Starbound

 PC
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 508 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 306 out of 508
  2. Mixed: 130 out of 508
  3. Negative: 72 out of 508

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  1. jdmsjmsrscgm
    Sep 12, 2023
    6
    One of the biggest attractions of Starbound is the feeling of almost infinite exploration it offers. The game features a procedurally generated universe with billions of planets, each with its own characteristics, biomes, resources and challenges. The variety is impressive, and players can spend hours exploring exotic planets, mysterious caves, and alien cities.

    Starbound's 8-bit pixel    One of the biggest attractions of Starbound is the feeling of almost infinite exploration it offers. The game features a procedurally generated universe with billions of planets, each with its own characteristics, biomes, resources and challenges. The variety is impressive, and players can spend hours exploring exotic planets, mysterious caves, and alien cities.

    Starbound's 8-bit pixel art aesthetic is charming and nostalgic, evoking classic games from the 8-bit era. Despite its visual simplicity, the game manages to convey a sense of depth and atmosphere. The details in the landscapes, character animation and creature designs are remarkable and contribute to immersion in the game's universe.

    Starbound is especially fun when played with friends. The game supports cooperative multiplayer, allowing players to team up to explore, build, fight enemies, and complete missions together. Collaboration is encouraged, and building bases on planets is an important part of the experience, which makes creating a personal space and exploring the universe even more rewarding when shared with friends.

    In addition to exploration, "Starbound" offers rich building mechanics. Players can create their own custom bases, colonies, and even spaceships. Creative freedom is extensive, and the variety of materials and objects available for construction allows players to completely customize their spaces.    … Expand
  2. PrincessRose
    Jul 14, 2023
    6
    It's fun for a while to dig and explore but also lacking. It ends up feeling kind of pointless, repetitive and tedious.
    I liked the dungeons and fighting the bosses the most.
    The game is interesting but doesn't feel like it's been fully finished, the devs just abandoned and gave up on it and aren't updating it anymore. The NPC's you hire for your ship crew are extremely annoying, they    It's fun for a while to dig and explore but also lacking. It ends up feeling kind of pointless, repetitive and tedious.
    I liked the dungeons and fighting the bosses the most.
    The game is interesting but doesn't feel like it's been fully finished, the devs just abandoned and gave up on it and aren't updating it anymore.

    The NPC's you hire for your ship crew are extremely annoying, they just stand there and look stupid and lifeless the AI isn't made to look alive and functioning and get in the way even if you put plenty of tables, chairs and beds around or the absolute worse stand right next to a door and whenever you try to open it to go through they continually close it so you have to remove the door to be able to go through.

    I hate how the crew just stand there in the way.
    They do sometimes sleep in the beds, sit down or warm themselves at the forge which is annoying as they get in the way when trying to smelt ore.

    I just spent a lot of the game time exploring and creating. Besides that there isn't really much else. NPC quests aren't interesting and feature the same few of give this note and then give the reply or get some iron make some iron bars and give to or plant these seeds, fight some enemy or the worst go find this NPC at the temple and escort them back. The game feels quite lacking unless all you want to do is build and use mods.

    After completing all the main missions I had no interest anymore in playing.
    There are other things to do but it feels pointless.
    Sure you can capture and collect creatures to fight for you but they are all useless and extremely weak in battle, they die after a couple of hits.
    Everything else is also tedious and boring and trying to find and collect various things which can take forever and is not at all fun.
    Exploring gets boring as once you've seen all the biomes, it all starts to look the same.
    Sure I could build colonies but colonies also seem pointless.
    I had some fun with the game for a while so still recommend it and rate an unmodded game 6/10.    … Expand
  3. Noggu
    May 19, 2023
    8
    Starbound is just on its own a whole another universe where you can build or conquer anywhere you want, create your own colonies. And enjoy the deep, sci-fi experience.
  4. VendonJura
    May 10, 2023
    10
    Really nice Terraria like game. Lots of fun to play. However, as in any survival game, you have real problems when it comes to hunger and the UI is extremely small. However, the game is still great.

    I've now spent a few hours in the game and I really have to say that this is one of the best games I've played in 2022. The game is just awesome. ✅ A lot to do ✅ NPCs on most planets ✅    Really nice Terraria like game. Lots of fun to play. However, as in any survival game, you have real problems when it comes to hunger and the UI is extremely small. However, the game is still great.

    I've now spent a few hours in the game and I really have to say that this is one of the best games I've played in 2022. The game is just awesome.

