Nucleares

About

Nucleares is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Iván Marcelo Pretti and was released on March 13, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Nucleares" is a simulation game that can be played as a single-player, multi-player, or co-op experience for up to 2 players. The game lacks a tutorial, but offers a user manual, real-world resources, and a community for learning how to operate the nuclear reactor. The beta version of the co-op mode allows players to host their own game and invite others to join. However, the game is known to be buggy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+12

Skip User Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 602 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

stability21 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and detailed simulation of running a nuclear power plant, appealing to those interested in complex systems.
The developer is very active in updating the game and addressing bugs, showing a commitment to improving the player experience.
The community is helpful and supportive, providing resources and guidance for new players navigating the game's complexities.

The game lacks a proper tutorial, making it difficult for new players to understand the mechanics and operations of the reactor.
There are numerous bugs and performance issues that can disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration.
The gameplay can become repetitive once players master the reactor operations, with limited content beyond the initial learning phase.

gameplay
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
78%
5%
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of enjoyment and frustration, with players appreciating the intricate mechanics of managing a nuclear reactor but criticizing the lack of clear tutorials and inconsistent module naming. While some find the gameplay loop engaging and immersive, others point out bugs, unpolished mechanics, and a steep learning curve that can lead to repetitive experiences. Overall, the game offers a unique simulation experience, but many players feel it requires further refinement and better documentation to fully realize its potential.
- “The joy lies in immersing yourself in the intricate systems—adjusting valves, mastering mechanics, and experiencing the thrill of knowing that even the smallest misstep could lead to disaster.”
- “While it’s not a 100% realistic representation, the gameplay gives a perfect balance between gameplay and hardcore simulation.”
- “Overall, this game offers a unique and engaging experience for players who are eager to learn and master intricate mechanics.”
- “The idea is amazing, the execution less so; the naming of modules is very inconsistent, it's buggy, and the mechanics feel unpolished.”
- “Used to enjoy this game, until the last big update which introduced new mechanics with zero explanation on what they do, affect, etc. The developer needs to provide better explanations, tutorials, and control panel layouts, as well as actually placing the switches for the new valves on the corresponding control panel.”
- “So many game mechanics have no explanation, and this game isn't popular enough to have proper community-driven documentation.”
graphics
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
78%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting subpar performance and noticeable frame drops even on mid-range systems. While some appreciate the modest visuals given the game's indie development, others criticize the janky appearance and lack of optimization, suggesting that the graphics do not meet expectations for a game of its type. Overall, the graphics are deemed adequate for the simulation aspect, but significant improvements in performance and visual fidelity are desired.
- “While the graphics are modest, considering it's developed by a single individual, the mechanics are excellent and well thought out.”
- “Other than that, literally amazing game, and so compatible with my Intel integrated graphics and 8GB of RAM on Proton.”
- “A very fun game, decent graphics, and a good balance between complexity, realism, and simplicity.”
- “The only drawback is the low graphics performance (on GTX 1050 Ti the framerate in 2560x1440 does not exceed 40).”
- “In general, it is pretty frustrating when you get over the graphical stutters and low FPS and the steep learning curve to experience this kind of gameplay.”
- “Weird eurojank game, very fun and in-depth, only complaints are the graphics and sound effects look and feel like crusty Unity store assets.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely described as "buggy," with numerous players reporting glitches and instability, particularly in multiplayer modes. While many appreciate the game's potential and the developers' responsiveness to issues, the overall consensus is that it feels unfinished and requires significant polish and documentation. Despite these challenges, some players still find enjoyment in the gameplay, suggesting that improvements are on the horizon.
- “Honestly, it's a buggy mess; I would not recommend it at this stage.”
- “Consider the game an unfinished buggy demo.”
- “One of the most unstable multiplayer games I've ever played; it's a good game, but extremely buggy and needs an EA tag on it. It's a really shoddy business practice to not advertise your game as unfinished when it's clearly an unfinished game.”
optimization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
52%
32%
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting performance issues such as lag spikes, low frame rates, and high resource consumption even on mid to high-end systems. While some users appreciate the game's design and gameplay, they agree that substantial improvements are needed to enhance performance, particularly in outdoor views and overall graphical fidelity. Despite these concerns, some players remain hopeful for future updates to address these optimization shortcomings.
- “Awesome game in everything, I'm addicted already, but the performance of the game must be improved. It is fine, but it is noticeable that it's slow at times, and FPS drops on my mid-high-end range PC seem weird for such a 'graphically simple' game.”
