The Crust

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"The Crust" is a single-player game with an intriguing story and outstanding game mechanics that allow you to mine lunar resources, automate production, and explore the moon's secrets. However, be prepared for grinding, poor optimization, and numerous bugs. The game also offers resource trading with Earth, colonist management, and research advancements.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 816 reviews

story53 positive mentions

stability47 negative mentions

The game has a unique blend of factory building and colony management, reminiscent of games like Factorio and Surviving Mars.
The graphics and soundtrack are well-designed, creating an engaging atmosphere for players.
The developers are responsive and actively working on bug fixes and improvements, showing commitment to the game's development.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable.
The tutorial and early game mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion and potential soft locks in progression.
The pacing of the game is often slow, with many players experiencing downtime and waiting for resources or research to complete.

story
285 mentions
19 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of engaging hard sci-fi elements and worldbuilding, but it suffers from pacing issues and poorly balanced missions that can lead to frustration. Players appreciate the potential for a compelling narrative and the variety of quests, yet many find the time-sensitive tasks overwhelming and the overall execution lacking polish, often resulting in soft locks and unclear objectives. While the sandbox mode offers a more enjoyable experience, the story mode shows promise but requires significant improvements to its mechanics and clarity.
- “The story is good hard sci-fi with a lot of worldbuilding.”
- “You can tell there is a lot of heart in this game, and I think there are gameplay and storytelling elements that are unique and interesting.”
- “Awesome factory game with a great story!”
- “The story is boring and makes no sense.”
- “The story has you making critical choices without any info on what the various options are going to mean, with missions that are downright impossible to complete without save/load.”
- “You are asked to provide hundreds of resources and focus the research on missions, but they give you so little time you can't build the infrastructure needed to accomplish those missions.”
gameplay
131 mentions
27 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is described as engaging and fun, featuring a solid core loop of building and resource management with unique mechanics that set it apart from other titles in the genre. However, players note that it suffers from bugs, incomplete features, and poorly explained mechanics, which can lead to frustration and a steep learning curve. While the game shows promise and has a captivating atmosphere, it requires further refinement and balancing to enhance the overall experience.
- “The game has the kind of hard sci-fi elements I love, and the gameplay truly feels incredibly solid compared to the giants in the factory builder genre.”
- “The gameplay is engaging and fun, especially for fans of city builders and colony sims.”
- “A refreshing take on the factory genre, with an actual campaign, cinematics, meaningful choices, and a surprising amount of polish all around, alongside some new concepts and mechanics that I haven't seen before in factory games.”
- “The gameplay isn't the issue; the unfinished state is.”
- “Game is not balanced and its milestones are unrealistic making gameplay not fun.”
- “Several of the game mechanics are flawed or incomplete.”
music
58 mentions
57 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. While some users noted issues with copyright claims for streamers, the soundtrack is often described as a standout feature that justifies the game's price. Overall, the sound design and music contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, making it a memorable aspect for players.
- “I have to say, the music in this game is worth playing it for; it sets the tone and pace nicely and the sound quality speaks to the quality of the rest of the game.”
- “The soundtrack is brilliant and creates the right atmosphere.”
- “The sound and music perfectly complement the game's atmosphere.”
- “You've probably read other reviews at this point, and there will be a point where you think to yourself, 'there's no way the soundtrack alone is worth the asking price of this game.'”
- “Very good game if you like resource management, but it has its annoyances like not being very clear on how to do things. One more thing is there are a grand total of 4 music tracks, so be prepared to hear the same tracks going round and round like a broken record. I hope they add more in the future, as this is one reason I keep putting it down as it gets annoying.”
- “The music for the game is kind of meh, as it almost sounds like the same music from Surviving Mars, which is fine because it's not bad, but it doesn't really fit the atmosphere or vibe of the game 100%.”
graphics
52 mentions
38 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the solid visuals, appealing aesthetics, and good detail in certain elements like machines and animations. However, some users criticize the graphics for being simplistic or reminiscent of older titles, and there are reports of performance issues, particularly with save loading and graphical settings. Overall, while the game features a visually appealing design, it lacks the depth and polish expected in modern titles.
- “I love this game and I've spent a lot of time on it; the graphics are beautiful, and the concept and storyline of the game are very well put together.”
- “The graphics are solid, providing a clear and visually appealing experience.”
- “Graphics: very good (good style, lots of details).”
- “Graphically, the game lacks a lot of detail.”
- “Graphics from early 2000s and very short discovery tree.”
- “It seems that the primary focus has been on aesthetics and marketing, with many sponsored YouTube videos, but the overall quality is severely lacking due to constant crashes.”
stability
49 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and performance issues that hinder gameplay. While some players acknowledge the potential and fun aspects of the game, they emphasize that it remains too buggy for a satisfying experience, especially in its early access state. Frequent patches are being released, but many feel that the game is still in a rough, unpolished condition, leading to frustration and recommendations to wait for further development before purchasing.
- “So much content already, and while not entirely bug-free, I've yet to encounter one that breaks the game in any way.”
- “That said, it is an EA game, is not bug-free, and is not complete... I believe many of the negative comments are related to higher than EA expectations.”
