Moon Raider

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Moon Raider is a 2D action adventure platformer set in the diverse and dangerous underworld of the moon.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features charming pixel art and a visually appealing aesthetic that pays homage to retro gaming.
Gameplay mechanics are solid, with enjoyable controls that allow for running, jumping, shooting, and dashing in various directions.
The game is fun and accessible, making it a good choice for younger audiences or those looking for a casual platforming experience.

The story is shallow and lacks depth, failing to engage players or provide meaningful context to the gameplay.
Many gameplay elements feel repetitive, with simplistic level design and boss fights that do not evolve or present significant challenges.
There are notable control issues, including input lag and limitations on shooting while jumping, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

gameplay
20 mentions
20 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its solid mechanics and smooth performance, particularly for younger audiences and speedrunners. However, many critics highlight a lack of innovation, overly simplistic elements, and a shallow story that detracts from the overall experience. While the game offers enjoyable level design and nostalgic visuals, it ultimately fails to stand out among other platformers due to its limited gameplay variety and depth.
- “The art style, controls, sound design, gameplay mechanics, and performance are AAA for an indie game.”
- “In reviewing this game, it's undeniable the level of detail the devs put in to ensure a smooth gameplay experience. Levels move seamlessly from one to another, the pathways of each level are varied and offer collectibles, challenge, but a lot of fun in navigating them.”
- “Seems like it would be a really good game for speedrunners with the dash mechanic, and the difficulty is perfectly balanced in my opinion.”
- “Clearly the developers put a lot of effort into the visual aspect; however, perhaps a similar amount of effort should have been put into the story and gameplay as well.”
- “The lack of innovation in conjunction with the overly simplistic gameplay and poorly incorporated story resulted in a lackluster and tedious experience.”
- “There is very limited gameplay and story to experience here, and there's nothing that really differentiates this one from the rest of the platformers pouring onto Steam right now.”
music
18 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the retro feel and solid tracks, others find it overly bass-heavy, repetitive, and lacking variety across different stages. Overall, it contributes positively to the game's atmosphere but may not leave a lasting impression for all players.
- “The actual songs are great.”
- “Fun game with really, really good music.”
- “Great pixel art visual design, fun music and good controls using a controller.”
- “The biggest thing that bothered me about this game is the music itself.”
- “The music is okay, but fails to vary from stage to stage very well.”
- “It doesn't really form its own identity, and just seems like another space-themed song that could be found in any other platformer game such as this.”
story
17 mentions
18 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered shallow and underdeveloped, with many reviewers noting a lack of cutscenes and background details that could enhance the narrative experience. While the main objective involves collecting gems to save a character, the plot feels simplistic and poorly integrated with the gameplay, leading to a lackluster overall experience. Many players express a desire for more substantial story elements and innovation to elevate the game's narrative.
- “Fun, short (~2 hours to 100%) action platformer with pixel graphics, reminiscent of older titles, with a simple, straightforward story, decent gameplay and nice pixel graphics and chiptune music, got me glued until I finished it.”
- “Your objective is to collect a total of 200 gems to save your mom's (the moon queen) life, and as a plot it works.”
- “There could have been more cutscenes to flesh out the story a bit more, but other than that, this game is a true winner for me.”
- “The story isn't really that important to the game.”
- “There isn't much of a story to be found here.”
- “Unfortunately the game does not build on the story or provide any additional background details as you play through.”
graphics
15 mentions
40 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their sharp, smooth visuals and retro-inspired pixel art, reminiscent of classic platformers like Mega Man and Super Mario. While the art style is considered a strong point, some players noted issues with frame rate discrepancies between the player sprite and background, which could cause eye strain. Overall, the visuals are described as beautiful and polished, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Although the graphics are more like the older generation games like Mega Man, Super Mario, and Metroid, they are brilliantly done.”
- “Very sharp, smooth visuals, and from what I played, a very polished game.”
- “The best thing going for this game is its visuals.”
- “However, there seems to be a stark difference in the FPS for the player sprite compared with the background visuals, which made my eyes strain a bit when playing the game.”
- “Backed the game on Kickstarter based on the pixel art and visuals, but the game itself kind of disappoints.”
- “The art style is a strength, and the music feels retro.”
stability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marked by several control glitches, such as issues with dash cancellation and double-jump execution, as well as instances of getting stuck in level gateways. While these bugs detract from the overall experience, some players find them endearing and reminiscent of older games, suggesting that the game's charm outweighs its flaws. Overall, it is described as a fun but deeply flawed experience due to its buggy nature.
- “I ran into a few odd control glitches here and there (a dash I couldn't cancel until I was pretty much out of power, a point where the double-jump just wouldn't execute right over an insta-death trap, and more than a few moments where I got stuck inside the level gateways) but having put up with far worse as a kid playing games that looked and played just like this one, I'm more of the 'its flaws make it more charming than less' camp.”
- “Ammo Pigs is a fun game, but a deeply flawed game mostly due to its buggy nature.”
- “Graphically the game looks great, music is solid but gets repetitive after a while, and minus a few minor glitches the game handles great.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, citing simplistic levels and repetitive boss fights that lack innovation and polish. This combination leads to a lackluster experience that detracts from overall enjoyment.
- “Between the simplistic levels, tedious boss fights, and a handful of bugs, the lack of innovation and polish is clear almost immediately.”
- “The lack of innovation, combined with the overly simplistic gameplay and poorly incorporated story, resulted in a lackluster and tedious experience.”
optimization
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is highly praised, with users noting that the art style, controls, sound design, gameplay mechanics, and overall performance are exceptional for an indie title.
- “The art style, controls, sound design, gameplay mechanics, and performance are top-notch for an indie game.”
replayability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Many users note that the game lacks replay value, as once completed, the save file becomes essentially useless, leading only to the end cutscene and credits upon reloading.
- “There is no replay value, and your save file becomes worthless once you beat the game. Loading it will only trigger the end cutscene and credits.”
- “The game lacks any meaningful choices that would encourage multiple playthroughs.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to return, as the experience feels complete and unchangeable.”