Skip to main content

NEBULOUS: Fleet Command

83%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding, stability
83% User Score Based on 3,021 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows
Buy Nowfrom $8.78
Buy NowGet on Steam$29.99

About

"NEBULOUS: Fleet Command" is a real-time strategy game that puts you in charge of a fleet of ships in a procedurally generated universe. Build and customize your ships, establish economies, and engage in tactical combat against AI or other players. Navigate nebulas, supernovae, and other space phenomena while managing resources and making strategic decisions to ensure your fleet's survival and domination.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
NEBULOUS: Fleet Command screenshot
NEBULOUS: Fleet Command screenshot
NEBULOUS: Fleet Command screenshot
NEBULOUS: Fleet Command screenshot
NEBULOUS: Fleet Command screenshot
NEBULOUS: Fleet Command screenshot
NEBULOUS: Fleet Command screenshot

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,021 reviews
gameplay158 positive mentions
grinding12 negative mentions
  • Incredible depth and customization options for ships and missiles, allowing for unique fleet compositions.
  • Engaging tactical gameplay that rewards strategic thinking and positioning, reminiscent of naval warfare.
  • Active and friendly community that is willing to help new players learn the game.
  • Single-player campaign and conquest mode have been cancelled, leaving only skirmish mode available.
  • Steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for new players, with a lack of adequate tutorials.
  • Multiplayer matches can be dominated by experienced players, making it difficult for newcomers to enjoy the game.
  • gameplay
    571 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Nebulous: Fleet Command" is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, offering a unique blend of tactical space combat and ship customization. While many players appreciate the intricate systems and strategic depth, the steep learning curve and lack of a comprehensive single-player campaign can make it challenging for newcomers. Overall, the game excels in providing a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in mastering its mechanics, though the current focus on multiplayer skirmishes may limit its appeal to a broader audience.

    • “The gameplay is incredibly intense, with a huge amount of buildup, until everything comes to a point, missiles start flying, guns start blasting, and ships start exploding.”
    • “The mechanics are great, the pacing may be a bit slow for some people but I think it fits the feel of this game perfectly, and the battles are often tense and compelling.”
    • “Nebulous fleet command offers a deep and intricate gameplay experience with a multitude of mechanics to explore during battles.”
    • “Regarding gameplay, the game is incredibly tedious.”
    • “The game itself has many detailed mechanics such as the sensor and missiles, which encourage a great breadth of fleets.”
    • “The only negative is that the tutorials are woefully under-equipped to explain the game to you, as they only really cover the basics of gameplay - no mention of the robust customization options or good combinations of forces.”
  • story
    143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game currently lacks a traditional story or campaign mode, relying instead on a limited set of tutorial missions and multiplayer skirmishes. Players express a strong desire for a more structured single-player experience, including a narrative-driven campaign that could enhance engagement and provide context for the gameplay. While the developers have hinted at future story content, many reviewers feel that the absence of a compelling narrative detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The ships and effects look great, the weaponry feels weighty, the design differences between the factions providing substance to what is evolving into an interesting story.”
    • “I also adored the lore and backstory that the game attaches to every subsystem and module; this is an attention to detail so often skipped by even triple-A games but shows these developers have a heart and passion for their backstory and content.”
    • “I was hoping for a campaign with plot and world factions (and I still hope for one), but even without this, the game is quite addicting.”
    • “No storyline, and no actual campaign.”
    • “Currently, there is no singleplayer campaign (though a few modded missions have been created).”
    • “There's no campaign, story, or mission whatsoever.”
  • graphics
    136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming and utilitarian art style that evokes a sense of realism and atmosphere, while others criticize the visuals as outdated or lacking polish. Many users note that the graphics serve the gameplay well, emphasizing strategy over visual fidelity, though there are concerns about performance on integrated graphics systems. Overall, while the aesthetic is often described as appealing and fitting for the game's themes, there is a consensus that improvements could enhance the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are stylized beautifully.”
    • “The visuals are stunning.”
    • “The graphics are purposeful.”
    • “The graphics are from the 90's.”
    • “Execution is poor and it seems this is a sort of alpha version of the game not even beta :-( graphics are worse than original Homeworld back from the 90's and the interface is just horrible.”
    • “I am not a fan of the 80's graphics.”
  • music
    49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's soundtrack has received widespread acclaim for its epic and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall gameplay experience, especially during battles. While many players praise the music as phenomenal and fitting for the game's themes, some note that the limited variety of tracks can lead to repetition. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive environment.

