Space Pirates and Zombies

The germ of a cool game, not quite ready for prime time, but with plenty of potential if the right choices are made.

Starting at $5.30Buy now

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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,812 reviews

story125 positive mentions

grinding142 negative mentions

SPAZ offers a unique blend of space combat and resource management, providing a satisfying gameplay experience.
The ship customization and upgrade system is extensive, allowing players to tailor their fleet to their preferred playstyle.
The game features a humorous narrative and engaging voice acting, enhancing the overall enjoyment.

The game can become grindy, especially in the later stages, requiring players to farm resources to progress.
Some players find the AI companions to be frustratingly ineffective during combat.
The story and character development are considered weak and predictable by some players.

story
438 mentions
29 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as simplistic and sometimes shallow, with many players noting that it serves primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some appreciate the humor and quirky elements, others find the missions repetitive and the plot lacking depth, leading to a grind-heavy experience. Overall, the story is seen as decent but not the main draw, with players often prioritizing ship customization and combat over narrative engagement.
- “The story is great, the gameplay is also great, and overall I think this game is the best of its kind out there.”
- “The story is captivating, though to advance you have to get to higher levels so you will be able to do the missions, since if you didn't grind you get overpowered by the enemy fast, and the grinding takes too long.”
- “The story has some interesting twists to keep it fresh and you will feel a great sense of progression.”
- “A story I couldn't possibly care less about.”
- “The story is lite, vague, poorly delivered, poorly written, and as far as I can tell, the main plot is to get to the center of the universe for gold, but... you can park your ship at a mining facility and fill the entire cargo hold with gold in like 30 seconds, so why would anyone go out of their way for gold?”
- “The storyline had no meat and no hook.”
gameplay
237 mentions
40 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and a blend of exploration, combat, and resource management, offering players a deep and addictive experience. While many players appreciate the variety and customization options available, some criticize the repetitive nature and grindiness of certain gameplay loops, particularly in the later stages. Overall, the game is praised for its solid mechanics and enjoyable combat, though it may not suit everyone due to its pacing and occasional lack of variety.
- “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 a top-down shooter with loads of customization and engaging choices and gameplay.”
- “They're basically normal ships that you've already been fighting, except they infect your ships creating an incredibly frustrating gameplay loop of ejecting crew and self-destructing your own ships.”
- “The story is rather poor, the shipbuilding lacks vital information, the gameplay is repetitive, and your 'fleet' does little more than drain your resources by constantly dying.”
- “Not worth it, especially since the gameplay does not change at all throughout the whole game.”
grinding
143 mentions
2 % positive mentions
-1 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, often described as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages. While some players appreciate the grind as part of the gameplay experience, others find it overwhelming and detracting from the overall enjoyment, especially when it comes to resource gathering and leveling up. Despite the grind, many still find the game fun and engaging, particularly for those who enjoy exploration and customization.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “It is also very tedious to turn a faction to like you in order to buy the upgrade you sorely need.”
- “The game revolves around grinding cash then bribing both factions at each gateway.”
- “The concept was pretty good, actual gameplay is a bit flawed, not to mention this gets grindy and tedious near the end.”
graphics
110 mentions
45 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players appreciating the charming 2D art style and colorful backdrops that enhance the gameplay experience. While some critiques mention low resolution and bland visuals, the overall consensus is that the graphics are functional and contribute positively to the game's atmosphere. Despite not being graphically intensive, the visuals are considered appealing and effective, especially for an indie title, with many players noting that the gameplay more than compensates for any graphical shortcomings.
- “The visuals are great, simple sprites unleashing very pretty particles of destruction all in front of really beautiful galactical backdrops.”
- “The graphics are very pleasing, especially for a cartoon look.”
- “Spaz evokes nostalgic memories of solar winds and star control -- games from a simpler time, but adapts with beautiful graphics, fast and liquid gameplay, and well-placed RPG elements.”
- “I found the graphics jarring and the gameplay boring with a weak story.”
- “- graphics are low rez, bland, and ugly”
- “The graphics (especially the character model) looks very rough, but don't let that hinder the gameplay.”
humor
