Star Merchant

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 68 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Star Merchant Game Cover
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"Star Merchant" is a galactic trading simulation where you become a space entrepreneur, buying and selling items, upgrading your ship, and striving to meet self-appointed goals without going broke. The game features a slick high-res UI, randomly generated items and universe, and the option to choose from 4 starting ships with different advantages. Note: The game requires 100% fonts in Windows 8 and up or 96 DPI system fonts in Windows 7, and uses 1024x768 resolution in Fullscreen mode.

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Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 68 reviews
graphics2 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game is simple and easy to play, making it accessible for casual gamers.
  • It offers a nostalgic feel reminiscent of older games, providing a relaxing experience.
  • The music and sound effects are enjoyable, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The game lacks depth and becomes repetitive quickly, with minimal challenge involved.
  • It only runs in a fixed resolution of 1024x768, making it unplayable on modern widescreen displays.
  • There are numerous technical issues, including crashes and poor graphics that detract from the experience.
  • graphics22 mentions

    The graphics of the game are largely criticized for being outdated and limited, running only at a fixed 1024x768 resolution without any customization options. While some users find the visuals to be passable, they describe them as mediocre and reminiscent of much older titles, lacking in detail and animation. Overall, the graphical presentation is considered subpar, with many reviewers noting that it detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It works well enough, has no bugs that I could see, and the graphics are okay.”
    • “Somewhat weird space trading simulator – it has mechanics of a game from the 80s, with graphics from the turn of the millennium.”
    • “Decent graphics, interesting story, and a simple though tricky journey in developing your economy.”
    • “Warning: due to development with an old codification, this product has no graphic configuration options and only runs in 1024x768 resolution for a 4:3 screen aspect ratio, making it unplayable in others like 16:9.”
    • “There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
    • “While the artwork itself might be considered passable, the visual presentation here is negligible; it might as well be a slideshow or a YouTube video.”
  • gameplay11 mentions

    The gameplay of this space merchant game has been criticized for its outdated mechanics and simplistic design, resembling a poorly executed browser game rather than a modern title. Players report a lack of engaging features, such as combat and exploration, leading to a monotonous experience focused solely on trading. While some find nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic games, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, with confusing mechanics and subpar graphics detracting from enjoyment.

    • “I enjoyed building up my character and felt right at home enjoying the gameplay.”
    • “I had a warm deja vu feeling in the gameplay, and there are certainly similar elements to games I used to play and enjoy like Taipan, and even some elements of Santa Paravia and Fiumaccio.”
    • “Somewhat weird space trading simulator – it has mechanics of a game from the 80s, with graphics from the turn of the millennium.”
    • “This is a 'new' space merchant game with old mechanics and lazy implementation.”
    • “This time they've got their hands on a simplistic, poorly done 'space trading' business simulator, basically like Elite Dangerous except you cut out all the spaceship combat, spaceflight, exploration, action, gameplay, etc., and just have the raw number crunching as you buy low and sell high.”
    • “A lot of pointing and clicking, no real explanation of game mechanics left me feeling confused about how the game works.”
  • story6 mentions

    The game's story conveys a moral about perseverance and the unpredictability of life, but it suffers from a lack of coherent plot and level design, relying instead on repetitive procedural generation. While some players appreciate the potential for a narrative about planetary dynamics, the overall execution leaves much to be desired.

    • “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “A storyline with a narrative about the planets and what they produce and consume would be nice.”
    • “Decent graphics, interesting story play, and a simple though tricky journey in developing your economy.”
    • “The game features no proper level design or game/story flow/plot, as they opted to try to use samey repetitive procedural generation algorithms as a substitute for adding such content to the game, to avoid doing the important job of level/map design.”
    • “A storyline with a narrative about the planets and what they produce and consume would be nice.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in Star Merchant is described as minimal yet effective, enhancing the gameplay experience without being overwhelming. Players appreciate the quality of the game’s music and sound effects, particularly enjoying the battle music, which stands out as a favorite feature. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, allowing for a relaxing experience.

    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
    • “While Star Merchant isn't the sort of game that depends on sound, I have to admit, the times I've played it, the game music and sounds were good enough that I forgot to mute the game and play my own music in the background.”
    • “The battle music would have to be my most favorite feature of Star Merchant.”
    • “Music and sound effects are minimal.”
    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring excessive effort for minimal rewards, though it can be useful for farming cards and other items.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Tedious, tedious, tedious, tedious.”
    • “Did I forget to mention it's tedious?”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization of Star Merchant has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users labeling it as shovelware created by developers who rely on pre-made templates and asset flips rather than original content. Many reviewers express concern that the game is designed primarily to profit from unsuspecting players rather than provide a quality gaming experience.

    • “Star Merchant is yet another ripoff/cash grab from serial shovelware pushers, Trinity Project.”
    • “These guys do nothing but copy premade game templates and game tutorials, fill out a few things, stamp out basic levels using the construction kit templates, slap on an asset-flipped set of sprites/assets, and dump them on Steam and into cheap nasty shovelware game bundles as cash grabs.”
    • “Trying to get paid for someone else's game templates and assets... at best, this is shovelware; at worst, it's a scam/cash grab.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, user experiences with stability vary; while some report encountering glitches, others have enjoyed smooth gameplay without any issues.

    • “I played the first game in 80 minutes, and there were no bugs or glitches. I ruled the galaxy!”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game is; it allows me to focus on strategy without worrying about technical issues.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The game features a 2D design but excels in management mechanics, complemented by a strong sense of humor that enhances the overall experience.

    • “The game is 2D but has excellent management and is very funny.”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, making every moment enjoyable.”
    • “I can't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations!”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely viewed negatively, with users expressing strong dissatisfaction and advising others to avoid it altogether.

  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is praised for its relaxing quality, providing a refreshing contrast to the intensity of larger 4X and other complex games.

    • “I found the relaxing atmosphere a nice break from some of the huge 4X and other types of games I play.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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