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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Starbound is a 2D space exploration and crafting sandbox built around repairing a damaged ship, exploring planets, and deciding what to do next. Its appeal is open-ended discovery and making things rather than a tightly directed, single-path campaign. The official feature list includes solo play, online co-op, online PvP, cross-platform multiplayer, and Steam Workshop support; those listings describe supported features, not how active multiplayer services or workshop activity are today.
What is Starbound?
Developed and published by Chucklefish, Starbound was fully released on July 22, 2016, according to its Steam listing. Steam categorizes it as Action, Adventure, Casual, Indie, and RPG.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Kirby Star Allies - Nintendo Switch | $52.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe - US Version | $52.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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K-Pop Rising: Dream to Shine (Amazon Exclusive with Phone Charm) - Nintendo Switch | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The premise gives the sandbox a practical starting point: you flee your home, become stranded in space with a damaged ship, and beam down to a planet to begin repairing it. Exploring planets and gathering what you need opens the way to travel farther. The setup provides an initial objective, but the broader draw is the freedom to explore and craft rather than a narrowly prescribed route.
How does the gameplay suit different players?
Choose it for open-ended exploration and crafting
The central question is whether you enjoy setting your own pace. Starbound puts planetary exploration and crafting at the center of its documented premise. Players who like to roam, collect resources, make things, and decide their own next task have a clear reason to look closer.
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#1 Best Overall
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
Be cautious if you want tightly directed progression
The official description establishes a ship-repair goal, but it does not promise a consistently guided, linear campaign. If you prefer a game that regularly spells out the next objective and keeps progression on a fixed track, the sandbox structure may be a less natural fit. That is a question of preference, not a claim that the game lacks goals.
Can you play Starbound solo or with friends?
Steam lists single-player, online co-op, online PvP, and cross-platform multiplayer. That makes the official feature set broad enough to cover both solo exploration and online play. The listing does not establish current server health, player activity, or whether every multiplayer option is equally convenient today. PC Gamer’s historical review describes co-op through dedicated servers or joining via Steam, but that is not a present-day service check.
Rank #2
- Use friend hearts to charm enemies and they'll fight alongside you! drop-in/drop-out co-op: up to three other players can take control of Kirby's new friends
- Play through the entire game with up to four players or with CPU friends Kirby and his friends have fresh moves thanks to new and expanded Copy abilities
- Combine abilities with elements such as wind and water to create new friend abilities some bosses and enemies are weak to certain elemental attacks, so remember to Strategize
- Battery: no battery used;Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Cartoon violence
The Steam listing also includes Steam Workshop support, which offers a route to community-created content. Its presence does not guarantee that particular items or services remain active or compatible with every setup.
Where can you play Starbound?
The official Starbound FAQ lists PC, Mac, Linux, and Xbox One/Series consoles, and identifies Steam, Humble, and GOG as storefronts. Availability and compatibility can vary by region and may change, so check the relevant store’s current page before buying. The FAQ says Steam requires a Steam account for installation and updates; GOG and Humble offer direct-download versions.
Rank #3
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
What do reviews say?
Steam’s listing displays user-review aggregates, which are snapshots of user sentiment rather than critic scores or a representative survey. At the search snapshot, 88% of 51,859 English reviews were positive overall, while 69% of 123 recent reviews were positive. Steam also notes that off-topic review activity affected one or more periods and that reviews from those periods were excluded. These figures can change, so they should not be read as a current rating without checking the live listing.
The same Steam page displays historical critic scores: IGN at 9.1/10, Game Informer at 8.5/10, and PC Gamer at 84/100. They are quotations shown on the store page, not current reassessments. PC Gamer’s review characterizes Starbound as a 2D space exploration and crafting sandbox; that description aligns with the game’s documented premise, but does not substitute for a personal, hands-on review.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Amazon Exclusive: Free K-Pop Rising phone charm included with the Nintendo Switch game
- An Adventure That Suits You: Customise your character to match your style and performances: clothes, make-up… everything is possible!
- Your Group, Your Rules! You run the show: create your group, recruit its members and grow your fan community!
- Keep up the Pace! Fine-tune your singing, dance routines and sense of rhythm to become a fully-fledged star!
- From Your Bedroom to the World's Biggest Stages: Start at the bottom, work your way up with your passion and talent, and become the icon you've always dreamt of being!
Rank #4
- A variety of playable characters are available, some with unique attributes that affect gameplay and platforming physics.
- Younger and less-experienced players will love playing as Toadette, who is brand new to both games, and Nabbit, who was formerly only playable in New Super Luigi U. Both characters offer extra assistance during play.
- Multiplayer sessions are even more fun, frantic, and exciting thanks to entertaining character interactions. Need a boost? Try jumping off a teammate’s head or getting a teammate to throw you.
- Features a wealth of help features, like a Hints gallery, reference videos, and a Super Guide in New Super Mario Bros. U that can complete levels for you if they’re giving you trouble.
- Three additional modes—Boost Rush, Challenges, and Coin Battle—mix up gameplay and add replayability, while also upping the difficulty for players who want to try something harder. Players can use their Mii characters in these modes.
Who should consider Starbound?
- A good match: players seeking a space-themed sandbox centered on exploration, crafting, and self-directed play.
- Worth considering: players who want the option of solo play or online co-op, while understanding that listed support does not confirm current activity.
- Think twice: players who want a consistently linear, tightly guided progression path or need confirmation of current multiplayer health before buying.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
