Review: Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions (Early Access)

You know that feeling when you love a game so much that it's hard to accept its sequel or spin-off taking a completely different direction? That's exactly what happened to me with Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions.

I went in expecting another dose of the relaxing exploration, terraforming, and crazy base building that made the original Astroneer so enjoyable. Instead, I found a game that's much more focused on cooperative expeditions, teamwork, and completing objectives under time pressure. At first, I was honestly disappointed, but after a few sessions, I started to appreciate what the game was trying to do.

What Exactly Is Starseeker?

You play as a member of the crew aboard the ESS Starseeker space station. Each mission sends you to a new planet where you have a limited amount of time to complete objectives, gather resources, unlock new technology, and—most importantly—make it back alive with your entire team.

The game blends exploration, light action, and cooperative gameplay while keeping the colorful and charming visual style that Astroneer fans will instantly recognize. One thing becomes clear very quickly, though: this is not Astroneer 2. It's a different game set in the same universe.

The Best Part – Playing with Friends

The best moments I had were easily the chaotic co-op ones.

During one expedition, we had our backpacks full of resources and were ready to head back when one of my friends got stuck deep inside a cave. Time was running out, and the rest of us rushed through tunnels, shared batteries, pulled him out, and somehow managed to get everyone back to the ship.

We escaped with only a few seconds left on the clock.

Moments like that are priceless, and that's when Starseeker truly shines.

You're constantly pinging resources, sharing equipment, rescuing each other, and improvising on the fly. That's the heart of the game. Solo play is available and works reasonably well, but it's obvious that Starseeker was designed primarily as a cooperative experience.

What Works Well

The planets look beautiful and varied enough that each expedition feels different and offers something new to discover.

Unlocking new equipment and upgrading the space station creates a satisfying sense of progression and gives you a reason to jump into another mission.

The time limit adds a nice amount of tension without becoming frustrating. There's always one more thing you want to accomplish before heading back, but the game rarely feels unfair.

Visually and acoustically, Starseeker retains the signature Astroneer charm. Even when you're rushing to complete objectives, the game manages to maintain its relaxing atmosphere.

What I Didn't Like

The biggest issue for me is that this simply isn't the open-ended sandbox experience I was used to. Time limits and structured objectives completely change the rhythm of the gameplay.

Since the game is still in Early Access, it's also noticeable that the amount of content is somewhat limited. After five or six expeditions, I started seeing the same patterns repeat themselves.

Solo play is certainly possible, but it's noticeably less enjoyable. Some mechanics and objectives clearly feel designed with a full team in mind.

There are also a few technical issues and balance problems that still need work, although that's fairly typical for an Early Access title.

Is Starseeker Worth Playing?

I think the most important thing is to approach Starseeker with the right expectations.

If you have a group of friends and you're looking for a new cooperative adventure set in the Astroneer universe, then yes, it's definitely worth trying.

If you're expecting the same relaxing, endless sandbox experience as the original game, you'll probably end up disappointed. It's better to accept that Starseeker is trying to carve out its own identity.

I'm still very curious to see how the game develops over time. The potential is definitely there, especially if the developers add more variety, new planets, and additional content for solo players.

For now, Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions feels like a game with plenty of potential but also plenty of room to grow. A solid 7.5/10, and one I'll definitely keep an eye on throughout its Early Access journey.

A review code for Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions was provided by the game's publisher, Devolver Digital. You can read more of our reviews at Buff Gaming.