Stellar Tactics

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,090 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Stellar Tactics Game Cover
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"Stellar Tactics" is a turn-based space combat and exploration game with classless character progression and customizable squads. The game features 160,000 Star Systems, 40 ships, and various equipment items that can be upgraded with Nano-Tech. Players can mine asteroids, trade commodities, capture ships, and engage in ground battles against hostile forces. The game also includes classless character progression with 240 perks for unrestricted customization.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,090 reviews
story115 positive mentions
grinding58 negative mentions
  • story558 mentions

    The game's story is described as a mix of intriguing elements and typical sci-fi tropes, with players experiencing a blend of scripted missions and sandbox gameplay. While some find the narrative engaging and well-written, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth, particularly in the mission structure. Overall, the story shows potential for development, but many players feel it currently takes a backseat to the gameplay mechanics and exploration aspects.

    • “The story is interesting though I'm pretty early into it.”
    • “The dialogue and story are well written, combat is fun, reminds me of Wasteland 2 and similar turn-based RPGs but I do have a feeling it'll get better later on.”
    • “The story is engaging, but beware reading is essential (if you are of the tl:dr ilk, it is text heavy).”
    • “Too much sandbox, not enough story for me.”
    • “For me, this game has one big and overwhelming problem: the ground missions are way too long while being utterly uninteresting in terms of tactics and variety.”
    • “The story is a typical sci-fi staple.”
  • gameplay199 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its unique blend of tactical combat and exploration mechanics, reminiscent of classic titles like XCOM and Fallout. However, criticisms highlight issues such as a tedious gameplay loop, lack of variety in biomes and enemy types, and clunky mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. While the game shows promise with its ambitious scope and depth, it is still in early access and requires further refinement to enhance player engagement and reduce repetitiveness.

    • “Currently, I'm 80 hours into gameplay and I have not even done much in the story because there is so much to do.”
    • “This game is why indie is better than AAA, mechanical depth and player choice over fancy graphics and shallow gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is a nice mix between XCOM and Starpoint Gemini; you travel between planets/star systems in your spaceship fighting real-time battles and fight through ground encounters with your chosen squad members in turn-based battles.”
    • “The 'carrot' to chase and grind for is also not enticing enough; the balance of time invested vs what you get in return feels off, with a lot of unnecessary tedium involved in the gameplay loop at the moment.”
    • “It's a shame really - if development had focused a lot more on making the core gameplay loop and character progress more engaging (rather than increasing the scope and storyline) it would have been a very solid title for those who enjoy open world space-themed games.”
    • “The gameplay is limited to the prologue of the story and free roam in one star system.”
  • graphics112 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting that they appear outdated and reminiscent of older titles, often describing them as basic or even poor. However, some players appreciate the improvements made in recent updates, highlighting sharper visuals and smoother animations, particularly in space travel and combat. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are deemed serviceable and suitable for the game's indie nature, with some players finding them enjoyable despite their limitations.

    • “The visuals and character movements have gotten sharper and smoother, as have the little details like reflections and different burst fires from different weapons.”
    • “The graphics and world assets are solid and particularly impressive given that one person is developing this game.”
    • “The graphics are fantastic and suit the game extremely well.”
    • “The graphics are outdated.”
    • “Unfortuately, I got this game based on all the reviews but what no one mentioned was the graphics look like they are from 2005 and the special effects of weapons etc. were horrible. I got through about 40 minutes of the tutorial and the graphics and sound effects were so dated I couldn't continue.”
    • “The graphics looked half bad back then, but now, half a decade later, they look fully bad.”
  • grinding58 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in combat and crafting. While some appreciate the incremental progression and the RPG elements of grinding, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to a monotonous experience. Overall, the game is characterized by a significant amount of grinding that can feel overwhelming, especially for those seeking a more dynamic gameplay experience.

    • “The game has great promise, but as it is now lacks goal and gets repetitive and grindy.”
    • “Sadly, that's all this game has to offer, a game loop that's one long grindy confusing slog.”
    • “Most ground battles feel tedious and like surface filler.”
  • stability46 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly during loading and combat. While some players have experienced relatively few issues, the consensus is that the game remains unfinished and requires significant polish to address its numerous stability problems. Overall, it is seen as a playable early access title, but players should be prepared for a buggy experience.

    • “The game seems to be bug-free at this point, or at least I haven't run into any that I've noticed.”
    • “Summary: a playable, relatively bug-free early access space game with squad turn-based ground combat and space flight and combat.”
    • “I understand that you don't write programs for free and I'm ready to support you with more money for additional fun after it's out of early access and reasonably bug-free if you create DLC to add brand new content.”
    • “The game is unfinished and very buggy.”
    • “In just 12 hours the game has totally crashed 4 times, and I have had glitches in the game as well - mobs appearing on top of you, items you can't get to, etc...”
    • “It seems like every other area you enter the loading screen freezes up, and I need to end task.”
  • music34 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as excellent and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience, while others find it repetitive and lacking in variety, particularly during combat. The title screen music is often highlighted as a standout, though some players describe it as reminiscent of "elevator music." Overall, while the composition is appreciated by many, there are concerns about its ability to maintain engagement during slower-paced segments of gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack is excellent and I have really been enjoying it.”
    • “Great storyline so far, good tutorial that runs you through everything, solid graphics, epic soundtrack.”
    • “Ground combat, lots of loot, haunting soundtrack, mining, trading, experience-driven skills and more to come like a hell of a lot of sectors to explore.”
    • “Menu music is glitching and skipping.”
    • “The music is low key boring.”
    • “The other thing that drove me nuts was the music in this game... it is like it is on a never-ending loop of cheap dreary sounds to the point I was getting depressed listening to it.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, largely due to its procedurally generated content and character progression systems. While some players noted that certain aspects, like combat tactics, can become repetitive, the potential for endless gameplay and future content updates keeps the replay value promising. Many users express confidence that as the game evolves, its replayability will only increase.

