ΔV: Rings of Saturn

About

In ΔV: Rings of Saturn, mine for valuable minerals within Saturn's rings in 2273 while uncovering a mystery-filled story backed by real physics and science. The game is feature complete, with regular updates for bug fixes and additional content such as ships, storylines, and upgrades. Players praise the game's immersive atmosphere, with detailed ship interiors, atmospheric music, and a sense of adventure and mystery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,538 reviews

gameplay280 positive mentions

grinding86 negative mentions

Engaging and fun gameplay loop centered around mining asteroids with realistic physics.
Deep customization options for ships and equipment, allowing for varied playstyles.
Active developer support with frequent updates and community engagement.

Steep learning curve with a lack of clear tutorials and explanations for mechanics.
Repetitive gameplay can lead to a sense of monotony after extended play.
Performance issues on some systems, particularly during busy scenes.

gameplay
852 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
2%
The gameplay of this space mining simulator is characterized by a satisfying core loop of mining asteroids, upgrading ships, and managing resources, all grounded in realistic Newtonian physics. While the mechanics are engaging and offer depth through customization and crew management, some players find the overall experience repetitive and lacking in dynamic storytelling. The game rewards patience and mastery, making it appealing for those who enjoy methodical gameplay, though it may not cater to everyone due to its simplicity and steep learning curve.
- “A fantastic mix of realistic physics, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop is just breaking up rocks for their ores but it offers many different ways to do it through extensive customization of each ship using different modules plus tuning those individual modules themselves.”
- “The core gameplay loop of piloting a ship with realistic newtonian physics is satisfying in itself.”
- “User interface, font typo, controls, no customization at all, confusion everywhere, no explanations of mechanics or anything.”
- “The game seems nice with a nice idea (a very repetitive idea just with one hour of gameplay), it's just the developer chose to do everything bad except his original idea.”
- “While this game has some good ideas and mechanics, the core gameplay loop is boring and the game does not provide you with enough information.”
story
468 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
82%
5%
The story in "Δv: Rings of Saturn" is often described as minimal and fragmented, with many players noting a lack of an overarching narrative. While there are intriguing elements and character-driven mini-quests related to crew members, the game primarily focuses on gameplay mechanics like mining and ship management, leaving the story feeling secondary or underdeveloped. Players express a desire for more substantial narrative content and clearer progression, suggesting that the game has potential for deeper storytelling as it continues to evolve.
- “I think I replayed evo at least 3-5 times just because each story branch was so different and exciting with uncountable secrets and nuance.”
- “The story is so far interesting, your crew members being the actual center of the storytelling is a great idea, makes you attached to them and you don't see them as faceless pawns anymore!”
- “The basic loop of mining asteroids out in the black and gradually building your crew and upgrading your ship, so you can explore further and further, is rewarding and fun, and the quests and stories you uncover are a pleasant surprise.”
- “The controls, ship systems, mining, is all good, but there is so little in the way of dynamic storytelling or world building that all of the great mechanics fall flat without context.”
- “There is absolutely no story here.”
- “In my 25 hours of gameplay I never had the impression that story, my crew, or other ships played a role at all and honestly would have preferred it if development time went into flying the ships and equipment, rather than into an afterthought of writing.”
music
276 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
51%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the serene and relaxing gameplay experience. Players appreciate the dynamic soundtrack that adapts to different situations, creating a captivating backdrop for exploration and resource gathering. While some find the music repetitive or generic, many agree that it effectively complements the game's themes and mechanics, making it a significant aspect of the overall enjoyment.
- “The game's serene soundtrack and detailed space environment immerse players in a beautifully crafted universe.”
- “Music is radical, spent plenty of time just floating and zooming at high speeds to hear the exhaust velocity tune kick in.”
- “Honestly, the soundtrack adds to the relaxing vibe of the game.”
- “The music's pretty generic.”
- “Man... I heard this track with the gameplay and immediately bought the game, to only find out that the rest of the tracks sound like generic 'spacey' music... well, now I have to make my own playlist to play this game to...”
