Startopia

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,223 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Startopia Game Cover
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Startopia is a humorous multi-player and single-player business real-time strategy game set in a once-thriving network of space stations. As a stationmaster, rebuild the network, attract alien races, manage their society, and terra-form the ecosystem in a fully functioning economy. With a unique 'Torus' play area, 16 habitable subsections, and multiplayer support for up to three other stationmasters, experience a daring escapade full of leisure, entertainment, and cunning battles.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,223 reviews
story62 positive mentions
grinding32 negative mentions
  • Startopia is a charming and humorous space station management game that combines elements of city-building and resource management.
  • The game features a unique biodeck mechanic that allows players to terraform environments and grow alien plants, adding depth to gameplay.
  • The voice acting and witty dialogue, particularly from the AI assistant VAL, enhance the overall experience and provide a delightful atmosphere.
  • The tutorial is poorly designed, providing minimal guidance on gameplay mechanics, which can lead to confusion for new players.
  • The combat system is clunky and lacks depth, often reducing battles to a numbers game rather than strategic engagement.
  • The game's interface can feel dated and cumbersome, especially at higher resolutions where text becomes difficult to read.
  • story304 mentions

    The game's story revolves around managing a space station and completing various missions for alien governments, with a mix of humor and engaging scenarios that introduce players to different gameplay mechanics. While the campaign consists of a limited number of missions that can feel repetitive, they are generally well-designed and provide a fun challenge, with a quirky narrative and memorable characters enhancing the experience. Overall, the missions serve as a solid foundation for gameplay, though some players wish for more content and variety in the storyline.

    • “The story missions are all fun little challenge scenarios like rehabilitate 100 prisoners, or accumulate 10,000 in cash from trading.”
    • “Every mission of the campaign explores one or more of the specialized rooms, starting with incredibly useful ones like the recycler (turns anything into energy) up to more advanced things such as the research lab and the bio deck which is used both as a place of meditation and relaxation, but also a place to grow plants you can harvest for resources to either research or sell to trade ships, including a recurring character, Arona Daal who often sells you items that he obtains in a suspicious manner.”
    • “The missions are entertaining and slowly introduce the mechanics of the game as well as this quirky galaxy and its denizens.”
    • “The last mission is the worst, which is basically a war mission; as stated before, combat is a very secondary feature.”
    • “The game's story feels short; the core game mechanic is well put together, but the campaign is short, and like the combat mechanic, feels it was an afterthought.”
    • “In terms of story and missions, the game is not that big of a deal - unless you go back to 2001 when this was incredibly different from other real-time strategy/management games.”
  • graphics194 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2001 release, but many players find them surprisingly serviceable and charming, with a unique aesthetic that holds up well over time. While some users note occasional glitches and limitations in resolution scaling, the overall visual style, characterized by colorful and cartoonish designs, is appreciated for its nostalgic value and engaging animations. Despite not meeting modern standards, the graphics contribute positively to the gameplay experience, especially for those who enjoy retro aesthetics.

    • “The graphics are basic polygon, but hold up remarkably well for its age, and the camera controls/zoom are excellent.”
    • “The graphics although slightly dated is still a blast to look at especially the biodeck and all the quirky animations that come from your droids and the varied races.”
    • “The basic 3D graphics have held up surprisingly well over the years, from picturesque views up the curves of your station to the little details on each of the aliens.”
    • “The graphics may seem a little dated, but they're very serviceable, and there's remarkably few bugs, except skreshers, of course.”
    • “The graphics are dated, as is expected.”
    • “The graphics tear periodically as the graphics engine tries to render and hits a snag in translating from the old style graphics code to the newer hardware requirements.”
  • gameplay190 mentions

    The gameplay of Startopia is a blend of strategic management and resource allocation, featuring innovative mechanics that were ahead of its time, particularly in its dynamic biodeck. While some players note dated controls and a lackluster tutorial, many appreciate the engaging humor, depth, and satisfying mechanics that keep them returning to the game despite its age. Overall, it offers a fun and nostalgic experience, especially for fans of classic management sims.

    • “Don't let its age fool you, Startopia is still a very good game with a grooving soundtrack, easy to pick up gameplay, and a lot of fun packaged within.”
    • “The gameplay is amazing and it also has funny jokes and references throughout.”
    • “The basic gameplay design is really clever, leading to a surprisingly fast-paced experience as you attempt to meet your goals.”
    • “Dated mechanics with a terrible tutorial makes this difficult to recommend 20+ years on from release.”
    • “I really want to like this game, but the controls, the building mechanic, and the absolutely terrible combat make it so bad.”
    • “I found the art too kitschy and the gameplay not that great to make the effort.”
  • humor164 mentions

    The humor in this game is widely praised for its dry, British wit and clever references to classic sci-fi, particularly reminiscent of Douglas Adams' style. Players appreciate the engaging voice acting and the comedic interactions with quirky alien characters, which contribute to a light-hearted and entertaining atmosphere. While some find the humor repetitive over time, the overall consensus is that it enhances the gameplay experience, making it a standout in the management sim genre.

    • “This game is an old classic - with the biggest draw for it being its dry, semi-dark wit-based humor and accompanying fantastic voice acting.”
    • “The humor is wonderful - straight out of Douglas Adams - and the computer and aliens are voiced well!”
    • “Startopia has a comical overtone, with lighthearted humor and cartoonish aliens that draws inspiration from and makes frequent references to mainstream science fiction, such as Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Red Dwarf, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.”
    • “This game is supposed to be funny.”
  • music76 mentions

    The music in the game receives a mixed reception, with many praising its catchy, funky soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, while others find it repetitive or annoying. Some players highlight the unique and relaxing qualities of the music, noting that it fits the game's atmosphere well, while a few admit to turning it off early on. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as memorable and integral to the game's charm, despite some varying opinions on its quality.

