Sword of the Stars: The Pit

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 97 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 97
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 97
  3. Negative: 13 out of 97

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  1. TiCube
    May 6, 2014
    10
    The Pit is one of the best Rogue-likes I have ever played. It's very challenging, exciting, frequently intense, requiring critical thinking and strategy, with a wide variety of enemies, weapons, consumables, armors, and crafting recipes. There are 3 well balanced characters to choose from who each have their areas of expertise that will be handy during your journey. As you kill/destroyThe Pit is one of the best Rogue-likes I have ever played. It's very challenging, exciting, frequently intense, requiring critical thinking and strategy, with a wide variety of enemies, weapons, consumables, armors, and crafting recipes. There are 3 well balanced characters to choose from who each have their areas of expertise that will be handy during your journey. As you kill/destroy enemies, repair crafting/cooking stations, and disarm traps you gain experience. There are over 15 fields of skills to allocate points into improving your player character. If you're even a moderate fan of rogue-likes or RPGs, Sword of The Stars: The Pit should be near the top of your list at the least.

    The expansions are some of the most rewarding DLC I have ever purchased. Mind Games changes the game up drastically by adding Psionic abilities, an incredible amount of items, weapons, new skills, enemies, armors, recipes, and some new characters to the game.    … Expand
  2. Exavier
    Sep 8, 2015
    8
    This is a must-play for roguelike veterans and noobs alike. While it may be frustrating at times, sometimes for the wrong reasons, remember, that's what it's there to do.

    The biggest issue, if it can be called such, that I have with it is the experience saving/item depositing every 5 floors. Why? Because it's easy enough to just farm a bunch of experience and dump it onto one character    This is a must-play for roguelike veterans and noobs alike. While it may be frustrating at times, sometimes for the wrong reasons, remember, that's what it's there to do.

    The biggest issue, if it can be called such, that I have with it is the experience saving/item depositing every 5 floors. Why? Because it's easy enough to just farm a bunch of experience and dump it onto one character and start on a floor with basically whatever you want. Kinda kills the whole thing for me, so I don't use it--then I hate myself when I find an item I want to use on another character so I deposit it anyway in case I decide to change my mind. I'uno. Torn on that bit.

    This game did steal my heart, though. And my time. Easily over a hundred hours. That's some potent value for the price.    … Expand
  3. MayhemMike83
    Mar 10, 2013
    9
    I love it, a perfect mix between survival and fighting. Not only do you have to fight your way down through 30 floors/lvls, scavenge for food, weapons and ammo, you can also level up your skills to unlock doors and repair crafting benches. Yes, there is also crafting and upgrading. Even on "normal" it is really challenging but never unfair, (didn't make it past lvl10 yet after 6 hours ofI love it, a perfect mix between survival and fighting. Not only do you have to fight your way down through 30 floors/lvls, scavenge for food, weapons and ammo, you can also level up your skills to unlock doors and repair crafting benches. Yes, there is also crafting and upgrading. Even on "normal" it is really challenging but never unfair, (didn't make it past lvl10 yet after 6 hours of playing and dying.)… Expand
  4. LordGek
    Mar 10, 2013
    10
    This is clearly one of the BEST roguelikes to come out in quite some time! Play as a tough as nails marine master of all weaponry, a brainy engineer able to repair salvage the random debris he finds into something useful, or the scout who meets the two previous classes somewhere in the middle (craftier than a marine but with more combat training than an engineer). A huge variety of highThis is clearly one of the BEST roguelikes to come out in quite some time! Play as a tough as nails marine master of all weaponry, a brainy engineer able to repair salvage the random debris he finds into something useful, or the scout who meets the two previous classes somewhere in the middle (craftier than a marine but with more combat training than an engineer). A huge variety of high tech devices and freaky aliens are guaranteed to keep you on your toes (but even then the game lets you choose your difficulty level from cakewalk to impossible).… Expand
  5. hink241
    Mar 12, 2013
    8
    Solid gaming experience, but nothing too inspired. I enjoy most "Rogue-Likes" so this game was right up my alley. For a Rogue-Like it is fairly shallow, but as of yet the game has not run dry for me. Decent games of this genre seem to be few and far between, with FTL being the latest great example in the past 12 months. For only $10, I think that it is easily worth it. 10 runs or less andSolid gaming experience, but nothing too inspired. I enjoy most "Rogue-Likes" so this game was right up my alley. For a Rogue-Like it is fairly shallow, but as of yet the game has not run dry for me. Decent games of this genre seem to be few and far between, with FTL being the latest great example in the past 12 months. For only $10, I think that it is easily worth it. 10 runs or less and you'll be at the $1/hr rate for a game (if you look at ROI in terms of value vs time). Buy or try the demo, there shouldn't be much disappointment here.… Expand
  6. Kalistro
    Apr 1, 2013
    10
    Sword of the Stars: The Pitt is the game almost a master piece. The rouge like dungeon crawling RPG provides a rewarding experience for novice and hard core players alike. The game offers a casual lvling system that probably will not appeal to players looking for an in depth character customization experience, but in turn offers a pick up and go go go experience. The action in the gameSword of the Stars: The Pitt is the game almost a master piece. The rouge like dungeon crawling RPG provides a rewarding experience for novice and hard core players alike. The game offers a casual lvling system that probably will not appeal to players looking for an in depth character customization experience, but in turn offers a pick up and go go go experience. The action in the game flows fluidly and isn't hindered by lengthy and boring story lines. If your looking for a game with a great narrative you need not apply to this game or you will be disappointed. However if you are looking for a game that cuts all the BS out and delves into action, treasure, strategy, and crafting then this is the game for you.

