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Moonbase Alpha

Moonbase Alpha Game Cover
92%Game Brain Score
humor, story
stability, grinding
92% User Score Based on 10,451 reviews

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PCWindows
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Moonbase Alpha Game Cover

About

Moonbase Alpha is a single player and multiplayer sport game. It was developed by Virtual Heroes and was released on July 6, 2010. It received very positive reviews from players.

In Moonbase Alpha, players become astronauts working to restore a lunar settlement after a meteorite impact. By managing resources and coordinating repairs with robots and rovers, players must race against time to restart the settlement's life support system. Success can be achieved through various strategies, making for a engaging and replayable experience.

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Moonbase Alpha screenshot
Moonbase Alpha screenshot
Moonbase Alpha screenshot
Moonbase Alpha screenshot
Moonbase Alpha screenshot
Moonbase Alpha screenshot
Moonbase Alpha screenshot
Moonbase Alpha screenshot
Moonbase Alpha screenshot
Moonbase Alpha screenshot
Moonbase Alpha screenshot
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92%
Audience ScoreBased on 10,451 reviews
humor445 positive mentions
stability28 negative mentions
  • The text-to-speech feature adds a hilarious and entertaining element to the game, enhancing the overall fun, especially in multiplayer settings.
  • The game's atmosphere is immersive and captivating, drawing players into the world of space exploration with impressive realism.
  • The emotional storyline evokes strong feelings and connections among players, making it a memorable experience.
  • The gameplay is often described as repetitive and simplistic, with many players feeling it lacks depth and variety.
  • The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including bugs and poor performance, which detract from the overall experience.
  • Many players find the humor to be outdated and cringeworthy, with recycled jokes that fall flat.
  • humor
    446 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this game primarily stems from its text-to-speech (TTS) feature, which players find hilariously entertaining, often leading to spontaneous laughter and absurd interactions. Many reviews highlight the game's community-driven humor, where players engage in silly banter and inside jokes, making the experience enjoyable, especially in multiplayer settings. While the gameplay itself may be repetitive and simplistic, the comedic potential of the TTS system and the antics of players elevate the overall fun factor, making it a memorable and amusing experience.

    • “The hilarious part about this game is that it's made by NASA, a government agency, and it's only known because of how hilarious the text-to-speech is.”
    • “This game is so hilarious, especially with the text-to-speech feature that really makes it funny.”
    • “The text-to-speech function is making this game a billion times more hilarious than it is.”
    • “The humor feels outdated and falls flat.”
    • “Many of the jokes are recycled and lack originality.”
    • “I found the attempts at humor to be more cringeworthy than funny.”
  • story
    308 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story revolves around a single mission where players must repair a lunar base after a meteor strike, focusing on teamwork and strategic gameplay. While some players appreciate the humor and graphics, many express disappointment over the lack of content, as the game primarily features repetitive missions with little narrative depth. Overall, the storyline is seen as minimal and underdeveloped, with a strong desire from players for more varied missions and richer storytelling.

    • “It has a very deep and interesting storyline, the graphics are just so great and the message behind this game is just so heartwarming.”
    • “Beautiful story, well developed gameplay, amazing characters and breathtaking visuals.”
    • “The story begins when you, a 14-year-old, gaze at the stars and wish that one day you...”
    • “The gameplay is entertaining, but there's unfortunately only one mission.”
    • “There is only 1 actual mission, and the game ends after like 20 minutes of work.”
    • “The game has nothing but the same type of mission over and over and over again; once you have finished it, it is the end of the game.”
  • gameplay
    246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and repetitiveness, often describing it as more of a tech demo than a fully fleshed-out experience. While some appreciate the time management and cooperative elements, others find the gameplay tedious and lacking in depth, often overshadowed by the humorous text-to-speech feature that many players enjoy more than the actual mechanics. Overall, it seems that the game is best enjoyed in a social context, where the fun of interacting with friends can compensate for the limited gameplay variety.

    • “The combination of the relaxed gameplay and the text-to-speech has allowed this game to be a transcendental experience.”
    • “The gameplay consists of making your way out to different parts of the moon base that need repairs, and completing little puzzles to fix the issues using a few tools, a car, and a little rover to help.”
    • “The gameplay of this game will immediately get you addicted.”
    • “Very boring and repetitive gameplay; a good concept but fails in execution.”
    • “The gameplay is slow and somewhat mundane.”
    • “The actual gameplay is bland, but just the fact that you're walking around the moon with other people, talking hilarious gibberish is enough fun for me!”
  • graphics
    164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as stunning and realistic, particularly for a free title, while others criticize them as outdated or reminiscent of older games. Many comments highlight the visuals as a strong point, contributing to an immersive experience, but there are also significant mentions of technical issues and a lack of polish that detract from the overall graphical quality. Overall, the graphics seem to be a polarizing aspect, with opinions ranging from "next-gen" to "terrible."

    • “This game is life-changing, amazingly good, stunning on visuals.”
    • “The graphics are top-notch, the physics are mind-blowing, and the gameplay will suck you in so that you want to keep playing for all hours of the day.”
    • “The graphics in Moonbase Alpha top even Crysis 3 and have made many a computer catch fire.”
    • “Probably not very entertaining as the graphics and movement are imported from Lumber Tycoon 2 on Roblox.”
    • “This 'NASA funded' game has ridiculous physics and the worst graphics I've ever seen.”
    • “Graphics are terrible, looks like it's from 1999.”
  • music
    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising the innovative use of text-to-speech (TTS) for creating humorous and creative songs, leading to a vibrant community of music experimentation. While some enjoy the original soundtrack and find it beautiful, others criticize it for being minimal or irritating. Overall, the TTS feature is highlighted as the standout element, allowing players to engage in playful song composition and share laughs with friends.

