Info about Avorion:

Official game description:
Workshop with Ship Builds and Mods
==================================
Browse the Avorion Steam Workshop for a huge selection of different **ship builds**, **station designs**, **fighters**, **turret designs** and more! There is also an ever growing selection of **mods** to suit your custom playstyle!
About the Game
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Several hundred years ago, a cataclysmic catastrophe nearly ripped your galaxy apart - an impassable ring of torn hyperspace fabric appeared in the center of the galaxy, which normal hyperspace engines can’t overcome.
Since this Event nobody has managed to get near the central regions of the galaxy. All you know is that the Event also spawned multiple untraversable hyperspace rifts throughout the entire galaxy and that a strange race of aliens, the Xsotan, has appeared in the center. It looks like these aliens have found a way to cross over the torn hyperspace fabric, but so far nobody has managed to establish contact with them.
There are also rumors about a strange new metal called ‘Avorion’ which has appeared in the center of the galaxy around the same time as the Xsotan have arrived. Apparently, the aliens use this material to build their ships.
Start out as a nobody at the edge and work your way to the center of a galaxy that gets more dangerous, but also more rewarding the closer you get to its core. Avorion takes sandbox aspects from games like X or Freelancer, throws in co-op multiplayer and lets you build your own ships. It features ships made of freely scalable blocks that can be procedurally generated and that break into pieces where they're hit in space fights.
Equip your ship with chainguns, lasers and other weaponry to take on your enemies and enjoy the sight of completely destructible ships breaking at the exact points where you hit them.
Defend your allies from pirates, hunt down enemies for coin or even participate in wars between entire factions. Once you’re victorious, collect loot from defeated foes which you can use to upgrade your ship: new turrets with special abilities like autofire or repair beams, or system upgrades that allow you to install even more weapons. Build hangars and command squads of fighters in your battles or destroy enemy freighters to steal their cargo.
Fly through beautiful nebulas and dense asteroid fields in search of hidden treasures and meet the many factions that populate and control their portion of the galaxy. Each faction has its own characteristics, such as peaceful, intelligent or aggressive, and its ships and stations have a distinct look.
Explore the galaxy at your own pace to find valuable goods in old ship wrecks, undiscovered asteroid fields rich in resources, gigantic asteroids which you can claim for yourself, or clues about what happened during the Event a few centuries back.
There are no limits to the size or complexity of your ship besides your resources. But there is also a creative mode where you can just build to your heart’s content. You're not bound to the standard voxel style and while building an awesome ship in Avorion you won't get lost in lots and lots of micro-management.
You can focus on building a great-looking ship, without having to worry about making it work. But always keep an eye on your ship’s maneuverability and energy requirements. Adjust your ship perfectly to its operational purpose: everything from light and agile explorers to heavily armored battleships with strong shields.
And why build only one ship? Hire captains to fly your ships for you, manage your crews, weapons, hangars and fighters and build your own fleet of spaceships!
Extend your ship with a cargo bay, find profitable deals and haul over a hundred trading goods across the galaxy to make a profit and buy your way up the food chain. Constructing a fleet of specialized transport ships with lots of cargo space will help you build up a trading corporation.
Extend your influence in the galaxy by founding asteroid mines and factories that attract NPC traders who will buy and sell their goods at your establishments. Install trading systems that detect trading routes and supply and demand over multiple sectors and become the richest commander in the galaxy!
Or maybe you're sick of being the good guy? Just raid freighters, smuggle illegal goods, or become a headhunter.
You don't have to face all of these challenges alone! Avorion features co-op multiplayer, so team up with your friends to build stations together and destroy pirates and enemy factions!
Everybody needs a copilot, and you can fly ships together, with one of you doing the steering and the other one taking care of firing weapons. Work with each other to extend your influence in the galaxy and build your own empire.
Or, you know, blow your friends apart. It's a sandbox, you can do whatever you want!
In Avorion you choose your personal playstyle. Haul cargo, find profitable trading routes and found factories. Or maybe you're sick of being the good guy? Build your own battleship, equip it with powerful weaponry and blow away your enemies. Be the aggressor that starts wars with entire factions, raid freighters, smuggle illegal goods and scavenge old wreckages. Find your way to the center of a galaxy that gets more hostile, but also more rewarding the closer you get to its core.