    I personally love this game. I've been gaming for 24 years now, and i've played virtually everything. Most games haven't held my attention very long recently, but i logged 6 hours on my first session of this game. I've been wanting to play a game that cuts all the tired and boring stories out of the game for straight up action. This game delivers that. ii can hope on this game and play for 10 minutes or 3 hours there will always be something fun to do.    … Expand
  7. Koo
    Mar 11, 2013
    10
    Sword of the Stars: The Pit is a modern day classic. The game's premise as simple: Playing as one of three characters in a futuristic sci-fi setting, you set out to explore "The Pit", scavenging for supplies, and defeating enemies as you go. However, behind this simple premise lies a mixture of strategy and tactics the player must use to survive. Each class has its pros and cons, andSword of the Stars: The Pit is a modern day classic. The game's premise as simple: Playing as one of three characters in a futuristic sci-fi setting, you set out to explore "The Pit", scavenging for supplies, and defeating enemies as you go. However, behind this simple premise lies a mixture of strategy and tactics the player must use to survive. Each class has its pros and cons, and none of the three classes supplied makes this game a walk in the park. The Pit can be frustrating at times un-successful item crafting, not having the skills to use the itemse collected, and dying from wounds or poison. But that's part of the fun. If you are looking for a challenging game (even on Normal difficulty) that evokes memories of classic RPGs from days gone by, I highly recommend The Pit. The only downside to this game is the chiptune music, which can be easily disabled in the Options menu. If you are looking for a really fun single player RPG with crafting elements and permanent death, then check out The Pit. Recommended.… Expand
  8. Galwail
    Mar 9, 2013
    9
    The Pit is a new sci-fi rogue-like RPG game set on a distant planet, which was stricken by a terrible disaster. You take the role of a lone hero and descent into the ancient alien research facility to try to save the world. The facility of course turns out to be a giant deathtrap filled with deadly monsters that try to kill you in many horrible ways. To survive you have to use every bit ofThe Pit is a new sci-fi rogue-like RPG game set on a distant planet, which was stricken by a terrible disaster. You take the role of a lone hero and descent into the ancient alien research facility to try to save the world. The facility of course turns out to be a giant deathtrap filled with deadly monsters that try to kill you in many horrible ways. To survive you have to use every bit of skill in weapons, looting a crafting you have. The game has four difficulty levels. The easiest one is still very challenging and finishing the game on any harder difficulty is incredibly difficult. All in all the game is a blast and has everything a good rogue-like should have plus very nice polished graphics and lots of lore and back-story that you can piece together during multiple playthroughs. There are just two UI issues that lessen the overall game experience. There is no zoom level that allows you to see as far as your character sees. That means you will sometimes get gunned down by enemies that hides outside of your screen. The second one is the inability to aim your gun with mouse. The entire game interface is mouse friendly and clickable, but you have to aim with arrow keys. That is something you would expect from a bad console port, but in this case the game controls have been dumbed down on purpose to allow easier porting to consoles in the future. That is something I don’t like at all.… Expand
  9. Ellye
    Mar 12, 2013
    9
    Sword of the Stars: The Pit is a turn-based roguelike RPG with a refreshing sci-fi theme that has some neat mechanics and is all around really well executed. It's as hard as any good roguelike game should be expected to be, and has four different difficulty levels so that players of any skill may enjoy it and/or enjoy climbing through the difficulties. The gameplay heavily emphasisesSword of the Stars: The Pit is a turn-based roguelike RPG with a refreshing sci-fi theme that has some neat mechanics and is all around really well executed. It's as hard as any good roguelike game should be expected to be, and has four different difficulty levels so that players of any skill may enjoy it and/or enjoy climbing through the difficulties. The gameplay heavily emphasises survival and attrition you'll learn to count your every bullet, count every scratch to your equipment, count your every piece of food. There's a nice amount of strategical depth to be found in planning your approach to all the different random situations that the game can throw at you. There's a big variety of monsters (that are more than just a bunch of stats you'll quickly learn to fear each monster for its own unique properties, like being able to bathe your equipments in acid, being highly infectious, disguising themselves, etcetera), an enormous variety of items, and a cool crafting system that rewards exploration and experimentation (well, you could spoil yourself and look up a list of recipe online, if you really wish to, but finding and decrypting them is quite fun). The one downside I might mention about the game is that the character customization is rather basic, but it's still good enough to serve its purpose. Overall, this is an easily recommendable games for anyone that likes or might start liking roguelike games.… Expand
  10. novembr
    Nov 11, 2013
    9
    I've played my fair share of roguelikes, from the most bare bones ASCII offerings to the hybrids that hardly qualify for the name. Roguelikes are a very polarizing genre, only relatively recently gathering in popularity, and much of the concepts surrounding it are often misunderstood. On the other hand, there are plenty of "roguelike fundamentalists" that reject this new-found popularity,I've played my fair share of roguelikes, from the most bare bones ASCII offerings to the hybrids that hardly qualify for the name. Roguelikes are a very polarizing genre, only relatively recently gathering in popularity, and much of the concepts surrounding it are often misunderstood. On the other hand, there are plenty of "roguelike fundamentalists" that reject this new-found popularity, and even go so far as to reject any roguelike that adopts a graphical interface.

