Skip to main content

Smugglers 5

55%Game Brain Score
gameplay, optimization
story, graphics
55% User Score Based on 260 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows
Buy Nowfrom $2.06
Buy NowGet on Steam€9.99

About

Smugglers 5 is a turn-based space trading and combat game set in a vast, procedurally generated universe. As a captain of a spaceship, players engage in various activities such as trading goods, completing missions, and battling enemy ships. The game offers multiple factions to align with, various ship customization options, and a rich, engaging storyline.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Smugglers 5 screenshot
Smugglers 5 screenshot
Smugglers 5 screenshot
Smugglers 5 screenshot
Smugglers 5 screenshot
Smugglers 5 screenshot
Smugglers 5 screenshot
Smugglers 5 screenshot
Smugglers 5 screenshot
Smugglers 5 screenshot
Smugglers 5 screenshot
+1

55%
Audience ScoreBased on 260 reviews
gameplay12 positive mentions
story8 negative mentions
  • The game offers a variety of professions and factions, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences.
  • It has a nostalgic charm and can be a fun time-killer for those who enjoy turn-based strategy games.
  • The game allows for exploration and trading, providing a sense of progression and achievement.
  • The user interface is clunky and not optimized for modern screens, making it difficult to play.
  • The combat system is heavily reliant on RNG, leading to frustrating and unbalanced encounters.
  • Many features feel unfinished or poorly executed, resulting in a lack of depth and replayability.
  • story
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story has been criticized for being simplistic and poorly executed, with a focus on an Amero-centric narrative that lacks depth and engaging plotlines. Players have noted that missions are often repetitive and uninspired, with a frustrating lack of reminders for non-government tasks, leading to confusion and a disjointed experience. While there are some interesting elements, such as flavor missions and multiple factions, the overall storytelling is considered weak, detracting from the potential of the gameplay.

    • “If you like space or pirate games you should check this out, there are several different storylines and endings as well based on how you choose to play.”
    • “It's like a game from the early 90's, minimal graphics but big on story, and next-turnitis sets in faster than you can expect.”
    • “In terms of plot, this game names all its sectors things like 'New Ireland' or 'New Germany' or 'New Italy', but the story is unabashedly Amero-centric.”
    • “So, the story basically goes that the federation (or empire, as it's called anytime it's supposed to be the bad guy, because empires are bad, 'mmmkay?) passed some 'tyrannical' laws, so some of the colonies started a rebellion after having a tea party.”
    • “The universe is lifeless and repetitive, the missions are always the same crap, the challenge isn't great either.”
  • graphics
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely criticized as outdated and overly simplistic, resembling a low-quality Windows forms application with minimal visual appeal. Many reviewers note the absence of graphics settings and the lack of modern graphical fidelity, suggesting that the visuals are more akin to late-90s games. While the graphics do not impress, some players appreciate the depth and gameplay, indicating that the game may still be enjoyable for those willing to overlook its visual shortcomings.

    • “Behind the simple visuals and the easy to learn rules and interface, there is a lot of content hidden.”
    • “They won’t win any prizes graphically, but they really make it up for it with depth, polishing, and gameplay.”
    • “While not graphically appealing to today's standards, it makes up for it in depth and gameplay.”
    • “It's just a graphical Windows Forms game... looks like Visual C++ or VB6.”
    • “The graphics can be boiled down into this sentence: "it's two JPEG images set on a black background with one of two basic overlay effects on them and no concern for consistency or integrity of the images themselves or the overlays."”
    • “The big difference is the graphics, which are non-existent.”
  • gameplay
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of potential and shortcomings, with many players finding the mechanics either underdeveloped or repetitive. While some appreciate the depth and addictive nature of the gameplay, others criticize its lack of narrative and strategic inconsistencies, leading to a formulaic experience that can become dull after a few hours. Overall, the game offers a basic framework for trading and missions, but fails to deliver engaging content or polish, leaving many players disappointed.

    • “There are many ships, faction politics, a trade mechanic with a black market aspect, tons of skills and abilities, and a large map.”
    • “It's pretty simple in terms of gameplay, but it is very fun and quite addictive.”
    • “It is rough and unpolished in some areas, but there is a lot of good gameplay to be had.”
    • “Though eventually even such lofty ambitions lose their luster disappointingly quickly as gameplay becomes almost formulaic.”
    • “This game is also missing the end-game content, so bad luck if you thought you might like to lead your own fleet or do anything cool. The game becomes rather bland after a couple of hours of gameplay, with all combat being nearly identical, with only a slight mix-up due to you only being able to use abilities when the RNG decides you can.”
    • “Honestly, if this game were 15 years old or free on some flash site or a $2 iPhone title, I'd say it's great, but it's certainly not worth $10, considering the lack of depth, repetitive gameplay, and unpolished nature of the game.”
  • grinding
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the early grind can be enjoyable, the requirement to earn substantial credits for larger ships becomes tedious, especially for those not starting as smugglers. Combat is often described as frustrating due to frequent misses and limited special abilities, contributing to a sense of monotony. Overall, players should prepare for significant grinding, particularly if they wish to explore all aspects of the game through multiple playthroughs.

