Star of Providence

About

Star of Providence is a single player arcade shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Team D-13 and was released on June 7, 2017. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Star of Providence is a consolidated version of Monolith that integrates the DLC, Relics of the Past, into the base game. Star of Providence is a top down action shooter with procedurally generated elements. Explore a progression of floors as you make your way into the depths of the facility, encountering increasingly deadly enemies, fantastic weapons, upgrades, choices and revelations as you ven…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,774 reviews

gameplay209 positive mentions

grinding31 negative mentions

Deep gameplay with tons of replayability and secrets to discover.
Beautiful pixel art and an excellent soundtrack that enhances the experience.
Accessible for newcomers to bullet hells while still providing a challenge for veterans.

The weapon system can feel limiting as players can only hold one weapon at a time, leading to frustration when good weapons run out of ammo.
Some players may find the visual clarity lacking, making it difficult to distinguish between projectiles.
The game can feel repetitive after multiple runs due to limited variety in upgrades and items.

gameplay
445 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The gameplay of "Star of Providence" is widely praised for its meticulous design, offering a fast-paced, addictive experience that combines bullet hell mechanics with roguelike elements. Players appreciate the tight controls, responsive movement, and the variety of weapons and enemies, which contribute to a satisfying gameplay loop filled with surprises and strategic depth. While some critiques mention issues with certain mechanics and a lack of clear explanations, the overall consensus highlights the game's engaging and rewarding nature, making it a standout in the genre.
- “Star of Providence has some of the most meticulously designed gameplay I’ve laid my hands on.”
- “The gameplay loop is the best I've ever played in a roguelike.”
- “The gameplay is tight, fast-paced, and addictive.”
- “There's a practice mode where you can train against bosses as often as you like, and this is just... so sad... it should not be a part of the game at all. This one late game stage, it's post-final-boss, I'll take maybe 1-3 damage during the floor. If I'm lucky I'll have 20 max HP, if I'm unlucky I'll have 13 (no skill involved that's just RNG even if I go hitless it can end up like this) then I fight the boss who bullet sprays me down and I lose all my HP to this boss... it's just a boring gameplay loop... doing tons of easy stuff and then getting stomped by the boss.”
- “The various mechanics feel underbaked too—the dash is rarely useful past the easy parts of the game.”
- “The gameplay lacks any real hooks to keep you engaged.”
music
438 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy chiptune soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. The soundtrack is described as dynamic, nostalgic, and fitting for the game's atmosphere, often elevating encounters and boss fights. While some players found certain tracks less appealing, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and replayability.
- “The soundtrack is equally impressive, driving the action forward with pulsing, atmospheric tracks that shift as you progress deeper into the game’s layers.”
- “The music is beautiful and fitting.”
- “The music, visuals and setting are all incredible, but choosing the roguelite genre was a mistake.”
- “I do however, think that the music in this game kinda sucks.”
- “I love this game, however the soundtrack gets on my nerves.”
- “The soundtrack is just bleeps and bloops, nothing you haven't heard, very generic and frankly quite noisy by default, turn it down.”
graphics
287 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
47%
1%
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming pixel art style, which effectively captures a nostalgic retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic 8-bit and 16-bit games. While many reviewers appreciate the clarity and vibrancy of the visuals, some express concerns about visual noise that can obscure gameplay, particularly in chaotic bullet hell scenarios. Overall, the combination of appealing graphics and a fitting chiptune soundtrack enhances the immersive experience, making it a standout in the roguelike genre.
- “The graphics, music, atmosphere, difficulty, strategy, weapons, upgrades, mechanics, enemy variety, they all combine into a truly fantastic experience.”
- “Combined with the gorgeous pixel-art aesthetic and atmospheric surroundings, the game’s visuals elevate the experience: it looks vibrant, stylish and full of character, which made each moment I spent in it truly enjoyable.”
- “The graphics are charming, the music is subtle but so good at setting the mood, and the gameplay is amazingly deep.”
- “A complex but surprisingly shallow game with interesting bones and ideas, but one that ultimately feels poorly executed due to strange design choices, a subjectively bad art style and direction, and a lack of skill expression.”
- “I'm not fine being hit in bullet hells where I literally couldn't tell that the thing that hit me was even a projectile, whether that's due to a choice in the art style, like a flashing screen between phases of a mob, pixel 'crunch', or needlessly noisy backgrounds.”
- “The art style can seem a bit underwhelming at first, but the detailed background and fantastic bullet animations let you understand the nuances of where the sprite design was coming from in the design of this game.”