Release date: Mar 9, 2020

Categories: Ship Combat, Space Flight Simulation, Ship Customization, Resource Management, Trading Simulation, Sandbox, Cooperative Multiplayer, Exploration

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair; summary: The reviews indicate a generally positive experience with the game, with users expressing satisfaction with their purchase and looking forward to additional DLC. There are no indications of predatory monetization practices.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues related to the game's learning curve, user interface, and gameplay mechanics. Many users feel the need to rely on external resources such as wikis and videos to understand the game, indicating a steep learning curve and insufficient in-game guidance. Additionally, there are complaints about the user interface being difficult to navigate and lacking sufficient documentation. Gameplay mechanics that require frequent tabbing out also contribute to a disruptive experience. Addressing these issues could greatly enhance the user experience and reduce the dependency on external resources.
- Steam Deck: score 10; verdict: Highly Satisfactory; summary: The overall user feedback for the game is highly positive, with users praising the graphics, controls, ship editor, sound, and technical performance. The gameplay mechanics, particularly the ship controls and fleet management, are well-received and contribute to a satisfying gaming experience. Technical issues, while present, are addressed effectively by the support team. Some minor gameplay mechanics could be improved, but these do not significantly detract from the overall positive experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game to be a great deal at around $18. Multiple reviews emphasize the value for money, indicating that the game is worth its price due to the extensive hours of gameplay and enjoyment it provides. The repeated mentions of the game being worth its price, especially around the $18 mark, support the conclusion that the community considers this a fair price range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 80.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 335.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple direct references to playtime. The first quote mentions 80 hours to finish the game, which supports the game completion time. The second and third quotes mention hundreds of hours spent in the game, indicating a high level of engagement and long-term playability, which supports the endgame metric. The fourth quote mentions 183 hours, further supporting the endgame metric. However, there is no specific evidence provided for the story completion or session length, so those fields are marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Avorion has a steep learning curve and requires significant time investment before it becomes enjoyable. The fun typically starts when players have acquired enough resources and upgrades, and when their empire begins to function smoothly.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Acquisition of resources, upgrades, and turrets, and the establishment of a functional empire.
  - Time to anchor: 6h 0m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Initial struggle for resources and upgrades; Grinding and waiting in late game
  - Unlock drivers: Acquiring resources and upgrades; Building and managing an empire; Progression through material tiers
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Single-player with 24/7 server; Experimenting with shipbuilding and automation; Engaging in trading, mining, and exploring
- Player Archetypes:
  - Creative Strategist (buy)
    - Motivation: Creativity and strategic depth
    - Playstyle: Builds ships, manages fleets, explores the universe, and engages in various playstyles.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: strategist; creator
    - Reference games: EVE Online; Stellaris; X3/X4
  - Ship-Builder Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Creative ship design and building
    - Playstyle: Spends significant time designing and building ships.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: builder; designer
    - Reference games: RoboCraft; Mechwarrior; Space Engineers
  - Grind-Loving Progressionist (sale)
    - Motivation: Progression and achievement
    - Playstyle: Enjoys the grind, learns mechanics, and progresses through the game.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: grinder; achiever
    - Reference games: Factorio; Kenshi; Distant Worlds


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Extensive ship-building freedom (weight 0.54): The game offers a highly flexible and unrestricted ship-building system, allowing players to design and build ships of various sizes and shapes with modular components. This feature is frequently praised for its depth and creativity.
- Enjoyable and unique gameplay (weight 0.36): The gameplay is described as fun, unique, and addictive, providing a captivating experience that keeps players engaged. This aspect is often highlighted as a major strength.
- Variety of activities (weight 0.35): The game offers a wide range of activities such as mining, trading, piracy, exploration, and more. This variety ensures that players have plenty to do and can engage in different gameplay styles.
- Fleet management (weight 0.15): Players can design, command, and manage fleets of ships, adding a strategic layer to the gameplay. This feature is appreciated for its depth and complexity.
- Engaging storyline (weight 0.12): The game features a well-developed and engaging storyline with various events and dialogues. This narrative aspect adds depth and keeps players invested.
- High replay value (weight 0.1): The game is noted for its high replayability, offering long-lasting enjoyment and depth. This makes it a worthwhile investment for players seeking extended gameplay.
- Combines multiple game mechanics (weight 0.09): The game integrates various mechanics from different genres, including strategy, building, flying, and shooting. This combination creates a unique and in-depth gaming experience.
- Enjoyable multiplayer experience (weight 0.09): The game is praised for its fun and engaging multiplayer mode, making it a great choice for playing with friends. This social aspect adds to the overall enjoyment.
- Great sci-fi adventure (weight 0.09): The game is highlighted as a great science-fiction adventure, offering a compelling experience within the genre. This aspect is often mentioned as a key attraction.