    ✅ A lot to do
    ✅ NPCs on most planets
    ✅ These NPCs often even have quests
    ✅ Many NPCs in space or on planets sell or buy things
    ✅ A lot of items that you can use well
    ✅ A lot of recipes you can find. Example 1. You collect a mushroom and learn a recipe such as Boiled Mushrooms.
    ✅ You have several classes that you can play
    ✅ Ingame commands for players who would like to test something or play as admin
    ✅ Achievements
    ✅ Sounds are good
    ✅ Great atmosphere
    ✅ Many skills such as those from Metroid. I won't say what it is because it would be a spoiler ;)
    ✅Many different animals 7 creatures
    ✅You can also capture animals, just like in Pokemon

    ❌ Unfortunately no minimap, at least I haven't seen it.    … Expand
  5. PotatoePink
    Jan 31, 2023
    8
    Without mods this game is just ok but with several mods it is a very good game.
  6. S3XU4LH34L1NG
    Nov 15, 2022
    6
    The game is fun and very very deep in terms of crafting, companions upgrading, ... the typical builder / minecraft stuff. But imo it demands too much time, everything is just a tad too annoying. It kinda reminds me of lost ark.
  7. gravehaven
    Sep 25, 2022
    9
    So much fun. 2d minecraft with spaceships, how could you possibly go wrong? Really fun with friends too.
  8. Tabbou
    Sep 2, 2022
    8
    Nice game lot of thing to do : fight, collect, build, do some quests, equip, upgrade, grow crops, space travel etc...
    The thing is there is TOO MUCH objects to collect, assemble and craft, you have to spend hours just to make 1 good equipement or find 1 good weapon.
    Good that there is easy access to admin console tho, it can save you hours without ruining the fun if you use it from time    Nice game lot of thing to do : fight, collect, build, do some quests, equip, upgrade, grow crops, space travel etc...
    The thing is there is TOO MUCH objects to collect, assemble and craft, you have to spend hours just to make 1 good equipement or find 1 good weapon.
    Good that there is easy access to admin console tho, it can save you hours without ruining the fun if you use it from time to time only    … Expand
  9. stupidopinion
    Jun 22, 2022
    7
    This game deserved the Terraria treatment. If it had gotten several more significant updates and touch ups this game truly would be something special among 2D sandbox games. As it stands it's still quite fun, with a decent enough story and some fun missions. There are features to the game that are underdeveloped, but as it stands I would still definitely recommend it. The modding scene isThis game deserved the Terraria treatment. If it had gotten several more significant updates and touch ups this game truly would be something special among 2D sandbox games. As it stands it's still quite fun, with a decent enough story and some fun missions. There are features to the game that are underdeveloped, but as it stands I would still definitely recommend it. The modding scene is surprisingly strong, but as the game stands by itself, it's solid but not much more.

    Also the race designs are just great, with surprisingly deep culture that I wish would be heavily explored in a future game. Cowboy starchildren, samurai fish, primal plant people, and more are all just such cool ideas and I love it.    … Expand
  10. BrotherMan
    Jun 11, 2022
    8
    Starbound is exactly what a space adventure should be. There is so much stuff to do and the playability of the game is really good too. Recommended to people who would like to experience a new universe with charming artstyle and a what seems like an infinite collection of cosmetics and building blocks. Terraria but in space but also better :)
  11. jsommer7345
    Jun 8, 2022
    7
    A student of mine was very much into this game, maybe too into it. I started to play it, and I loved it right away. The universe in this space game is vast, more extensive than I will ever have enough time to explore. So, this platformer is vast. The culture in the game is thick, with lots to read and learn. It was great to relate with my student about this game, we had hours of timeA student of mine was very much into this game, maybe too into it. I started to play it, and I loved it right away. The universe in this space game is vast, more extensive than I will ever have enough time to explore. So, this platformer is vast. The culture in the game is thick, with lots to read and learn. It was great to relate with my student about this game, we had hours of time talking about it - he clearly thought this game was a 10/10. The game is similar to Terraria, but is placed in a futuristic background. It is so similar to Terraria, Starbound seems inspired from it. I loved the storyline of Starbound. I played the game for almost 100 hours.

