Beyond Galaxyland is a game that admittedly had passed me by on its release and after speaking with several people in the industry who told me I had to play it, I did just that. The result is coming away from quite possibly the best indie experiences of 2024 and with so many games coming daily in the indie space, it is hard to sit at the top of the pile. The game labels itself as a sci-fi RPG with strategic turn-based combat, but it extends into a picturesque adventure that filled me with joy from start to finish.

Tumbling Into An Unknown World
Imagine being on planet Earth conversing with your parents one minute and then the next being thrust into an unknown place. That is exactly the situation in Beyond Galaxyland but you’re not alone, you’ve got your pet Guinea pig Boom-Boom with you who becomes more than just your pet along the adventure. If you’re a turn-based fan, then you’ll be right at home with the combat elements later in the game. But new and casual faces will find it simple enough to get stuck in and navigate each battle scenario.
What I enjoyed about the combat sections though was the Pokemon-esque vibes to it. Sure you can use your main character Doug along with Boom-Boom to go through every battle if you want to. However, Doug can scan and assess species across the galaxy and capture them to summon later in battle. It adds an interesting layer to your strategy and also how you engage with enemies when you’re traversing the landscapes. You’re on a quest to save planet Earth together and I won’t spoil the story, but you can tell Doug is desperate to get back to the comforts of home.

A Rich & Detailed World
An RPG would be nothing without great interactions and dialogue and there is plenty of it in Beyond Galaxyland. The writing is superb and intriguing enough that you want to keep reading it without skipping it. There is a lot of witty and sharp humour which left me smiling throughout and even chuckling at certain moments. Normally I tire of reading lines of text and always prefer voice-acted lines, but it is perfectly fine without it here and left my imagination wondering how their voices would sound in real life.
I loved that there is so much character and enemy variance ranging from quite tame creatures to robotic menaces who would love to snub you out in a flash. There are so many titles out there that have the same rinse-and-repeat gameplay loop, but in Beyond Galaxyland it never feels this way and character progression is fun to level up. Sam Enright has done a sterling job at clicking this game together in perfect harmony to complement the rich and detailed galaxy.

Visuals & Audio
The art design for Beyond Galaxyland has blown the visuals out of the park. The presentation throughout is magnificent and captures cosmic environments and landscapes that are so aesthetically pleasing that I stopped at various moments to admire the pixel artwork. Surveying the backdrops of a dark city area lit with neon lights or taking on a battle with a boss that has been thoughtfully constructed, it is just a wonder to look at on a huge 4k screen. It is a reminder that not every game needs to be of triple-A standard to look great.
The atmosphere gave me the feelings I had when I first played Mass Effect, wanting to explore every nook and cranny and engage with all the wacky-looking creatures, robots and aliens that you’ll come across. The audio quality is amazing with a soundtrack that compliments the style of the game, but also sound effects are punchy, they have just nailed it in all areas here. Narration is displayed with lines of text that are clear and concise to read alongside the well-crafted menus and dialogue.

Final Thoughts
Well, I am glad I listened to all the great feedback about this game and picked it up for a review. If you’re into RPG titles with simplistic turn-based combat that doesn’t have you diving into millions of skill trees and classes, then you’ll love the experience. This will go down as one of the most memorable indie titles I have played not just in 2024, but probably ever. Every year I collate a pot of indie titles that are bordering on masterpiece status, games like Cuphead, Cult Of The Lamb, Deaths Door and Balataro. This belongs in that pot and stays there for sure, and is worth every single penny of the £14.99 asking price. As indie titles go, this is a must-buy, don’t even hesitate just go and play it.
Overall
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95%
Summary
Pros
- Visual and sound design is simply stunning in every single area
- Excellent and easy to follow storyline
- Fantastic range of characters with unique personalities
- Great mechanics and satisfying puzzles
- Turn-based combat is fun
Cons
- Sad when it ended, I need more!