Solargene

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Solargene is a single-player Science Fiction Strategy game with beautiful visuals, set in the near future of human expansion in the Solar System. The game features 10 unique planets and moons with distinct mineral deposits, time-of-day changes, and environmental factors. Players will manage the construction of colonies, from small buildings to entire cities, with a simple yet powerful building system, and tackle various challenges as they expand humanity's reach in the solar system.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 360 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

The game has a lot of potential and offers a unique space colony building experience with the ability to build on multiple planets and moons.
The developer is very responsive to feedback and actively works on updates, showing commitment to improving the game.
The gameplay can be very rewarding once players overcome the initial learning curve, making it engaging and enjoyable.

The user interface is cluttered and unintuitive, making it difficult for players to navigate and understand the game mechanics.
The tutorial is lacking and does not provide sufficient guidance, often leaving players to figure things out through trial and error.
There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including camera control problems and pathfinding glitches that can hinder gameplay.

gameplay
50 mentions
28 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this space colony simulation is engaging and offers a unique blend of mechanics, though it presents a steep learning curve due to insufficient tutorials and explanations for certain features. Players appreciate the depth of the mechanics and the potential for extensive exploration, but many note that the user interface and camera controls require adjustment. Overall, while the game has a solid foundation and enjoyable elements, it needs better communication of its mechanics to enhance the player experience.
- “All around well put together game with endless hours of gameplay to explore.”
- “Updated after 48 game hours: I really enjoy the gameplay of this 3D space colony/station sim, with the rotating habitation on ships and being able to build upwards as well as outwards on planets and in space.”
- “It is not that difficult, the music is amazing (as well as graphics) and the gameplay is not boring; you will always have something to do.”
- “Game looks nice and promising at first but quickly falls apart after a few hours of gameplay.”
- “This game needs a lot of attention to exposing the logistics and mechanics to the player.”
- “Can be rough getting started as the tutorial right now is just a series of text boxes and some mechanics are poorly explained, but the game is still in early access and the developer is very active in the discussions.”
graphics
46 mentions
70 % positive mentions
24 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive generally positive feedback, with many players praising the detailed visuals and art style, particularly in comparison to other titles like Kerbal Space Program. However, some users note performance issues at higher settings and suggest that the user interface could be improved, as it detracts from the overall experience. While the graphics are described as good, they are not universally regarded as outstanding, with some players recommending lower settings for better performance.
- “After an initial learning curve, there's a good simulator to enjoy and awesome graphics very close to a near future.”
- “Machine art-style is fantastic.”
- “For a fresh early access, the assets and graphics are really great.”
- “The game has some interesting aspects but the UI entirely puts me off; it's very unintuitive and annoying to use. The graphics are decent, although it tends to blur at times for no reason. The tutorial is quite lacking and provides barely enough detail to get a colony started. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it until the UI is completely overhauled.”
- “I was looking for a colony sim that doesn't have cartoonish visuals and gives you a sense of actually building and expanding into space.”
- “If you play this with the lowest graphic settings, it doesn't necessarily look bad; it just becomes pixelized and looks a bit like the old school Master of Orion.”
music
16 mentions
75 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising it as "amazingly good" and "nice," contributing positively to the overall experience. However, some players find certain tracks overly repetitive and bombastic, detracting from the enjoyment. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for its relaxing qualities, with a strong desire from players for a standalone soundtrack release.
- “The detail of this game is superb and the OST is relaxing. If you're scared to buy now, at least consider wishlisting it and wait for a sale to give it a shot; I'm not disappointed.”
- “It is not that difficult; the music is amazing (as well as the graphics), and the gameplay is not boring. You will always have something to do.”
- “Nice soundtrack.”
- “Other negative points were the really annoying music (way too much bombast with the same 4 chords in different variations) and the less than great performance given the only ok-ish graphic fidelity.”
stability
14 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with players reporting minor glitches typical of early access, such as freezing when exiting the research screen and pathfinding issues. While some bugs are present, they are generally not game-breaking, and the developer is actively working on improvements. However, the cluttered UI and rudimentary editing tools contribute to a frustrating experience, indicating that further refinement is needed.
- “Exiting the research screen for some reason freezes the game for a few seconds.”
- “The developer is still working on v0.12, so in places it's still a bit buggy and some of the resource balances will need tweaking.”
