Games Review - Citizen Sleeper 2

Could this be our first game of the year?

Citizen Sleeper was a standout indie hit, and its sequel, Starward Vector, takes the series to new heights. 

While the first game was recognised for its unique blend of role-playing and text-based sci-fi storytelling, the sequel builds on this foundation with greater complexity and higher stakes.

Author - Liam C

In Starward Vector, you play as a Sleeper, an emulation of a human mind trapped in a synthetic body, trying to escape both a powerful corporation and a dangerous criminal gang. Set in the war-torn Starward Belt, the game is played from an overhead view, using dice rolls to determine your success in various tasks, such as working to earn money or hacking into systems. Unlike traditional RPGs, there is no action gameplay, making the focus on strategy and resource management.

One of the key mechanics in the sequel is the increased pressure on your resources. The addition of a stress gauge means that failing tasks can have lasting consequences, including physical harm and limited dice usage. If your energy depletes or you fail certain jobs, you’ll face a permanent penalty to your dice, which can lead to further struggles in the future.

The game’s narrative also introduces a new mechanic: glitches. Some actions boost a glitch meter, which can cause malfunctions in your dice, reducing your chances of success. These glitches serve as a constant challenge, especially in the highest difficulty settings where death results in a permanent game-over. This makes the game far more punishing than the original, where players had more time to explore and develop strategies.

Citizen Sleeper 2 is a belter. Our review: www.eurogamer.net/citizen-slee...

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— Eurogamer (@eurogamer.bsky.social) 30 January 2025 at 18:03

Clearly, we're not the only ones who think this game is a great. 

Despite the heightened difficulty, Starward Vector maintains the cerebral atmosphere of the first game. It excels in making every decision, both in gameplay and dialogue, meaningful. Unlike its predecessor, the game now integrates its character classes and skills in a way that complements the core design, making the RPG elements feel more cohesive.

The sequel’s expanded narrative scope is another significant improvement. Instead of staying in one location, players now travel between space stations, meeting new characters who can join your crew. Each crew member brings unique attributes and dice to help complete contract missions. These missions introduce new stress factors, such as racing against rival ships or hacking into wreckage while avoiding patrols. Your choices in selecting crew members and balancing their strengths and weaknesses make for a more engaging experience.

Ultimately, the sequel offers a more immersive experience than the original, with space travel adding an extra layer of depth. While navigating between menu screens, refuelling your ship enhances the feeling of realism. The characters, like the protagonist, are complex individuals searching for meaning amid a war, making the story engaging and emotionally impactful, especially in the final act. Dialogue choices influence character arcs, encouraging replayability. 

The exceptional writing and artwork keep the narrative absorbing, even with minimal visuals, proving that compelling storytelling can thrive in a simple, text-driven format.

Our verdict of the game

Overall, Starward Vector refines the elements that made the original Citizen Sleeper a success. It raises the stakes while deepening the role-playing and narrative aspects, making it one of the must-play games of 2025. 

We'd love to give it 8.5 out of 10. You should definitely buy this immediately.