House of the Dying Sun

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,106 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
House of the Dying Sun Game Cover
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House of the Dying Sun is a tactical space shooter where you pilot the Empire's deadliest interceptor and command the Harbinger Fleet. With classic space sim combat, take control from the cockpit, issue orders to your fleet, and upgrade your ships with new weapons and abilities. Fight in 14 replayable campaign scenarios with varying difficulties.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,106 reviews
story316 positive mentions
grinding30 negative mentions
  • Engaging and fast-paced space combat that feels satisfying and immersive, especially in VR.
  • Great sound design and atmospheric music that enhances the overall experience.
  • Solid controls with intuitive mechanics, allowing for both direct piloting and tactical command of your fleet.
  • The game is very short, with the main campaign taking only a few hours to complete.
  • Limited variety in missions and ship types, leading to a lack of depth and replayability.
  • The story is minimal and lacks significant narrative development, which may disappoint players looking for a deeper experience.
  • story2,428 mentions

    The story in "House of the Dying Sun" is minimalistic, primarily conveyed through brief mission descriptions and codex entries, which some players find engaging while others see it as lacking depth. The narrative revolves around a quest for vengeance against traitorous lords who have betrayed the emperor, providing a backdrop for the game's fast-paced, hit-and-run missions. While the writing and atmosphere are praised, many reviewers express a desire for a more substantial storyline and additional missions to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The story is brief, but perfectly told.”
    • “People have praised House of the Dying Sun's writing, audio design, and gameplay quite a bit, so I'll instead give a shoutout to the mission design; there's some immaculate storytelling and worldbuilding as you start out jumping in to turn maybe one fighter or a couple shipping containers into scrap and fleeing as fast as you can before the interdiction fleet can show up in the first few levels, to later arriving with a whole wolfpack as civilian ships flee the emperor's slaughter.”
    • “The story, beautifully written and supremely understated, never intrudes on the main aim of the game: to kill as many of the traitors as you can.”
    • “The one major complaint I have with House of the Dying Sun is that it is short, only around a dozen or so missions (I think).”
    • “The story is minimal and I burned through the campaign with several replays in 4 hours.”
    • “The story is sparse, you get two or three sentences before each mission explaining who you will fight, and why you should kill them, and the game then throws you into the mission.”
  • gameplay798 mentions

    The gameplay of "House of the Dying Sun" is widely praised for its solid mechanics, combining fast-paced dogfighting with light RTS elements, allowing players to command their fleet while engaging in thrilling space battles. However, many reviewers note that the game is relatively short, with a campaign that can be completed in just a few hours, leading to concerns about its overall content and replayability. Despite its brevity, the game is described as fun and addictive, with intuitive controls and a satisfying learning curve, making it appealing for both casual players and veterans of the genre.

    • “Such a fun game, the gameplay is amazing and the missions are at the perfect length to not drag on.”
    • “In terms of mechanics, it manages to thread the needle of being easy to learn, but hard to master.”
    • “It mixes satisfying flight and shooting mechanics with strategy, which allows you to easily order your fleet around and switch control between ships.”
    • “Gameplay is short, but really well done.”
    • “The campaign is a bit short and the gameplay could use a bit of variation, and it would be cool if there was different ships for the player to fly.”
    • “All in all, don't buy this game if $20 isn't expendable enough to you for ~2 hours of gameplay.”
  • graphics640 mentions

    The graphics of "House of the Dying Sun" are characterized by a simplistic, low-poly aesthetic that evokes classic space games like Homeworld and X-Wing, which some players find charming and nostalgic. While the visuals may appear blocky or dated, they are well-suited for VR, providing a smooth experience without demanding high-end hardware. Overall, the art style is praised for its effectiveness in creating an immersive atmosphere, despite some critiques regarding the lack of detail and texture.

    • “The visuals are perfectly stylized with a few rough edges and the soundscape and music evoke the BSG reboot's pounding drums and ambient radio chatter.”
    • “I find myself frequently coming back to this game to complete its daily randomized challenges after so many years past its release date because its art style has rendered its graphics ageless, and on top of that it's a gorgeous game with silky smooth controls.”
    • “The graphics are stylized and gorgeous, and the sound is deep.”
    • “The downsides of HOTDS are that it is a relatively short game and the graphics are simplistic.”
    • “I don't understand why this game has a 90% rating... graphics are poor (VR), gameplay is boring...”
    • “The graphics are not super polished, the wingman AI is not very responsive, and it was shorter than I would have preferred for a $20 game.”
  • music286 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its intense, drum-heavy soundtrack reminiscent of "Battlestar Galactica" and "Homeworld." The audio design, including sound effects and radio chatter, enhances immersion and complements the fast-paced space combat, creating a gripping atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, significantly contributing to the game's appeal and emotional engagement.

