NEBULOUS: Fleet Command

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NEBULOUS: Fleet Command is a single player and multiplayer tactical real-time strategy game with warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by Eridanus Industries and was released on February 11, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

"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.

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,237 reviews

gameplay169 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and in-depth tactical space combat experience, allowing for extensive ship customization and strategic gameplay.
The community is generally welcoming and supportive, providing assistance to new players and fostering a collaborative environment.
The developer is transparent about the game's development and actively engages with the community, which adds to the overall positive experience.

The cancellation of the promised single-player campaign and conquest mode has left many players feeling disappointed and misled about the game's future.
The steep learning curve can be overwhelming for new players, making it difficult to enjoy the game without significant time investment and community support.
The multiplayer experience can be frustrating due to a small player base dominated by highly experienced players, making it challenging for newcomers to compete.

gameplay
615 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The gameplay of "Nebulous: Fleet Command" is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, offering a unique blend of tactical ship combat and extensive customization options. While the game features a steep learning curve that can be daunting for new players, many find the experience rewarding once they grasp the intricacies of fleet design and combat strategies. However, the current focus on multiplayer skirmishes, coupled with a lack of engaging single-player content, has left some players feeling that the game lacks variety and depth in its gameplay options.
- “Gameplay-wise, it is a very fun tactical ship game that offers you a lot of choices in how you want to approach problems with a variety of tactics that can be used.”
- “Nebulous: Fleet Command offers a deep and intricate gameplay experience with a multitude of mechanics to explore during battles.”
- “The mechanics are complex, but the fully-voiced tutorial does a good job of walking you through the basics.”
- “There seems to be an unspoken expectation that you should know a lot of the game's mechanics, and what acronyms mean right from the get-go. This is outright hostile to new players if you don't know what anything means, and while people aren't immediate to cuss you out, I personally felt I was being judged and given condescending tones or judgmental questions just for not knowing stuff.”
- “The game itself has many detailed mechanics such as the sensor and missiles, which encourage a great breadth of fleets. However, the only gameplay here right now is PvP, and I'd argue only 2v2s and 4v4s or more are very viable at that.”
- “The actual gameplay is very different from what you may be used to. The gameplay structure right now is simply individual team PvP battles, and there are currently no collision mechanics in the game, which does not make sense from a physics or gameplay perspective.”
story
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
80%
9%
The game's current story aspect is largely absent, with no campaign or substantial single-player content available at launch, consisting only of tutorial missions and multiplayer skirmishes. Players express hope for future updates that will introduce a more structured campaign or story mode, but as of now, the lack of narrative depth and engaging missions is a significant drawback. While some players appreciate the game's mechanics and potential, many feel that the absence of a compelling story limits its overall appeal.
- “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.”
- “The campaign is nonexistent beyond some tutorial missions that ill prepare you for multiplayer.”
- “No story line, and no actual campaign.”
- “There's no campaign, story or mission whatsoever.”
graphics
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the clean, realistic ship designs and immersive visuals that evoke a military-industrial aesthetic, while others criticize the art style as outdated and lacking detail. Many agree that the visuals serve the gameplay well, prioritizing tactical depth over graphical fidelity, though some express a desire for modernization and improvements. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are often described as functional and atmospheric, complementing the game's strategic mechanics.
- “Ship designs are clean and realistic, with a grounded, military-industrial aesthetic.”
- “The depth of strategy is enthralling, and the simple visuals are charming, gritty, and utilitarian, painted over with clever nods to US Navy ship design.”
- “The visuals are stunning.”
- “I really hate the graphics.”
- “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.”
music
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
43%
6%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its fantastic and atmospheric soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience, especially during battles. While many players praise the quality and fitting nature of the tracks, some note a lack of variety, leading to occasional repetitiveness. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's immersive qualities.
- “The soundtrack is incredible, and it really adds to the experience during battle.”
- “The music is phenomenal; it feels like the climax to a movie during every battle.”
- “The attention to detail is phenomenal, the atmospheric music and visual effects evoke the best of Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse.”
- “The soundtrack, though one must turn it off at some point, as there's only a handful of tracks that get somewhat repetitive, also has fantastic vibes for the game, especially your first time booting up that fleet editor; it really contributes to the wonder and exploration of what you can do with the hulls.”
