Nienix: Cosmic Warfare

I have mixed feelings on this game. I enjoy ARPGs/looters and 2D space games, and this game somehow scratches neither itch. Most of the game is relegated to navigating tight corridors in what are essentially dungeons, which makes playing the larger ships much more difficult and ends up being more of a detriment unlike most space games where the goal is usually to get larger, more powerful ships. This would be okay if the "dungeons" had at least some space to move around for larger ships, but this is only true for the final acts of the game. It's especially jarring when you enter NG+ mode (similar to how difficulty works in Diablo II) and play through the early game dungeons where the enemies are tiny and you have no room to dodge anything in a larger ship, forcing you to have to switch to a smaller ship. At least the game doesn't make you reroll anything other than a new ship to equip to do this, as your equipment carries over between ships (other than equipped turret weapons, which have to be manually swapped over to the new ship). Normally, one of the best things about ARPGs is the freedom to develop different builds and figure out how to minmax them, and then spending resources/time to try to minmax your equipment. All that the game offers is a tedious equipment combine system to try to reroll new gear, and a very expensive "gambling" store that will take hours worth of money and turn it into a handful of likely useless items. The game doesn't really even attempt to streamline drops to equipment that you can even use. It would be akin to playing Diablo III or IV and mostly getting drops for other classes than yours. The final nail in the ARPG coffin is that there isn't really much of a power fantasy at play here. Sure, you can get marginally better gear and become stronger, but you never really reach a point where you're mowing down hordes of enemies to sift through loot drops. Finally, it really sucks that there's no way to spend money to improve the gear you already have. The game drops you rare artifacts that can do these things, but they are quite rare and too numerous to consistently get the ones that you want. It would be nice if you could spend money to reroll the gear you already have like most other modern ARPGs. It also doesn't scratch that 2D space itch since again, you are mostly just exploring cramped dungeons rather than doing space game staples like doing jobs, improving reputation, making money, etc. Some faction's ships are also terrible in pretty much every metric for a bullet hell game like this. The best example are the Founders large ships. They are all very wide making it impossible to dodge bullets, and the fixed weapon hardpoints on the ships are light years apart making it so you have to constantly spin your ship back and forth to hit enemies with your 2 weapons. Every other faction has thinner ship profiles with weapon hardpoints that are much closer together, making them far more useable for this style of gameplay. Overall I don't hate the idea altogether, and I did have moments where I had fun. I just don't really enjoy the execution. It would be nice if the dungeons had more space and more enemies, and if NG+ was more friendly. It would also be great if more of the story actually took place in open space. But, it could just be that maybe this game isn't for me, and that's okay. If I could rate this halfway with like a "Maybe" or (3/5) I would've done that.

It's exactly what it's billed as - an indie spaceship ARPG (like Path of Exile, Diablo, Grim Dawn, etc.). The English translation is pretty mediocre, but the story is pretty much irrelevant, as you are here to kill things, level up, and gear up. Price to value proposition is pretty fair! Compared to Drox Operative 2, which is its closest contemporary I'm aware of, I think this game is better, though Drox Operative/Drox Operative 2 might also be up/be even more up your alley if you are interested in this, so check that out too!

As much as I enjoy shooter games , this just did not work for me. This is more bumper cars in space than bullet hell. All the weapons I acquired felt underwhelming to me. Each Act gave you enemies which seemed to be as strong or better than you. So every single thing to kill takes ages. Ergo you just fly past everything until you are literally gated by the need to kill something to open the gate. In the words of Lister, I fell ungripped.

What one does in Nienix, from highest frequency to lowest: o Destroy enemies o Process loot o Progress story Very well made game. Could have done with more QoL, but it is what it is. Roughly same vibes as Drox Operative (2), Star Valor, VoidExpanse & SPaZ. Of special note: There is a tremendous amount of different ships and weapons in-game to use, complete with rarity & customization items to make it all just a bit different. There are bits that can be frustrating. What else is new in life, right? Just push through. TL;DR Buy it if one enjoys loot in space, it's a definite steal at 50% off. Even at full price though, one is getting their money's worth.

