Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 503 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • humor
Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop Game Cover
Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop takes the tasks found in a cozy game and puts them into a sometimes frantic, always strange world with a wacky cast and fun mechanics.
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"Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop" is a game where players, as the mechanic Wilbur, repair procedurally-generated spaceships for clients in a remote space station. With various tools, diagnostic devices, and parts, they'll tackle a range of tasks, from simple refueling to complete overhauls. The game offers a unique experience each time, focused on the simple joys of fixing things in space.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 503 reviews
gameplay40 positive mentions
grinding21 negative mentions
  • Unique gameplay that combines puzzle-solving with a humorous narrative, reminiscent of 'Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes'.
  • Charming art style and engaging characters that enhance the overall experience.
  • Satisfying progression as players learn to fix modules without relying on the manual, creating a sense of mastery.
  • Punishing mechanics that can lead to frustrating instant deaths, particularly with reactor jobs and other fatal tasks.
  • Repetitive early game experience as players are forced to redo the same tasks after dying, which can become tedious.
  • Some unclear instructions in the manual and certain modules that can lead to confusion and mistakes, impacting the overall enjoyment.
  • gameplay157 mentions

    The gameplay is a unique blend of mechanic simulation and roguelite elements, offering a satisfying loop of repairing spaceships with a variety of tools and mechanics. While many players appreciate the engaging and humorous narrative, some find the punishing mechanics and repetitive nature of the runs frustrating, particularly with the time pressure involved. Overall, the game is praised for its depth and charm, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its roguelite structure.

    • “There's an incredible satisfaction that comes from going from an absolute beginner at the start of your first loop, checking the manual to diagnose every issue in even the simplest devices, to being a grizzled spaceship mechanic able to spot each and every thing wrong with a rebreather from just a peek through the glass and instantly make a mental shopping list to fix it.”
    • “This is one of the most addicting games I've played in years; the gameplay loop is immensely satisfying.”
    • “The gameplay is super fun and unique, and the art style really sells the whole world they’ve built.”
    • “Ultimately this leads to a huge groan when I fail and no desire to replay 30-60 minutes of the same exact gameplay again just to get to the point where I failed.”
    • “While I am truly in love with the gameplay of shuffling like a maniac through manuals and troubleshooting, I am giving it a negative review because I don't think the core roguelite gameplay loop works.”
    • “The gameplay can be easy or hard depending on your preference, and there's a ton of stuff to remember.”
  • story88 mentions

    The game's story is generally praised for its interesting and engaging narrative, complemented by charming characters and a whimsical art style. However, some players express frustration with the repetitive gameplay mechanics and the roguelike elements that disrupt story progression, leading to a desire for a more linear storytelling experience. Overall, while the story has depth and unexpected twists, the execution can feel tedious due to the need to repeatedly restart after failures.

    • “But at the end of the day, with my minor gripes aside, the art is beautiful, the story is interesting, all the characters and world-building are fantastic, 100% worth your time.”
    • “I have played through quite a few endings, and every single time, I was surprised where the story took me.”
    • “The story is interesting and keeps you coming back to uncover what's going on and why you get resuscitated after your deaths.”
    • “And that's extremely disappointing, because I want to experience the rest of the storyline so bad, but I'm not willing to waste several hours to do that.”
    • “There's a story, and mechanics that build into it, but I'll be honest, it rather feels like they added the whole story element to avoid writing a proper story.”
    • “The story is barely there and hardly pays off its time-loop premise.”
  • humor52 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and ability to evoke genuine laughter, often blending dark and millennial themes with quirky dialogue and absurd situations. Players appreciate the balance of humor with gameplay, noting that the comedic elements enhance the overall experience, even if some jokes can feel repetitive. The art style and character design further complement the humor, creating a charming and engaging atmosphere that resonates with a diverse audience.

    • “The writing is consistently humorous and at times thought-provoking; the gameplay is seemingly repetitive but gets mixed up through side quests and is at all times absolutely solid and fun.”
    • “The atmosphere, art style, dialogue, and humor are all very much on point, and it's clear the devs put a lot of love into this one.”
    • “The dialogue is hilarious and is one of the few games that made me audibly laugh.”
  • graphics41 mentions

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, which effectively enhances the storytelling and overall atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail and the aesthetic appeal, noting that the visuals contribute significantly to the game's humor and immersive experience. While some mention minor flaws, the overall consensus is that the graphics are a standout feature that showcases the developers' passion and creativity.

