ΔV: Rings of Saturn
- July 21, 2023
- Kodera Software
- 23h median play time
Get on Steam"ΔV: Rings of Saturn" is a realistic asteroid mining simulator set in the rings of Saturn. As captain of an independent excavation ship, you'll navigate through debris-filled fields, mine for minerals, and sell the ore at the Enceladus station. Manage your crew, upgrade your ship, and choose your own path, whether it's bounty hunting, exploring mysteries, or smuggling weapons. At its core, this game is about the thrill and danger of rock-hopping in space.
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Reviews
- Engaging and addictive gameplay loop centered around mining asteroids in a realistic physics environment.
- Deep customization options for ships and equipment, allowing players to tailor their playstyle.
- Active developer support with frequent updates and community engagement.
- Steep learning curve with minimal tutorial guidance, making it challenging for new players to understand mechanics.
- Limited content and progression, leading to potential repetitiveness after extended playtime.
- Performance issues on some systems, particularly with frame rates during busy scenes.
- gameplay666 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this space mining simulation is characterized by a simple yet addictive loop of mining asteroids, upgrading ships, and managing resources, all grounded in realistic Newtonian physics. While the mechanics are intricate and rewarding for those who invest time in mastering them, the game suffers from a lack of clear tutorials and can feel repetitive after extended play. Overall, it offers a satisfying experience for fans of hard sci-fi and simulation games, though some players may find the learning curve steep and the core loop somewhat limited.
“The gameplay loop is rewarding and fun.”
“It's incredibly fun and once you get the basic mechanics down the core gameplay loop is really engaging, borderline addictive.”
“The gameplay rewards mastery of the controls, curiosity, patience, and instinct.”
“Terrible UI, unintuitive controls, more menus than you can shake a stick at - I normally dread trying out these titles, no matter how good the premise is, because I expect to get drubbed senseless by all the things I need to play the game before I can even touch the core gameplay loop.”
“Artificial difficulty mechanics and outdated design views from the developers suggest this is unlikely to evolve in a direction that will make for long-term enjoyment.”
“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.”
- story361 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimal and fragmented, lacking a clear overarching narrative, with much of the lore revealed through crew interactions and environmental details. While some players appreciate the emergent storytelling and personal quests of crew members, others find the narrative elements superficial and difficult to engage with, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game is more focused on gameplay mechanics and exploration, with potential for deeper storytelling as future updates are anticipated.
“Crew members all have a unique quest and offer additional dialogue when out on the dive, as well as help shape the story and lore of this game.”
“The array of intriguing events and story elements, coupled with the focus on progressing through various ships and equipment, make for an exciting journey.”
“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.”
“No story, no events to break up the monotony.”
“There isn't an overarching plot as far as I can tell.”
“There's no plot, no real story.”
- music213 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and immersive qualities, with many players highlighting the dynamic soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the blend of ambient and thematic elements, noting that the music complements the gameplay, making it enjoyable to explore and mine in space. While some mention a desire for more variety, the majority find the soundtrack to be a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
“The dynamic music score, crew interactions, and backstories all work to make the game really immersive.”
“This is a very relaxing game and the music is amazing.”
“The atmosphere created by the music and art choices in this game are amazing.”
“The music's pretty generic.”
“Man... I heard this track with the gameplay and immediately bought the game, only to 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.”
- graphics149 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the overall aesthetic and thematic consistency, particularly in its sci-fi setting. While some players appreciate the stunning visuals and attention to detail, others criticize the optimization issues and the quality of AI-generated portraits. Overall, the graphics are considered solid for the price point, though performance can vary significantly depending on hardware.
“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 visuals and sound design are incredible too; everything has an almost cinematic majesty to it, and this does make up for the fact that the core gameplay loop is pretty repetitive.”
“And also the AI-generated portraits from the anime DLC are incredibly ugly. You could create a contest to have people draw you portraits or hire an outsourced artist, but you just fed the pictures to a neural network. Zero quality, zero aesthetics, and that's the reason why I won't buy it.”
“Currently, optimization is really bad. With a 3060 Ti 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.”
“Love the graphic style and atmosphere, but to me, this game is unplayable on my MacBook Air - it's too choppy.”
