Star Explorers

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+12

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 160 reviews

graphics10 positive mentions

stability7 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic retro vibe reminiscent of classic space exploration games, providing a unique charm.
The exploration mechanics are engaging, with procedurally generated planets and a variety of alien life forms to discover.
The developer is actively updating the game, showing commitment to improving the experience and adding new content.

The user interface and controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and gameplay frustrating at times.
There are frequent bugs and performance issues, including crashes and resolution problems that hinder the overall experience.
The game lacks a comprehensive tutorial, leaving players to figure out mechanics through trial and error, which can be discouraging.

graphics
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
8%
The graphics of the game are characterized as simple and retro, reminiscent of 90s and early 2000s PC games, which some players find charming and fitting for the indie nature of the title. While the visuals may not impress those seeking modern graphics, they contribute to a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. However, critiques highlight that the dated graphics can detract from immersion, with calls for improvements in design and visual quality.
- “Its simple yet charming low-res graphics give it a cozy, classic feel that's hard to find these days.”
- “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.”
- “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
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
83%
8%
The gameplay of "Star Explorers" is characterized by a straightforward yet engaging loop that involves exploring planets, gathering resources, and upgrading equipment, reminiscent of classic space exploration games. While the game offers a charming atmosphere and surprises, some players note issues with UI design and mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Despite its simplicity, the game has a dedicated following, with many appreciating its nostalgic feel and the depth of exploration it provides.
- “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.”
- “Star Explorers has a very simple and expedient gameplay loop: you warp into a carefully chosen solar system, examine and scan the various planets, and determine which ones are safe to land on and most likely to contain something you need.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay seems very straightforward (go to random planet, find caves, loot, shoot), and the inventory items I've seen don't seem to suggest there's much character progression (only 4 different weapons and a small selection of character upgrades).”
- “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.”
story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
82%
9%
The game's story is relatively short and linear, primarily revolving around completing mission objectives given by the mothership's captain, which can be finished in a single sitting or over several sessions. While players can explore the galaxy and engage in side quests after completing the main quest, the narrative lacks depth and is often described as simplistic, with a focus on resource collection and exploration rather than a rich, immersive storyline. The experience is further complicated by a steep learning curve and occasional bugs that can hinder progress, particularly during the initial missions.
- “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 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
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The game effectively creates a captivating atmosphere of isolation and alien environments, enhanced by diverse atmospheric conditions and striking visuals. Players appreciate the immersive experience, with elements like thick atmospheres, reflective liquids, and meteor showers contributing to the sense of exploration in a vast universe. While the graphics may not be top-tier, the atmospheric music and the overall ambiance resonate well with fans of space exploration games.
- “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.”
- “You can freely walk in your ship; for the moment, there is not much to do inside it other than accessing the landing bay for your shuttle or managing your inventory, but wandering around and simply looking outside gives the game a real atmosphere.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The music in the game is noted for its procedural generation, creating an atmospheric and immersive experience that complements the exploration of alien worlds. While many players appreciate the relaxing and fitting soundtrack, some find it to be somewhat repetitive. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's charm, especially considering it was crafted by a single developer.
- “Even the music you hear when you touch down is randomly generated, depending on the planet's characteristics!”
- “Amazing atmosphere, gameplay, and soundtrack so far.”
- “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 game-breaking bugs that can hinder progress. While the developer is actively working to address these issues, many users still find the experience frustratingly unstable, with instances of getting stuck in the game requiring manual fixes. 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.”
- “In addition to being janky, the game is quite buggy and may require some 'manual intervention' to fix some of the problems.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by unexpected funny moments and whimsical creature designs, blending survival challenges with comedic elements. Players appreciate the lightheartedness that contrasts with the game's more serious 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%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players find it worth trying, they recommend testing the demo first due to potential performance issues on certain systems. Specific areas, like the mothership and alien cities, exhibit noticeable performance problems, detracting from the 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
33%
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, others may find it repetitive, potentially leading to diminished interest over time. Overall, it is considered a valuable option 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.”
- “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, which can lead to disorientation. However, it is noted that the game does not fall into the typical grindy patterns often seen in survival crafting games.
- “This isn't just a grindy survival craft fest; there's so much more depth to the gameplay.”
- “The grinding mechanics are well-balanced, making progress feel rewarding rather than tedious.”
- “I appreciate how the game incorporates grinding in a way that enhances the overall experience.”
- “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.”