The Best is a fun quirky occult management game about running a space academy – Destructoid

I had the privilege of getting an early preview of Astronaut: The Best before its release on August 15th. I must admit that I didn’t know much about it beforehand. All I had seen was the Launch Announcement Trailer, which had quirky 2D graphics reminiscent of Homestar Runner. As this is the debut title from Universal Happymaker, I had no prior experience with their work.

However, my curiosity led me to the Universal Happymaker YouTube channel, where I discovered videos showcasing Astronaut: The Best dating back six years. To my surprise, I learned that this team of four has been diligently working on the game for over eight years. When a team displays such passion and dedication, it piques my interest. And I can confidently say that my decision to try out Astronaut: The Best was a wise one.

Embark on a mission to bring glory to Flaustria

The concept of Astronaut: The Best is refreshingly straightforward. The previous director of the space program in the esteemed nation of Flaustria has failed. Consequently, the program is in disarray. Yet, the five High Priests have called upon you to rectify the situation. Through five missions, your objective is to train astronauts and do everything necessary to prepare them for space exploration. However, as expected in any ambitious space program, obstacles lie ahead.

Flaustria is not the only nation with a space program; a rival nation is scheming to sabotage your efforts and hinder your progress. Each mission provides a distinct focus, but you must also contend with the interference of the rival space program along the way.

Moreover, the five High Priests each have their own vision for how the space program should be handled. It is your responsibility to carefully consider all options and determine the best course of action for success while keeping the High Priests satisfied. Each High Priest possesses a unique personality, resulting in amusing interactions.

For instance, in mission two, the High Priests deemed it necessary for two of my astronauts to engage in a boxing match against astronauts from the rival nation to demonstrate our superiority. All the while, I was also preparing them for the space mission. Before the fight, High Priest Inside Track, who oversees Flaustria’s economy, paid me a visit. He subtly hinted that throwing the match would bring us substantial profits. Naturally, managing the demands of the High Priests while striving for space exploration success can be quite challenging.

Transform these average astronauts into elite space explorers

Each recruited astronaut possesses five stats and various unique traits. In most cases, training an astronaut in a specific stat is necessary to unlock their trait. These traits can be beneficial, detrimental, or a combination of both, often affecting specific stats. Sometimes, the traits have no relation to the stats at all.

For instance, I had an astronaut who moonlighted as a pirate and was willing to contribute her plundered wealth to the space program, increasing our funds for weekly astronaut training. Unfortunately, I also had an astronaut obsessed with luxury fashion, constantly charging extravagant purchases to the program. Ultimately, these two traits tended to balance each other out, but they certainly presented unique challenges in approaching missions.

Overall, Astronaut: The Best is a time management game. Each day, a High Priest visits you, and you must decide how to allocate training for each astronaut. Overtraining can lead to stress and potential breakdowns with disastrous consequences. However, you have the option to offer them a day off to alleviate their stress or use consumable items that provide the same effect.

The gameplay brings to mind a blend of Cultist Simulator and immersive worlds like Papers, Please or Not For Broadcast. If you enjoy those titles, you’ll find yourself engrossed in Astronaut: The Best.

Astronaut: The Best excels in its execution

If you seek a quirky time management game set in a fascinating and humorous world, look no further than Astronaut: The Best. Although I only experienced a few missions, there are a total of five, each featuring its own branching storyline and narrative based on your choices. This provides significant replay value, even though the initial mission count may seem limited. Furthermore, the events and tasks that unfold throughout each playthrough are procedurally generated, ensuring a unique experience every time.

Do not be deceived by the screenshots. I almost fell into that trap and became slightly concerned about what I was getting into. However, after playing the game, I can confidently say that the graphical style of Astronaut: The Best is perfectly suited for its concept. You can grasp the fundamentals quickly, and with each playthrough, you will learn strategies to improve your chances of success in the space program.

Oh, and did I mention that you get to have conversations with a six-legged lion? Where else could you experience that?

Astronaut: The Best will be available on PC via Steam starting August 15th. It is also Steam Deck verified.

Steven Mills

Staff Writer – Steven has been honing his writing skills for over a decade. His passion lies in story-focused RPGs like the Final Fantasy franchise and action role-playing games such as Diablo and Path of Exile. Nevertheless, he is open to exploring various genres.

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