Hardspace: Shipbreaker

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 14,322 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Hardspace: Shipbreaker Game Cover
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"Hardspace: Shipbreaker" is a simulation game where you play as a spaceship salvager, working to pay off a massive debt. With next-gen physics, you can cut and destroy ships at will, navigating hazards such as explosive decompression and radiation. The game offers a compelling campaign, freeplay mode, and competitive challenges.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 14,322 reviews
story1,138 positive mentions
grinding343 negative mentions
  • story4,600 mentions

    The story in "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it either engaging or overly simplistic and preachy. While some appreciate the pro-union themes and character development, others criticize the unskippable dialogue and lack of player agency, feeling that it detracts from the core gameplay of ship dismantling. Overall, the narrative serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, but its execution has left some players frustrated, leading to calls for more interactive storytelling or the option to skip story elements altogether.

    • “There's a narrative-based story that's told almost exclusively through radio transmissions.”
    • “The story seems silly at first, but as it unfolds and upon watching the credits, the care the creators put into this game is evident.”
    • “The story is well thought out and enjoyable.”
    • “The story is weak.”
    • “The story is poorly written, preaching and unfortunately unskippable.”
    • “The story is a horrible bland marxist fan-fic about corporations evil, workers good, with annoying characters, bad dialogue and worst of all no way to skip it and just get back to the puzzle of shipbreaking.”
  • gameplay3,330 mentions

    The gameplay of "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" is widely praised for its unique mechanics and satisfying core loop, where players dismantle spaceships in a zero-gravity environment. Many reviewers highlight the balance between relaxing and challenging gameplay, with a focus on strategic problem-solving and resource management. However, some players express frustration with the repetitive nature of the tasks, limited ship variety, and the intrusive story elements that disrupt the flow of gameplay, suggesting that the game would benefit from more content and improved integration of narrative and mechanics. Overall, while the gameplay is engaging and enjoyable, it may become monotonous over time without additional variety and depth.

    • “A perfect balance of relaxing gameplay and episodes of high concentration packed with a wonderful soundtrack and great style.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic; it's fun and satisfying to find your own routes on how to accomplish this safely and swiftly, cutting slices and ripping out components as you float through space.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is really satisfying, as the game introduces new ship configurations and components to puzzle out how to deal with efficiently and without death.”
    • “The artificial shift time limits and oxygen/fuel management are more irritating than anything to plan around, so if I were to start again, I would do the free play mode to remove those aspects from the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay will get repetitive after about 15 hours, as it is with any simulation game; the game runs out of new ship hulls and new mechanics to throw at you, but it remains very satisfying when you get good at breaking apart a ship.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive, and far too obvious and easy to give any sort of challenge.”
  • music1,459 mentions

    The music in "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" has received widespread acclaim for its unique blend of Americana and space western themes, reminiscent of shows like "Firefly." While many players find the soundtrack relaxing and fitting for the game's atmosphere, some note that it can become repetitive over extended play sessions, leading to a desire for more variety. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the immersive experience, making it a significant aspect of the game's appeal.

    • “If you told me that a game about disassembling ships in space had a chill slide-guitar Americana soundtrack, I would be very confused, but boy, it is good on the ears when you're working.”
    • “The soundtrack is adaptive as well; when you go into a pressurized ship, the music has an eerie feel to it. When things are catching on fire, electronics are arcing, or you're extracting a nuclear reactor, the music becomes tense and your character starts breathing heavy. The sound work in this game, overall, is very well done.”
    • “The music is fantastic, as well. It perfectly captures the atmosphere of the game and enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The music gets very repetitive after a couple of hours, and I wish there was more variety.”
    • “The soundtrack is limited to very few tracks, and it can get annoying listening to the same song over and over again.”
    • “While I enjoyed the game for the zen of tearing ships apart, the soundtrack is decent but lacks variety.”
  • graphics715 mentions

    The graphics in "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and immersive art style, often compared to the aesthetics of the Homeworld series. Players appreciate the detailed ship designs and atmospheric environments, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. However, some users have noted limitations in graphical options and occasional performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems.

    • “The graphics and art direction are gorgeous, from the design and engineering of the ships themselves to the massive imposing structures floating around you in endless space, which make the whole futuristic setting believable and stand out.”
    • “The graphics are polished, the story is great, it really is a chill game, some good relaxation and stress relief tearing apart ships, as long as you process something on each shift you can take your time.”
    • “The graphics and sound design in Hardspace: Shipbreaker are top-notch, with gorgeous visuals and a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack that really immerses you in the game's world.”
    • “The graphics are dated but the game is extremely addictive.”
    • “The graphics options are severely lacking and the game becomes pretty frustrating to play due to the lack of precise control at lower framerates.”
    • “I can't recommend this game in its current state, this might change, but it's just not fun, the fps issues, the inability to change even graphics options or remap keys, it doesn't help the game is very repetitive and already slow on top of it.”
  • atmosphere452 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, combining a rich sound design, captivating visuals, and a unique setting that evokes a sense of both relaxation and tension. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a chilling yet captivating environment, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and the dangers of space work, which contribute to a feeling of existential dread and corporate critique. Despite some frustrations with atmospheric mechanics, the overall ambiance is considered a standout feature that draws players into the experience.

