Hardspace: Shipbreaker

About

Hardspace: Shipbreaker is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Blackbird Interactive and was released on May 24, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

"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.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 17,530 reviews

story1.5k positive mentions

grinding420 negative mentions

The gameplay mechanics are unique and satisfying, providing an engaging experience centered around dismantling spaceships in a zero-gravity environment.
The atmosphere is immersive, enhanced by stunning visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and a gritty, dystopian setting that draws players into its world.
The humor and character development add depth to the game, with witty writing and relatable themes that resonate with players.

The story is often criticized for being simplistic and forced, with unskippable dialogue that interrupts gameplay and detracts from the overall experience.
Many players find the gameplay repetitive and grind-heavy, with limited variety in ships and tools leading to a lack of long-term replay value.
The game suffers from performance issues and bugs, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences for players.

story
6,187 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
65%
10%
The story in "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it either engaging or overly simplistic and forced. While some appreciate the pro-union themes and character development, others criticize the unskippable dialogue and the heavy-handed delivery of its messages about corporate exploitation and labor rights. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its mechanics and satisfaction, but the story often feels disconnected and intrusive, detracting from the overall experience for some players.
- “I was completely drawn in by the plot line; the only disappointment was when it ended.”
- “The story is perfectly sensible, and the background lore and storytelling is super funny and will put a smile on just about anyone's face who has worked at a company with a corporate structure that cares about you as far as you make them money.”
- “The story is incredibly engaging, and the themes of corporate greed and labor struggles resonate deeply, making it a standout title in the simulation genre.”
- “The story is nothing to write home about, but is often forced on you with unskippable dialogue that goes on just a little too long.”
- “The gameplay is good, but the story is simply bad.”
- “The story is weak.”
gameplay
4,283 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
The gameplay of "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" is widely praised for its unique and satisfying mechanics centered around dismantling spaceships in a zero-gravity environment. Players appreciate the methodical and engaging gameplay loop, which combines puzzle-solving with a sense of progression as they unlock new tools and face increasingly complex challenges. However, many reviews express frustration with the unskippable story elements that interrupt gameplay, leading to a disconnect between the narrative and the core mechanics, which some feel detracts from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay and progression are quite satisfying, if a bit tedious at times.”
- “The game introduces you slowly to all the mechanics and by the time you have the high difficulties and all the tools unlocked, you fully grasp how the game works; really enjoyable progress flow.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, and balances the high-risk pressure of working in a dangerous environment under time pressure with the zen-like mental state of methodically disassembling a Lego set perfectly.”
- “The core gameplay loop gets stale pretty fast, and like many others have mentioned, the physics are too borked to actually have fun with them.”
- “The gameplay itself isn't the problem, there just isn't enough variety in either the tools nor the ships to keep things interesting.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive, but that is intentional.”
music
1,816 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The music in "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" has received widespread acclaim for its relaxing and immersive qualities, often compared to the soundtrack of "Firefly" with its blend of country and folk influences. While many players appreciate the atmospheric and dynamic nature of the music, which adapts to gameplay situations, some have noted that the limited variety can lead to repetitiveness over extended play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's unique setting and gameplay experience, making it a significant highlight for players.
- “The soundtrack was excellent, reminiscent of the Firefly soundtrack, very 'space-western'.”
- “The music is inspired and instills a genuine blue-collar atmosphere that lets you feel down in the dirt - in space.”
- “The music is fantastic, as well. It gives an air of space cowboys and I love that.”
- “Only a few songs in the game's not particularly deep soundtrack are memorable.”
- “However, the soundtrack is limited to very few tracks and it can get annoying listening to the same song over and over again.”
- “The music is decent but gets boring after a couple of hours.”
graphics
896 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
43%
3%
The graphics of "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" have received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the game's stunning visuals, immersive atmosphere, and detailed art style reminiscent of the "Homeworld" series. While some users noted minor graphical glitches and a lack of extensive customization options, the overall aesthetic and design effectively convey the gritty, industrial sci-fi setting, enhancing the gameplay experience. The game runs well on various systems, although performance can dip during intense graphical moments.
- “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 stunning, and the ship designs are intricate.”
- “The graphics are excellent, the mechanics are sound, and the whole concept and gameplay isn't like anything else I've ever played.”
