Lost Nova
- May 11, 2022
- Jon Nielsen
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamLost Nova is a real-time strategy game set in a distant galaxy. As the commander of a space fleet, players must explore, gather resources, and battle against alien forces to survive. With a focus on tactical combat and base building, Lost Nova offers a challenging and immersive experience for fans of the genre.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game is incredibly cute, relaxing, and fun, with a charming art style and delightful characters.
- It delivers a wholesome message about taking breaks and enjoying life, making it a great experience for players seeking a chill game.
- The gameplay loop is engaging and satisfying, with a variety of mini-games and exploration that keeps players entertained throughout the short playtime.
- The game is quite short, typically taking around 4 to 8 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some players found the game to be linear and lacking in meaningful choices, making the exploration feel somewhat shallow.
- There are minor technical issues and bugs reported, along with some grindy achievements that can detract from the overall experience.
- story45 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as a wholesome and reflective narrative that emphasizes themes of mindfulness and work/life balance, often evoking a sense of relaxation and enjoyment. Players appreciate the cute characters and side quests, although some find the main storyline to be relatively short, typically completing it in 4-6 hours. While the story is simple and light-hearted, it resonates emotionally with many, offering valuable lessons despite some critiques about its pacing and depth.
“Great story to make you reflect on your work/life balance, and urges you to take time and enjoy the world.”
“A cute, relaxing game with a surprisingly wholesome storyline and a pleasant moral.”
“Main story is great, the characters and their side-stories are cute, and overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”
“There are lots of little quests but none are mutually exclusive or require you to decide to help one person/group or another person/group.”
“I completed the main quest in only 3 hours - despite the game urging you not to rush and to relax. Then comes a part where it feels like there could or should have been more game, but instead is a series of images depicting what happens.”
“In general, the extreme variance in all the different characters makes it feel like this story is drawing from a very diverse universe, but no context for that universe is established.”
- gameplay27 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a short yet satisfying loop that involves resource collection, upgrades, and exploration, with a cozy aesthetic and engaging mechanics. Players appreciate the simple controls and the variety of tasks, though some find the exploration slow and the jumping mechanics frustrating. Overall, the game offers a relaxed experience with a strong message about the importance of rest, making it a charming distraction despite its brevity.
“Short and sweet cozy game with a nice progression system and gameplay loop in addition to a good message about the need for breaks, rest, and relaxation in order to do our best.”
“Gameplay involves using your blaster to farm resources to repair your ship and upgrade your gear, using your jetpack to explore your surroundings, and eventually using your boots to shovel-stomp every destructible object around you (which is very gratifying and cathartic).”
“The art style is adorable, the dialogue is sweet and funny, and the gameplay is chill while still being engaging.”
“It's fine and occasionally amusing, but the gameplay itself is quite grindy, and the exploration isn't particularly well handled.”
“Movement speed is a mechanic in the game, meaning that at times you're just walking, quite slowly, through quite a lot of terrain that holds nothing of interest to you.”
“While the art is clearly detailed, the mechanics and story are haphazardly hurried along like this whole game was made in an overly-inspired frenzy.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players praising the charming and cozy art style that evokes a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of childhood storybooks. While some noted that the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they contribute positively to the overall experience, enhancing the engaging gameplay and delightful character interactions. The combination of fun graphics, pleasant music, and a whimsical aesthetic creates an enjoyable atmosphere for players.
“The specific style of cartoony visuals and oddball NPC dialogue, as well as the pacing, remind me a bit of Cozy Grove, and I suspect if you like the aesthetics and vibe of that game you would enjoy this one too.”
“I absolutely adore the artwork and every little part of this game like the characters, the little puzzles, and especially the pets.”
“The art style is gorgeous, reminiscent of childhood storybooks.”
“The visuals fixed themselves after leaving and re-entering the area.”
“---{ graphics }---”
“Everything from the art style, music, and characters you meet along the way bring this adventure to life.”
- music20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing, catchy, and peaceful qualities, enhancing the overall experience and atmosphere. Many players find it relaxing and enjoyable, often expressing a desire to listen to it on repeat. The combination of music, art style, and engaging gameplay contributes to a lively and charming world that players love to immerse themselves in.
“The music is amazing and it's very relaxing to play.”
“The soundtrack and characters make the world feel incredibly lively.”
“The music is really catchy.”
“The first time I played through the Room Woods and listening to the soundtrack made me feel so nostalgic to a game I played for the first time.”
“Everything from the art style, music, and characters you meet along the way bring this adventure to life.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a wholesome storyline that resonates with players, often evoking strong feelings and nostalgia. Users highlight the relatable struggles of colorful characters and the game's overall heartwarming vibe, making it a relaxing yet impactful experience. Many reviewers noted moments that brought them to tears, emphasizing the game's ability to deliver a meaningful and uplifting message.
“I can't tell you the number of times it made me emotional.”
“I cried when a random NPC visiting the planet said their pronouns were respected there.”
“Whilst stranded on the planet, you find lots of colorful characters, each with their own emotional problems that the player (as well as Mia) can relate.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is notable, with players finding it somewhat tedious and time-consuming, particularly for achievements and resource gathering. While some appreciate the relaxing vibe and simplicity, others feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, likening it to more extreme grinding experiences found in games like RuneScape. Overall, the game offers a mix of casual play and significant grinding, which may appeal to certain players but frustrate others.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's fine and occasionally amusing, but the gameplay itself is quite grindy, and the exploration isn't particularly well handled.”
“You can unlock quick travel, at a price, and the price is essentially, more grinding.”
“Also, given that the game is quite grindy, having all the characters in the game refer to what you're doing while playing as being work rather than play is sort of hanging a hat on how little fun you're having.”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally light-hearted and silly, featuring relatable NPCs and clever dialogue that contributes to a comfortable and engaging atmosphere. While some jokes may fall flat or feel cringe-worthy, many players find the overall experience to be cute, funny, and wholesome, enhancing their enjoyment of the game. The combination of charming art, music, and humorous interactions creates a delightful vibe that resonates well with players.
“Very cute, very funny, totally worth it.”
“The NPCs are relatable and funny, and the whole game is just a comfortable vibe.”
“I loved every minute of this game from the art and music, to the humorous interactions and cute animals.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cozy and peaceful environment that captivates players, enhanced by unique puzzles. However, the fast-paced nature of the gameplay can disrupt a steady sense of progression and immersion, leading to a mixed experience.
“The cozy atmosphere created a peaceful environment, and the unique puzzles kept my attention.”
“The speed itself makes the game somewhat exhilarating in a unique way, but at the same time, it also means there is no steady sense of progression or atmosphere because things happen so fast.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, with some users expressing that it offers little incentive to play again, although it may appeal to dedicated fans of similar titles like Forager.
“It's good for fans of Forager, though I'm not sure how good the replay value would be.”
“Probably close to zero replayability for me.”
