SpaceBourne 2

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SpaceBourne 2 is an upcoming open-world space combat simulation game that allows players to explore, trade, and fight across procedurally generated galaxies. Players can build and customize their spaceships, recruit crew members, and engage in various missions and activities. The game promises improved graphics, more complex mechanics, and a richer narrative compared to its predecessor.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,694 reviews

story127 positive mentions

stability212 negative mentions

The game has a lot of potential and offers a unique blend of space and ground combat.
Impressive for being developed by a single person, showcasing a lot of ambition and creativity.
Engaging gameplay with a variety of activities such as mining, trading, and faction management.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, making it frustrating to play.
AI voice acting is poor and often mismatched with the subtitles, detracting from immersion.
The controls and UI are clunky and unintuitive, leading to a steep learning curve.

story
901 mentions
14 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in Spacebourne 2 is a mixed bag, with players noting its potential but also highlighting significant issues such as bugs, unclear objectives, and repetitive mission structures. While some find the overarching narrative engaging and appreciate the variety of guilds and missions available, many express frustration with the execution, including poorly written dialogue and inconsistent mission triggers. Overall, the game offers a promising foundation for storytelling but requires further refinement and polish to fully realize its potential.
- “The story gradually introduces the game's systems, making it easier to get immersed in its expansive world.”
- “It has an immersive storyline, and you can engage in diplomacy, strategy, combat, and explore planets along the way.”
- “The story is quite intriguing, and the characters and scenarios are all interesting too.”
- “The voice acting is subpar even for clearly AI-generated dialogue; the characters are flat, uninteresting, and annoying, and the gameplay is remarkably unintuitive, with the starting mission not even allowing you to leave orbit because the starting town is on the opposite side of the planet from the objective and you can't warp until you lock onto a target that the game won't let you lock onto because it's obscured by the planet.”
- “The main storyline is too simple and too short. I had to visit only a small part of the universe (following the storyline) because there was no need to.”
- “The story is broken; after three missions, I cannot continue. The quests are ridiculously bad, the story is trash tier, and some of the NPCs can glitch, preventing you from continuing questlines.”
gameplay
364 mentions
29 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Spacebourne 2 is characterized by a rich variety of mechanics, including space and ground combat, trading, and faction management, which many players find engaging and enjoyable. However, the game is still in early access, leading to numerous bugs, a lack of polish, and poorly explained mechanics that can frustrate players. Despite these issues, the core gameplay loop is solid, and many users express optimism about the game's potential as it continues to develop.
- “The game is rich in mechanics and works surprisingly well for an early access title.”
- “Spacebourne 2 is so much more fun, so creative, and packed with exciting mechanics and systems to learn and explore.”
- “The core gameplay mechanics are already there, but the UI needs a lot of work, the sounds are not the best and take a bit of the immersion, but in general already very enjoyable in its current state.”
- “The voice acting is subpar even for clearly AI-generated dialogue, the characters are flat, uninteresting, and annoying, and the gameplay is remarkably unintuitive, with the starting mission not even allowing you to leave orbit because the starting town is on the opposite side of the planet from the objective and you can't warp until you lock onto a target that the game won't let you lock onto because it's obscured by the planet.”
- “The most convoluted UI and control mechanics I have seen in a game.”
- “The gameplay loop has promise, but I cannot endure the instability of the game from making the times I get lag, response failure, or frame drops a deep and annoying hindrance to playing the loop.”
graphics
223 mentions
39 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the visuals as decent or even impressive in certain aspects, particularly in space and ship design. However, many others criticize the graphics as outdated, buggy, and lacking polish, often comparing them unfavorably to modern titles. Overall, while there are moments of visual appeal, the game is seen as needing significant graphical improvements to meet contemporary standards.
- “Spacebourne 2, powered by Unreal Engine 4, offers impressive visuals that enhance the sense of wonder and scale.”
- “The graphics are particularly striking when exploring planetary surfaces and navigating the vastness of space.”
- “With its exhilarating space combat, breathtaking visuals, and a vast array of exploration opportunities, Spacebourne 2 is a must-have for space game enthusiasts.”
- “The graphics aren't great, it's buggy (so save frequently) and it's early access but there's a lot here for your money.”
- “Had a few issues not being able to exit the ship, fps was good being that I'm on a 3000 series card, but the graphics remind me of PS3 days.”
- “Game is broken and boring, graphics remind me of games from 10 years ago.”
stability
218 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among players, with many reporting numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, especially in early access. While some users acknowledge the potential and fun aspects of the game, they emphasize that the current state is too unstable for a fully enjoyable experience, often leading to game-breaking issues. Overall, players recommend waiting for further updates and fixes before diving in, as the game is still considered a "buggy mess."
