Starbase

Starbase is a game with a great foundation that really has substantial gaps that get in the way of having a good time, and the devs have not solved those problems since this game went Early Access multiple years ago (from when I am writing this, today being June 27 2025). I bought this game when it entered Early Access, and yeah there were huge bugs, which the devs fixed, and then I had a whole bunch of fun. At that point the game was rather busy and plenty of people playing, it was great! But they sure did release it too early. While I was actually playing the game, I did all sorts of really cool ship customisations that to this day I cannot replace (as an experience) in ANY other game. One of which was manually de-welding and expanding an asteroid hauler ship so that I could haul a particularly large (for me at the time) asteroid. Sure, it was a whole bunch of work, BUT IT WAS FUN and I was able to customise ANY of my ships to very extreme degrees. Not just in terms of changing the parts connected to each other, but the YOLO code for programming systems on the ships was a load of fun too! But that was multiple years ago. I'm not going to really turn this review back to positive until the devs actually make this game something people WANT to play again. PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO GO MANUALLY EVALUATING ASTEROIDS FOR THEIR COMPOSITION AT LONG DISTANCES and this is a huge part of the early game in the safe zone. I don't know all the things this game needs, but for me not being able to identify which asteroids are worth going for or not, at a long range, turned out to be a game breaker for me. There are huge asteroid fields and only some of them are worth mining... last time I played I had to determine this BY EYE at long distances. THAT IS NOT FUN and what a waste of time. I'm not saying hauling asterioids isn't fun, holy balls can it be really fun and rewarding! But that's AFTER I spend like 2 hours trying to find ONE asteroid I MIGHT actually want, and THEN I haul it back or mine it there. If the devs actually get it together and solve the problems in this game, IT WILL BE GLORIOUS. Because there is SO MUCH other stuff in this game THEY GOT RIGHT. And I for one would think it a huge modern tragedy if this game goes nowhere. C'mon devs, be like no mans sky. Solve the mistakes and make this game something people WANT to play again. IT WILL BE AMAZING if they do that. Until then. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME... unless you want literally the best ship building simulator you can buy. I kid you not, this is hands down better than Space Engineers, Minecraft, or any other game where you can build/design ships manually. THIS GAME IS THE BEST AT IT... but that's about it for now.

Bought this game immediately when it came out and it was a mess. Tried to get back into the game a couple of times over the years but it was awfull laggy mess and from what I know this game has been abbandoned. So if you are looking for a MMO or a space game you are on a wrong store page

i enjoyed my time with this even though i joined after development ended, it's a unique game for sure you start off with nothing so you have to do small jobs on the station to work your way up to your first real ship (that thing you start with sucks) i don't find designing ships fun but i did like the gameplay loop of going to find asteroids, mining them, then bringing back the ores like some minimum wage space labourer. i used to like digging around inside the asteroid as much as possible then with one perfectly placed strike split the whole thing in two, but i'm the kind of guy who attempts to peel an orange leaving the peel in one piece. i didn't get very far in it (danger is based on distance from the station) but apparently the endgame is about making a massive drill to mine the moon in a way that causes the least lag because something about deforming the terrain is unoptimised the community kind of keeps to itself, i asked about buying an improved ship (it would be my fourth one) and one person said 'i don't know why i'm even bothering talking to you, it's not like you will have 70 million credits any time soon' rude so don't expect to take part in any economy, some people have been here for like half a decade and they are bitter yes a few people will help you learn starting out, but most of them are just there to troll or say they wish the game wasn't abandoned

Honestly, it's not that this game should've had single-player and server hosting, the game NEEDED it. So many people would have been willing to play and fool around on private servers, and it would have greatly reduced all the issues with the official servers. The studio seems to be dead though, too late to make any changes now, I guess.

Well ill keep it simple, for now avoid this game as it is dead and most likely abandoned by the devs. The game's concept is awesome and had great potential sadly that's where all the good ends for it as it's still a buggy mess, missing features, no one to play with and the devs have not updated anyone in over 2 years as of the writing of this review. I sadly don't recommend you spend your money on this game even if it is on discount as it will be a waste of money. Hopefully the devs come back and finish the game but till then i do not recommend this game. To the devs: please come back and make it happen we all really want this game. don't let this game be added to the its a scam pile.

