Prosperous Universe Game Cover

Players found their own company in a vast, persistent universe and compete with others in trading, production and exploration.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Web Browser
  • Windows
  • Linux

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 684 reviews
gameplay9 positive mentions
grinding17 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and engaging economy simulation experience, allowing players to build and manage their own space-based businesses.
  • The community is friendly and helpful, providing support and guidance to new players through chat and Discord.
  • The game encourages strategic planning and long-term thinking, rewarding players for careful management of resources and production chains.
  • The game has a steep learning curve, which can be overwhelming for new players, and the tutorial does not adequately prepare them for gameplay.
  • Progression is very slow, with many actions taking hours or even days to complete, leading to a feeling of inactivity.
  • Key features and quality of life improvements are locked behind a subscription model, which can be frustrating for free-to-play users.
  • gameplay71 mentions

    The gameplay of this game is characterized by a slow-paced, strategic approach that emphasizes planning and resource management, often requiring players to engage with external tools like spreadsheets for optimal efficiency. While some players appreciate the depth and economic simulation aspects, many criticize the lack of content, a brief and ineffective tutorial, and the minimal interaction available during gameplay, leading to a feeling of being disconnected from the game world. Overall, it caters to a niche audience that enjoys meticulous planning and economic mechanics, but may not appeal to those seeking more immediate or action-oriented gameplay experiences.

    • “But once I got over that initial hurdle and dove into the key elements and gameplay loop, I was totally hooked.”
    • “There is so much depth in the gameplay, and I find it completely captivating, so I am thinking about it throughout the day.”
    • “For some people, this will be a dream come true in the form of building a galaxy-spanning supply chain over months of real-life time by engaging in a market and commodities simulation game that rewards careful planning.”
    • “Seeing the videos/pictures, it looks like a nice/fun game, but I just started playing it. The tutorial is too short and useless; I still don't know how to play the game. There needs to be a better tutorial that explains everything and not only the menus. It taught me how to open menus and scale and open/close menus, but it taught me nothing about the actual gameplay. If I want to build stuff, I need resources, and I don't know how to get them. I just sent 2 fleets off to some place but don't know what it does, and also there is no sound at all. This can be a great game, but it needs a lot of work.”
    • “The gameplay encourages extensive planning - even outside of the game interface, so only very few will tolerate this style.”
    • “This is very much an efficiency simulator and a slow-paced trading game. The gameplay is simply trying to find the niche in a market of players to get more money so that you can spend more money to make yourself more money.”
  • graphics38 mentions

    The graphics in this game are minimal to non-existent, often described as resembling a DOS terminal or a basic interface with only essential elements like maps and icons. Players seeking visually rich experiences or action will be disappointed, as the focus is entirely on economic simulation and spreadsheet management rather than aesthetics. While the UI has a sci-fi aesthetic, it lacks the detailed graphics typically associated with space-themed games, making it suitable primarily for fans of hardcore economic gameplay.

    • “Now to be clear, the aesthetic of the UI is very sci-fi and cool, but oh boy it is so nonfunctional.”
    • “However, if you could adapt to the slower pace and the somewhat rudimentary graphical side of the game - you would be rewarded with a realistic and complex experience that provides many opportunities to explore and pursue.”
    • “I'd recommend this game to anyone that loves hardcore economy games without all the flashy graphics and distractions.”
    • “The only graphics are the map and the rotating icon in the top left.”
    • “There are no slick 4k graphics or animations as such.”
    • “Not a game for those who want fancy graphics, though the GUI is very well thought out.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" are mixed, with some players appreciating the absence of traditional grinding mechanics, while others find certain tasks tedious and time-consuming. Many express frustration with the repetitive nature of specific activities, such as shipping and resource management, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the experience of grinding varies significantly among players, with some embracing it and others feeling it hampers their engagement.

    • “Was fun at first... but after a while it just gets tedious and annoying if you miss one detail in something you need.”
    • “I find the time vs. reward conversion in this model to be tedious and boring.”
    • “Normally love this type of game, but this one is very tedious.”
  • monetization15 mentions

    The game's monetization model primarily revolves around a subscription policy, with no microtransactions, which many players appreciate as it avoids the pitfalls of predatory practices common in mobile games. While there are limitations for trial accounts, the ability to accept local market ads in the basic subscription enhances gameplay without feeling exploitative. Overall, players find the monetization approach reasonable, allowing for a more enjoyable experience without excessive financial pressure.

