Jumplight Odyssey is a paid simulation that puts you at the helm of a space adventure. This sci-fi game from League of Geeks includes elements of resource gathering, adventure, and overall colony sim gameplay. Travel to the mythical Forever Star: manage your spacecraft, gather resources, rescue stranded people, and defend yourself from attackers.

In terms of graphics, Jumplight Odyssey features the standard sci-fi fare but rendered entirely in 3D, similar to Risk of Rain 2. Gameplay-wise, it has a lot of scenarios to discover and enjoy, much like Astro Colony or Fallout Shelter, with a fun and reliable AI too.

Oversee the trip to a distant star

In Jumplight Odyssey, you take on the role of The Captain. You’re tasked with overseeing the needs of your crew. From your physical needs such as food, water, and air, to the social order, it falls on your shoulders. Aside from day-to-day survival, there are several randomized events such as alien attacks or coming across stranded survivors. This premise alone sets the game up for a lot of replayability value.

Its visuals mostly use 3D graphics from the environment to the characters. There are instances where it uses a 2D animation style similar to static elements from Fallout Shelter, which adds a refreshing change of pace. Tending to your plants or checking out the infirmary is different in terms of mechanics and visuals compared to, say, controlling a fleet of starfighters to fend off invaders.

It’s worth noting, however, that this game is roguelite in nature. This means that playthroughs are generally short and randomized. Also, while it looks casual, this game is actually challenging. It has a steep learning curve at first and it can get worse depending on how lucky you are. On the plus side, it has an awesome city-pop soundtrack. Also, there’s a pig that you can pet.

A retro-inspired space travel

Simply put, Jumplight Odyssey is worth every cent you’ll pay for it. Once you get past the initial difficulty roadblock that comes with learning the game and getting used to its random elements. Graphics-wise, it has a good combination of 3D gameplay and 2D animated cutscenes and stills. This is accompanied by a smooth soundtrack that shapes up a nice space adventure reminiscent of Star Blazers or Space Battleship Yamato.