- “Unfortunately, the amount of bugs, glitches, and errors doesn't allow me to recommend it.”
- “However, the main issue is that, despite frequent patches, it remains a buggy mess, even for an early access game.”
- “It is too buggy, laggy, and unpolished at this point.”
optimization
29 mentions
10 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
28 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with many players reporting significant performance issues, especially in mid to late game, where frame rates can drop considerably. While some users experience stable performance and minimal bugs, others highlight a lack of essential quality-of-life features and optimization for large-scale factory management. Developers are actively addressing these concerns with regular updates, but the overall consensus is that the game remains unoptimized and requires further improvements.
- “However, the game runs smoothly and I haven't encountered major bugs.”
- “But the developer hits up every week with a performance patch, bug fixes, and improvements to make the game stable and fun to play.”
- “Performance is stable, with only one crash in 13 hours of play, and the developers are quick to address any issues.”
- “Still quite rough around the edges, it's missing a lot of basics like most hotkeys, altering setups without deconstruction, more transparency on resources, performance issues, and a brickload of quality of life improvements.”
- “The endgame performance is also not good; my frames started to drop and I have a high-end machine.”
- “At this stage, it is very unoptimized, with some work yet to be done (especially bugs and colonist management, and late game optimization).”
atmosphere
11 mentions
64 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its haunting and lonely vibes, effectively complemented by a brilliant soundtrack that includes both instrumental tracks and audio snippets from real-world missions. While some players find the music reminiscent of other titles, the overall ambiance is considered engaging and fitting for the game's setting, enhancing the player's experience. Regular updates have also contributed positively to the atmosphere, leaving players with a fond impression despite initial reservations.
- “The soundtrack is brilliant and creates the right atmosphere.”
- “Mostly, I really love the atmosphere of this game - it gives off lonely, haunting vibes, which are perfect for the setting.”
- “The sound and music perfectly complement the game's atmosphere.”
- “In short, this game has similar mechanics to Dyson Sphere Program with less scale, with the atmosphere of Per Aspera.”
- “I gave it a negative review at first, but every time I look at this game in my library, I remember the atmosphere and music and, all in all, look back on it fondly - and updates are coming in regularly and helping with a lot of the things I disliked.”
- “Whether it's the pure instrumental tracks, the audio snippets from real-world missions (I'm pretty sure the infamous, 'Houston, we have a problem' from the Apollo 13 mission is there), or the tracks with vocals, they all help set the atmosphere.”
replayability
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the randomized elements that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find the current state of the game—filled with bugs and issues—detracts from the overall experience. Many reviewers suggest that improvements are needed for a more enjoyable and replayable experience, but some still see potential for optimization and varied strategies in future sessions. Overall, the game's early access status significantly impacts its replayability, with many players waiting for further updates before fully endorsing it.
- “Replayability certainly exists since the map randomizes the node locations in every new game on sandbox and I think campaign.”
- “This may not be apparent on your first playthrough, but it encourages replayability as you try to optimize your approach.”
- “- good replayability”
- “I don't think that this has any replayability in it.”
- “Sandbox play is identical to the tutorial campaign, so there is no replayability.”
- “Granted the game is more playable than Kerbal 2, but it seems like a lot of the core is not working properly, which is not easily fixed, and until then, this game only leaves frustrations as you get longer into the game.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the early game pacing is enjoyable, the mid game suffers from excessive grinding, making it tedious and frustrating. Players find the economic and contracting systems cumbersome, with manual tasks like base building and production management becoming repetitive and limiting. Overall, the current state of the game requires significant improvements to alleviate the grind.
- “Therefore the mid game is very tedious at times.”
- “I know it's early days, but it quickly became tedious as well as frustrating for the things that don't work or sometimes work.”
- “Also, filling containers for shipments is very tedious.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by overdramatic music and amusing achievements, such as "now the fun begins" after the tutorial. While many players find the humor entertaining, some express frustration with specific character dialogue, particularly Alice's style of humor. Overall, the humor resonates well with those familiar with similar games, despite some mixed opinions.
- “The music in this game is hilariously overdramatic, as a handful of drones move bricks around the moon.”
- “How funny that after finishing the tutorial, you get the achievement 'Now the Fun Begins.'”
- “Yes, this game is funny.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express a desire for more emotionally engaging storylines that delve into themes of race, survival, and nationalism, rather than the typical corporate conflicts. They feel that the current narrative lacks depth and fails to captivate players, leading to a less immersive experience. Overall, there is a call for a more compelling emotional connection within the game's storyline.
- “I prefer a more exaggerated and emotionally engaging storyline, instead of a bland, generic mega corporation versus mega corporation narrative.”
- “The story could be more emotionally engaging to the player than the basic 'Amazon vs Microsoft' type of generic mega corporation conflict.”
monetization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its honest approach to monetization, featuring no deceptive microtransactions, which enhances the overall player experience.
- “An honest game with no BS microtransactions.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel exploitative.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without pushing for additional purchases.”
- “The game is riddled with aggressive monetization tactics that ruin the experience.”
- “I feel like I can't enjoy the game without being bombarded by constant prompts to spend money.”
- “The pay-to-win elements are frustrating and make it hard to compete without shelling out cash.”