- “The UI is cluttered (all these windows cramming themselves on top of each other soon become unreadable), editing is very rudimentary (no way to lay down a row of blocks or duplicate a room), visualization is very awkward (camera controls leave a lot to be desired and editing the contents of a room obscured by upper levels is a real chore) and the pathing is downright buggy (some colonists get stuck at the airlock for no apparent reason while others manage to reach the exact same location).”
optimization
12 mentions
67 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its stability and lack of bugs, especially considering it was developed by a single person, with players reporting no crashes over extended play sessions. However, some users noted areas needing improvement, such as performance issues related to graphics fidelity, a confusing interface, and camera movement mechanics, indicating that further optimization could enhance the overall experience.
- “Phenomenal - especially as it is created all by a single person developer - really good and also stable gameplay. It is not riddled with bugs, etc. A nice change - especially as most recently I got City Skylines II, which has a proper team and many performance issues, so this is really impressive.”
- “In about 8 hours, I had absolutely zero crashes, and performance remains nice.”
- “Some serious lack of polish, not much feedback is provided by the game, text-only tutorials, bad performance, confusing interface, camera movement is either 30 cm per year or half a light year at once, and angles on the surface are limited.”
- “There is some optimization that could be done for immersion.”
story
10 mentions
10 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of clarity and depth, with players noting an absence of a coherent narrative or guidance on objectives. Many find the learning curve steep and frustrating, compounded by inadequate tutorials and mission instructions, leading to a disjointed experience that feels unfinished. Overall, the story aspect is deemed unengaging and poorly executed, leaving players feeling lost and disconnected from the game's world.
- “I failed a mission and America hates me and cut off all ties.”
- “On day one, my first impression was, what the hell is this about... there is no storyline or really any instructions on what you meant to do. Let's say it's a very interesting learning curve.”
- “Might not be everyone's cup of tea; certainly not action-packed or story-driven (complete lack of either from what I can tell?).”
- “Its very alpha; the tutorial is worthless, the building side is awful, you can't move between layers freely, facing walls vanish, good luck with doors, and it's just awkward. Making buildings is just plain odd. Not been able to get research to do anything you're meant to be able to set up links between orbits and colonies, no clue, and there's no help as to how, so missions can't be finished. Wish I'd waited a while longer until it's more playable.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the lack of features like copying and pasting rooms, which makes the micromanagement feel repetitive. While some appreciate the learning curve and view grinding as part of the journey, many express frustration with the overall tedium and cumbersome camera controls.
- “One word to describe this otherwise interesting space colony micro management game: tedious.”
- “Needs work on camera angles though, as it's very tedious to switch layers and build.”
- “My biggest annoyance is that there is no way to copy and paste rooms, so the game gets quite tedious.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, with players finding amusement in its frustratingly poor interface and controls. Despite the game's shortcomings, many users are drawn in for hours, highlighting a paradox where the humor arises from the very flaws that keep them engaged.
replayability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game exhibits high replay value, but players express frustration with its alpha state, particularly regarding a lack of clear tutorials and awkward building mechanics. Many feel that the inability to effectively manage resources and complete missions detracts from the overall experience, suggesting that improvements are needed for a more enjoyable replay.
- “High replay value”
- “High replay value”
- “The game feels very unfinished; the tutorial is worthless and the building mechanics are frustrating. You can't move between layers freely, and facing walls just vanish. It's awkward to make buildings, and I have no idea how to set up links between orbits and colonies. There's no help available, so missions can't be completed. I wish I had waited longer for a more polished experience.”
- “The replayability is severely hampered by the lack of guidance and clarity in the game. I've encountered goods outages right at the start, which is utterly crippling and halts any progress. It's disappointing to feel so stuck and unable to explore the game's potential.”
- “Overall, the game is in an alpha state, and it shows. The building side is poorly designed, making it difficult to create anything meaningful. Without a proper tutorial or support, I find myself unable to engage with the game in a way that encourages replayability.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by complex mechanics reminiscent of titles like Stationeers and RimWorld, yet it successfully broadens its scope, allowing players to appreciate the overall experience without getting bogged down in minute details at each station. This approach is seen as a positive aspect, enhancing the immersive quality of the game.
- “The game features complex atmospherics and mechanics reminiscent of Stationeers, RimWorld, or Space Station 13, but it offers a broader scope, allowing players to appreciate the overall experience without getting bogged down in the minutiae of each individual station.”
- “The atmosphere is rich and immersive, drawing players into a world that feels alive and dynamic, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.”
- “The game's atmospheric design creates a captivating environment that keeps players engaged and invested in their journey.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy of the game is heavily criticized, with many users pointing to misleading advertisement clips on the store page as a significant concern.