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Starbound

Starbound is a Terraria-like that shoots for the stars and lands squarely among them.
Starbound Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, optimization
89% User Score Based on 101,534 reviews
Critic Score 83%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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Starbound Game Cover

About

Starbound is a single player and multiplayer survival role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Chucklefish and was released on July 22, 2016. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Starbound" is a Science Fiction Platformer game that offers both single-player and multiplayer/co-op modes. The game's "Bounty Hunter Update" introduces new procedurally-generated quests, where players hunt down criminal gangs and restore law and order in the universe. New features include Peacekeeper stations for bounty hunters, new monsters, furniture, armor, and tenants, with the ultimate goal of rising up through the Peacekeeper ranks.

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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 101,534 reviews
story4.6k positive mentions
grinding2.6k negative mentions
  • story
    22,001 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in Starbound is often described as simplistic and repetitive, primarily revolving around a series of fetch quests that require players to scan items from various alien races to progress. While some players appreciate the narrative as a means to guide exploration, many criticize it for being linear and uninspired, detracting from the game's sandbox nature. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers a rich universe to explore, and the modding community has created additional content that enhances or even replaces the base story, providing players with more engaging experiences.

    • “The story is fairly simple but fun; the gameplay has a little bit of a learning curve, but nothing too serious for the most part, and the modding community has some pretty cool stuff.”
    • “The story is interesting and fun to play through, but the combat and boss battles feel lacking in a way I can't describe (except the first one).”
    • “The story is a bit short, granted, but I still like it even with the changes since so many years ago.”
    • “The story is incredibly bland and predictable.”
    • “The main story quests are the same thing over and over again: scan a bunch of junk, talk to an old lady in a hovering wheelchair, go to a dungeon, fight a boss, and repeat about 5 different times before something interesting actually happens.”
    • “The story is a fetch quest and the crafting system feels like it was thrown in to thicken the game but it is a fun side scroller with a diverse set of npcs.”
  • gameplay
    7,690 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Starbound has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its similarities to Terraria while also highlighting its unique mechanics, such as space exploration and crafting. While some enjoy the expansive universe and building options, others criticize the repetitive gameplay loop and lack of depth in combat and progression. The modding community is frequently mentioned as a significant enhancement to the gameplay experience, providing additional content and mechanics that improve the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The gameplay is simple yet effective.”
    • “The gameplay loop is solid, and I love the retro pixel graphics.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging, exciting, and also really zen sometimes.”
    • “Starbound here has no creativity and freedom in the gameplay: the same weapons (but with more damage), character movements (that do not become faster and complex with your game progress), planets generation, and even bosses are extremely repetitive and uncreative.”
    • “It looks so good at times and has some seriously impressive visuals with larger structures, but it doesn't really save the game for me, the gameplay loop is just boring.”
    • “But the gameplay is sadly rather weak and it feels incomplete and imbalanced with a somewhat poorly designed progression.”
  • music
    5,970 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in *Starbound* is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, with many players highlighting its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and immersion. Composed by Curtis Schweitzer, the soundtrack features a mix of serene ambient tracks and intense battle themes, making it suitable for various gameplay scenarios. Players appreciate the inclusion of musical instruments that allow them to play custom songs, further enriching the experience and fostering creativity within the game.

    • “The music hits me deep in the soul; it can swap between serene ambient music and tense battle music, and it feels completely natural.”
    • “The soundtrack is easily one of the best I've ever listened to; major props.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful and I have paid for it multiple times; M54 is my favorite song of all time.”
    • “I can easily pour 1000s of hours into games like this and I can barely force myself to finish the starter world in this one... the charming music and style just isn't enough to outweigh all that not fun slog.”
    • “The music hits me deep in the soul, it can swap between serene ambient music and tense battle music and it feels completely natural.”
    • “Without his music, exploring barren planets would be boring as hell.”
  • graphics
    3,996 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Starbound are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which many players find appealing and nostalgic. While some reviews note that the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are often described as beautiful and well-executed, enhancing the overall experience of exploration and adventure in the game. However, there are also mentions of performance issues and a lack of graphical options, which can detract from the experience for some players.

    • “The graphics are charming, the art style is wonderful and whimsical and the animations are simple but effective and incredibly immersive for a 2D game.”
    • “Starbound features gorgeous pixel graphics, an astoundingly good soundtrack, and an intuitive crafting system.”
    • “The graphics are simple pixel graphics, and yet the game is absolutely beautiful.”
    • “Sure, the graphics don't look like much.”
    • “Graphics - garbage: seems redundant to say, but lordy.”
    • “The only big problem I have is that the game is optimized like a trash bin, and basically your computer specs matter very very little in how well the game runs, as every single thing in the game runs solely on a single CPU core, even graphics.”
  • grinding
    2,669 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Starbound" has received mixed reviews from players, with many noting that while the game offers a wealth of activities such as farming, crafting, and exploration, it often feels tedious and repetitive. Players frequently mention the grindy nature of quests, particularly those involving resource gathering and scanning items, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. However, some players appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay options, suggesting that with the right mods or a cooperative playstyle, the grind can become more manageable and even enjoyable.

