StarMade

About

StarMade is a free-to-play Sci-Fi Shooter game, currently in Alpha, that offers single-player, local multi-player, and online co-op/PvP gameplay. Players can support the developers by purchasing the game, which will grant access to future updates and exclusive features such as blueprint hosting and multiple skin uploads. Despite some optimization issues and bugs, the game offers plenty of humor and grinding for space exploration and battles.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,414 reviews

gameplay117 positive mentions

stability150 negative mentions

The game offers a vast universe with endless possibilities for ship building and exploration.
The building mechanics are intuitive and allow for complex designs, making it enjoyable for creative players.
The developers are active and responsive to community feedback, regularly updating the game.

The game suffers from performance issues and bugs, especially when it comes to multiplayer and AI interactions.
The learning curve is steep, and the lack of comprehensive tutorials can be frustrating for new players.
Many players feel the game has stagnated in development, with core mechanics being changed frequently without clear communication.

gameplay
410 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of deep and complex mechanics, particularly in shipbuilding, which can be both rewarding and frustrating due to its cumbersome nature and lack of clear tutorials. While players appreciate the creative freedom and technical depth, many express dissatisfaction with the clunky controls, unfinished UI, and frequent updates that often disrupt established mechanics. Overall, the game offers a unique sandbox experience but suffers from significant bugs, balance issues, and a lack of engaging content, leaving players divided on its potential and current state.
- “A great ship editor, on-foot combat, a welding tool for boarding maneuvers, localized gravity, planets you can land on to build factories and bases, or destroy the core of to strip mine the remains, interesting shipbuilding mechanics, a blueprint database to build from that's usable by NPCs for their ships and stations, and good configurable server tools were just some of the highlights.”
- “The voxel-based mechanic (i.e. Minecraft building) gives a surprising amount of control over the aesthetic and functionality of each individual spaceship.”
- “The building mechanics are actually pretty good, allowing for advanced building tools such as symmetry planes, adjustable brush sizes, and various display options.”
- “The game is confusing to start out in, there's no real in-game tutorial, there's no sense of direction, etc.”
- “I shouldn't have to resort to YouTube videos to learn how to play, nor to wiki pages to figure out how basic game mechanics work.”
- “There are exactly zero gameplay incentives to interact with other players in a multiplayer context, so everyone sits in their bases and safe spaces and nobody ever fights.”
graphics
231 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The game's graphics are generally considered basic and reminiscent of voxel-based games like Minecraft, with some players noting that they lack polish and can be demanding on lower-end systems. While some appreciate the aesthetic control offered by the voxel mechanics, others criticize the visuals as outdated and uninspiring compared to competitors like Space Engineers. Overall, the graphics receive mixed reviews, with some praising their charm in a creative context, while others find them lacking in fidelity and detail.
- “The graphics are absolutely gorgeous and the soon to be implemented stat system is going to give it a perfect MMORPG aspect.”
- “Beautiful graphics.”
- “This game has wonderful graphics and near endless possibilities.”
- “The game's graphics are not the most polished, and the game can be quite demanding on lower-end systems.”
- “So... here's my warning for people buying it, the graphics aren't what the trailer shows.”
- “Very outdated graphics and physics, but the concept is fun.”
stability
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players express frustration over the game's poor optimization and the lack of updates, leading to a perception that it remains in a perpetual alpha state. While some acknowledge the game's potential and enjoyable mechanics, the overwhelming consensus is that it requires considerable patience due to its ongoing technical issues.
- “Boring dead wannabe EVEcraft that was cool back when space builders were new, but now it's a buggy unplayable mess that practically has no multiplayer.”
- “Servers and clients run into pretty common glitches and crashes which can make the game very frustrating.”
- “A chance was given and as we approach 10 years after its release on Steam and 15 years since development started, Starmade today has zero content, zero gameplay, remains an unoptimized, buggy and laggy mess while its developers are out of touch with the community and have completely abandoned development of it.”
optimization
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
74%
21%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players citing significant performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware and during complex scenarios like loading planets or engaging with multiple ships. While some updates have improved performance and reduced lag, the game still struggles with bugs and inefficient code, leading to frustration among users. Overall, while there are signs of progress, the optimization remains a critical area needing further attention to enhance the gaming experience.
- “As a space sandbox, Starmade is one of the most optimized games I've seen in a long time.”
- “Stated earlier, the optimization in Starmade is great, and you can easily get 60 fps.”
- “The game updates every couple of weeks with new features, bug fixes, and optimizations.”
- “It had such promise, but poor optimization and a lack of practical updates have really killed it.”
- “The biggest issue for me, though, is optimization, as whenever I turn this game on and enter my world I can literally hear my computer's fans through my headphones within two minutes.”
- “There has always been massive performance issues, massive issues with collision, massive issues with the AI, and so on.”
story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
72%
11%
The game currently lacks a structured story, leaving players to create their own narratives in an open-world environment. While there are NPCs and missions, many users express frustration over the absence of a cohesive storyline and engaging content, suggesting that those seeking a rich narrative experience should look elsewhere. However, the potential for self-made stories and future updates, including quests, offers a glimmer of hope for a more immersive experience down the line.
- “In Starmade, the universe is ripe with potential experience and you are in the pilot's seat, so now it's time to select a destination, chart a course for the stars you have chosen, and make your own story instead of relying on someone else to tell their story to you.”
- “But if you want to let your imagination loose and create your own story, your own universe alone or with friends, then Starmade might be your flavor.”
- “In my time, I made my single player experience about a woman who is possibly the last survivor of a space colony that blew up, and she crash-landed on different planets. Then I let my friends play it and see the story unfold.”
- “No story.”
- “But without a storyline, or any real help on how to play the game, it's very annoying.”
