Space Haven

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Space Haven is a space colony simulation game where you lead a group of survivors in building a home among the stars. Manage resources, research new technologies, and navigate the dangers of space while dealing with the needs and personalities of your crew. Your decisions will determine the success or failure of your space voyage. Create and manage your own unique space habitat as you see fit.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,078 reviews

gameplay366 positive mentions

grinding182 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a mix of resource management, exploration, and ship building.
Charming pixel art style and a soothing soundtrack that enhances the gaming experience.
Active development with regular updates, showing commitment from the developers to improve and expand the game.

Steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for new players, with a lack of clear tutorials.
Repetitive gameplay loop that can become tedious after a while, especially in the late game.
AI crew members can be frustratingly unresponsive or make poor decisions during critical situations.

gameplay
1,288 mentions
28 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Space Haven has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its solid mechanics and engaging core loop centered around resource management, ship building, and exploration. However, some criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the lack of depth in mid to late game content, leading to a feeling of stagnation. While the game shows promise with its unique mechanics and potential for expansion, it is still in early access and requires further development to enhance the overall experience and address existing issues.
- “Great game to express building creativity and strategy in and while still in early access, it provides a quality gameplay experience.”
- “The core gameplay loop is very fun and I'm often feeling like 'just one more thing' that reminds me of civilization's 'just one more turn' feeling.”
- “The gameplay is deep and thoughtful, I can't wait to see it grow and develop in time.”
- “Terribly boring gameplay loop.”
- “The game is a hard (somewhat) colony manager like RimWorld, but since it's still in early access, it is lacking balance, depth, UI/mechanic information, and variety of things.”
- “The gameplay loop is quite repetitive - mine asteroids, salvage derelicts, rinse, repeat.”
story
724 mentions
10 % positive mentions
84 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely considered underdeveloped, with many players noting a lack of meaningful narrative or quests, often describing it as a sandbox experience where players create their own stories through gameplay. While there are pockets of lore found in ship logs and some emergent storytelling, the overall narrative feels shallow and repetitive, leading to a desire for more structured missions and character development. Players express hope for future updates to enhance the story elements and provide a more engaging narrative experience.
- “I find the exploration of other ships, while putting together story arcs also interesting.”
- “From its captivating storyline to its immersive gameplay mechanics, Space Haven offers an exceptional space simulation that will leave players astounded.”
- “One of the standout aspects of Space Haven is its captivating storyline and well-developed characters.”
- “The story is barebones... so I just pretend it's an extended episode of Firefly and close my eyes.”
- “There is no storyline, no quests, very limited character development.”
- “The gameplay is highly repetitive, and once you have solved it, it stays that way in terms of story.”
graphics
680 mentions
40 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic titles, reminiscent of games from the 90s. While some players appreciate the simplicity and detail of the visuals, others find them basic and lacking in polish, with a few expressing a desire for improved crew models and overall graphical enhancements. Overall, the graphics serve the gameplay well, contributing to an engaging atmosphere despite not being cutting-edge.
- “Unlike most games where great graphics is all that the game can offer, Space Haven looks simple, almost primitive with its detailed and beautiful pixel graphics, but in fact, it is a highly detailed simulation of survival in space.”
- “The graphics are good enough to where you forget about them not being 'modern' and don't think twice!”
- “The combination of visuals and audio creates an atmospheric experience that draws you deeper into the game's world.”
- “While both onboard and ship-to-ship combat are there, the graphics are very basic and there are only a few offensive/defensive choices.”
- “Sadly at this moment in time I am going to have to give this game a thumbs down and that is based purely on the graphical style as I haven't actually got fully into the gameplay yet as I find the graphics so poor that I can't continue to play.”
- “The pixel art graphics are not working with this game at all and should never have been a thing.”
music
562 mentions
52 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and soothing qualities, with many players praising the soundtrack as a perfect fit for the game's space exploration theme. While the main menu music and some tracks have been highlighted as particularly memorable, there are calls for more variety and additional sound effects to enhance the overall audio experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing.”
