Kerbal Space Program

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Overwhelmingly Positive

Total: 70.1 ThousandPositive: 67.1 ThousandNegative: 3.08 Thousand
96%
4%
Steam review score: 9

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AI Review

Kerbal Space Program scored 87.24 % rating
Kerbal Space Program is a beloved indie simulation game where you manage the space program of the Kerbals, an alien race. With an AI Community Rating of 87.19%, players praise its realistic physics, rewarding gameplay, and endless creativity. Build and launch spacecraft using a vast array of parts, explore a detailed solar system, and manage your crew in three modes: Science, Career, and Sandbox. The community loves its depth and modding potential, calling it 'fun,' 'amazing,' and 'realistic.' However, some note its steep learning curve, outdated graphics, and occasional bugs. If you enjoy challenging, physics-based simulations with a vibrant modding community, Kerbal Space Program is a must-try. Dive in and see why it’s a favorite among space enthusiasts!
IndieSimulation
Single-playerSteam Trading CardsSteam WorkshopPartial Controller SupportSteam CloudFamily Sharing

What the community wishes

We analysed the 9 most impactful community reviews and collected 20 ideas and suggestions on how the game could be better.
Improve tutorial and onboarding
The learning curve is steep, and the tutorials are not well-developed. A more comprehensive and intuitive tutorial system would help new players understand the game mechanics better.
Enhance graphics and visuals
The base game graphics are outdated. While mods can improve visuals, the vanilla game should receive a graphical overhaul to remain competitive with modern standards.
Add more post-landing content
Once players land on planets or moons, there's little to do beyond enjoying the view. Adding more interactive or exploratory content post-landing would enhance the gameplay experience.
Optimize performance for mods
The game can become resource-intensive with many mods installed. Better optimization to handle mods without requiring a high-end PC would improve accessibility.
Expand career mode depth
Career mode could benefit from more varied and challenging contracts, as well as deeper economic and progression systems to keep players engaged long-term.
Improve rover mechanics
Rovers are currently difficult to control and often feel underdeveloped. Enhancing rover mechanics and adding more functionality would make planetary exploration more enjoyable.
Add more in-game documentation
The game lacks detailed in-game documentation for advanced mechanics. Adding a comprehensive in-game guide or encyclopedia would help players understand complex systems.
Enhance multiplayer support
While mods offer multiplayer functionality, native multiplayer support with collaborative missions or competitive modes would add a new dimension to the game.
Improve mod management tools
The current mod management system could be more user-friendly. Integrating a robust mod manager directly into the game would simplify the modding process for players.
Add more planetary variety
While the Outer Planets Mod adds more planets, the base game could benefit from additional celestial bodies with unique characteristics to explore.
Fix persistent bugs and glitches
The game has several long-standing bugs, such as the 'Kraken' glitch. Addressing these issues would improve stability and player satisfaction.
Expand life support mechanics
Life support is only available through mods. Adding official life support mechanics would add depth and realism to long-term missions.
Improve docking and rendezvous UI
Docking and rendezvous can be frustrating for new players. A more intuitive UI and guidance system would make these mechanics more accessible.
Add more historical missions
Including historical space missions as part of the career mode or as standalone challenges would appeal to space enthusiasts and provide educational value.
Enhance atmospheric flight mechanics
Atmospheric flight could be more realistic and engaging. Improving aerodynamics and adding more detailed weather effects would enhance the experience.
Add more endgame content
The game lacks significant endgame content. Adding more challenging missions, such as interstellar travel or advanced colony building, would extend replayability.
Improve part organization in VAB
The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) part organization could be more intuitive. Better categorization and search functionality would streamline the building process.
Add more real-world spacecraft
Including more real-world spacecraft designs as part of the base game or as official DLC would appeal to players interested in historical space exploration.
Enhance sound design
The audio experience could be more immersive. Adding more detailed sound effects, such as engine noises and atmospheric re-entry sounds, would enhance the overall experience.
Add more customization options
Players would benefit from more customization options for spacecraft, such as paint schemes, decals, and part textures, to personalize their creations.