    The graphics in Starbound look like they come from Minecraft, so it attracts a younger generation of gamers. I certainly would not have played this game if not for my student. However, to be honest, it grew on me after I started to play it. Starbound is geared to a young audience. Playing this game was almost embarrassing to admit to other adults that I played it, as it is purposely childish in its gameplay and in-game culture. In some sense, exploring planets got somewhat old, and late in the game, it has a loop in the gameplay experience. Explore, plunder, do a mission, repeat. While it is a vast universe to explore in Starbound, the mechanics are just too dull after a while.    … Expand
  12. MisterSlick
    May 15, 2022
    8
    A fine game that, though it feels a bit unfinished, can be one of the most addictive games possible. The story telling is nice, though a little wonky at times, and fun weapons ranging from pistols to assault rifles to giant hammers and swords to rocket launchers. It may look like space Terraria, but it is far from it. The modding community also adds a lot if you feel it is unfinished andA fine game that, though it feels a bit unfinished, can be one of the most addictive games possible. The story telling is nice, though a little wonky at times, and fun weapons ranging from pistols to assault rifles to giant hammers and swords to rocket launchers. It may look like space Terraria, but it is far from it. The modding community also adds a lot if you feel it is unfinished and can easily fill in the gaps. I only wish I could pet the Fluffalos.… Expand
  13. OskehCat
    Mar 9, 2022
    6
    Honestly, this game wasn't really that great for me. The gameplay and graphics are fine, but I think the part I don't like is just the mission system and general story. As far as story goes, for a "sandbox" game there is a lot of it. The missions were really confusing at times, for example after leaving the first planet it shows you 5 other planets and says "go find this species". And itHonestly, this game wasn't really that great for me. The gameplay and graphics are fine, but I think the part I don't like is just the mission system and general story. As far as story goes, for a "sandbox" game there is a lot of it. The missions were really confusing at times, for example after leaving the first planet it shows you 5 other planets and says "go find this species". And it just was boring, walking around the entire planet and then oh, the species is not here, time to do this again. tl;dr: This game feels very unpolished, but I might come back to it another time.… Expand
  14. Tjerum
    Feb 14, 2022
    10
    For me one of the best games of all time.
    It is a combo from Terraria and No man sky but better.
  15. cylentstorm
    Dec 5, 2021
    8
    Starbound (in its final form) is a fun 2D sci-fi take on the whole "survivalcraft" sandbox craze from years ago, with an emphasis on exploration and adventure. Building and crafting options are extensive, but are mostly optional in comparison to something like Terraria (which is still incredibly fun to this day.)

    In spite of Starbound's checkered development history led by Chucklefish    Starbound (in its final form) is a fun 2D sci-fi take on the whole "survivalcraft" sandbox craze from years ago, with an emphasis on exploration and adventure. Building and crafting options are extensive, but are mostly optional in comparison to something like Terraria (which is still incredibly fun to this day.)

    In spite of Starbound's checkered development history led by Chucklefish founder and exploitative punk Finn Brice, the game is still well worth playing and exploring--even in 2021.    … Expand
  16. nomeoriginale
    Aug 6, 2021
    8
    очень хорошая игра с хорошим саундтреком (довольно грустным) , сюжет плохой , но в этой игре сюжет - не главное.
    игра похожа на террарию.
  17. jackrabbitt64
    Jun 4, 2021
    10
    This game gets flack for stuff that has been resolved years ago. This is one of those games that you play for 2 weeks straight then don't touch for a year and then you do it again. Beyond that, there are massive array of mods to enhance the experience to the point that its almost a new game. However the base game is nothing to scoff at, it is full of NPCs and a amazing bunch of in-depthThis game gets flack for stuff that has been resolved years ago. This is one of those games that you play for 2 weeks straight then don't touch for a year and then you do it again. Beyond that, there are massive array of mods to enhance the experience to the point that its almost a new game. However the base game is nothing to scoff at, it is full of NPCs and a amazing bunch of in-depth and interesting races. The exploration is amazing and the progression is perfect. Upon each playthrough you WILL find something new, whether it is big or small it will be something interesting and worthwhile. BUY THIS GAME, it is worth it, especially with friends.… Expand
  18. Joe_Sanderson
    May 17, 2021
    8
    It's safe to say that Starbound is one of the best games of its kind. I've sunken close to 500 hours into this game, and since its first early access stages it's improved tenfold. However, I do have to admit that the game is best played with mods, so steam is where you should be buying it. Admittedly the story is a bit tiring at times, but what I like is that you're not actually requiredIt's safe to say that Starbound is one of the best games of its kind. I've sunken close to 500 hours into this game, and since its first early access stages it's improved tenfold. However, I do have to admit that the game is best played with mods, so steam is where you should be buying it. Admittedly the story is a bit tiring at times, but what I like is that you're not actually required to play it, you can mess around and progress normally without doing any missions. Modders have already fixed most of the gripes I have with this game, and if you have an issue look it up on the Steam Workshop and no doubt there will be a mod for that exact issue!… Expand
  19. rampag
    May 12, 2021
    5
    I played the early stages of this game and now i return after years to see that this game, sadly, was clearly rushed making this game with "a lot" of features that are simplely bad done or even annoy.