- “Game runs great at 4k with high settings on a 3080, and I have had no major bugs.”
- “Runs great on a lower end PC and looks beautiful.”
- “RPG leveling, big map, different ships for different play styles, faction system, diplomacy, army/crew building, ground and space combat, NPC guilds, war system, fleet building with minimal micromanagement, story, easy to learn, and runs great for me.”
- “I wanted to like it, but it was buggy right out of the gate in the tutorial, and as much as I can deal with jank, if I can't even complete the introductory quest, then it's a no from me.”
- “Quests are buggy; I don't mind the AI dialog, but when you start the game and encounter bugs in the first hour of quests, which should be the easy and less complex ones, I completely lose hope for the rest of the game.”
- “This game is a buggy mess; unfortunately, it is a buggy mess with updates that roll back player progress.”
atmosphere
56 mentions
36 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging visuals and immersive universe, while others criticize the flight mechanics and control issues when entering planetary atmospheres. Many reviews highlight the game's potential for atmospheric exploration and combat, but also point out significant bugs and a lack of depth in NPC interactions and environmental detail. Overall, while the game offers a compelling setting, it suffers from technical shortcomings that detract from the overall experience.
- “Even if it glitched around a bit here and there, it creates a great atmosphere and you have original possibilities; it really is something special.”
- “Engaging atmosphere: the game does a great job of drawing you in, offering a 'Mass Effect'-like feel, creating a compelling universe that invites exploration and engagement.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere are beautiful; aside from minor texture issues, you can capture some amazing wallpapers.”
- “But again it is lacking a lot of depth; it's just sound boxes in some areas that 90% of the time don't match the area. NPCs are derpy and the ship flying is awful. There is little to no real atmosphere at all in this, and after 15 minutes of replay, I had a lump in my stomach and couldn't swallow anymore of its incompleteness.”
- “Upon entering the atmosphere of any planet, your flight controls are just thrown out the window since apparently every spacecraft is highly affected by 20 mph winds... when the most basic cars are not.”
- “My favorite is the frequent bug of going into atmosphere causing you to effectively lose control of your ship, locking you in a strange, pointless limbo of time waste.”
grinding
40 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing it as tedious and often frustrating, particularly due to escalating costs for essential items and the repetitive nature of missions. Players express dissatisfaction with the lack of engaging content to alleviate the grind, alongside technical issues that exacerbate the experience. While some find enjoyment in the game despite these challenges, many agree that the grinding mechanics could benefit from improvement to enhance overall gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Also extremely grindy, and prices go up every time you level up.”
- “Grinding the money to buy a mothership, a 9-digit purchase with missions paying on the scale of 6 or 7 digits, just to advance the story... that grind is not fun!”
- “You can spend hours grinding for the ship you want, only to go back and find the ship has increased in price.”
optimization
36 mentions
31 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews. While some players report smooth performance and minimal issues, others experience significant stuttering, bugs, and a need for further polishing. Many believe that with continued updates and optimization efforts, the game could greatly improve, especially considering its development by a single individual.
- “The game runs well and has very few performance issues, minus occasional UE crashes.”
- “It's clear that with some optimization and polish, it could become an intuitive and seamless part of the gameplay experience.”
- “Performance-wise, the game works really well.”
- “Bugs and choppy performance (no crashes during my gameplay, but that is little comfort compared to the overall experience).”
- “Unfortunately, despite high FPS (120+), I was getting major stuttering from the moment the game started.”
- “As it stands, there are a ton of UI bugs and a desperate need for optimization and polish.”
music
31 mentions
10 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the variety and genre selection, particularly during combat, while others criticize the repetitive and poorly produced soundtracks that often cut off abruptly. Many users express a desire for more original compositions and better overall sound design, noting that the current music lacks character and can detract from the gaming experience. Overall, while there are moments of enjoyment, the music is seen as an area needing significant improvement.
- “I want to just click where I want to go and watch my pretty ship fly there while I look at the stars and listen to spacey music.”
- “Also, the music is banging (especially the fight music which you can pick the genre! How cool is that!?).”
- “The new radio really adds to the immersion of being a space cowboy jumping from one star to another while listening to some AI-generated country music.”
- “The same 1-minute soundtrack plays during combat and has a very noticeable cut-off and restart.”
- “The music in many sections is only about 30-45 seconds long and has obvious places where it loops again.”
- “From the generic stock music to the heavily borrowed and quite literally stolen designs, the game's potential is at dire risk of being squandered.”
humor