    • “The graphics and sound design in Hardspace: Shipbreaker are top-notch, with gorgeous visuals and a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack that really immerses you in the game's world.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, with a great soundtrack and an interesting setting and story.”
    • “The atmosphere created by the developer is astounding.”
    • “The constant reminders of your insurmountable debt create an oppressive atmosphere that adds a layer of tension to the gameplay.”
    • “The atmosphere is absolutely spot-on as well, with great voice acting to match.”
    • “I genuinely preferred it without NPCs, without story, just with the oppressive atmosphere and the zen turn-up-to-work, do-hard-work, get-next-to-no-pay, do-that-every-day-for-twenty-years-and-you-might-pay-it-off worldbuilding and mood.”
  • grinding354 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the initial gameplay can be engaging and satisfying, it quickly becomes tedious and repetitive due to a lack of ship variety and excessive micromanagement. Players often describe the experience as requiring a significant time investment, likening it to a second job, and some express frustration with the slow progression and unskippable dialogue that interrupts gameplay. Overall, while the game can be enjoyable for those who appreciate grind-heavy simulations, it risks losing its charm as the grind intensifies and the novelty wears off.

    • “This is a grind-heavy game; it's part of the joy of it in a way, but I'm not grinding to lose everything and do the first 3 hours of grind again for the 4th or 5th time anymore.”
    • “Working around the hazards feels compelling but not tedious, and there are many ways to solve every problem.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The problem comes later in the game where instead of interesting puzzles of 'how can I most efficiently take apart this ship' it becomes a tedious exercise of 'peel off these 300 little pieces and throw it in the barge'.”
    • “Very tedious and feels too much like actual work.”
    • “The game just becomes too repetitive and grindy.”
  • optimization289 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback from users, with many reporting significant performance issues, particularly during complex scenes or when interacting with larger ships. While some players have noted improvements and stable performance on high-end systems, others have experienced frequent frame drops, crashes, and a lack of graphical settings to adjust for better performance. Overall, the game is seen as needing further optimization to enhance playability, especially for those on mid-range hardware.

    • “A fun 3D disassembly and time optimization game with a great world setting.”
    • “The physics simulation is top-notch, and I have no idea how it manages to keep track of hundreds of shards of spaceship after an explosion, but it somehow manages it without impacting performance.”
    • “The game is well optimized; I never have performance issues, and the physics work well.”
    • “The game seems to be poorly optimized, so my fans run on full blast while playing.”
    • “The performance is still absolutely terrible, and it looks like there's a memory leak so it will tank further over time ... but it's well worth playing.”
    • “The game has a lot of performance issues, and crashes semi-frequently.”
  • humor254 mentions

    The humor in "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" is characterized by a blend of dark, cynical, and satirical elements, effectively critiquing corporate culture and worker exploitation in a dystopian future. Players appreciate the witty banter, absurd contracts, and the game's ability to find comedy in catastrophic failures, making the experience both engaging and entertaining. While some find the humor occasionally repetitive or lacking depth, the overall consensus is that it adds a unique charm to the gameplay, enhancing the immersive experience.

    • “The way the game portrays the hyper-corporate overlords that control every aspect of your (and every other worker's) life is a pretty believable outcome for the future if not for how humorous and over the top it is.”
    • “It's everywhere, from the witty banter to the hilariously over-the-top contracts that you willingly sign.”
    • “The dark corporate humor is golden, and the game perfectly balances realistic physics with fun mechanics.”
    • “It's just funny (funny weird, not funny haha) that so many complaints are un-self-aware comments about a frustrating system being put on top of a fun thing.”
    • “The story they are putting in is bad because it's just happening around you with no agency; it's not funny, it's not interesting, it's just generic corporate cyberpunk nonsense.”
    • “Stop, just stop, it's not funny; none of your characters will ever matter.”
  • stability245 mentions

    The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and buggy physics that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. While some users noted that the game runs well on their systems with minimal issues, the overall consensus is that it remains unstable, particularly during high-stakes moments, and is not recommended for those seeking a polished experience. Despite its unique gameplay and potential, the persistent technical problems detract from the enjoyment and can result in lost progress.

