Star Citizen Review: Is The (Overly) Ambitious Game Worth Buying in 2024?
Last updated on November 1st 2024

Star Citizen is well-known in the gaming community – it’s talked about for both its good and bad aspects. This MMO game is an ambitious project by Cloud Imperium Games, and it promises to be one of the most advanced games ever created. Players have eagerly been waiting for its release since it was first announced back in 2012 on Kickstarter.

The game has faced its fair share of controversies. Reports of budget overruns and delays have been rampant, and many players are frustrated with the lack of content updates. Despite these issues, there are still many who remain hopeful for the future of the game. Its crowdfunding campaign has raised over $550 million dollars towards its development, making it one of the most successful crowdfunded projects ever.

In this article, we’ll look in-depth at what makes this game so highly anticipated. We’ll provide an objective overview of everything we know up until today, good and bad. At the very end, I will tell you about my personal investment and recommend whether you should buy Star Citizen or wait until it is further along in development.

Already want to create your free account? Be sure to register with a referral code for an extra bonus, just click the button below.

Overview Of Star Citizen

Star Citizen is not your typical video game. It combines elements from space exploration, role-playing games, first-person shooters, and even trading simulations into one massive package that will provide players with endless hours of entertainment. It will feature a detailed universe filled with dozens of star systems, planets, moons and other celestial bodies to explore. Players can customize their ships to traverse through space or take on missions that range from escorting cargo vessels to fighting against enemy forces (both human and alien) in epic battles. That’s just scratching the surface though; there are hundreds of activities promised that will make Star Citizen an immersive experience unlike anything else out there.

It is an ambitious video game project that’s been in development for roughly eight years. It’s a first-person, open-world space trading and combat simulation game on a massive scale. The game promises to let players explore a vast universe, engage in thrilling space battles, and take part in intricate economic trading systems. It’s certainly an ambitious undertaking and one that’s been hotly anticipated since its announcement back in 2012.

From its initial announcement in 2012 until now there has been a flurry of excitement surrounding what this game will offer when it finally releases. Many gamers are waiting eagerly to get their hands on this title and see just how expansive its universe can be.

Development Team & Funding

The development team behind Star Citizen is a big part of why this ambitious gaming project is so exciting. Founded by Chris Roberts, the team of now over 500 people includes some of the most talented game designers and engineers in the industry. They have built this team from the ground up starting in 2012. Over the years the team grew into what it is today: multiple global development studios on all continents.

Since its announcement, the game has raised more than $550 million from backers who believe in its potential. This impressive amount of money has allowed the team to invest heavily in both hardware and software development. They have also used it to create an expansive online universe with a wide variety of customisable ships and weapons.

It is also worth noting that, while you only really need a basic game package, there is a lot of criticism regarding their funding model that includes a large amount of ships and addons Star Citizen sells for real money, Including the infamous “Land Claims” they tried to sell a while back. While I understand these moves from a game-funding aspect, it is worth being aware of. There is an inherent risk that if this funding source dries up for some reason, it could well stall further development.

Progress In Development & Updates

The developers have focused on building out the promises they made throughout the years. This includes adding content such as planets, ships, weapons, and other items that can be used within the game’s universe; but also vast technical improvements such as Object Container Streaming, Persistent Entity Streaming, etc.

They also continuously improve the overall gaming experience by focusing on releasing more stable updates for the players to allow them to enjoy the game in its current state. While the game is by no means close to a release, there are a lot of enjoyable moments and experiences to be had in its current state.

Graphics & Visuals

The graphics and visuals of Star Citizen are among the most impressive in gaming. From the stunningly detailed ships to the awe-inspiring planets, it’s clear that a lot of care was put into crafting these assets. Players have countless options for customizing their ships and characters, from paint jobs to weapon loadout. All of this adds up to an incredibly immersive experience – one that draws you in and makes you feel like you’re really living in the game world.

Good graphics are great, but can you run it smoothly on any PC? That is where you need to be aware that Star Citizen in its current state is not well-optimized. You need a good and up-to-date computer to run this game and have it be an enjoyable experience. Some guidelines:

• Have the game installed on an (M.2) SSD
• Have sufficient RAM (I recommend 32GB, but 16GB should work too)
• Have a good GPU in line with your monitor resolution. For example, an RTX 2070 should be fine on a 1080p monitor, but if you are closer to QHD or 4K, look at a 3080 or even 4080.

Overall, Star Citizen offers a unique combination of eye-catching visuals and cutting-edge technology, making it one of today’s most visually impressive games, even in its current state.

Missions & Combat

The combat in Star Citizen has been the core of the game since its first playable alpha. Players have the ability to customize their ship loadout to their exact liking. This allows them to create a unique experience that can be tailored to their specific playstyle.

In recent months, the mission system has been getting more and more flushed out. So the focus is no longer solely on combat, but there are now engaging missions that involve a reputation system, trading, smuggling, rescue, etc. A nice added touch is an ability for players to create their own mission beacons. For example, if your ship is out of fuel, create a mission for other players to rescue you and choose how much you are willing to pay.

Overall, combat and missions are by no means in their final form, but they do provide enjoyable gaming moments in their current state.

