SimpleRockets 2

A game for budding geniuses to hone their skill in rocket science. Hours of endless possibilities await.

Starting at €19.50Buy now

SimpleRockets 2 is a physics-based space simulation game that lets players build and launch rockets. The game features a detailed design system, realistic orbital physics, and a variety of challenges to complete. With a sandbox mode and career campaign, SimpleRockets 2 offers endless possibilities for creative and technical exploration in space.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,713 reviews

graphics87 positive mentions

stability26 negative mentions

Highly customizable parts allow for endless creativity in rocket and vehicle design.
Smooth performance and good graphics, even on lower-end hardware.
Built-in programming language (Vizzy) enables automation of rocket launches and complex maneuvers.

User interface can be confusing and unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate and build effectively.
Career mode lacks depth and can feel repetitive, with some missions being tedious.
Limited documentation and tutorials make it challenging for new players to learn the game mechanics.

graphics
174 mentions
50 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising their stunning quality and realism, particularly in comparison to other space simulators like Kerbal Space Program (KSP). While some users noted that the graphics can appear simplistic or low-resolution on certain platforms, others highlighted the game's ability to run smoothly even on lower-end hardware. Overall, the visuals are generally considered good, with a few critiques regarding optimization and detail in specific areas.
- “Absolutely stunning visuals!”
- “The graphics are stunning, it is easy to run on a low powered computer, there are plenty of features with more to come, the physics are on point.”
- “The graphics are very good with reflective water, atmospheric scattering, and realistic engine effects.”
- “In terms of visuals, it looks very bland; the parts are technically textured but they might as well be solid color.”
- “The terrain up close is probably the worst aspect of the graphics, suffering from the high LODs still being extremely low detail, and as far as I’ve seen, the complete lack of scattering.”
- “Even on max graphics, the quality looks like that of a low-quality mobile game.”
story
143 mentions
20 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely centered around its mission system, which is described as a mix of engaging challenges and repetitive tasks. While players appreciate the variety of missions and the integration of tutorials, many feel that the career mode lacks depth and balance, often leading to frustration due to unfulfilled contracts and limited tech progression. Overall, the narrative experience is seen as underdeveloped, with a desire for more diverse and meaningful missions to enhance player motivation and engagement.
- “The campaign missions so far are a lot more fun than many found in the original KSP, and there are 'progression' missions which act as onboarding for new players, which I personally prefer to the system in place in KSP 1/2.”
- “The missions are well-designed and offer a good mix of challenge and reward, making them both fun and addictive.”
- “The arrival of career mode brings additional differentiation and the variety of missions has taken a fun sandbox game and made it into one with clear progression and a ton of puzzles to solve.”
- “There isn't a reason or a benefit to do things, aside from just specific tasks given by a mission or to get more research.”
- “I wish the mission/campaign content was more fleshed out.”
- “The game's kind-of-campaign is entirely made up of challenges, things like get in orbit, crash into the moon, etc. I've found these challenges to be quite simple, but made my own goal of doing every mission autonomously.”
gameplay
104 mentions
26 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Juno: New Origins is characterized by its robust rocket design system and intuitive mechanics, appealing to both casual players and those interested in the technical aspects of aerospace engineering. While it offers a sandbox experience similar to Kerbal Space Program, it emphasizes creativity over strict realism, allowing players to experiment with various rocket configurations and orbital mechanics. However, some users noted a lack of depth in game mechanics and campaign content, suggesting that while the building and flying aspects are enjoyable, the overall gameplay experience could benefit from further development and refinement.
- “The gameplay and controls are smooth, there is an obvious skill gap, and the gameplay loop is fantastic.”
- “But the building and flying mechanics are stellar, and I got a real sense of accomplishment from putting together effective missions and exploring the system.”
- “The gameplay is a bit lacking.”
- “There's also a noticeable dearth of gameplay -- a campaign mode is yet to come, so all you can do is build craft either for fun or to tick boxes listed as engineering challenges.”
- “Gameplay-wise, I was constantly having to babysit the camera, and the staging is awful.”
optimization
70 mentions
27 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received positive feedback, with many users noting its smooth performance even on lower-end devices and mobile platforms. Players appreciate the efficient memory usage, quick load times, and the ability to handle complex builds without significant performance degradation. However, some users have pointed out that while the game is well-optimized, there are still instances where performance can suffer with extremely detailed creations.
- “Jno has optimized the game experience, bug reduction, and memory usage to the extreme of aerospace simulation games.”
- “Very expansive sandbox game, highly optimized so it can run even on lower-end devices.”
- “With impressive optimization that extends to Android phones, it offers a smooth and enjoyable experience across different platforms.”
- “The smooth experience is still unoptimized: when launching rockets this game consumes ~200w on my 4090 at 4k max, meanwhile AAA titles like Atomic Heart, Hogwarts Legacy, Forza Horizon 5, Dota 2, etc. usually consume below this value (~150w at best, usually ~125w).”