    • “Sounds fun, but think more like old school NES Dragon Warrior style grinding and watch out because every 5 battles will either be a smaller ship with random chance on its side or an overpowered larger ship that will tear you apart.”
    • “However, so much of the game becomes closed to you based on some initial character creation selections that multiple run-throughs are the only way to experience this game, which can get a bit tedious...”
    • “With enough dedication you can eventually reach the higher ranks and unlock more activities, but you'll have to be able to slog through a fair bit of early grinding, especially if you choose the civilian route.”
  • stability
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly on modern systems. Many users express frustration over its unfinished state and clunky interface, leading to a perception that it is not worth its price. Overall, the consensus is that the game requires urgent fixes to improve its stability and user experience.

    • “It's old and buggy, especially with modern systems.”
    • “It is an unfinished buggy mess and not the latest version of this game.”
    • “Plenty of bugs as well, random crashes to desktop, unresponsive program, and sound glitches to name a few.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is lacking for screens larger than 1366x768, resulting in tiny visuals that detract from the experience. While it runs smoothly on lower resolutions and is easy to download, the overall lack of optimization for larger displays is a significant drawback. Players find the repetitive gameplay dull, further highlighting the need for better optimization.

    • “It is very small, simple to download, and it runs smoothly on the computer.”
    • “It's so much more profitable than anything else that anything else is a waste of time, in terms of optimization.”
    • “The game runs efficiently and does not require much from the computer.”
    • “Zero optimization for any screens bigger than about 1366x768; everything is tiny.”
    • “It's so much more profitable than anything else that anything else is a waste of time in terms of optimization, but it's also rather dull to just keep running the same routes over and over.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers some replayability with various options for engagement, but many players find the campaign lacks significant replay value due to its unpolished nature and restrictive skill paths. While there are interesting features, the repetitive combat and tedious trading diminish long-term enjoyment. Overall, it may provide a few enjoyable run-throughs, but it falls short of sustaining interest over time.

    • “That said, the game is extremely unpolished, combat gets old after a few hours, trading is boring from the very beginning, there is absolutely no replay value to the campaign, you can't mix skill types because you are forced to follow a set career and skill path (one of six), and the game tells you to buy the expansion every time you leave the game.”
    • “There are some interesting features in this game, and for the price, it's worth the money - there is replayability and plenty of options to keep you engaged for a couple of run-throughs.”
    • “That said, the game is extremely unpolished, combat gets old after a few hours, trading is boring from the very beginning, there is absolutely no replay value to the campaign, you can't mix skill types because you are forced to follow a set career and skill path (one of six), and the game tells you to buy the expansion every time you leave the game.”
  • music
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is described as overwhelmingly loud, with no adjustable settings other than the option to turn it off completely. Additionally, players have reported that the music cuts out at random intervals, which can be jarring when it occurs.

    • “Deafening music, no way to adjust it other than turning it off.”
    • “The music tends to cut out at various random intervals, but strangely enough, I really only noticed it when it suddenly stopped.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a sense of initial overwhelm due to the game's intricate details, but they quickly recognize that the simplicity of the core mechanics enhances their emotional engagement, highlighting the vast possibilities that contribute to the game's appeal.

Buy Smugglers 5

Videos

Games Like Smugglers 5

Starpoint Gemini 2 Image
68%4.4kreviews

Starpoint Gemini 2

2015Open World Role Playing
PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|S+2
Star Traders: Frontiers Image
85%6kreviews

Star Traders: Frontiers

2018Casual Role Playing
PCPCAndroidAndroidiPhoneiPhone+7
Starpoint Gemini Warlords Image
71%3.7kreviews

Starpoint Gemini Warlords

2017Open World Role Playing
PCPCXboxXboxWindowsWindows+3
Cosmonautica Image
45%1.2kreviews

Cosmonautica

2015Simulation
PCPCAndroidAndroidiPhoneiPhone+5
Sid Meier's Starships Image
56%3.5kreviews

Sid Meier's Starships

2015Turn-based Strategy
PCPCiPhoneiPhoneWindowsWindows+4