- March 26, 2021
- Realmforge Studios
- 12h median play time
Spacebase Startopia
Spacebase Startopia is a complex management-sim, but once everything clicks there's plenty of fun to be had. It'll take time to learn everything, and the camera can be annoying, but it's still enjoyable.
Platforms
About
In Spacebase Startopia, manage a space station and its diverse alien inhabitants, maintaining operational efficiency and peace among them. Experience a blend of base-building, real-time strategy, and simulation, as you oversee various facilities, including living quarters, recreational areas, and production rooms. Engage in entertaining missions, face adversaries, and make crucial decisions that will determine the fate of your thriving intergalactic community.











- The game captures the charm of the original Startopia with colorful graphics and engaging gameplay.
- Quality of life improvements, such as room blueprints and multi-pickup mechanics, enhance the overall experience.
- The game offers a nostalgic feel for fans of the original while introducing new elements like mechs and a more detailed biodeck.
- The AI assistant's voice is annoying and lacks the wit and charm of the original, often delivering repetitive and unfunny dialogue.
- Gameplay suffers from pacing issues, with too much micromanagement and a lack of meaningful interactions, leading to frustration.
- Numerous bugs and performance issues, including sound cutting out and UI glitches, detract from the overall experience.
- story259 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that the campaign missions feel repetitive and largely a copy of the original game's structure, lacking depth and engaging narrative. While some missions introduce new elements and challenges, others are criticized for being too short and not allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the gameplay or story. Additionally, the humor and character interactions that were charming in the original are seen as lacking, with some players finding the AI assistant's remarks more annoying than entertaining. Overall, the campaign is viewed as a basic tutorial rather than a compelling narrative experience.
“Things were coming to life before my eyes mission by mission, and slowly the core of the game came out and before I knew it I was well and truly hooked. There really is something satisfying about playing this game.”
“In the original, there were missions for every alien race, so you understood what they wanted and how they acted.”
“The campaign of Startopia consists of chained narrative missions where you get introduced to the different aspects of the game, starting with recycling garbage, then setting up med bays, and so on.”
“The campaign is, mission for mission, just a copy/paste of the original game's missions; in the first mission you recycle, in the second you build a hospital, in the third you establish prisons, etc. In addition, you can clearly tell which aliens are supposed to be their counterparts from the original.”
“There is barely any story or dialogue in the game, and what little there is is simply awful, especially the ending.”
“The campaign is on the short side, which I do find a little lacking as the original was, after all, single-player campaign and story-driven.”
Spacebase Startopia Review – Welcome to Terok Nor
Spacebase Startopia is a decently comical management simulation that looks back at and expands on the original Startopia. With a wide number of buildings and areas to develop, aliens to satisfy and even hire, there's a fair amount to do. Spacebase Startopia isn't without its issues, such as too much forced 'comedy' and a campaign that drags like a marathon, but you're still likely to have a good time if you like management sims.
70%Spacebase Startopia review — A lot of empty space
Spacebase Startopia has cutesy and cartoony xenos milling around, but that’s all it has going for it. From questionable mission objectives and monotonous micromanagement, to audio hiccups, technical woes, and a lack of direction, it’s a simulation of the doldrums of alien life.
50%Spacebase Startopia Review
Spacebase Startopia is a nostalgic callback to early noughties gaming that feels too close to its source material to feel fresh
60%