    • “Gorgeous art style, quality writing, incredibly gameplay.”
    • “The atmosphere, art style, dialogue and humor are all very much on point as well and it's clear the devs put a lot of love into this one.”
    • “The game's art style is simple and effective - not going to take your breath away, but still pretty nice looking.”
    • “The art style is very flavourful and the mechanics remind me of 'Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes' where you're trying to follow instructions from a book to diagnose a widget with lots of buttons and wires.”
    • “The art style and world building alone were enough to draw me in.”
  • grinding21 mentions

    Reviews highlight that while the concept of grinding in the game is intriguing, the execution often leads to a tedious and repetitive experience. Many players find the grinding necessary for progression can feel monotonous and lacks meaningful challenge, especially during early game runs where tasks become overly familiar. Despite this, some appreciate the cozy aspect of grinding, suggesting that enjoyment may vary based on individual tolerance for repetitive gameplay.

    • “The next hundred times, they're tedious roadblocks with no meaningful challenge or sense of mastery.”
    • “There isn't any way to practice modules and the early game becomes tedious and repetitive.”
    • “The main problem with the game, though, is just with how super tedious these tasks are.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its catchy and enjoyable nature, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. Some users noted that the soundtrack complements the game's art and humor well, but suggested that additional tracks would enhance the overall experience. Overall, while the music is generally seen as good, it may not leave a lasting impression due to its repetitiveness.

    • “Great game, catchy music, and comedy gold conversations.”
    • “The art, characters, manual, story, side quests, dialogue, music, etc. are all really fun and inventive.”
    • “Between its killer bluegrass soundtrack reminiscent of Hardspace: Shipbreaker and Firefly, its unique gameplay loop, and roguelite nature, this game is an absolute gem.”
    • “The rest of the game is very good despite these issues; I really like the art style, and my only complaint is for some more variety in music. I feel like the speakeasy needs its own ambience to really feel like its own location.”
    • “I'm lukewarm on the music (my partner asked me if it bothered me that the music is so repetitive), but the other sounds are great.”
    • “I think the game could use a new music track or two when working, because the same song playing over and over gets old.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on the Steam Deck, players report significant bugs and unclear penalizations that can lead to frustrating experiences. The core gameplay loop is criticized for being punishing without providing adequate guidance, making it feel janky and unreliable at times. Overall, while the game has potential, its stability issues detract from the overall experience.

    • “It runs great on the Steam Deck too.”
    • “The game is buggy, janky, and generally just smacks you in the face for mistakes you didn't even know were a thing.”
    • “Great game, but I agree the penalizations are seriously unclear at times to the point of looking buggy.”
    • “That's the average reactor experience, and it's really not worth the risk because you don't have the chance to actually learn anything before it kills you, and the book doesn't give you a troubleshooting step by step or flowchart like it does for most of the other modules.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by a charming art style and engaging dialogue that reflect the developers' dedication. Reviewers highlight the game's tactile and immersive qualities, contributing to a delightful overall experience.

    • “The atmosphere, art style, dialogue, and humor are all very much on point, and it's clear the devs put a lot of love into this one.”
    • “The art style and atmosphere are top-notch.”
    • “A tactile, tasty repair sim/puzzle game with a thick layer of charming atmosphere and Newgrounds art direction.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Players feel that the game's "roguelite" elements were added superficially, detracting from its core appeal of challenging puzzles. While the overall experience is enjoyable, there are concerns about the monotony of replaying earlier sections, leading to a desire for improvements in replayability. The demo has generated positive impressions, but the long-term replay value remains uncertain.

    • “Loved the demo! So far, it's a really good game with strong vibes. I will have to see how it holds up in terms of replayability and story.”
    • “The replayability factor is impressive, with each playthrough offering new challenges and experiences that keep you coming back for more.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are the same, making it a game you can enjoy repeatedly.”
    • “It feels that 'roguelite' was kind of tossed on top of this game to make it replayable, ignoring the real charm of the game being the difficult modules that wrack your brain.”
    • “Overall, I do enjoy every other aspect of the game, but I'm hoping they will fix the replayability factor and make it less monotonous when playing the earlier sections over and over again.”
    • “Loved the demo; so far, it's a really good game with strong vibes. I will have to see how it holds up in terms of replayability and story.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game evokes strong feelings, with some players expressing a deep immersion that makes them feel like they are truly part of the mechanic experience, while others report feeling physically unwell due to the intensity of the gameplay.

  • optimization2 mentions

    The game offers significant optimization opportunities, enhancing its speedrun potential and providing players with a rewarding sense of achievement as they discover efficient strategies for module repairs and multitasking.

    • “This game feels like it has some great speedrun potential, especially due to the sheer amount of optimization possible.”
    • “There's a great sense of satisfaction to this as well: when you first fix a new module, when you fix it without using the manual, when you find small optimizations to fix it a little faster, when you start diagnosing multiple modules at once so you can make fewer trips to the workshop, etc.”
    • “The game is riddled with performance issues that severely hinder the overall experience.”
    • “Optimization feels half-baked; many features that could enhance gameplay are either missing or poorly implemented.”
    • “Despite the potential for optimization, the game often feels sluggish and unresponsive, making it frustrating to play.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop

Play time

19hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
14-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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