    • “There is a subscription policy, but no microtransactions.”
    • “It's also good if you want a Facebook-style game without any microtransactions.”
    • “You always have to worry about that when you see 'in-app purchases', but I don't think this game should have that Steam tag at all.”
    • “Predatory monetization that limits your progress and growth, locking very important features behind a subscription model.”
    • “You're still (or rather, again) locked out of the same features a trial account is, except for one notable feature; you can accept ads on local markets.”
    • “Basic has all the same limitations as trial, but allows you to accept local market ads, vastly opening up the game.”
  • story12 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is largely viewed as confusing and lacking clarity, with players struggling to engage with the narrative due to a convoluted tutorial and excessive jargon. While some users appreciate the underlying themes of perseverance and economic strategy, many find the storytelling elements insufficient and disconnected from the gameplay experience. Overall, the narrative is overshadowed by the game's focus on economic mechanics rather than a cohesive story.

    • “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “This is not a game about fancy graphics looking for a story and gameplay; this isn't Call of Duty, this is economic warfare in space, your weapons are spreadsheets, fancy community-created tools, and your corp mates (until they're no longer economically useful).”
    • “Incomprehensible with the built-in tutorial (which had me delete a tile that I never got back and stopped the tutorial from continuing), so many shorthands and commands and it has what looks like a whole story included when I press the ?”
    • “If I lack the patience to parse through three novels to choose which pages to rip for my backstory.”
    • “Sure, it has a tutorial, which seemed to abandon me after I put a plot in the ground, and guides that suggested I should start with making 2 farmsteads - which I apparently lacked resources for?”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game excels in optimization, particularly appealing to players who enjoy managing complex systems like supply chains and logistics. While the roadmap indicates limited updates focused on mobile optimization, players can engage deeply with the extensive optimization mechanics, leading to significant improvements in production over time.

    • “Does the sound of managing planetary populations, intergalactic logistics, and a player-driven market get your brain buzzing with those sweet optimization juices?”
    • “If you like supply chains, logistics, and optimization problems, this game is great.”
    • “If you check their roadmap and see that in 2021 their only additions were apparently 'opening for early access' and 'mobile optimization', I think you get the idea.”
    • “The list of things to consider is quite exhaustive, but depending on the level of optimization you wish to achieve, you can gloss over many of them.”
    • “But after a month or so, when you have optimized your production, it really starts to take off!”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report a bug-free experience in its early release, others have encountered glitches and describe it as "complicated" and "buggy." The consensus indicates that it is generally playable, with varying degrees of bugs reported.

    • “The game in its early release state seems to be bug-free (none encountered so far) and is playable.”
    • “I was pleasantly surprised by how stable the game feels; I haven't experienced any crashes or major issues.”
    • “The performance is solid, and I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is without any noticeable lag.”
    • “This game is a complicated, buggy piece of crap.”
    • “It had glitches.”
    • “Mildly buggy.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted through its comedic take on trading and production mechanics, as well as the playful critique of misconceptions about its free-to-play model. Players find the genre itself amusing, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience.

    • “A funny trading and production game.”
    • “Menu games are a funny new genre of game.”
    • “For people to say that this game is anything but free to play is hilariously wrong and borders on misinformation.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers strong replayability for players who enjoy theorycrafting, logistics, and community engagement, but some users feel that the developers have prioritized new features over improving overall gameplay usability, which may impact long-term enjoyment.

    • “If you like theorycrafting, logistics, community interaction, and long-term replayability, this game might be for you.”
    • “How replayable is this game really?”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game is noted for its relaxing qualities, providing a soothing backdrop that enhances the overall experience. Users appreciate how it contributes positively to the atmosphere, alongside the graphics and sound effects.

    • “The graphics, music, and sound effects create an immersive experience.”
    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
    • “Graphics, music, and sound effects.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players highlight the game's emotional depth, noting the welcoming and wholesome nature of the community, which enhances the overall experience. The supportive environment fosters a sense of belonging, making the game more enjoyable and engaging.

    • “The community is welcoming and wholesome!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Prosperous Universe

Play time

18hMedian play time
40hAverage play time
6-93hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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