Space Pirates and Zombies

About

Space Pirates and Zombies is a top-down, open-world action game set in space. Assemble your own fleet of ships and engage in strategic combat against space pirates, zombie-infested ships, and other threats. Explore the galaxy, mine asteroids, complete missions, and upgrade your ships to build a powerful armada. The game features a dynamic campaign, procedurally generated galaxies, and a rich, emergent gameplay experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,115 reviews

story336 positive mentions

grinding426 negative mentions

Engaging space battles with a variety of ship customization options.
Addictive gameplay that encourages exploration and resource management.
Humorous writing and a lighthearted story that adds charm to the experience.

Can become repetitive and grindy, especially in the late game.
AI companions can be frustratingly unhelpful during combat.
Difficulty spikes can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

story
1,292 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The game's story is generally described as simple and somewhat shallow, often overshadowed by repetitive gameplay and grinding. While some players appreciate the humor and lightheartedness of the narrative, others find it lacking depth and coherence, with many missions feeling recycled. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop to the gameplay, providing a basic framework for exploration and combat rather than a compelling narrative experience.
- “I enjoyed the story and I wish the game was longer.”
- “The progression is great, the story is great, the writing is hilarious but also engaging when it needs to be serious, and it's more immersive than any other RTS I've ever played.”
- “The story is great, the gameplay is also great, and overall I think this game is the best of its kind out there.”
- “In terms of story or characters... well... it's not exactly stellar.”
- “The story is beyond idiotic, nothing makes sense at all.”
- “The story mode was pretty uninspired, so don't look for a plot that will suck you in.”
gameplay
660 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
56%
6%
The gameplay of "Space Pirates and Zombies" (SPAZ) is characterized by its engaging mechanics, allowing for extensive ship customization and a mix of strategic and arcade-style combat. While many players appreciate the addictive nature and depth of the gameplay, some criticize it for being repetitive and grind-heavy, particularly in the later stages. Overall, the game offers a fun experience with a solid core loop, though it may not appeal to those who dislike grinding or seek a more varied gameplay experience.
- “Amazing gameplay, solid mechanics, brilliantly executed, awesome fun for many hours.”
- “The gameplay is superb, and though it may take a bit of time, if you're into upgrading big ships and making the most out of space combat, this game is for you!”
- “Spaz is an amazing space sandbox game that unites great freedom with deep gameplay mechanics and vast content amounts, all for a budget price too.”
- “The game can be grindy, so be aware if you hate that type of gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop gets a little repetitive, but there is a certain humor and amusement value in the game that holds interest.”
- “Not worth it, especially since the gameplay does not change at all throughout the whole game.”
grinding
428 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is frequently described as grindy, with many players noting that it requires significant time spent on repetitive tasks such as farming resources and completing recycled missions to progress. While some enjoy the grind as part of the gameplay loop, others find it tedious and disrespectful of their time, especially in later stages where difficulty spikes necessitate even more grinding. Overall, the experience can be fun and engaging, but the excessive grinding may deter those who prefer a more streamlined progression.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Starts okay, but very quickly the amount of repetitive grinding of recycled side missions required to progress starts to feel disrespectful of your time.”
- “Soon you realize most of it is a lot of pointless and very empty stat-grinding, and every star system in the huge galaxy map feels exactly like the one before it.”
- “The story is fair enough in most aspects, but because there is so much grinding you can easily forget there is a story, and some parts of the story are just dumb.”
graphics
326 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The graphics of SPAZ are generally well-received, with many players appreciating the colorful and charming 2D art style that effectively conveys the game's atmosphere and action. While some critiques mention graphical glitches and a dated appearance, the visuals are often described as pleasing and functional, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a strong point, especially for an indie title, balancing retro aesthetics with modern effects.
- “The visuals are amazing, the gameplay is good, the story is amazing.”
- “First of all, the graphical style of Spaz is commendable as it manages to create spectacular battles, landscapes, and space scenes while using 'just' a 2D engine instead of modern 3D.”
- “The graphics are very neat for a 2D game, there's humor and lots of fine-tuning options for your ships.”
- “I found the graphics jarring and the gameplay boring with a weak story.”
- “- graphics are low res, bland, and ugly”
- “The graphics (especially the character model) looks very rough, but don't let that hinder the gameplay.”
humor
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its engaging and quirky writing, featuring a mix of dark humor, witty dialogue, and amusing character interactions that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the storyline and gameplay, which contribute to its replayability and addictive nature. While some find the humor to be hit-or-miss, the general consensus is that it adds a unique charm, making the game enjoyable and entertaining.
- “Absolutely fantastic, hilarious story and dialogue, good replayability.”
- “The progression is great, the story is great, the writing is hilarious but also engaging when it needs to be serious, and it's more immersive than any other RTS I've ever played.”
- “A surprisingly fun (and funny!) game with an equally surprising amount of story and depth to it.”
replayability
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse weapons, faction designs, and customizable playstyles, alongside a procedurally generated universe that keeps gameplay fresh. Many players appreciate the engaging story and the availability of mods, which further enhance replay value. However, some reviews note that while the game offers significant replay potential, it can also feel somewhat repetitive or limited in scope compared to its sequel.
- “Highest replay value of any game I've ever played, I keep coming back to it.”