- “I'd like to have more/better music, but you can just mute it and put on Space Station Soma or Groove Salad on SomaFM (not a paid promotion, just a fan) and thank me later.”
graphics
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the stunning visuals, coherent art style, and attention to detail that enhance the overall experience. While some users noted minor performance issues and a desire for more customization options, the game's unique aesthetic and physics-based design were highlighted as standout features. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, especially given the game's price point, making it a visually appealing choice for players.
- “For the price of this game, there are no other games that match it for quality of the graphics.”
- “The game's stunning visuals and attention to scientific accuracy evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity that parallels the excitement I felt when I first embarked on my scientific expeditions.”
- “The game beautifully captures the awe-inspiring nature of Saturn's rings, offering stunning visuals that bring the cosmic landscape to life.”
- “Currently, optimization is really bad; with a 3060ti and i7 8700k, FPS can drop really low when there's a lot of stuff happening on your screen, and with graphics like this, it's just unacceptable.”
- “Overall it feels incredibly unintuitive and graphically bland.”
- “Love the graphic style and atmosphere, but to me this game is unplayable on my MacBook Air - it's too choppy.”
atmosphere
156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its depth, immersive qualities, and ability to evoke a sense of tranquility and tension simultaneously. Players appreciate the combination of atmospheric music, art design, and gameplay mechanics that create a meditative yet engaging experience, making it ideal for both relaxation and intense moments. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as captivating, unique, and a significant draw for players, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “This game is beautifully atmospheric and strangely addictive, considering that you never really seem to be working toward anything.”
- “Fantastic atmosphere of the game in general, this eerie deep space vibe.. like exploring some jungle on an alien world, never knowing what you are going to find.”
- “The atmosphere created by the music and art choices in this game are amazing.”
- “Fantastic mining simulation with a very somber, almost meditative atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere created by the music and art choices in this game is amazing.”
- “The gameplay is slow, and can be frustrating, but it contributes to a tense and risky atmosphere.”
optimization
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that despite frequent developer updates aimed at improving performance, issues such as lag and low frame rates persist, especially in crowded scenarios. While some users report smoother gameplay after recent patches, others still experience significant performance drops, indicating that further optimization is needed for a more consistent experience across various hardware setups. Overall, the game is enjoyable and offers deep mechanics, but its current state of optimization may hinder the experience for some players.
- “Super fun space mining game that's surprisingly deep, really scratches the itch for being able to incredibly fine-tune your ship and the ship's systems to eke out desired performance.”
- “Each part you install in your ship can be tuned to your desire and need, lasers and microwave generators can be fed more power and their frequencies more attuned for mining asteroids or destroying ships, mass drivers can hit harder but generate a more catastrophic explosion, thrusters and reactors can be pushed beyond their operational values, resulting in better performance but worse wear and risk of meltdowns.”
- “Like most hard-sci games, it seems to heavily reward precise and methodical gameplay, from accurate movement and mining, to mineral selling via the market, to detailed tuning of your systems, making it as much an optimization game as an atmospheric and immersive sim, should that be of interest.”
- “Also, despite many optimization patches, the performance is still meh.”
- “The optimization of the game is also really terrible, and you may struggle to run it at high FPS even on modern hardware.”
- “There is one major flaw and so far the only issue I have with this game: the performance is godawful, FPS drops are the norm whenever you get more than just a few rocks on the screen or - heavens forbid - another ship.”
grinding
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game is a polarizing feature, with some players finding it tedious and monotonous, while others appreciate the zen-like quality of the ore collection process. Many reviews highlight that while the game is fundamentally grindy, it offers engaging elements such as random encounters and ship upgrades that can make the experience enjoyable for those who embrace the grind. Overall, it caters to players who enjoy mining and farming mechanics, but may deter those looking for a more dynamic gameplay experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I'm not grinding a single-player game for 40 hours or adopting some min-max no-fun-allowed strategy to fly a ship named after Elon Musk.”