- “Gameplay is boring and not rewarding and graphics are far from impressive.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
533 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The atmosphere in "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, combining stunning visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and a gritty, dystopian setting that evokes a sense of both relaxation and tension. Players appreciate the game's unique blend of methodical gameplay and the constant threat of danger, enhanced by the sound design and environmental storytelling that reflect a working-class struggle in a futuristic context. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, drawing players into its richly crafted universe.
- “The atmosphere is immersive, and the variety of ships keeps the gameplay fresh.”
- “The atmosphere (despite the vacuum) is impeccable, with a perfect future-dystopia, working-class feel, with the scratchy Americana music and the soft southern drawl of the radio operator being the icing on the cake.”
- “The graphics and sound design contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere.”
- “The constant reminders of your insurmountable debt create an oppressive atmosphere that adds a layer of tension to the gameplay.”
- “The story is lackluster, but the gameplay is perfect for sitting back and chopping up a couple of ships in a relaxing atmosphere.”
- “All this subtlety was forced into the backseat when they put the story in, through the terribly written characters and overt 'corp bad' narrative; the only thing they achieved was ruining the atmosphere that was the interesting backdrop to the gameplay.”
grinding
435 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some find the repetitive nature of dismantling ships to be tedious and monotonous, others appreciate the meditative quality it brings, likening it to other simulation games. Many players note that the lack of ship variety and the slow progression can lead to a grindy experience, especially in the later stages, but some enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of overcoming these obstacles. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for those who appreciate grind-heavy gameplay, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its repetitive mechanics.
- “Very cool debt mechanism with leveling that's not too grindy, and great physics.”
- “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.”
- “The 'shift clock' is so short I can't get into a good flow state, and the management of tethers/charges/O2 are the same - no benefit, just break my enjoyment of grinding ships.”
- “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'.”
- “The actual gameplay all takes place in the same space with the same configuration (a hangar), the same set of a few basic tools (after needlessly grinding through upgrades), and even the same basic process (first cut here; then here; then throw this chunk into the processor; etc.).”
optimization
334 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
64%
17%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback from users, with many noting significant performance issues, particularly during graphically intense moments like explosions or when entering ships, leading to frame drops and stuttering. While some players report improvements and smooth performance on mid-range systems, others express frustration over persistent bugs and the need for further optimization, especially for high-end hardware. Overall, while the game shows potential, it still requires substantial work to enhance its performance and stability.
- “The game runs smoothly, is small for what it delivers, and has a ranking system that you could very easily get lost in.”
- “Hardspace: Shipbreaker is smooth, well optimized, and looks great for what it's trying to do, which is be a salvage simulator.”
- “The load times were always less than 7 seconds even with the most massive of ships, a true testament to optimization along with the power of an NVMe.”
- “The game could use some optimizations as the fps drops hard any time a room is de/repressurized in any manner.”
- “The optimization is so bad I can't play it, and anything lower than ultra on graphics settings makes it look like I'm playing on a 4-pixel screen.”
- “The game has a lot of performance issues, and crashes semi-frequently.”
humor
311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Hardspace: Shipbreaker" is a standout feature, blending dark, cynical commentary on corporate culture with absurd and often hilarious situations. Players appreciate the witty writing and the game's ability to evoke laughter through its over-the-top dystopian setting, character interactions, and the absurdity of the gameplay mechanics, such as accidental explosions and mishaps. While some find the humor repetitive or lacking depth, many agree that it effectively enhances the overall experience, making the game both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- “The over-the-top dystopian mega-corporation was actually pretty hilarious, striking just the right tone of ridiculous and repressive.”
- “The humor is fantastic, with a lot of hidden humor that I strongly recommend people read, especially in the contract at the beginning of the game.”
- “The game is filled with innumerable amounts of little details ranging from humor in the fine prints to details like your radio breaking and playing nonsense when you take a heavy hit or get electrocuted.”
- “The other cutters are obnoxious, unfunny, and bring the experience down.”
- “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.”
- “Stop, just stop, it's not funny; none of your characters will ever matter.”
stability
278 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
1%
94%
The stability of the game has been a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress. While some players find the core mechanics enjoyable despite these issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains quite buggy, particularly in its physics engine, which can result in frustrating and unexpected deaths. Despite ongoing updates, many reviewers suggest that the game is still not fully polished and recommend caution for potential players.
