Starboard

About

Starboard is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Spunky Studios and was released on December 13, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Starboard is a first-person, action/adventure game filled with nail-biting fights, daring escapes, and stylish parkour. Use a magic tether to swing and launch yourself through space like an acrobat or throw enemies and objects to turn the tide in battle. Wall-run, slide, and leap to elude foes, and bust out your trusty sword to attack head-on.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews

music3 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features charming voice acting and a fun pirate theme that many players enjoy.
Core mechanics like the swagger gauge and level design provide engaging gameplay and replay value.
Despite its jankiness, players find the movement fluid and the game enjoyable, especially for speedrunning.

Unresponsive controls and janky mechanics make the gameplay frustrating and difficult to enjoy.
Performance issues, including low frame rates and bugs, detract from the overall experience.
The lack of a save and quit option, along with confusing level design, can lead to a negative player experience.

gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Gameplay is characterized by a mix of enjoyable core mechanics, such as the innovative swagger gauge that encourages movement, but is hindered by poor performance and control issues. Players report needing to lower graphics settings significantly to achieve playable frame rates, indicating a need for refinement in combat and parkour mechanics in future iterations.
- “Core mechanics were really fun; the swagger gauge was a fun concept to reward constantly moving.”
- “It's a decent game, albeit a bit janky in its controls. Hopefully, the next game will be more refined in its combat and parkour mechanics.”
- “The performance is terrible; I had to set all the graphics to minimum just to get barely 30 FPS once gameplay started.”
- “It's a decent game, but a bit janky in its controls. Hopefully, the next game will be more refined in its combat and parkour mechanics.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's optimization is notably poor, requiring players to set graphics to minimum to achieve around 30 fps during gameplay. Despite this, the game is praised for its engaging level design and fluid movement, with hopes for future improvements and a save system. Overall, it garners a positive reception, rated 8/10.
- “Fantastic game! It's funny, and while the movement is a bit janky, it's still fluid. The genuinely intense moments and clever level design make it enjoyable. I really hope that a save system gets added at some point, but overall, I hope the game will get more optimized or have a sequel. All in all, 8/10.”
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even in intense situations. The developers have clearly put effort into refining the experience, making it enjoyable from start to finish.”
- “I appreciate how the game runs efficiently on various systems. The optimization ensures that players can enjoy the experience without major performance issues, which enhances the overall enjoyment.”
- “The performance is terrible; I had to set all the graphics to minimum just to barely achieve 30 fps once gameplay started.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, resulting in frequent frame drops and stuttering even on high-end hardware.”
- “Despite having a powerful PC, I experienced significant lag and long loading times, which ruined the overall experience.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics performance has been criticized for being poor, with players needing to set all graphics settings to minimum to achieve a barely playable frame rate of 30 fps during gameplay.
- “The performance is terrible; I had to set all the graphics to minimum just to barely achieve 30 fps once gameplay started.”
- “The graphics look outdated and lack detail, making the game feel less immersive.”
- “There are frequent texture pop-ins and low-resolution assets that detract from the overall visual experience.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music is praised as a thrilling enhancement that complements the game's pirate theme and swashbuckling action, adding to the overall excitement and immersion.
- “The music is such a thrilling addition on top of the piratey swashbuckling!”
- “The soundtrack perfectly captures the adventurous spirit of the game.”
- “Each musical piece enhances the atmosphere, making every moment feel epic.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players find the game highly replayable due to achievements tied to speedrunning and collecting hidden items, encouraging multiple playthroughs. Additionally, the relatively quick completion time after the initial run enhances its replay value.
- “Achievements for speedrunning and collecting all the hidden items add significant replay value, and it's a pretty quick run-through after the first completion.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes encourages multiple playthroughs, making each experience feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With different character builds and strategies to explore, the game offers endless possibilities for replayability.”
- “Achievements for speedrunning and collecting all the hidden items add some replay value, but it's a pretty quick run-through after the first clear.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play again since the story doesn't change.”
- “The lack of different endings or significant choices makes replaying feel redundant.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated for its lightheartedness, complementing the janky yet fluid movement and clever level design. Players find the combination of intense moments and comedic elements enjoyable, contributing to an overall positive experience.
- “Fantastic game! It's funny, and while the movement is a bit janky, it's still fluid. The game has genuinely intense moments, and the actual level design is fun and clever.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, making even the most challenging moments enjoyable.”
- “I love how the game balances humor with intense gameplay, keeping me entertained throughout.”