Hardspace: Shipbreaker

 PC
Hardspace: Shipbreaker Image
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

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  • Summary: Equipped with cutting-edge salvaging tech, carve & slice spaceships to recover valuable materials. Upgrade your gear to take on more lucrative contracts and pay your billion credits debt to LYNX Corp!

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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 29, 2024
    100
    Additional variability in gameplay, however, is provided by a decent number of ship types, which was the biggest shortcoming of the preliminary version. Now the game contains around ten ship classes. In addition, the internal layout of each individual ship within a class is different. So you don't have to worry about running into the exact same vessel twice in dozens of hours of play. [Issue#320]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. But Why Tho?
    Jun 7, 2022
    95
    Hardspace Shipbreaker has cemented itself as one of my top three games of the year. It’s not without faults, like its superfluous room you’re forced to visit. However, the complete package is marvelous in the way it tells a powerful story mixed with chill, yet stressful gameplay.
  3. Edge Magazine
    Jun 16, 2022
    90
    It all adds up to a remarkable mixture of emotions, seldom encountered in a commercial videogame: kinetic thrill and the satisfaction of optimising your time, but also mounting claustrophobia, empathy for co-workers, and a sense that somewhere out among the stars there's a kinder society waiting to be riveted together. [Issue#373, p.104]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Digital Trends
    May 24, 2022
    80
    Hardspace: Shipbreaker is an intricate anti-puzzle game that delivers a searing commentary on corporate abuse.
  5. CD-Action
    Jun 28, 2022
    80
    Hardspace: Shipbreaker is what happens when passionate developers and artists set out to create a “worker simulator”. Blackbird Interactive came up with a fantastic idea for a game, made it real using an excellent physics engine and wrapped the whole thing in stunning graphics.
  6. GameSpew
    Jun 7, 2022
    80
    If you’re a fan of simulator-like games, and want something a little more different and fantastical, it’s well worth giving Hardspace: Shipbreaker a try. It can feel very much like work at times, but there’s also something strange therapeutic about it. After all, it’s rewarding doing a good job, right?
  7. IGN
    Jun 3, 2022
    60
    Hardspace: Shipbreaker makes disassembling giant spacecraft piece by piece fun for a bit, but due to a lack of variety in its puzzle-like objectives it soon devolves into hard labor.

See all 38 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. Yoda11
    May 26, 2022
    10
    Kind of indie experience at some point but really cool if you re hooked in this 4d gameplay. I really enjoyed the characters, music, thematicKind of indie experience at some point but really cool if you re hooked in this 4d gameplay. I really enjoyed the characters, music, thematic around Union and of course gameplay. This is not for everybody and there is a strong vision/message behind this one. You don’t often see this kind of game, very hard to classify.… Expand
  2. AdvisorRook
    Jun 10, 2022
    10
    You'll see a number of people objecting to the story in Hardspace: Shipbreaker. This is because the story, from the very beginning, satirizesYou'll see a number of people objecting to the story in Hardspace: Shipbreaker. This is because the story, from the very beginning, satirizes and mocks the abuses, excesses, greed, and doublespeak of corporations. People who believe that corporations are righteous entities that are more important than people *hate* this. The story is heartfelt and human and relevant to today's situation, and the voice acting (with perhaps the exception of Hal) is some of the best I have ever heard in a game.

    That said, there isn't any choice the player can make with regards to the story; the story progresses as you achieve the certification ranks. Each time you level up, you are presented with upgrades to your shipbreaking kit and snippets of the story the next morning (though sometimes the story pieces come at the end of the work shift rather than at the beginning).

    Early on there isn't any time pressure to help you learn, so sessions can last 20-40 minutes or so. After you get the hang of things, though, each "work day" is limited to 15 minutes, so you can play this game in bite-size pieces.

    The core gameplay loop is super fun. See to your gear, choose a ship, get to work taking it apart, and if you don't finish then you can go back to it the next day. Finishing a ship with as little waste as possible is the key to earning the highest amount of rewards in the smallest time.

    The sound design in this game is amazing. There is an upgrade for your suit that simulates sounds happening around you. Not only does this help give you auditory context clues to your surroundings, but it also leads to satisfying feedback for the work that you do. The soundtrack is fantastic! It's down-home Americana without lyrics, and there is a dynamic music system to add high-tech drama when you're doing something dangerous.

    There were a couple weird things that happened, such as things behind me or to my side that exploded when I was using the cutting laser on things in front of me, or getting killed when shutting down the fuel supply in a ship's thruster and the frame of the engine splits apart while you're inside it. But all in all, the physics work great and in a realistic way.

    I highly recommend this game to everyone- especially if you're an AnCap.    … Expand
  4. PJthePlayer
    May 27, 2022
    10
    A fantastic and original game. It's so much fun to take these spaceships apart meticulously and manage to get a perfect salvage score. TheA fantastic and original game. It's so much fun to take these spaceships apart meticulously and manage to get a perfect salvage score. The graphics are great, the gameplay has enough variety to keep it interesting, and it even has a decent story. Another hit from the amazing Blackbird Interactive!… Expand
  5. lurning
    Jun 21, 2022
    9
    positive: setting / story / characters / music (though repetitive) / polished game-play
    negative: too short (I played through the career in    positive: setting / story / characters / music (though repetitive) / polished game-play
    negative: too short (I played through the career in about 30 hours) / not many ships    … Expand
  6. apokalipto
    Aug 22, 2023
    9
    Very good game. I enjoyed playing this game a lot. I strongly recommend this.
  7. barbone3
    Aug 22, 2022
    9
    I N N O V A T I V E !
    Finally I found something completely different from the usual, also: 0 bugs, simple but fun story and some customization    I N N O V A T I V E !
    Finally I found something completely different from the usual, also: 0 bugs, simple but fun story and some customization options.    … Expand
  8. Jenna717
    May 25, 2022
    4
    Good core gameplay undermined by a dull, terribly-implemented story with bad, unskippable dialog and other shoddy features like the Hab thatGood core gameplay undermined by a dull, terribly-implemented story with bad, unskippable dialog and other shoddy features like the Hab that detract from the game rather than adding anything.

    If the last year of updates are any indication, this game will continue to get worse rather than better.

    A good game ruined    … Expand

See all 13 User Reviews

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