29 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous spelling mistakes, awkward AI voice acting, and amusing visual bugs, which many players find charmingly entertaining. Players report laughing at the game's janky animations, hilarious dialogue, and translation fails, often appreciating the comedic value in the rough edges of the development. Overall, while the game has its flaws, the humor adds a unique and enjoyable layer to the experience, making it feel like a fun, albeit imperfect, space adventure.
- “The dialogue and voice acting is necessarily awful because of the resources available to single-handedly develop a game on this scope, but while some might find it off-putting, I find it hilarious and kind of charming.”
- “When talking to my NPC companion about my father, it was supposed to be a cinematic but nothing showed up; all it said was 'cinematic,' which made me laugh.”
- “The animations are kind of funny to look at; sometimes they sync up and it looks legit, but most of the time it's actually kind of amusing.”
emotional
9 mentions
89 % positive mentions
-22 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging, appreciating its ambitious storytelling and immersive AI-narrated dialogues, despite some shortcomings in delivery and polish. The potential for deep emotional investment is highlighted, particularly through meaningful NPC interactions and a sense of belonging in the game world. Overall, while the game requires further refinement, it successfully evokes feelings of adventure and excitement in its players.
- “Feature-wise, this game seems to be very ambitious and touching on content that I don't think we see in many other games.”
- “Give the player a home in this world and NPCs they truly care about, and watch engagement and emotional investment skyrocket.”
- “I have just played a couple of hours and the game still has a lot to polish, but anyway it's awesome! This game made me feel like I was in a true space adventure.”
- “I don't mind the crappy UI or the AI voice acting and boring story quests, but I'm not going to spend my free time traveling and traveling without getting anything done.”
- “The emotional moments felt forced and didn't resonate with me at all.”
- “I expected to feel a connection to the characters, but they were so one-dimensional that I couldn't care less about their struggles.”
monetization
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's monetization model is praised for its affordability at $20 with no microtransactions, reflecting a genuine effort rather than a corporate cash grab. However, some players feel that the game lacks sufficient advertising to reach a wider audience. Overall, the pricing and absence of additional costs are seen as positive aspects, despite some concerns about the game's execution and controls.
- “While I am well aware that there are currently quite some gaps between this game and Star Citizen, this game is made by one person, costs $20, has no microtransactions, and I'm pretty sure it will get a full release before Star Citizen.”
- “I'm never going back to that scam of a cash grab!”
- “The video that's advertising it on the store page is far better than what I've experienced so far; thank god this was a cheap purchase, because I would be far more upset if I paid more for it.”
- “Game needs more advertisements; I only figured out it existed because of Captain Collins (an X4 Foundations YouTuber) decided to make a video on it.”
replayability
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Players highlight the significant replayability of the game, attributing it to a wealth of activities and well-implemented role-playing elements that encourage long-term engagement. Despite some initial technical issues, many feel the game is worth the investment, especially given its potential for replay value even in early access. Overall, the consensus is that the game offers a robust experience that invites players to return.
- “Tons of things to do and work on, the replayability factor is huge. I can say it's worth the money; very well done so far.”
- “Due to an enormous amount of role-playing elements, which are also well implemented, Spacebourne 2 already offers a high replay value and excellent long-term motivation.”
- “I’d recommend it for $20; definitely worth it because it will always have replay value, even if it's in early access, and surprisingly doesn't use a lot of memory—only about 11 GB.”
- “I think I'll quit for a while and see if a few more patches make it more playable.”
- “Ok, as of 14 hours later from this review, I have managed to solve the stuttering problem, so now at least the game runs smoother. This was due to me re-scaling the resolution within the NVIDIA control panel and spending a lot of time messing about with other settings for the game to run more playable at least.”
- “I'd recommend it for $20, definitely worth it because it will always have replay value even if it's early access and surprisingly doesn't use a lot of memory, only about 11 GB.”
character development
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some users criticize the overall story for lacking depth and character growth, others appreciate the robust character development system that includes various RPG elements like questing for companions and progression through diplomacy and guilds. Overall, the game offers enjoyable mechanics for character enhancement despite its narrative shortcomings.
- “What I thought was good was the character development system.”
- “Star gates between systems, diplomacy, guilds, item/ship/character development and bonuses, all sorts of stuff going on here really make the game enjoyable.”
- “There is a lot of RPG in this game as well, with questing for your companions, storyline progression, and character development.”
- “The story is like a story that a kid makes up while playing with toys. It sucks. There is no character development whatsoever.”
- “There are only a couple of missions that are fun, but the way it introduces features through the story is done pretty well.”
- “The character development is lacking, making it hard to feel invested in the game.”