Starless Abyss

About

Starless Abyss is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Konafa Games and was released on April 25, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Starless Abyss is an atmospheric horror game set in a mysterious, dark universe where players explore eerie environments filled with unsettling creatures and cryptic lore. The game combines exploration, survival, and puzzle-solving elements to uncover hidden truths. Its haunting ambiance and intricate narrative immerse players in a chilling, otherworldly experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 170 reviews

gameplay29 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Starless Abyss features a captivating blend of tactical combat and deck-building mechanics, reminiscent of games like Slay the Spire and Into the Breach, providing a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
The game's aesthetic is stunning, with beautiful pixel art and an excellent soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere, making each run enjoyable.
There is a high level of replayability due to the variety of cards, characters, and strategies available, allowing players to experiment with different builds and playstyles.

The game suffers from balancing issues, particularly with certain characters and bosses that can feel overpowered or underwhelming, leading to frustration during runs.
Players have reported a lack of clarity in game mechanics and tooltips, making it difficult to understand certain aspects of gameplay, which can hinder the overall experience.
Some users have experienced technical issues, including crashes and bugs that disrupt gameplay, which detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its innovative mechanics and engaging turn-based tactical combat, while others criticize it for being unbalanced and lacking depth. Many appreciate the charming visuals and music, but find certain mechanics poorly explained or frustrating, leading to a disconnect between the narrative and gameplay experience. Overall, while the game offers a unique blend of deck-building and strategy elements, it struggles with consistency and player engagement.
- “The gameplay is engaging, the progression is deep and well-paced, the art style is gorgeous, the music is catchy, and the writing is genuinely pretty interesting.”
- “The gameplay loop is really fun and addictive, and if you leave the menu screen open while you go grab a drink, you'll come back to find yourself at a space disco.”
- “Gameplay is a seamless blend of deck building rogue-lite and tactical grid style combat.”
- “It adds nothing meaningful to the gameplay and mostly makes me want to intentionally wipe the squad and play as a single ship.”
- “Looks charming, but the gameplay is boring and the narrative work is superficial.”
- “Gameplay: the balance is all over the place, characters are definitely not equal in how strong they are, bonus difficulties are silly, cards are definitely not equal in how strong they are.”
music
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
19%
7%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising its catchy and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the dynamic nature of the music, which adapts to different gameplay scenarios, and note its high production value, making it a standout feature alongside the game's visuals and gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a significant factor in the game's appeal, with many expressing a desire to purchase the OST.
- “A stellar soundtrack that changes based on fighting or exploration, and is a bop.”
- “The music is fantastic and catchy, and the challenge is definitely there.”
- “The combo of tactics combat and deckbuilder works great, the theming is strong (space Cthulhu!), but my personal favorite is the music - every single track is an absolute jam!”
- “The core gameplay concept, aesthetic, and music are all hitting it out of the park for me, but I've been having a constant crashing issue which persisted even after verifying game files.”
- “This is a game about freaky pixel art, knife-edge space combat, and an actually pretty respectable soundtrack.”
- “-dynamite music that fits the game real well”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
33%
10%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their superb pixel-art style, vibrant aesthetics, and engaging animations, showcasing a clear dedication to artistic quality. Players appreciate the unique art direction that blends retro influences with modern gameplay, creating a visually pleasing experience that enhances the overall atmosphere. The combination of stunning visuals, catchy music, and deep gameplay mechanics contributes to a highly enjoyable and immersive gaming experience.
- “The pixel-art graphics for units, cards, transitions, and boss intro animations are superb, an obvious labor of talent and love.”
- “The aesthetic is great, and a lot of love went into the graphics and presentation.”
- “The visuals are gorgeous, the gameplay is engaging, and the art style is fantastic.”
- “I'm not saying change the name, I'm not saying do a graphical overhaul but... there are stars.”
- “The aesthetic feels weirdly like endgame Phantasy Star 2, ominous like you are peeling back layers of a nasty onion.”
- “The art style reminds me more of old adventure games than a space game from the same era, in a good way.”
story
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
56%
11%
The game's story is described as engaging and well-integrated into the gameplay, with a Lovecraftian influence that adds depth to encounters. Players appreciate the unique character narratives and the ability to unlock story elements without excessive grinding, although some express frustration over the need for multiple runs to fully experience the plot. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a compelling aspect that enhances the roguelike experience, despite its cryptic delivery and reliance on repetition.
- “The story implications are deeper than what you initially see, and more story is revealed each time you die.”
- “The interwoven and Lovecraftian-inspired story also lends its rich and detailed structure to the combat, which helps elevate every encounter you have with enemies!”
- “The story is fun and in-depth without getting in the way of the gameplay.”
- “To see the story in its entirety, you need 50 runs total.”
- “And in a game that seeks to extend its playtime by making you play through the same content multiple times to reveal that story, that is a fatal flaw.”
- “As far as the plot goes, I am admittedly not very far into the game, but the premise is nothing new: in the past, humanity pulled some quantum levers and unleashed horrors beyond man's comprehension into our reality.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse card-building mechanics, multiple classes, and a variety of options during each run. While some players suggest improvements like additional enemy types and modding support, the rogue-like elements and strategic depth ensure that players can enjoy numerous playthroughs.
- “Looks like Into the Breach but combines that with deckbuilding elements from games like Slay the Spire, resulting in enormous replayability.”
- “Lots of options during a run, high replayability.”
- “The game has decent replayability value; could do with a couple more enemy types and at least one more boss per act.”
- “Toggleable attack range or enemy action previews would greatly improve replayability; currently, having to hover over every enemy hurts the experience a lot.”
- “It has endless replayability due to it being a rogue-like with a vast amount of cards, ships, rituals, and proximas at your disposal.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its exceptional setting, world-building, and the effective blend of sci-fi and horror elements. Reviewers highlight the engaging art style and soundtrack, contributing to a captivating and immersive experience.
- “The setting, atmosphere, and world-building are great; the mix of sci-fi and horror is quite a rare combo, and it is excellently executed here.”
- “Really fun game with an awesome atmosphere, art style, and soundtrack.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate that the game offers a button to unlock the story, reducing the need for grinding. However, it is also described as a genuinely challenging experience that embodies a grindy retro roguelike feel, rewarding skill and synergy while featuring an engaging narrative and diverse gameplay mechanics.
- “Genuinely challenging game that rewards synergy and skill, but it really feels like a grindy retro roguelike.”