- “Overall performance could be improved, but the game is really nice otherwise.”
- “There are some performance issues, but this isn't a shooter or anything that really needs smooth FPS, so it's not a factor in my opinion, at least not enough for me to recommend against it.”
- “Awesome game in everything, I'm addicted already, but the performance of the game must be improved. It is fine, but it is noticeable that it's slow at times, and FPS drops on my mid-high end range PC seem weird for such a 'graphically simple' game.”
- “Very, very badly in need of optimization.”
- “However, the dev needs to significantly improve the performance because this game runs like crap on a high-end system.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
61%
31%
The reviews indicate a general lack of a cohesive story, with multiple users noting that there is "no story" present in the game. However, one user suggests that incorporating training missions or scenarios could enhance the experience by providing context and functionality, hinting at a desire for some narrative elements to improve engagement.
- “No story.”
- “No story.”
- “No story.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
40%
50%
Players consistently express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring a significant investment of hours to progress. Many recommend consulting guides or videos to navigate the complex and frustrating mechanics, suggesting that enjoyment of the game may depend on one's tolerance for monotony and a keen interest in its technical aspects. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a major hurdle that could deter potential players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “So you're left with this both frustrating and tedious yet still interesting trial and error process, but I can tell you now, you will need to consult guides or watch videos of how to do certain things. I have 50+ hours in the game and I still can't get it right every time.”
- “You can upgrade your components, but it is so prohibitively expensive that it takes a huge amount of grinding to get there.”
- “Unless you are exceptionally interested in learning how pressurized water reactors work and grinding to figure out how that works in-game (arbitrary to how real-world reactors operate), don't spend your money here.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and playful take on nuclear reactor mechanics, with players finding enjoyment in unrealistic scenarios and comedic cutscenes. While some aspects may lack realism, the game's lighthearted approach to serious themes, such as nuclear meltdowns, adds to its charm and entertainment value. Overall, players appreciate the blend of education and humor, making for a fun and engaging experience.
- “Peak game! It's the best nuclear reactor game that I know. I love the critical mass cutscene. It's not the most realistic game, but it is very funny to play! :3”
- “I sure hope nothing bad happens if I start pressing these buttons. It's funny; it doesn't really look like the nuclear reactor from the game.”
- “The game is great, very educative, and also quite funny (e.g., the sound when you get zapped ;).”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with some players expressing a desire for a soundtrack release. However, there are complaints about the lack of options for adjusting music volume without rebooting and suggestions for improving sound effects. Overall, while the music is well-received, players seek more accessibility and additional content related to it.
- “The use of music, vocal announcements of system status, and camera views of the reactor makes the first time you get it running an incredible experience.”
- “But the music is fireee, please publish every music on YouTube or something.”
- “Also, you shouldn't need to reboot to change something like the game music volume.”
- “Music - I keep it off for most realistic simulation.”
- “Music and ambient sounds keep the situation atmosphere nice, but sound effects could be better.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players find the game highly replayable due to its engaging mechanics and the opportunity to manage a nuclear reactor. However, there are suggestions for enhancing replayability through additional challenges and scenarios, such as emergency situations and turbine trips, to further enrich the experience. Overall, the game is praised for its replay value and affordability.
- “It works well, runs smoothly, is interesting, has lots of replayability, won't break the bank, and offers a chance to run your own nuclear reactor.”
- “It would be great to add more playable scenarios, like turbine trip, emergency shutdown, loss of power, etc.”
- “Or how about better challenges to increase the replay value?”
- “Replay value: A+”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its immersive music and ambient sounds, contributing to a captivating environment. However, many players feel that the overall experience is marred by various issues, leading to a sense of incompleteness and a lack of impactful sound effects.
- “This is really atmospheric, and so close to being really exciting.”
- “The music and ambient sounds create a nice atmosphere, but the sound effects could be better.”
- “To me, the biggest thing the game is missing is the atmosphere.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express disappointment with the game's monetization strategy, criticizing the developers for prioritizing cash grabs over fulfilling their commitments to existing players. There are concerns about the game's demands for power and upgrades, suggesting that monetization practices detract from the overall experience.
- “I enjoyed it before realizing that the developers were willing to get distracted by cheap cash grabs while they should be focused on fulfilling their obligation to the initial purchasers of the title.”
- “It should not be demanding that amount of power without me advertising to them that I can achieve it (installing more transformers, turbines, and upgrades), not by level.”