Skip to main content

Puzzle Quest Galactrix

It's not technically inferior, but Galactrix just doesn't excite in the same way as Puzzle Quest did.
54%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
45% User Score Based on 508 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Playstation 3Xbox 360Xbox Series X|SPCXbox OneXboxNintendo DsWindowsPlayStation

About

"Puzzle Quest: Galactrix" is a turn-based puzzle RPG set in space, where you must solve match-3 puzzles to battle enemies and uncover the secrets of the galaxy. With over 30 hours of gameplay, you can customize and build a fleet of ships, discover over 150 different weapons, and complete hundreds of missions in the single-player campaign. The game features an all-new redesigned puzzle board, providing a fresh challenge for both new and returning players.

Puzzle Quest Galactrix screenshot
Puzzle Quest Galactrix screenshot
Puzzle Quest Galactrix screenshot
Puzzle Quest Galactrix screenshot
Puzzle Quest Galactrix screenshot
Puzzle Quest Galactrix screenshot
Puzzle Quest Galactrix screenshot
Skip User Reviews

45%
Audience ScoreBased on 508 reviews
story64 positive mentions
grinding35 negative mentions

  • The hexagonal grid and variable gravity mechanics add a unique twist to the match-3 gameplay, making it more challenging and strategic.
  • The game features a variety of mini-games and RPG elements, providing depth and engagement beyond simple gem matching.
  • The storyline and sci-fi setting are enjoyable, offering enough context to keep players invested in the game.
  • The game is plagued by frequent crashes, making it frustrating and unplayable for many users.
  • The AI is perceived as cheating, often getting advantageous combos that the player cannot replicate, leading to a feeling of unfairness.
  • The hacking mini-game and other mechanics can feel tedious and overly complicated, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • story
    416 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Puzzle Quest: Galactrix" is generally viewed as weak and uninspired, with many reviewers noting it lacks the depth and engagement found in earlier titles of the series. While some appreciate the lightweight narrative and the context it provides for gameplay, others criticize it for being tedious and filled with repetitive fetch quests. Overall, the game's plot fails to captivate players, leading many to recommend the original "Puzzle Quest" or its sequel instead.

    • “The scope of this game is huge, with multiple mini-games, and a decent story to boot.”
    • “It has enough variation to keep you entertained and enough storyline to get invested in without becoming bogged down in cut scenes.”
    • “The dialogue is great, the battles and mining are fun, the quests (though tedious at times) are well written and unique.”
    • “The storyline is admittedly well written, and I like the concept of the faction system, but it's kinda jolting when I'm in the middle of something and the game randomly crashes out, so I've never finished the story.”
    • “The story is dull.”
    • “Finally, the story and side quests are bland with little variation and many of the crew doing nothing but symbolizing you've unlocked a new feature in the story and devoid of personality.”
  • gameplay
    150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Galactrix has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the innovative hexagonal match-3 mechanics and RPG elements, while others criticize the complexity and lack of intuitive design that detracts from the experience. The game introduces new features like variable gravity and gem movement direction, which some find engaging, but many feel these changes lead to frustrating and luck-driven gameplay. Overall, while the core match-3 mechanics remain addictive, the execution and additional complexities have left a significant portion of the player base dissatisfied.

    • “+ the basic match-3 gameplay remains as addictive as ever, despite the extra complexities which require some getting used to”
    • “Galactrix uses a mechanic I've never seen before in a match-3 game, where the direction in which you complete the match determines which way the new pieces fall in.”
    • “Galactrix's match-3 mechanics are a solid upgrade from the original Puzzle Quest; the hex grid is a new and interesting approach, and the ability to control where gems fall in from adds a huge amount of depth.”
    • “The first two puzzle quests were great fun, but this one tries to reinvent the wheel and just ends up making the gameplay more complex, less intuitive, and less enjoyable as a result.”
    • “I had played this years ago before I bought it on Steam (as a bundle with the original Puzzle Quest) and it didn't take long to remember all the things I hated about it; the world map is a huge pain to navigate with all the warping yet has barely anything to interact with in the systems while the core gameplay is extremely frustrating when the AI makes you feel like it can see several tiles outside the boundaries (resulting in huge psychic combos).”
    • “Gameplay feels very shallow, slow, and clunky.”
  • grinding
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. Players report spending nearly 60 hours on fruitless grinding and find the required tasks, such as hacking gates and battling overpowered enemies, to be uninspired and frustrating. While some elements of the game are praised, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grind becomes boring quickly, overshadowing the fun aspects.