    • “The game features probably the best soundtrack for a space game and mood-appropriate visuals.”
    • “The soundtrack is terrific, and I've never had a boring game.”
    • “The attention to detail is phenomenal, the atmospheric music and visual effects evoke the best of Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse, and even real-world historical 'wet navy' engagements.”
    • “The soundtrack, though one must turn it off at some point, has only a handful of tracks that get somewhat repetitive.”
    • “The music, limited though it is, is also incredible.”
    • “I would love to see a much more diverse soundtrack in the future; for example, Stellaris' soundtrack would be a good example of what I would want.”
  • optimization
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its stability and regular bug fixes, while others criticize significant performance issues during large battles, particularly with missile swarms. Although the game runs well on higher-end systems, many users report stutters and frame drops, especially in intense scenarios, indicating that further optimization is needed. Additionally, the focus on multiplayer and competitive play has led to a perception that the game is overly optimized for experienced players, potentially alienating newcomers.

    • “Props to the developers for making such a great, intelligent, optimized game!”
    • “It's very stable and I have not experienced any crashes or performance issues, except some FPS drops when a truly heinous amount of missiles are on the screen.”
    • “Performance has been very good on my 1080ti and R5 3600.”
    • “The game is not optimized very well, with large battles lowering FPS considerably.”
    • “This probably has driven development towards optimization and bug fixing, but has unavoidably detracted from other features this game badly needs like procedural battlespaces which are a bit more varied, or growing the tactical game into an organic 'operational' level.”
    • “Additionally, the game has some notable stutters and performance issues when too much happens at once (mostly when missile swarms launch), and some players have reported general performance problems.”
  • replayability
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its high potential and enjoyable multiplayer experiences, while others criticize the lack of single-player content and repetitive gameplay. Community-created content and modding support enhance replayability for some, but the absence of significant updates or new game modes has left others feeling that the game lacks long-term replay value. Overall, while there are elements that promise endless replayability, the current state of the game may not satisfy all players.

    • “Overall, high quality game, replayability is very high and is quite enjoyable.”
    • “One of the best RTS games on the market right now, incredible battles, good visuals that don't require a beefy PC to run, and great customization and replayability makes for a really fun gaming experience.”
    • “The replayability here is quite frankly endless, and you will rarely, if ever, stumble across another player who has designed a ship exactly the same as you.”
    • “So there's not really much in the way of replayability unless you can convince friends to play.”
    • “There is no long-term replayability outside of yet another match.”
    • “So the game has nothing else for me to offer other than one-and-done modded campaigns with no replay value whatsoever.”
  • atmosphere
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its depth and immersion, enhanced by detailed mechanics such as damage models and atmospheric effects. Players appreciate the combination of engaging artwork, sound design, and tactical gameplay that evokes emotional responses, reminiscent of iconic sci-fi series. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as captivating and meticulously crafted, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “The atmosphere is amazing and the weight of your ships feels superb.”
    • “Nebulous captures the imagination with cool cinematics, an atmospheric soundtrack, and the promise of more ships, factions, and a campaign mode.”
    • “The attention to detail is phenomenal, the atmospheric music and visual effects evoke the best of Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse, and even real-world historical 'wet navy' engagements.”
    • “Graphics are fine; you'll probably spend a lot of time in the tactical view anyway, which might not look like much, but is very functional while, like for instance the game Duskers, doing a lot to enhance the atmosphere.”
    • “Damaged vessels burn and vent atmosphere, with critically-damaged vessels jettisoning escape pods in rapid succession.”
    • “But, does it speak volumes as to how absolutely immersed the devs and the community are for building up this game's world and atmosphere?”
  • grinding
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and overly complex, with many players finding the gameplay clunky and frustrating. While some appreciate the immersive experience and the potential for skill improvement, the lack of engaging content outside of grinding leads to a sentiment that significant time investment is required for minimal reward. Overall, players suggest that those not willing to commit extensive hours may find the game unappealing.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Regarding gameplay, the game is incredibly tedious.”
    • “Stay away from this if you are not interested in investing thousands of hours just grinding in multiplayer, because there is nothing else here - which is incredibly sad.”
    • “I find the gameplay pretty tedious so, without some other layer to it, no point in playing.”
  • stability
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting significant bugs and crashes, particularly during skirmishes and tutorials. However, others note that the game runs well on various systems and is more polished than many post-launch titles, indicating that while it is still in early access, it has a solid core experience. Players express a desire for further bug fixes and improvements, especially regarding the tutorial and certain gameplay mechanics.