Common complaints:
- UI needs significant improvements (weight 0.18): The user interface is widely criticized for being unintuitive, clunky, and difficult to use. Many players have expressed the need for an overhaul and better color choices.
- Tutorial is lacking (weight 0.13): The game's tutorial is considered inadequate and frustrating, especially for first-time players. There is a need for more detailed initial guidance.
- Unclear quests and story (weight 0.12): Players find the quests and story unclear, often requiring external guides. There is also criticism about the lack of variety and repetitiveness in quests.
- Game is grindy (weight 0.11): The game involves a significant amount of grinding, which can become tedious and boring, especially at the start.
- Difficult start (weight 0.07): Players find the beginning of the game confusing and difficult to get into, which can be a barrier to entry.
- AI issues (weight 0.07): The AI in the game has been noted to have limitations and can act wonky, requiring improvements.
- Ship control and management issues (weight 0.07): There are problems with ship control, armament, and crew management, making these aspects of the game difficult to handle.
- Frequent bugs (weight 0.06): The game is reported to have a significant number of bugs, which can affect the gameplay experience.
- Network and performance issues (weight 0.06): Players experience performance issues, particularly in multiplayer mode, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Overwhelming and linear progression (weight 0.05): The game's progression is seen as overwhelming and too linear, with barriers that can hinder player advancement.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.05): The game has a steep learning curve, making it difficult for new players to grasp the mechanics quickly.
- Frustrating building mechanics (weight 0.05): The building mechanics in the game are criticized for being frustrating and poorly designed.
- Terrible optimization (weight 0.05): The game suffers from optimization issues and poor design choices, leading to a subpar gaming experience.
- Ship building limitations (weight 0.05): There are restrictions on ship building that stifle creativity and make it difficult to build ships as desired.
- Confusing gameplay mechanics (weight 0.05): The gameplay mechanics are criticized for being confusing and unreasonable, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Lack of progression clarity (weight 0.05): The game lacks clarity in its progression system, making it unclear how to advance and what the story progression entails.
- Combat lacks depth (weight 0.05): The combat system is criticized for not being sophisticated or complex enough to be interesting, whether in single-ship or multi-ship fights.
- Too much micromanagement (weight 0.05): The game involves a significant amount of micromanagement, which can be overwhelming and detract from the overall experience.
- Captain's orders system issues (weight 0.04): The captain's orders system has been criticized, particularly the removal of looping orders from previous versions.

