Project Explore

About

Project Explore is a single player and multiplayer casual simulation game. It was developed by Fern Nigro and was released on August 10, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Project Explore" is a sci-fi first-person adventure game that lets players explore and survive on alien planets. Gather resources, build bases, and conduct research to learn about the mysterious alien environment. Experience a vast, procedurally generated universe with unique planets, creatures, and challenges in every playthrough.

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67%

Audience ScoreBased on 162 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game has a charming art style and engaging gameplay mechanics that can be enjoyable for short sessions.
The developer is active and frequently updates the game, showing commitment to improving the experience.
The crafting system is straightforward and allows for a variety of items to be created, enhancing the survival aspect.

The game feels unfinished and lacks substantial content, leading to a repetitive experience after a short time.
Controls are awkward and unintuitive, making gameplay frustrating at times.
Players often encounter game-breaking bugs, such as losing items or being attacked by animals unexpectedly, which detracts from the overall experience.

gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
61%
12%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its charm and addictive mechanics, particularly in building and crafting, while others criticize it for feeling incomplete and lacking unique concepts. Although there are enjoyable elements, such as a sanity mechanic and a sandbox style, many users feel that the overall experience is hindered by a lack of depth and motivation, leading to a sense of repetitiveness. Despite some promising features, the gameplay currently struggles with inconsistencies and a need for further development.
- “Addictive gameplay.”
- “It's got some nice mechanics; you can build houses, craft stuff, and all the other things that you'd expect from a survival game.”
- “The gameplay is akin to Rust while retaining its own identity and originality.”
- “It's a good start, it surely has charm, but it feels terribly half-cooked at best, and from what I have seen it doesn't offer any unique idea, concept, gameplay, or anything else.”
- “For a finished product, it has very little gameplay and very little motivation.”
- “The gameplay is so poor as of now.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the cute art style and top-down 3D visuals, while others criticize the overall quality and inconsistency of the assets. Many users note that the game has undergone significant graphical changes over time, leading to a lack of cohesion in its visual direction. Despite some appealing elements, the graphics are often described as rough or poorly implemented, leaving players divided on their overall impact.
- “Cute little graphics that make it appealing.”
- “I can actually appreciate many of the graphics and effects as they are - the top-down 3D styling of trees, rocks, etc. is really cool!”
- “I like the simplicity of the gameplay/graphics mixed with the more advanced stuff you see in Rust/Don't Starve/etc.”
- “The visuals are noticeably rough; the enemies vary from standing still and taking a beating to slightly touching you and that nearly being an insta-kill.”
- “Graphics are junk, control design is unintuitive, and it's just poorly implemented all around.”
- “Amazingly bad graphics.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's stability is currently a concern, with users reporting minor bugs and glitches that are typical for early access titles. While the developer is responsive and acknowledges these issues, players are advised to wait for further updates as the game is still in development and not yet fully polished. Overall, there is potential for improvement, but players should be prepared for a less stable experience at this stage.
- “He was right when he said it isn't bug-free or finished, but as of now, there is a solid structure.”
- “It's not bug-free, mind you, as with all early access games, so keep your sanity and read the books.”
- “From my experiences (which is only a couple of hours, play time is false due to not closing the app), there are little bugs or glitches.”
- “There are some minor glitches, but all of the ones I've found have already been noted by other users and recognized by the developer.”
- “Not yet, this game is still early in development. I think that you should wait a little while because right now, it just seems buggy and lacks a lot.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some users noting poor audio quality for the music tracks, while others appreciate the decent ambient music. Additionally, there are occasional sound effects, like footsteps, that contribute to the atmosphere, though their classification as music is uncertain.
- “The ambient music is decent and adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “Even though you're not moving or there are no animals around you, you can occasionally hear footsteps, which could be part of the ambient music.”
- “The audio quality for the music tracks is quite poor.”
- “Even though you're not moving and there are no animals around you, you can hear footsteps from time to time. It could be ambient music, but I'm not sure since I had it on low and didn't pay much attention.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express concern that the game's monetization strategy has led to significant changes in artwork, direction, and mechanics, resulting in a disconnect between the initial concept and the final product. The experimental builds diverge from the main release, suggesting that the focus on monetization may have compromised the game's integrity and coherence.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it difficult to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “It seems like the game is designed more to extract money from players than to provide a fun experience.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized as simple and straightforward, featuring a natural setting populated by bears and wolves, appealing to players who enjoy a more minimalist environment.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, with stunning visuals that bring the environment to life.”
- “Every sound and detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
- “The game's atmosphere perfectly captures the essence of survival in the wild, making every moment feel intense and real.”
- “If you like a plain Jane atmosphere with lots of bears and wolves, then this is the game for you.”
- “The environment feels lifeless and lacks any real sense of immersion.”
- “The overall ambiance is dull and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant micro stuttering issues that can severely impact playability, although overall user sentiment remains positive. Players are calling for improvements to address these optimization problems.
- “I began to have micro stuttering.”
- “Like severe micro stuttering to the point where the game wasn't even playable.”
- “I'm giving this game a thumbs up, but the only problem I see is that this micro stuttering needs to be fixed.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that the introduction of health-draining weather and aggressive enemies adds a layer of challenge, while the presence of two crafting stations allows for resource management and item creation. However, the farming aspect feels somewhat redundant due to the abundance of easily accessible food. Overall, the grinding experience is mixed, with some elements enhancing gameplay and others feeling unnecessary.
- “The grinding in this game feels excessive, with health-draining weather elements forcing you to constantly seek shelter, which disrupts the flow of gameplay.”
- “New enemies have extreme aggression, making it difficult to focus on grinding without being interrupted or overwhelmed.”
- “The addition of crafting stations feels redundant, as finding food is too easy, making the grinding aspect feel unnecessary and tedious.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game's rough visuals and frustrating enemy mechanics contribute to a negative emotional experience, leading to feelings of sickness and eye strain, ultimately diminishing their enjoyment and engagement with the game.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is perceived as lacking, with one user expressing disappointment by comparing the pricing to a bad joke, indicating that the experience fell flat rather than providing genuine amusement.
- “I love a dev with a sense of humor!”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect of the game is praised for its depth and engaging narrative, with users appreciating the developer's background and the thoughtful responses provided. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a strong point that enhances the gaming experience.
- “Very good review with developer responses and background story about the developer!”