ASTRONEER: Glitchwalkers Review Summary

Stunning visuals, a massive new planet, and enjoyable replay value impress, but the DLC adds little new content, needs a separate save, and isn't worth the price.

Stunning Visuals and Biomes: The new planet and its biomes are visually striking, with diverse and fresh environments that enhance the experience. The beauty of the planet is frequently highlighted.

Massive New Planet Impresses: The new planet is enormous, with scale that feels both impressive and occasionally overwhelming. Its size is a major highlight, offering vast exploration opportunities.

Base Game Praised: The base game is described as good, well-developed, relaxing, and intuitive. Its solid foundation contributes to the overall enjoyment of the DLC.

Enjoyable Replay Experience: Reviewers enjoyed returning to the game to play the DLC, often having a blast while revisiting familiar mechanics. The DLC adds a compelling reason to replay.

Shared Co-op Access: Only one player needs to own the DLC for everyone in a co-op session to access its content. This feature is praised for making multiplayer more accessible.

DLC lacks new content: Many reviewers feel the DLC offers almost no new content, mechanics, or story continuation compared to the base game, with some saying it adds nothing fundamentally new. The lack of new elements makes it feel like a recycled or empty addition.

DLC requires separate save file: Players are surprised that the DLC cannot be accessed from their main game save and requires starting a completely new save on a separate planet with reset progression. This separation prevents any transfer of progress, items, or blueprints from the base game.

DLC not worth price: Reviewers frequently mention that the DLC is overpriced for the amount of content provided, with some calling it a waste of money. The price is seen as unreasonable given the lack of new features and the small scope.

DLC disconnected from base game: The DLC is completely isolated from the main game, not building on existing progress or interacting with the base experience. This disconnection makes it feel like a separate, inferior game rather than an expansion.

New storm mechanic is boring: The new storm mechanic is widely criticized as boring, static, and uninteresting, lacking the excitement or danger of the original storms. Many find it to be pointless filler that adds nothing fun to the game.

New massive planet added: The DLC introduces a supergiant planet, much larger than normal planets, with diverse biomes and a vast surface to explore. This planet serves as the primary setting for the DLC's content.

DLC uses separate save file: The DLC creates an independent save file upon entering the DLC area, keeping it fully separate from the base game's saves. This allows players to start fresh without affecting their main game progress.

Storms as new mechanic: Storms add a new layer of danger and complexity, affecting visibility and requiring upgrades to endure. Players must navigate these environmental hazards while exploring.

Separate world disconnected from base: The DLC takes place in a separate universe or world, disconnected from the main game, often on a new planet like Blitz. This standalone experience offers a fresh narrative and setting.

New biomes on Aeoluz: The DLC planet Aeoluz features new biomes and subterranean levels, expanding exploration variety. These biomes introduce distinct environments and resources.

Vehicles disappearing and physics bugs: Vehicles constantly evaporate or disappear, and the shoddy physics engine has even caused player deaths. Items like the QT-RTG may also fall through the planet when dropped.

Frequent crashes and save loss: Players report crashes near the end of the story and instances where the game crashed and deleted the save file. These issues cause severe disruption and loss of progress.

Falling through map and textures: Textures fail to load, leading to players falling through the map. Invisible walls and gravity issues also contribute to these problems.

Multiplayer bugs and netcode issues: In multiplayer, friends occasionally fall through the floor due to slow or failed world loading, and netcode issues cause further instability. These problems hinder cooperative play.

Poor performance and world generation: Generation and performance are very bad, and having a single large planet is quite performance intensive. This leads to lag and other performance-related issues.

DLC not recommended for purchase: Many reviewers strongly advise against buying the DLC, citing it as nonsensical, disappointing, and not worth the frustration. Some even plan to skip future DLCs.

Mixed feelings on value: Opinions on whether the DLC is worth its price are divided. Some find it worth the money, while others consider it overpriced and not worth a penny.

Only for veteran players: The DLC is recommended for experienced players who have completed the base game and are looking for a new challenge. Newcomers are advised to play the base game first.

Recommended for devoted fans: Those who deeply enjoy Astroneer and have invested many hours may appreciate the DLC, especially if they want more of the core mechanics.

Not a base game expansion: Players expecting additional content on top of the base game are often disappointed. The DLC is described as a separate experience rather than an expansion.

Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00.

Game completion: 17.5h.

Reports largely describe Glitchwalkers as slow, gated, repetitive, and tedious, with many players never reaching a fun state; a minority report gradual enjoyment or initial fun that later fades.

Friction: slow and gated progression; repetitive missions and objectives; tedious terrain and navigation; bugs, crashes, and multiplayer issues; poor in-game tutorial or guidance for starting the DLC; forced playstyle and reduced open exploration.

Unlock drivers: unlocking the large rover to clear later storms; soil canisters that simplify drilling and resource needs; same-planet materials that remove interplanetary travel; bursts of unlocks tied to the new planet; applying existing Astroneer knowledge to remixed progression; progressively superior equipment that offsets repetitive mission challenges.

Hardcore Veteran Challenge Seeker: Plays hardcore-style runs, makes strategic research decisions, and seeks new twists on familiar systems. Motivation: Finding a fresh, harder challenge after burning out on the base game. Stance: buy.

Chill Co-op Explorer: Casual co-op sessions, exploring at an unhurried pace and avoiding grind or stress. Motivation: Relaxing, low-stakes exploration and shared chaos with friends. Stance: sale.

Disillusioned Bug-Weary Buyer: Attempts solo and co-op play but abandons runs after softlocks, glitches, and lost progress. Motivation: Wanting more quality Astroneer content but being repelled by constant bugs and broken progression. Stance: no buy.

Monetization: The reviews discuss the value, content, and optional nature of an Astroneer paid DLC. Some criticize it for reusing assets or lacking enough new content, while others consider it worthwhile. No review reports in-game microtransactions, loot boxes, gacha pulls, battle passes, paid power, paid convenience, currency obfuscation, or a real-money shop. The evidence is limited to a traditional paid DLC, so the score remains in the fair range under the audit rules.

DLC is affordable: Reviewers frequently note that the DLC is inexpensive, with a price point around $10. This low cost is often cited as a positive aspect, though some consider it only worth that amount.

Standalone storyline experience: The DLC offers a new storyline separate from the main game, providing a different experience. It functions as an independent addition rather than a direct continuation.

Requires base game progress: Accessing the DLC requires advancing significantly in the base game or even completing the main story. This gating mechanism means players must invest time in the base game first.

Separate save data: The DLC requires a separate save file, independent from the base game's save data. This creates a distinct side story that splits save progress.

Addition to Astroneer: The DLC is an expansion for the game Astroneer, often compared to the vanilla experience. It builds upon the existing game world.