    • “I completed the campaign with little to no grinding as the resources you need seem to be plentiful.”
    • “Very fun, is not grindy and is also much different from Terraria.”
    • “Exploration is exciting, good loot is plentiful enough that the grind to get it is not tedious but still rare enough that it is an exciting moment when you find something really good.”
    • “Quests are very repetitive, being 'deliver a to b', 'kill c', or 'rescue d', all of which are tedious to do and often give nothing worthwhile.”
    • “The first 5 hours is so tedious, slow and unrewarding; I should have known then to stop giving it the benefit of the doubt.”
    • “Starbound is very grindy, particularly the quests which are really boring (go find race x and examine a ton of their items, then do it for race y, then race z, etc).”
  • optimization
    1,441 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of Starbound has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues such as frame drops, stuttering, and lag, even on high-end systems. Many users note that the game is poorly optimized, often relying on a single CPU core and failing to utilize GPU capabilities effectively, leading to a frustrating experience. While some mods exist to improve performance, the overall consensus is that the game requires significant optimization updates to enhance playability.

    • “I love the game, the universe, all of that 9/10 just need some little optimization.”
    • “Really nice game, I can definitively not recommend enough that you play with mods; you're missing out if you don't indulge in Starbound's modding community, it has rebuilt this game ten times older, better, more optimized, and more fun than before.”
    • “The optimization is probably the easiest to explain - the whole game runs on the CPU, and only on one core, and in addition to that there's a memory leak you can regularly encounter in gameplay that makes things grind to a halt.”
    • “Lastly, the game is extremely poorly optimized; it can only use a single CPU core and does not use the GPU for anything, which causes extreme lag when playing with automation and movement mods.”
    • “The main reason for the negative review is because the game is extremely poorly optimized and I feel this will probably not change.”
    • “This game is so poorly optimized that on a computer that can run most modern games, I am not able to see maybe 5 FPS.”
  • replayability
    1,178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The replayability of Starbound is a contentious topic among players, with many noting that the base game offers limited replay value due to its linear storyline and repetitive quests. However, the game's extensive modding community significantly enhances replayability, providing a wealth of new content and experiences that can keep players engaged for much longer. Overall, while the vanilla experience may feel lacking, the addition of mods can transform Starbound into a highly replayable adventure.

    • “Tons of replayability in both solo and online.”
    • “The modding community really blew it out of the water with overhauls like frackin' universe and arcana, giving near limitless replayability.”
    • “Endless replayability, fun boss fights, a never-ending procedurally generated universe, great pixel art, and fun interesting world building all culminate into this single, incredible game.”
    • “I won't go into detail, but the replayability of the game is almost non-existent.”
    • “As it is now the game has no replayability and no deviation from a standard cookie cutter storyline.”
    • “The beta was selling the game more than everything, now we have a forced linear story containing boring quests that ruin the replayability.”
  • stability
    1,030 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users note that the game is unoptimized, leading to random freezes and performance issues, especially in multiplayer modes. While some players find ways to work around these issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains a "buggy mess," with many recommending potential players to wait for further updates before diving in.

    • “Runs great out of the box on Ubuntu Linux (specifically KDE Neon)!”
    • “I haven't encountered any bugs so far and the game runs great.”
    • “The developers do care about this game; the updates aren't very frequent, but are mostly very polished and bug-free and always add something new and exciting.”
    • “The game is so buggy, we played for hours and lost all our data overnight.”
    • “This is a failed attempt to recreate the magic of Terraria; the progression system is poorly done and there are regular glitches.”
    • “It is a buggy, unfinished mess that will ruin your life.”
  • humor
    798 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky and offbeat nature, with players enjoying the clever item descriptions, funny NPC dialogues, and amusing interactions throughout the gameplay. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to generate hilarious moments, especially in multiplayer settings, and the modding community adds even more comedic content. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant and enjoyable aspect, contributing to the game's charm and replayability.

    • “I love the offbeat sense of humor with the item descriptions (and how the descriptions change based on which race you play as).”
    • “The mysteries are fun to unravel and the funny quirky things are just funny and quirky enough to make you laugh, without trying so hard it feels forced.”
    • “The characters are funny, the new prologues for the races are very well done and intriguing, the music is fantastic, and by god this is worth every penny I spent on it and more.”
    • “And creatures are not funny, they are just predefined shit, I see the same creature planet by planet I pass.”
    • “Just like my real life, this is not funny and depressing. Look, I know this has absolutely nothing to do with the game, but I will point it out anyways: before I went to college, I was like Alex from Stardew Valley.”
    • “You're not funny!”
  • atmosphere
    756 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in Starbound is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, enhanced by a beautiful soundtrack and vibrant pixel art. Players appreciate the diverse environments across various planets, each with unique atmospheric conditions that contribute to a sense of exploration and adventure. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, providing a relaxing yet engaging experience that keeps players returning for more.

