Skip to main content

Star Trucker

There’s a lot to like in Star Trucker, and it's bursting with potential. It’s also in need of some balance and tweaking. Still, what’s on offer is well worth the asking price, and should keep you trucking for a long while.
78%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, optimization
80% User Score Based on 4,945 reviews
Critic Score 72%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWinWindowsXSXXbox Series X|SCloCloudXboxXboxXCGXbox Cloud GamingXGPXbox Game Pass

About

In "Star Trucker," become a space big rig driver, hauling cargo, scavenging for salvage, and interacting with various characters. Upgrade your truck and equipment at auto-shops, and engage with the CB radio for communication and missions. Trade legal or contraband goods at stations for extra income.

Star Trucker screenshot
Star Trucker screenshot
Star Trucker screenshot
Star Trucker screenshot
Star Trucker screenshot
Star Trucker screenshot

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,949 reviews
story198 positive mentions
grinding138 negative mentions

  • The game offers a unique blend of space exploration and trucking simulation, providing an engaging experience.
  • The visuals and art style are stunning, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances gameplay.
  • The ability to manage and maintain your truck adds depth to the gameplay, making it more than just a simple driving simulator.
  • The controls can be clunky and difficult to master, especially with the lack of lateral thrusters, making navigation challenging.
  • The economy is unbalanced, with high costs for maintenance and low payouts for jobs, leading to frustration.
  • There are bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with docking and mission progression.
  • story
    1,042 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally well-received, featuring engaging characters and a narrative that unfolds through various missions, although it is often described as simple and linear. Players appreciate the voice acting and the immersive atmosphere, but many express frustration with the lack of rewards for story missions, which can lead to resource management challenges. Overall, while the story adds depth to the gameplay, some players feel it could benefit from more complexity and better integration with the game's mechanics.

    • “I enjoyed the story, and the gameplay can be tweaked depending on how hard you want the game to be.”
    • “The story missions have enough to play around in the space and do all of the things you'd want to do in the setting, and the universe is a very nice aesthetic of retro future designs.”
    • “The real charm of this game is in the story.”
    • “However, the developers should urgently do something about the end of the story.”
    • “Now I cannot finish the story without restarting completely.”
    • “The story missions feel very disjointed, and their existence seems more out of obligation to somehow pace your progress through the game than anything else.”
  • gameplay
    914 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Star Trucker" offers a mix of casual and challenging elements, with a focus on cargo delivery and truck maintenance in a visually stunning space environment. While many players appreciate the engaging mechanics and customizable difficulty settings, some criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the overwhelming micromanagement of resources, particularly regarding battery and maintenance systems. Overall, the game presents a promising foundation but requires further refinement to enhance player experience and reduce tedium.

    • “Super fun and casual/chill game, has enjoyable and rewarding progression and enjoyable game mechanics.”
    • “Beautiful visuals, immersive soundtrack, engaging gameplay, interesting story and characters, simply an amazing game.”
    • “The gameplay loop is pretty fun and addicting.”
    • “The gameplay is competent, but it is not particularly exciting and sometimes even annoying.”
    • “The concept is outstanding and has so much potential to be a lot of fun, but is held back by poorly executed mechanics that left me feeling deeply frustrated with the experience overall.”
    • “The gameplay loop is as simple as it gets: pick up a load, point at the gate, hit cruise, jump, and repeat.”
  • music
    601 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, effectively complementing the space trucking experience with a chill soundtrack that captures the essence of the genre. However, many players express a desire for a broader selection of songs, as the current radio offerings can become repetitive after extended play. Suggestions for improvements include the ability to add personal music or expand the in-game soundtrack to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The chill soundtrack helps me enjoy the drive.”
    • “Honestly one of the easiest games to chill out to that I've ever bought, and one of the best soundtracks I've heard from a game in a long time.”
    • “The soundtrack matches - I really like the non-vocal tracks that play occasionally when the radio is off, and the stuff on that radio is pretty decent, too.”
    • “Soon you know all songs and ads and it gets a tad dull.”
    • “The variety and quantity of songs on the radio could have been better (different radio stations? talk/phone-in shows?).”
    • “The only complaint I can say about this game genuinely is there's not enough music on the one radio station.”
  • graphics
    453 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Star Trucker" have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals and unique art style, blending cartoonish aesthetics with immersive space environments. Players appreciate the vibrant colors, detailed designs, and smooth performance, which contribute to an engaging atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some users noted minor graphical issues and performance hiccups, the general consensus is that the game's visuals are a standout feature, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to explore.