story
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The game's story is described as intriguing yet vague, often requiring players to piece together lore through environmental storytelling and character interactions. While some find the minimalist approach charming and engaging, others feel it lacks depth and clarity, leading to mixed opinions on its overall impact. The narrative is often overshadowed by the gameplay, but it offers a satisfying backdrop that enhances the experience for those willing to explore its secrets.
- “The story is intriguing (and I don't care about story usually), the controls are perfect, the soundtrack fits great, the graphics are beautiful, and the mechanics are really cool.”
- “Not only is this one of the sharpest-designed games I've ever played with music and art and lore on par with--if not surpassing--the all-time indie greats, but it also pulls some truly spectacular late-game rulebreaks, all of which tie into the story and worldbuilding in such interesting ways.”
- “The story also deserves special recognition for telling a fairly deep tale just through environments and gameplay decisions.”
- “I don't know what story it's trying to tell, and it doesn't know either, so I'd rather play Gungeon or something similarly charming, but with actual substance and more originality, on top of the fun and challenging gameplay.”
- “It's later that you also start to realize that the story, while going for somewhat of a minimalist spin, doesn't really have much to dive into.”
- “The story is very confusing, and you won't understand much of it unless you beat the game with all the characters, but the game is good as heck.”
replayability
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
39%
4%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many reviewers highlighting its fast-paced gameplay, diverse unlockables, and engaging mechanics that encourage repeated playthroughs. Players appreciate the variety of weapons, secrets, and randomized elements that keep each run fresh and exciting, making it a standout title in the roguelike genre. While some comparisons to other highly replayable games like "The Binding of Isaac" are made, the consensus is that this game offers a unique and satisfying experience that invites players to return time and again.
- “It's such a deep game, with tons of replayability even compared to other twin-stick roguelikes.”
- “The weapon combinations, unlockable upgrades, game modes, bosses, and secrets keep the game fresh and the replay value at an all-time high.”
- “Monolith is an excellent shmup-roguelite hybrid that provides the best of both worlds: it has the replayability you'd expect from a roguelite with a huge variety of different randomly generated weapons, randomized floors, a good number of unlockables, and secrets, but retains the tight control, great level & bullet pattern design, skill-based gameplay and game feel you'd want from a shoot'em up.”
- “Surprisingly shallow, bullet-hell players will likely be underwhelmed with its replay value, which is a shame because everything else about it is very slick.”
- “A lovely little roguelite, although it doesn't have nearly as much content and replayability as Isaac or Gungeon.”
- “This does not have the longevity of that game, nor the sheer variety and replay value, but this game is incredibly tightly produced, controls are perfect.”
atmosphere
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
27%
9%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant pixel-art graphics, engaging soundtrack, and a blend of cozy yet mysterious elements that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the effective combination of visuals, music, and lore, creating a charming yet sometimes eerie ambiance that keeps players immersed. The atmosphere is described as nostalgic and fun, with layers of intrigue that invite exploration and replayability.
- “Combined with the gorgeous pixel-art aesthetic and atmospheric surroundings, the game’s visuals elevate the experience: it looks vibrant, stylish, and full of character, which made each moment I spent in it truly enjoyable.”
- “Tight combat, so much detail and depth, and a wonderful atmosphere that perfectly balances the cute and endearing with the ominous and tragic.”
- “The wonderful soundtrack by arcofdream aids this sinister but cute atmosphere, wherein happy, bouncy chiptunes give way to progressively more melancholic and spooky songs as you progress deeper into the facility's depths, becoming outright unsettling at the very lowest floor.”
- “Incredibly catchy and moody music with a dark and gloomy atmosphere that reminds me of H.R.”
- “A very fun game with a good pixel visual style and satisfying, tight controls, as well as a surprisingly eerie atmosphere at times.”
grinding
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
94%
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" in games reveal a mixed sentiment among players. While some appreciate the rewarding nature of grinding for unlocks and strategies, others find it tedious and detracting from the overall experience, particularly when it feels excessive or monotonous. Many players express a preference for games that minimize grinding, focusing instead on immediate gameplay enjoyment and skill development.
- “No grinding is a bonus, just pure action and fun from the get-go.”
- “There was zero reason for them to nerf player damage scaling as well as base damage on higher lethalities: if I had wanted the game to be more tedious for no reason, I'd be playing on a higher difficulty or loop level.”