- “Having none other than TotalBiscuit himself as the narrator, it's one of the best hidden gems among space games, with a great story, insane unforgiving but very rewarding gameplay, infinite replayability and a style that no other game can match.”
- “Great replay value with random galaxy-creation, randomized quests, and many different ways to build your ships!”
- “Somewhat limited in scope and replayability; what it lacks in quality here and there, it tends to make up in quantity.”
- “Don't find this game quite as replayable as its sequel, but it does include a 'randomized skills' option and difficulty settings that can help on that front... but every world ends up extremely similar.”
- “Only downside is not much replay value, and it turns into a bit of a grind if you're interested in what happens next.”
music
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The music in the game is generally described as ambient and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the gameplay experience, though it can become repetitive over time. While some players appreciate the eerie and fitting soundtracks that contribute to the game's mood, others find the music forgettable and lacking in variety. Overall, the sound design is considered better than the soundtrack itself, with many suggesting that it complements the game's visuals and mechanics well, despite its limitations.
- “The ambient soundtracks are nice, sometimes chilling and give a great feeling to the game.”
- “The music is lively but also makes you feel like you're in space (if that makes sense).”
- “Awesome music themes and atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is nonexistent, just a single note that hovers across the background.”
- “The musical background lacks variety.”
- “The soundtrack is very limited, so I'd recommend you put on some FTL soundtracks while playing this or something.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant and engaging qualities, enhanced by atmospheric voice lines, catchy radio banter, and colorful graphics. Players appreciate the gritty yet humorous tone, immersive music, and the sense of being in a vast universe, although some note that later gameplay can suffer from visual inconsistencies and imbalanced scenarios. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The atmosphere is gritty but with enough jokes to put a smile on your face.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is great, the graphics look really colorful, the combat is frantic and fun, and the universe you explore is massive.”
- “Definitely the strongest point for me was the atmospheric nature of this game, which pushed me to complete it twice.”
- “The early gameplay and atmosphere engage the player well, but by the time you have giant bloated ships they don't look good and the game throws imbalanced scenarios at the player to compensate for basic 2D mechanics.”
- “Much pleasure to be had shooting escape pods and watching the little ones writhe in agony as their atmosphere vents, exposing them to the vacuum.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
11%
56%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report frequent crashes and graphical glitches that disrupt gameplay, others find it runs well, even on lower-end hardware, with minimal bugs. Overall, the game is described as competent but lacking polish, leading to a frustrating experience for some users who spend more time troubleshooting than playing.
- “It's competent and not buggy or glitchy.”
- “Looks and runs great even on lower-end hardware.”
- “No glitches that I encountered at least.”
- “I want to play it, but it crashes so often I spent more time troubleshooting than playing.”
- “While highly infrequent and never game-breaking, the game is also not well-polished enough, and glitches and bugs do pop in at times.”
- “Despite the constant crashes and graphical glitches requiring a game re-launch, it's a lot of fun; the concept is great, the writing and story are palatable, and the graphics (when loaded properly) are great in my opinion.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting no issues even during complex battles filled with effects and debris. It runs smoothly at 1440p and 85hz, showcasing impressive performance despite being developed with Torque. While some suggest improvements to the controls, the overall experience remains excellent.
- “The complexity, detail, and quantity of effects and elements on screen during your average battle is impressive, yet it runs smoothly with debris flying all over the place among explosions and wrecks.”
- “[b]Performance:[/b] runs without issues in 1440p, 85hz.”
- “Excellent controls and performance, definitely a Steam classic.”
- “Especially as I got even deeper into the tech research/acquisition and ship customization/optimization.”
- “The controls need a major revamp; it would do much better as a twin stick shooter, but it's still pretty awesome... surprised that they made it with Torque, even more surprised at the performance (knowing it was made with Torque).”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "Spaz" to be a heartwarming and emotionally engaging experience, highlighting its non-linear gameplay that allows for personal exploration and connection to the game's universe. The developers, a small team of two, are praised for their ability to create a game that resonates deeply with players, making it a standout in its genre.
- “Overall, this game is a fantastic release from a studio run by just two gentlemen with a knack for creating heartwarming adventure games.”
- “Spaz is simply the best game of its genre, touching upon all the niches and features that you might think to add to a top-down space exploration shmup.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is primarily driven by its engaging theme of space, pirates, and zombies, which effectively attracts players. Additionally, players can enhance their experience by collecting characters that contribute to their goon pool, similar to a resurrection pool, suggesting a blend of gameplay mechanics and monetization strategies.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game effectively incorporates RPG elements, particularly in character development, enhancing the overall experience while maintaining its focus as an engaging shoot 'em up space game.
- “The game offers a rich character development system that enhances the RPG experience, allowing players to truly connect with their characters.”
- “The character development is deep and engaging, providing players with meaningful choices that impact the story and gameplay.”
- “The game successfully combines RPG elements with character development, making each character feel unique and integral to the overall experience.”

67%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Space Pirates and Zombies review
The germ of a cool game, not quite ready for prime time, but with plenty of potential if the right choices are made.
Pcgamer.com
67%

Buy Space Pirates and Zombies

40h Median play time

54h Average play time

15-100h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 36 analyzed playthroughs

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