Skip to main content

About

"Interstellaria is a single-player Science Fiction Real Time Strategy game with a good plot and fabulous gameplay. Manage your crew, customize your ship, and navigate through a dangerous galaxy filled with hostile aliens and anomalies. Enjoy its pretty visuals, great soundtrack, and the humor, but be prepared for lots of grinding and some bugs."

Interstellaria screenshot
Interstellaria screenshot
Interstellaria screenshot
Interstellaria screenshot
Interstellaria screenshot
Interstellaria screenshot
Interstellaria screenshot
Interstellaria screenshot
Interstellaria screenshot
Interstellaria screenshot
Interstellaria screenshot
+1

54%
Audience ScoreBased on 706 reviews
story60 positive mentions
stability78 negative mentions

  • Charming pixel art style and engaging soundtrack that evokes nostalgia.
  • Fun space combat mechanics that allow for tactical maneuvering and crew management.
  • Offers a unique blend of exploration, trading, and character development.
  • Clunky user interface that makes navigation and inventory management frustrating.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including pathfinding issues.
  • Linear storyline with limited replayability and a small universe to explore.
  • story
    302 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in Interstellaria is generally perceived as linear and lacking depth, often reduced to repetitive fetch quests that detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the humor and unique backstories associated with various planets, many find the narrative vague and unengaging, with little incentive to explore beyond the main storyline. Overall, the game offers a basic plot that serves as a backdrop for exploration and gameplay, but fails to deliver a compelling or cohesive narrative.

    • “The story is great and there's a story behind every planet you can land on.”
    • “Each planet you'll encounter is interesting, with unique content and storylines to be uncovered.”
    • “A very good plot which actually had me rather tense at several points, which I haven't experienced in quite some time - the soundtrack and setting are pretty great too.”
    • “The story itself is filled with boring fetch quests and tedious instructions of 'go to A then go to B'.”
    • “The main story is just a linear and uninspiring streamline of fetch quests; go talk to this quest giver, go to this planet, kill all the monsters, find the quest object, grab all resources, go back to your ship, return to quest giver, rinse and repeat for hours.”
    • “First and foremost, this game is story driven and linear, though the story itself is pretty weak.”
  • gameplay
    142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of point-and-click mechanics, space and planetside combat, and crew management reminiscent of titles like FTL and Starbound. While some players appreciate the clever mechanics and depth, others criticize the clunky controls, steep learning curve, and repetitive nature of missions, leading to a sense of frustration. Overall, the game offers engaging elements but suffers from bugs, linearity, and a lack of user-friendliness, which may detract from the experience for some players.

    • “The gameplay feels a bit like FTL with a dash of Starbound mixed in, and maybe some Star Control II -- and if you think that sounds like a fun combination, then I'm happy to confirm that this game mostly pulls it off.”
    • “The split between planetside combat and space combat gives gameplay a pretty diverse feel.”
    • “Well designed gameplay loop akin to FTL's with a good amount of variety in ships, crew, and combat styles to choose from.”
    • “I've started maybe 3-5 captains and quit all of them because I'd hit a crash and lose an hour of gameplay that I don't want to plainly repeat.”
    • “Sadly, gameplay was not very good.”
    • “Movement is clunky and gameplay just isn't fun.”
  • music
    130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game, primarily composed by chipzel, has received widespread acclaim for its engaging chiptune soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Many players noted that the soundtrack is a standout feature, often described as worth the price of entry alone, and effectively complements the game's atmosphere during various gameplay moments. However, some users experienced technical issues with the music, such as crashes when unmuting, and a few found the sound effects to be average or even headache-inducing.

    • “The chiptunes soundtrack is amazing; for some, possibly worth the price of entry alone.”
    • “The soundtrack is by far one of the best I've heard in a very long time, it fits the mood no matter what.”
    • “Chipzel's music elevates the entire experience and the depth of the game's design and content is hard to find in games these days.”
    • “The story is boring, the music gave me a headache, the art too, and finally the gameplay was just bad!”
    • “Soundtrack is cheesy and it made my ears hurt enough to force me to shut the music and open the interstellar soundtrack up.”
    • “Since Chipzel sells the soundtrack separately (and, depending on your Steam regional pricing, cheaper than the DLC here), if you just want the soundtrack you might as well buy it straight from the source and skip buying the game.”
  • graphics
    116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic pixel art style and charming aesthetics, while others criticize the low resolution and lack of detail, describing them as bland and uninteresting. Many users noted that the visuals evoke a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of classic games, but the overall execution feels unfinished and can detract from the gameplay experience. Despite the criticisms, some players found the graphics enjoyable and fitting for the game's atmosphere, suggesting that personal preferences play a significant role in the reception of its visual style.

    • “Love the art style.”
    • “The artwork is pretty charming, and I enjoyed flying through space, customizing my ship, dogfighting other ships, and trundling around on planets.”
    • “I immediately fell in love with the retro graphics and doot-y chiptunes.”
    • “Pixel graphics are fine, but these are so low res that you can't hardly tell what's what.”
    • “I can't actually be certain that this is the case because the graphics and UI are so bad, it's pretty impossible to be sure.”
    • “The UI is clunky, the universe is tiny, the pixelated graphics could use more work.. it seems like all of the hallmarks of a good game are here, but executed in a manner so half-assed and boring the game is borderline unplayable.”
  • stability
    84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is plagued by a significant number of bugs and glitches, affecting gameplay stability and user experience. Players report issues such as freezing during battles and loading screens, clunky pathfinding, and problematic UI interactions, particularly with character management. While some find the game enjoyable despite these flaws, many express frustration over its ongoing instability, especially in newer content and updates.