- “The music is fantastic, chilled electronic score which really complements the game.”
- “Great soundtrack and atmosphere, this game will suck you in for hours once you get going.”
- “The main menu music is so cringeworthy there are mods to change or disable it.”
- “The music at the intro of the game is making me cringe so hard, cut the vocal out and you will be so much better off.”
- “I turned the music off within 15 minutes, it's better played with your favorite radio in the background.”
grinding
186 mentions
1 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring players to invest significant time in resource management and micromanagement without much reward. Many reviewers express frustration with the slow pace of progression and the lack of engaging content, leading to a feeling of overwhelming monotony. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, the consensus leans towards it being a major drawback that detracts from the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Found early game to just be a grindy slog that's the same exact same no matter what you do.”
- “The game is extremely tedious and not fun.”
- “The game promises you things like the ability to build fleets and upgrade to juggernauts, but good luck getting to that on any real playthrough without dozens of hours of grinding.”
replayability
122 mentions
41 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its procedural generation, diverse gameplay mechanics, and the ability to create unique experiences with each playthrough. Players appreciate the depth of content and the potential for future updates to enhance replay value further. While some users express concerns about current limitations and balance issues, the overall consensus is that the game offers significant replayability, making it a worthwhile investment.
- “Space Haven offers an impressive replay value due to its procedural generation system and the myriad of choices available to players.”
- “Great design, with over 500 hours I have not had a single crash yet, even when trying experimental branches. The game feels engaging at all times, resources seem balanced, has a nice lore behind it, and every space traveler you have in your saves will have its own unique set of attributes. Overall, the game offers great replayability and every journey will feel new and fresh.”
- “The game is wildly fun and has tons of replay value despite still being in alpha.”
- “I definitely got my money's worth and would pay full price for it and therefore I recommend it, but I can't recommend it for the long-term or for replayability because it is a frustrating game.”
- “I am really looking forward to the content the devs will add in the future patches, because I do think that after a couple solid runs the replayability of the game will go down because there isn't sufficient variety of events.”
- “In its current state though, it’s fun to play, but there’s no replayability in my opinion.”
atmosphere
120 mentions
43 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Space Haven" is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, combining beautiful pixel art, intricate details, and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the sense of safety and community among crew members, as well as the tension created by the game's survival mechanics in space. However, some critiques mention that certain gameplay elements can detract from the intended atmosphere, suggesting a need for improved AI and controls to fully realize the game's potential.
- “The combination of visuals and audio creates an atmospheric experience that draws you deeper into the game's world.”
- “The beautifully rendered spacecraft, intricate details of the space colonies, and stunning galactic backdrops create a mesmerizing atmosphere that truly transports players into the depths of space.”
- “Of course, the atmosphere of this game is out of this world - the retro yet extremely detailed visuals are absolutely beautiful, the music is top tier and adds a lot to the ambience the game conveys.”
- “The game atmosphere is boring and does not convey the feeling of being lost in space or survival.”
- “It's difficult because the pawns you control barely do their jobs right, always complain about 'being uncomfortable' even if you try your best to build crew quarters and stations with tables, lights, and chairs to create a hospitable atmosphere.”
- “Very well made game, from mechanics to visuals, music and overall atmosphere (or lack of!).”
stability
96 mentions
23 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
71 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting a range of bugs and glitches, particularly related to crew mechanics and shuttle behavior, while others have found it surprisingly stable for an early access title. Many users noted minor issues, but few experienced game-breaking problems, suggesting that the game is generally playable and enjoyable despite its imperfections. Overall, while some players encountered frustrating bugs, others praised the game for being one of the more stable early access experiences they've had.
- “This game is one of the most bug-free early access games I have ever played, which I think they should be applauded for; this game is a quality product.”
- “It's surprisingly bug-free for an early access game, and the game loop they've got going is sublime.”
- “The game is very well balanced so far, and no glitches or crashes to speak of; I am enjoying it a lot.”
- “Like 99% of the early access games, this one has been 'updated' to the point where the glitches are game/ship breaking.”
