Stardeus

This used to be a really neat game, but it started to go downhill ever since the FTL changes. He says that a poll determined those changes (only on his discord), but if you actually read the poll and the discussion, I don't think there was a real understanding of what was being voted on. I tried to give the new system a fair shot, but the vibe this game had is just gone. Now with the peak at the upcoming UI changes (many of which were needed to be fair), I just don't have any further confidence in this game or the dev and whatever rot has taken over. I bought this game day one on Steam. I got some good time in, but I regret this purchase now. This isn't the game concept I was sold anymore.

Ahh yes, this is the one I've been looking for and didn't even know it. The Rim World influence caught me first, and having the DLC for Rim World that allows you to build a space craft (be it ever so tedious a process) I thought this would be interesting spin. I bought it on sale & it sat in my library for over a year.... updating all the while. I bought Space Haven a little later and was hooked. A great space builder game with lots of features. But it did get to that point with S/H where it got too routine, a bit boring. Finally I got to Stardeus and began learning the mechanics. Very straight fwd if you've played the others I mentioned here. Stardeus however lends a much deeper type of game play, and keeps you very busy no matter the choice of game story. Many levels of tech to explore, and at the start, certain tech selections are crucial for an efficient launch of your game. Human crew are a lot like Rim World characters- very much so in control parameters and behavior. I spent some time restarting only because I was overly confident I had it figured out.. I didn't! And my first couple of crews sacrificed themselves just for my hubris. I backed up and gave the game a more serious approach. You really do have to pay close attention to all the details-building and resources and dangers.. so if you like that type of resource management, you'll love this. The mechanics are smooth, game play really pulls you in. The AI is very aware and intuitive. The building lists expand in a major way as you navigate the tech trees. I should say here that the space travel in Stardues is more of a game board arrangement, so if your looking for sci-fi space flight in any real depth- this isn't it. Sectors, universe, and area maps are for basic representation. Most all of the action takes place right on your vessel. Human crew are released gradually from hyper sleep. Game provides a myriad of options at game set up, tailoring it's pace and difficulty to your liking. The sounds are crisp and the soundtrack is great, it's fun and sets a nice pace for building .. then tense when it needs to be. Ship combat, diplomacy, trade, crafting.. I'm only 20 plus hours in but I'm honestly on a mission to really explore this title. It's strictly a top down layout and UI is subtle yet useful. Codex is right there to ID the hundreds of items, tech, weapons etc. The ship's central computer is a continuous focal point; as it provides the data mining needed to advance the tech tree. This is a fun spin on basic resource grabbing and adds another dimension to it's purpose. It's deep, it's techy, it's comical, just a lot of fun. Dems are dedicated and show their love for this title. Highly recommend..

As much as I enjoy this kind of game - Songs of Syx, Rimworld, Dwarf Fortress and so on, I could never get into this one. I've restarted multiple times, and I just get bored very quickly. It's hard to put into words, but the game has been streamlined so much that it almost feels like an idle game - you increase a bunch of counters to increase a bunch of other counters and try to place things in the right place. I never ended up even finishing my own ship, something I'd be happy to do in a number of other games. Despite it's high quality production and well done mechanics, there's just something off about it that I can't put a finger on.

For me this game peaked somewhere a year or more ago. Since then it has gotten less and less fun to play. With the 0.14 update a lot of that was fixed, but now they removed the particle collector and just made the game a bouncing ball between idle it in the background ignoring everything and oh no you're forever out of most resources early to mid game.

Im going to the one place not corrupted by Capitalism . . . . . SpAcE!

Played it and finished it. Very blatant, crude and low quality copy of Space Haven. Creator didn't even seem to bother with coming up with original component names and high level game mechanics.

Haven't even played much, but from the UI rework alone, I know this is the game for me. Devs, Yall rock! Thank you for such a small QoL feature, but so big of a thing for me. Thank you.

