Star Explorers

About

Star Explorers is a single player open world role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Schmidt Workshops and was released on May 8, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

"Star Explorers" is a sandbox-style space exploration and survival game that allows players to mine asteroids, trade with alien races, and build their own space stations. The game features a procedurally generated galaxy, giving players a vast and unique universe to explore, complete with diverse environments, hidden treasures, and hostile encounters. Players must manage their resources, build and upgrade their spaceship, and navigate the challenges of space to survive and thrive.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+12

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 190 reviews

graphics11 positive mentions

stability7 negative mentions

Engaging and evocative space exploration with a charming retro aesthetic.
Procedurally generated worlds provide a sense of discovery and variety, making each playthrough unique.
The game offers a relaxing experience with a focus on exploration and resource gathering, appealing to fans of indie games.

The user interface and controls can be clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
Repetitive planet designs and lack of diverse content can make exploration feel monotonous over time.
The game suffers from bugs and performance issues, which can detract from the overall experience.

graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
68%
7%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro, low-resolution aesthetic reminiscent of 90s and early 2000s PC games, which some players find charming and nostalgic. However, many reviews note that the simplistic visuals can become repetitive, particularly in the uniformity of planetary surfaces and alien designs. While the graphics may not appeal to everyone, they are often excused due to the game's indie origins and are seen as fitting for its cozy, handcrafted feel.
- “Everything about it feels handmade and bespoke, strangely cozy, and very much coherent, from simple stylized graphics to a minimalistic yet very fitting soundtrack.”
- “Its simple yet charming low-res graphics give it a cozy, classic feel that's hard to find these days.”
- “There is something so satisfying about the graphics, giving you that retro vibe of 90s and early 2000s PC games.”
- “If you want graphics, this ain't it.”
- “The graphics are awful even by year 2000 standards; the controls are clunky and it is quite hard to navigate.”
- “I can see that the developer seems to be loving his work, but honestly, the graphics are really simple like in the 90's and I did not feel that I want to spend much time with this game unless it gives me interesting things to do.”
gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
81%
8%
The gameplay of "Star Explorers" is characterized by a simple yet engaging loop of exploration, resource gathering, and upgrading, reminiscent of classic space games. While the mechanics and user interface have received mixed feedback, many players appreciate the nostalgic graphics and the game's ability to evoke a sense of adventure. Despite some criticisms regarding attention to detail and complexity, the overall experience is enjoyable for those seeking a straightforward space exploration game.
- “The UI and general gameplay have both been improved over the years, and while it isn't for everyone, it is still very approachable and full of surprises.”
- “Fills the space exploration urge well; gameplay is technical enough to hold interest but not complicated, and one of the few games where the DOS-era graphics don't feel forced.”
- “The gameplay loop of Star Explorers is simple, and you have to be okay with seeing the same things over and over, just like the space games of old.”
- “But what makes me not recommend the game is just inattention to detail in how the mechanics work, how the UI works, how the gameplay is designed.”
- “A game should be hard by its gameplay elements and not because the user is fighting the interface and must play in the most uncomfortable way possible.”
story
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
74%
9%
The game's story is generally regarded as decent but somewhat limited, with a focus on brief mission objectives from a mothership rather than a deep narrative. Players can complete the main quest relatively quickly, but the game offers replayability through procedurally generated side quests that encourage exploration. While some players appreciate the straightforward plot and mission structure, others find it lacking in depth and variety, particularly in the context of the game's exploration mechanics.
- “The game is short but infinitely replayable - after completing the main quest, you can continue to complete procedurally generated fetch quests which encourage you to explore the remaining locations on your star chart.”
- “Once you get past the mild learning curve, you'll be off exploring, trading, and fending off aliens to progress through a no-nonsense, relaxed pace story.”
- “Exploring a vast universe with random suns and planets that you can land on to complete your main mission, retrieve fuel for your mothership, and engage in varying adventures in FPS against aliens, cave hazards, and hostile environments.”
- “Although you probably won't be doing much space trading, mining, or following a deep narrative-driven story through a galaxy.”
- “There is a fairly linear and short mission path that you can follow to 'beat' the game.”
