Starfield

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 78,126 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Starfield Game Cover
If you have the time to spare, Starfield is a worthy investment into another gaming universe that delivers a truly immersive experience
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"Starfield is an upcoming role-playing game set in a new universe created by the developers of Skyrim and Fallout 4. In the year 2330, players will embark on a journey to explore and uncover humanity's greatest mystery with unparalleled freedom. The premium edition includes early access, an expansion, and exclusive in-game skins and items."

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 78,126 reviews
story8,412 positive mentions
optimization1,777 negative mentions
  • story40,385 mentions

    The story in "Starfield" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it underwhelming and repetitive. Critics highlight that the main quest often feels like a series of fetch quests lacking depth and engagement, while the side quests and faction storylines are seen as more interesting but still suffer from a lack of meaningful choices and consequences. Overall, the narrative is described as generic and uninspired, failing to capture the immersive storytelling that fans expect from Bethesda games.

    • “I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of the story writing and the quest chains.”
    • “The buildup to the end of the main quest felt suspenseful and had me eager to see the end of the mystery, some of the main quests were original and caught me off guard in a good way.”
    • “The story is interesting and surprisingly realistic in companion and faction quests.”
    • “The main story of this game is so boring and cliche yet not done right at all, and once you finish it, you'll realize this game is nothing but an empty, sterile, shallow, deceiving time sink.”
    • “The graphics, story, gameplay, core mechanics, storylines, world, characters, travel, lore, cities, and everything else are all empty and soulless and will give you no enjoyment or satisfaction at any point.”
    • “The story failed to grab me and exploring other worlds felt very meh and not very exciting.”
  • gameplay10,542 mentions

    The gameplay of "Starfield" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it feels like a rehash of previous Bethesda titles, particularly "Fallout 4" and "Skyrim," but with less depth and innovation. While some mechanics, such as shipbuilding and combat, are praised for their fun and engaging aspects, the overall gameplay loop is criticized for being repetitive and tedious, often interrupted by excessive loading screens and a lack of meaningful exploration. Many players express disappointment in the game's narrative and character development, feeling that the mechanics are shallow and fail to deliver the immersive experience expected from a Bethesda RPG.

    • “Gameplay is smooth, none of that clunky space sim vibe.”
    • “Most of my time was engaging with your fantastic exploration and ship building mechanics, as well as the few side quests which were good.”
    • “The ship building mechanic was fun, so if you get this on sale for like $20, I'd recommend checking that part out but that's the full list of fun and engaging activities in this game.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics, the dialogue, the voice acting, the plot, it's all so bland.”
    • “The gameplay itself is even more boring, if you can even believe that.”
    • “The gameplay loop is a drag, and needs a complete overhaul in order to be fun.”
  • graphics6,632 mentions

    The graphics in "Starfield" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and detailed environments, particularly in space and ship design. However, numerous players have criticized the game's performance issues, outdated character models, and lack of optimization, often comparing it unfavorably to other recent titles like "Cyberpunk 2077." While some find the aesthetic appealing, particularly the "nasa-punk" theme, others feel it lacks depth and vibrancy, leading to a perception of the graphics as mediocre for a 2023 release.

    • “The graphics are top-notch; they didn't skimp on the details.”
    • “The game is visually stunning and huge, the graphics are slick and on point.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and even without DLSS I'm getting 100+ FPS on ultra 1440p.”
    • “The outdated visual graphics and bugs were disappointing, and the story was a snooze fest.”
    • “The graphics are dull and outdated.”
    • “The graphics are subpar when games, like Dyson Sphere Project whose budget is far smaller, are far more impressive when building outposts.”
  • optimization5,250 mentions

    The optimization of "Starfield" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, with many citing severe performance issues, including stuttering, frame rate drops, and long loading times, even on high-end systems. Despite some improvements following patches and the introduction of mods, the game is still considered poorly optimized, particularly for NVIDIA graphics cards, leading to frustration among players who feel that the game does not meet the expectations set by its AAA status. Overall, many reviewers recommend waiting for further optimization updates before purchasing.

    • “Yes, the performance on pc is very demanding, but just watch hardware unboxed's optimization guide and you'll probably get much better performance.”
    • “The game runs smoothly at medium default settings.”
    • “The performance is also an issue too.”
    • “Perhaps the worst optimized and least stable game I've ever bought.”
    • “The game is half-baked, unoptimized, and clearly not well thought out.”
    • “The performance is so bad for the visuals which even at their best look no better than a 2015 game, compared to other games like Cyberpunk which offers way better performance even with RT.”
  • stability3,710 mentions

    The stability of "Starfield" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many noting that while it is touted as Bethesda's least buggy release to date, it still suffers from a variety of issues. Players report frequent crashes, freezes, and audio glitches, particularly during combat and dialogue, which can disrupt gameplay. Despite these problems, some users have experienced relatively smooth performance, suggesting that the game's stability may vary significantly based on individual hardware setups. Overall, while there are improvements in stability compared to previous Bethesda titles, many players still find the game to be a buggy and frustrating experience.