Gameplay feedback:
- Extensive ship building and customization (weight 0.35): The game offers a highly detailed and customizable ship building mechanic, allowing players to design and manage ships from the ground up with a grid-based system. This includes a wide range of design options and freedom in ship construction.
- Real-time space combat (weight 0.22): Real-time space combat is a key feature, with RTS-style space battles and a variety of weapon types and combat tactics. Players can engage in fleet battles and use custom turrets for enhanced combat experiences.
- Resource management and trading (weight 0.2): The game features comprehensive resource management and trading mechanics. Players can mine asteroids, manage resources, and engage in automated trading to build their economic empire.
- Various playstyles available (weight 0.18): The game supports multiple playstyles, including trading, piracy, exploration, and combat. This variety allows players to choose their preferred way of playing and experiencing the game world.
- Procedural generation and modding (weight 0.16): The game includes procedural generation of content, such as ships, and supports modding through Steam Workshop. This allows for a vast array of user-generated content and customization.
- Sandbox and open-world gameplay (weight 0.16): Players can enjoy a sandbox environment with non-linear gameplay, providing a high degree of freedom in how they approach the game. The open-world aspect allows for exploration and various activities without strict guidelines.
- Multiplayer and cooperative features (weight 0.12): Multiplayer features include cooperative gameplay and online interactions. Players can engage in multiplayer servers and community-supported interactions, enhancing the social aspect of the game.
- Diplomacy and faction dynamics (weight 0.11): Diplomacy and faction interactions play a significant role in the game. Players can form alliances, interact with different factions, and even start their own faction, adding a layer of political strategy.
- Building and creativity (weight 0.09): The game emphasizes creative building, allowing players to construct various structures such as stations and factories. This building aspect is integral to the gameplay and offers high freedom.
- Research and production chains (weight 0.08): Research mechanics and production chains are part of the game's progression system. Players can engage in technology research and manage production chains to advance their capabilities and resources.
- Interaction options and events (weight 0.08): Various interaction options are available, including text-based interactions and varied events/quests. These interactions add depth to the gameplay and provide multiple ways to engage with the game world.
- Story and atmosphere (weight 0.07): The game features a storyline that guides players and adds to the overall atmosphere. Players can discover the story and atmosphere through exploration and interactions within the game world.
- Manual ship control and flight (weight 0.05): The game offers manual ship control with flight assist features. Players can directly control their ships, adding a layer of realism and immersion to the gameplay.

Performance notes:
- Network performance issues (weight 0.19): Players experience various network-related problems, including general performance issues and specific problems in multiplayer modes.
- Server stability issues (weight 0.13): There are frequent reports of server issues, including stability problems, overload, and corruption.
- Long loading times (weight 0.11): Players report long loading times and poor optimization, which can detract from the gaming experience.
- Good performance on low-end hardware (weight 0.11): The game runs well on older and low-end machines, making it accessible to a wider range of players.
- Game freezes and FPS drops (weight 0.1): The game occasionally freezes and experiences FPS drops, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- High system requirements (weight 0.09): The game has high system requirements, including high RAM usage and power consumption, which may limit accessibility for some players.
- Optimization issues (weight 0.08): There are various optimization issues reported, including FPS drops and general performance problems.
- Minor performance issues (weight 0.04): Some players experience minor performance issues, such as lag and disconnects, even in single-player mode.
- Performance can strain lower-end systems (weight 0.02): In late-game sectors, the game's performance can strain lower-end systems, potentially causing issues for some players.
- Better performance on PC (weight 0.02): The game performs better on PC compared to other platforms, providing a smoother experience.
- Host may need stronger rig (weight 0.02): For larger groups, the host may need a stronger rig or a server to ensure smooth gameplay.
- Small download size (weight 0.02): The game has a small download size, making it easier for players to download and install.
- Save files taking up space (weight 0.02): Some players report that save files take up too much space, which can be a concern for those with limited storage.
- Instability in pirated version (weight 0.02): There are reports of instability specifically in the pirated version of the game.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.16): The game is highly recommended by many players, especially for those who enjoy exploration, combat, and customization. It is often suggested to try the demo version before purchasing.
- Recommended for space enthusiasts (weight 0.11): The game is particularly recommended for fans of space-themed games, including those who enjoy Star Wars and Star Trek.
- Ideal for space sandbox lovers (weight 0.09): Players who enjoy space sandbox games and open-ended sci-fi games are likely to appreciate this game. It is also recommended for fans of construction and management games.
- Great for creative and strategic players (weight 0.08): The game is recommended for those who enjoy creative freedom, strategic gameplay, and designing and commanding ships. It is also suggested for fans of simulation, RTS, and management games.
- Engaging and fun gameplay (weight 0.06): Players find the gameplay interesting, fun, and engaging, contributing to an overall great gaming experience.
- Worth the price (weight 0.06): Players feel that the game is worth its retail price and justifies their expectations. Some have even purchased multiple copies for friends.
- Excellent sandbox experience (weight 0.06): The game is praised for its sandbox elements, providing a great environment for creative and open-ended gameplay.
- Modding and additional systems (weight 0.06): The game offers potential for modding, including stealth and electronic warfare systems, mecha systems, and planet occupation and landing features.
- Specific recommendations and tips (weight 0.05): Players suggest various tips such as watching YouTube tutorials, starting with medium-sized ships, and using the Steam Workshop for enhancements.
- Recommended despite issues (weight 0.04): Even with some issues, players still recommend the game for its overall quality and potential.
- Similar to other popular games (weight 0.04): Fans of games like Space Engineers, X3, X4, and From the Depths are likely to enjoy this game as well.
- Great co-op experience (weight 0.02): The game is noted for its enjoyable co-op mode, making it a good choice for playing with friends.
- Good for a chill experience (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for those looking for a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
- Solid space simulation (weight 0.02): The game is recognized as a very solid space simulation, providing a comprehensive and enjoyable experience.