    • “No glitches, no crashes, no game performance issues at all.”
    • “This game runs great on my system and I don't get any sort of performance issue, even when the game does get busy.”
    • “This is one of the best early access titles I've played in a long time, and it's relatively bug free which is quite rare these days - I appreciate that it feels like it is in a completed state, but the developers are still making regular updates to the game.”
    • “The game is still a buggy mess.”
    • “It's still a bit grindy and buggy due to not having as much content added yet.”
    • “As much as I want to love the game, in its current state it is far too buggy for me to recommend.”
  • replayability121 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting high potential due to various ship configurations and difficulty levels, while others express concerns about limited content and repetitiveness after completing the campaign. Some reviewers highlight the fun and engaging gameplay loop, suggesting that future updates and community content could enhance replay value significantly. Overall, while many find the game enjoyable and worth revisiting, the lack of variety in ships and modes currently limits its long-term replayability.

    • “I will be going back and returning to this for certain as the replayability is certainly there with different difficulties, the changing of ship configurations, and the simple joy of flinging ship parts around and making money doing it.”
    • “The gameplay loop is crazy fun and replayable; the characters are lovable (except for you, Hal) but I'm supposed to hate him.”
    • “The open-ended nature of the game makes replayability quite high, and short of Civ V and Battle Brothers, this is my third favorite replayable game.”
    • “Very good for what's there, however after you beat it there isn't much replay value.”
    • “If this game had a co-op mode I guess the replayability would be there, but since it has not, once you play it through and seen both endings... you have no reason to revisit the game.”
    • “The lack of ship variety does hurt replay value, but hopefully as the game develops, more content is added by both the developers and if a method for community-designed content is added.”
  • emotional78 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, with many players expressing a deep attachment to its characters and story, often finding it heartwarming and impactful. While some critiques highlight the interruptions and predictability of the narrative, others appreciate its exploration of themes like worker rights and corporate greed, leading to moments of genuine emotional resonance, particularly towards the game's conclusion. Overall, the game is seen as a touching journey that can evoke strong feelings, despite some players finding parts of the story tedious or clichéd.

    • “Hardship Space Breaker isn't just a game; it's an emotional journey that left an indelible mark on my gaming experience.”
    • “Everything else is amazing, and when I completed this game's ending, I cried.”
    • “Never expected such an emotional ending to a game about breaking spaceships for parts, but there I was crying.”
    • “But the career mode with its constant interruptions every 15 minutes and the unskippable, predictable, and frankly boring story really hold it back because the career mode is necessary to learn all nuances of shipbreaking.”
    • “More effort was put into the boring story about making unions against the ultra-capitalist company instead of the actual gameplay, which becomes very repetitive.”
    • “Developers abandoned everything fun about the game and decided to focus on a boring story that no one asked for.”
  • monetization23 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, paywalls, and excessive advertising, which they see as a refreshing change in the industry. However, some users criticize the game for feeling like a cash grab, with unskippable ads and a lack of meaningful content, leading to disappointment in the overall experience. While the developers are praised for their intentions, the execution has left some players feeling misled by the promotional material.

    • “It's beautiful, fun, and well made - no microtransactions, no paywalls, no shenanigans - it's precisely what gaming should be.”
    • “No microtransactions, no loot boxes, and no broken always online system.”
    • “No microtransactions as of now!!!!!!”
    • “Devs refuse to touch it further, kind of feel like this was a cash grab.”
    • “It's a ship salvaging game, only gameplay matters, not those 4th grade so-called story, only 4 or 5 ships with different variants, no new ship, no new tools, still unskippable cutscenes, still horrendous performance even with my 3090 and 5900x, just a shameless cash grab, don't buy it, they are only taking it out of early access so they can be done with this game.”
    • “I don't want to say the advertising is an outright lie, but it does seem to be misleading.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and engagement, with players appreciating the compelling storyline that explores themes like corporate greed and union rights. However, some critiques highlight a lack of interaction with a broader range of characters, suggesting that while certain NPCs show growth, overall character agency feels limited. The desire for more customization and interaction in future installments indicates that players see potential for even richer character development.

    • “Great soundtrack too, and I found the storyline compelling with good character development.”
    • “Granted, the campaign is fairly long (yes it took over 70 hours to finish, so shoot me) and repetitively disassembling ships may become boring to some, but the plot and character development is amazing.”
    • “You have no communications with your family, no voices from the outside world except a handful of one-dimensional characters and one sole NPC who does gain some character development throughout the game.”
    • “It has a fantastic story even if you do just watch the character development play out.”
    • “This isn't to say they haven't already, but it overall just feels they were really lazy and didn't care enough to put in the effort to create a proper well-developed story that sees proper character development and agency.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Hardspace: Shipbreaker

Play time

25hMedian play time
40hAverage play time
7-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 149 analyzed playthroughs

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