Reviews

Toxicity trend

N-Grams

Most relevant voices from the community
unbelievably moddable mayfinished game yessignificant brain usagemetric ton ofworth the pricegoofy game withunplayable state butfantastic game 10/10mod it tillvery good gameplaybest space simulationmod manager nobuy ksp 1better and alsoincredible i havereal hard idead in thebetter than ksp2very good gamecomplete kerbal game

Keywords

Top 15 keywords for sentiments
What the community loves
We collected 247 positive keywords.
fun
16
recommend
9
amazing
8
great
5
best
5
realistic
5
rewarding
4
Good
4
community
4
favorite
3
fantastic
3
good
3
modding
3
enjoyable
3
worth
3
Where the community is undecided
We collected 406 neutral keywords.
mods
12
learning
7
space
7
physics
6
launcher
6
hours
6
community
5
Steam
5
rocket
5
tutorials
5
play
5
sandbox
4
fix
4
orbit
4
orbital
4
What the community dislikes
We collected 267 negative keywords.
broken
4
dead
4
difficult
4
expensive
3
greedy
3
frustrated
3
shame
3
frustrating
3
crash
3
issues
3
bugs
3
unplayable
3
abandoned
2
removed
2
failure
2

In-depth analysis of most impactful community reviews

Positive

Should you buy KSP 1 in 2024? Why not play KSP 2? First of all, it works and it's a finished game. Yes, KSP 2 has a more refined craft building UI and better graphics (if you can afford the graphics card), but KSP 1 has science, money, and a metric ton of community mods that make the game so much better and also more beautiful. So, here's what you should do: 1. Buy KSP 1. 2. Download [url=https://github.com/KSP-CKAN/CKAN/releases]CKAN[/url] (the mod manager). No, you don't need an account like other questionable mod managers, just download it. 3. Install mods of your choice. [h2]My mod recommendations:[/h2] [h3]Functional[/h3] - [b]Science! Continued[/b] - Shows you when an experiment is available without needing to find the part. - [b]BetterBurnTime[/b] - Shows you more accurate display on your maneuver burn times. - [b]Community Tech Tree[/b] - Gives you a vastly expanded tech tree (check the supported mods in the relationships tab). - [b]Contract Configurator[/b] - Lets you set up contracts (check the community contract packs for a lot more missions). - [b]Docking Cam[/b] - Makes docking less of a hassle. - [b]Ferram Aerospace Research Continued[/b] - Realistic aerodynamics. - [b]Kerbal Engineer Redux[/b] - Gives you lots of info about your vessel while building and in-flight. - [b]Kerbal Joint Reinforcement Continued[/b] - No more noodle rockets. - [b]MechJeb 2[/b] - Maneuver automation tool to take the grind out of things you have already mastered in a canonical, non-immersion breaking way. - [b]Outer Planets Mod[/b] - More planets. - [b]TAC Life Support[/b] - Kerbals now need food, water, and electricity. (For advanced players only.) [h3]Visual[/h3] - [b]Astronomer's Visual Pack[/b] + the texture pack. - [b]Environmental Visual Enhancements Redux[/b] - [b]Planetshine[/b] - [b]Real Plume[/b] - [b]TUFX[/b]

  • Sentiments

    • I believe KSP 1 is a worthwhile purchase in 2024 because it is a finished and functional game, unlike KSP 2, which is still in development.
    • I appreciate that KSP 1 has a robust system of science, money, and a vast library of community mods that enhance the gameplay significantly.
    • I find the modding community for KSP 1 to be a major strength, as it allows players to customize and improve the game extensively.
    • I recommend using CKAN as a mod manager because it is straightforward and does not require an account, unlike other mod managers.
    • I think the mod 'Science! Continued' is very useful as it simplifies the process of identifying available experiments without needing to locate the part.
    • I find 'BetterBurnTime' to be a helpful mod because it provides more accurate information about maneuver burn times, improving gameplay efficiency.
    • I appreciate the 'Community Tech Tree' mod for expanding the tech tree, which adds depth and variety to the game.
    • I believe 'Ferram Aerospace Research Continued' enhances the realism of the game by introducing realistic aerodynamics, which I find engaging.
    • I think 'Kerbal Engineer Redux' is an essential mod as it provides detailed information about your vessel, both during construction and in-flight.
    • I find 'TAC Life Support' to be a challenging but rewarding mod for advanced players, as it introduces the need for food, water, and electricity for Kerbals.