Other player notes:
- DLC and Steam Workshop (weight 0.04): Players are discussing the availability and integration of DLC and Steam Workshop content. These features are significant for enhancing gameplay and providing additional content.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.27): Players are frustrated primarily due to technical issues such as network performance, server instability, and game crashes. Additionally, the steep learning curve, unclear tutorials, and complex mechanics in ship building and combat contribute significantly to this frustration. Bugs and lack of beginner-friendly features also exacerbate the problem.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.14): Players enjoy the game's unique ship design and building mechanics, which offer extensive customization and creativity. The variety of gameplay elements, including combat, exploration, and resource management, along with the freedom to play in different styles, contribute to a fun and engaging experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.13): The game's depth, variety, and customizability generate excitement among players. The creative freedom in ship design and the variety of gameplay possibilities, including exploration and combat, are particularly thrilling. The game's complexity and the realization of its depth after initial progress also contribute to this excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players find satisfaction in the game's depth of gameplay and customization options. The freedom in ship building, the enjoyable sandbox style gameplay, and the overall positive experience, including the ease of flight and ship building, contribute to a sense of satisfaction. The active developer support and the ability to enhance the gaming experience with mods also add to this feeling.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Disappointment stems from the game's unmet potential, with players citing issues such as lack of gameplay variety, repetitive quests, and poor implementation of features. The removal of enjoyable features in updates, oversimplification of systems, and lack of depth in certain mechanics also contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, technical issues and bugs further exacerbate the disappointment.
- Positive (weight 0.06): Players express positive sentiments due to the game's open-world freedom and the enjoyment of building and managing various in-game elements. The high replayability, versatility in game modes, and the engaging gameplay experience, despite some repetitive elements, contribute to the overall positive impression.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Enthusiasm is driven by the game's depth, flexibility, and the freedom it offers. Players are particularly enthusiastic about the game's ship editor, workshop integration, and the lack of restrictions. The addictive gameplay loop and the variety of activities also contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): The game evokes nostalgia as it reminds players of their childhood dreams and past experiences with space games. The memorable gameplay experience and the feeling of the game being a culmination of all the space games played as a kid contribute to this nostalgic sentiment.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the unique combination of gameplay mechanics and the depth and variety offered by the game. The engaging gameplay and the desire for more content, as well as the enjoyment of space survival and shooter elements, contribute to this excitement.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Joy is derived from the creative freedom and limitless gameplay possibilities. The enjoyable ship building and design, along with the fun gameplay elements and addictive gameplay, contribute to a sense of joy among players.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness stems from the enjoyable gameplay and relaxing atmosphere, as well as the positive multiplayer experience with friends. The engaging gameplay and the enjoyment of ship creation and role-playing also contribute to this sentiment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's depth, overall quality, and the potent editor for designing ships and stations. The game's unique atmosphere and continuous support from the developer also contribute to this appreciation.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game is expressed due to the extensive gameplay and the enjoyment of building and using the ship editor. The game's space and sandbox elements, along with the excitement of seeing new content, contribute to this deep affection.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Disappointment arises from issues such as lost save files due to lack of cloud saving, endgame problems, and buggy DLC. The lack of endgame content and repetitive gameplay also contribute to this sentiment.
- Surprise (weight 0): Players are surprised by the game's mechanics and story, which exceeded their expectations. The discovery of the game and its unique features also contribute to this surprise.
- Anger (weight 0): Anger is primarily caused by performance issues and gameplay limitations. The technical problems and restrictions in gameplay mechanics contribute significantly to this frustration.
- Confusion (weight 0): Confusion arises from unclear task difficulty and the ambiguity surrounding DLC content and story progression. Players find it challenging to understand certain aspects of the game, leading to this confusion.}