    • “Most of the content is procedurally generated (and in a good way), so there's really no limit to replayability value.”
    • “Character progression, variety, sound space and ground combat mechanics, unlimited replay value.”
    • “The game has plenty of depth and when it is finished it will have very high replayability value.”
    • “The battles were fun for a few hours until I realized there were no fatalities to my crew, and I started the same tactic every fight. I knew I would win the next fight, which wasn't a lot for replayability.”
    • “Overall, I'd say it's potentially a great game as long as future content is big enough (which from what I've seen should have no issues being so), and if done right should have a decent amount of replayability too.”
    • “I'm hoping more playable/party-ally species are in the game than what I've seen so far.”
  • character development15 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and flexibility, allowing players to mix and match skills to create unique characters. While some reviews note a slower progression and a desire for more options akin to XCOM, the overall experience is enhanced by a strong storyline and well-structured systems that keep players engaged. The balance of tactical elements and character growth contributes to a rewarding gameplay experience, despite some clunky mechanics.

    • “The tutorial does a great job framing the world building and introducing the player to the game's mechanics, while the story includes a lot of unexpected twists and character developments.”
    • “The storyline is strong and well-written, and I think that this helps to make up for some of the rough edges when you first start playing; the overhead view is a little finicky, but with a little patience, you really can start to enjoy the action as your characters progress smoothly through the flexible character development engine that lets you mix-and-match skills easily.”
    • “Character development takes place through several separate systems.”
    • “Would like to see more character development options, akin to XCOM, where I can choose certain skills or other benefits to further make each character unique.”
    • “Turn-based combat and character development, and in general the quest structure are really basic, clunky, and janky.”
  • optimization13 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting sluggish performance, long loading times, and various stuttering issues. While a recent patch has improved stability and reduced crashes, many players still feel that the engine is unpolished and in need of further enhancements to graphics and interface for a smoother experience. Despite these challenges, some believe there is potential for improvement in future updates.

    • “I'm talking about better and more optimized graphics, many improvements in interface and more quality of life commands.”
    • “December patch included some performance improvements and has effectively eliminated any crashes/lock-ups for me.”
    • “It's definitely in need of some optimizations and tweaks, but for an early access title, there is definitely a great formula here.”
    • “The game optimization is not that good.”
    • “The whole engine is in very bad shape - sluggish, crashing, slow (loading times for this graphic level are unbelievable, the whole game can fit into GPU memory but it just loads and loads and loads everything all the time. It's so bad that even an M.2 SSD won't help here) unpolished and unoptimized = inefficient... long time since I've seen such bad work.”
    • “Game feels very unoptimized right now.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its brilliance and uniqueness, with players appreciating the immersive environments and engaging sound design. Many reviewers highlight that the game's atmosphere significantly enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature despite some gameplay challenges. Overall, the game's ability to create a compelling universe contributes greatly to its appeal.

    • “Everything else about the game is great; ground fights, space flight, music, and atmosphere are all really well done.”
    • “The atmosphere is brilliant.”
    • “The dev is making a universe of his own with a great feel to it and great atmosphere!”
    • “But as I continued to play, there was just something that kept getting in the way: the atmosphere.”
    • “If you prefer story and - later on - a huge amount of possibilities mixed with interesting, comfortable but also challenging gameplay or just like the more simple look and atmosphere, this may just become or already be your game.”
    • “Atmosphere: this is where I think the game shines the most for me so far.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its lightheartedness and self-awareness, with players appreciating the amusing quirks and grammatical errors that add to its charm. The writing effectively balances comedic elements with the overall narrative, contributing to a fun and engaging experience.

    • “Which led to the funny fact that now I visit the augmentation merchant before the reward vendor.”
    • “The grammar is atrocious (but to be honest, it tickles my funny bone seeing things like 'gun's' and 'medkit's'), and it kind of makes the game feel like it doesn't take itself too seriously.”
    • “Besides the story, the humor and the writing are fantastic.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Reviewers note that while the game presents a galaxy-wide adventure, it falls short in creating emotional connections with the characters, particularly the mercenaries. Additionally, technical issues like long load screens detract from the overall experience.

    • “It's just weird that with so many space opera books out there, there are so few developers touching that type of galaxy-wide adventure through the eyes of a handful of characters.”
    • “It does lack optimization specifically in the load screens, and I find that there isn't enough emotional connection with the mercenaries that you hire.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game stands out in an industry often criticized for exploitative monetization practices, as it prioritizes delivering a quality experience and ongoing value to players rather than resorting to cash grabs.

    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by ads and in-game purchases.”
    • “It's frustrating that the game locks essential features behind a paywall, forcing players to spend money to fully experience what it has to offer.”
    • “The constant push for microtransactions detracts from the overall gameplay experience, leaving a sour taste in what could have been a great game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

33hMedian play time
69hAverage play time
9-87hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 27 analyzed playthroughs

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