    • “Fast-paced space combat with a fantastic soundtrack to set the mood.”
    • “Its phenomenal Homeworld and Battlestar Galactica-esque soundtrack gets the blood pumping while you bring the fury of the dead emperor to his foes and their people.”
    • “The music, sounds, and imagery all blend together perfectly to make it an engaging experience.”
    • “The story and the music are kind of lacking.”
    • “If you instead wait around and actually try to kill the flagship, I noticed that both in the music and in my own emotional state, there was a very noticeable deadening of excitement and slowing of the game's pace.”
    • “Music I turned off real quick as it added nothing to the atmosphere.”
  • replayability244 mentions

    The game offers a high degree of replayability despite its short campaign, primarily through multiple difficulty levels, unlockable upgrades, and a challenge mode. Players can replay missions to experiment with different loadouts and strategies, although some feel that the limited number of missions may restrict long-term engagement. Overall, while the replay value is significant for those who enjoy the gameplay mechanics, it may not satisfy players seeking extensive content or variety.

    • “There's plenty of replayability for those who want it, offering multiple difficulty modes for each mission, multiple endings, and an upgrade tree that allows you to customize the combat experience you have in your fighter; as well as how your eventual supporting fleet rains hate across the stars.”
    • “The missions are highly replayable, and the difficulty is tuned so you'll want to go back when you have a bigger fleet, or better guns, or are just plain better at the game, and there's a good mix of dogfights, frantic fights to survive against waves of oncoming reinforcements, escort missions (with well-done AI for once), and so on.”
    • “It's short but worth every minute spent playing, plus has some decent replayability.”
    • “Unfortunately, with the base 13 missions plus a gauntlet survival mode, it lacks the replayability and freedom of some games, and the longevity of others - especially if you're playing through the hardest difficulties.”
    • “Expanding on the missions would be great because you can easily finish this game in like two hours on the easiest difficulty and the replayability is a bit lackluster if all you wanted to do was kill the flagships on the hardest difficulty.”
    • “The replayability isn't there at all; the challenge mode has a ridiculous 'kill ship to extend time' structure that doesn't make sense and isn't fun.”
  • atmosphere172 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining stellar sound design, stylish visuals, and a gripping soundtrack that evokes classic space operas like *Homeworld* and *Battlestar Galactica*. Reviewers highlight the cohesive design that enhances the overall experience, making it feel both intense and engaging, despite the game's simplistic structure. Many players appreciate the game's ability to create a unique and captivating environment, making it a standout feature of the gameplay.

    • “This game has perfect atmosphere and theming.”
    • “The game's strongest aspect is its stellar atmosphere — the muted sound effects, stylish visuals, and fitting soundtrack make for a gripping experience.”
    • “You truly can become immersed in this atmospheric space combat sim.”
    • “The sound and the general tone of the levels create a sort of brooding, prowling, ominous atmosphere.”
    • “The presentation of the game is top notch, with solid sound design, non-intrusive radio chatter and well-written preambles for each mission that really gives the game a dark atmosphere without it feeling like it's trying too hard.”
    • “Instead, most of the sound you hear comes from within your fighter's cockpit itself; the rumbling and the roaring of the engine reverberating through the cockpit, the muffled mechanical whining of the weapons as they reload, the deep breathing of the pilot through his respirator as you pull tight turns that would undoubtedly flatten a pilot were they in atmosphere, and the laconic reports from your allied vessels as the combat situation evolves... it all sounds phenomenal and makes for an incredibly immersive experience.”
  • optimization56 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting excellent performance across a range of systems, including lower-end hardware. While some minor stutters were noted in specific modes, the graphics are considered low-impact, allowing for smooth gameplay even in VR. The game runs well on various settings, and the controls are user-friendly, contributing to a polished experience.

    • “Also the game is well optimized, I'm playing this on an Iris 540 using Proton, and except for one menu the framerates are solid.”
    • “It is quite impressive how this game has a stellar performance, considering the impressive visuals, even when the graphics are set to ultra.”
    • “The art style, simplistic as it is, is absolutely gorgeous when combined with the phenomenal lighting and post-processing effects, and it allows the game to run smoothly on lower-end systems.”
    • “I observed zero difference in performance from running on the lowest settings to the highest, so clearly something needs tweaking with the engine.”
    • “Optimization and some resolution fixes wouldn't be so bad as for some reason the FOV is linked to everything including picking missions on the 'galaxy map'.”
    • “I use an RX 480 and many VR games are not too optimized, this included.”
  • grinding36 mentions

    Reviews on grinding in the game are mixed; some players find it tedious and feel that the ship upgrades do not justify the effort required to complete higher difficulty missions. However, others appreciate the game's approach to mission replayability and fast-paced action, noting that it avoids the excessive grind typical of other space games. Overall, while some grinding exists, many players prefer the game's focus on immediate action and tactical gameplay over lengthy, repetitive tasks.