    I don't go so far as to reject graphical roguelikes, nor hybrids even. I think roguelikes are evolving in their own genre that, ironically, is not necessarily going to stay faithful to the original Rogue. And that's okay, because these games have a lot to offer the gaming community. The Pit is much more in the vein of a traditional roguelike than what some here point to. A fellow below recommends Dungeons of Dredmor over The Pit, though DoD has fewer hardcore roguelike elements, so maybe that's what he is advocating. Many people just don't like the extreme randomization. Well, maybe roguelikes aren't their cup of tea then. Most hardcore roguelikes have a strong sense of luck involved, but the best ones also have a strong element of decision-making strategy elements to maximize survival. Some games you'll get the items you want (and possibly still die due to monster spawns or traps) and other games you'll be strapped for food or ammo (and maybe even still manage a win due to excellent tactics). But this balance of extremes is what makes hardcore roguelikes so appealing to me and other fans of the genre. Winning a good roguelike feels like simultaneously winning both the lottery and a game of chess--few games offer such satisfaction.

    Is this game as intricate as Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup or Brogue? No, though it's close. I'd say it's likely the best graphical roguelike out right now (though I know the graphical ADOM is around the corner). Along with the expansions and the fact the game has a very modest price point for the amount of content, and I find very little to be dissatisfied with. Lots of playable characters give good variety, tons of recipes to discover (not a typical roguelike feature, but not unwelcome as far as I'm concerned), many skills to manage, lots of weapons, and monster variety was once meager but is now respectable. There are even difficulty settings, rather than the normal ONE difficulty hardcore roguelikes normally have: Hard as Hell--so I don't know where people get off complaining about difficulty. Even the gamepad support is well done and I've used it on a few occasions...not many roguelikes have managed that.

