Empyrion: Galactic Survival – A Beautifully Unfinished Masterpiece

Empyrion is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite games. It masterfully blends some of the most enjoyable aspects of gaming—exploration, crafting, building, and survival—into a rich and rewarding experience. Starting with nothing but a humble wooden hut and some basic tools, you gradually work your way up to piloting advanced, system-hopping starships. Along the way, you'll interact with (and often battle) a myriad of alien species, infiltrate intricate structures, and fight for your life in sprawling, infested labyrinths. It’s the kind of game where getting lost in the experience feels natural—and inevitable.

Of the 650 hours I've logged so far, I can confidently say that a large chunk of that time has been spent building. The building system is easily Empyrion’s crowning achievement. Its depth and creative potential are astounding, offering endless possibilities to design everything from simple shelters to massive, awe-inspiring space vessels. It’s addictive and satisfying in a way few games manage to achieve. I could honestly rave for days about the things I love in this game.

But, for all its brilliance, Empyrion is also deeply flawed.

The Elephant in the Room
Here’s the truth: despite its official "release" on Steam, this game is not finished. Empyrion launched as an Alpha in 2015, and I joined the adventure in 2018. While the developers officially "released" the game in 2020, many players—including myself—believe it still feels like an early access title. Some even argue that there hasn’t been a significant update since before 2018. The 2020 release seemed more like a marketing decision than a declaration of completion.

Visually, Empyrion feels stuck in the mid-2010s, with graphics that scream 2015 rather than 2025. While the gameplay content is vast and engaging, it often feels incomplete, as though someone started an ambitious project, gathered all the right ingredients, and then left it half-baked on the counter. The result is a game with incredible potential but glaring gaps in execution.

Additionally, it's worth noting that the game can be quite "heavy" on older or aging PCs. Empyrion's ambitious scale comes with a performance cost, and players with older hardware may struggle with slowdowns or crashes, particularly in the larger, more complex environments.

Modders to the Rescue (And Deserving More Recognition)
To its credit, Empyrion’s modding community has done wonders for the game. The most notable example is Reforged Eden 2 by Ravien and Vermillion, a monumental overhaul that improves almost every aspect of gameplay. Reforged Eden adds depth, balance, and an incredible amount of polish to the game. It has effectively become the gold standard for how Empyrion should play. Frankly, Ravien and Vermillion deserve to be hired onto the official development team; their work has elevated the game to heights the developers haven’t managed to reach.

While mods like Reforged Eden can transform the experience into something truly special, even these dedicated efforts can’t completely make up for the unfinished state of the base game.

The Bottom Line
Despite its flaws, I love Empyrion and will continue to play it until the servers shut down—an eventuality I sadly expect, given the developers' apparent lack of follow-through. It’s a game that shines in its ambition and creativity, even if it stumbles in its execution.

So, should you buy it?

Is the price worth it? Not at full price—grab it on sale.
Is it a finished product? Absolutely not.
Is it playable? Yes, and deeply enjoyable if you’re willing to overlook its rough edges.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely—so much so that I’d consider buying it for a friend if I thought they’d enjoy it.
Empyrion is the perfect paradox: a game I wholeheartedly adore, despite knowing it could have been so much more.

Empyrion: Galactic Survival – A Beautifully Unfinished Masterpiece Empyrion is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite games. It masterfully blends some of the most enjoyable aspects of gaming—exploration, crafting, building, and survival—into a rich and rewarding experience. Starting with nothing but a humble wooden hut and some basic tools, you gradually work your way up to piloting advanced, system-hopping starships. Along the way, you'll interact with (and often battle) a myriad of alien species, infiltrate intricate structures, and fight for your life in sprawling, infested labyrinths. It’s the kind of game where getting lost in the experience feels natural—and inevitable. Of the 650 hours I've logged so far, I can confidently say that a large chunk of that time has been spent building. The building system is easily Empyrion’s crowning achievement. Its depth and creative potential are astounding, offering endless possibilities to design everything from simple shelters to massive, awe-inspiring space vessels. It’s addictive and satisfying in a way few games manage to achieve. I could honestly rave for days about the things I love in this game. But, for all its brilliance, Empyrion is also deeply flawed. The Elephant in the Room Here’s the truth: despite its official "release" on Steam, this game is not finished. Empyrion launched as an Alpha in 2015, and I joined the adventure in 2018. While the developers officially "released" the game in 2020, many players—including myself—believe it still feels like an early access title. Some even argue that there hasn’t been a significant update since before 2018. The 2020 release seemed more like a marketing decision than a declaration of completion. Visually, Empyrion feels stuck in the mid-2010s, with graphics that scream 2015 rather than 2025. While the gameplay content is vast and engaging, it often feels incomplete, as though someone started an ambitious project, gathered all the right ingredients, and then left it half-baked on the counter. The result is a game with incredible potential but glaring gaps in execution. Additionally, it's worth noting that the game can be quite "heavy" on older or aging PCs. Empyrion's ambitious scale comes with a performance cost, and players with older hardware may struggle with slowdowns or crashes, particularly in the larger, more complex environments. Modders to the Rescue (And Deserving More Recognition) To its credit, Empyrion’s modding community has done wonders for the game. The most notable example is Reforged Eden 2 by Ravien and Vermillion, a monumental overhaul that improves almost every aspect of gameplay. Reforged Eden adds depth, balance, and an incredible amount of polish to the game. It has effectively become the gold standard for how Empyrion should play. Frankly, Ravien and Vermillion deserve to be hired onto the official development team; their work has elevated the game to heights the developers haven’t managed to reach. While mods like Reforged Eden can transform the experience into something truly special, even these dedicated efforts can’t completely make up for the unfinished state of the base game. The Bottom Line Despite its flaws, I love Empyrion and will continue to play it until the servers shut down—an eventuality I sadly expect, given the developers' apparent lack of follow-through. It’s a game that shines in its ambition and creativity, even if it stumbles in its execution. So, should you buy it? Is the price worth it? Not at full price—grab it on sale. Is it a finished product? Absolutely not. Is it playable? Yes, and deeply enjoyable if you’re willing to overlook its rough edges. Would I recommend it? Absolutely—so much so that I’d consider buying it for a friend if I thought they’d enjoy it. Empyrion is the perfect paradox: a game I wholeheartedly adore, despite knowing it could have been so much more.