Starstruck Vagabond

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In "Starstruck Vagabond," a story-driven work/life simulator, players maintain a spaceship and deliver cargo between star systems. After awakening from a 2000-year sleep, the protagonist assembles a crew and becomes entangled in a conflict involving a ominous purple egg and two warring factions. With a Stardew Valley-inspired approach, players will forge relationships, manage their ship, and uncover new purposes in this unknown galaxy.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 437 reviews

story64 positive mentions

grinding37 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive gameplay loop that keeps players coming back for more.
Witty and humorous writing that adds charm and personality to the game.
Well-designed character interactions and crew member stories that enhance the overall experience.

Repetitive tasks and missions can lead to a sense of monotony over time.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as inventory management and crew interactions, can feel clunky and frustrating.
The game may lack depth in certain areas, leading to a feeling of emptiness in the world and story.

story
295 mentions
22 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story in the game is characterized by Yahtzee Croshaw's signature humor and engaging writing, with individual crew member narratives often being the standout feature. While the main plot offers some fun moments and intriguing themes, many players found it poorly paced, with significant stretches of gameplay feeling repetitive and grindy, leading to a sense of frustration. Overall, the writing is well-received, but the story's impact is diminished by the gameplay loop, which can detract from the narrative experience.
- “The story is interesting and funny, but it's sometimes too spaced and I would like it to be more present in the moment-to-moment gameplay.”
- “The writing is amazing and I can't wait to see how the story unfolds.”
- “The story kept me interested, the upgrades kept me working towards something the whole game, and the pacing was surprisingly pretty good.”
- “The story is basically a few minigames thrown together with a very light narrative and systems management.”
- “I was hoping to get into this one, but the gameplay loop is just tedious chores and even more tedious missions.”
- “The overarching plot is padded and empty, and worse is the setting.”
gameplay
210 mentions
35 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title features a core loop centered around ship maintenance and cargo delivery, which many players find addictive and relaxing, akin to a "cozy" experience. However, it suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of variety, leading to feelings of tedium over time. While the writing and character interactions are praised for their humor and charm, the gameplay mechanics often feel underdeveloped, resulting in a mixed reception overall.
- “The core gameplay loop is solid and entertaining, the pixel art is pleasant and colorful, and the music is excellent.”
- “Fun and addictive gameplay loop, gives me the vibes of Stardew Valley but in space.”
- “The gameplay loop is relaxing and satisfying.”
- “The gameplay was starting to get very repetitive.”
- “The core gameplay loop of hauling boxes around felt repetitive after a while, and there was a lot of slogging through same-y deliveries/rescues/planets before you got the next drip of story.”
- “Unfortunately, the core gameplay loop got old fast, the pacing feels very slow, and while the writing is quite good, you don't actually encounter it that often.”
humor
84 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its sharp wit and engaging writing, characteristic of Yahtzee's style, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. While many find the dialogue and character interactions to be highlights, some note that humor can become repetitive over time. Overall, the blend of absurdity, clever references, and emotional depth contributes to a fun and entertaining experience, making it a standout feature for fans of the genre.
- “The writing is very witty and funny (as Yahtzee is most known for) and the story moments and character interactions are all a delightful addition to the core gameplay.”
- “Genuinely funny writing (not just snort a little bit of air out your nose funny, but actually laughing funny) engaging and fun gameplay and a lovely soundtrack that's already stuck in my head.”
- “The character interactions, humor, and overall dialogue are where Yahtzee’s signature style truly shines.”
- “This guy has been an abrasive, unfunny jerk and no help whatsoever since the day I met him.”
music
58 mentions
52 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its soothing and enjoyable qualities that enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques highlight its repetitiveness, which can detract from the enjoyment during extended gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its cozy atmosphere and engaging gameplay.
- “The music is soothing as you do the little tasks.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing; this is the first time I ever sat and listened to a title song all the way through.”
- “Genuinely funny writing, engaging and fun gameplay, and a lovely soundtrack that's already stuck in my head.”
- “The music is repetitive.”
- “For a game this big, you need to give it a solid soundtrack because you're gonna be doing a lot of repetitive tasks, and if the soundtrack isn't dynamic, it reminds you of the tedium you're doing and the game isn't fun anymore.”
- “The bad - while I did mostly enjoy the soundtrack, it often was extremely repetitive.”
grinding
38 mentions
8 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding the repetitive tasks and missions tedious and lacking in variety. While some appreciate the initial fun of the gameplay loop, it quickly becomes monotonous, leading to frustration over the lack of meaningful progression and engaging content. Overall, the grind feels excessive and unfulfilling, making it a significant barrier for those seeking a more dynamic gaming experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but ultimately satisfying.”