    Anyway, if you don't have an insanely short attention span (golly, these turn based games sure are slow!!), enjoy a challenge, enjoy randomization and infinite replayability, don't mind getting screwed over by a game over and over again, and actually find yourself laughing at the rage reviews, then I definitely recommend The Pit.    … Expand
  11. TheFiddler
    Jan 1, 2014
    8
    If you watch any short video of gameplay, you see pretty much what you get. Some reviews are complaining about the game for its repetitiveness, but I don't agree. The game is different slightly every time you play, yes things are randomly generated, that's the point. It's fun having to be aware of your inventory, and health, and the turn-based element of it allows a bit more casual-ness orIf you watch any short video of gameplay, you see pretty much what you get. Some reviews are complaining about the game for its repetitiveness, but I don't agree. The game is different slightly every time you play, yes things are randomly generated, that's the point. It's fun having to be aware of your inventory, and health, and the turn-based element of it allows a bit more casual-ness or at least time to figure out your next move. You can speed run through levels, but often then find yourself under equipped for the later levels or you can take your time and explore. More classes or something might be a cool addition, but for $1.75 you should do yourself the favor and buy the game if you're at all into roguelike games.… Expand
  12. Vyperhate
    Mar 11, 2013
    8
    This game is a somewhat above average roguelike. Art design invokes an nice sense of nostalgia with high fidelity textures that remind me of the original "Fallout" game. There is a very interesting crafting system in place and it can take many playthroughs it discover all the recipes available. The game offers up three character classes to choose from, each with it's own distinct playstyleThis game is a somewhat above average roguelike. Art design invokes an nice sense of nostalgia with high fidelity textures that remind me of the original "Fallout" game. There is a very interesting crafting system in place and it can take many playthroughs it discover all the recipes available. The game offers up three character classes to choose from, each with it's own distinct playstyle which provides a good amount of replayability. There are 30 levels of increasing difficulty in the game and it takes a decent amount of time to progress through them all, particularly if you are being sure to fully explore each floor. There are several well implemented RPG elements as well in the form of crafting, random traps and enhancements (in the form of genetic altering "potions" and weapon/armor mods that are random each playthrough). It's not all good though. Sound and music is unfortunately rather forgettable as well as being really repetitive. Which brings us to another issue: repetitiveness. To be fair, this is an issue many roguelikes face, but that is no excuse not to overcome it here. Enemies and tilesets get really repetitive, with the tileset only changing once every several floors and new enemies being introduced at a rate of about one every five floors or so. And of course, as with any roguelike, be prepared to die. Often.… Expand
  13. vinco
    Mar 10, 2013
    10
    Are you looking for pain? For suffering? For brutal death? You've come to the right place!

    SOTS: The Pit is a sci-fi roguelike, but you probably saw that in the description. The important part is that this game's not just a rehash of the old ASCII roguelikes. It's inspired by that rich history, but Kerberos doesn't stop with the classics. The crafting system, lore tidbits, creative    Are you looking for pain? For suffering? For brutal death? You've come to the right place!

    SOTS: The Pit is a sci-fi roguelike, but you probably saw that in the description. The important part is that this game's not just a rehash of the old ASCII roguelikes. It's inspired by that rich history, but Kerberos doesn't stop with the classics. The crafting system, lore tidbits, creative enemies, and those frakking Adaptoids all combine to give this game a flavor and flair all its own. I'll freely admit that I've only seen a small portion of this game so far, but I've enjoyed many great deaths.