    • “Personally, I find it to be a tight, neat experience, with no grinding or repetitive elements.”
    • “It is straight to the action, no grinding, intuitive controls, graphics that work beautifully even on my almost decade-old machine (with a 4 year old card) at 1920x1200, allows you to progress and increase your forces, and has high replayability.”
    • “Fantastic game, played it with Oculus VR, x52 HOTAS, the graphics are minimalist and perfect for VR (and well achieved they look great), action is fast, no grinding, no messing around.”
    • “None of the ship system upgrades really change the game enough, I feel, to justify grinding higher difficulty missions just to unlock them.”
    • “Either way, it's grinding, and while you aren't required to play it this way, it suggests that the missions haven't been carefully balanced to offer exactly the right amount of difficulty for progressing in a completely linear fashion on the highest difficulty, which is how games are supposed to be played.”
    • “If you want a game that has 200 hours of dull, grinding gameplay, go play some Elite Dangerous.”
  • stability30 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability in terms of performance, running well on various hardware configurations, including high-end and older GPUs, and even under Linux. However, users report significant issues with the menu system and various bugs, which are typical for early access titles, leading to occasional unresponsiveness and control problems. While many players experience smooth gameplay, the presence of these bugs suggests that further refinement is needed.

    • “Runs great on desktop and in VR with full HOTAS and TrackIR support.”
    • “And for anyone wondering, it supports 32:9 aspect ratio and runs great on a GTX 970 even at 5120x1440.”
    • “Runs great in Wine under Linux.”
    • “For starters, the game is somewhat buggy; it became completely unresponsive to keys and got stuck in a limbo twice in an hour of gameplay.”
    • “The game is very buggy with lots of clear issues, as is expected with early access titles.”
    • “Blurry UI elements, low quality sounds, unusable mouse and keyboard controls, buggy menu controls, and some much needed balancing here and there.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, particularly through moments of loss and victory, such as witnessing the death of a wingman or defeating an enemy frigate. However, the game's short length and lack of planned expansions leave some feeling a sense of disappointment, as the emotional highs are often overshadowed by a diminishing excitement over time. Overall, while the game can evoke profound feelings, its pacing and sound design may detract from the emotional experience.

    • “10/10 never played a game that made me feel like I was Starbuck so much in my life.”
    • “Again I play in both VR and on my tiny laptop screen, but when you see your wingman get killed or you finally take down an enemy frigate, it is just as profound and emotional.”
    • “If you instead wait around and actually try to kill the flagship, I noticed that both in the music and in my own emotional state, there was a very noticeable deadening of excitement and slowing of the game's pace.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky mechanics, such as escape pods that don't harm players and the ability to create absurd ship combinations like suicide bombers, which elicit genuine laughter. Players report a mix of joy and frustration, often laughing hysterically while engaging with the game's challenges, making it a memorable experience reminiscent of classic space sims. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay, contributing to a fun and entertaining atmosphere.

    • “Oh, and escape pods won't kill you if you decide to cleave through them in your ship; it was pretty funny.”
    • “Controlling fighters feels fantastic, and the upgrades you can get to mix up the outfitting of your fleet are a really neat thing to play with. You can find some hilarious combinations (like suicide bomber ships).”
    • “I don't usually sweat, swear, cry, and physically flip off enemy AI while laughing hysterically, but this game brings it out in me.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in space-flight games is often seen as a hindrance rather than an enhancement, with attempts to incorporate deep narratives and character arcs frequently detracting from gameplay. Players feel that cutscenes and character-focused content can disrupt the immersive experience of piloting and combat, leading to a preference for more streamlined storytelling.

    • “Space-flight games don't really lend themselves well to grandiose plots and severe character development; every time someone has tried to characterize the pilot of a space-flight game (Wing Commander 3 and 4, X-Wing Alliance, and Terminus are good examples), the game winds up dragged down for it and you feel like the cutscenes and character fluff are getting in the way of the actual game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
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Play time

5hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
3-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 40 analyzed playthroughs

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