Underplayed Gems

ASTRONAUTILUS (2022)

ASTRONAUTILUS cover
Developer
neozoid.games
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Action, Indie
Rating
4.8 of 5, 63 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 10 hours
Where to get it
Steam
The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

Sidestepping through bullet-hell swarms with tight controls and colorful pixel art feels like a fast, risky arcade run beneath an alien ice world.

colorfulretropixel graphicsfast-pacedtight controlsriskyarcade-stylesingleplayer

What players say

Players praise the tight shmup gameplay and the way the Loopbreaker update added story and depth. Many compare it favorably to Star of Providence. The weapon system encourages switching often, and the difficulty spikes in the final areas. Players are split on controller support, which some say was promised but never added.

Screenshots

ASTRONAUTILUS screenshot 1ASTRONAUTILUS screenshot 2ASTRONAUTILUS screenshot 3ASTRONAUTILUS screenshot 4ASTRONAUTILUS screenshot 5

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.