Stardeus, developed by Kodo Linija and published by Paradox Arc, presents a compelling take on the colony simulation genre by shifting the player’s role away from a traditional overseer and into the consciousness of an artificial intelligence tasked with preserving life aboard a crippled spacecraft. This framing is more than just a narrative hook—it fundamentally shapes how the game is played and experienced. Instead of directly controlling individuals, you operate through systems, infrastructure, and robotic proxies, creating a sense that you are less a commander and more the invisible force keeping a fragile ecosystem from collapsing. The result is a game that feels both cerebral and immersive, where survival hinges on understanding and maintaining complex interdependencies. From the very beginning, the situation is dire. The ship is damaged, systems are offline, and human colonists lie in stasis, entirely dependent on your ability to restore basic functionality. The early game is defined by urgency and careful prioritization: repairing hull breaches, stabilizing power distribution, and ensuring oxygen and temperature levels remain within survivable limits. What makes this particularly engaging is how interconnected every system is. Power shortages can cascade into life support failures, while neglecting structural damage can expose entire sections of the ship to the vacuum of space. These cascading consequences create a constant undercurrent of tension, where even small oversights can snowball into critical problems that demand immediate attention. As the game progresses, its complexity unfolds gradually, revealing a dense network of mechanics centered on automation, logistics, and long-term planning. Drones act as your primary workforce, carrying out tasks based on assigned priorities and available resources. Their behavior introduces a subtle layer of unpredictability, as they may not always act in the most efficient way, forcing you to refine your systems and optimize workflows. Awakening human colonists adds another dimension entirely. Unlike drones, they possess individual needs, moods, and personalities, which means they cannot simply be treated as extensions of your will. Managing their well-being becomes an ongoing challenge, requiring attention to food production, comfort, and psychological stability. This duality between mechanical efficiency and human unpredictability gives the game a distinctive rhythm, as you constantly shift between optimizing systems and responding to emergent social dynamics. The progression system reinforces this sense of deliberate growth. Advancing technologically requires sustained effort, with research projects demanding both time and resources. This slower pace can occasionally feel restrictive, especially when waiting for key upgrades needed to expand or stabilize your colony, but it also lends weight to each milestone. Unlocking new capabilities—whether it’s improved automation, sustainable agriculture, or defensive measures—feels like a genuine achievement that opens up new strategic possibilities. The procedural nature of the game ensures that no two journeys are identical, with random events and environmental challenges introducing unexpected complications that keep players on their toes and prevent the experience from becoming overly predictable. Visually, the game adopts a clean and utilitarian style that prioritizes clarity over spectacle. The interface is dense, packed with information that reflects the game’s systemic depth, and while it can initially feel overwhelming, it becomes more intuitive with time. The design choices serve the gameplay well, allowing players to monitor and manage complex systems without unnecessary distraction. The audio complements this approach, favoring subtle ambient sounds that emphasize the isolation and vulnerability of life in space. Rather than relying on dramatic cues, the game builds atmosphere through quiet tension, reinforcing the sense that you are alone, responsible for every aspect of survival. That said, the game’s ambition comes with certain trade-offs. Its steep learning curve may deter players who are not already familiar with simulation-heavy titles, as mastering its systems requires patience and a willingness to experiment. The interface, while functional, can feel intimidating at first, and the lack of extensive guidance may leave newcomers struggling to find their footing. Additionally, being an evolving title, it can exhibit occasional rough edges, from minor bugs to systems that feel underdeveloped or imbalanced. The pacing can also fluctuate, with moments of intense activity followed by slower periods where progress feels incremental rather than dynamic. Even with these limitations, Stardeus stands out as a thoughtful and deeply engaging simulation that rewards careful planning and creative problem-solving. Its strength lies in how it allows players to craft their own emergent stories, shaped by the interplay of systems, choices, and unforeseen events. By placing you in the role of an AI responsible for both machines and human lives, it introduces subtle ethical undertones that add depth to the experience without forcing a specific narrative direction. For those willing to invest the time to understand its intricacies, it offers a rich and absorbing sandbox that continues to evolve with each playthrough. Rating: 8/10

Firstly, this game is not for me. Cannot recommend the game in its current state compared to finished products of this genre. Did not enjoy the interface whatsoever, it was a more confusing and less functional version of RimWorld. The initial start scenario the game gives you was not interesting. Tried to refund and was rejected with less than 20 minutes gamplay, several times all of which were not accepted with no explanation. This review sits as a buyer beware that you will not be able to get your money back within the usual 2 hour play limit for unknown reasons. Make sure you want to support this project in its current state before purchasing. Sadly another early access "we can take your money and not explain why it cant be returned" story from my experience.

My first thought when I randomly saw the game on Youtube: Wait, is this a modded Rimworld? :D Turns out, this is the game that I wanted to play for a long time. You're an AI of the ship and live in its server room. You can build the ship any way you want, mine, trade and refine resources, automate the production and take care (or not) of your crew. And it is your decision whether you're going to be benevolent or evil.