece of software.”
- “Prepare for unfair difficulty spikes and glitches where completed quests don't disappear or quests have vague descriptions that send you heading to message boards in the hope of deciphering them.”
- “Also noting some buggy interface parts and two quests that are never marked as done when completed.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Character development in the game is appreciated for its nostalgic RPG elements, featuring well-designed characters and a blend of base building. However, players feel that the lack of engaging content and quests limits long-term enjoyment and progression.
- “I love FTL and always thought how great this game must be with a campaign, character development, stories, quests, planet exploration, ground combat, star bases, research, and development.”
- “Upon reaching that threshold, I came to the conclusion that the game scratched an itch of old-school RPG with light base building and character development.”
- “The character designs are quite well done, and in some cases, outright fantastic.”
- “Upon reaching that threshold, I came to the conclusion that the game scratched an itch of old-school RPG with light base building and character development but lacked anything to keep playing.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly even on older hardware, though some users report issues such as sound stuttering and the absence of a windowed borderless mode. Overall, these minor annoyances do not significantly detract from the enjoyment of the game.
- “Also runs smoothly on my 10-year-old toaster.”
- “Other than these two main problems and a couple of minor annoyances (sound stuttering issue and no windowed borderless mode), I enjoy this game a lot.”

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71%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews

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24h Median play time

24h Average play time

13-30h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

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Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander is a role playing game with science fiction theme.

Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Phone and others.

On average players spend around 24 hours playing Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander.

Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander was released on September 8, 2016.

Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander was developed by Massive Damage, Inc..

Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander is a single player game.

Similar games include Star Renegades, Star Traders: Frontiers, Space Haven, Deep Sky Derelicts, Space Pirates and Zombies and others.

Halcyon 6 Starbase Commander

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