68 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its engaging and often darkly comedic storytelling, featuring witty dialogue and quirky characters that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor with challenging gameplay, noting that it keeps the game entertaining and replayable despite some repetitive elements. While some find the humor to be an inside joke that may not resonate with everyone, the general consensus is that it adds a fun and addictive layer to the gameplay.
- “Absolutely fantastic, hilarious story and dialogue, good replayability.”
- “The game doesn't get old with its storyline and humor.”
- “The level of humor in the game is just fantastic, a throwback to the old style arcade space collect and explore.”
replayability
55 mentions
56 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse weapons, faction designs, and playstyles, alongside a procedurally generated universe that offers varied experiences. Many players appreciate the engaging story and modding options that enhance replay value, although some note that certain aspects may feel repetitive over time. While most reviews highlight the game's significant replay potential, a few mention limitations in scope compared to its sequel.
- “Loads of weapons, faction designs, and playstyles give the game a massive amount of replay value.”
- “The universe is also procedurally generated, so there's even some variety to the main storyline missions, resulting in excellent replayability.”
- “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
27 mentions
26 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and fitting, with a mix of ambient tracks that enhance the atmosphere without overshadowing gameplay. However, many reviewers noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, lacking variety and depth. Overall, while the sound design is appreciated, it does not stand out as exceptional, with some players finding it enjoyable but not memorable in the long run.
- “Everything in this game is of high quality - visual effects, music, sound effects, storyline, and game mechanics!”
- “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.”
- “The soundtrack is nonexistent, just a single note that hovers across the background.”
- “The musical background lacks variety.”
- “Sound: the music of the game mostly boils down to ambient noise, but there are a few tracks here or there that are enjoyable.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
63 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its vibrant and engaging elements, including atmospheric voice lines, catchy radio banter, and charming graphics that create an immersive experience. While the gritty tone is balanced with humor, some players feel that the atmosphere falters later in the game due to visual inconsistencies and gameplay imbalances. Overall, the atmospheric design, particularly in the early stages, is considered a standout feature that enhances player engagement.
- “Atmospheric voice lines, both out of combat and during battle, breathe extra life into the already vibrant universe.”
- “The atmosphere is gritty but with enough jokes to put a smile on your face.”
- “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.”
- “The atmosphere is gritty, but with enough jokes to put a smile on your face.”
- “The atmosphere is very special; the radio banter is catchy, and the graphics are charming.”
stability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some users report infrequent crashes and minor glitches, others find it generally stable with good graphics. However, the presence of occasional bugs suggests that the game lacks a certain level of polish.
- “No glitches that I encountered at least.”
- “Good graphics, not buggy.”
- “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.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
optimization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users noting that it runs smoothly even during complex battles filled with effects and debris. Performance is solid at 1440p and 85hz, and despite some control issues, the game is considered a standout title, especially given its development with Torque.
- “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.”
- “Performance: 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).”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy involves collecting items that enhance gameplay, akin to a "goon pool," while the game's appealing theme of space, pirates, and zombies serves as a strong marketing draw.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I feel like I'm constantly bombarded with ads and prompts to purchase in-game currency.”
- “The game is fun, but the paywall is frustrating and detracts from the overall experience.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight "Spaz" as a standout in its genre, effectively evoking a range of emotions through its engaging gameplay and rich features, making it a memorable experience for players.
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game effectively incorporates RPG elements, particularly in character development, while also delivering an engaging shoot 'em up experience.
- “The game offers a rich RPG experience, particularly in character development, allowing players to truly immerse themselves in their characters' growth.”
- “Character development is a standout feature, providing depth and complexity that enhances the overall gameplay experience.”
- “The game excels in character development, giving players the opportunity to shape their characters in meaningful ways.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I expected more depth in character arcs, but they ended up being predictable and one-dimensional.”
- “The choices you make don't seem to impact character growth, leaving the development feeling unfulfilling.”