Stationeers

Great fun. Survival, base-building, automation, physics, thermodynamics, SPACE! It's a fantastic sandbox game.

This is the ultimate game for technical Geeks. It is extremely complex and very fiddly. Plus there are lots of pointless things in the game that the developers overlooked that completely spoil the fun in the game. For example, if you are playing the game in Normal difficulty or above and you die because you forgot to keep track of your oxygen, then you are dead, permanently!! The game will tease you by offering you a respawn and if you take up the offer then you will respawn in a character wearing an emergency space suit with no oxygen tank in it. In other words, if you die from lack of oxygen then it is game over. Anything you have done up to that point will have been wasted and you will have to start over from the beginning.

Games are supposed to be fun and having my time wasted is one thing I do not accept from a game. I definitely do not recommend this game to anyone but the biggest technical geeks out there.

Its a really great game that has a painful tutorial. The game has a lot of information of its complex systems in game and a lot of it is quite logical but some are not readlly explained like that uninsolated pipes will transfare outside tempreature into your base if placed against an outside wall. I can recommend it if you dont mind spending time to search out why something happend and watch a few videos.

I got as far as tutorial 3. Where you are stuck in the dirt with a critical gas leak in your helmet and unable to move. Died over and over trying different things but cannot move. So that was fun 0/10

It's an interesting game that I'll probably keep playing for some time.
This game isn't for everyone. It has a learning curve that (in my opinion) is steep. Some in-game explanations/descriptions are vague, leaving me with a big question sometimes. Many of them require experimentation or research to grasp.

That said, overcoming those challenges is what makes it interesting to me. Whether it's setting up complex HVAC system or perhaps making your own custom airlock, each accomplishment is earned which makes it satisfying.

I hope they add more complex systems/items/mechanics to play around with.

If like me, you have a skosh of the tism, and long for a game of realistically complex as to have to learn air conditioning cooling curves and loops, programming, pressure management, thermal gas filtering, the proper setup of HVAC systems, proper gas mixes for different applications, and how to think outside the box to solve a seemingly unresolvable issue, and more. This is the game, AND I LOVE IT! a little buggy at times but for an early access game it's to be expected and makes up for it in spades.

Difficult and rewarding! Learn while you game. Mess up and fix it. Survive your own ignorance!!!

This game is like Space Engineers but WAY more advance. While there are no real working tutorials on how to get anything up and running properly(due to all the update theyve done to the game) there is a great community both on Youtube and Discord. The survival aspect is amazing, you have to worry about food, water and oxygen, as well as proper mixtures for gases, pressure in pipes, heat and storms and so much more. I give this game an easy 8 out of 10. with working tutorials it would be an easy 10 oout of 10

Fun and challenging game. I spend so much time planning my next step. Some times for experimentation and other times for survival. If you enjoy thinking and learning, this game is definitely for you!

Outstanding game! You need to watch the youTube content to get going but once you start making progress it's very satisfying. No bugs, runs smoothly. I'm playing on easy, but I'm not looking for a hardcore experience, more interested in the engineering and problem solving that this game provides in spades.

I think I played this game long enough to say ….. ITS Fu*king awesome.
Yea it’s true it’s challenging but it’s extremely realistic and it make a lot of fun to discover new ways to do something like pressurising the Base or getting power. I played it on Standard and brutal and even after nearly 400 hours of playing the game, I still discover new ways. I hope the new Update will come soon because the maps are the only thing that’s a little bit annoying. But the game is just awesome … and if you do not understand how the atmosphere works…take some books and read or check the information about the earth atmosphere you are currently surrounded by.

It's charming, quirky, and I'll likely keep playing it, but I cannot recommend it in its current state to anyone else.

Nothing is explained. Nothing is intuitive or just FUN. I remember several moments in other crafting games where discovery of a mechanic lead to excitement and cheer. Discovery of new mechanics is Stationeers is almost always frustrating, and results in several trips to the wiki or to the in-game encyclopedia, which still leaves you with several questions about how to implement this system correctly. While this eventually leads to an interesting game system that handles simulated volumetric gasses and liquids (which is awesome!) the payoff is not worth the friction it takes to actually learn how even the most basic mechanics of the game operate.

All of this could be solved by simply adding better tooltips to most inventory items, about what is required to spark certain interactions, but the devs seem to think tooltips are bad or something.