- “The story seems decent but still very limited.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The game's atmosphere is frequently praised for its uncanny yet captivating quality, effectively immersing players in an isolated and alien universe. With diverse atmospheric conditions impacting visuals and gameplay, such as thick, water-like atmospheres and reflective liquid surfaces, players experience a rich and engaging environment. Despite some minor technical issues, the overall ambiance, complemented by atmospheric music and a sense of exploration, contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “One of the best space exploration games I know of with an atmosphere I can't entirely describe except for 'uncanny but in a good way.'”
- “The game's still very much in development, but updates are frequent and I can't really put my finger on why, but this game absolutely nails the atmosphere of a truly isolated and alien universe.”
- “With variations in atmosphere density, liquid type, surface type, temperature, etc., all having an impact on the visuals of the planet and the experience you have when you land.”
- “Thick atmospheres which feel like moving through water, pools of silvery and reflective liquid mercury, and meteors that rain down on low-atmosphere planets to name but a few details.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The music in the game is praised for its handmade, cozy quality and its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a minimalistic soundtrack that adapts to the environment of alien worlds. While many find the procedural generation of music impressive and fitting, some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.
- “Amazing music.”
- “Everything about it feels handmade and bespoke, strangely cozy, and very much coherent, from simple stylized graphics to a minimalistic yet very fitting soundtrack.”
- “The procedural generated music sounds really nice while visiting the alien worlds.”
- “Very repetitive music.”
- “Relaxing if somewhat repetitive music.”
- “The music is worth mentioning.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been a significant concern for players, with reports of numerous glitches, clunky controls, and even game-breaking bugs. While the developer is actively working to address these issues, many users still find the experience frustrating due to persistent bugs that can hinder gameplay. Despite these challenges, some players acknowledge improvements over time and appreciate the game's concept.
- “I've seen many glitches in the 10 hours of play that I've logged.”
- “The controls can be a bit clunky, and I've even experienced a couple of game-breaking glitches, unfortunately.”
- “The game was going great; I could enter caves, find items, etc., but then the first time I entered a building requiring a key, there was a buggy blank wall for a certain route. I had to go that way to get a quest item, but because I was not taking the expected route, I had no way of getting out. I realized I was not going to play a game where I could get stuck and end up having to start all over.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by unexpected funny moments and whimsical creature designs, blending survival elements with comedic undertones. Players appreciate the lightheartedness that contrasts with the game's challenging aspects, making for an entertaining experience overall.
- “Then, funny little things will happen along the way that you might not expect.”
- “It's [insert space exploration game] but lovingly rendered in PS1 style and with some of the most hilarious creature designs I have seen in gaming.”
- “The game is not a walk in the park; the survival aspect is essential and funny at the same time.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it offers an engaging experience worth trying, players are advised to test the demo first due to potential performance issues on certain systems. Specific areas, like the mothership and alien cities, exhibit noticeable performance shortcomings, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Starfield but without performance issues, more interesting planets, cute self-awareness, and better art direction.”
- “To anyone reading this, the game is absolutely worth trying out, although I heavily recommend testing the performance on the demo first as my other computer had some issues running it.”
- “Performance in areas such as the mothership, alien cities, and highly decorated planets leaves a lot to be desired.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability through its short main quest and procedurally generated fetch quests that encourage exploration of various locations. While some players appreciate this stability in replay value, others may find it leads to diminished interest over time. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile experience for fans of free-roam space exploration.
- “The game is short but infinitely replayable - after completing the main quest, you can continue to complete procedurally generated fetch quests which encourage you to explore the remaining locations on your star chart.”
- “I don't really mind this since it makes the replayability more stable and intact, unlike other games, but for some, it's a problem causing them to lose interest.”
- “If you're looking for a replayable, free-roam space exploration game, this one is easily worth twice the current $5 asking price.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of "Star Explorers" to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to the lack of guidance and the need to explore stars individually. While it may feel laborious at first, this approach encourages exploration and self-reliance.
- “This isn't just a grindy survival craft fest; it offers a unique experience.”
- “The grinding mechanics are engaging and rewarding, making progress feel satisfying.”
- “I appreciate how the grinding system is balanced, allowing for both challenge and enjoyment.”
- “I have to tediously comb through stars one by one while trying not to get disoriented.”
- “Star explorers may be a bit tedious at first, but that's mainly because it doesn't hold your hand.”