    • “The game runs great on my 2070 super, small quirks here and there (no crashes, just characters walking funny, and occasional clipping), but nothing game breaking for me.”
    • “This game has a great musical score, runs great on my system, and I have run into only one bug in my 75 hours of gameplay.”
    • “After 84 hours, I am still having a ton of fun with this game and it is honestly the most stable and bug free Bethesda game I have ever played.”
    • “So many bugs, and not just the cute typical Bethesda glitches, but full-on game-breaking, start-over-if-you-dare bugs.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess, even after all this time.”
    • “It's a buggy mess, constantly breaking any expected immersion.”
  • grinding2,123 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Starfield" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, who describe it as tedious, repetitive, and often unfulfilling. Many reviewers express frustration with the game's reliance on grinding for resources, experience points, and skill upgrades, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion. The procedural generation of planets and the lack of engaging content further contribute to a sense of monotony, making exploration feel like a chore rather than an adventure.

    • “Most of the missions are pretty cool; I like the baseline story, and the side quests are not tedious.”
    • “Starfield has been great for my reading; I've read more books since the game came out than I have in quite a while because Starfield makes you want to go find something else to do that is interesting and fun and not tedious and disappointing.”
    • “It isn't tedious to clear out a whole base full of enemies, and with the backpack, it's even more fun.”
    • “It's one of the worst, most shallow, grindy and non-rewarding main storylines I've ever experienced in any game, including the abysmally awful ending.”
    • “You'll soon figure out after grinding resources or finishing a looting expedition, you'll have more than 100k worth of things to sell, only to find the merchants max out at 5k, 10k or 12k, which will require you to sell over multiple trips; you'll have to sleep for 48 hours for the shop to replenish.”
    • “The main story is the most tedious, derivative and repetitive slog I've ever experienced in a Bethesda game.”
  • music1,407 mentions

    The music in "Starfield" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its orchestral score and atmospheric qualities that enhance the game's exploration and emotional moments. However, some players find the soundtrack repetitive and reminiscent of previous Bethesda titles like "Fallout 4," leading to a sense of unoriginality. Technical issues, such as music cutting out or lagging, have also detracted from the overall experience for some players, though the soundtrack remains a highlight for many.

    • “The music is fantastic.”
    • “Great soundtrack and the main reason to enjoy the game.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, and the soundtrack complements the space-faring experience perfectly.”
    • “The music in this game is forgettable; you have your explore music, your town music that will change depending on what town you're in (there are like only 4), and the combat music.”
    • “The music is disappointing (by a very large margin) compared to what has come before.”
    • “The soundtrack is so bad, it makes the game depressing to play.”
  • atmosphere1,060 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Starfield" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its immersive environments, stunning visuals, and atmospheric sound design that evoke a sense of exploration and wonder. However, the lack of seamless atmospheric flight and manual landings detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustrations with loading screens and a feeling of disconnection from the vast universe. While some appreciate the game's unique aesthetic and world-building, others feel it falls short compared to previous Bethesda titles, lacking the depth and charm that characterized their earlier works.

    • “Soaring through space in your customizable ship is exhilarating, and the atmosphere of exploration is undeniable.”
    • “The atmosphere and mechanics are conducive for a space-based RPG, and by RPG I mean actual role-playing.”
    • “The atmosphere is right for me, especially because the NASA punk approach has been chosen and the game doesn't move into completely crazy sci-fi spheres.”
    • “The exploration, looting, general sense of scale/atmosphere is absolutely abysmal.”
    • “It's missing the charm and atmosphere of previous Bethesda titles.”
    • “The general atmosphere of the game is bland and lifeless.”
  • humor1,040 mentions

    The humor in "Starfield" is a mixed bag, with many players noting the presence of classic Bethesda-style bugs and glitches that often lead to funny moments, such as NPCs behaving oddly or dialogue options that fall flat. While some players appreciate the occasional witty lines and humorous side quests, others feel the game lacks the dark, satirical humor characteristic of previous Bethesda titles like "Fallout" and "Skyrim." Overall, the humor is described as inconsistent, with some finding it entertaining and others deeming it childish or uninspired.

