Offworld Trading Company

Offworld Trading Company combines economic strategy with innovation and polish, resulting in a game which feels exciting, deep and fun all at once. Not an easy combination to pull off - the developers should be proud, and gamers should be delighted.

78%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

optimization, stability

78% User Score Based on 5,124 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 12 reviews

Platforms

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About

Offworld Trading Company is a real-time strategy game set on Mars. Players compete as space-age corporations, vying for resources and control of the Martian market. Manage resources, finances, and sabotage to outmaneuver opponents and dominate the Red Planet's economy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,136 reviews

gameplay284 positive mentions

optimization22 negative mentions

Unique and innovative take on the RTS genre, focusing on economic strategy rather than combat.
Engaging gameplay with a steep learning curve that rewards strategic thinking and adaptability.
Great graphics and soundtrack, creating an immersive atmosphere.

Steep learning curve can be frustrating for new players, leading to a sense of being overwhelmed.
Matches can feel repetitive and short, lacking long-term progression or depth.
Technical issues and poor optimization can lead to crashes and performance problems.

gameplay
1,044 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
68%
4%
The gameplay of "Offworld Trading Company" is characterized by its unique blend of economic strategy and real-time decision-making, offering a high learning curve with a variety of mechanics that can lead to engaging and competitive matches. While many players appreciate the depth and complexity of the market dynamics, some find the gameplay can become repetitive and simplistic once the core mechanics are mastered. Overall, the game is praised for its polished execution and innovative approach, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its niche focus on economic simulation rather than traditional combat mechanics.
- “Very dynamic gameplay with a high learning curve.”
- “The gameplay is fun and rewarding.”
- “The core gameplay revolves heavily around the prices of the goods you mine/create with the factories that you build.”
- “The gameplay is monotonous and boring.”
- “Short gameplay with limited options, gets old fast.”
- “Once you understand the mechanics of the game, it becomes a bit boring.”
graphics
383 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the aesthetic appeal and detail, particularly in the artwork and interface design. However, some players find the visuals basic and lacking in variety, which detracts from immersion. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for the game's style, there are concerns about performance issues and optimization, especially on lower-end systems.
- “The graphics are gorgeous, with dinky mines and factories chuntering away on a tilt-shift Martian landscape, but the sound is workmanlike, and narrative non-existent.”
- “The graphics are beautiful with lots of fun little details, the factions seem varied enough to encourage/cater to different playstyles, and I generally like terraforming as an aesthetic.”
- “Great graphics, excellent soundtrack, amusing and entertaining characters and a plethora of different ways to play and conquer.”
- “Additionally, the game's graphics and visuals are fairly basic and don't do much to immerse the player in the space-based world.”
- “My biggest issue with this game is that the graphics to performance ratio is, in my view, lacking.”
- “Unfortunately, I did encounter some graphical issues, but I feel that is more because my computer is at the low end of the (Mac) system requirements, and not because of the game.”
story
256 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
81%
7%
The game's story is widely criticized for being minimal and disconnected from the gameplay, with many players describing the campaign as "barebones" and lacking engaging narrative elements. Missions are often short and feel repetitive, resembling skirmishes rather than a cohesive story-driven experience, leading to disappointment for those seeking a rich narrative. While the tutorial missions are praised for their humor and charm, they do not translate into a compelling campaign, leaving players wanting more depth and backstory.
- “The story to the game is limited to its DLC, but creative players can write their own as they play through single-player campaigns.”
- “But this game also tells an interesting story.”
- “The campaign mode adds another level of fun, where you progress through different missions and upgrade your faction between missions.”
- “That said, the 'story' for the campaign is terrible and completely disconnected from the gameplay.”
- “There is no story and no emphasis on the CEO characters.”
- “The campaign has no story; its interface is very clunky.”
music
236 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
36%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack composed by Christopher Tin for its immersive and dynamic integration into gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players found certain tracks to be repetitive or annoying, suggesting that while the music can elevate the atmosphere, it may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The soundtrack truly makes this game what it is, ramping up in intensity and aggressiveness as a playthrough reaches its apex.”
- “The music stands out as being incredibly immersive and atmospheric.”
- “The music is beautiful and the tempo builds as the match progresses, giving you a real rush at the end.”
- “The sound effects and music are also lackluster and can become annoying after a while.”
- “Music gets annoying after a while.”
- “It was the music theme which was really annoying.”
replayability
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The replayability of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its high replay value due to diverse factions, random map generation, and various game modes like campaigns and daily challenges. However, some reviewers feel that the game can become repetitive or lacks depth, leading to a subjective experience of replayability that varies from player to player. Overall, while many find it highly replayable, others express concerns about its long-term engagement and depth.
- “Another commendable aspect of Offworld Trading Company is that it has a massive amount of content and replay value.”
- “The requirement for strategic thinking and constant reconsideration of your plans based on the actions of other players and on market changes make the game highly replayable.”
- “High replayability as every game will be different depending on the availability of resources and price movements driven by the actions of other players.”
- “I don't see much replayability in this.”
- “Ultimately, I don't think it has too much replayability, although I didn't venture into online multiplayer.”