- “No glitches, no crashes, no game performance issues at all.”
- “I have encountered no glitches so far and I have played to the end of the campaign and done all the ships and their subvariants.”
- “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 core gameplay is fun, but buggy thanks to the physics.”
- “This is a physics game and all physics games are buggy, but having a bug wipe out hours of playtime is so frustrating, especially since I now have to sit through all that dialogue again.”
- “The game is still in development, and as such there are minor bugs from time to time, such as physics glitches, but I've encountered nothing too impeding so far.”
replayability
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
55%
12%
The replayability of the game is a mixed bag among players. While some enjoy the core mechanics of ship dismantling and find it engaging enough to return for multiple playthroughs, many express concerns about the limited variety of ships and the repetitive nature of gameplay, which diminishes long-term replay value. Overall, the game offers enjoyable mechanics and potential for replayability, but it could benefit from additional content and features to enhance this aspect further.
- “Hardspace: Shipbreaker is a game that picks one fun thing (dismantling spaceships in zero gravity) and makes it very fun and replayable, with no extra crap attached or bloated mechanics to sift through.”
- “The gameplay itself is fun and the replay value is high, if you're into this sort of game.”
- “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.”
- “While I had a great time disassembling the ships and navigating in (while not exactly accurate but still nicely modeled) 0-g, the story mostly ruined any replay value I could have gleaned otherwise.”
- “Great game first playthrough, but game design kills replayability.”
- “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 introduced.”
emotional
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
12%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling and strong character connections, which resonate deeply with players, often leading to moments of genuine investment and even tears. Themes of corporate greed, worker solidarity, and personal sacrifice add significant depth, transforming the mundane task of shipbreaking into a poignant narrative experience. However, some players find the unskippable cutscenes and perceived preachiness detract from the overall emotional engagement, creating a mixed reception regarding the storytelling elements.
- “Oh, and the story is heartfelt and cathartic.”
- “Hardspace: Shipbreaker is a deeply thoughtful and finely crafted game that transforms a mundane task—cutting apart ships—into a compelling and emotionally resonant experience.”
- “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.”
- “The difference between early access and full release is the addition of a boring storyline with unskippable voice scenes (it's not a cutscene, you just stare at a wall while another character talks and you're prevented from interacting with anything). Some of them are close to 5 minutes long, and I find them really bad and boring; it's mostly characters you don't care about complaining and whining.”
- “Developers abandoned everything fun about the game and decided to focus on a boring story that no one asked for.”
monetization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
3%
87%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, paywalls, and excessive DLC, which contrasts sharply with current industry trends. However, some users express disappointment over misleading advertising and a perceived lack of content, suggesting that the game feels like a cash grab despite its initial promise. Overall, while the game avoids common monetization pitfalls, concerns about its value and content delivery persist.
- “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!!!!!!”
- “It's so poorly done and cheap that it might as well be mobile game ads.”
- “Horribly disappointing, seems like it must be some fly-by-night cash grab.”
- “The story sucks; I want to break ships while paying off the debt goal, or building my own ship, etc. I don't want unskippable ads every 15 minutes while I stare at a phone for almost as long as I get to actually play.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth, with distinct personalities and growth, particularly for one prominent NPC. However, many players express frustration with the lack of skip options for cutscenes and the overall one-dimensionality of most characters, which detracts from the experience. While some find the character arcs compelling, others criticize the portrayal of antagonists and the perceived laziness in storytelling, suggesting a need for more engaging interactions and character agency.
- “The story doesn't have too much to it in terms of content, the characters each maybe have a page or two of dialogue but it still manages to distinct them with their own personality, weaknesses, and character development.”
- “Landmark storytelling it isn't, but to have a story revolve around my day-to-day breaking things, I was completely surprised by good character development and a telling story about corporate greed and union rights.”
- “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.”
- “The characters, though, are exactly what we've come to expect from woke developers. The most prominent NPC is an angry, aggressive, ethnically ambiguous lesbian woman with the sides of her head shaved, drawn in that ugly, cartoony, comic book-esque western animation style that seems to always accompany character designs like this, complete with bright-colored, poorly coordinated clothes.”
- “Weaver is the only character that goes through anything resembling character development; beyond him, the protagonists only ever have their views affirmed, and the antagonists are cartoonishly evil caricatures that are devilish, powerful, and cruel right up until the final act where they're forced to become impotent and pathetic for the protagonists to remain unchallenged.”
- “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 properly developed story that sees proper character development and agency.”