StarMade

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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

Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,700 reviews

gameplay59 positive mentions

stability75 negative mentions

The game offers extensive ship-building mechanics, allowing players to create anything from small drones to massive capital ships.
The logic system and automation features provide depth and creativity, enabling players to design complex systems and contraptions.
The developers are active and responsive to community feedback, regularly releasing updates and improvements.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer, leading to lag and crashes.
The learning curve is steep, with a lack of clear tutorials and documentation, making it difficult for new players to get started.
Many players feel the game has stagnated in development, with core mechanics being changed frequently, leading to frustration and a loss of interest.

gameplay
205 mentions
29 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this game is characterized by a mix of innovative shipbuilding mechanics and significant challenges, including a steep learning curve and convoluted controls. While many players appreciate the depth and potential for creativity, frustrations arise from clunky mechanics, frequent bugs, and a lack of clear direction or tutorial support. Overall, the game offers a unique sandbox experience but suffers from inconsistencies and a sense of abandonment in its development.
- “Player ship mechanics are brilliant, in a way that makes it easy to build something that works, but challenging to make it work well, and even more difficult to optimize, so there is always room for improvement.”
- “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 building mechanics are actually pretty good, allowing for advanced building tools such as symmetry planes, adjustable brush sizes, and various display options.”
- “While not game-breaking, the contradictions in its mechanics have held the game back from its true potential.”
- “The game is confusing to start out in; there's no real in-game tutorial, and there's no sense of direction.”
- “There are so few things you can find in this universe that you can count all the different, unique things in this 'endless' universe with your fingers, and they are all effectively backdrops with little to no gameplay associated with them.”
graphics
114 mentions
23 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the voxel-based aesthetics and the creative freedom it offers, while others criticize the overall polish and performance, particularly on lower-end systems. Many comparisons are made to games like Space Engineers and Minecraft, highlighting that while the graphics may not be as advanced, they still provide a unique charm for fans of block-building mechanics. However, issues with compatibility, especially on Intel graphics cards, and a lack of detailed graphical options have led to frustration among users.
- “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.”
- “The graphics are crappy, the NPCs are horrible, the tutorial is buggy and crap, the chat system is bad and the UI feels like that of a prototype.”
stability
75 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
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 lack of updates and optimization, leading to a perception of the game as an unfinished and buggy experience, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some acknowledge the potential for fun and creativity, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's technical issues make it difficult to recommend without a high tolerance for frustration.
- “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.”
- “Good luck marketing your game 1-2 years down the line when it has a 6-year reputation of being a buggy broken mess.”
optimization
65 mentions
5 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a significant concern among users, with many reporting severe performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware and during complex scenarios like large battles or planet loading. While some players have noted improvements with recent updates, the consensus is that the game still suffers from bugs and inefficiencies that hinder the overall experience. Frequent updates are appreciated, but many feel that the game remains unoptimized and can be unplayable at times, especially for those with less powerful systems.
- “The developers may have fixed optimization for Mac for some bugs, but it still falls flat.”
- “Updates are rather frequent (once a month or so) and often include either performance and optimization tweaks or new content.”
- “Being early access, there still needs to be quite a bit of polishing up, but with each update there has been very noticeable optimization of performance.”
- “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 are some very serious issues with performance when it comes to loading planets... like game dropping out issues, even when everything is turned to low it still does not help.”
story
36 mentions
17 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
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 feel that the absence of a compelling storyline and quest system detracts from the experience, especially for those seeking a more immersive single-player adventure. However, some players appreciate the freedom to craft their own stories and anticipate future updates that may introduce more content and role-playing elements.
- “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 be about a woman who's 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 out.”
- “No story, no any content.”
- “But without a storyline, or any real help on how to play the game, it's very annoying.”
- “Don't buy this game if you require game developers to create a story for you to follow.”
grinding
22 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, particularly in terms of resource gathering, crafting, and combat. While some appreciate the potential for creativity in shipbuilding and the ease of acquiring resources, many feel that the learning curve and repetitive tasks detract from the overall enjoyment. Improvements in AI, crafting systems, and user interface could enhance the experience and reduce the grind.
- “Survival was especially grindy for me and I could never get into the game no matter how hard I tried.”
- “The game's difficulty and complexity took a sharp turn to where some people were confused by it and for others it became tedious.”
- “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.”
music
17 mentions
29 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's music aspect has received largely negative feedback, with many players noting the absence of sound effects and a proper soundtrack, which detracts from the overall experience. While some users suggest creating their own playlists to enhance gameplay, the lack of integrated music is seen as a significant oversight that leaves the game feeling bland and incomplete. Overall, players express a strong desire for the developers to add music to improve immersion and atmosphere.
- “All in all, a fun game to play on your own with some music or with a small group of friends.”
- “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.”
- “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
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often derived from its quirky glitches and bugs, such as AI malfunctions and absurd ship designs that lead to comically underpowered creations. Players find the community's reactions and the game's funny reviews to be entertaining, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience. Despite some technical issues, the game's humor shines through in its unexpected moments and creative gameplay mechanics.
- “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
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of frustration and emotional depth in their experiences with the game. While some struggle with gameplay mechanics that lead to feelings of heartbreak and difficulty, others reflect on personal memories and the emotional weight of their in-game creations, highlighting a complex relationship with the game's environment and their own histories.
- “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.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is criticized for its minimal and poorly executed effects, particularly on planets where it fails to create a convincing immersive experience. Players note issues with orientation in space and low mouse sensitivity, which detracts from gameplay. However, some users appreciate the stunning visuals upon entering a planet's atmosphere, suggesting that with the right background music, the experience can be enhanced.
- “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.”
- “The vacuum of space, now with ∞% more atmosphere, creates a unique experience as you wander aimlessly and take your time exploring.”
- “The atmosphere effects are very minimal 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 in the first place.”
- “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 in space, which defies logic.”
- “You mostly find yourself wandering aimlessly and taking a long time to get somewhere to do something, which detracts from the overall experience.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of "Starmade" has been criticized for deceptive advertising, with users noting a significant disparity between the game's promotional materials and its actual content, leading some to successfully obtain refunds despite extensive playtime.
- “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
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable, with many noting its addictive nature and improved playability due to new tutorials. The positive experiences have even led some to repurchase the game, indicating strong engagement and a desire to revisit the content.
- “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.”
- “One of the most addictive, replayable games I've come across in years... and it's not even finished.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The character development in the game has been criticized for its unattractive character design, which detracts from the overall engagement and connection players may feel towards the characters.
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired.”
- “There is a lack of meaningful growth for the characters throughout the game.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any emotional connection.”