    • “First off, the game is more polished, functional, and bug-free in early access than many, if not most, big-name games (like Helldivers at the moment) are post-launch.”
    • “The build, even if it is in early access, is very stable and bug-free, and in the future, they promised 4 features that will make the game a complete product.”
    • “Even though it is in early access, the core of the game is there and is brilliantly playable and bug-free.”
    • “It is a bummer that conquest is cut and releasing an unfinished buggy build with conquest in it and saying that it's not going to even be bugfixed is not a good response.”
    • “No matter what I have tried, this game freezes and shuts down every time I try a skirmish.”
    • “It's buggy and doesn't represent the product or even the next conquest iteration.”
  • emotional
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, with a welcoming community that enhances the experience. The depth of gameplay evokes a range of feelings, from tactical genius to frustration, while the atmospheric elements contribute to a unique emotional resonance that transcends mere visuals. However, some players express a desire for improvements in gameplay mechanics and single-player content to fully realize the emotional potential of the game.

    • “The community is very welcoming and wholesome.”
    • “No other game made me feel like a tactical genius and a dribbling imbecile simultaneously.”
    • “It is, however, atmospheric and emotional in a way that the flashiest visuals alone cannot transport.”
  • humor
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd and chaotic elements, such as the amusing interactions of ships and weapons, including the hilarity of corkscrew torpedoes and the antics of AI teammates. Players find joy in the game's quirky mechanics and the often ridiculous outcomes of skirmishes, which can lead to both laughter and frustration. Overall, the game's comedic aspects contribute to a lighthearted experience, making it entertaining despite some occasional annoyances.

    • “Loved the funny OSP faction with their small ships.”
    • “Beam destroyers are hilarious now that they're fixed.”
    • “Commit space war crimes; it's very funny.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, which enhances the overall experience. However, there is some disappointment regarding the developer's decision to abandon the initially advertised "man mode" due to concerns about bugs, leading to a disconnect between marketing and the actual gameplay.

    • “The best part about that is there are no microtransactions to do a little here and there.”
    • “The developers killed the mode they were advertising for this game because they were concerned about too many bugs on day one.”
    • “The trailers, tags, and advertising make it seem like an RTS, which it is not.”
    • “There are no microtransactions.”

Buy NEBULOUS: Fleet Command

45h Median play time
152h Average play time
8-300h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like NEBULOUS: Fleet Command

WARNO

WARNO

Action
Carrier Command 2 Image
81%4.3kreviews

Carrier Command 2

2021Tactical Simulation
PCPCWindowsWindowsMac OSMac OS+1
Cosmoteer Image
95%6.8kreviews

Cosmoteer

2022Real-time Strategy
PCPCWindowsWindows
Mechabellum Image
86%6.7kreviews

Mechabellum

2024Tactical Strategy
PCPCWindowsWindows
Children of a Dead Earth Image
89%607reviews

Children of a Dead Earth

2016Real-time Strategy
PCPCWindowsWindowsMac OSMac OS