Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 64 | 24 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 56% | 57 | 330 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 1 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 3 reviews sampled · 3 total reviews in window · weighted 2.2 up / 0 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (34)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Spacebase Startopia may not qualify for iconic status, but it is hugely entertaining strategic game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Spacebase Startopia is more than a good title to take on the role of a space station commander. Your task then will be nothing else but to provide all the needs of your visitors. What we have to highlight about the game is the extensive management, where you have to keep an eye on everything from the needs of your guests to the satisfaction of your employees. We must also praise the attractive graphics complemented by a great soundtrack and we must not forget the humorous atmosphere. The title is a little bit killed by the too simple campaign, which can be easily completed in a few hours without much challenge, and also by the higher price tag, which in our opinion does not fully correspond to the quality the title offers. Still, Spacebase Startopia will find many fans and if you can get over the higher price tag and invite a friend to play, the title can keep you entertained for a few long evenings.”
read full review ↗ - 63
“When it comes to management simulations there's no question that the pickings on the Switch are pretty slim, indeed, so when any new ones come along I have no doubt genre fans are immediately curious for details...”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Spacebase Startopia has cutesy and cartoony xenos milling around, but that's all it has going for it. From questionable mission objectives and monotonous micromanagement, to audio hiccups, technical woes, and a lack of direction, it's a simulation of the doldrums of alien life.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Spacebase Startopia doesn't have quite the same charm and humour of the original 2001 classic. The campaign missions are short and fairly repetitive, and the combat feels really basic. It's a shame, but even with an online multiplayer mode, this shallow simulator is not a particularly engaging experience.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“An interesting experiment gone horribly wrong, Spacebase Startopia is plagued with dull RTS mechanics, a grind heavy campaign, and bad writing.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Spacebase Startopia is a fairly standard strategy/simulation game at its core, with the balancing of resources, happiness and a bit of light RTS combat mixed in. Some technical concerns around the camera, balky control scheme and less-than-stellar AI diminish the overall experience, however. There is plenty of micromanaging fun to be had here for fans of the genre, but Spacebase Startopia is not among the best in the genre either.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Spacebase Startopia is a humorous space station management game that revives the cult classic Startopia with updated visuals and gameplay. It features a multi-ringed space station where players build infrastructure, cater to alien tourists, and manage resources. While the game includes fun ideas and quirky AI commentary, it suffers from clunky controls, limited depth, and occasionally chaotic gameplay pacing. Despite a long campaign and multiplayer features, the game lacks the polish and charm needed to fully captivate, making it an amusing but ultimately forgettable experience.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Even after a dedicated tutorial and several early missions that function as another tutorial, figuring out Spacebase Startopia often feels like playing an obtusely old-school game without the benefit of a manual. That underlying complexity is also its greatest strength, however, because it allows the game to have a sense of constant discovery. At one point, I screwed up my early construction and left no room for the teleporter you need to move your hardier security mechs between decks, which came back to bite me when some bug-like creatures on another deck attacked. Around the same time, however, religious extremists planted a bomb, so I grabbed it and dropped it next to the bugs. This wouldn’t have eliminated them in most games. It worked here.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I had a great time with Spacebase Startopia, and that’s coming from someone who’s not typically a fan of this genre of games. I just don’t usually have the patience to sit down and manage a little empire, but Spacebase does provide a somewhat streamlined experience when it comes to empire-building simulation games, never becoming as overwhelming as some of the Tropico games, for instance. That does not mean the game cannot pose a challenge when things get going, however. There is still plenty for you to micro-manage and keep track of to ensure a successful operation. I just wish the combat mechanics were more engaging, as it stands they feel almost unnecessary. With all that said, I feel it is perfect for newcomers to the genre presenting a fun and cartoony experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A unique and complex gem, Spacebase Startopia is an engaging and constantly interesting take on the management genre. The Sims in space is selling it very short, because it is much much more. On console however, it’s intricacy and scope are its undoing, causing severe slowdown, frame-rate issues and regular crashes. Its campaign is a fun set of tests, but free mode (just running your station without parameters) is easy to get completely engrossed in.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Spacebase Startopia feels a bit too basic for a management game and is not something you could really spend hours cultivating once you have the station set up. What it offers is rather simplistic, and is marred by regular crashes on console and an AI advisor that you'll grow to hate.”
read full review ↗
3DNews
Gaming Professors
Nindie Spotlight
PC Invasion
Push Square
Capsule Computers
Chalgyr's Game Room
KonsoliFIN
Killa Penguin
Checkpoint Gaming
FingerGuns
TheSixthAxis…and 22 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Spacebase Startopia – Update 1.4.2Sep 1, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Spacebase Startopia Changelog – Update 1.3.1May 26, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Spacebase Startopia – Update 1.3Apr 30, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Spacebase Startopia – Update v1.2Apr 16, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Spacebase Startopia - Hotfix 1.1.3Apr 6, 2021
- Spacebase Startopia - Hotfix 1.1.2Mar 27, 2021
- Spacebase Startopia Update 0.23 - Steam BetaMar 12, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Spacebase Startopia Beta - Update 0.22.1Jan 14, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Spacebase Startopia Beta – October UpdateOct 16, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- ‚VAC‘-Update (Voice And Controller) (v0.17) has been released!Jul 24, 2020significant · resets scoring window