Reentry: An Orbital Simulator

About

"Reentry: An Orbital Simulator" is a single-player and multi-player space flight simulation game featuring real-life spacecrafts with intricate systems and missions based on real or fictional challenges. Players create and level-up astronauts, learning to fly and operate spacecrafts via in-game academy and manuals, while exploring space in a high-resolution, realistic environment. The game offers a splendid graphics experience, recreating space travel's beauty and complexity.

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Reentry: An Orbital Simulator screenshot

+35

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 581 reviews

story15 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

Incredibly detailed simulation of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spacecraft, providing an authentic experience of early space missions.
The game features a comprehensive checklist system and tutorials that help players learn the complex systems and procedures of the spacecraft.
Active developer engagement and regular updates ensure continuous improvement and community support, making it a rewarding experience for space enthusiasts.

The steep learning curve can be overwhelming for new players, especially those unfamiliar with spaceflight mechanics and terminology.
Some users report bugs and performance issues, particularly with the VR implementation and certain mission functionalities.
The graphics outside the spacecraft can feel dated compared to the detailed interiors, which may detract from the overall immersion.

story
162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
89%
2%
The game's story immerses players in the historical context of NASA's early manned missions, including Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, allowing them to experience the intricacies and challenges faced by astronauts. Players appreciate the attention to detail in mission procedures and the educational aspect of the simulation, which enhances their understanding of space exploration. While the game is still in early access with some bugs and limited missions, it has the potential to evolve into a comprehensive and engaging simulation of space history.
- “The spacecraft, mission profiles, and the challenges faced by the astronauts are all captured beautifully, making it both educational and exciting.”
- “Players get to experience these historic missions from a first-hand perspective, which is both educational and exhilarating.”
- “The amount of care that has gone into recreating these spacecraft and missions is evident, and making the experience not just accurate, but fun as well speaks to its excellent design.”
- “The missions feel canned because they are.”
- “Some missions were very frustrating as they are scripted, to benefit you in learning, but if you miss something or screw up, it seems the scripting may be affected to where you can no longer continue the mission as intended.”
- “Early access means there's only a handful of missions available; if you want to relive the entirety of mercury, gemini, and apollo then maybe wait till the official release.”
graphics
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
32%
9%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their high level of detail, particularly in the interiors of spacecraft, which create an immersive experience for players. While the external graphics, such as planetary views, are considered somewhat dated, the overall visual quality is impressive, especially given the game's ongoing development and optimization. Players appreciate the realistic depiction of controls and systems, enhancing the simulation's authenticity.
- “The graphics are amazing, and the gameplay makes you feel like you're one of the astronauts.”
- “Graphically, the game impresses with its realistic depiction of spacecraft interiors and the stunning views of Earth from orbit.”
- “The quality of the graphics is outstanding along with what can only be described as a 'spot on' immersive feel of each capsule pre-shuttle era.”
- “Surprised to see that this runs with 24 fps with 'balanced' graphics preset on Steam Deck.”
- “Apart from the rockets and spacecraft, the visuals aren't that compelling, but again the game is in beta.”
- “The graphics are mediocre and non-existent.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
73%
12%
The gameplay of this simulation is highly detailed and immersive, effectively blending real-life spaceflight procedures with accessible mechanics, though it may be challenging for newcomers without prior knowledge of orbital mechanics. Players can engage in various gameplay options, including tutorials and custom missions, but the game does not extensively teach the underlying concepts, which may leave some players feeling overwhelmed. Overall, it offers a rewarding experience for those interested in the complexities of space travel, while also serving as an educational platform for spaceflight enthusiasts.
- “The setup is incredibly detailed, the graphics are amazing, and the gameplay makes you feel like you're one of the astronauts.”
- “Petri is a genius and has done an amazing job of blending real-life procedures with accessible gameplay.”
- “It is remarkable how well a faithful recreation of all of their procedures, instruments, and controls translates into an engaging gameplay experience.”
- “The only real concession to gameplay this sim has made is to add time scaling so you can speed over long waits.”
- “Some knowledge of orbital mechanics will benefit those who are familiar with it, but new players to this sim may be at a loss to those mechanics as the game really does not teach those; it only tells you what to do and mostly when to do it.”
