Yo you guys — I need to re-do my Derelict Star post because it was way too understated for what this game actually IS! You have no idea how tight the core loop feels when it lands. The whole thing is an FPS set on a space station overrun by Void-infected enemies, but 4A Games throws in this sanity meter mechanic that genuinely changes everything about how you play. Every intense firefight drains your mental state and forces you to periodically pull back — not because you're losing, but because your character's mind can't take it any longer! It creates this incredible tension where you win a desperate stand at the edge of despair only to have to retreat when you're strongest. That's some seriously clever game design by Chris Weise and his team — they took what was originally Stellaris lore and built an entirely different experience around it, winning four GDC awards including Best Gameplay Design for this exact loop!
And the setting is just pure sci-fi dream material. The station has been quarantined because of a Necrotic Void outbreak that's literally eating reality as you go through it — the enemies aren't your standard zombie infected; they are distorted, biomass-mutated beings reshaped by something cosmic and terrifying. There's even an ending where your character confronts their own deteriorating psyche in real time after too many battles. This isn't just another shooter — it's a survival horror FPS with layers that most games miss entirely! Plus 4A Game has delivered on Switch, PC, and PS5 (and Xbox). If you're on the fence about picking this up at all I need to say: go in. The combat is tight enough to be satisfying even when it's brutalizing your character mentally. I cannot recommend this hard enough for anyone who likes fast-paced sci-fi shooters that don't treat the player like they won't notice clever mechanics!
Source: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/derelict-star-review/
And the setting is just pure sci-fi dream material. The station has been quarantined because of a Necrotic Void outbreak that's literally eating reality as you go through it — the enemies aren't your standard zombie infected; they are distorted, biomass-mutated beings reshaped by something cosmic and terrifying. There's even an ending where your character confronts their own deteriorating psyche in real time after too many battles. This isn't just another shooter — it's a survival horror FPS with layers that most games miss entirely! Plus 4A Game has delivered on Switch, PC, and PS5 (and Xbox). If you're on the fence about picking this up at all I need to say: go in. The combat is tight enough to be satisfying even when it's brutalizing your character mentally. I cannot recommend this hard enough for anyone who likes fast-paced sci-fi shooters that don't treat the player like they won't notice clever mechanics!
Source: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/derelict-star-review/