    • “The captivating soundtrack of Starbound serves as a celestial symphony, perfectly complementing the ethereal atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing and incredibly calming.”
    • “Starbound nails the atmosphere for this game right out of the gate with the outpost, your ship, the moon, teleportation, and most space / science fiction integration in general.”
    • “The planets range from some good ones, like the cybsphere to okay, to kind of annoying, and pretty much a checklist if you have enough of the environmental resistance to its atmosphere.”
    • “It's got a really vibrant atmosphere on certain worlds and a really desolate and dead atmosphere on others (in the good immersive way, not a bad way), but it does have a couple problems.”
    • “The lore and story related atmosphere of the game has also been ruined.”
  • emotional
    312 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players expressing deep connections to its heartfelt storytelling, beautiful art, and moving soundtrack, often leading to moments of joy and nostalgia. However, criticism arises regarding the linear and often boring storyline that detracts from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling disappointed and emotionally detached. Despite these issues, the community surrounding the game is described as wholesome and supportive, contributing to a sense of belonging and emotional growth among players.

    • “It's beautiful and heartfelt, and I wish the whole world could play it.”
    • “The game's message is very heartfelt and the storytelling is amazing, and the community as a whole has helped me grow and taught me a lot about appreciating art with its thorns, separating the art from the artist, having a good level of tolerance as a person, and dos and don'ts of storytelling and game mechanics.”
    • “This game has made me cry tears of joy more times than I can remember.”
    • “The first couple of hours are fun, I guess, but then it puts too much focus on the honestly boring story instead of giving the player freedom to do whatever they want.”
    • “It crushes all forms of replayability by making the player repeat the same dumb, overused, boring storyline every time they create a character instead of being original and allowing players to choose the role of their character.”
    • “The game became this linear and boring story-driven game with exploration being neutered to the bone.”
  • monetization
    78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" that capitalizes on popular titles like Terraria and No Man's Sky. While some appreciate the absence of microtransactions, others criticize the developers for incomplete content and misleading advertising, suggesting that the game was released prematurely to generate revenue. Overall, the sentiment reflects frustration over perceived exploitation and a lack of genuine development effort.

    • “In addition to not having microtransactions of any sort, this game is cheap.”
    • “This is one of my favorite games of all time. It has everything you want in it: crafting, building, endless exploration, multiplayer, and the best thing is, no microtransactions! Yay! There are also great mods which completely change the game so you can replay it differently.”
    • “I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes space exploration, sandbox games, survival elements, and no microtransactions or pay-for-DLC.”
    • “This game is just a cash grab with the early access stamp as an excuse for an unfinished game that you can pay to 'help develop' even though they don't do anything themselves.”
    • “They cut a large portion of content from the game because it wouldn't feel polished upon the 1.0 release, which really just feels like another attempt at a cash grab because the game isn't done -- what other reason is there to pull a game out of early access and call it complete when it hasn't come anywhere close to reaching Chucklefish's original goals?”
    • “I feel we as gamers have been ripped off and this was just a quick cash grab!”
  • character development
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is largely criticized for being minimal or nonexistent, with many players expressing a desire for deeper narrative and character exploration. While the character designs and customization options are praised for their creativity and uniqueness, they often feel superficial due to the lack of meaningful progression or relationships within the game. Overall, players recommend improvements in character development to enhance the storytelling and engagement of the gameplay experience.

    • “It had survival mechanics, biomes, deep character development, and a slowly growing backstory.”
    • “I would definitely recommend improving, rather than scrapping, the multiple planet thing. I would also hope in the future that Chucklefish works on their character development; the campaign would have been massively improved with some well-developed and explored proper characters.”
    • “What actually got me going was the existence of my favorite element in a good RPG: character development.”
    • “Character development and upgrading is non-existent.”
    • “There is no story, no character development, no point to anything, and at this point I really regret buying it at all.”
    • “Character development is nonexistent, and it's impossible to warm to any of the protagonists given their propensity for murder.”
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83%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews
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59h Median play time
198h Average play time
25h Main story
162h Completionist
20-200h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 749 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Starbound is a survival role playing game with science fiction theme.

Starbound is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac OS, Xbox One and others.

The main story can be completed in around 25 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 162 hours to finish. On average players spend around 198 hours playing Starbound.

Starbound was released on July 22, 2016.

Starbound was developed by Chucklefish.

Starbound has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Starbound is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Portal Knights, Roguelands, 7 Days to Die, Empyrion: Galactic Survival, Keplerth and others.