Starcom: Unknown Space

Developer: Wx3 Labs, LLC
Release: Sep 2nd 2024
Platforms:
Action
Adventure
Indie
RPG
Exploration
Shipbuilding
Lore
Mission Tracking
Bugs
Starcom: Unknown Space Poster

" Immersive action RPG with extensive ship-building and rich lore but frustrating quest tracking "

Starcom: Unknown Space Review

Starcom: Unknown Space is a space exploration game blending open-world mechanics with a story-driven approach. Players enjoy extensive ship-building options, engaging space combat, and a universe rich in lore and diverse alien species. The game balances exploration with meaningful progression, offering a relaxing yet captivating experience. Its pacing allows players to feel accomplished regardless of session length, and the retro-inspired graphics and sound design contribute to an immersive atmosphere.

However, some players report issues with mission tracking and quest clarity, leading to occasional frustration and confusion about objectives. The vastness of space can feel empty at times, causing downtime during exploration. Despite a solid story and enjoyable gameplay, the game’s ending and some mission bugs have disappointed a few players. Overall, Starcom is praised for its creativity and charm but could improve in mission guidance and endgame content.

Highlights

Players praise the extensive and flexible ship-building mechanics, which allow for personalized combat styles. The game's lore and world-building receive strong appreciation, with many enjoying the diverse alien factions and story-driven exploration. Combat is described as fun and engaging, with a good balance of challenge. The retro art style and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the space opera feel. The pacing is well-regarded, making every play session feel rewarding. Overall, the game is seen as a charming and well-crafted indie space sim with a solid narrative foundation.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the mission tracking system, which can be unclear and frustrating, sometimes requiring external help to progress. The late-game content and final quests are reported as buggy or broken, detracting from the overall experience. Some players find space exploration tedious due to large empty areas and slow travel before upgrades. The story and quest variety could be deeper, and the research tree is considered limited. A few mention the ship-building interface as cumbersome, and the game’s price may feel high relative to content volume.

Pros

  • Extensive and flexible ship-building allows diverse combat playstyles and personalization.
  • Rich lore and world-building create an immersive and engaging universe to explore.
  • Engaging space combat with a good balance of challenge and tactical depth.
  • Well-paced gameplay makes every session feel productive and rewarding.
  • Retro-inspired graphics and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the space opera vibe.
  • Meaningful progression through technology upgrades and resource management.
  • Diverse alien species with unique characteristics and interesting interactions.

Cons

  • Mission tracking and quest guidance are unclear and often frustrating to follow.
  • Final quests contain bugs that can block progression and break immersion.
  • Large empty space areas can cause tedious downtime during exploration.
  • Limited variety in quest types and relatively short research tree.
  • Ship-building interface can be cumbersome and unintuitive for some players.
  • Price may feel high compared to the amount of content offered.
  • Some players find combat difficulty inconsistent and lacking late-game challenge.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

Starcom: Unknown Space is an action RPG of space exploration and adventure. Build your own starship while discovering an epic story in a universe of strange mysteries, alien factions and uncharted worlds.

Release Date Sep 2nd 2024
Publisher Wx3 Labs, LLC
Developer Wx3 Labs, LLC
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (2,788)
93% Positive 7% Negative