Positive

Should you buy KSP 1 in 2024? Why not play KSP 2? First of all, it works and it's a finished game. Yes, KSP 2 has a more refined craft building UI and better graphics (if you can afford the graphics card), but KSP 1 has science, money, and a metric ton of community mods that make the game so much better and also more beautiful. So, here's what you should do: 1. Buy KSP 1. 2. Download CKAN (the mod manager). No, you don't need an account like other questionable mod managers, just download it. 3. Install mods of your choice. My mod recommendations: Functional - Science! Continued - Shows you when an experiment is available without needing to find the part. - BetterBurnTime - Shows you more accurate display on your maneuver burn times. - Community Tech Tree - Gives you a vastly expanded tech tree (check the supported mods in the relationships tab). - Contract Configurator - Lets you set up contracts (check the community contract packs for a lot more missions). - Docking Cam - Makes docking less of a hassle. - Ferram Aerospace Research Continued - Realistic aerodynamics. - Kerbal Engineer Redux - Gives you lots of info about your vessel while building and in-flight. - Kerbal Joint Reinforcement Continued - No more noodle rockets. - MechJeb 2 - Maneuver automation tool to take the grind out of things you have already mastered in a canonical, non-immersion breaking way. - Outer Planets Mod - More planets. - TAC Life Support - Kerbals now need food, water, and electricity. (For advanced players only.) Visual - Astronomer's Visual Pack + the texture pack. - Environmental Visual Enhancements Redux - Planetshine - Real Plume - TUFX

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that KSP 1 is a worthwhile purchase in 2024 because it is a finished and functional game, unlike KSP 2, which is still in development.
    • I appreciate that KSP 1 has a robust system of science, money, and a vast array of community mods that enhance the gameplay significantly.
    • I find the modding community for KSP 1 to be a major strength, as it allows players to customize and improve the game in ways that make it more enjoyable and visually appealing.
    • I recommend using CKAN as a mod manager because it is straightforward and does not require an account, unlike other mod managers that may seem questionable.
    • I believe that mods like 'Science! Continued' and 'BetterBurnTime' add significant quality-of-life improvements to the game, making it more enjoyable to play.
    • I think that mods such as 'Ferram Aerospace Research Continued' and 'Kerbal Engineer Redux' enhance the realism and technical depth of the game, which is appealing to advanced players.
    • I feel that visual mods like 'Astronomer's Visual Pack' and 'Environmental Visual Enhancements Redux' greatly improve the game's graphics, making it more immersive.
    • I acknowledge that KSP 2 has a more refined craft building UI and better graphics, but I believe these improvements are not enough to outweigh the benefits of KSP 1's modding community and finished state.
    • I note that KSP 2 requires a powerful graphics card to fully appreciate its improved visuals, which might be a barrier for some players.
    • I suggest that 'TAC Life Support' is a mod for advanced players only, as it introduces additional complexity by requiring Kerbals to have food, water, and electricity.

Positive

better than KSP2 by a long shot. Unbelievably moddable. May require a NASA PC if you add too many parts. Kill little green frogs in a multitude of ways. Commit genocide under the cover of a space program. 10/10 would recommend

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that this game is significantly better than KSP2, which is a strong positive sentiment about its quality and superiority.
    • I find the game to be unbelievably moddable, which is a highly positive sentiment about its customization and flexibility.
    • I am concerned that the game may require a NASA PC if too many parts are added, which is a neutral sentiment about potential hardware requirements.
    • I enjoy the ability to kill little green frogs in a multitude of ways, which is a positive sentiment about the game's humor and creativity.
    • I find it amusing to commit genocide under the cover of a space program, which is a positive sentiment about the game's dark humor and unique gameplay.
    • I would highly recommend this game with a 10/10 rating, which is an overwhelmingly positive sentiment about its overall quality and enjoyment.

