Voices of the Void is the most similar title to Hardspace: Shipbreaker I've found

[elfypooh]

So, few games interact with the player the same way shipbreaker does. Many games miss the creativity, challenges and fun physics in Shipbreaker. However, I've been playing an absolutely amazing game recently that is crazy similar to Shipbreaker in spirit than, you know, actually tearing down ships. It's currently free atm but, apparently, will be on Steam once out of pre-alpha stage.

Here's the description of it "You work as a scientist in the isolated research lab in the mountains of Switzerland. Your task is to gather signals from space, analyze them, process them and sell them to get points [moneyz]."

Here's a list of similarities vs differences and improvements vs worse when comparing Voices of the Void to Shipbreaker.

Environment: It's not in space but rather a large remote and isolated observatory with multiple interactable structures, like transformers, satellite dishes, wind turbines and many more. The area you're working in is massive though.
Fun Physics: tons of environmental and object physics. The amount of stuff you can interact with, destroy and manipulate is mind blowing but it's not zero-gravity physics
Theme: X Files, rather than dystopian cyberpunk future
Creative Problem Solving: Many, many creative ways to solve problems
Economy: Many methods to earn rather than one (you can sell near everything)
Protagonist: Protagonist's situation seems initially less desperate (not entirely sure though) than in Shipbreaker
Base/Customization: You can make your base your own, but it's dynamic and HIGHLY customiseable with everything
Quota: You're given daily tasks, but don't need to do them
Time: Days are continuous rather than instance and no loading screens
Horror: Has many horror elements, as opposed to only ghost ships (you can turn this off if you want)
Time constraints: Introduces various time-limited objectives and mechanics beyond daily quotas, work hours and suit repair
Survival Mechanics: Has many survival elements (health, hunger and stamina/sleep) that, if you don't deal with early, can snow-ball out of control, as opposed to only health and oxygen (I think this is better but it's more subjective so no icon)
Progression System: Shop, crafting and many upgrades rather than only equipment and Armadillo
Graphics Different art styles (similar to Valheim) but I do think Shipbreaker is currently more visually appealing
Story: Can choose to start in free-mode or continue to play after main story is completed
Story Exploration: Time to explore the environment and find intriguing stories
Relaxation vs. Tension: Chill title with many things to keep in mind for that slight tension (similar to Shipbreaker), but the horror elements could make the experience too stressful for some

[Note: Similarities yes = , no =
Improved = , worse = ]

My main issue is that I'm a bit of scaredy cat but I refuse to turn the horror elements off. So far, this game as given more of a Shipbreaker vibe than any other title I've played so far

[Kaluth]

Yeah I don't see how this is like VotV, the freedom to do nutty things, make money while ignoring doing signals, cat waifus, doesn't punish you if stuff up on something and the events.

This is just cutting a ship and hoping you don't stuff it up and make it harder on yourself because of your debt.

[elfypooh]

Originally posted by Kaluth:

the freedom to do nutty things,
-
cat waifus

The developer seems to have quite a sense of humour, but you don't HAVE to do nutty things, or have cat waifu kerfus, if you don't want to. You have the option too though. There's a difference. May I remind you that in Shipbreaker, you do collect a pink plushy bunnie, which you have no option but to have it sit on your monitor. In VotV, you can remove all posters or near anything you want from your base.

make money while ignoring doing signals -
This is just cutting a ship and hoping you don't stuff it up and make it harder on yourself because of your debt.

In Shipbreaker the only thing you can do is dismantle ships into their basic components or, you know, tear them up for fun. Eh, or you can do some "nutty" things with the physics. Anyway, you have no other option when it comes to earning in this title. The debt you're hoping you don't worsen is inconsequential to gameplay. You can literally destroy ships and lose money with no consequences. In VotV it's not inconsequential. You require points to buy numerous things, all the time. Your comparison here is not good.

doesn't punish you if stuff up on something and the events.

You can die in VotV and the survival mechanics are pretty punishing if you ignore them. This is only pre-alpha atm and it seems like the dev will make it even more punishing. While in comparison to shipbreaker, In standard mode you literally can't die by design and your debt always has no effect on you whatsoever. Eh...

There is some merit to your comment. In that, VotV has much less of serious tone than Shipbreaker, especially for those people who play VotV tons and search for all the secrets, but apart from that your critique is not relevant or correct.

[Twelvefield]

If you're going to play VotV, you may as well play Signal Simulator.

[Kaluth]

You're a bit condescending Elfpooh, but whatever my point was that this game doesn't feel at all like VotV.

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

If you're going to play VotV, you may as well play Signal Simulator.

Wasn't that the OG game and VotV is a homage to it?

[elfypooh]

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

If you're going to play VotV, you may as well play Signal Simulator.

That's awesome ty. It looks more technical with less survival mechanics, but still interesting. Ty

[elfypooh]

Originally posted by Kaluth:

You're a bit condescending Elfpooh, but whatever my point was that this game doesn't feel at all like VotV.

Indeed, I typically display some level of condescension, but adjust it based on the response of the other party. In other words, you were displaying some too

[Twelvefield]

Originally posted by elfypooh:

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

If you're going to play VotV, you may as well play Signal Simulator.

That's awesome ty. It looks more technical with less survival mechanics, but still interesting. Ty :thumbsup:

It does look technical, but it isn't. Or at least the basics aren't difficult to grasp. It's kind of a primitive game, and the dev is not very subtle about what is going on in the game, depending on how you play it.

However, if you role-play Signal Simulator, it becomes very profound listening to all those radio waves from deep space. And, honestly, if you visit a real world radio telescope, you will understand a lot about what they are doing. You never look at the night sky the same way again.

[elfypooh]

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

Originally posted by elfypooh:

That's awesome ty. It looks more technical with less survival mechanics, but still interesting. Ty

It does look technical, but it isn't. Or at least the basics aren't difficult to grasp. It's kind of a primitive game, and the dev is not very subtle about what is going on in the game, depending on how you play it.

However, if you role-play Signal Simulator, it becomes very profound listening to all those radio waves from deep space. And, honestly, if you visit a real world radio telescope, you will understand a lot about what they are doing. You never look at the night sky the same way again.

Thanks. I had a look at some reviews and it looks pretty good but I find the gameplay unappealing. I find many simulator games coming out and the ones I've tried consisting of very rigid gameplay and very glossy assets, almost as if it's all store bought assets. I enjoyed Gas Station Simulator, but even then it became a bit frustrating noticing the rigidness of the gameplay. I noticed similarities with Signal Simulator. I enjoy that personal touch, even if graphically inferior, that comes with many games. Maybe it's just me