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| Starbound | |
|---|---|
| Title | Starbound |
| Developer | Chucklefish |
| Publisher | Chucklefish |
| Platforms | Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
| Released | 2016-07-22 |
| Genre | Action-adventure, Sandbox, Role-playing |
| Modes | Single-player, Multiplayer |
Starbound
Starbound is an action-adventure sandbox video game developed and published by Chucklefish. Featuring procedurally generated universes, exploration, crafting, and survival, it blends influences from titles such as Terraria, Minecraft, and Metroid. Players traverse planets, engage with factions like the Avians and Hylotl, and encounter quests reminiscent of works like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Mass Effect. The project was notable for an extended crowdfunding period and community-driven development.
Starbound presents a 2D side-scrolling experience combining elements from Terraria, Minecraft, and Metroid Prime. Players select a species—such as Apex, Floran, Human, Hylotl, Avian, or Glitch—and explore a procedurally generated planet system inspired by No Man's Sky and Elite Dangerous. Core mechanics include resource gathering, crafting similar to Factorio and Don't Starve, base building evocative of Fallout 4 settlements, and combat with weapons and tools akin to Borderlands arsenals. Multiplayer supports cooperative play comparable to Left 4 Dead 2 and Don't Starve Together, while quest structures mirror systems from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Baldur's Gate. Progression uses an item-tier system and mission arcs that recall design patterns from Diablo II and World of Warcraft.
The game is set in a vast, procedurally generated universe featuring varied biomes and civilizations referencing archetypes from space opera works like Star Wars, Star Trek, and Firefly. The player begins aboard a damaged spacecraft after fleeing a mysterious threat tied to the Novakid artifact narrative and an overarching storyline that echoes themes from Mass Effect 2 and Halo 3. Major in-game factions include the Universal Union and rogue groups reminiscent of The Expanse factions and Shadowrun corporations. Story missions guide players through dungeons and ruins that channel influence from Indiana Jones serials and Metroidvania exploration.
Development was led by Chucklefish with community involvement similar to Star Citizen and Pillars of Eternity Kickstarter-era projects. The team drew inspiration from indie titles such as Terraria by Re-Logic, Minecraft by Mojang, and classics like Metroid by Nintendo and Castlevania by Konami. Fundraising included a prominent crowdfunding campaign and early access period akin to Hollow Knight and FTL: Faster Than Light. Contributors included composers and artists who referenced styles from C418 and Koji Kondo-inspired chiptune, while technical approaches used procedural generation methods discussed in papers by researchers associated with Procedural Content Generation conferences and practices used in No Man's Sky development.
Starbound entered Steam Early Access prior to its full release on July 22, 2016, following a development arc resembling Dota 2 betas and Hearthstone technical tests. Post-release support featured major updates such as the 1.0 update and expansions of questlines, content patches mirroring ongoing development patterns seen in Path of Exile and Stardew Valley. Community feedback channels included forums and platforms like Reddit and Discord, shaping balance changes and content similar to community-influenced titles like Factorio and Kerbal Space Program.
Critical reception compared Starbound to Terraria, No Man's Sky, and Minecraft, praising its exploration and art direction while noting technical inconsistencies at launch similar to issues seen in Mass Effect: Andromeda and early Cyberpunk 2077 reports. Reviews from outlets that covered indie games, including those referencing standards set by IGN, Polygon, and Eurogamer, highlighted its ambitious scope and player-driven storytelling akin to Skyrim mod communities. Awards considerations placed it among notable indie releases of 2016 alongside titles like Stardew Valley and Inside.
The modding scene for Starbound has been active, paralleling communities for Skyrim, Garry's Mod, and Minecraft with tools and mods hosted on platforms similar to Nexus Mods and ModDB. Prominent mods added new races, items, and storylines inspired by franchises such as Halo, Doctor Who, and The Legend of Zelda, and utilized scripting practices comparable to Garry Newman's modding philosophies. Community-created servers and roleplaying groups echo organizational structures found in EVE Online corporations and Minecraft survival servers, while fan art and music draw parallels with communities around Undertale and Shovel Knight.
Category:Video games