Kessler Syndrome

About

Alone in orbit with a corpse and no way to reach Earth, play as an astronaut who must keep a defunct space station aloft. Maintain the onboard systems, deal with the constant threat of space junk, and navigate the dark halls in zero-gravity. Day by day more systems fail, and the void draws closer.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

46%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

atmosphere5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game has a cool premise set in a space station, which offers a unique atmosphere and horror buildup.
It's completely free, showcasing the developers' dedication to making their game accessible to everyone.
The physics and design effectively simulate the experience of being in space, contributing to an immersive experience.

The game suffers from poor graphics and technical issues, including a lack of resolution support and unresponsive audio controls.
Gameplay can be tedious and confusing, with unclear objectives and a frustrating navigation system that leads to disorientation.
There are significant bugs that can disrupt progress, such as items not being pickable and the game failing to trigger necessary events.

gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The gameplay involves navigating and repairing a ship over multiple in-game days, focusing primarily on exploration and inspection. While some players find it basic and slow, they appreciate the atmosphere and enjoy the experience of exploring, even if it feels mundane at times. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit unengaging, gameplay experience.
- “Honestly had a fun time playing the game, while the gameplay is basic with it mainly being exploration.”
- “Great atmosphere and while mundane in terms of gameplay, it was a fun thing to go through and explore, but mostly get lost in.”
- “Gameplay consists of navigating the ship and fixing any issues that arise; however, I can't really say it's engaging.”
- “The gameplay is done over multiple in-game days, where you will be having to inspect different parts of the ship and repair everything you can.”
- “Slow gameplay.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its engaging and sometimes creepy ambiance, creating a compelling environment for exploration. However, players express frustration with technical issues and bugs that detract from the overall experience, leading to a lack of motivation to continue. Despite these drawbacks, many find the atmosphere to be a highlight, making the game enjoyable in short bursts.
- “The atmosphere was great and the concept was cool!”
- “A very nice, short experience with a very good atmosphere that leans a bit on the creepier side.”
- “Great atmosphere; while mundane in terms of gameplay, it was a fun thing to go through and explore, but mostly get lost in.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The graphics in the game have been criticized for their poor quality, with some reviewers suggesting that the developers are using a subpar visual style as a cover for their lack of talent. While one reviewer appreciates the art style as a redeeming feature, others feel that the intentionally low-quality rendering detracts from the overall experience, likening it to a poorly executed retro aesthetic.
- “Kessler Syndrome's art style is the best thing going for it.”
- “This very poor quality visual style is a method that lazy developers often use to disguise their lack of talent or interest in doing the graphics properly, trying to pass it off as 'art' or 'we made it look bad on purpose.' This is not something gamers should have to put up with.”
- “Graphics are poor in a bad way; I like retro games, but this is more like a modern game engine that was tweaked to intentionally have poor render distance and terrible aliasing.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a unique experience due to the full, zero-gravity 360° movement, which can initially feel disorienting and annoying. However, once accustomed to the mechanics, the grinding becomes only slightly tedious.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I spent hours doing the same tasks over and over again, and it just became a chore.”
- “The grind is so tedious that it overshadows any enjoyment I might have had from the gameplay.”