    • “The game started out good with no glitches on the first world where you start out.”
    • “This game runs great in windowed mode so I can divide attention.”
    • “If that wasn't bad enough, the game is horribly buggy, and there is no excuse for a game that has been out this long.”
    • “The game has way too many glitches to not be supported; combat is clunky, managing your shipmates is nearly impossible, as they will all stand in the same place, and to separate them, you have to click off of them, then click on the pile, then click on an open space, and repeat this process until you've moved them all out.”
    • “Linux version unplayably buggy, freezing when accessing the load game menu.”
  • grinding
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of Interstellaria is heavily criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to engage in repetitive tasks that can feel uninteresting and drawn-out. While some players find enjoyment in the game, many agree that the extensive grinding needed to progress, coupled with a lack of engaging content, makes it less appealing, especially for those who dislike monotonous gameplay. Overall, the game is described as charming but marred by excessive grinding and a frustrating interface.

    • “Completing simple tasks takes years because of the tediousness of clicking.”
    • “You will experience everything to do within an hour; all that's left is grinding for however long you want to increase meaningless numbers to your satisfaction.”
    • “The game promises 'worlds with special rewards'; those rewards are randomized drops of weapons/armor, and if you want to kit out your NPC crew with better gear, you'll likely have to go through a lot of grinding sessions, separated by boring 20-minute waits.”
  • humor
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Interstellaria" is described as charming and light-hearted, featuring a mix of wry and dark undertones that can elicit genuine laughter. While some players find the humor hit or miss, many appreciate the quirky dialogue and random encounters that add to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the humor contributes positively to the experience, despite some critiques regarding the clarity of the story and gameplay mechanics.

    • “Despite its flaws, Interstellaria has a rich atmosphere, with a cute sense of humor coupled with somewhat dark undertones.”
    • “Besides, there's a lot of wry humor that made me laugh out loud.”
    • “The universe isn't big, but it's big enough that it's worth checking every planet, and there are some unique characters and aliens, and it's all around pretty funny dialogue.”
  • replayability
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many users noting a lack of content and linearity that diminishes the incentive to replay after the initial playthrough. While some mention potential for varied gameplay through different ships and configurations, the consensus leans towards minimal replay value due to the game's short length and limited world content.

    • “Tons of fun and great replayability.”
    • “Replay value is okay if you want to try different ships, weapons, or squad formations.”
    • “I have only played for a few hours, so I can't say anything about replayability, but it seems like there might be quite a few different ships and possible configurations of systems and crewmen.”
    • “Too bad it has absolutely no replayability, let alone initial playability at this point.”
    • “However, the game also has some significant weaknesses; the primary ones being that it is a pretty short game in terms of the main quest, and that there's currently not really enough world content to justify much replay value after my first playthrough.”
    • “I want to like the game, however it feels quite short on content, has no replayability, and is too short on any actual gameplay for me.”
  • atmosphere
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Interstellaria is described as rich and visually appealing, featuring a blend of cute humor and dark undertones, complemented by fitting music and artwork. However, many players find that the game's controls and interface detract from the overall experience, making gameplay feel cumbersome despite the engaging setting. Overall, while the atmosphere is praised, it is marred by gameplay frustrations.

    • “Despite its flaws, Interstellaria has a rich atmosphere, with a cute sense of humor coupled with somewhat dark undertones.”
    • “I've enjoyed the space combat aspect so far, and the music fits the atmosphere well.”
    • “Lovely atmosphere and artwork, but the controls and lack of hotkeys ruin it for me.”
    • “The attempts at humor mostly mar the atmosphere rather than improve it.”
    • “Not only that, but all landable planets have 'breathable atmospheres' - there's zero survival or life support component in the game.”
  • character development
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a mixed response to character development, with some players expressing disappointment over its overall lack of depth. However, they note that random events can enhance character growth, providing moments of meaningful development amidst the shortcomings.

    • “Some of the random events that can take place can contribute to some amazing character development!”
    • “Character development via random events.”
    • “The random events significantly enhance character development.”
    • “Another area of disappointment for me is the lack of significant character development.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report significant optimization issues, including random performance problems and freezing when attempting to sell items. Additionally, the user interface fails to adjust properly to resolution changes, leading to readability challenges, particularly at lower settings.

    • “The user interface isn't optimized to change correctly when there is a change in resolution; everything stays in place and then becomes too hard to read if using the smallest resolution setting.”
    • “Random performance issues, failed to sell items - just keeps hanging after pressing 'my items'.”
    • “The user interface also isn't optimized to change correctly when there is a change in resolution; everything stays in place and then becomes too hard to read if using the smallest resolution setting.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers highlight a disconnect between Interstellaria's advertising and the actual gameplay experience, noting that players are restricted to a static map and a linear storyline, which may not justify the monetization model presented.

    • “As previous reviewers have mentioned, there is a significant difference between Interstellaria's advertising and what you actually get once you get in-game.”
    • “Unlike what the advertising may have you believe, you are bound to a static map and an incredibly linear storyline.”

Buy Interstellaria

5h Median play time
6h Average play time
3-12h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like Interstellaria

Cosmonautica Image
Stellar Tactics Image
Between the Stars Image
Diluvion Image
Into the Stars Image
Starpoint Gemini 2 Image
Space Haven Image
Starpoint Gemini Warlords Image
Star Traders: Frontiers Image
Everspace 2 Image