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Sword of the Stars: The Pit

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 2013

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Quick resume

A fun, fast, light-hearted, turn-based RPG, where the tradition of old school dungeon-diving games meets the sci-fi Sword of the Stars universe!

Global score

84/100

Genres

Casual, Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical

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    Pros

    • Deep and challenging gameplay
    • Extensive crafting and character customization
    • High replayability with randomized levels
    • Immersive sci-fi setting and lore
    • Frequent updates and dlc adding content

    Cons

    • Steep learning curve and high difficulty
    • Some frustration due to rng and resource scarcity
    • Slow pacing and long runs
    • Lack of multiplayer or social features
    • Complex crafting system with slow recipe discovery

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

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      "Players can choose from multiple characters and customize skills, equipment, and playstyles, allowing freedom in how to approach combat and progression."

      Capsule for Charlie Murder Charlie Murder

      "Players choose from multiple characters with unique skills and playstyles, make tactical decisions on combat, resource management, crafting, and exploration."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      5

      "High difficulty with complex mechanics, requiring skillful play, strategic planning, and mastery of systems; deaths feel earned and learning curve is steep."

      Capsule for Zorbus Zorbus

      "High difficulty requiring skillful play, strategic resource and inventory management, and mastery of complex mechanics."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

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      "Focus is on personal challenge and progression rather than competing against others; no mention of leaderboards or PvP."

      Capsule for The Deadseat The Deadseat

      "Focus on individual progress and personal challenge rather than competing against others; no mention of PvP or leaderboards."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

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      "Highly addictive with players investing hundreds of hours and repeatedly returning despite frequent deaths."

      Capsule for Spelunky Spelunky

      "Highly addictive with strong replayability, players invest many hours and repeatedly attempt runs despite frequent deaths."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

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      "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements described."

      Capsule for Crow Country Crow Country

      "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements described."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

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      "Extensive crafting system with inventive recipes and base customization."

      Capsule for Abiotic Factor Abiotic Factor

      "Extensive crafting system with many recipes to discover and use, requiring experimentation and strategic item combination."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -5

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solitary and survival-focused."

      Capsule for Endoparasitic Endoparasitic

      "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solitary and focused on survival."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Immersive sci-fi setting and challenging gameplay provide strong distraction and engagement from real life."

      Capsule for AI War 2 AI War 2

      "Immersive sci-fi rogue-like experience offering distraction and engagement away from real life."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and challenge rather than obligation or external pressure."

      Capsule for Rebel Inc: Escalation Rebel Inc: Escalation

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and challenge rather than obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      4

      "Encouraged to try new item combinations and discover game mechanics through exploration and experimentation."

      Capsule for GoNNER GoNNER

      "Players encouraged to explore mechanics, discover recipes, and adapt strategies to randomized elements."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      4

      "Randomly generated levels and secrets encourage discovery and curiosity-driven play."

      Capsule for Lucky Tower Ultimate Lucky Tower Ultimate

      "Procedurally generated levels and hidden messages encourage discovery and curiosity-driven play."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      2

      "Character selection and ability choices allow some personal expression, though cosmetic customization is limited."

      Capsule for Project Unknown Project Unknown

      "Character choice and skill customization allow some personal expression, though no cosmetic customization noted."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      3

      "Set in a sci-fi space setting with imaginative weapons and enemies, providing a fictional, fantastical experience."

      Capsule for Gunlocked Gunlocked

      "Sci-fi setting with imaginative weapons, aliens, and psi powers, providing a fictional and fantastical experience."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      -5

      "No community or social interaction; strictly single-player."

      Capsule for Magrunner: Dark Pulse Magrunner: Dark Pulse

      "No social or community interaction elements; strictly single-player."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      5

      "Heavy emphasis on learning, skill development, and knowledge accumulation through repeated play."

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      "Strong emphasis on learning, skill acquisition, and improving through repeated play and knowledge accumulation."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -4

      "Game is sedentary with no physical activity; players manage character's health but no real-world physical engagement."

      Capsule for How to Survive How to Survive

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; players manage in-game hunger and health but no real-life physical engagement."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -4

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during turns and battles."

      Capsule for Master of Orion Master of Orion

      "Requires constant attention and tactical decision-making; slow turn-based but focused engagement."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -5

      "No close relationships or emotional social interactions described."

      Capsule for Kill It With Fire Kill It With Fire

      "No close relationships or emotional social interactions described."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      -5

      "No leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual and self-directed."

      Capsule for Devil May Cry 5 Devil May Cry 5

      "No leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual and self-directed."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      5

      "Character leveling, skill point allocation, equipment upgrades, and unlocking new abilities drive progression."

      Capsule for UnEpic UnEpic

      "Character leveling, unlocking recipes, and acquiring items and equipment drive progression."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      -3

      "High tension and difficulty create sustained pressure rather than relaxation."

      Capsule for Death to Spies: Moment of Truth Death to Spies: Moment of Truth

      "High tension and difficulty create sustained pressure rather than relaxation or flow."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

      "Visual and auditory effects provide sensory enjoyment, though graphics are simple and functional."

      Capsule for Battle Fleet 2 Battle Fleet 2

      "Engaging audio and visual effects contribute to sensory enjoyment, though graphics are retro and simple."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems; achievements exist but are personal."

      Capsule for Assassin's Creed Mirage Assassin's Creed Mirage

      "No social recognition or status systems; achievements exist but are personal."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      3

      "Narrative with lore and story elements revealed through gameplay and DLC."

      Capsule for Tattletail Tattletail

      "Lore and narrative elements are revealed through decrypted messages, adding depth to the gameplay context."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      5

      "Strong mental challenge with resource management, tactical combat, and long-term planning."

      Capsule for Evolution of Ages: Settlements Evolution of Ages: Settlements

      "Strong mental challenge requiring tactical combat, resource management, and long-term planning."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      4

      "High suspense and tension from resource scarcity, combat danger, and permadeath."

      Capsule for March of the Living March of the Living

      "High suspense and tension from permadeath, resource scarcity, and unpredictable enemy encounters."

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

      "Large amount of content and replayability provide good value for time and money."

      Capsule for Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition

      "Large amount of content, replayability, and frequent updates provide good value for time and money."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      4

      "Combat and destruction of enemies is a core gameplay element, with melee and ranged attacks."

      Capsule for Volgarr the Viking Volgarr the Viking

      "Combat with various weapons, including guns and melee, and destruction of enemies is a core gameplay element."

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      5

      "Strong focus on avoiding death, managing resources, and overcoming threats in hostile environment."

      Capsule for Endoparasitic Endoparasitic

      "Central focus on managing resources, avoiding death, and overcoming threats in a hostile environment."

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Relaxation, Survival, Violence, Fellowship. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Status.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 30/04/2026