Interstellaria

52%
Game Brain Score Based on 300 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Interstellaria Game Cover
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"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."

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

52%
Audience ScoreBased on 300 reviews
story25 positive mentions
stability33 negative mentions
  • Charming pixel art style and great soundtrack that evokes nostalgia.
  • Engaging space combat and exploration mechanics, allowing for a mix of tactical gameplay.
  • Offers a variety of gameplay elements, including crew management and planet exploration.
  • Clunky controls and user interface that can be frustrating to navigate.
  • Frequent bugs and glitches, including issues with pathfinding and character interactions.
  • Linear gameplay with limited replayability and a small universe that feels static.
  • story125 mentions

    The story in Interstellaria is generally viewed as linear and lacking depth, often described as a series of repetitive fetch quests that fail to engage players meaningfully. While some players appreciate the humor and the initial premise, many criticize the execution, noting that the narrative feels like filler and lacks significant side quests or exploration opportunities. Overall, the game offers a basic storyline that can be enjoyable but is ultimately overshadowed by its limitations in world-building and mission variety.

    • “The story is great and there's a narrative behind every planet you can land on.”
    • “It is an awesome game, with a very cool story.”
    • “The story had me engaged (though it's a wee bit uncreative) and the music took the game to a whole new level.”
    • “The main story is just a linear and uninspiring stream 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.”
    • “The game world is dead - the factions exist only for the narrative, trade economy is static and the majority of worlds you can visit serve to advance a single plot point and nothing else.”
  • gameplay65 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of point-and-click mechanics, space and ground combat, and resource management that some players find engaging while others criticize for being clunky and repetitive. While the battle mechanics are praised for their skill-based approach, many users express frustration with the lack of user-friendliness, linearity, and bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a unique but flawed gameplay experience that may appeal to some players but leaves others wanting more depth and polish.

    • “The split between planetside combat and space combat gives gameplay a pretty diverse feel.”
    • “Interesting perspective, great soundtrack, and multiple well-intertwined gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The ship combat feels sort of like upgraded FTL, as does the fleet and crew mechanics.”
    • “You'd think point and click mechanics used since the old Mac days would have been figured out by 2015, but apparently, you'd be wrong.”
    • “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.”
    • “Movement is clunky and gameplay just isn't fun.”
  • music54 mentions

    The music in the game, primarily composed by chipzel, receives widespread acclaim for its engaging chiptune soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, fitting various gameplay moments from intense battles to quiet exploration. While some players experienced technical issues with the audio, many highlighted the soundtrack as the standout feature, often recommending it as a reason to engage with the game or even purchase it separately. Overall, the music is described as nostalgic, immersive, and a significant contributor to the game's charm.

    • “The soundtrack is by far one of the best I've heard in a very long time; it fits the mood no matter what. During space battles, there's a powerful and upbeat roster keeping you further invested in the battle and helping you stay energetic, while during the FTL portions, a roster of songs really makes you feel alone in the dead of space.”
    • “The pixel art in this game is great, especially for nostalgia junkies like me, and I've listened to the soundtrack on repeat for like two days already!”
    • “The most outstanding parts of the game are the soundtrack and its aesthetics.”
    • “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 off and open the interstellar soundtrack instead.”
    • “Since chipzel sells the soundtrack separately, if you just want the soundtrack you might as well buy it straight from the source and skip buying the game.”
  • graphics51 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic pixel art style and its charming aesthetics, while others criticize it for being low-resolution, simplistic, and lacking detail. Many reviewers noted that the visuals can detract from the overall experience, making gameplay feel tedious or unpolished, despite some finding the art style enjoyable and fitting for the game's themes. Overall, the graphics seem to evoke a sense of nostalgia for some, while leaving others disappointed by their execution.

    • “Lovely atmosphere and artwork, but the controls and lack of hotkeys ruin it for me.”
    • “The most outstanding parts of the game are the soundtrack and its aesthetics.”
    • “When you first play this game, and if you're of a certain age, the visuals and audio will capture you in a haze of nostalgia.”
    • “Pixel graphics are fine, but these are so low res that you can 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 that the game is borderline unplayable.”
  • stability36 mentions

    The game is plagued by a significant number of bugs and glitches, affecting gameplay stability and user experience. Players report issues such as freezing, clunky pathfinding, and frustrating UI problems, which detract from the overall enjoyment despite the game's appealing concept. While some users have found ways to work around these issues, the consensus is that the game remains overly buggy, especially in its newer content and on certain platforms.

    • “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.”
    • “God forbid you have resolution issues, need to change any of the settings, etc. If you turn on mouse acceleration, the entire game freezes and makes you force quit.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized for its tediousness, with players noting that simple tasks can take an excessive amount of time and effort, often leading to boredom. While some find enjoyment in the charm of the game, the repetitive nature of grinding for resources and managing crew needs detracts from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore rather than a rewarding endeavor. Improvements have been made to reduce tedium, but many still feel that the grinding is a significant drawback.

    • “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.”
    • “This is a fun game, but needing to keep the crew happy, fed, and well-rested is beyond tedious; this is the reason why the game is ruined.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as charming and light-hearted, with a mix of wry and dark undertones that can elicit genuine laughter. While some players find the humor hit or miss, many appreciate the witty dialogue and amusing random encounters that enhance the overall experience. However, the vague story and lack of clear guidance can detract from the enjoyment for some players.

    • “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.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, the reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability. While some players appreciate the potential for varied gameplay through different ships and configurations, many others criticize the game for its linearity and lack of content, leading to minimal to virtually no replay value.

    • “I would say the game is pretty linear, but has a lot of replayability.”
    • “Replay value is okay if you want to try different ships, weapons, or squad formations.”
    • “Tons of fun and great replayability.”
    • “Too bad it has absolutely no replayability, let alone initial playability at this point.”
    • “Replayability is probably null.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The atmosphere of Interstellaria is characterized by a rich blend of humor and dark undertones, complemented by appealing graphics and fitting music. While many players appreciate the game's artistic presentation and story, some feel that gameplay mechanics, such as controls and humor attempts, detract from the overall experience. Additionally, the absence of survival elements on landable planets contributes to a unique but somewhat shallow atmospheric experience.

    • “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.”
    • “It looks good, the atmosphere is nice, and the story is competent.”
    • “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 development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking depth, with some players expressing disappointment in its overall execution. However, there are moments where random events can lead to meaningful character growth, providing a silver lining to the otherwise limited development.

    • “Some of the random events that can take place contribute to amazing character development!”
    • “Character development is enhanced through random events.”
    • “Another area of disappointment for me is the lack of significant character development.”
    • “Character development is primarily driven by random events, which feels unsatisfying.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized for random performance issues, including freezing when attempting to sell items. Additionally, the user interface does not adjust properly to changes in resolution, leading to readability problems 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; the game fails to sell items and just hangs after pressing 'my items'.”
    • “The user interface isn't optimized to adjust correctly when there is a change in resolution. Everything stays in place and becomes too hard to read when using the smallest resolution setting.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviewers highlight a disconnect between the game's advertising and the actual gameplay experience, noting that players are confined to a static map and a linear storyline, which may lead to disappointment regarding the monetization aspects.

    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
3-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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