Space Exploration

Space exploration is a key component of Star Citizen. Players have the opportunity to explore numerous planets and moons, with derelicts, outposts and more scattered around. In its current state, there is limited “purpose” to explore the planets other than amazing visuals, scenes and the occasional discovery of rare minable minerals or derelicts. If you like discovering new places and chasing beautiful screenshots, the exploration is nice. But if you are looking for cool rewards and an engaging purpose, exploration is not yet at that level.

Economy, Mining & Trading

The economy, mining and trading in Star Citizen are too an important part of the game in its current state. Players can buy new ships, weapons, and other items with in-game money UEC or United Earth Credits. Players can earn in-game money by completing missions, trading goods, mining and refining minerals, and participating in various activities.

While mining has been a fairly recent addition, it is a broadly flushed-out game loop that can keep players suited for this play-style engaged for quite a long time.

Trading between players is also possible in Star Citizen. Players can buy and sell items with each other to make credits or obtain items they need.

Community Engagement & Support

Community engagement and support have been key to the development of Star Citizen. Developers and players alike have come together to create a truly unique gaming experience, physically (like the yearly CitizenCon) and virtually. From the start, they’ve created an open platform for feedback and suggestions, allowing players to shape the game with their input.

The developers have also been active in providing updates and patches to keep up with the changing landscape of gaming technology. They also reach out to fans regularly through live streams, forums, and other events, encouraging collaboration between them. This has resulted in a vibrant and engaging community that is constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in-game.

There is a wild variety of guides, tutorials, and tools for players to use as they explore Star Citizen. These resources are designed to help new players get up to speed quickly, while experienced gamers can take advantage of advanced strategies for optimizing their gameplay experience. All these efforts make it clear that developers are committed to creating an enjoyable gaming experience for everyone involved.

Challenges & Limitations

When it comes to the ambitious project of Star Citizen, there are certainly some challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. The first challenge is the sheer size and scope of the project itself. With so many different elements that need to be managed, it can be difficult to keep track of everything.

Another issue is development delays. As an ambitious project with massive scope, Star Citizen has seen numerous delays in its development cycle. This can be frustrating for fans who are eager to see the game reach completion, and it also leaves certain areas of the game lacking in content or underdeveloped. Furthermore, these delays may cause some players to lose interest or move on to other games before Star Citizen reaches full release.

Overall, the challenges associated with developing an ambitious gaming project such as Star Citizen cannot be understated. However, developers have remained committed to creating an immersive space adventure for all types of gamers – something that will hopefully pay off in the long run!

Future Plans And Roadmap

Moving on from the current state of Star Citizen and its issues and challenges, we now turn to the future plans and roadmap for its development. Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) have been continuously working on the game since its inception, with the aim of creating a living, breathing universe for players to explore. CIG has made it clear that their main objective is to create an immersive experience for all players, regardless of their gaming background or platform.

The official roadmap for Star Citizen includes various updates and additions planned for the upcoming years. These include significant content updates such as new ships and environments, gameplay mechanics, as well as performance improvements and various technical backbone features. CIG also plans to introduce more variety into the game such as alien races, multiple star systems and more. Additionally, they are looking into developing support for other platforms such as VR.

All these developments will require plenty of time and effort in order to bring them up to par with industry standards. However, given CIG’s track record thus far with Star Citizen’s development journey, there is a good likelihood they will be able to deliver on all their promises when it comes to future plans and roadmaps for the game. If they don’t fall into the cycle of endless scope creep.
With each update comes another layer of depth and polish added to an already richly detailed game – something that is sure to keep players engaged for years to come.

Summary & Verdict – Should I Buy Now?

I have been following the development of Star Citizen all the way back since its original Kickstarter in 2012. For context, I also think it is important for you (the reader) to know how invested I am financially as this can create a bias towards one side or another. I have personally invested around 150 to 200 USD since 2012 and I would have been just as happy with only a starters pack of 45 USD as you can earn most ships and items by now in-game.

I have to say, the current state in 2024 of Star Citizen is quite impressive – even compared to the promised scope and competing games in the genre. The developers have given it exceptional love and support and they continue to march forwards.

Some Pros: The biggest advantage of Star Citizen is that it offers a unique take on space exploration. It features seamless transitions between different planets and star systems, as well as realistic ship combat and physics-based environments. Players can customize their ships to create unique experiences, while also exploring a variety of locations throughout the universe. Additionally, many features such as trading, mining, and bounty hunting add an extra layer of depth to the game.

Some Cons: There are some drawbacks to consider as well. Since the game has been in development for almost a decade now, many players have voiced their concerns about its lack of progress. Furthermore, due to its ambitious scope, many bugs remain in the game which can detract from the overall experience. In addition, with its ambitious visuals, comes a requirement to have a fairly modern PC.

In final conclusion, if you are a fan of Space Simulation games (like Eve, Elite Dangerous, No Man’s Sky, etc.) and don’t mind an unfinished experience, you could find yourself enjoying the game in its current state A LOT (just like I do). If you like the idea, but typically only enjoy finished experiences and you are annoyed by bugs in games, hold off for now. I typically also don’t recommend people buying into the current state if they are not patient with the development, as that has been a theme for more than a decade.

If you decided to buy Star citizen, please use the button below to give yourself (and me) a referral bonus. You’ll get 5 USD worth of in-game credits. In addition, only buy yourself a basic starter package for 45 USD as that is all you really need.

See you in the ‘Verse?

Frequently asked questions