Positive

The one and only complete Kerbal game. The one you should get because the second one is probably dead in the water with halfbaked promises. What more to say, other than i personally suck at this game lol

  • Sentiments

    • I believe this is the one and only complete Kerbal game, and it is the version that people should get.
    • I think the second game is probably dead in the water, with promises that feel half-baked and unfulfilled.
    • I personally find the game challenging and admit that I am not very good at it, which adds a humorous tone to my experience.

Positive

I recommend this game its very good. A second game was released which basically stole everyone's money then was abandoned in an unplayable state, but I absolutely wouldn't recommend you do anything illegal to obtain this game as a way to exercise your free market right on the people responsible no-sir-ee I wouldn't recommend that one bit but I would absolutely recommend obtaining this game in a completely legitimate way and maybe when you've got the hang of it using CKAN to download a few mods including RSS and RP1 which are very cool and fun but you shouldn't boycott anyone by doing anything illegitimate nope don't do that.

  • Sentiments

    • I recommend this game because it is very good and enjoyable to play.
    • I feel that the second game released was a disappointment as it stole everyone's money and was abandoned in an unplayable state.
    • I absolutely wouldn't recommend doing anything illegal to obtain this game, even as a form of protest or free market action.
    • I strongly recommend obtaining this game in a completely legitimate way to support the developers.
    • I suggest using CKAN to download mods like RSS and RP1, which are very cool and fun additions to the game.
    • I emphasize that you shouldn't boycott anyone by doing anything illegitimate, as it is not the right approach.
    • I find the game to be a great experience, especially when enhanced with mods.
    • I express frustration with the developers of the second game for abandoning it in an unplayable state.
    • I highlight the importance of supporting developers through legitimate means rather than resorting to illegal actions.
    • I enjoy the game and believe it is worth playing, particularly with the added fun of mods.

Negative

The game is great. But the studio doesn't deserve you to buy it. Thus downvote on Steam, not for the quality of the program, but to the question "recommandation". One (among a lot) of bad choices: the game USED TO be compatible with Linux. But isn't anymore. How is that possible? Well they didn't care to make the 2023 or something update of the launcher compatible with Linux. Yes. The launcher. No. Not a joke. Yes, it used to be! How is that even possible? I introduced this great game to my (Linux only) father, he did like it, once he finally installed it, it worked... 2 monthes. Sure, it's just bad luck on us to do just before they introduced that pile of bs. I could spend forever on forums to try to find a workaround. But then I realized the rumors about KSP2 (imagine some rumors, any of them, and keep the worst: they are now confirmed). About what hide behind a major "launcher" update (spywares). So I understood what was going on with the studio. So... yes, I recommend you get yourself a copy of this game. It's worth the effort. It was worth its price when I bought it, I have no regrets. It still would be... But whoever will receive the money you are willing to pay for it nowadays, they do NOT deserve a cent.

  • Sentiments

    • I think the game itself is great and worth the effort to play, as it delivers a high-quality experience.
    • I feel the studio no longer deserves financial support due to their recent decisions and practices.
    • I am frustrated that the game used to be compatible with Linux but is no longer due to the studio's neglect.
    • I am disappointed that the 2023 launcher update was not made compatible with Linux, which feels like a major oversight.
    • I introduced the game to my Linux-only father, and he liked it, but it stopped working after two months due to the launcher issue.
    • I am upset about the rumors and confirmed issues surrounding KSP2 and the studio's practices, which have made me lose trust in them.
    • I believe the game is still worth its price and would recommend it, but not under the current studio's management.
    • I have no regrets about purchasing the game when I did, as it provided value at the time.
    • I feel the studio's recent actions, such as introducing spyware through the launcher update, are unacceptable.
    • I decided to downvote the game on Steam not because of its quality but because I cannot recommend supporting the studio.

