Space Colony

65%
Game Brain Score Based on 290 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Space Colony Game Cover
Space Colony is a quirky and charming package that packs focus that previous sim games lack. While it’s clearly getting on in age, it’s still a timeless gem in some regards, and easy to recommend to those who have not yet played it.
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"Space Colony" is a real-time strategy simulation game where players build and manage a space colony, including constructing buildings, assigning tasks to colonists, and managing resources. The game offers a campaign mode with unique characters and challenges, as well as a sandbox mode for open-ended gameplay. The goal is to keep your colonists happy and productive, while defending against alien threats and expanding your colony.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 290 reviews
story13 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • The game offers a nostalgic experience with quirky characters and humorous dialogue, making it enjoyable for long-time fans.
  • Engaging gameplay that combines base management with character needs, providing a unique challenge compared to other simulation games.
  • The remastered version runs well on modern systems and includes features like a map editor and Steam Workshop support for user-generated content.
  • The AI can be frustrating, as colonists often require constant micromanagement and may ignore tasks or walk into hazards.
  • The game suffers from dated graphics and a clunky interface, which can hinder the overall experience.
  • Some missions can feel repetitive and the lack of a robust tutorial leaves new players struggling to understand the mechanics.
  • story75 mentions

    The game's story is characterized by a mix of quirky characters and a realistic backdrop of a capitalist space corporation, though some players find the narrative lacking depth and cohesion. While missions are varied and often enjoyable, they can feel forced or gimmicky, with some players expressing frustration over the difficulty and linearity of the storyline. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic charm with user-generated content, but it struggles to provide a compelling overarching narrative.

    • “It's not just nostalgia speaking; the characters are ridiculous, the story is very realistic (vicious capitalist space corporation), and the colony management aspect works well, especially considering it's one of the first of its kind.”
    • “The characters are just as fun and quirky as I remember; the missions and maps are complex and diverse.”
    • “They die if not looked after, have audible banter when they bump into each other, moan when things aren't going well... it's fun to work out how to achieve the objectives of a new mission, but far more so to try out the new characters as they appear in your base.”
    • “Ultimately what kills the appeal is the failure to develop a cohesive storyline.”
    • “I played the first 'set' of the story campaign, and it ended briefly without any real conclusion - heck, the drive for the characters was about as vague as it gets.”
    • “There is no real backstory on the characters, but I kept hoping for something more.”
  • graphics35 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2003 origins, with many reviewers noting that while they have aged, they still possess a certain charm and clarity. Some appreciate the nostalgic 2D isometric style, while others criticize the lack of modern graphical enhancements and the limitations of the non-rotatable perspective. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some finding the visuals enjoyable despite their age, while others feel they detract from the experience.

    • “The graphics are really good considering its age; gameplay can be really fun and chill or extremely brutal depending on the level and planet you choose.”
    • “With simple graphics that are cartoony and clear enough to have aged very well even without the HDification for the two re-releases, even now this game compares well with newer indie titles of similar themes.”
    • “The graphics are refurbished and sharp.”
    • “Don't go expecting graphics of today though, since this is a 2000s game.”
    • “The graphics aren't great even with a top computer.”
    • “The selection of buildings and decorations is rather basic and graphics are, by today's standards, quite dated.”
  • gameplay31 mentions

    Gameplay in this title is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying its engaging mechanics and immersive universe, while others find it clunky, unrefined, and overly micromanagey. The game features a blend of simulation, city-building, and resource management, but many reviews highlight issues such as forced missions, bugs, and dated mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Despite its charm and nostalgic graphics, the gameplay can feel tedious and frustrating, especially for those seeking a more polished experience.

