Prospector: The First Contract

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 177 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • grinding
Prospector: The First Contract Game Cover
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JOIN US ON DISCORD About the Game Welcome to the Prospector: The First Contract - a prequel chapter where you take on your first contract as an Interstellar Prospector. Your main goal is to gather resources on a new planet. Build a living base, use supply routes for exploration, and automate your new home with robots. Once your preparations are complete, you will begin trading with distant c…

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 177 reviews
gameplay15 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • The game offers a fun and addictive gameplay experience with a charming art style and engaging mechanics.
  • Players appreciate the automation features and the potential for deep resource management and exploration.
  • The demo showcases a solid foundation with enjoyable mechanics, and many are excited for the full release.
  • The game suffers from performance issues, including crashes and lag, especially when building complex structures.
  • Many players find the controls unintuitive and experience bugs that hinder gameplay, such as getting stuck or being unable to pick up items.
  • The game world feels empty and lacks variety in challenges, which can lead to a monotonous experience over time.
  • gameplay30 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a well-balanced mix of exploration, resource collection, and construction, offering a satisfying progression loop reminiscent of games like Factorio, though not as complex. While some players appreciate the addictive mechanics and beautiful pixel graphics, others criticize the lack of optimization and depth, leading to a tedious experience at times. Overall, the game shows promise with its engaging mechanics and potential for future updates, despite some areas needing improvement.

    • “This game offers a well-balanced experience that facilitates smooth progress and gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is also incredibly satisfying, with a good balance of resource management, combat, and exploration.”
    • “The core gameplay mechanics are simple, yet surprisingly deep and highly addictive.”
    • “It's alright, but it's basically a hodgepodge of the mechanics from other games that, frankly, have done it better.”
    • “- The game suffers from crashes due to a notable lack of optimization when we build a lot of machinery during gameplay.”
    • “You can't really automate things and the core gameplay is boring.”
  • graphics27 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their pleasing and polished pixel art style, which is both charming and visually appealing, reminiscent of titles like "Forager" and "Astroneer." However, some users noted issues with depth and proportion, as well as occasional performance problems such as frame rate drops. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some minor technical drawbacks.

    • “The key art and in-game graphics are more unique, having an endearing charm to them.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, with detailed environments that truly bring the game world to life.”
    • “Cozy automation game with a gorgeous art style.”
    • “It felt the graphics lack depth; the proportions could be improved, and they don't really gel with each other.”
    • “Also, there are no graphic options whatsoever; I experience FPS drops every 10 seconds.”
    • “Because it says that it requires 1GB of RAM and 512MB of graphics, I don't know the difference, but for some reason, when I open it, the game starts to run super slow.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is generally viewed as tedious but somewhat enjoyable, particularly for fans of resource collection and construction mechanics. While it may initially feel repetitive, players find that it becomes more engaging once they adapt to the gameplay, allowing for progress without excessive time investment. However, some reviewers criticize the lack of depth in characters and gameplay loops, leading to a sense of monotony in the gathering process.

    • “The thing with the moths, while tedious in its execution, was one step more inventive than the rest of the resource refining.”
    • “Anyways, there's nothing really interesting about this, no characters worth remembering, no gameplay loop that's satisfying, no worthwhile weapons or enemies... just tedious gathering.”
    • “In this, the game also mixes elements of construction and automation in an open world, full of resources to be explored, which can make it very enjoyable for grinding lovers, which is my case.”
  • story7 mentions

    The story in "Prospector: The First Contract" is engaging and immersive, featuring a compelling narrative that keeps players invested as they explore diverse in-game worlds. The subtle storytelling enhances the experience, with players appreciating the captivating plot and smooth gameplay that accompanies their intergalactic adventures.

    • “The storyline is compelling enough to keep players invested, and the ability to explore various in-game worlds adds an exciting dimension to the experience.”
    • “Story and setting (they are good at being subtle): here in 'Prospector: The First Contract', you are an intergalactic prospector on your first mission.”
    • “Just that sad emoji really gets to me that I don't destroy the incubators.”
    • “So I removed all my missions.”
    • “The storyline is captivating, and the gameplay is smooth and immersive.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game currently faces significant optimization issues, including crashes when building extensive machinery and subpar performance on low-resource PCs. While players find it enjoyable, many express hope for improvements in optimization by the full release.

    • “It would also be nice if it were better optimized for low-resource PCs so that this game can be enjoyed to the fullest.”
    • “Aside from some definite performance issues, it's a fun little game.”
    • “The game suffers from crashes due to a notable lack of optimization when we build a lot of machinery during gameplay.”
    • “Hoping for better game performance on full release.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with a fitting soundtrack that complements the retro visuals and enhances the gameplay experience. While some users feel that additional background music could improve the atmosphere, the existing soundtrack is praised for its thoughtful integration with the game's pixel art style. Overall, the music contributes positively to the fun and engaging gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack and pixel style are well thought out, and the gameplay loop currently has me very interested.”
    • “Great music fits the pleasant retro visuals, and the gameplay is intuitively understandable.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game is somewhat buggy, indicating that stability issues persist, but there is optimism for improvements in future updates.

    • “It's still a bit buggy, but I look forward to what the future holds for this.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
    • “I encountered several glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Players appreciate the humor in the game, highlighting its clever references to other games and amusing dialogue that adds to the overall enjoyment.

    • “I love all the references to other games, and the little conversations present in the game were quite funny.”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever jokes that had me laughing out loud.”
    • “The witty dialogue and hilarious situations made my gaming experience so much more enjoyable.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game features vibrant colors and intricate details in its alien environments, contributing to a visually appealing and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The game uses vibrant colors in its settings and adds small details to the alien environments, which creates an attractive atmosphere for the game.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie visuals, immersing players in a truly captivating atmosphere.”
    • “Every corner of the game world is filled with intricate designs and ambient sounds that enhance the overall mood and make exploration feel rewarding.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find the game to evoke a strong sense of warmth and nostalgia, similar to the emotional experience provided by titles like Stardew Valley, highlighting its wholesome themes and heartfelt moments.

    • “This game evokes a deep sense of nostalgia and warmth, reminiscent of the wholesome vibes found in Stardew Valley.”
    • “The emotional storytelling in this game truly resonates, making players feel connected to the characters and their journeys.”
    • “I was genuinely moved by the heartfelt moments throughout the game; it beautifully captures the essence of human emotions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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