- “This will not appeal to the normal gamer or someone who is expecting some kind of 'plot' or game mechanic: this is pretty much an actual simulation and extremely technical.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality and emotional impact, often described as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the original soundtrack, noting its superiority to other space simulation games, and highlight how it complements the nostalgic elements of the gameplay. Additionally, the incorporation of real astronaut communications adds to the authenticity and depth of the audio experience.
- “The music is a key part of the experience, as are the sound snippets of real communications between astronauts and control on the real flights.”
- “The graphics are fantastic, the soundtrack is great, and the developers are constantly working on perfecting the game.”
- “I've had the music send chills down my spine.”
- “There's some minor aesthetic improvements that could be made (new soundtrack, or replace with better ambiance; radio chatter instead of text boxes; other limited changes), but otherwise the bones are here for something really cool.”
- “Although it's not the main focus of the game, I have to say that the music is an absolute pleasure to listen to.”
- “✔️ Immersion is okay, but the wow factor is boosted by music and sound bytes.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization has improved significantly over time, with users noting great performance and solid graphics on capable systems. However, some players have experienced performance degradation in later versions, and there are still ongoing issues related to graphics optimization and missing features, particularly given its early access status.
- “Performance of the game is great so far.”
- “I bought this a year ago and since then the graphics have been optimized.”
- “Doesn't overheat or anything and maintains solid performance.”
- “I bought this game a few years ago and it had performance issues and some bugs.”
- “Of course, as the game is early access there are still some issues, namely performance optimization and difficulty.”
- “On the downside, the game needs to be optimized for graphics performance and there are a number of features not yet implemented.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
86%
The game is currently in early access and is reported to have numerous bugs and glitches, which detracts from its overall stability. While some issues have been addressed through regular patches, players still experience significant problems, including freezing during loading screens. Despite these stability concerns, many users believe the game has potential and is worth considering.
- “I haven't encountered any glitches at all.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
- “I've experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
- “I really only have one issue with the game, but technically I can't even call it an issue as this game is not a complete release yet and still in early access. However, there are many bugs and glitches, some of which have been fixed and others not.”
- “This game holds a lot of promise, but for now it's just too buggy to invest in.”
- “It freezes up on the loading screen every time.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Users express mixed feelings about the game's atmosphere, highlighting a lack of seamless transitions during atmospheric entry and exit, which detracts from immersion. While some appreciate the detailed training and narrative elements, others feel that the focus on technicalities overshadows the overall atmospheric experience.
- “I play for the immersive narrative of pretending I'm flying to space, following checklists, understanding the basics, and overall taking in the atmosphere (or lack thereof).”
- “The only downside in my opinion is the lack of seamless atmospheric entry/exit (same for lunar entry/exit).”
- “I recently tried the Apollo lunar landing and a few minutes prior to PDI, I randomly popped up in Earth's atmosphere!”
- “Why spend all that time telling you how to bypass waste excrement via an optional vacuum pipe using the alternate mna bus vacuum seal opening, instead of telling you how much delta-v you need to reenter the atmosphere without burning up during the first full exam? I just don't know.”
- “I recently tried the Apollo lunar landing, and a few minutes prior to PDI, I randomly popped up in Earth's atmosphere!”
- “No, I play for the immersive narrative of pretending I'm flying to space, following checklists, understanding the basics, and overall taking in the atmosphere (or lack thereof).”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as a profound experience that resonates deeply with players, particularly those who have aspired to be astronauts, evoking strong feelings and even tears.
- “This is not just a simulation; it is an emotional and educational experience for individuals (myself included) who dreamed of being an astronaut.”
- “And yes, I cried.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from absurdity and the unexpected resolution of trivial issues, exemplified by the phrase "sce to aux," which highlights the comedic value of seemingly insignificant actions leading to significant outcomes. This blend of quirky logic and playful absurdity resonates well with players.
- “Do you know why saying 'sce to aux' when you do something seemingly insignificant somehow fixes a problem is funny?”
- “It's not about building rockets and coming up with crazy yet funny contraptions.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game for striking a balance that appeals to both dedicated fans and casual gamers, avoiding excessive technicality or tedium.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The replayability of many flight simulators, such as Eagle Lander 3D and Orbiter, is noted for being accessible and straightforward, allowing a wide range of players to enjoy them without delving into complex instrument and mission details. This simplicity contributes to their enduring appeal and encourages repeated play.
- “Many are very simple flight sims (Eagle Lander 3D, Orbiter, MS Space Simulator), which do not go into instrument and mission detail and are playable by most.”