- 164,906 reviews92% positive
- Steam store page
Does Starbound run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?
| Windows 11 | Expected to work. It is sold for Windows today and no problem is on record. Source |
|---|---|
| Mac (Apple Silicon) | Steam sells a Mac version. Not yet confirmed on Apple Silicon. Source |
| Linux | Yes, there is a native Linux version. Source |
| Steam Deck | Playable, as rated by Valve: it works, but may need some manual configuration. Source |
Played it lately? Tell other players whether it works for you. One click, no account. How we check where it runs
Synopsis
A 2D sandbox adventure in which you escape a destroyed Earth on a stranded starship and travel between procedurally generated planets. You mine, craft, build bases and fight creatures, alone or in co-op, while a light main story leads you through alien civilizations.
What people say
Critics reviewing the finished game in 2016 praised its range of planets, crafting, building and co-op play, often comparing it favorably to Terraria. Several reviewers found it rough around the edges and its first hours slow. Players today still enjoy its exploration, art and large modding scene, but the most common complaints are that the developer stopped updating it with content left unfinished, that the unmodded game grows repetitive, and that performance stutters and crashes occur, especially in multiplayer. Many now recommend it mainly with friends or mods.
Playability today
Playability runs from 1 to 5. It is the average of two parts. Each part starts at 1 and climbs to 5 as more of its checks pass. Read the method.
Runs today: 5 / 5
- ✓Sold today from an official store
- ✓Runs on Windows 11 without fan patches
- –Single-player works without an internet connection
- –All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
- –Supports modern resolutions and widescreen
- –Full controller support or remappable controls
- ✓Steam Deck Verified or Playable
- ✓No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
- ✓No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
- –No known game-breaking bugs in the current version
Filled in from the Steam store and Valve’s Steam Deck rating. Checks marked – are unknown and do not count until someone checks them.
Design today: 2.5 / 5
- ✗Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboardThere is no official controller support, and players often describe the controls as clunky, especially on Steam Deck. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, vaporlens.app.
- ✗Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screensPlayers complain that text is too small on handheld screens and lean on mods for inventory and crafting menus; evidence beyond handheld play is thin. Source: vaporlens.app.
- ✓Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progressProgress saves automatically, and saving or death penalties are not among player complaints; evidence is thin. Source: vaporlens.app.
- ✗It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progressPlayers widely report relying on outside wikis to understand crafting and progression, and the early learning curve is steep. Source: vaporlens.app.
- ✗Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtrackingCritics and players describe a slow, grindy opening and a repetitive loop of mining and combat in the unmodded game. Source: opencritic.com, vaporlens.app.
- ✓Camera and movement never fight the playerThe side-on view follows the player without trouble, and players raise no camera complaints; this rests on the absence of complaints. Source: vaporlens.app.
Judged against games made today, from complaints that recur in recent Steam reviews and discussions, forums, PCGamingWiki and community wikis. Each reason links to where it comes from.
Sources
- Steam store page (requirements, platforms)
- SteamSpy (Steam review counts)
- Steam Deck compatibility, Valve
- ProtonDB reports
- Metacritic
- OpenCritic
- PCGamingWiki: Starbound
- VaporLens: Starbound review summary
How does it play for you today?