    • “I love the original Puzzle Quest, but this one was a grindy, horrible mess.”
    • “Just shy of 60 hours of fruitless grinding to a sad climax. How sad?”
    • “Uninspired dialogue/story, lack of direction in the quest lines, sluggish response, bland and recycled graphics, tedious gameplay, limited crafting/item potential, and game mechanics that favor luck too heavily are all things you can expect to experience when playing this game.”
  • music
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack for its surreal and haunting tracks that complement the futuristic theme, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking impact. While a few users found the music pleasant and well-executed, many felt it was bland and forgettable, with some noting that the battle music fails to maintain engagement during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack seems to be a point of contention, with opinions varying widely from appreciation to disappointment.

    • “The musical score is excellent, filled with an abundance of surreal, jolly, and haunting tracks which fit the title's futuristic theme perfectly.”
    • “It's simple, addictive, and has a badass soundtrack.”
    • “Sound: music is pretty good and a pleasant listen.”
    • “The music is fairly repetitive.”
    • “The game's music doesn't have much appeal; I rather liked the fantasy tunes of the original Puzzle Quest, but this game it was just there, having no impact on my mood or excitement. I can't remember a single note even though I was playing moments ago.”
    • “I swear, the battle music loops once, and then goes back to the amazingly dull space exploring music for the other 25 minutes of the fight.”
  • graphics
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the simple yet immersive visuals that suit the gameplay style, while others criticize the artwork as bland and uninspired compared to its predecessors. Although some find the graphics to be top-notch for a match-3 game, others note technical issues and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are described as workable but not particularly impressive, with a focus on functionality over aesthetics.

    • “The graphics are top notch and this is definitely one of the more amazing looking match 3 games.”
    • “The graphics of each solar system were very simple but I enjoyed it a lot and made it immersive.”
    • “Graphics: pleasant, though unsophisticated.”
    • “The artwork is bad; the game mechanics, which in the first game acted similarly to Bejeweled, keep the 'straight line' function but make the game board a circle.”
    • “Uninspired dialogue/story, lack of direction in the quest lines, sluggish response, bland and recycled graphics, tedious gameplay, limited crafting/item potential, and game mechanics that favor luck too heavily are all things you can expect to experience when playing this game.”
    • “The graphics and story and quests seem hastily put together.”
  • stability
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is plagued by significant stability issues, with frequent crashes and bugs reported by users. Many players experienced crashes to desktop and freezing, particularly after reaching certain levels, leading to a consensus that the game is poorly implemented and not worth the investment. Overall, the stability of the game is a major drawback, detracting from the potential enjoyment of its match-3 gameplay.

    • “Don't let the name fool you... this is a poor implementation of a match 3 game and a buggy mess.”
    • “I really want to like this game, there seems like some good depth but it's buggy as heck, crashes all the time.”
    • “Highly buggy, crashes to desktop every few minutes for no apparent reason, Windows 8.1, not quite worth under a quid which is saying something.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game is generally well-received, as players appreciate the absence of aggressive microtransactions, making it a favorable choice for those who prefer a more straightforward gaming experience. It is recommended to purchase the game on sale for added value.

    • “If you like match 3 games with a twist and don't want to be hounded by constant microtransactions, pick this one up on sale.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere evokes strong comparisons to the beloved "Space Rangers" series, resonating with players who appreciate its immersive and nostalgic qualities.

    • “The game atmosphere has heavily reminded me in many ways of 'Space Rangers' - another game series I love very much.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is reported to run smoothly, indicating effective optimization that enhances the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The game runs smoothly, providing a seamless experience.”
    • “I appreciate how well-optimized the game is; it runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “The optimization is impressive; everything runs smoothly without any noticeable lag.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often derived from the abundance of negative reviews it has received, with some players finding amusement in the critical responses rather than the game itself. This ironic enjoyment highlights a unique aspect of the game's reception, where the commentary surrounding it becomes a source of laughter.

  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game successfully blends RPG elements with casual gaming, resulting in a strong replay value that encourages players to return for more experiences.

    • “The game successfully combines RPG elements with casual gaming, offering great replay value.”
    • “Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, making me want to dive back in for more.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two runs are ever the same.”
Skip Critic Reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy Puzzle Quest Galactrix

4h Median play time
13h Average play time
3-32h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Puzzle Quest Galactrix

Games Like Puzzle Quest Galactrix

PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords ImagePuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords ImagePuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords Image
Puzzle Quest 2 ImagePuzzle Quest 2 ImagePuzzle Quest 2 Image
Gyromancer ImageGyromancer ImageGyromancer Image
Runestone Keeper Image