    For example, crew thing, you are supposed to be able to recruit people. How? doing missions until someone like you enought, that is annoy itself because you wont have much options to    I played the early stages of this game and now i return after years to see that this game, sadly, was clearly rushed making this game with "a lot" of features that are simplely bad done or even annoy.

    For example, crew thing, you are supposed to be able to recruit people. How? doing missions until someone like you enought, that is annoy itself because you wont have much options to chose who give you missions, and doing a chain of random quest everytime you want a new crew member its just too much work.
    So after actually hours of doing random quests, nobody wanted to join... yes, even if someone give you various quest, it doesnt mean he will give you more or join to your ship, so all i did was a waste of time.
    The quests they give are the most boring and basic thing one can imagine, its just "go and kill this", "go and give me this", "go and talk to this dude" THE END, who would want to do this? the combat in this game is absolutly basic and exploration most of the time unrewarded.
    So, why i would spent so much time trying to get a new crew memeber doing quests if doing it is so boring? Because they FORCE me to do it as there is no other way (except hiring penguins) and i want to make my ship better and get other benefits.

    Someone here has given a 10/10 review telling us to dont listen the "haters" and check the game by ourself but the only think im seeing is the dev rushed the game so fast that they didnt test or play their game THEMSELF otherwise that **** mechanic would not be here.
    This is an example but there is a large amount of them where i feel everytime the devs didnt even tested enought and simplely, at some point, they gave up on this game so they rushed all the mechanic and things they promised to make it "work" and dont be looked like a scam game.

    Your pet in your ship will follow you around like a creep so there will be a lot of time when you will try to click in some object like your chair to flight another planet but your pet will be in front of such object so you would not be able to click, instead you will have to deal to find the exact pixel to click in your chair.
    This is another example where you can see that if the devs had taken a second to test, the would have found this problem and fix it as simple as making the pet dont follow you or just dont stay in front of an interactable object.

    Totally underserve amount of positive rating, the problem is not the amount of content, the problem is what kind of content, there are 10000 planets but only around 3 which are different enought, 10000 monster and again, only 3 which are different enought, 10000 quests (including main quests) that are simplely bland and uninteresting go from X to Y where the best i can say is some bosses are sometimes fun enought but there are no many bosses anyways.

    5/10 is what they deserve because indie and if you have a lot of time to waste and like this kind of game... well, who i am to tell you what to do?
    But honestly, im really dissapoint with this game and if all the games are rathing like this... im dissapoint with the user reviews... like... there are comments wit "10/10 wow, AWESOME" but 0 proof or reason about why that score... I could be wrong or this game just no be my taste but at least i give a reason.    … Expand
  20. Frost_Cube
    Feb 1, 2021
    6
    Don't follow what the haters say. Play the game yourself and you will see that its amazing. The music, the art, the adventure is all greatly done, and plenty of mods from the community and the fact that you need little to no knowledge to mod t
  21. Mazma
    Dec 25, 2020
    7
    Meglio di terrarria in ogni aspetto, ma meno coinvolgente e profondo rispetto ad altri nel genere.
  22. InterestingName
    Dec 13, 2020
    7
    Terraria in space! The exploration is more fun than Terraria, but the combat is worse.
  23. TinyTin
    Oct 15, 2020
    9
    Music in this game is masterpiece, it really make me to find these theme and hear again. Other things like graphic and mechanic, storyline some are good some bad but overall, it's fantastic .
  24. SurrealKitten
    Sep 1, 2020
    5
    Pretty fun early on, until you realize the main story is a grindfest with little actual plot and repetitive missions.

    Want to get to the next boss? Search galaxy after galaxy for procedurally-generated artifacts to search. So interesting! Want boss weapons? Go through the same 20 minute long stages over and over again to farm for that 10% drop! Want legendary artifacts? Dig for 10    Pretty fun early on, until you realize the main story is a grindfest with little actual plot and repetitive missions.

    Want to get to the next boss? Search galaxy after galaxy for procedurally-generated artifacts to search. So interesting!

    Want boss weapons? Go through the same 20 minute long stages over and over again to farm for that 10% drop!

    Want legendary artifacts? Dig for 10 hours on 100 different planets, good luck in the dark! Or use admin mode and speed up the process, while rendering the game much less fun.

    Things like these eventually suck out the charm of the game. Potential buyers beware.    … Expand
  25. DingerDonger
    Jun 30, 2020
    8
    Ah, Starbound. Before I begin this review let me say that I've put in around 500 hours since the game's initial early access release on Steam.