    • “Stunning visuals: the game's visuals are a standout feature, with breathtaking vistas of nebulas, distant planets, and futuristic cityscapes.”
    • “The graphics are out of this world, the gameplay is smooth like a fresh launch, and let’s not forget the humor—you'll find yourself chuckling at the quirky alien encounters along the way.”
    • “The visuals and atmosphere really make the game (9/10).”
    • “Overall the story is okay, and the graphics are also alright, but when you have beautiful space games with better controls, like No Man's Sky, Star Citizen, and even Starfield, you are left with a lot to be desired.”
    • “For a game where hardly anything is present on screen (cartoony space graphics), it could run better, or provide more graphics customization settings to better compromise on whatever is hogging the GPU.”
    • “I guess somehow they've had a year of testing for this game and still somehow it's missing basic quality of life features, and has only basic graphics settings.”
  • grinding
    148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly regarding maintenance tasks and docking procedures. While some appreciate the game's depth and customization options to adjust difficulty, others feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it feel more like a chore than a relaxing experience. Overall, the game appeals to fans of simulation genres but may frustrate those seeking a more casual gameplay experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's tedious and unforgiving, to the point you will have to restart your entire save after several hours.”
    • “The thing that holds back the game immensely is the tediousness of maintenance.”
    • “While the gameplay loop is great, every single aspect of the game is tedious and borderline impossible.”
  • optimization
    145 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players noting significant performance issues, including inconsistent frame rates and stuttering, particularly in dense areas or during specific effects. While some users report smooth gameplay on high-end systems, others experience severe drops in performance, leading to frustration. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires further optimization to enhance stability and performance across a wider range of hardware configurations.

    • “Story rich, good gameplay, really good looking graphics, optimized quite well.”
    • “The performance is also very good on a mid-tier setup which is a great bonus.”
    • “Interacting with the cab features is awesome, the look of the game is great, and it runs smoothly on both my PC and Steam Deck.”
    • “The game is not optimized at all.”
    • “I really want to like this game, but the constant stuttering makes it a headache to play.”
    • “Game itself is poorly optimized.”
  • atmosphere
    136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive visuals, engaging sound design, and captivating music, which collectively create a unique and relaxing experience reminiscent of classic trucking nostalgia set in a futuristic context. Players appreciate the variety of environments and the authenticity of the trucking experience, although some note that the limited music selection can detract from the overall immersion. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, enhancing both gameplay and exploration.

    • “Immersive atmosphere: the game's soundtrack and sound design create a captivating atmosphere that draws you into the world.”
    • “The atmosphere is gorgeous, the story is engaging, the sounds are just right, the controls really feel like you're driving a heavy vehicle.”
    • “The game excels at creating atmospheric space environments and a sense of adventure, but the mission variety and trading system are limited, which can make the gameplay feel repetitive over time.”
    • “In my opinion, the maintenance aspect of this game somewhat ruins the chill 'truck driver' atmosphere, since I found myself sweating about whether I should fill my truck's gas tank, if I need to buy batteries (since there are 8 items that need batteries, with no way to recharge them), or if I could buy an upgrade for my truck for the shop.”
    • “The maintenance, upgrades, and some of the atmosphere just seems so much more shallow than it should/could.”
    • “Moving past bugs, there isn't other traffic apart from other trucks which takes away from the atmosphere.”
  • stability
    86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, it is plagued by various bugs and glitches that can significantly hinder gameplay. Some users report severe issues, such as game-breaking glitches and soft locks, while others have experienced minimal problems, indicating a disparity in performance across different systems. Overall, while the game shows potential and offers enjoyable gameplay, it requires further optimization and bug fixes to enhance stability.

    • “This game is not very buggy.”
    • “No glitches; I mean since I got it, I've never had one performance issue.”
    • “Tldr; runs great on deck even without lowering default settings, please go enjoy this game now.”
    • “Buggy, it bricks your game and can't progress in story mode.”
    • “It gets a negative review nothing is explained you can soft lock yourself constantly you get fined and penalized for things you haven't even done if you're docked other trucks will hit you and you'll be charged for it. The game is one huge buggy anti-player mess.”
    • “Great game but too many horrible out-of-nowhere glitches. Every time I pass through haze way with multiple trailers, it disconnects them. I've had to restart the story on custom multiple times because of this and the horrible air filter prices.”
  • humor
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its humor, featuring quirky characters, amusing dialogue, and absurd situations that often elicit laughter, such as trucks colliding with barriers and gravity mishaps. Players appreciate the blend of sci-fi and blue-collar themes, with many finding the radio ads and character interactions particularly entertaining. While some humor may not resonate with everyone, the overall comedic tone adds a lighthearted charm to the gameplay experience.