Space-fantasy looter-shooter with spaceships. Realism is not even a mere suggestion. Was pretty fun in cooperative.

задумка игры довольно интересная но у игры есть минус. это бесконечные враги в космосе (за то количество что встретил и уничтожил можно звезду смерти размером с галактику построить) второе что не понравилось это то что абсолютно на всех кораблях одинаковые слоты что у тяжёлых крейсеров что у мелких истребителей. (для крупных кораблей можно было и поболее слотов орудий и доп. оборудования наделать а не одни турели) подземелья честно сказать бредовые и однотипные быстро передается.(Можно было сделать отдельный истребитель для таких станций-подземелей. а более крупными кораблями пользоваться в космосе. а смену кораблей убрать вообще) P.S. после прохождения Starcom. эта игра стала для меня блеклым куском Г. если разработчик не пересмотрит всю концепцию игры то она просто пропадет среди большого количества мусора в стиме

Absolutely, the tutorial is not very good, press T for the portal to the home station so you can sell/ buy restock trade stuff with your stash whatever

Nienix: Cosmic Warfare is a space action RPG that blends top-down shooting, physics-based combat, and looter mechanics into a surprisingly deep and replayable package. Developed and published by HolmCom, it positions itself somewhere between a bullet-hell twin-stick shooter and a Diablo-style action RPG, all set in a procedurally generated galaxy teeming with factions, enemies, and loot. While the indie roots show in certain areas, especially visually and in narrative presentation, the game makes up for it with robust gameplay systems, smart design decisions, and a ton of customization for players who enjoy experimenting with builds and weapons. The premise is straightforward: you're a pilot in a vast galaxy, hunting down the mythical artifact known as Nienix. The story, while serviceable, largely exists to give context to your travels across the stars. You’ll interact with various factions, take on missions, and uncover hints of lore, but the game is far more concerned with delivering intense, moment-to-moment action than it is with spinning a detailed narrative. The tone is generally light, and while there are occasional bits of dialogue or backstory, it’s clear that the gameplay is the real focus. Fortunately, that gameplay has a lot going on beneath the surface. Combat is fast, fluid, and physics-driven. Ships are not just stat blocks; their movement has weight, inertia, and requires a bit of finesse. You’ll be dodging projectiles, managing cooldowns, and unleashing powerful attacks in dense, chaotic firefights. What sets Nienix apart is how layered the combat becomes over time. There are hundreds of weapons and ship components to collect, modify, and upgrade. Everything from laser cannons to explosive mines to kinetic blasters is available, each with its own stats and modifiers. Item drops are procedurally generated, with affixes and tiered rarity that will be familiar to fans of loot-based RPGs. You can mix and match modules, weapons, and passive traits to create ships that specialize in raw damage, crowd control, long-range sniping, or tanky brawling. The skill tree system is expansive, allowing for detailed tuning of your playstyle, whether you're flying solo or as part of a team. One of the most appealing aspects of Nienix is the sheer amount of content packed into it. The campaign alone offers 15 to 20 hours of exploration, combat, and progression, and that’s before diving into the higher-difficulty Continuum mode, which adds a new layer of challenge and additional loot tiers. The game is also fully playable in co-op for up to six players, which transforms the experience significantly. Coordinated teams can build synergies, combining support builds with high-damage loadouts to take on tougher encounters. PvP modes are also available, offering classic deathmatch and team-based battles for those who want a more competitive angle. This flexibility in how you play—solo, co-op, or PvP—makes it a versatile game with solid replay value. Visually, Nienix does what it needs to do. The graphics are clean and functional, though clearly developed with performance and clarity in mind rather than visual spectacle. The top-down perspective works well for reading enemy patterns and managing your positioning in the chaos of battle. That said, during more intense sequences, the screen can become overwhelmed with particle effects, laser blasts, and explosion debris. This can make it difficult to track projectiles or incoming threats, especially in darker environments or denser fights. It’s not game-breaking, but it does highlight the game’s focus on mechanics over polish. Still, it runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware and has full support for Steam Deck, which is a nice bonus for portable play. The procedural nature of the world brings both benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, it ensures that each playthrough feels fresh, with randomized sectors, missions, and loot keeping things from becoming too predictable. On the other hand, procedural generation can result in repetition, with certain enemy types, mission structures, or environments feeling recycled after extended play. There's also a sense that some regions lack the handcrafted uniqueness seen in more curated games. However, for players who are more interested in experimentation, loot chasing, and emergent combat encounters, the procedural format works well enough to sustain long-term engagement. There are a few rough edges in other areas as well. The user interface, while mostly functional, can feel cluttered when you're deep into build customization or fleet management. Tooltips and menus occasionally lack clarity, especially when comparing items or upgrading parts. The pacing also fluctuates, with certain stretches of the game dragging a bit if you're under-leveled or haven’t found a satisfying gear setup. Grind can set in, particularly at higher difficulties where enemies become bullet sponges and rare loot becomes essential for survival. That said, the game does reward persistence, and the sense of power progression is genuinely satisfying once you start to build a ship that feels uniquely yours. Where Nienix succeeds most is in providing a dense, replayable sandbox for space combat and customization. It may not win awards for visual fidelity or storytelling, but it makes up for that with sheer mechanical depth and player freedom. The ability to create a wide array of ships, experiment with different loadouts, and play either solo or with friends makes it a compelling package for fans of space shooters and loot-driven games. The difficulty curve ramps up significantly in later modes, making it a good fit for players who enjoy fine-tuning their builds and mastering challenging encounters. In the end, Nienix: Cosmic Warfare is a standout title in the indie action RPG space shooter niche. It offers a surprising amount of content and mechanical depth for its price point, and its mix of bullet-hell combat, loot progression, and procedural exploration gives it strong replay value. It won’t be for everyone—particularly those looking for a tightly crafted narrative or cinematic presentation—but for players who enjoy building their own playstyles, chasing gear, and diving into frenetic space battles, it’s a rewarding and underappreciated gem. Rating: 8/10

