Project: Nova
Loading critic reviews...
Deals
Finding deals...
Live Streams
Finding live streams...
About Project: Nova
Project: Nova is a first-person VR adventure puzzle game developed by Fringe Realities. Released on SteamVR in September 2025, it casts you as the last engineer on a damaged deep-space vessel called the Nova Aurora. The game’s single-player story centers on repairing critical systems while navigating moral choices that influence the ship’s fate. Set in a claustrophobic, flickering sci-fi environment, it leans into isolation and resource scarcity. Puzzles revolve around engineering tasks like rerouting power or fixing machinery, all viewed through VR’s engaging lens. The core hook is how your decisions ripple into consequences, with no multiplayer elements to distract from the tense, solo journey.
Gameplay
You spend most sessions crouching under panels, using VR controllers to twist bolts or splice wires, all while oxygen levels and power reserves tick downward. Each puzzle requires scanning schematics on holographic displays, then physically manipulating objects to align systems. The Nova Aurora’s flickering lights and random system failures keep tension high. Controls feel precise but sometimes laggy, mirroring the game’s theme of unreliable tech. Exploration is linear but rewarding, every repaired section unlocks new areas and story logs. The story itself is delivered through fragmented voice recordings and environmental storytelling. Late-game puzzles introduce ethical dilemmas, like diverting power from life support to avoid a hull breach. Sessions average 2-3 hours, with a mix of hands-on tinkering and pacing to strategize.
What Players Think
Project: Nova holds a 72% positive rating on Steam with 12 hours average playtime. 48% of players complete the main story, and 17% finish all endings. Community moods lean anxious and methodical, with users noting the game “forces you to slow down or die.” One review says, “The VR physics make you feel every awkward bolt twist.” Critics praise the “tense atmosphere but call the mid-game puzzles repetitive.” Achievement completion sits at 63%, with the hardest unlock tied to a secret power-saving sequence. 22% of players quit before Chapter 4, citing frustration with vague clues. Despite mixed feedback, 81% of completers say the final choice “stuck with them.”
PlayPile's Take
Project: Nova is a niche pick for VR fans who enjoy methodical problem-solving over action. At $39.99, it offers decent value for its 15-hour campaign but lacks replayability beyond branching endings. The VR mechanics are clever but occasionally glitchy. If you tolerate slow pacing and appreciate story-driven consequences, it’s worth a shot. Skip it if you prefer fast-paced puzzles or multiplayer features. The 25 achievements add some longevity but aren’t essential to enjoy the core experience.
Game Modes
Single player
Achievements
Loading achievements...
Similar Games
Finding similar games...
Buzzing on Bluesky
Checking Bluesky...