    • “Easily one of my favorite soundtracks to any video game of all time.”
    • “The music here is amazing - it's unlike any other soundtrack, and once you hear it you will recognize it instantly.”
    • “I owned this game on release and fell in love from the moment I played; the funky music, dry wit, incredible bio-deck, unique world shape, all of it.”
    • “The music is so bad I turned it off 15 minutes in.”
    • “The graphics are typical early-2000s, the music can get borderline annoying if you don't go up to the pleasure deck frequently to decompress, and those stupid meteors will blast through level three right through your ~love~ shop every.”
    • “I am one of those people that turns the music down/off as a first action.”
  • grinding32 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some elements, like resource farming and biodome management, can become tedious, they also provide rewarding benefits and a sense of immersion in the game's world. The balance between micromanagement and fun is generally well-maintained, allowing players to engage in various activities without the frustration of excessive grinding or microtransactions. Overall, the game offers a satisfying blend of strategy and management, though some players note that the RTS elements can feel repetitive at times.

    • “The RTS elements are probably the weakest point, not because it's bad but because it just gets tedious.”
    • “A lot of tedious micromanagement without many meaningful decisions.”
    • “It can become tedious but the benefits are good.”
  • atmosphere24 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its light-hearted, witty tone reminiscent of Monty Python and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," creating a unique and engaging experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor and creativity, allowing them to design imaginative space stations while enjoying a solid gameplay foundation. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's standout features, enhancing its appeal as a science fiction management title.

    • “The game is based around a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy feel, and it does an incredible job living in that atmosphere.”
    • “The game has a great atmosphere for what it does, and gives the player the ability to set up whatever space station concept they could ever dream up, with several examples being given in mission mode.”
    • “The game has a surprisingly witty atmosphere, something you expect from something developed in Europe with an amusing assistant that tries to believe he's perfect and you... are just you.”
    • “While the gameplay is a slightly challenging resource management with a dash of The Sims, the atmosphere and universe the game takes place in is what has always sold me on it.”
    • “Has an edge of Monty Python to its atmosphere.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game offers excellent replayability, particularly through its engaging sandbox mode, which allows for creative freedom and varied gameplay experiences. While the campaign missions are enjoyable, some players note that the fixed nature of the stages can limit replay value after completion. Nonetheless, the game's humor and well-developed alien races contribute to its lasting appeal, making it a timeless classic for simulation enthusiasts.

    • “All of the alien races feel fleshed out, the controls are nearly perfect, and the game has excellent replayability even as we approach its 20th anniversary.”
    • “Fun, clever, entertaining and very replayable, Startopia is one of a kind, a timeless classic that you will play over and over if you enjoy simulation games with a touch of science fiction and a good sense of humor.”
    • “The sandbox mode adds a lot of replayability to the game.”
    • “Unfortunately, as the stages are always exactly the same, there isn't too much replayability in Startopia.”
    • “Finally, after completing all ten missions, unless you're willing to use sandbox mode to make your own, the replay value of the game diminishes.”
    • “This game has some replayability, too.”
  • stability18 mentions

    The stability of the new remake of Spacebase Startopia is mixed; while some users report minor glitches and occasional freezing issues, many note that recent updates have significantly improved performance and reduced bugs. Overall, the game is generally stable and avoids the severe issues seen in other titles within the genre, providing a mostly smooth experience.

    • “With this new update, it now runs great.”
    • “It avoids so many of the usual pitfalls of the genre; there's no hidden rules that will make you wonder why your money is disappearing. The AI isn't terrible to the point it makes it harder to win, it's not buggy, it's not complicated but still somewhat challenging. Most of the buildings you can build are useful, and the different aliens are unique and have their own specialties. It even has the best camera controls.”
    • “It doesn't have the clearly incomplete and underdeveloped features of Spacebase DF-9, and it doesn't have the bugginess of some other early access games that tried to fill the gap that Spacebase left.”
    • “The new remake (Spacebase Startopia) is a half-baked, buggy, cash grab.”
    • “Freezes on startup, black screen with mouse icon.”
    • “Yes, gamer critics, there are errors and glitches.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed experience; while it effectively incorporates multiple alien species and their unique requirements, adding strategic depth, it also requires players to take significant steps to enhance performance, such as closing background applications. Additionally, the initial resolution of 640x480 may detract from the overall experience, but the engaging mechanics help balance the optimization challenges.

    • “It starts out telling you to close your email, web browser, and anti-virus to get the best performance, then boots up in 640x480.”
    • “The consideration of multiple alien species and their race-specific requirements layers additional strategy into the mix, and the need to hire these same aliens means you'll often be paying far more attention to them than the average builder game, frequently inquiring about how they're doing, and monitoring their performance if they've been employed.”
    • “But it works well, adding just enough of a disruptive factor to keep the game from being purely an optimization problem.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the absence of microtransactions, highlighting that players can fully enjoy the simulation experience without the pressure to grind for in-game currency. This approach allows for a more immersive and enjoyable gameplay experience.

    • “Plus, microtransactions hadn't been invented yet, so you can actually just enjoy the sim rather than grinding to get 'coins' or 'gems' or whatever.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

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Play time

40hMedian play time
54hAverage play time
23-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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