    • “Essentially a stronghold in space, the music is immersive, the graphics have stood the test of time, and the gameplay is truly joyous.”
    • “With its engaging gameplay, immersive universe, and charming aesthetics, it's a game that will keep you coming back for more time and time again.”
    • “It has hilarious conversations between very unique characters, the graphics are really good considering its age, and the gameplay can be really fun and chill or extremely brutal depending on the level and planet you choose.”
    • “There's no way I can list out the main crucial problems with this game, and how its ill-refined gameplay combines together to create something uniquely irritating.”
    • “For all the good of this game, it's not fun because the mechanics seem to all be working against you.”
    • “Gameplay feels clunky and horribly dated, and while it is running fine on modern hardware, I can't say it is nearly as entertaining as I remember it being before.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky characters and hilarious dialogue, providing a consistent and charming experience. While many players find the comedic elements enjoyable and unique, some note that the humor can become repetitive as gameplay shifts focus. Overall, the game's cartoonish style and satirical undertones contribute to its appeal, making it a fun and entertaining experience.

    • “The characters are freaking hilarious!”
    • “It has hilarious conversations between very unique characters; the graphics are really good considering its age, and gameplay can be really fun and chill or extremely brutal depending on the level and planet you choose.”
    • “Enjoyed the humor and quirky characters.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, with both the background score and character sounds enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the nostalgic, old-school vibe of the menu music, while the intro theme is noted for its ability to energize and engage younger audiences. Overall, the sound design contributes positively to the gameplay, making it enjoyable and memorable.

    • “And I seriously love the music in the game, background music as well as the character and alien sounds.”
    • “The menu music is very old school video gamey :D the gameplay is a little micromanagey but still fun.”
    • “The intro theme song makes the kids jump around and dance.”
    • “The menu music is very old school videogamey; the gameplay is a little micromanagey but still fun.”
    • “I might have wiki pages open, or music going, or any number of other things.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be tedious and unintuitive, often requiring extensive micromanagement of resources like minerals and plants. While some players found the use of cheats and community maps helpful in alleviating the grind, others felt that the gameplay was overly focused on repetitive tasks, leading to a lack of engagement. However, a few players appreciated the balance of micromanagement and macromanagement, suggesting that the experience can be rewarding despite its grind-heavy nature.

    • “Thought the game was very tedious and not intuitive.”
    • “Build a base with no entertainment, no sanitation, and no comforts at all, just grinding boring dangerous work.”
    • “There is a lot more gameplay than my time shows, but I completed my achievements using the game's built-in cheats and all the lovely people who added maps in the workshop to help with the grinding ones.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game's replayability is considered moderate due to its static and linear challenges, which may limit long-term engagement. However, it offers a unique experience that avoids repetitiveness, and its longevity is enhanced by modern graphics and extensive user-generated content available through Steam, providing a vast universe to explore.

    • “12 years later, it retains its replayability by stepping into the modern age with improved graphics, higher resolutions, and endless potential workshop content; an entire universe of planets to colonize, available only through Steam.”
    • “It has only moderate replay value, since the challenges (although some are quite challenging) are fairly static and linear.”
    • “I assume replayability will suffer because of this.”
    • “The difficulty and replayability is there because while you might learn the game, it will never be repetitive.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users express strong emotional connections to their gaming experiences, often feeling deep frustration and sadness when faced with technical issues or isolation during gameplay. The intensity of these feelings highlights how games can evoke significant emotional responses, particularly in high-stress situations.

    • “The day my disk finally stopped working for my OS, I cried and went on the hunt to find a digital copy.”
    • “I'm having an emotional meltdown because no one is talking to me and the base is under attack; that is the last thing I'm worried about.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is commendable, particularly for an older title, as it performs well even on 4K screens.

    • “The performance is pretty good on a 4K screen for such an old game.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being underwhelming, with poorly designed characters and simplistic storylines that fail to engage players, overshadowed by a slow-paced mission management system.

    • “What I thought looked like a 'SimCity' in space colony builder turned out to be an extremely slow mission manager. Instead of generic workers of industry, the creators seem to have decided to stuff some poor character design and barebones story scripts in between everything else done badly.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
    • “I was expecting rich narratives and character arcs, but instead, I got one-dimensional characters with no real growth or depth.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report significant stability issues, noting that the game frequently freezes without any recovery options or error messages in the system log, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.

    • “It freezes silently without recovery and no message in the system log or elsewhere.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experience constant lag and disconnections, which ruin the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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Play time

16hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
3-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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