Particle Fleet: Emergence

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Particle Fleet: Emergence is a real-time strategy game that takes place in space. Players must build and command a fleet of ships made out of particles, using them to fight against enemy forces and complete objectives. The game features a variety of upgrades and abilities to customize your fleet, as well as a campaign and skirmish mode for replayability. Construct and battle with particle ships in this unique space RTS.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 913 reviews

story78 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a unique twist on the tower defense genre, allowing for strategic ship customization and resource management.
The game features a robust community with user-generated maps and a ship editor, providing endless replayability.
The graphics and sound design create an immersive experience, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.

The campaign is relatively short and may feel less challenging compared to previous entries in the Creeper World series.
Some players found the story and character development lacking, leading to a less engaging narrative experience.
The user interface and ship editor could use improvements, as some players found them clunky and lacking tooltips for better understanding.

story
379 mentions
21 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in this game, while set in the same universe as previous titles, is generally considered short and somewhat simplistic, often described as a series of text boxes that provide minimal engagement. Many players find the narrative lacks depth and originality, with some noting it feels like a rehash of earlier games in the series. However, the campaign serves as a functional introduction to gameplay mechanics, and the inclusion of user-generated content and additional modes offers substantial replayability beyond the main storyline.
- “The story is surprisingly compelling and epic in scope, adding depth to the gameplay experience.”
- “Great story, I rarely find myself reading story text, addendums, or any extra lore, but this one had me doing just that!”
- “The story mode is exquisite and the user-created maps let me enjoy this game further.”
- “The story is nothing particularly new but still done well.”
- “The story mode seemed relatively short to me, but like previous Knuckle Cracker games, a big draw is the ability to have endless randomized maps and easily accessible community maps.”
- “The game is just too easy, the main storyline is too short, characters are shallow and unrelatable, the connection to the main story presented in the previous CW games is lame, the selection and positioning of ships is painful, the explanation about what is the particulate and why it came to be is almost absent.”
gameplay
196 mentions
40 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is generally praised for its engaging mechanics and strategic depth, drawing comparisons to the Creeper World series while introducing unique elements such as mobile fleets and particle-based enemies. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and accessibility, with a campaign that offers around 6-10 hours of playtime, complemented by extensive user-generated content. However, some users noted issues with bugs and a desire for more story missions, indicating that while the gameplay is addictive and well-executed, there is room for improvement in certain areas.
- “The main campaign is short, some 6-10 hours to complete, but the additional content (and player-designed missions) more than double the playtime while still introducing new fun mechanics that require strategy alterations.”
- “The gameplay is strategy that's simple to get into, but can have deep complexity.”
- “The gameplay is as addictive and satisfying as it ever was, and while the campaign won't take a terrible long time to finish, these games really shine post-campaign.”
- “Gameplay is clumsy, unintuitive, and slow.”
- “The gameplay is also quite easy, and the later levels replace earlier levels' 'solve puzzles to beat the enemies' style with 'spam units faster than the AI can kill them'.”
- “Maybe I've been spoiled by CW3's (Creeper World 3) refined feel, but this game just feels like the gameplay wasn't fully thought out.”
music
45 mentions
71 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many users praising its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. While some noted that it can be repetitive, the soundtrack is often described as "amazing," "incredible," and "a banger," with many players expressing a desire to listen to it outside of the game. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The music is incredible, absolute fire OST.”
- “A hidden gem on the Steam store, the music was surprisingly outstanding and I frequently go back and listen to the OST on YouTube.”
- “Epic soundtrack makes you feel like you really are taking on the apocalypse itself and saving the universe.”
- “Music gets super annoying but you can mute it and fire up some spacey tunes from elsewhere.”
- “The music is ok but after a while it's like one of those earworms you simply cannot get out of your head.”
- “As per usual, the dialog isn't the best, the music could fit better (synth sci-fi track would fit well) and the sound effects can get quite annoying with many ships on screen but what matters is that the gameplay is a+++.”
graphics
37 mentions