- “The music, limited though it is, is also incredible.”
- “You can always mute it and put on your own spacey sci-fi stuff in the background, but I would love to see a much more diverse soundtrack in the future (e.g., Stellaris' soundtrack would be a good example of what I would want).”
optimization
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
78%
7%
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. Many users report that the game runs well on higher-end systems but struggles on lower-end hardware, leading to frustrating experiences in multiplayer matches. Overall, while there are positive aspects to the optimization, such as improved performance in certain areas, the game still faces challenges that detract from the overall experience, especially for casual players.
- “Props to the developers for making such a great, intelligent, optimized game!”
- “Performance is alright; things only bog down when the game has to compute 40+ missiles at once.”
- “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.”
- “Multiplayer matches are dead, unoptimized jank.”
- “The game is not optimized very well, with large battles lowering FPS considerably.”
- “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
36%
50%
14%
The reviews highlight a mixed perspective on replayability in the game, with some praising its high replay value due to strong multiplayer elements, customization options, and community content, while others criticize the lack of single-player replayability and repetitive gameplay. The potential for future updates and modding support suggests that replayability could improve over time, but currently, it varies significantly based on player preferences and game modes. Overall, the game shows promise for extensive replayability, particularly in multiplayer settings.
- “With its strong replay value and satisfying gameplay, Nebulous: Fleet Command is a standout title well worth investing time into.”
- “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
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
81%
9%
10%
The atmosphere in "Nebulous: Fleet Command" is widely praised for its depth and immersive qualities, enhanced by impressive visuals, sound design, and attention to detail. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke emotional engagement and a sense of realism through its damage models and cinematic elements, creating a unique and captivating experience in space strategy gameplay. Despite some concerns about metagame factors, the overall ambiance and tactical depth contribute to a highly atmospheric gaming experience.
- “Nebulous: Fleet Command is a very well-made space strategy game which creates an amazing atmosphere and combat.”
- “The game has great atmosphere, artwork, and sound.”
- “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.”
- “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
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
33%
62%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the absence of traditional grinding mechanics, many find the gameplay tedious and overly complex, particularly in maneuvering ships. The lack of customization options and the need for significant time investment to improve skills contribute to a sense of frustration for some players. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements, the tedious nature of gameplay may deter those looking for a more streamlined experience.
- “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.”
- “The game feels great, but it's a little bit tedious to play.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
65%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting a range of glitches and bugs typical of a beta release, including issues with the tutorial and multiplayer crashes. However, many players also note that the game is more polished and functional than some fully launched titles, expressing optimism for its potential as updates roll out. While some technical problems persist, the core gameplay is generally considered stable and enjoyable, especially on higher-end systems.
- “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 four 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.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of absurdity and irony, with players finding amusement in broken strategies, quirky weapon mechanics, and the often comical behavior of AI. Many reviews highlight the enjoyment derived from the game's eccentricities, such as the "funny container" references and the hilarity of skirmish pacing, though some players note that the humor can occasionally become frustrating. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, making it entertaining despite its flaws.
- “I have zero clue what I'm doing, all I know is the funny mass driver makes enemy armor go away.”
- “Loved the funny OSP faction with their small ships.”
- “Commit space war crimes, it's very funny.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from frustration with technical issues to a deep sense of connection within a welcoming community. Players experience a unique blend of tactical triumph and vulnerability, often feeling both like a genius and a novice. The game's atmosphere and emotional depth resonate beyond its visuals, creating a compelling experience that can lead to both joy and sorrow.
- “The community is very welcoming and wholesome.”
- “It is, however, atmospheric and emotional in a way that the flashiest visuals alone cannot transport.”
- “Enemy suffers damage on multiple dimensions including physical and emotional.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
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 at launch. Additionally, the marketing may mislead players into expecting a real-time strategy (RTS) game, which it is not.
- “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 worried 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.”