Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil! (2025) key art
Key art © indie.io / the developer, from the game's Steam page
Game2025Published by indie.io

Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil!

ActionIndieStrategy

Developer SvenRahn Games

Grimstar is a real-time strategy game with a story-based single-player campaign. Your brother's sudden death has hit you hard, but the laws of the corporation for which he laid down his life dictate that you must take his place until his contract is fulfilled... From the Steam store page

15 reactions from 1 source (Steam reviews) · newest Sep 2, 2026 · last updated Oct 7, 2026 · How this works

Audience score

80
LovedLoved

12 positive · 3 negative
95% range 55–93%

Source+−=
Steam reviews1230
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
12 of 17 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)

What people are saying

Mostly positive reception for this indie RTS with nostalgic C&C vibes.

Many players praise Grimstar for its classic Command & Conquer feel and addictive gameplay. One fan says it 'reminds me a lot of C&C' and another notes it 'takes the formula and puts a nice little spin on it.' The atmosphere and music are also highlighted, with one player describing 'a constant sense of dread' and another saying 'the mood stuck with me long after I closed it.' [1][2][3][12]

However, some players criticize the game for its awkward UI, bland gameplay, and difficulty spikes. One reviewer states 'the UI isnt good' and another calls it 'bland, boring and difficult right at the start.' A third simply says 'Not my cup style of game.' [13][14][15]

Praised nostalgic C&C feel · atmosphere and music · addictive gameplay
Criticised UI issues · bland/boring gameplay · difficulty spikes

Summary drafted by an AI model from the 15 reactions it cites ([n] links open each post), then checked by code: every paragraph cites real posts and every quote is verbatim. Written Oct 7, 2026. Method

Reactions

15 of 15 · most liked first
  • Steam user Steam user …0864Steam reviews · Jun 19, 2025 · 1 h played

    I do not recommend this product. The UI isnt good. The gameplay feels awkward. The story development is too little, too slow and doesnt mix well with the game. To the developer I want to point to a video from another indie game developer that I think he should take a look. Its from a channel called Eastshade studios and its in regards to marketing. Its easy to find and it makes a lot of points that I think need to be articulated. Normally I try being supportive of the smaller guy and the…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0038Steam reviews · Jun 24, 2025 · 13 h played

    If you miss the good old times of classic Command&Conquer Tiberium Wars or Red Alert - this game might be for you. It takes the formula and puts a nice little spin on it, with a voiced campaign, a story, diverse missions, and nice visuals. It does have it quirks - the writing is not triple-A level, and there are very few options to adjust graphical fidelity, for example, but at this price point and with the lack of RTS games in general, you really can't complain. After 13 hours, it still…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …7841Steam reviews · Jun 19, 2025 · 2 h played

    This game kinda snuck up on me. At first it feels like a basic sci-fi mining sim, but then you realize there’s more going on. The tension builds slowly, and the music + visuals really sell the vibe of exploitation and unease. It’s short, yeah, but the mood stuck with me long after I closed it. Would love to see a full version one day.

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …2635Steam reviews · Jun 19, 2025 · 3 h played

    I didn’t expect to get this hooked, but here we are. Grimstar starts off like a classic RTS, but there’s this constant sense of dread in the atmosphere—like the planet knows you’re mining it. The tech tree is pretty limited right now, but what’s there feels solid. If you're into resource management with a creepy edge, it’s worth checking out. Hoping the devs expand it more!

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …7455Steam reviews · Jun 27, 2025 · 1 h played

    One of the best Roguelike RTS's out there, Just bought this game a few days ago to kill time but got instantly hooked onto it. The graphics are good the SFX/VFX are amazing but the combat has to be the best part about it!!!

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …2690Steam reviews · Jun 27, 2025 · 6 h played

    if you're looking for a nice little single-player-rts for the weekend - take this. The graphics are simple but nonetheless high-quality and I like the colorful cartoonish-like touch and that the screen isn't fully scattered with foliage and stuff... The gameplay mechanics are quite easy to understand even for beginners of the genre - though it does get challenging at some points. Controls are absolutely smooth - some higher-priced games could take something from here The story is quite…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …8968Steam reviews · Jun 25, 2025 · 2 h played

    Grimstar genuinely caught me off guard. It starts off feeling like a traditional mining-focused RTS, but there’s a slow-burn intensity that creeps in as you play. The visuals and soundtrack do a fantastic job of building this eerie, oppressive atmosphere — it feels like the planet itself is watching you. The campaign adds a personal touch with the mystery surrounding your brother’s death, and even though the game isn’t massive in scope, the mood it creates lingers long after you close it. For…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0750Steam reviews · Jun 24, 2026 · 20 h played

    x-- 7/10 --x Very enjoyable RTS. Simple and satisfying! I also quite enjoyed the story, it's definitely unique enough to hold it's own against other indie titles!

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …1798Steam reviews · Apr 11, 2026 · 12 h played

    Grimstar: Crystals are the New Oil!, developed by SvenRahn Games and published by indie.io, presents itself as a compact real-time strategy experience that blends classic RTS sensibilities with a light layer of modern progression systems. The premise revolves around a future where Earth’s traditional energy sources have collapsed, forcing corporations to seek alternatives on distant planets. Players step into the role of a contractor tasked with extracting valuable crystal resources from…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …6873Steam reviews · Jun 27, 2025 · 3 h played

    If you’re after a quick single-player RTS fix, this one’s a great pick. The visuals are clean and colorful without being overly busy, and the gameplay is easy to pick up, perfect for newcomers but with enough challenge to keep things interesting. Controls are smooth, the story gives just enough context without dragging things down, and the persistent hero units add a nice sense of progression. For the price, it’s a real gem. Definitely worth a look if you enjoy strategy with a sci-fi twist.

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0076Steam reviews · Jun 27, 2025 · 3 h played

    Oh the amount of nostalgia I got from this game, Went in blindly without knowing what awaits me bug grimstar didn't disappoint, Loved every aspect of the game and honestly I couldn't stop. The game is fun addicting love the bgm what else do you need??

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0638Steam reviews · Jun 27, 2025 · 2 h played

    Grimstar brings a refreshing spin to a genre that’s been too quiet lately. The game blends old-school real-time strategy with modern ideas — voiced missions, a personal story arc, and a sense of progression through leveling and unlocks. The hero units that carry over and grow stronger after each mission are a great touch, and the different planets keep the gameplay varied. It’s not without its quirks — the writing isn’t perfect, and graphics options are limited — but for the price, you’re…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …2248Steam reviews · Dec 11, 2025 · 2 h played

    This is actually a fun little RTS game, reminds me a lot of C&C, just you call troops in like reinforcements rather than building. army size does seem limiting at first, though it does get bigger and you never need them lol, some missions are stupidly easy, one i just finished had me move all over a decent sized map, 88 troop supply, briefing that u have to collect all on the map and will have to go through nests.. yea 3 little baby nests that don't fight back, im guessing the enemy was…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …0050Steam reviews · Sep 2, 2026

    Its bad, bland, boring and difficult right at the start. And you will realize later, that the game rewards replaying the "safest" mission for crystal grinding with better stats for the rest of the game! Just stay away.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …5045Steam reviews · Jun 13, 2026 · 1 h played

    Not my cup style of game

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →

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