46 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and functional, effectively serving the gameplay without being the main draw. While some users appreciate the pleasing aesthetics and particle effects, others note a "prototype" feel and occasional glitches. Overall, the visuals are considered adequate for the game's strategic focus, with improvements noted from previous titles in the series.
- “The graphics are simple but they do the job very well.”
- “Breathtaking visuals and epic soundscapes merge in a hypnotic way that allows for hours of casual fun or an enthralling race to the finish of each level.”
- “The graphics are good, especially if you zoom right in on the ships, but in practice, it's more helpful to stay zoomed well out as this game is definitely more about grand strategy than micro-management.”
- “Graphics are obviously not the appeal of this game.”
- “The graphics are pretty simplistic so the game has a bit of a 'prototype' feel - so it's not a first choice.”
- “A low graphics spaceship 2D puzzle solver.”
replayability
33 mentions
58 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its robust map generator, user-friendly ship and level editors, and a thriving community that creates and shares custom content. While some players feel it doesn't quite match the replay value of similar titles like Creeper World, many agree that the combination of random level generation and community maps offers near-infinite replay potential. Overall, it is praised for its engaging mechanics and diverse gameplay experiences.
- “Endless replayability and really easy to use ship and level editor.”
- “With the ability to create your own ships, maps, and even styles of play, the replayability of this game is off the charts.”
- “Great game, interesting and relatively unique mechanics, lots of replayability, map maker + community maps, winner all around.”
- “To be honest, I don't think this has the replayability of Creeper World, not even the first one.”
- “Not as good and lacks the replay value, but still worth picking up on discount to play.”
- “But sadly it hasn't the replay value of Creeper World 3.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, often leading to frustration as missions can feel repetitive and lacking in strategic depth. Many reviewers suggest that the gameplay becomes monotonous quickly, with a significant amount of time spent on grinding rather than engaging tactics, although the option to speed up gameplay offers some relief. Overall, the grinding experience detracts from the enjoyment of the campaign.
- “I made it exactly two levels into the campaign before grinding to a halt at the point I'd destroyed every enemy unit and more kept pouring in without any indication of what to do or even anything I could do.”
- “Most missions are really grindy, even by the standards of the genre, and there's not much in the way of clever tactics or strategy.”
- “While I liked the idea of building a fleet, and from the screenshots on Steam a mix of tower defense and RTS, the strategy is pretty minimal and each level starts to feel very grindy very quickly.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the exceptional music that complements the overall experience, despite some repetitiveness. The later levels intensify the atmosphere significantly, contributing to a challenging and immersive environment.
- “The music and atmosphere are amazing.”
- “The later levels get absolutely insane, and the difficulty spike hits the upper atmosphere.”
- “The music is great; I really feel that it fits the atmosphere the game presents, even if it's repetitive.”
stability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players appreciate its solid performance and aesthetic appeal, there are notable issues such as glitches and significant bugs in the map editor that can lead to crashes and hinder gameplay.
- “The map editor is extremely buggy, prone to crashing upon creation of a new map or locking the save/finalize buttons so you can't apply changes you've made.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics and environments, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
- “The game has a really great aesthetic, but stability issues detract from the overall experience.”
humor
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players find it to be hilariously enjoyable and endlessly entertaining, others feel it falls flat and is ultimately disappointing.
- “I'll never tire of doing this, it's just hilarious fun.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch and keeps me laughing throughout.”
- “That was not funny, or fun to play.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game fails to evoke emotional engagement, with a short campaign and disappointing ending that leave players feeling their efforts were wasted. Additionally, the lack of impactful plot twists contributes to a general sense of dissatisfaction and disconnection from the narrative.
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game features a commitment to no DLC or microtransactions, with the developer promising ongoing support and improvements until their next release. However, some users express concerns that the advertising has raised expectations that have yet to be met.
- “The advertising from the video creates some hopes that have not yet been delivered.”
- “There will never be any DLC or microtransactions, and from past experience, I can tell you the developer will support and improve it until the moment his next game comes out.”