Negative

Since Private Division setup their silly little launcher the game is no longer playable if Steam is offline. This type of anti-consumer behavior is to be expected from large studios, but it's a shame to see Private Division go down the same path. Not everyone has access to the internet 24/7. This, in combination with all the issues KSP2 has had has convinced me never to touch Private Division again.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel frustrated and disappointed that the game is no longer playable when Steam is offline due to Private Division's launcher. This anti-consumer behavior is unacceptable.
    • I am upset that Private Division, a studio I once respected, is adopting the same anti-consumer practices as larger studios.
    • I find it unfair that not everyone has access to the internet 24/7, making the game inaccessible for some players.
    • I am convinced to never touch Private Division again due to the combination of issues with KSP2 and their anti-consumer decisions.
    • I feel let down by the overall experience with KSP2, which has contributed to my decision to avoid Private Division in the future.

Negative

I've played for hundreds of hours and can honestly say, do not purchase as of 9/3/2024 til they work out whatever they did to mess up my DLC, I can't open any saved games for lack of critical parts from DLC packs I purchased, but suddenly don't register.

  • Sentiments

    • I have played the game for hundreds of hours, which indicates a significant investment of time and enjoyment in the past.
    • I strongly advise against purchasing the game as of 9/3/2024 due to unresolved issues.
    • I am frustrated because the game's DLC, which I purchased, is not functioning properly.
    • I am unable to open any saved games because critical parts from the DLC packs I bought are not registering.
    • I feel that the developers have made changes that have negatively impacted my experience with the game.
    • I am disappointed that the DLC I paid for is not working as expected, which is affecting my ability to play the game.
    • I am experiencing a significant disruption in my gameplay due to the DLC issues.
    • I am concerned that the game's current state is not worth purchasing until the issues are resolved.
    • I am hopeful that the developers will address and fix the DLC problems in the future.
    • I am sharing my experience to warn others about the current state of the game and its DLC.

Negative

edit: 2024-05-03 - Hey Take two, after that poop of firing people to keep your "profit up" for your investors, which means you are making plenty of money but you fired all these people and really screwed up this time. I'm not getting GTA6. I'm not buying your products again, KSP 2 was the one thing you had to not screw up. Your greed is disgusting, and your leadership is disgusting. This game provides life times of imagination and science together in one. If you like space and exploration and adventure this is the game for you.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel disgusted by Take-Two's greed and leadership, especially after they fired people to maintain profits for investors.
    • I am disappointed and frustrated with Take-Two for screwing up KSP 2, which was their one chance to not mess up.
    • I have decided not to buy GTA6 or any other Take-Two products again due to their actions.
    • I find it disgusting that Take-Two prioritized profits over the well-being of their employees.
    • I believe Take-Two's leadership is irresponsible and harmful to both their employees and their reputation.
    • I appreciate the game for providing lifetimes of imagination, science, and adventure, especially for those who love space and exploration.

Negative

Another modpocalypse for 1.12.4. Launcher. I don't want the launcher. Steam is the launcher. I was all set to get KSP 2, now...not so much. Wait for sale. Almost 1000 hours here. 1.12.4 is absolutely unacceptable. It doesn't run.

  • Sentiments

    • I am extremely frustrated with the modpocalypse for version 1.12.4 and the launcher issue, as I do not want to use the launcher when Steam is already my preferred platform.
    • I was initially excited and ready to purchase KSP 2, but now I am reconsidering due to these issues.
    • I have decided to wait for a sale before purchasing KSP 2, as the current situation is not acceptable to me.
    • I have spent almost 1000 hours playing the game, which shows my deep investment and love for it.
    • I find version 1.12.4 absolutely unacceptable because it does not run properly.

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