    • “The graphics are out of this world, the gameplay is smooth like a fresh launch, and let’s not forget the humor—you'll find yourself chuckling at the quirky alien encounters along the way.”
    • “The system management has just the right amount of manual and sci-fi technowizardry cheese, and there can be some rather hilarious circumstances like realizing too late that your gravity is about to lose power, then spending a frantic few moments trying to turn it back on only to then discover that objects in your cabin have durability they lose when they come crashing into each other or the floor when the gravity is restored, lol.”
    • “A great little game that delivers on the funny idea of driving a typical American truck in space.”
  • monetization
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is tied closely to its immersive radio ads and soundtrack, which enhance the overall atmosphere but can become repetitive over time. While the creativity in the ads and music is praised, there are concerns that the advertising does not fully align with the game's content, leading to a disconnect in player expectations. Overall, players appreciate the effort put into the radio experience but desire more variety and relevance in the advertisements.

    • “Wish the people advertising this game actually knew what they were talking about.”
    • “Because of that, it narrows the scope so much as to make the game feel like something else instead of what it's advertising.”
    • “I am sure the game is great, but the advertising is not.”
  • replayability
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited, with many players feeling that once the main story is completed, there is little incentive to return, aside from exploring the open world. While some users express potential for future updates to enhance replayability, the current lack of motivation to engage in new experiences or grind through content is a common concern. A few players find enjoyment in the game, suggesting it may be more appealing with different play styles, but the consensus leans towards a need for significant improvements to boost replay value.

    • “This opens the game up to more replayability.”
    • “That is an absurd number of hours rivaling even large RPGs in terms of replayable content.”
    • “If you're on board with those, then this will be an excellent single player experience that I'm sure has quite the replayability potential.”
    • “Limited replayability: once you've completed the main story, there's not much incentive to return, aside from exploring the open world.”
    • “There is no replayability, and you will be done with the game, unless they decide to make some major changes.”
    • “It lacks any replayability or motivation to try new things.”
  • emotional
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a mix of emotional experiences while engaging with the game, highlighting moments of frustration due to financial challenges and gameplay balance, which can lead to feelings of defeat. However, many also find the game to be a wholesome and relaxing experience, enjoying the immersive environment and interactive elements, suggesting that the emotional journey can vary significantly based on individual gameplay experiences. Overall, the game elicits both positive and negative emotions, making it a complex emotional experience for players.

    • “Recommended will hurt early game, financially and emotionally.”
    • “Such a wholesome game!”
    • “The next day I started the game, it was a wholesome, relaxing experience, listening to good music and flying through nicely made areas in open space, following the routes, buying the first upgrades for my truck, customizing it, and fulfilling a few quests.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted for its decent variety, particularly in the main missions, which provide enough depth to encourage completion. However, players express a desire for more interaction and iteration with characters, such as random encounters, to enhance the experience further. Overall, while the foundation is solid, there is a call for additional content and character engagement as the game evolves.

    • “The procedural jobs have some good variety for a trucking game, and the main missions (called side quests) have just enough character development to be worth finishing.”
    • “More character development or more interaction with the characters, like running into them randomly or having their rigs waiting for you at waypoints, would enhance the experience. I appreciate not just talking to ghosts, and I hope more content is on the way.”
    • “More character development or more iteration with the characters, like running into them randomly somewhere and at the waypoints that are given to you, would be appreciated. I like not talking to ghosts, and lastly, I wish there was more content in the game. I understand that this is a new game and more content is hopefully on the way.”
    • “The procedural jobs have some good variety for a trucking game, but the main missions (called side quests) have just enough character development to be worth finishing.”
    • “I wish there was more character development in the game. It feels like the characters are just there without much depth or interaction.”

Buy Star Trucker

7h Median play time
9h Average play time
5-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 45 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like Star Trucker

Frontier Pilot Simulator ImageFrontier Pilot Simulator ImageFrontier Pilot Simulator Image
Frontier Pilot Simulator Image
Pacific Drive Image
Derail Valley Image
ΔV: Rings of Saturn ImageΔV: Rings of Saturn ImageΔV: Rings of Saturn Image
ΔV: Rings of Saturn Image
Rings of Saturn Image
Forever Skies Image
Diluvion Image
Ostranauts Image