- “I was hoping to get into this one, but the gameplay loop is just tedious chores and even more tedious missions.”
- “You will spend the first half of the game repeatedly grinding the same missions over and over in a completely lifeless universe with absolutely nothing interesting to see.”
- “The game gets way too grindy too fast with the tasks not being nearly rewarding or fun enough to let me zen out like in other 'dad' games.”
graphics
31 mentions
19 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, cartoony pixel art style that effectively communicates gameplay mechanics, though opinions vary on their overall appeal. While some players appreciate the nostalgic 2D aesthetic and find it fitting for the game's tone, others criticize the visuals as muddy and lacking in variety compared to other indie titles. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose but are often noted as the weakest aspect of the game, overshadowed by its engaging writing and gameplay.
- “The basic visuals and cartoony sprites really set the tone straight out of the gate.”
- “Fantastic pixel artwork.”
- “The graphics are both pretty and effective for communicating the mechanics of the game.”
- “All the planets are the same and the graphics are uh... well, let's just say that 'Seven Days a Stranger' has better looks.”
- “The graphics are muddy and indistinct, and big, blown-up detail shots are few, far between, and just not impressive.”
- “Though I’m not solely driven by graphics, the lack of refinement here is noticeable.”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its compelling narrative and well-developed characters, leading to a genuinely emotional experience, particularly highlighted by impactful moments such as the loss of a crew member. Players appreciate the blend of humor and emotion in the writing, as well as the heartwarming personal storylines that hint at deeper connections. The soundtrack further enhances the emotional depth, with both uplifting and poignant tracks that complement key events in the game.
- “The crew members are all brilliant, even the controversial Magu-chan, while the story is compelling and leads up to a genuinely emotional ending.”
- “Losing Melinda to the crew death on my first save dealt an emotional blow that I really wasn't ready for and actually makes me still sad about it to this day.”
- “The writing goes above and beyond what I could expect, being both funny and emotional.”
stability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, players report a largely stable experience with minimal bugs, particularly praising the game's performance and controls. However, some users have encountered random glitches, especially related to procedural generation, though the developers are actively addressing these issues with timely patches.
- “I've put in 41 hours as of finishing the game and had a mostly bug-free experience.”
- “It runs great and the gamepad controls are fantastic.”
- “There are also some random bugs and glitches, mostly related to weird unforeseen stuff happening with the procedural generation that can break some story cutscenes, but the developer has been patching these at a wildly rapid pace. I mentioned a bug I had on Discord, didn't even ping him directly, and he @ me with a fix in under an hour.”
- “Bugs and glitches are what ultimately sank this game for me.”
- “I put 20-30 hours into Landlord Super, an extremely buggy game where you literally build houses brick by painstaking brick.”
replayability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
While some games claim "infinite replayability" through procedural generation, this often falls short if the underlying logic isn't robust. However, titles similar to Stardew Valley offer significant replay value due to multiple progression paths and diverse companion NPCs, ensuring players won't experience everything in a single playthrough. Additionally, engaging systems and dialogue hunting further enhance replayability.
- “A charming sim in the same vein as Stardew Valley, with multiple progression paths and various companion NPCs. You won't see everything in one playthrough, which provides some nice replay value.”
- “There's a lot of replay value with system hunting and dialogue options.”
- “There is a lot of replay value with the different systems and hunting dialogues.”
- “The game lacks significant replayability; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to return.”
- “While the initial playthrough is enjoyable, the lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”
optimization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is well-received, with players noting smooth performance and the absence of bugs or glitches. The design encourages strategic planning for resource management, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “Seems pretty optimized and I never came across a bug or glitch.”
- “Optimization is the name of the game, ordering things needed for the next 2-3 areas you're visiting and making sure you have a delivery job that goes to those areas.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently highlight the game's atmosphere as a standout feature, praising its immersive music, engaging writing, and well-developed characters, which collectively enhance the overall gameplay experience. Many express a deep emotional connection to the atmosphere, contributing to their enjoyment and investment in the game.
- “But for me, the gameplay and atmosphere felt more rewarding in that game.”
- “Only six hours in and I am in love with the music, atmosphere, writing, characters, and gameplay.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is viewed as sincere rather than exploitative, with reviewers indicating that it doesn't feel like a cash grab, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I appreciate the effort put into the game, but the constant push for in-game purchases really detracts from the overall experience.”
- “While the game has potential, the reliance on microtransactions makes it feel more like a money-making scheme than a genuine gaming experience.”