    • “It is a beautiful combination of inspiring notes and sounds that combine into a piece of art that brings tears to the eyes.”
    • “The real non-text-to-speech soundtrack is so beautiful.”
    • “The award-winning soundtrack perfectly reflects the alien atmosphere and gives an extra layer to the experience.”
    • “The music is so loud and irritating.”
    • “Music: almost none.”
    • “There is a small collection of thematically appropriate background music, but it's not notable.”
  • stability
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is frequently criticized for being highly buggy and unpolished, with players experiencing various glitches that can affect gameplay, such as connection issues and slow performance. Despite these problems, many users find the game enjoyable, especially in multiplayer settings, where the bugs can lead to entertaining moments. Overall, while the game has charm and fun mechanics, it requires significant improvements to its stability and optimization.

    • “The game runs smoothly with absolutely no glitches or hiccups in the coding of the game engine.”
    • “I experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime, which made for an enjoyable experience.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay without any interruptions.”
    • “Sadly it feels very unpolished and rather buggy, but it's possible to play and experience the rather short experience.”
    • “A friend and I were unable to connect to anyone's game, and even when we tried playing together, it was very slow and buggy.”
    • “Unfortunately, it still has some very buggy core gameplay mechanics that need fixing.”
  • emotional
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its deep and heartwarming storyline, which evokes strong feelings of joy, sadness, and connection among players. Many reviewers noted that the game led them to tears, whether through its touching narrative about love and life's hardships or the immersive experience of teamwork and camaraderie. Overall, it is described as an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impact, making it a standout title in the gaming landscape.

    • “It has a very deep and interesting storyline, the graphics are just so great and the message behind this game is just so heartwarming.”
    • “Tears welled up in my eyes as I played this wonderful game full of joy and overwhelming moments all over the moon.”
    • “The graphics are impeccable and the storyline is heartbreaking (I had to quit the game at least 27 times to let my emotions out).”
  • grinding
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time to progress. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of tasks and the slow pace of gameplay, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the tension it brings, the consensus leans towards a desire for a more streamlined experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Alone it gets tedious, especially if you have to play the same level over and over to get a good time.”
    • “Slow, tedious, and boring.”
  • replayability
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, with many users noting that it is enjoyable for a short session but lacks depth for repeated play. While some players appreciate the randomized elements and challenge of improving performance, the consensus is that the game does not offer enough variation or content to sustain long-term interest. It is best suited for casual play rather than extensive replay.

    • “It's a shame there was never a sequel, but I think the game does enough on its own to make it extremely replayable.”
    • “The game itself is fun, is randomized enough to offer decent replay value, especially if you want to challenge yourself to be ever faster.”
    • “Then later you can explore the entire moon (random map generation so high replay value).”
    • “This game is as replayable as a clip of paint drying.”
    • “The game has little to no replay value.”
    • “Boring as hell alone, obnoxious when you're not alone, negligible replay value, not enough variation between the three missions...”
  • atmosphere
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its impressive realism and immersive qualities, creating a captivating experience that draws players into the world of space exploration. The combination of photorealistic graphics, a haunting soundtrack, and minimalist gameplay contributes to a calm yet eerie ambiance, making it easy for players to become engrossed in the environment. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both addictive and rich, enhancing the game's appeal despite its lighthearted elements.

    • “The atmosphere of space exploration is impressive and addictive!”
    • “The award-winning soundtrack perfectly reflects the alien atmosphere and gives an extra layer to the experience.”
    • “Don't be surprised if you find yourself stopping every thirty seconds just to take in the wondrous atmosphere and the vast, crater-pocked terrain around you.”
    • “Why would a scientific organization think it would be a good idea to colonize the moon which has no atmosphere, no oxygen, and is constantly struck by meteors?”
    • “It's most notable feature is its infamous text-to-speech which really adds to the intense atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Atmosphere 6/10”
  • optimization
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent technical bugs, poor performance, and inconsistent framerates even on high-end PCs. Many reviewers suggest that the game is in dire need of updates and improvements, as it currently suffers from significant optimization issues that detract from the overall experience. Despite some praise for its concept and elements like sound design, the consensus is that the game's performance is severely lacking.

    • “The best course of action would be to re-create this game in a leading and free game engine with newer optimization methods and stability assurances.”
    • “Even a high-end PC can have trouble maintaining a consistent framerate with relatively modest graphics settings, evidence of ongoing optimization struggles.”
    • “Best physics, gunplay, graphics, performance, and John Madden I've seen in any game ever created.”
    • “The game may occasionally encounter technical bugs or show performance deficiencies.”
    • “Even a high-end PC can have trouble maintaining a consistent framerate with relatively modest graphics settings, evidence of the game's ongoing optimization struggles.”
    • “Unoptimized, buggy, has glitches, and almost no one plays it.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a divide in opinions on monetization; some users feel the absence of microtransactions and grinding is a positive feature, while others believe the game lacks depth and progression, suggesting that microtransactions could enhance the experience. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to be a point of contention among players.

    • “There are absolutely no microtransactions, no grinding, and no time-wasting progression system.”
    • “I think we need to make microtransactions, however.”
    • “0/10 - needs microtransactions.”
    • “There are absolutely no microtransactions, no grinding, no hour-wasting progression system.”
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2h Median play time
46h Average play time
2-8h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Moonbase Alpha is a sport game.

Moonbase Alpha is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 46 hours playing Moonbase Alpha.

Moonbase Alpha was released on July 6, 2010.

Moonbase Alpha was developed by Virtual Heroes.

Moonbase Alpha has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its humor but disliked it for its stability.

Moonbase Alpha is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Rogue State, Space Wars: Interstellar Empires, I Am Your President: Prologue, PULSAR: Lost Colony, Masters of the World: Geopolitical Simulator 3 and others.