- optimization128 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly in crowded areas or during intense gameplay moments. While developers are actively releasing updates to improve performance and address bugs, many users still report lag and frame rate drops, especially on mid-range hardware. Overall, while the game offers deep mechanics and engaging gameplay, it currently requires further optimization to enhance the experience for a broader range of systems.
“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.”
“The game physics are very deep, including simple things like how the mass in your cargo hold affects your ship's performance.”
“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.”
“Perhaps in time, this game will get better but right now, it is absolutely terribly optimized.”
- atmosphere120 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and meditative qualities, effectively capturing a somber yet wondrous space mining experience. Players appreciate the combination of atmospheric sound design, art choices, and a hard sci-fi setting that creates a relaxing yet engaging environment, making it ideal for both casual play and deeper exploration. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a standout feature that enhances the gameplay loop and encourages prolonged engagement.
“Fantastic mining simulation with a very somber, almost meditative atmosphere.”
“This is the game when you want to chill out as a space miner and be immersed in a realistic yet wondrous atmosphere.”
“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 gameplay is slow, and can be frustrating, but it contributes to a tense and risky atmosphere.”
“Love the graphic style and atmosphere, but to me this game is unplayable on my MacBook Air - it's too choppy.”
“Music and atmosphere are giving this dark and foreboding vibe while engaging and demanding gameplay is almost as addicting as a mobile game.”
- grinding70 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a central focus, often described as both tedious and rewarding. While some players find the repetitive tasks of mining and upgrading to be monotonous, others appreciate the engaging encounters and the meditative quality of the grind, making it enjoyable despite its grindy nature. Overall, it caters well to fans of grinding mechanics, though it may deter those seeking 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.”
“When grinding is the main part of the game.”
“Elite Dangerous, while they tried to make mining fun, like everything in Elite Dangerous, it's tedious.”
“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.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky mechanics, such as the ship's amusing noises and the comedic mishaps that occur during gameplay, like accidentally regurgitating ore. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend humor with immersive gameplay, including satirical references to real-world events and figures. Overall, the lighthearted tone and funny interactions contribute to a fun and engaging experience, making it a standout aspect of the game.
“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.”
“The elon worship in-game is pretty hilarious.”
“This is one of those games that sucks you right in and makes you forget reality for a while, very immersive and deep but doesn't lack on humor and lore as well.”
- replayability19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, with many users noting it as "infinitely replayable" and a great time killer. Players appreciate the depth of gameplay and the opportunity to earn achievements, making it a solid investment for its price. Overall, the engaging physics and developer interaction enhance the replay value significantly.
“The physics are incredible and the replay value is solid.”
“Great time killer with lots of replayability.”
“Quite a deep and replayable indie, and the developer is always bopping around the forums to comment.”
“Worth its price of 10 dollars and infinitely replayable.”
- stability10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability has received mixed feedback; while some users report video freezes that disrupt gameplay and result in lost progress, others note improvements following recent updates that have addressed previous glitches. Despite these issues, many players find the game runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck without the need for configuration changes. Continuous updates from the developer are appreciated, indicating a commitment to enhancing stability.
“Very fun flight mechanics, runs great without any configuration changes on install on Steam Deck.”
“Video freezes but the game continues to run, forcing me to close the game and losing progress up to just before that particular dive.”
“Buggy.”
“I've tried to get started in game development and spent 95% of the time troubleshooting, never getting so far as an inch, and yet, this developer left miles of accomplishment and consistent updates.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is generally viewed positively, as players appreciate its focus on gameplay rather than aggressive cash grabs, contrasting it with other games that rely heavily on ads and outdated graphics. However, some users note that the game includes ads that can interrupt the experience, albeit less frequently than in typical idle games.
“Great game, playable time is less than an idle game with ads, however.”
“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.”
“1s of forward thrust ads about 10 deg/s of rotation.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game "δv: Rings of Saturn," highlighting its ability to evoke feelings of intrigue and excitement, especially during times when they feel sensitive or unfulfilled by other games. The act of engaging with the game serves as a satisfying and rejuvenating experience, contrasting with their current emotional state.
“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!”