Only 10% of players have made it as far as building a station battery. A station battery is the bare minimum progress to START operating a space station in this game. I think that's a good tell of the kind of complexity and uncertainty you're signing up for here.

Nice engineering game / chemical engineering good for space lovers

8/10
Would be 10/10 if there was a better tutorial and better learning resources.
You tend to either completely overthink or have absolutely 0 idea how anything works.
All 15 hours (at the time of this review) I've sunk into the game has been over the course of a single 24 hour period.
It is very addictive and swings between absolute zen and absolute stress.
I look forward into dumping more hours into the game.

I left a nitrogen bottle in the sunlight, a few days later the base was a ball of fire.

This game is great fun and extremely punishing. I recommend starting off with online tutorials as the in-game ones don't cover many of the necessary knowledge but otherwise the discovery arc in this game is amazing. You can make your breathable athmosphere by either using pre-build filtration systems, or you could use varying temperature and pressure changes to condense and isolate certain gas types, or you can just plant your way into fresh air.

Best Game Ever. The learning curve is too big but once you do that, everything will feel like an achievement

Already my new favorite game. I was hesitant about the price but im a cheapo but im glad i pulled the trigger on this one. If you have a brain give this one a try. Fair warning though its not for a casual gaming session, its very in depth and "complicated" if you're not in the right mindset.

Got the game because i looks fun and amazing, but i cant even play it. I have specs good enough for it but the game simply refuses to run. It always crashes on startup.

"If you fail to plan, you are planning to... perpetually refactor ever increasingly complex impossible machines in a vain attempt to prevent a crater being named in your memory"

This game should be mandatory in schools. For real. If you know someone struggling with maths or physics, make them play this game.

Pleasantly surprised to come back after 12 months to find this gem has been further packed with new features. This is how EA is meant to be done. My only criticism is the printers in game list DLC items that you can't print if you don't own them. FOMO stuff like that irks me.

The most fun I've had playing a game - I like Space Engineers but this is more my style for a survival sim. I may not be a huge fan of food mechanics, it works seamless with the other things you can and have to do to survive.

What is it like?

1) Your buildings are in a cube like style but leave you with some control where you place objects, machines, wires, pipes and the like. It makes a happy balance for game play vs being too tedious or like a minecraft game.

2) Take breathing air for granted! As this game helps you understand the complexity and dynamic range of liquids and gases. The game computes things on a cube level to keep things simple yet, if like me, you enjoy the challenge of making the right balance.

3) I love a game where you do not get the best things in just a short while, it takes time to build the resources, then as the advanced items become available you are enticed to try to build the next thing that will help you expand your base of operations!

After watching someone play for about an hour I was hooked, and getting/playing the game has filled a longing I did not know was missing. Now... when I'm not playing it, like hunger in the game, a little voice comes out and reminds me to get back to it!

Great game! And a fun way to learn about physics.

Stationeers is demanding, fiddly, difficult to play, and unforgiving. It's also deep, rewarding, and a compelling exercise in problem solving in a way that makes you feel very clever and competent when you finally figure it out.

It's a difficulty cliff to get started, and watching some tutorials on YouTube are highly recommended, but after a few hundred hours, I found myself trading locally-sourced liquid oxygen fresh from Europa for new crops and supplies, while the massive wind power farm in the background quietly powered my quite-automated base, and it felt like genuine accomplishment.

It's not for everyone, but if you're into a hardcore deep dive space survival sim, this is highly recommended.

This game is amazing. There is so much to do and it’s unlike any survival game I’ve played. I picked it up about two weeks ago and can’t get enough. Hard to believe it’s early access. It definitely doesn’t hold your hand and force you to play a certain way. The tutorial could use some work but that’s what YouTube is for. There’s a ton of content creators with loads of tutorials out there.. Definitely give this game a shot because once you start playing you won’t want to stop!

Yes i only got 40 Hours and yes i worked on my automatic atmosphere regulation system for 20 hours... Great fun! Had to scrap everything more than twice after seeing that tanks have a data port and that you can program stuff...

Really looking forward to automate literally everything.