well made game nothing wrong with it but can have some quality of life updates

I really wanted to love Nienix. On paper, it's everything I want: an ARPG loot grinder set in space, along the lines of Diablo or Chronicon. The itemization is deep, the customization is robust, and the core idea is sound. Unfortunately, the execution suffers from a severe lack of coherence that makes the experience more frustrating than fun. The biggest issue is that the game’s systems are at war with each other. Nienix gives you pseudo Newtonian physics (ships have weight, drift, and inertia) and then forces you to navigate tight, narrow maze corridors for the majority of the game. This isn't challenging; it's tedious. Trying to drift through a cramped hallway while chasing down an elite that's bouncing off the walls is an exercise in annoyance, not skill. The physics feel great in open space, but the level design rarely gives you that space to enjoy it. This inconsistency extends to the combat. Arena style boss fights in open areas are genuinely fun and showcase what the game could be. But those moments are the exception. The rule is navigating repetitive mazes where the only objective is "go to X, reach the bottom," with no unique variance or interesting quests to break up the monotony. The story is so light that it might as well not exist, which leaves the gameplay loop completely exposed. Yes, the loot is varied and plentiful, and I appreciate the ability to further customize and enhance stats. It's a deep system that rewards theorycrafting. But here's the thing: it doesn't matter how good your loot is if you can't maneuver. All that theorycrafting ultimately funnels you into one of two extremes: build an immovable tank that can absorb the punishment of getting stuck in corridors, or build something so small and nimble that it can zip past the tedium. There's very little room for creative, mid-range builds because the environment punishes them so harshly. Nienix has the bones of a great ARPG, but it feels like two different games glued together. One is a fun, physics-based space shooter, and the other is a claustrophobic dungeon crawler. They don't mesh well, and the result is an experience that feels inconsistent and often unrewarding. If the developers ever overhaul the level design or add more open-space content, this could be a gem. As it stands, I can't recommend it to anyone who values smooth, satisfying moment-to-moment gameplay over spreadsheet-level tinkering.