- “This game is great, but currently it's buggy and annoying as well.”
- “It's an interesting game, but crew mechanics are really buggy and unsophisticated... or maybe they're too sophisticated in some regards, and not enough in others.”
optimization
68 mentions
35 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, especially considering its alpha state, with many users reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs. Players appreciate the well-designed UI and task prioritization, which enhances gameplay efficiency, although some note that further optimization and additional content are still needed. The game effectively challenges players to optimize their ship designs and resource management, contributing to a rewarding experience.
- “For a game still in its alpha state, it is well optimized and the UI is by far the best I've personally seen from an alpha/beta (I've played at least 50 alpha/beta games).”
- “I recommend this game as it shows a lot of effort has been (and still is being worked on) put in, lots of micro-management has been optimized in order to reduce some micro-management annoyance, but if you are feeling like controlling everything, you always can.”
- “By the time you've explored 10% of the entire cluster, you'll have all research unlocked, a fully functional and optimized ship, a crew equipped with the best items, a ton of every resource (literally more than you can carry, even with a lot of storage) and nothing new to see or do.”
- “Space Haven has now become an oppressive puzzler that requires you to take very optimized paths, with a very strict time limit, and with enough foreknowledge of what you need to do first and having a very clear idea of how you're going to build your ship from the outset with minimal margin for error or correction, because, from minute one, you are on a ticking clock that you can only hope to extend until you can, theoretically, reach some sort of point of sustainability.”
- “It still needs lots of optimization and more stuff to build/research, but the base game is pretty much all working.”
- “My first playthrough was abandoned since I was learning the game and my ship was unoptimized and messy.”
humor
48 mentions
96 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding joy in absurd situations like crew members soiling themselves or the chaotic mishaps during gameplay. While some aspects are genuinely funny, such as the quirky animations and unexpected events, others feel dry or could use more comedic elements. Overall, the game offers a blend of humor that can lead to both entertaining and frustrating moments, making it a unique experience for players.
- “Graphics and animations are really pretty and clearly made with love and not forgetting humor either; when I built my first autopsy table and the little pixel crewmates carried the first alien carcass to it and fiddled with it for a moment and it exploded in a huge pile of green goo making a mess all over the room, I really found myself laughing out loud :)”
- “I fell out of my chair laughing when I finally built the toilet, and watched my crew wake up at night and high tail it to the john!”
- “There are hilarious things like: if you make your workers work too hard, without a break, sometimes they'll shat in their pants.”
character development
14 mentions
7 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted to be limited, lacking a strong storyline or quests, which diminishes the depth of character interactions and growth. While some aspects of character development are present, players express a desire for more robust systems akin to those found in games like RimWorld, emphasizing the need for meaningful relationships and consequences. Overall, the current implementation is seen as insufficient and in need of significant improvement.
- “The ship building production chains, production management, and character development are all done well!”
- “There is no storyline, no quests, very limited character development.”
- “Some kind of character development and consequences from their relationships and conditions.”
- “Please work harder and basically implement every aspect of character development that RimWorld has.”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is praised for fostering deep connections with crew members, enhancing immersion and investment in their stories. While many users find the heartfelt and hopeful narratives impactful, some express a desire for a more engaging presentation style to elevate the emotional experience further.
- “This feature enhances immersion and attachment, as you forge emotional connections with your crew members.”
- “It's incredibly dynamic and made me invest emotionally at certain times.”
- “A lot of the entries are heartfelt and hopeful, really makes you feel for the authors and the people's lives they touched.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Many users express frustration with monetization practices in games, particularly in early access titles, where they often encounter cash grabs or developers who abandon projects. This has led to a growing sentiment against poor business quality and misleading advertising, prompting some players to actively campaign against such practices.
- “I am so sick of business quality, underperformance, and bad advertising that I am more willing to actively campaign against it than patiently wait to find out if I have been had.”
- “If you've done a lot of early access, you know that from time to time, you'll get a cash grab, or a game the dev just gets tired of making and pretty much gives up on it.”