Phantom Signal

About

In "Phantom Signal," control an industrial fabricator to construct an energy grid, procure resources, and upgrade your ship after an unknown enemy attack. Unique enemy characteristics require strategic base construction and defense as you travel through multiple star systems to find the source of the signal. Invite friends to compete on Steam Leaderboards and Cloud for top spots while completing missions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

story8 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive gameplay with a unique twist on the tower defense genre, offering a mix of strategy and resource management.
Visually appealing with clean graphics and a relaxing soundtrack, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
Affordable price point for the amount of content provided, making it a great value for fans of the genre.

Limited variety in enemy types and tower options, leading to repetitive gameplay over time.
Presence of bugs, including broken achievements and issues with mission progression, which can detract from the overall experience.
Lack of shortcut keys and other quality-of-life features that could streamline gameplay and improve user experience.

story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
81%
5%
The game's story is generally considered minimal and serves primarily to connect the various missions, which revolve around a mysterious phantom signal. While there are over 20 missions with varying objectives and a tech tree for upgrades, many players find the narrative lacking depth and relevance, often overshadowed by repetitive gameplay mechanics. Overall, the story provides a basic framework for progression but could benefit from further development to enhance player engagement.
- “Here we've got a tower defense game with RTS elements, giving us freedom, skill trees, and a (somewhat) decent campaign story.”
- “A tower defense styled sci-fi game set in space with beautiful set-pieces, a nice little story, varying mission types, and tech trees you can fill out as you go.”
- “The story is irrelevant, as each level is just a variation on the same rudimentary gameplay: point-and-click linking of 'asteroids' to 'miners' to 'power sources' to 'lasers', etc. (the different units are just circles with icons).”
- “There is also a story, which of course revolves around this mysterious phantom signal, but mostly serves to progress you from mission to mission.”
- “The main storyline is a bit short, though.”
gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by simple, point-and-click mechanics that involve resource gathering and tower defense elements, making it accessible and engaging for players. While some find it addictive and fun, others note a lack of depth and variety in mechanics and mission design, suggesting room for improvement. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking more complexity or innovation.
- “The theme of the game kept me engaged, and the pacing of the gameplay - and the variation of level designs - made it exciting to complete each level.”
- “I also like the gameplay because it is not too complicated with too many options and things to learn; you can just dive in and start playing right away.”
- “The gameplay is simple and yet there is depth to it.”
- “The story is irrelevant, as each level is just a variation on the same rudimentary gameplay: point-and-click linking of 'asteroids' to 'miners' to 'power sources' to 'lasers', etc. (the different units are just circles with icons).”
- “If you want the same gameplay with a much more in-depth system, go play Revenge of the Titans.”
- “This particular type of game, tower defense with simple enough mechanics that you don’t have to think too much, makes for excellent relaxation when you need to empty your brain, but for some reason Phantom Signal doesn’t manage to hit that point for me.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many users appreciating the beautiful visuals, clean UI, and effective use of color schemes. While some note that the graphics are basic compared to PC standards, they still create a pleasant atmosphere and support the gameplay effectively. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, especially for a mobile game, with many users expressing satisfaction with the modern updates and design.
- “I was a big fan of the original, and it's nice to have a modern version with better graphics and effects, so I'm very happy with my purchase.”
- “Graphically the game is mostly quite nice, with soft colors and pretty backgrounds, and very clear separation of color schemes.”
- “Its got solid graphics and sound design, creates a good atmosphere.”
- “Both the graphics and gameplay are fine for a mobile game, but fall short on PC.”
- “The graphics are fairly basic, but effective.”
- “Graphics are minimalistic but sufficient to support gameplay.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its relaxing and ambient qualities that enhance the overall experience. However, some users find it repetitive and stressful at times. Overall, the soundtrack is considered fitting and contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, complementing its clean visuals and user-friendly interface.
- “The music isn't much, but it's good for a late-night mood.”
- “Graphically, the game is pretty good and the soundtrack is relaxing but suits the game very well.”
- “Really liked the ambient background music - has not started to annoy me yet (as most do).”
- “The game is okay, but the music is beyond repetitive.”
- “Stressful music.”
- “Decent music.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers excellent replayability through a survival mode and a daily-resetting leaderboard, encouraging players to compete for high scores and revisit the game frequently.
- “To add replayability, there is a survival mode and a leaderboard that resets every day to compete for the top slot.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally well-optimized, offering good performance and a solid technical foundation, with no serious bugs reported. Additionally, the inclusion of varied music during combat enhances the overall experience.
- “Quite well optimized, I found.”
- “In the technical section, it is correct: good performance, different music for the moments of fighting, without serious bugs.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its playful and amusing gameplay, despite a lack of content. Players find the visuals appealing, and there are humorous moments, such as the reliance on missiles for survival early in the story.
- “It has a lack of content, but everything looks pretty and it plays funny.”
- “One funny thing, you'll be a goner not long into the story without the missiles.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game features impressive graphics and sound design that effectively contribute to an immersive atmosphere.
- “It's got solid graphics and sound design, creating a captivating atmosphere.”
- “The immersive environment draws you in, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the stunning visuals, enhancing the overall atmosphere.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of survival mode tedious, as it requires extensive mastery of complex micro-management systems to achieve decent progress, leading to a frustrating experience.
- “The survival mode becomes tedious with the way you are forced to play, and the fact that you're very likely never going to get a decent time unless you master the overly complicated micro-managing systems.”
- “Grinding feels like an endless chore, where progress is painfully slow and rewards are minimal, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding in this game quickly turns it into a monotonous task rather than an enjoyable experience.”