    • “The cut scenes are a joke, most of the time made me laugh because they look like a meme with cheesy and ridiculous expressions.”
    • “Most of all, I appreciated the sense of humor of the artists who inserted numerous humorous subtleties revealed as off-guard written graffiti, post-it notes, posters, etc.”
    • “The dialogue is witty and immersive, with some humor and emotion.”
    • “Bethesda built it for 12 year olds; there is no substance to it and everything is beyond corny, like not funny corny, like childish corny.”
    • “As for the writing, it's not funny... and it's so PG it's kinda cringe... not what you would expect from a company that was behind Fallout 3, etc.”
    • “It's not funny anymore for BGS to release a game with embarrassing writing and reused systems that are over a decade old, regressing in many ways.”
  • emotional627 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Starfield" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of depth and engagement in the story and characters. While some moments and side quests evoke genuine feelings, the overall narrative is often described as boring and uninspired, leading to a sense of emotional detachment. Critics highlight that the game fails to create meaningful connections, making it difficult for players to invest emotionally in the characters or the unfolding events.

    • “The voice acting is top-notch, bringing the diverse cast of characters to life and adding emotional depth to the overall experience.”
    • “The story, side stories, and companion stories are entertaining and emotional.”
    • “This game made me cry like a little girl (I am a 6'4" 240-pound man).”
    • “Tie that together with a supremely dry and boring story and a world that is missing the depth and history of the other series, and you get a subpar game that easily overstays its welcome.”
    • “However, from the boring story to the clunky UI design, this has to be the weakest Bethesda single-player game.”
    • “The enjoyable combat and well-executed aesthetic are overshadowed by a boring story and forgettable characters, that, even if they were better written, would still only exist in a barren world devoid of unique experiences connected by unintuitive menus.”
  • replayability601 mentions

    The replayability of "Starfield" has garnered mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment compared to previous Bethesda titles like "Skyrim" and "Fallout." While some appreciate the new game plus (NG+) feature and the potential for varied character builds, others criticize the repetitive nature of quests and the lack of meaningful choices, leading to a perception of low replay value. Overall, while there are elements that could enhance replayability, many feel the game currently lacks the depth and variety needed for sustained engagement.

    • “Starfield has a heavy emphasis on new game + and on fresh new game runs, although there is a limit to pre-generated quests and faction quest lines, there are an infinite number of generated quests for each faction and sub-faction, so there is plenty of replayability with completely new builds, or an eternal new game+ starting level 999 all skills maxed build, however the player wants to play.”
    • “The game is designed for an endlessly replayable experience with new game+ and no level cap, which is one of my favorite things about the game.”
    • “This game has depth, and replayability... exactly what you would expect from Bethesda.”
    • “The biggest issue with this game is it lacks replay value, so that's why I recommend hitting your side quests before the main quest.”
    • “Zero replayability, ironically (you'll understand what I mean when you finish the main story).”
    • “For the first hour or two it was fantastic, but after that you start to see the game for what it really is: a lazy, repetitive production with little to no replay value.”
  • monetization369 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to misleading advertising and a perceived lack of substantial content. While the game initially launched without microtransactions, recent updates have introduced paid content and a monetization model that many feel undermines the game's integrity. Overall, players express disappointment in Bethesda's approach, viewing it as a shift towards exploitative practices rather than a focus on delivering a quality gaming experience.

    • “It's a complete product at launch, without any monetization beyond the asking price and few bugs to speak of.”
    • “I'm just happy there's no microtransactions.”
    • “This game also goes the route of no in-game monetization like microtransactions for skins or player power, which needs to be mentioned nowadays where this has become common practice.”
    • “This game is nothing more than a soulless cash grab, and Bethesda should be appalled that they allowed this abject garbage to ever make it out of alpha testing let alone be published in this state.”
    • “The fact Bethesda released the game in this state shows its clear cash grab nature.”
    • “I'm profoundly disappointed and frankly disgusted in this unapologetically greedy cash grab.”
  • character development251 mentions

    Character development in Starfield has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the depth and variety it offers, while others criticize it as shallow and uninspired. Many reviewers noted that while there are options for customization and skill progression, the overall character interactions and narratives lack the engaging depth found in previous Bethesda titles like Fallout and Skyrim. The character designs and NPC development were frequently described as disappointing, leading to a disconnect from the story and characters.

    • “Love most of this game - great story, good character development, lots of options.”
    • “The character development is enticingly interesting.”
    • “The character development and storytelling in Starfield are equally impressive.”
    • “Character development is basic and lacks depth.”
    • “A lackluster narrative coupled with uninspiring character development leaves players wanting more, and not in a good way.”
    • “The character development is so stale, your choices don't really matter at all except for one in the main quest that barely impacts the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

89% average critic score

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Play time

60hMedian play time
108hAverage play time
20-140hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1,524 analyzed playthroughs

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