NEBULOUS: Fleet Command

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,528 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
NEBULOUS: Fleet Command Game Cover
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"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.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,528 reviews
gameplay130 positive mentions
stability11 negative mentions
  • The game features highly customizable ships and missiles, allowing for a wide variety of strategies and playstyles.
  • The tactical gameplay is engaging, with a focus on electronic warfare and positioning, making each battle feel impactful.
  • The developer is transparent and communicative with the community, showing a commitment to improving the game based on player feedback.
  • The cancellation of the highly anticipated conquest mode has disappointed many players who were looking forward to a single-player experience.
  • The learning curve is steep, making it challenging for new players to get into the game without significant time investment.
  • The multiplayer community can be unwelcoming to newcomers, often dominated by experienced players with hundreds or thousands of hours in the game.
  • gameplay465 mentions

    The gameplay of "Nebulous: Fleet Command" is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, offering a unique blend of tactical space combat and extensive ship customization. While the game features a steep learning curve and can be slow-paced, it rewards players who invest time in mastering its systems, such as electronic warfare and missile tactics. However, the current focus on multiplayer skirmishes and the lack of a single-player campaign have left some players feeling that the gameplay options are limited and less engaging over time.

    • “There is a lot of depth to the gameplay, including endless customization with missile design and more is coming with the strike craft update.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, and I like the highly customizable ships, but the multiplayer is on life support, with only two or three dozen people on at peak.”
    • “The tactical depth, customizability, mechanical depth, and moment-to-moment gameplay are frankly amazing.”
    • “And the gameplay options are quite thin for now.”
    • “While great for providing longevity, the game is lacking in ways to keep the player engaged enough to want to actually learn the systems and mechanics this game has.”
    • “The other reason I am not recommending the game is that in the apology video the developer released he specified that the core gameplay loop he wished to focus on was the skirmish battles, where one only really controls 3-4 ships, making somebody wonder why this game is called Nebulous 'Fleet Command'.”
  • graphics121 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the unique art style and atmospheric visuals reminiscent of "The Expanse" and "Homeworld," while others criticize them as outdated or lacking detail. Many agree that the visuals serve the gameplay well, emphasizing tactical depth over graphical fidelity, though some express a desire for modernization and improvement. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are functional and contribute to an engaging gaming experience.

    • “The visuals are stunning.”
    • “The graphics are stylized beautifully.”
    • “The game has great atmosphere, artwork, and sound.”
    • “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 the original Homeworld from the 90s and the interface is just horrible.”
    • “The graphics do need some work, but the basic mechanics are fun.”
  • story114 mentions

    The game's story aspect is currently lacking, with no campaign or substantial narrative content available at launch, leading to disappointment among players who hoped for a more immersive experience. While there are plans for a single-player campaign and additional story elements in the future, players feel that the existing lore is shallow and insufficient to engage them meaningfully. Many reviewers express a desire for a structured campaign that could enhance the gameplay and provide a richer context for the tactical battles.

    • “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.”
    • “An early access title with a slow, starsector-esque development cycle, and no story or scenarios worth engaging with so far.”
    • “Until the developer announced that he was going to stop development on conquest mode, and the only mention of maybe implementing a campaign may be some skirmish based missions, but at this point I frankly struggle to see how they can implement even that, as from everything I have seen it does not seem like the dev team has anyone who is a dedicated writer for their group as what little lore blurbs we have gotten for the game are frankly shallow and could have been written up as low effort GM notes in an afternoon.”
    • “Over a year from release and there is nothing about strategy in this game, nothing about storyline, nothing about single player campaign, only basic tutorial.”
  • music41 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its epic and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience, especially during battles. However, many users note that the soundtrack is limited in variety, leading to some repetitiveness over time. Despite this, the music is described as phenomenal and fitting, with players often wishing for a broader selection to complement the gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack is terrific, and I've never had a boring game.”
    • “The music is phenomenal; however, there isn't a lot of it yet.”
    • “Soundtrack: best music I've ever heard from a game in a long time; the menu music and in-game music (once everything kicks off) is beyond stellar, literally cannot describe it myself but definitely seems like the type of music you would hear in a 'last stand' kind of movie.”
    • “The soundtrack, though one must turn it off at some point, has only a handful of tracks that get somewhat repetitive.”
    • “The music is alright, currently just one banger track.”
    • “I would love to see a much more diverse soundtrack in the future; for example, Stellaris' soundtrack would be a good reference.”
  • optimization33 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its overall stability and performance, while others report significant issues, particularly during intense moments involving numerous missiles. Many feel that the focus on optimizing for PvP has detracted from the promised single-player content and variety, leading to a less enjoyable experience for those not interested in competitive play. Additionally, there are concerns about the game's controls, UI, and the presence of bugs, which hinder the overall experience despite the potential for improvement in future updates.