    If you're even slightly interested in roguelikes, you owe it to yourself to give this one a try!    … Expand
  14. MerckinManJ
    Mar 12, 2013
    8
    I created an account here just to show this game some love....im not the biggest fan of roguelikes but i do play them....and aside from Spelunky this is my favorite...their is a ton of items and skills which is what makes any roguelikes great....the combat and is fun and while i will admit the game is not mind blowing visually it gets the job done and has a charm to it...highly recommendedI created an account here just to show this game some love....im not the biggest fan of roguelikes but i do play them....and aside from Spelunky this is my favorite...their is a ton of items and skills which is what makes any roguelikes great....the combat and is fun and while i will admit the game is not mind blowing visually it gets the job done and has a charm to it...highly recommended for anyone who even remotely is into roguelikes....… Expand
  15. Resok
    Mar 10, 2013
    10
    The game is a blast. Traps and lore snippets, weapons, armor and items to be found. Nasty enemies that require varied tactics to kill (never melee a protean!). Overall the game contains a lot of content for the price tag. Coded messages can be deciphered and new snips of the back story and recipes can be found through the terminals strewn throughout the levels. Crafted weapons andThe game is a blast. Traps and lore snippets, weapons, armor and items to be found. Nasty enemies that require varied tactics to kill (never melee a protean!). Overall the game contains a lot of content for the price tag. Coded messages can be deciphered and new snips of the back story and recipes can be found through the terminals strewn throughout the levels. Crafted weapons and equipment is a very enjoyable part of the game and adds some depth to the whole package.

    Each death leaves you wanting more and thinking of new approaches to the dangerous dungeon crawl. Randomly generated level layouts as well as trap and power-up (modules and serums) behaviors mean that every play through is going to be a different and have you facing new challenges.

    The whole package is enjoyable and a unique take on the Rogue-like formula for any level of familiarity with the SOTS universe.    … Expand
  16. LD9000
    Mar 25, 2013
    9
    I really like this game's RPG elements everything is a gamble, based on your skill levels. The combat is fairly tactical, with kiting or hiding around corners. I was surprised to find that I like the game so much. One thing that I must mention is that the game is very hard, even on normal difficulty, the lowest floor I've been to date is 23, thinking I was doing great 8 guns/swords,I really like this game's RPG elements everything is a gamble, based on your skill levels. The combat is fairly tactical, with kiting or hiding around corners. I was surprised to find that I like the game so much. One thing that I must mention is that the game is very hard, even on normal difficulty, the lowest floor I've been to date is 23, thinking I was doing great 8 guns/swords, food, meds, everything is perfect, right? well, wrong, cause some probe insta gibbed me for 500 damage. And there is no save/load grind.… Expand
  17. Zuki1970
    May 1, 2013
    9
    I played it over 50 hours. Managed to finish it to easy and normal difficulty. Starvation was my big problem in middle levels (from lvl 10 to 20), every play trough. Do NOT expect to survive each game-play. Recipes are big and crucial help for finishing game. One point deducted for shallow story ending... but getting there was fun, at least for me...

    Demo is available, I recommend it    I played it over 50 hours. Managed to finish it to easy and normal difficulty. Starvation was my big problem in middle levels (from lvl 10 to 20), every play trough. Do NOT expect to survive each game-play. Recipes are big and crucial help for finishing game. One point deducted for shallow story ending... but getting there was fun, at least for me...

    Demo is available, I recommend it for try to any gamer interested in Rogue-like games.    … Expand
  18. heegs
    Jul 22, 2013
    8
    I wish you could give "in-between" ratings, as I rank this as an 8.5. This game is incredibly difficult, and I LOVE IT. Every death teaches you something new, every mistake gives you a new twist to your strategy. For $10 you're getting countless hours of gameplay, a new experience each time, and near 100 achievements to strive toward earning. It's a wonderfully rewarding roguelike; thatI wish you could give "in-between" ratings, as I rank this as an 8.5. This game is incredibly difficult, and I LOVE IT. Every death teaches you something new, every mistake gives you a new twist to your strategy. For $10 you're getting countless hours of gameplay, a new experience each time, and near 100 achievements to strive toward earning. It's a wonderfully rewarding roguelike; that is, of course, if you have the patience required to learn the game.… Expand
  19. Boonah
    Mar 17, 2013
    9
    Wonderfully frustrating and random. Really nice game to dip into and out of. Lots of fun. Dungeon crawling, crafting, levelling up and shooting aliens. Whats not to like?

