The Infinite Black

About

Fleet up with thousands of players in The Infinite Black -- The wildly popular online space combat and adventure game! Command massive spaceships, form powerful corporations, and battle it out in never-ending intergalactic warfare!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 175 reviews

atmosphere3 positive mentions

grinding26 negative mentions

The game is free to play and offers a good amount of achievements, making it enjoyable for achievement hunters.
It has a friendly community and encourages teamwork, especially through joining corporations for better gameplay experiences.
The gameplay is simple and easy to learn, making it accessible for new players, while still providing depth for those who invest time.

The game is heavily criticized for being pay-to-win, with veteran players dominating the gameplay and making it difficult for newcomers to compete.
There are significant issues with player behavior, including griefing and a toxic environment, which detracts from the overall experience.
The game lacks meaningful content and depth, often leading to repetitive gameplay and a grindy experience that can feel unrewarding.

grinding
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely acknowledged as a significant element, with many players noting that the early stages can be particularly tedious and time-consuming. While some find the grind rewarding and enjoy the social aspects of farming and combat, others criticize it for being mind-numbingly repetitive and lacking meaningful progression. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate extensive grinding, but it may deter players seeking a more dynamic or plot-driven experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “Starting out is slow and grindy.”
- “After grinding several hours to attempt to achieve a modicum of power that allows me to 'have fun', I realized that battles are effectively just the same thing over and over again except with ever slightly increasing numbers.”
- “Everything is time gated and extremely grindy, which would be excusable if it wasn't also mind-numbingly boring.”
gameplay
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
76%
12%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of simplicity in mechanics and complexity in strategy, allowing for various play styles and encouraging teamwork. While some players find it lacking in depth and immersion, others appreciate the cooperative elements and the gradual learning curve that enhances the experience over time. Overall, it is seen as a chill game suitable for casual play, though it may not satisfy those seeking intense or strategic gameplay.
- “Great graphics and very balanced gameplay.”
- “The mechanics of the game encourage teamwork and cooperation, and your progress will increase exponentially when you join a corporation and work with others.”
- “Versatile gameplay/strategy: while this game does not have a straightforward objective or plot, it offers the player many various play styles because this is so loose.”
- “This game may not have the best gameplay or UI system.”
- “Long story short, worth playing to chill, not worth playing if you want deep gameplay.”
- “Nothing redeeming; virtually no strategy, no key press combinations or mechanical skill involved.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some praise the top-notch visuals and balanced gameplay, others criticize them as subpar and lacking advanced features like 3D graphics or animations. The game prioritizes community engagement over high-end graphical fidelity, resulting in a unique aesthetic that may not appeal to all players.
- “The graphics and game physics are top notch.”
- “Great graphics and very balanced gameplay.”
- “The infinite black is a unique MMO, with less focus on flashy graphics and more focus on community.”
- “The graphics are awful; the tutorial is like a web page.”
- “Sure, it may not have 3D graphics, animated combat, or even emojis in the chat.”
- “This is not a high-end graphics space game.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The game lacks a traditional narrative, functioning instead as an open-story sandbox MMO RPG where the enjoyment stems from social and political interactions rather than a structured plot. Players can expect minimal storytelling, with gameplay focused on grinding and various play styles, but no clear objectives or engaging story elements.
- “This game is an open-story sandbox MMO RPG, so the fun factor lies more in the social and political aspects of the game than in the actual gameplay.”
- “The point of this story is when your alliance is gone and isn't there to help you anymore, you too will quit this game.”
- “Versatile gameplay/strategy: while this game does not have a straightforward objective or plot, it offers the player many various play styles because this is so loose.”
- “Story: there is no story.”
- “If you like infinite grinding and absolute lack of plot, then this game is for you.”
- “You can get a new ship every few levels... wait, scratch that... they give you one. Just a picture, of course; no 3D in this game, only a map to click on and pictures to click on. It takes no skill to play, has no story, and looks absolutely nothing like the video.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is described as a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the chill and relaxing background tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, others find the repetitive techno soundtrack monotonous. Overall, the music is noted as a highlight for some, providing a soothing atmosphere, but it may not sustain interest for long periods.
- “So if you want to chill and relax to some nicely tracked music whilst killing aliens and space pirates, this game is for you.”
- “This is the kind of game in which you just take a deep breath, put some custom chill music and relax while clicking and talking with people.”
- “The only thing that's really good about this game is the music that plays in the background; the music was the only thing that kept me tuned in for only a few hours.”
- “The background music and sound effects are lacking.”
- “Repetitive music plays over and over again.”
- “The same techno soundtrack is used throughout the game.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The monetization of "The Infinite Black" has been criticized as predatory and heavily skewed towards pay-to-win mechanics, with players able to buy advantages that undermine fair competition. While some users appreciate the potential for earning in-game currency through time investment, the overall sentiment reflects frustration with the game's reliance on premium purchases and the impact of multiboxing on gameplay balance. Many players express a desire for a more community-driven approach to monetization, favoring cosmetic options over pay-to-win elements.
- “I wish I could talk to the people behind these games; maybe help out with something in development. Let players add their own ideas into the game. There are so many possibilities... I would gladly put my money into a game that has no pay-to-win aspects. I think today, cosmetics monetization really goes a long way.”
- “The monetization is steep, but since the premium currency is a drop and tradable for credits, everything is obtainable as long as you invest time.”
- “As a free MMO, this game does have in-app purchases.”
- “The Infinite Black is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as a nasty, predatory cash grab by morally defunct mobile developers. Masquerading as some kind of 4X grand strategy space game, you'll discover that you'll get overwhelmed by multiboxing mobile gamers, and you can pay a bunch of money to the developers to just win (in the limited terms 'winning' can provide to vacuous, shallow mobile apps like this garbage).”
- “The bad thing is the lack of ads for their games and usually the way the game is monetized. Their games are designed in a way that you can literally use your wallet. It was the same in Heroes of Dire, and it is the same here. Multiboxing is also a huge problem; the game is designed the same way as World of Tanks, taking money from veterans who are stuck with the game and don't want to pull out, leading to a never-growing community because nobody will fight fleets of solo players who have their year's paycheck in the game.”
- “I would gladly put my money into a game that has no pay-to-win aspects. I think today, cosmetics monetization really goes a long way.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a friendly, community-oriented environment where players engage in cooperative PvP, fostering social interaction and teamwork. Despite its chaotic nature, the familiarity among mods, developers, and players contributes to a family-like, albeit dysfunctional, atmosphere that enhances the overall gaming experience.
- “The PvP aspect is a redeeming feature because it creates a social gaming atmosphere, where you coordinate and focus fire your 15 DPS weapons on one enemy while hoping they don't have reinforcements or heals on the way, all while chain-CCing them.”
- “Mods, devs, and players are all familiar with each other, creating a family-like (yet largely dysfunctional) atmosphere.”
- “The friendly atmosphere enhances the overall gaming experience.”
- “Mods, devs, and players are all familiar with each other, creating a family-like (yet largely dysfunctional!) atmosphere.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The consensus among users is that the game lacks replay value, indicating that once completed, there is little incentive to play it again.
- “There is no replay value.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”