- “So if you think about buying this, let me reiterate, the game you get is a grindy ore collection game that is honestly solved in the first 'dive' into the rings and then feeds off your willingness to grind out the different equipment configurations.”
- “When grinding is the main part of the game.”
- “The game revolves around purchasing new upgrades, but while there's a chunk of flavor text for each, it rarely gives you a good enough idea of how it will work in-game and you end up grinding for an hour just to get back, repair, buy an upgrade and realize it's not what you really wanted.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
12%
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with many players noting its engaging physics and deep mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs. Users appreciate the freedom of choice, which allows for personalized experiences, while some mention a potential limit to long-term replayability. Overall, it is considered a great value for its price, with many players logging extensive hours without reaching a definitive end.
- “Super fun and the replayability is great!”
- “The physics are incredible and the replay value is solid.”
- “This freedom of choice adds replayability and allows players to tailor their experience to their preferred playstyle.”
- “I've played this game for 122 hours and still nowhere near any semblance of an end, so it certainly has replay value.”
- “Worth its price of 10 dollars and infinitely replayable.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as quirky and immersive, with players enjoying the comedic sound effects of their ships and the absurdity of situations, such as accidentally regurgitating ore. The game cleverly incorporates real-world references and satirical elements, like the $8 blue checkmark, adding to its charm. Overall, players find the humor to be a significant and entertaining aspect that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “My ship makes funny noises as the big spinal-mounted arm stretches out and grabs a rock.”
- “The ship makes even more funny noises as I open the frontal beak leading into the cargo bay, accidentally regurgitate half my ore, and the big arm happily shoves its rock down the newly uncovered access point.”
- “The game even includes diegetic representations of what happens in the real world, as seen by the $8 blue checkmark from the new blue bird app buyout, which was pretty funny.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report video freezes that disrupt gameplay and result in lost progress, others praise the lack of bugs and consistent updates that enhance the experience. Many users have noted that the game runs smoothly on platforms like the Steam Deck, and recent updates have addressed previous user interface issues. Despite some tutorial-related confusion, the game's performance is generally considered reliable, especially for an early access title.
- “The developer has obviously put a massive amount of effort into making everything; it's bug-free (in my experience) and the atmosphere is fantastic.”
- “Very fun flight mechanics, runs great without any configuration changes on install on Steam Deck.”
- “The video freezes but the game continues to run, forcing me to close the game and losing progress up to just before that particular dive.”
- “I don't know if it is buggy, but following the in-game tutorial doesn't seem to work; I still have no clue about the controls or what I'm supposed to do.”
- “Buggy”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Deltav is generally well-received, but players criticize its monetization strategy, particularly the intrusive ads that detract from gameplay. While the game offers engaging content, the frequent advertisements make it feel less rewarding compared to other titles, leading some to view it as a cash grab. Overall, players appreciate the game but express frustration with its advertising approach.
- “I may never find all the things to find in this game, but I'm going to keep coming back because I'm tired of the lame games out there that are just a cash grab and are doing it with graphics I had when I was a kid.”
- “Great game, playable time is less than an idle game with ads, however.”
- “Deltav is a decent game but its advertising is kind of wrong.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to games, often seeking experiences that resonate with their current feelings. One user highlighted how "δv: rings of saturn" reignited their excitement for gaming during a time of emotional sensitivity, showcasing the game's ability to evoke intrigue and fulfillment. Overall, the emotional aspect of gaming is seen as a significant factor in player engagement and satisfaction.
- “It truly made me feel intrigued and excited to play a game again.”
- “I don't have the energy for a session of game X, and game Y has not been as fulfilling lately, and I'm too sensitive and emotional to play Z today... hmm what should I play... δv: Rings of Saturn!”