    • “On top of actually executing the basic capabilities of your fleet, each ship would need to be learned specifically to optimize your fleet's performance and make the difference in tough situations.”
    • “Props to the developers for making such a great, intelligent, optimized game!”
    • “Your tactics, your ship optimizations.”
    • “In fact, this is my biggest complaint about the game: there are a handful of players that have been playing for a couple of years, that all know each other, and have long saved optimized ship configurations, missiles, anti-missile missiles, etc. Although the community is very welcoming to new players, it's extremely punishing to those that don't know what they're doing.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability21 mentions

    Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it limited, particularly in single-player modes, others highlight the potential for endless replayability through multiplayer and community-created content. The absence of a long-term campaign and repetitive gameplay detracts from replay value, but modding support and future updates could enhance the experience significantly. Overall, the game's replayability largely hinges on multiplayer interactions and community contributions.

    • “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 means 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.”
    • “Mod integration has made this game very replayable.”
    • “So there's not really much in the way of replayability unless you can convince friends to play.”
    • “So the game has nothing else for me to offer other than one-and-done modded campaigns with no replay value whatsoever.”
    • “Limited replayability due to how repetitive it is.”
  • stability17 mentions

    Overall, user reviews indicate a mixed perception of stability in the game. While some players appreciate its relative polish and functionality compared to other early access titles, others report significant bugs, crashes, and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly in skirmish modes. The developers have acknowledged these issues, with some players expressing frustration over the lack of promised bug fixes for certain features.

    • “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.”
    • “It's buggy and doesn't represent the product or even the next conquest iteration.”
    • “No matter what I have tried, this game freezes and shuts down every time I try a skirmish.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional engagement, enhanced by impressive artwork, sound design, and immersive gameplay elements. Players appreciate the unique blend of tactical planning and brutal contests, with atmospheric details like damaged vessels venting atmosphere adding to the overall experience. The combination of cool cinematics and a compelling soundtrack further enriches the game's world, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “Of the war games I have played from tabletop to screen, Nebulous Fleet Command presents a unique atmosphere and brutal contests of planning compared to previous large platform engagement simulations.”
    • “The game has great atmosphere, artwork, and sound.”
    • “Nebulous captures the imagination with cool cinematics, an atmospheric soundtrack, and the promise of more ships, factions, and a campaign mode.”
    • “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?”
  • grinding13 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a tedious and time-consuming experience, often requiring a significant investment of hours, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players find enjoyment in aspects like fleet building, the overall sentiment suggests that the gameplay can feel clunky and overly complex, detracting from the fun. Players who are not prepared for extensive grinding may find the experience frustrating and lacking in variety.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I find the gameplay pretty tedious, so without some other layer to it, there's no point in playing.”
    • “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.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky factions, amusing ship mechanics, and the absurdity of AI behavior, which often leads to comical situations during gameplay. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone, with references to space war crimes and humorous balance issues, making the experience entertaining despite some frustrations. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute to its charm, even if they occasionally detract from the challenge.

    • “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.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally engaging, with a welcoming and wholesome community that enhances the experience. The game evokes a mix of feelings, from tactical triumph to frustration, while its atmospheric elements contribute to a deeper emotional resonance that transcends mere visuals. Additionally, the emotional impact of gameplay extends to both the player and in-game characters, creating a complex emotional landscape.

    • “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.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, providing a straightforward experience without additional costs. However, some users feel that the marketing may misrepresent the game's genre, suggesting it is an RTS when it is not.

    • “The best part about that is there are no microtransactions to do a little here and there.”
    • “There are no microtransactions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

56hMedian play time
140hAverage play time
8-200hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs

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