PixelJunk™ Nom Nom Galaxy Review Summary

Despite its charming art style and enjoyable core gameplay giving it hidden gem potential, the broken multiplayer, repetitive short length, and numerous minor issues hold it back.

Core Gameplay Is Enjoyable: Players consistently note that the core gameplay, especially the soup-making mechanic, is solid and enjoyable, with a well-crafted loop that offers fun for the first few hours or more if carried away by exploration.

Game Has Hidden Gem Potential: Players mention the game was enjoyable on console when first released, with a charming artistic style and well-crafted gameplay loop, giving it potential as a hidden gem.

Art Style Is Charming: The game's artistic style is praised as charming, with nicely detailed backgrounds and overall pleasing visuals.

Fixes Could Make Game Great: A player believes the game would be great with fixes, indicating that while the core is solid, there are issues that need addressing to reach full potential.

Developer Has Good Reputation: A review notes that the developer has a good track record from the PSP era, which builds confidence in the game's quality and design.

Multiplayer is broken and unplayable: Many players report that the multiplayer experience is severely flawed, with frequent freezes, crashes, lag, desync every 1-2 minutes, inability to connect, and broken invites or host changes. Poor netcode and remote servers exacerbate these issues, making the mode largely unplayable.

Game becomes repetitive and short: The game becomes repetitive after the first planet or few levels, with levels being too short and ending just as automation starts. This repetition and grind lead to a lack of motivation to continue.

Numerous minor gameplay issues: Various smaller issues: pop-up notifications killing during fights, ladders killing when going down, achievements not unlocking, no mod compatibility, inefficient scouring for rare ingredients, expensive and slow tank, and useless temporary power-ups. These collectively frustrate players.

Lack of depth and automation options: There are not enough base building unlocks, automation options, and creative freedom. Players rarely need to change recipes, limiting depth and replayability.

Early game is slow and tedious: The beginning is slow and boring, robots are not helpful (slow and requiring mass numbers), and the game feels like work. These factors reduce early engagement.

Base building mechanics: Multiple players mention building and construction as a key aspect. The mechanics involve constructing bases, factories, and various structures, with a focus on sidescrolling automation and ladder maintenance.

Recipe and ingredient discovery: Players enjoy discovering new recipes and ingredient combinations. This includes finding new crafting recipes and combining ingredients to unlock items, which adds a layer of exploration.

Planet progression system: Players advance through different planets that serve as stages. Unlocking new planets is a core progression mechanic, providing varied environments and challenges.

Soup factory automation: Building a soup factory involves automation using robots and conveyer belts. This includes constructing a production line for soup and managing factory operations.

Defend against rival companies: Players must defend their factory from rival company attacks. This adds a combat and defense layer to the building and automation gameplay.

Multiplayer crashes and instability: The game frequently crashes during multiplayer sessions and is considered unstable or unplayable. Some users report hard crashes and glitches.

Lags in both modes: Players experience lag in both singleplayer and multiplayer modes, including rubber banding and general performance slowdowns.

Framerate affects gameplay speed: The game speed is tied to the framerate, causing inconsistencies in gameplay pacing when performance varies.

Resolution slowdown issues: The game suffers from resolution-related slowdowns, impacting visual clarity and performance.

High system requirements for local co-op: Local co-op requires a high-end system, which can be a barrier for players with less powerful hardware.

Multiplayer broken: Reviews note that multiplayer is not functional or enjoyable, making the game not recommended for group play.

Better for single-player: Some feedback indicates the game may be more suitable for single-player mode, implying multiplayer issues.

Not recommended overall: Multiple reviews explicitly state the game is not recommended, often suggesting alternative games like Factorio or Terraria.

Performance issues: Several reviews mention performance problems such as glitches, crashes, and poor PC controls, leading to negative recommendations.

Platform-specific recommendation: One review advises buying the game on Xbox or PS4 instead of PC, suggesting poor PC performance or controls.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00.

Game completion: 11.0h.

Session length: 4.0h.

Nom Nom Galaxy has a slow start in single-player due to limited abilities and lack of automation, but becomes more enjoyable after unlocking tech and gear, while local co-op is engaging from the beginning. However, online multiplayer is plagued by bugs that hinder fun.

Friction: slow beginning with limited abilities and no double jump; lack of automation in early game; multiplayer bugs (desync, lag, crashes).

Unlock drivers: unlocking tech and gear; getting double jump and other abilities; automation options; playing local co-op.

Co-op Multiplayer Seeker: Attempts to set up online co-op sessions, experiences repeated failures, and ultimately turns to local co-op or single-player as a fallback. Motivation: Playing cooperatively with friends. Stance: no buy.

Base-Builder Automator: Methodical and strategic, enjoys resource management and tower defense, plays both solo and co-op but prioritizes gameplay systems over social features. Motivation: Building and optimizing automated soup factories. Stance: sale.

Local Co-op Family Player: Leisurely, plays split-screen with a partner or child, enjoys the quirky charm and simple fun, rarely engages with online multiplayer. Motivation: Spending quality time with family or friends through casual couch co-op. Stance: deep sale.

Steam Deck: Nom Nom Galaxy exhibits significant controller-related issues on Steam Deck. Users report inconsistent key prompts, a specific throwing bug after ladder jumps, and unintuitive control configuration menus. While the game has full controller support advertised, these problems require manual tweaking and workarounds, hindering a seamless experience.