- “This game has no depth or replayability.”
optimization
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
59%
24%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting poor performance, low frame rates, and stuttering even on high-end systems. While some updates have improved performance for certain configurations, significant issues remain, particularly for Mac users and those with lower-spec machines. Overall, players express frustration over the game's optimization, which detracts from an otherwise promising concept.
- “Fun to figure out the different optimization strategies.”
- “The sheer amount of stuff you can customize for each run (patents, optimization, contracting/hiring staff, etc.) allows for a myriad of strategies you can try against the different competition and conditions in each colony.”
- “Update: as of beta 4 the performance has improved significantly and is actually pretty good now.”
- “Terrible performance, my system is powerful but this game is so poorly optimized that it only runs on low settings at 15 fps. Such a shame as it is a good concept but so poorly made.”
- “Unplayable due to poor optimization.”
- “Performance is a disaster after playing fifteen minutes or so; reducing the graphics wasn't a solution.”
humor
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the tutorials and gameplay interactions to be both funny and engaging. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements that arise during multiplayer sessions, particularly when players experience unexpected setbacks, leading to humorous reactions. However, some critics feel that the humor occasionally tries too hard, creating an uneasy comedic effect, while others appreciate the clever writing and character interactions that enhance the overall experience.
- “Masquerade also makes players go bananas, especially since we play with voice chat, and when someone gets their patent stolen, they go bananas and it's really funny.”
- “The humor and thoroughness of the tutorial made it one of the best I've ever played.”
- “The game runs like butter, the UI feels great, and the writing is absolutely hilarious.”
stability
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
4%
80%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and UI freezes, while others have experienced minimal issues and found it relatively polished for an early access title. Troubleshooting steps, such as installing Microsoft’s Visual C++ redistributable, have helped some users improve performance. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, particularly in multiplayer and UI functionality, many players still find the game enjoyable despite these flaws.
- “This game is bug free, glitchless, and has clearly been play-tested thoroughly.”
- “We have played probably 50 games with no glitches or crashes of any kind.”
- “It's nice as the games aren't civilization length and the gameplay is pretty straightforward and bug free.”
- “The biggest issue I have is the UI freezes up on me frequently.”
- “This game is buggy and crashes a lot.”
- “The game is very buggy still.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and overly demanding, particularly in relation to achievements that require excessive repetition or are deemed nearly impossible. While some enjoy the initial gameplay, many express concerns about the lack of long-term replayability and the game's tendency to become monotonous, especially in resource management and campaign progression. Overall, the grinding elements detract from the enjoyment and strategic depth that fans of the genre typically seek.
- “The tutorial is tedious and not fun with too many nonsense dialogs.”
- “Also, they went full-on over the top with the achievements, which, besides being numerous, can be either very grindy or even semi-impossible (achievements for playing/winning against the game's lead designer? That's awful!), which, combined with the aforementioned dislike, earned this negative review.”
- “The game becomes tedious, requiring you to focus too much on the market and resources without getting to enjoy building a colony.”
monetization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's monetization strategy involves a standalone third-party launcher that features ads, which some players find frustrating, especially after purchasing the game. Reviewers express disappointment that the gameplay does not align with the advertising, suggesting a lack of transparency in how the game is marketed. Overall, there is a call for more honest representation of the game's depth in promotional materials.
- “It's like watching the adverts before a YouTube clip, right after you paid to see it without ads.”
- “Wish I had spent it on another game with more honest advertising of its depth of gameplay.”
- “I'm sure I'll give it a try again someday, but the gameplay goes against the themes in the main advertising material I found on the store page.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting feelings of heartbreak and frustration when facing unexpected challenges, such as being taken over by AI after investing significant time in matches. The competitive nature of the game can lead to intense moments where players feel they not only win but also emotionally impact their friends and family, adding depth to the gaming experience. Overall, the emotional stakes are high, making victories feel bittersweet and losses particularly painful.
- “After a few matches, I quickly learned how the game worked and it was heart-wrenching when the AI was approaching enough money to buy me out (you'll get a timer when that happens).”
- “When you don't just win, but emotionally crush your friends and family who are playing with you.”
- “It is heartbreaking to wait for an hour to get into a 4-player free-for-all and then your character is taken over by an AI for some unknown reason.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive qualities, particularly the standout music that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the sense of pressure and competition, which is effectively integrated into the gameplay, making it enjoyable even in solo modes against AI. Overall, it serves as a compelling alternative to traditional board games, especially during challenging times.
- “The music stands out as being incredibly immersive and atmospheric.”
- “Even just playing against the computer (up to 4 players) is fun, because the atmosphere of pressure and trying to do your best is very hardwired into the gameplay.”
- “It's a pleasant game with a good atmosphere.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is criticized for being minimal, as players feel there is little interaction with the characters despite their appealing designs. The overall experience is described as largely story-free, diminishing the impact of character development.
- “For starters, in spite of some colorful tutorials and charming character designs, it’s a largely story-free experience.”
- “Woke in character designs, I suppose, but it hardly matters since you don't really interact with the characters.”