    This is by far my favorite sandbox game. The music, the art, the different races, and the overall theme are all things I love. The story quests are a little weak in my opinion; I love the idea but playing them more than once is such a drudgery.    Ah, Starbound. Before I begin this review let me say that I've put in around 500 hours since the game's initial early access release on Steam.

    This is by far my favorite sandbox game. The music, the art, the different races, and the overall theme are all things I love. The story quests are a little weak in my opinion; I love the idea but playing them more than once is such a drudgery. My other complaint is that character builds aren't very customizable as there are only a few gear slots that determine everything about your character. Not even the race of the character makes a difference, which is a bit of a downer.

    Also, don't forget to save planets; it's nearly impossible to relocate a planet you've been to if you don't save the coordinates (which is thankfully easy to do). I haven't given the new endgame bounty stuff much of a shot but it looks great.

    Starbound is absolutely worth picking up, even after all these years, if you enjoy sandbox games. You will never run out of places to explore.    … Expand
  26. nik_balani
    Jun 20, 2020
    5
    Starbound started with a lot of promise - interesting story and free reign crafting. However as mentioned by other reviews - the crafting doesnt add a lot to the story or progress in the game and the infinite number of worlds becomes annoying when you are trying to remember where things are stored/found. I played about 20 hrs worth and realised I hadn't gotten very far so abandoned the game.
  27. SomeonReviews
    Jun 19, 2020
    4
    I really wanted to like this game. Terraria in space. It sounds amazing! But its just not fun. The gameplay loop is just... unsatifisying. The UI is a mess and just confusing, just like the entire game. Its just confusing. Why make an open world sandbox, with tutorials, a story mode and fetch quests. What game do you want to be Starbound?! Soundtrack and mod support are pretty good though.I really wanted to like this game. Terraria in space. It sounds amazing! But its just not fun. The gameplay loop is just... unsatifisying. The UI is a mess and just confusing, just like the entire game. Its just confusing. Why make an open world sandbox, with tutorials, a story mode and fetch quests. What game do you want to be Starbound?! Soundtrack and mod support are pretty good though. Wouldn't reccomend.… Expand
  28. Welbar
    May 9, 2020
    8
    Очень интересная и привлекательная 2D песочница, чем-то напоминающая террариа. Только в отличии от террарии в игре меньше контента, но это исправляется модами. Еще в качестве минусов хочу сказать что очень редко выходят обновленияОчень интересная и привлекательная 2D песочница, чем-то напоминающая террариа. Только в отличии от террарии в игре меньше контента, но это исправляется модами. Еще в качестве минусов хочу сказать что очень редко выходят обновления
  29. DragonHeart000
    Feb 12, 2020
    10
    If you're a fan of Terraria then you'll love this game and despite what people say, they have some heavy differences. Starbound has a large focus on exploration and items whilst Terraria is more focused on boss fights. Both are excellent games in their own ways.
  30. Logonic
    Feb 9, 2020
    10
    Игра замечательная как для созидателей, кто может построить собственную колонию, так и для разрушителей и любителей экшена. С обновлением 1.14 в игре появился новый сюжет и возможности. Все это подталкивает игрока на новые приключения.
    В рецензиях с низкой оценкой от пользователей большинство плохих оценок стоят за неоправданные ожидания, а все баги и неприятности, найденные в 2014-2016    Игра замечательная как для созидателей, кто может построить собственную колонию, так и для разрушителей и любителей экшена. С обновлением 1.14 в игре появился новый сюжет и возможности. Все это подталкивает игрока на новые приключения.
    В рецензиях с низкой оценкой от пользователей большинство плохих оценок стоят за неоправданные ожидания, а все баги и неприятности, найденные в 2014-2016 годах давно исправлены.
    В игру советую заходить с друзьями, так намного веселее и интереснее, но если такой возможности нет, то в starbound вас всегда развеселят забавные диалоги и фразы персонажей.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Best PC Game of 2016
32
#32 Most Discussed PC Game of 2016
74
#74 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Everyeye.it
    Oct 24, 2016
    82
    Starbound is one of the very few games that gets both "open world" and "sandbox" done right. The amount of activities available is astounding and the best part is you can avoid them all, if you wish to do just that.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Oct 14, 2016
    85
    The price to fun ratio is amazing, but Starbound’s biggest advantage is the freedom it offers. I took a long break from Elite Dangerous to play this indie gem – it’s that good! [10/2016, p.58]
  3. Games.cz
    Sep 19, 2016
    70
    Starbound is not as polished and debugged as other games, and sometimes it may seem repetitive. But compared to more "modern" sci-fi games its explorative, almost melancholic spirit and emphasis on building catches your heart. Spare a few hundred hours of your time, the ultimate boundary once again calls for the survey.
    Read full review
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