PC Critic Reviews

Lightyear Frontier is a fun farming sim that provides a unique experience thanks to its implementation of mechs. The lean into sci-fi sets the game apart from similar titles, even if there’s something to be desired in the way of the gameplay loop. Fans have already been playing the game for quite some time, but the 1.0 update puts a great emphasis on quality-of-life improvements and enhancing what was already great about this farming sim.

Lightyear Frontier is a surprisingly huge game that just keeps building up as it goes, each new system requiring a rethink of current activities as you switch from farming, mining, livestock management, going full lumberjack and then replanting the forest, etc. There are fruit trees if you want an orchard, automation systems to simplify crafting, and if you decide to build a bridge across a lake there's nothing to stop you. New machines arrive at a regular pace, frequently requiring a tear-down of the previous setup to house their new bulk, but also encouraging a rethink of the old system for something much more attractively designed. Each upgrade is another step towards domesticating the new planet you call home, transforming Lightyear Frontier's wilderness into your own personal garden as it slowly reveals the history of those who had been there first.

Lightyear Frontier is both a no-brainer for fans of the genre and also one of the best introductions to it for newbies thanks to a consistently compelling loop of farming, exploration and customisation.

Lightyear Frontier is a charming and relaxing farming sim that offers a fresh twist on the genre with its alien setting and Mechsuit mechanics. Its colorful world, enjoyable building system, and customizable difficulty settings make exploration a delight. However, shallow farming mechanics, clunky Mechsuit controls, limited NPC interactions, and a mismatch between the relaxed gameplay and urgent story hold it back. It's a great choice for players who enjoy building, exploring, and unwinding, but those seeking deeper farming mechanics and social interactions may find it lacking.

Lightyear Frontier brings up just enough questions to feel uncomfortable and then sets you off on a loop with such forward momentum that you can’t do anything with them. And that momentum is fun, and its questions leave me curious, both of which are good things for an early access farming game. I will probably come back to both enjoy more of those chill, resource-guzzling days and to find out what the game has to say about them. Whether I’ll be satisfied in the end, though, remains to be seen. [Early Access Review]

As with any survival-crafting-farming game in early access, Lightyear Frontier will only grown and evolve – but unlike many of its contemporaries, it already feels like a complete experience. How long it can sustain my interest with so few possibilities of sudden death or unannounced explosions of violent fury when the wildlife is careless enough to wander through my domain remains to be seen, but if you want a relaxing, good-looking, steady little farming sim with a touch of sci-fi and lots of scope to build and grow, Lightyear Frontier’s early access offering is worth checking out. [Early Access Review]

Lightyear Frontier's development team is determined to bring its debut indie game to life. Despite an indefinite delay, the game's well-defined roadmap for expected updates promises an exceptional, comforting gaming experience. Although there's still room for improvement, the early-access farming simulator could transform into the cooperative game of my dreams. [Early Access Score = 90]

Lightyear Frontier is already a fun farming and crafting game that takes some pretty simple genre basics and makes them exciting again by putting you in a big ol' stompy robot suit. Things can start a little slow and the story definitely ends too early as of its Early Access launch, but the charming world to explore and make your own outshines its current limitations. [Early Access Score = 70]

There is a bit of a grind to get the materials you need, but it doesn’t feel like it. You can freely explore all areas right away, though accessing the resources involves restoring the land and solving the mystery of the ancient civilization. It’s a great way to unwind at the end of a stressful day, and with the multiplayer function, you can bring friends along on the journey as well. [Early Access Score = 80]

Lightyear Frontier is a delightfully peaceful adventure in an inviting world that shows a lot of potential in Early Access. While it's in need of a little refinement to make the experience more streamlined overall, the mech offers up a fun, fresh approach to farming, with a variety of tools to play with and a satisfying sense of progression. [Review in Progress]