I bought this game to support RocketWerkz as they work on KSA- However, as for this game itself, I want to like it and I can feel the inspiration from SS13- however, if you are going to play this game you must be prepared to either have a PHD in Science or be willing to read a lot of guides/watch guide videos. It's not a game you can just 'figure out' and even with guides, it's a pain. So as much as I want to like it, this game is just too much for a casual player.

oxygen tank blew up and my base got destroyed 10/10 would blow up again

I like complicated stuff, I love space, this is it.

it is nice and really complex but fun

It was watching a friend put together an airlock that convinced me to buy the game, and I'm very glad I did. Years later, that delightfully complicated building system still works and has an elegant atmospherics and fluids system. It's really the only game I have that lets you build a working phase-change air conditioner from its component pieces by understanding the principles. (And a lot of other cool stuff too!)

I've heard this game be described as having a difficulty wall rather than a difficulty curve, and that is more or less true. This game is quite challenging, and I'd even say it has gotten more challenging over the years that I've played it as Rocketwerkz has added new features. That being said, it is immensely satisfying to climb that difficulty wall.

Do not play this game if you are easily frustrated.

Long story short: This is a game for engineers.

Do you like building pipes, electric networks and survival games? This one is for you.
Do you enjoy fixing a pipe system that suddenly explodes in your face because you forgot that, for some reason, the gas filter also behaves like an infinite power pump and it overpressurized everything? This one is for you.

It is like space engineers without combat but with proper engineering. If you enjoy playing in survival there and building space stations or bases, controlling the gas and mining, then you will like this game.
If you have played Space Station 13/14, it is like that but without a traitor: just build and survive.

Overall, it is an amazing game. It is the kind of game I tried to develop on my own multiple times but never had enough time to focus on. Glad someone did it.

However, not everything is great:
- Physics is a bit clunky at times
- It is in constant development (for good and bad) so things come and go (like vehicles..), and worlds break
- No proper tutorial. You get some basics of "this is how tools work" and then you are in your own. Expect quick death in your first few games.
- Some components are not clear what they are for and the documentation is pretty poor. There is an unofficial wiki but it also needs some more love.

It is really fun to play alone or with friends. How you play it changes significantly, but both are really good! I am very looking forward to further development.

a lot of learning and trying. I'm not the smartest or most science minded person but this is loads of fun trying to figure everything out. i have 718 hours and climbing. It is a fun challenge.

Not a lot of tutorials and you are kinda thrown to the wolves once you start your own world. But there is a certain satisfaction in mastering all the skills and building techniques needed to survive.

Awesome survival game for those who enjoy similarly technical games like KSP, Space engineers or Gregtech. Figuring out how to manage your atmosphere and power systems is very satisfying because of how realistic the mechanics are, and its a pretty cool survival game on top of that.

If you like Engineering type games, like ONI or Space Engineers, this is the game for you. Interesting Gas Physics.

Excellent game. Well made. Get to play with gases, liquids, pressure, temperature, phase changes. All values are real world. Increase oxygen percentage of interior by extracting N2 with a Filtration system, and pressurizing into N2 tank. Transfer N2 to one of my "cooling loops", because N2 doesn't freeze at any planetary temperature. I am a physicist IRL.

If you are reading this, then this game might not be for you. It's a special beast. I love it. It's complicated, it's out to kill you. Everything requires about 60% more effort then you would expect.

But then when you do get things done it is so rewarding.

One of my more fun experiences was when I was out mining, turned around to my base, and noticed all the stuff blowing out of it. Yes, I was filling it with oxygen, too much oxygen. You'll need to watch gas compositions, temperatures, pressures. Build airlocks out of smaller parts. Setup filtration systems. Yes your plants will die for 5 different reasons.

If you like kerbal space program, you'll likely like this. If you think factorio is easy, you'll likely like this. If minecraft is complex enough for you, you won't like this.

spend hours making a base just to die because I forgot to change my nitrogen air filter
10/10 would recommend this game, thank god for respawns.

SS13 for introverts

It's good without a shadow of a doubt, but it only adds to my sorrow.

I've barely scratched the surface of this game and it's already impressed me beyond anything I had expected. I usually HATE these kinds of super technical crafting survival games, but Stationeers has won me over completely. My first couple saves were rough but with some youtube tutorials and wiki reading I've started to really grasp the basics. I can't wait to see the kinds of things I'll run into next!

The tutorials and UI tooltips are awfull. They will test your patience. I am slowly getting over them (It's my first hour in the game so far), but I should'nt feel angry at a developper this early in a game. I am willing to give the game a shot but man.... Take another shot a polishing those tutorials you developpers....