Review Title: "A Universe Worth a Lifetime – 3,664+ Hours and Still Learning" I've been playing Starbase since the earliest builds, and if there's one thing I can say with absolute certainty—this game isn’t just something you play. It’s something you live. From day one, I was mining rocks in a starter ship barely held together by bolts, dreaming of building something greater. Years later, I’ve designed fleets, built modular factories in orbit, fought in massive PvP wars, and written thousands of lines of YOLOL code to automate everything from turret control to station defenses. This game rewards the patient and the persistent. Progress doesn’t happen in hours or even days—it takes years. Each part of the game is its own intricate puzzle: designing efficient mining rigs, optimizing YOLOL scripts, managing logistics, mastering the physics of ship flight, or planning out your tech tree to unlock just the right piece you need for your next great build. Every element feeds into the next. It’s a beautifully complex ecosystem. If you're the type of player who enjoys deep systems, trial by fire, and learning by doing (and redoing), then Starbase will give back more than any other game out there. You have to watch YouTube tutorials, read the wiki (especially the section on YOLOL), and join player communities to share knowledge. But when it all clicks—when your first scripted mining ship works, or you successfully defend your station—it’s pure satisfaction. Starbase isn’t for tourists. It’s for visionaries, engineers, and tinkerers. If you want instant gratification, look elsewhere. But if you want to build your own legacy in the stars, brick by brick, circuit by circuit—this is the only game that truly lets you do that. I've put in over 3664 hours. I’m still learning, still building, and still waking up excited to log in. That says everything. — Longest-Playing Starbase Pilot, Veteran Engineer, Fleet Commander, and YOLOL Addict

Game is dead. No news or updates since October 2024 and the current game is unfinished at best. Servers are empty and there is basically no real gameplay besides tinkering with the building system. Like so many other games this one promised the moon and delivered sand. Maybe it will get a revival, but I wouldn't count on it. Definitely a "wait and see but don't buy at this time" game

Abandoned and overpriced for what is available. Had a lot of promise at the time.

A huge potential that has been ruined. The best thing that can happen to the game at the moment is if it is sold to a major publisher, who will take over its reworking and development, possibly under a new brand. Or if they sell the studio itself and use the excellent developments of Frozenbyte to create a full-fledged live project. Yes, usually the sale and reorganization of studios often leads to the death of the game, as was the case with Kerbal Space Program 2, but in this case it is the only chance to save a great idea. At the same time, it will be possible to use existing developments, which can speed up the process. Огромный потенциал который был загублен. Лучшее, что на данный момент может произойти с игрой, если её продадут крупному издателю, который возьмётся за её переделку и развитие возможно под новым брендом. Либо если продадут саму студию и используют прекрасные наработки Frozenbyte, для создания полноценного живого проекта. Да обычно продажа и реорганизация студий зачастую приводит к смерти игры, как это было с Kerbal Space Program 2, но в данном случае это единственный шанс спасти шикарную задумку. При этом будет возможность использовать существующие наработки что может ускорить процесс.

So it's an absolute gem of an idea with a bumpy execution in short that needs some thoughtful changes however does seem to be abandoned and is a dead or dying MMO. Making it a single player game with players able to make there own servers to play with friends would breathe new life into it in my opinion. I was on this game when it launched and it was fun if you could dodge the players treating it like a only pvp game. I love the idea of the game and it can be rescued for a lot of player like myself with adding a single player mode for a more relaxing experience. You would need a group to play with or things get really frustrating it some situations. I am no developer and know nothing of how the wider market works so I thing that I'm asking for a lot by saying it needs a single player mode or maybe a private server function to make it playable for players like myself. I would like to point out an example were this works in real life by mentioning Space Engineers (My Favorited game that I've played almost since it's release). MM-O's are awesome and I truly think having a single play option invites new players to learn at first then join friends on servers later on.

Yes. I still have hope. Customized controls, space mechanics are good. Right now it's about what kind of content the developer's want to focus on. This is pre-alpha for all intent and purposes. As many has said about its issues the real issue is there isn't a lot to do except build and mine and maybe build a base. Yes I know players can fight other players and it is supposed to have a player driven economy. However everyone can eventually grind up all the build skills. Except for getting raw material you cannot just make something better. The coding is a great idea but in reality a corp would want to keep its own scripts secret to stop pvp. But there is so much potential. The building mechanics are top tier, how damage happens, how fights can happen. If it had just AI pirates or pirate bases I would spend more than 10 times the hours I have. Ideas of multi stage railguns or practical cannons that ramp up to aim light seconds away to miss. Shaft to throw out or mirrors to deflect incoming laser fire. We don't need shields! Right now I bet the developers are in No Man Sky lockdown. I very much doubt there will be any news up updates in a year. The game is still playable just empty.

Please Frozenbyte, I beg of you. Resume development again, please. I can't recommend you buy it right now, but if they resume development and keep their word, I am getting my entire friend group to play this game.

This game is actually quite fun! this game didn't get the love and treatment that its needing now but its (hopefully) still being worked on. The game is a resource management where you mainly go out to asteroids and planets and mine! there is so much you can do with the building. i am saying you can definitely build whatever kind of ships or what ever starbase you wish, and they even have been working on capital ships!! you can have your very own oversized ships! what I recommend is playing on the PTB to learn what all you need and can do (I believe the Tutorial is more flushed out on the ptb) WHAT THIS GAME NEEDS is more hands working on it. this game has been neglected for so long, and if anyone has a chance to save this game, its the player base. we will need so many people to start playing now if we ever wish for our capes later!! get the game and try it out!

Dont buy, it's abandoned

scam dev.