- “The number one problem with Monolith is that it gets monotonous with all of the grinding the game forces on you.”
- “The actual game is really short, like 30 minutes long, but all of the 'length' is just because of all the grinding you have to do.”
humor
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this bullet hell roguelike is a standout feature, blending witty dialogue and charming characters with dark, tongue-in-cheek quips that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the funny interactions with NPCs, including a humorous cat shopkeeper, and the game's ability to balance comedic elements with its intense challenges. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it a fun and engaging experience.
- “The characters are charming and funny.”
- “Plus it's got a funny talking cat who sells you items, what more could you want?”
- “The story/lore is mostly told through short bestiary entries, which are filled with as many funny tongue-in-cheek quips as nods to the apocalypse and cosmic horrors living in the depths.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional experience of the game to be deeply engaging, with moments of both exhilarating victories and poignant losses that resonate long after gameplay. The combination of a heartfelt soundtrack, unique design, and varied gameplay mechanics contributes to a rich emotional landscape, ensuring that each encounter feels fresh and impactful. Overall, the game is praised for delivering significant emotional highs and lows, enhancing the overall experience.
- “I have only played this game a few hours and have already had some of the most electric and satisfying losses and heart-wrenching victories.”
- “I don't want to talk about this element too much, but suffice to say, there are plenty of revelations to come after this point, including some serious emotional gut-punches.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, the retro design is honest and heartfelt, and the upgrade/weapon/shop system is near perfect.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while the Windows version runs smoothly and features high-quality pixel-art graphics, players have noted performance issues following recent updates on the Switch. Additionally, the game encourages a playstyle that may not align with optimal strategies, as clearing bosses quickly is crucial to avoid losing powerful weapons.
- “Adorable pixel-art visual style, with high-quality graphics and performance.”
- “Edit: indeed, the Windows version runs smoothly without crashing!”
- “The game incentivizes clearing everything as it contributes to your performance score, but that is absolutely the wrong way to play the game because you actually want to clear all bosses as soon as you get a strong weapon, because it might disappear.”
- “Recommended but with caveats; the game seems to be going through a series of tweaks after the Switch launch, not all of them favorable, including performance issues.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game heavily relies on advertisements, which some users feel is excessive, suggesting that the approach may prioritize revenue over user experience.
- “Dunkey doesn't miss apparently; those one million ads paid off.”
- “The monetization in this game feels excessive and intrusive.”
- “I can't enjoy the game when I'm constantly bombarded with prompts to spend more money.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of depth, with users noting that the lore feels poorly conceived and disjointed, resulting in shallow and random comments that fail to create a cohesive narrative.
- “Reading the flavor text in the 'Bestiary' of this game, I got the feeling that no one had really thought up any lore, but they had to write something... and so they wrote random shallow comments that look like they fit the character design, with little tying everything together.”
- “The character development feels incredibly superficial, as if the writers were more focused on aesthetics than on creating meaningful backstories or growth arcs.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in character relationships; they felt forced and unconvincing, making it hard to care about their journeys.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report mixed experiences with stability; while some encounter frequent freezes and bugs, particularly on Ubuntu 16, others find the controls responsive and experience no significant technical issues.
- “The only complaint I have is that it constantly freezes on my Ubuntu 16.”
- “It's a bit buggy; I had to do some troubleshooting to get it to launch without a black screen.”

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90%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Review: Monolith
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Destructoid.com
90%

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22h Median play time

86h Average play time

5-100h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 23 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Star of Providence is a arcade shooter game with science fiction theme.

Star of Providence is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 86 hours playing Star of Providence.

Star of Providence was released on June 7, 2017.

Star of Providence was developed by Team D-13.

Star of Providence has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Star of Providence is a single player game.

Similar games include Monolithic Christmas Night, Monolith, Voidigo, Tiny Rogues, Starward Rogue and others.

Star of Providence

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Review: Monolith

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