Nullstar: Solus

Genre: Arcade

Players: 1

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Review:

(Note: Review code provided by the kind folks at Smash Attack Aus)

Nullstar: Solus is a challenging Arcade-style game released in 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. This game has players controlling drones in dangerous single-screen environments, trying to collect all of the titular “nullstars” while avoiding hazards.

The presentation in Nullstar: Solus uses 2D pixel artwork with a fair amount of detail, but lacking in variety, with the locales you navigate through all being some sort of poorly-lit industrial building. These visuals are backed by a techno-style soundtrack that fits the game’s rough futuristic themes well, but doesn’t strike me as especially memorable.

The gameplay here is fairly simple in nature, having you guide your drone to all of the smoking and crackling nullstars in each level while evading hazards. you have to be mindful as you navigate the game’s 2D spaces, as you’re affected by both gravity and inertia, which you need to take into account as you course-correct.

Beyond this simple setup, Nullstar: Solus does something clever with its controls, letting players use a button press to disable controls they’re not using in the current moment. Doing so enables you to get a stronger, speedier response from the remaining controls. Want to dash to the right as fast as possible? You can disable the controls for up, down, and left… but don’t forget to re-activate those controls again before you need them. In addition to this, players can unlock different drone types that all have their own strengths and weaknesses.

I think there is a small percentage of players who will be thrilled at having this level of control, the sort of players who see it as an opportunity to really let loose in speed runs. However, I think that most players are likely to feel like this game’s high difficulty level with challenging levels to navigate is already hard enough without also multitasking turning off some of their controls to maximize other controls.

To sum things up here, I think Nullstar: Solus will likely appeal to a very specific niche of challenge-driven players who will enjoy this game quite a bit for not only providing that challenge, but for giving them a tool to fine-tune their performance for maximum results. But I think most players will find this game too difficult to be to their liking, with controls that demand too much, and as such they will be better off playing something else.

tl;dr – Nullstar: Solus is an Arcade-style game where players pilot drones through hazardous single-screen levels trying to collect all of the smoking “nullstars”. This game will likely turn off most players with its high challenge level and controls that involve shutting off some control inputs to empower others. However, players who crave a good challenge and enjoy shaving seconds off of their speed runs may find it to their liking.

Grade: C

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