Example: On the third tutorial, you have about 20 seconds to fix the issue or you die and you restart the tutorial... Come on, I'm reading the stupidly written instructions during that time and I'm already dead.... And when you try the tutorial again... It's broken because for a reason, the game decided not to provide you with the EVA suit anymore... When you try again a third time, you realize that your character seems stuck in a place where you can't move because the ceilling is to low or something and can't get anywhere to fix your suit.... It's like the game is asking me to give up and die already

This is a 'Great' game. Unlike most 'survival' genre games released today, this one doesn't focus almost solely on building. Instead it combines building, strategy, and creative problem solving (i.e. scripting, resource management, base layout and alternative solutions) that appeal to those of us players who are looking for something more cerebral.

Yeah, this isn’t a casual game, but once you understand it, you’ll get hooked on playing Stationeers—especially the logic behind it and the challenges on each planet. You can also learn a lot of science from Stationeers, and that’s the main point.

This game has been in development for a long time, and I really hope it meets my expectations of being a realistic yet balanced game. One of my biggest hopes is being able to travel to other planets with a rocket and return—if that feature is already available, I haven’t tried it yet. But what I want the most is the ability to terraform planets.

I’d also love to see scenarios like when Stationeers was first released. Hopefully, the game will reach version 1.0 soon with exciting features that keep it from getting boring. For me, Stationeers is the best game I’ve ever played.

Unfortunately, in my country, not many people are interested in playing this game.

Very fun, but also very technical. I love how you have to manage infrastructure and resources while building a base. Keep things sectioned and it can prevent massive damage from destroying your whole base. Some of my mistakes have been some of the most fun I've had in this game. It's definitely a thinkers game.

Refunding this game due to null pointer exceptions keeping me from actually exiting it. But that issue was just the final straw.

I see all the reviews that say "this game doesn't hold your hand". OK I get that. I even looked forward to the challenge. But there's a big difference between not holding your hand and just being obtuse and cryptic because the game is sadistic. For example, the tutorial says to equip the welding torch from your tool belt to your hand. I open the tool belt and there are seven low-rez pictures of tools. A few are obviously not the welding torch, but like 4 of them COULD be the welding torch? There's no mouse over to tell you what an item is. So I equipped one of the tools, but there was no message saying something like "equipped tool XXX". I had to equip each tool one by one and attempt to use them until one of them gave me a bright white light (which I assumed must be the welding torch). The building materials have a similar problem. They all look alike (I have a RTX 4090 and a 4K monitor... I think I have more than enough graphical HP to play the game in it's best possible representation?) Anyway, I'll never be able to keep frames/walls/panels straight from the icons alone.) But that's OK, the tutorial explicitly tells you how to figure out what things are what in the game. The tutorial tells you to try things and then when you get them wrong a message comes up and tells you what to do (So you now know the thing you thought was a door frame must not have been the door frame!)

The point of this game is memorizing all the obtuse graphical icons and control keys (don't even get me started on the controls... read the other reviews). I was hoping for a space survival game about building habitats and machines and stuff.

Without being too mean, I know there are a lot of factory games and engineering games out there that kinda don't have anything to do with actual engineering. It's always output -> conveyor belt -> input. I feel like this game is the first one to actually bother introducing some actual physicalized mechanics. Gasses have pressure, water pools on the floor, plants need sun and CO2 and a warm comfy base feels truly earned: not by your grinding but by your ingenuity and willingness to engage with the systems at play.

The first dozen of hours of this game are rough. In fact, if you lack some basic physics knowledge it might be outright overwhelming. I stuck to tutorials at first. I started a few different bases. But after I got it down, all you need is some patience and the in-game manual and a lot of creativity.

This game has some incredible devices to build, a lot of player expression potential, and the best enemy ever developed for survival games: harsh environments that actually require a lot of creativity to overcome.

Just as RocketWerkz says "Stationeers is an exceptionally complex game", but in that complexity is where the fun is found. While there are a couple of wrong ways to do things, there's no real right way.

One of the best building games I've played. It's very deep into the science of building, right down to fluid dynamics, air pressures etc. You can even program you own equipment to automate pretty much anything you can think of. Truly a gem in a genre that has no competitors that come even close

I'm a huge fab of Icarus, and this game looks just as promising. There are a few bugs with the food recipes that need to be worked out, but this is a fun game to play. This is a smart person's game. You have to consider how you will solve the challenges of surviving in a non-Earth environment. But, the solutions are based on real science. I had hoped the characters would be more realistic looking, like in Icarus, and not as cartooney. But all in all, this is a fun play.