Star Ores Inc. review

I know that grind-filled gaming isn’t for everyone. Losing hours to mediocre tasks and not progressing very far isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. However, I like the mindless and almost meditative nature of this type of gaming. Accordingly, when I was offered Star Ores Inc., I couldn’t resist hitting the install button.

BlackBeak Games has developed a calm, hectic, and tactical game for you to lose hours of your life to. At first, everything seems relatively easy to follow and even easier to master. Yet, after a few hours, you realise that planning, exploration, and money play a key role in this game.

Star Ores Inc. is a game of business management and exploration.

I love it when a sim game gets the basics just right. Thankfully, Star Ores Inc. has done that for the most part. The mining elements are refined but detailed enough to keep you going. Moreover, there are robots to assist you, machines to automate the process, and a large list of elements to discover.

You play the role of a businessman who has purchased an abandoned space station. This zero-gravity location is the home to a popular shop and an almost never-ending mine. Powered with a laser and a sassy robot companion, the entrepreneur must remove rubble, biowaste, and ore if they are to make money. Moreover, they must balance investment, automation, and decorations if they wish to maximise profits.

Slow progress.

If you want a game that unfolds at a rate of knots, this is not for you. Instead, Star Ores Inc. evolves at a snail’s pace. This isn’t a complaint, more of an observation. I spent hours grinding my levels, clearing debris, and mastering my automation. After all, you don’t want to do all the heavy lifting yourself.

On top of this, you have to be careful with how you spend your money. The developer has left a large array of headroom, but if you waste the ores and precious materials at your disposal, you’ll prevent yourself from progressing. Consequently, you must keep an eye on your main tasks or risk failing altogether.

Star Ores Inc. isn’t that attractive.

Like most sim games, Star Ores Inc. doesn’t focus on its visual prowess. Instead, it is relatively rudimentary in its design choices. The simple colour palette highlights the strength of each item you are mining. This approach was helpful as it prevents you from wasting your time. Furthermore, ore and other key elements are designed in such a way as to make them the centre of attention. The visuals didn’t blow me away, but they were suitable for the task at hand. Sadly, I can say the same about the audio. It isn’t memorable, but I like its dreamy state. The developer has managed to capture that space vibe, and this complements the laid-back nature of the action.

The controls are well explained, and mastering the basics was relatively simple. However, when things start to heat up and automation becomes a priority, this can be confusing. Thankfully, some trial and error keeps you on the straight and narrow. Despite my confused state, the rest of the controls are well considered, and I like how the action unfolds. Replay value and longevity will depend on your love of grinding games. If you hate slow-paced and repetitive experiences, this will not be for you. Alternatively, if you like simple tasks and defined missions, this will tick those boxes.

Star Ores Inc. is a decent indie title.

I became a little obsessed with this fun indie game. Yes, it didn’t challenge me too much, but I didn’t care. Once the automation was in place, I liked watching my machines do all of the work. Moreover, unlocking blueprints and expanding my production line was enjoyable. I understand that the slow and repetitive nature of this title won’t be for everyone. However, Star Ores Inc. was fun, and I recommend buying it from the Xbox Store!