    Highly recommended.
  20. DrPotato
    Mar 31, 2013
    10
    Whats not to love? It is a simple yet fun and addictive dungeon crawling perme-death rpg. There are many weapons, like melee, rifles, pistols, assault rifles, plasma weapons, various grenades, traps, and rocket launchers ect. There is a crafting system, and many monsters. Also a different randomized "dungeon" each time you die and re-play. The only flaw i have is that there are only 3Whats not to love? It is a simple yet fun and addictive dungeon crawling perme-death rpg. There are many weapons, like melee, rifles, pistols, assault rifles, plasma weapons, various grenades, traps, and rocket launchers ect. There is a crafting system, and many monsters. Also a different randomized "dungeon" each time you die and re-play. The only flaw i have is that there are only 3 classes, no dlc, and no shop keeper in game, or a merchant or something would be nice.… Expand
  21. pacoda
    Aug 30, 2013
    10
    The only rogue-like i really, REALLY enjoyed so far. I played this game more then 400 hours. Not a lot of other games i can say that about. The learning curve for this game is long and you discover new things all the time(I still do after 400 hours). The game is very atmospheric in its sound and i really feel like i am there, in the pit. This game is truly a challenge. Some of it is basedThe only rogue-like i really, REALLY enjoyed so far. I played this game more then 400 hours. Not a lot of other games i can say that about. The learning curve for this game is long and you discover new things all the time(I still do after 400 hours). The game is very atmospheric in its sound and i really feel like i am there, in the pit. This game is truly a challenge. Some of it is based on luck with the randomizer, yes, but not as much as some people like to think. Its hard and unforgiving and i frickin love it.… Expand
  22. Honeybadgers
    Jul 20, 2014
    8
    Very happy with this little gem. the art style is wonderfully functional, the gameplay is challenging and replayable. randomization CAN be your worst enemy, but 3/4 of the time you can make things work well enough to get a solid playthrough in. Not quite as polished and flawless as FTL, but I've got hours happily sunk into this game.

    Favorite aspect is that it's kind of mindless, yet    Very happy with this little gem. the art style is wonderfully functional, the gameplay is challenging and replayable. randomization CAN be your worst enemy, but 3/4 of the time you can make things work well enough to get a solid playthrough in. Not quite as polished and flawless as FTL, but I've got hours happily sunk into this game.

    Favorite aspect is that it's kind of mindless, yet still manages to challenge me. I love being able to wind down after a long day of work with a simple, challenging game while watching something on my other monitor.

    Worth every penny, and just like most roguelikes, don't expect every runthrough to be a complete finish.    … Expand
  23. NoelWademan
    Jan 20, 2015
    10
    I've had many hours of replayable fun with this game. Despite only ever getting all the way to the end a couple of times. The only negative thing i'd say is it gets dull to juggle your inventory. If you run out of space then it takes time ferrying things to the next level each time. Otherwise great game. Lots and lots of replay value.
  24. zanzibar196
    Aug 30, 2015
    10
    If you have not played this... what are you waiting for? Get it now! Probably one of the best space-based RPG roguelikes you will ever play. This game not only hates you, it wants your lunch money and everything else too!

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. RPG Fan
    Apr 10, 2019
    81
    Whether played with DLC or not, The Pit is one of the more solid roguelike titles on Steam, especially in a relatively flooded market. It is challenging but generally fair and allows the player a lot of choices in character development while providing a good atmosphere for dungeon delving. While its graphics and sound may not impress, The Pit's gameplay will keep players unafraid of long streaks of failure and ensure they come back to challenge it "just one more time."
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  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Sep 19, 2013
    60
    An interesting choice if you long for a proper challenge, and you don't mind there's no feast to your eyes. However, if rogue genre says nothing to you, take a different road. [Issue#232]
  3. PC Gamer
    Apr 24, 2013
    73
    While its RPG aspirations may be overshadowed by your need to constantly source the basics like ammo and health, The Pit--with its random elements and permadeath--is justified in its boast of replayability, even if it is only out of necessity. [May 2013, p.61]
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