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.
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay loop that combines mining, exploration, and ship customization.
- Realistic physics and mechanics that enhance immersion and challenge.
- Active developer support with frequent updates and community engagement.
- Steep learning curve with minimal tutorial guidance, making it difficult for new players to grasp mechanics.
- Limited content and progression options, leading to potential repetitiveness after extended play.
- Performance issues on some systems, causing lag and crashes during gameplay.
- gameplay335 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 explanations, which can make the initial experience daunting. Overall, players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and depth of gameplay, though some find the core loop repetitive after extended play.
“The dynamic economy and the detailed mechanics ensure that every choice counts, whether it’s upgrading your ship or deciding how deep to delve into a particularly lucrative but dangerous asteroid.”
“The gameplay rewards mastery of the controls, curiosity, patience, and instinct.”
“The gameplay loop is simple to get into, though the initial learning curve of the controls can catch some people off guard.”
“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“Artificial difficulty mechanics and outdated design views from the developers suggest this is unlikely to evolve in a direction that will make for long-term enjoyment.”
“The core gameplay loop, being mining and selling rocks to mine again, is kind of boring.”
- story181 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimal and lacking a clear overarching narrative, with many players noting that it primarily consists of scattered lore and crew interactions rather than a structured plot. While some find the emergent storytelling through crew backstories and random encounters engaging, others feel that the absence of a defined storyline limits the experience. Overall, the game offers intriguing elements of lore and character-driven narratives, but many players desire more depth and clarity in the storytelling aspects.
“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 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.”
“There is a deep story beneath the mining, and the world shows you, made me slow down and listen a bit more.”
“There isn't an overarching plot as far as I can tell.”
“There's no plot, no real story.”
“The game is barren of content, no story, and the dev would rather make fury DLC instead of adding content to the game.”
- music107 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of relaxing and dynamic tracks that suit various gameplay moments. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to create a chill vibe while mining or exploring, although some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
“The dynamic music score, crew interactions, and backstories all work to make the game really immersive.”
“This game may bring an extremely lonely experience, almost like how Death Stranding brought isolation to the player - but the synthy electronic OST for Delta V makes me dream of adventure.”
“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.”
- graphics75 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game receive positive feedback for their quality and aesthetic appeal, with many users appreciating the thematic consistency and attention to detail. While some players note minor performance issues and occasional frame drops, the visuals are generally described as stunning and immersive, effectively complementing the gameplay experience. However, there are criticisms regarding the AI-generated portraits from the DLC, which some find unattractive and lacking in quality.
“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 graphics are solid, the physics are fun, and there is a decent amount of depth to the play-style and progression.”
“For the price of this game, there are no other games that match it for quality of the graphics.”
“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.”
- optimization64 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 the developers are actively releasing updates to improve performance and quality of life, 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.
“The developer updates it regularly, making tweaks and changes to improve performance and quality of life, and even though you could probably 'finish' one or more of the main storylines in 20-30 hours of play depending on your style, you can just as easily take your time and end up spending over 100 hours and not complete it.”
“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 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.”
“Performance is still a bit mixed, usually it's fine but I notice when other ships are in the area, it breaks pretty quickly; whenever I see other ships around I try to get as far away as possible to not have them annoy me.”
- atmosphere60 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive, meditative quality, combining a hard sci-fi setting with a relaxing, almost trance-like experience. Players appreciate the depth of the environment, enhanced by atmospheric soundtracks and art choices, which create a unique and engaging backdrop for gameplay. Overall, the game successfully captures a chill vibe that allows for both exploration and a sense of gradual progression, making it a standout in the space mining genre.
“Fantastic mining simulation with a very somber, almost meditative 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 atmosphere created by the music and art choices in this game are amazing.”
“Music and atmosphere are giving this dark and foreboding vibe while engaging and demanding gameplay is almost as addicting as a mobile game.”
“The gameplay is slow, and can be frustrating, but it contributes to a tense and risky atmosphere.”
- grinding35 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players finding it tedious and monotonous, while others appreciate the engaging and rewarding aspects of the grind, particularly in the context of space mining. Many users describe the grinding as a core element of the gameplay that can be enjoyable and even meditative, despite its repetitive nature. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy grinding mechanics, especially in a space setting, but may deter players who dislike such gameplay loops.
“I'm not grinding a single-player game for 40 hours or adopting some min-max, no-fun-allowed strategy.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“As I understand, there is more depth to the game, but given how grindy this part feels, I'm not sure I'm going to play long enough to get there.”
“Unfortunately, this loop can begin to feel grindy, especially early on.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, users highlight the game's strong replayability, noting its engaging physics and depth, which contribute to a solid replay value. Many appreciate the ability to replay for achievements and consider it a worthwhile investment for its entertainment potential.
“Super fun and the replayability is great!”
“The physics are incredible and the replay value is solid.”
“Quite a deep and replayable indie, and the developer is always bopping around the forums to comment.”
“Quite a deep and replayable indie, and the developer is always active in the forums to comment.”
“Worth its price of 10 dollars and infinitely replayable.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky mechanics, such as the ship's amusing noises and the absurdity of situations like accidentally regurgitating ore. Players appreciate the lighthearted interactions and funny community dynamics, as well as clever references to real-world events, which enhance the immersive experience. Overall, the game balances deep gameplay with a playful tone, making for an entertaining and humorous adventure.
“My ship makes funny noises as the big spinal-mounted arm stretches out and grabs a rock.”
“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.”
- stability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Overall, users report mixed stability experiences with the game; while some have encountered video freezes that disrupt gameplay and cause progress loss, others note significant improvements following recent updates that addressed previous glitches. The game generally runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck without the need for configuration changes, indicating a positive trend in stability.
“The flight mechanics are very fun, and the game runs great without any configuration changes on installation on the Steam Deck.”
“The game maintains a stable performance throughout, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“I appreciate how well the game performs; it rarely crashes and runs consistently, making for a reliable gaming session.”
“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.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is generally viewed positively, as players appreciate its engaging gameplay compared to other cash-grab titles. However, some users note that the game features ads that can disrupt the experience, suggesting a balance between monetization and player enjoyment could be improved.
“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, but the playable time is less than an idle game with ads.”
“The game has ads that feel like they interrupt the experience constantly.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to games, often seeking experiences that resonate with their current feelings. While some games may feel overwhelming or unfulfilling, titles like "δv: Rings of Saturn" evoke intrigue and excitement, reigniting the joy of gaming.
“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!”