- “Starmade is everything you want in an epic sci-fi space builder sim, minus the shiny graphics and story.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a significant source of frustration, with many players finding the resource gathering, crafting, and ship building processes tedious and time-consuming. While some aspects, like mining, are manageable, the overall experience is often marred by a lack of rewarding progression and cumbersome mechanics, leading to a mixed reception regarding the game's engagement level. Players express a desire for improvements to streamline these processes and enhance enjoyment.
- “Survival was especially grindy for me and I could never get into the game no matter how hard I tried.”
- “And for crafting/getting resources, it's tedious and grindy especially if you get a large ore haul and try to sell it but can only give each store around 4.5k ore before it's completely stocked on it.”
- “I was going to do a big writeup effort post stepping through the giant leaps of logic a new player would need to make through the massively tedious first 5 hours of play, but I reconsidered.”
music
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
61%
9%
The game's music aspect has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over the lack of a proper soundtrack and sound effects, which detracts from the overall experience. While some enjoy playing with their own music playlists, others find the absence of in-game audio leaves the atmosphere feeling bland and unengaging. Overall, there is a strong consensus that the game needs significant improvements in its audio design to enhance gameplay.
- “The music to go with it is excellently well-timed to the gestalt shifts normal when trying to play a space sim as a member of a faction responsible for awareness on an intergalactic scale.”
- “And I love this game so much; the trailer gives the game a boss perspective, and the music is boss too.”
- “[b] Sound 6.7/10 [/b] Not any background music yet, it leaves a lot of atmosphere out, but setting up a simple chillstep playlist on YouTube makes it fantastic as you play.”
- “This game has been in development for so long yet it still doesn't even have sound effects or music.”
- “Other problems are that the game has no soundtrack, so prepare with a playlist of your own or be bored quickly.”
- “But overall it's just a mess; you don't know what to do, and with the lack of interesting sounds and music, you can't even bring yourself to play the game for more than 5 minutes. It's awful.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing glitches, such as AI malfunctions and comical ship crashes, which contribute to a lighthearted experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke laughter through its quirky mechanics and community interactions, making it a fun choice in early access. Overall, the humor is a significant draw, with many users finding the game's funny elements to be a key part of its charm.
- “Ai is hilariously glitchy at times.”
- “It's a really good and very funny game for early access.”
- “Some funny bugs though, a trade guild convoy of about 5 ships crashed into a planet and was stuck.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of emotional experiences with the game, ranging from frustration due to gameplay mechanics, such as erratic trader ships and lag, to poignant personal memories that evoke deep feelings. While some find it difficult to become emotionally invested in their creations due to these frustrations, others recall significant life moments that resonate with the game's themes, highlighting a complex emotional landscape.
- “I was about 10 years old when my mother said to him, "if you ever want to see your grandchildren graduate, you have to stop immediately." Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “Landed on another ice planet, built a dome, wrong color lighting made me feel like I was always under attack.”
- “I would recommend this game, as I’ve been playing it since it first came out (before Steam), but the frustration of constantly being rammed into by trader ships makes this game heartbreakingly difficult to play.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The atmosphere in the game is criticized for its minimal effects, particularly on planets where it fails to create a convincing immersive experience, as the atmospheric visuals do not extend to the horizon. Players also note issues with orientation in space and low mouse sensitivity, which detracts from gameplay. However, some users found moments of awe when first entering a planet's atmosphere, suggesting that while the overall execution is lacking, there are glimpses of potential beauty.
- “I was absolutely stunned the first time I entered the atmosphere of my first planet and took a look at the amazing creation before me.”
- “Setting up a simple chillstep playlist on YouTube makes it fantastic as you play, even though there isn't any background music yet, which leaves a lot of atmosphere out.”
- “There is an atmosphere in the vacuum of space that makes you feel like you're constantly fighting to get oriented the right way.”
- “The atmosphere effects are very minimal and poorly executed when on a planet; even during noon on a normal-sized planet, the atmosphere doesn't reach the horizon, breaking the immersion of the planet entirely.”
- “Get ready to notice that the developers haven't quite figured out the difference between 'breaking' and 'braking' - which is probably the least of their grammar, English, and general text formatting errors. There is an atmosphere in the vacuum of space, but you'll constantly find yourself fighting to get oriented the right way due to the developers forcing an up and down orientation in space (because logic doesn't apply here), and the mouse sensitivity is insanely low by default (I have it set around 1.3; it starts at 0.5).”
- “As for the actual gameplay, you mostly find yourself wandering aimlessly and taking a long time (due to the aforementioned 'the vacuum of space, now with ∞% more atmosphere') to get somewhere to do something so that you can make your tiny ship a little bigger, and continue rinsing and repeating.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of "Starmade" has been criticized for deceptive advertising, with players noting a significant discrepancy between the game's promotional materials and its actual content. One user successfully obtained a refund after extensive playtime, citing misleading elements in the trailer that violated Australian advertising laws.
- “Interesting advertisement for this game: less weapons and abilities for your ships than ever before... wow!”
- “I was able to refund the game after 500 hours played because I told Steam that the trailer for this game constituted deceptive advertising under Australian law (the trailer had sounds and such not present in the actual game) and Steam agreed.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players find the game highly replayable and addictive, especially after experiencing improvements like new tutorials in the demo. Many are so impressed that they are motivated to purchase the game again, despite it still being in development.
- “One of the most addictive, replayable games I've come across in years... and it's not even finished.”
- “But, after getting back into the new demo and the game, it was a lot more playable with the new tutorials and features, enough to make me buy the game again.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate a strong dissatisfaction with the character design, describing it as unattractive and poorly executed, which detracts from the overall character development experience.