- “If you have played Kerbal Space Program and loathed the wobbly physics and low performance, this is for you.”
- “Wish it was optimized a little better for performance.”
stability
29 mentions
10 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly in physics and UI, leading to frustrating experiences. While some users note that it runs smoothly on their systems and appreciate the ongoing improvements, the overall consensus is that the game is still quite buggy, especially given its early access status. Players express hope for future updates to address these issues, but currently, the instability detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- “Feels like a better version of KSP, has good graphics, is easy to learn and play, is almost bug-free and has a nice community.”
- “It runs great even on Intel HD graphics.”
- “Overall, it's not buggy and runs mostly smooth.”
- “It freezes a lot.”
- “This was so buggy I had to uninstall it before I punched a hole through my screen.”
- “Binding a new control will leave you punching out a loved one due to its buggy nature.”
humor
19 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highly variable, with some players finding it amusing due to wacky collisions and funny missions, while others criticize the lack of engaging characters and witty writing, comparing it unfavorably to games like KSP2. Many reviews highlight a disconnect between the intended humor and its execution, leading to mixed feelings about its effectiveness. Overall, while some players appreciate the comedic elements, others feel it falls flat, resulting in a less immersive experience.
- “Right now 50% of the hazards you encounter on the ground are just hitting an edge transition a little funny and triggering a really wacky collision that throws your vehicle.”
- “I'm not too deep into it yet, so far it's good, intuitive interface, easy tutorials, funny missions.”
- “Simplerockets 2 is a funny little game with a lot of potential.”
music
16 mentions
25 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is often described as repetitive and simplistic, with many players comparing it to Minecraft's soundtrack but finding it lacking in variety and character. While some appreciate the ambient quality that fits the game's setting, others find it forgettable and bland, leading to a desire for more engaging and diverse musical tracks. Overall, the soundtrack fails to leave a lasting impression, with many opting to mute it entirely.
- “The chilling music helps to not throw your computer out of the window while UI-fighting.”
- “Beautiful scenery, perfect music for the setting, and fantastic building mechanics.”
- “Also, the music constantly reminds me of Minecraft Volume Alpha overworld music combined with one of the Minecraft Volume Beta nether music tracks.”
- “Short of muting the background music altogether and cranking your speakers up to 11, there's not much to actually hear.”
- “Technically there are a couple of music tracks, but it's so infrequent and simplistic that I forget it's there.”
- “The soundtrack also contributes a bit to that; it's not bad per se, but it's just very neutral ambient music that doesn't have a lot of character.”
grinding
16 mentions
6 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a tedious experience, particularly when it comes to earning tech points and completing repetitive missions. While some players find the contract system makes grinding for money more enjoyable, many express frustration with the slow progression and the need to engage in unexciting tasks to unlock content. Overall, the grinding aspect detracts from the enjoyment of building and flying, leading to a desire for a more streamlined and rewarding experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Instead of having fun flying, I'm grinding boring missions that are hard gates to every bit of content.”
- “Even if it is worth your money, it isn't worth the time you have to put in learning how to use it and grinding through the career.”
- “Many things like staging, advanced info about parts, and part lists are on separate tabs to save space, and it makes building more complex crafts very tedious.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
42 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the realistic graphics and environmental effects, such as reflective water and atmospheric scattering. However, many express frustration with the simplified physics and aerodynamics, which can lead to uncontrollable rocket spins and a lack of depth in atmospheric interactions. Overall, while the visual representation of atmospheres is praised, players desire more complexity and features to enhance the atmospheric experience.
- “Furthermore, the planet and solar system editor allows us to create distinctive celestial playgrounds, where we can shape atmospheres and various environmental parameters.”
- “The graphics are very good with reflective water, atmospheric scattering, and realistic engine effects.”
- “I struggle with playing Juno over KSP because of the atmospheres of the game.”
- “Not enough atmosphere.”
- “I like the realism and HD quality of the explosions; I wish they added grass and atmospheric clouds/weather in general.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game; while the initial thrill of engineering and problem-solving creates a sense of achievement, the lack of humor, charm, and artistic elements diminishes immersion and emotional connection. The industrial simulation feel and frustrating UI further contribute to a sense of detachment, limiting the overall emotional engagement.
- “In the beginning, it didn't matter how they looked; the surreal feeling of engineering something physically plausible and performing well in the game made me feel like a rocket scientist. It kept me hooked to the extent that I stuck faithfully with the game until the day my tablet finally passed on.”
monetization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab exploiting the popularity of Kerbal Space Program; however, some users feel that the value of the app justifies its cost, making it a worthwhile purchase despite the aggressive monetization tactics.
- “I don't usually buy games or in-game purchases, but in my opinion, this is the most worthy app I've bought.”
- “This to me is just a brutal cash grab capitalizing on the hype generated by Kerbal Space Program.”