Developed by DINOGOD (Age of Angra) and published by Annapurna Interactive (Stray, Wheel World), Bounty Star is a charming combination of mech building and cozy gaming. Annapurna Interactive is known for their fantastic indie titles that are both emotional and narratively rich, and Bounty Star is no exception.

Battle Mechs and Tasty Snacks

Players take on the role of Clem in this endearing tale. The opening quest takes off at breakneck speed, hurtling players into a life-altering situation for the titular character. The main narrative is a journey of personal redemption. The writing is emotional and pulls the player in quickly to connect with the struggles of Clem. I felt myself quickly sucked into the central conflict and empathizing with Clem. Admittedly, a heavily tattooed, muscular woman who drinks coffee and fights mechs is exactly my demographic. The story unfolds in two places: the farm where she resides and the locations of the various bounties she takes on in her mech.

Clem’s mech is customizable. You unlock upgrades and additional weapons through missions and spending hard-earned in-game currency. Initially, Clem’s mech is very barebones as it applies to both available weaponry and modifications. However, fairly quickly new mods and weapons become available for variability early on. This customization allows for players to build into their own personal play-style or try something completely new. There is also a practice arena that does not expend gasoline or ammunition, two resources you pay for during bounties. I enjoyed having access as this allowed me to try new builds in a punishment-free setting. I could “fail” without actually risking failing a bounty.

A Quieter Life

While rebuilding the defunct farm Clem finds herself living on, players get to experience a cozier side to the game. This includes farming, raising animals, and cooking delicious meals. Each meal requires different ingredients and provides Clem with varying buffs for upcoming missions, such as adding more life or stamina. I am a fan of farm sims and cozy gaming and overall enjoyed this element for a few reasons. For one, it slowed the gameplay down as the bounties can be incredibly fast-paced. Secondly, Clem collects books and journals as she completes bounties and while in the farmstead, players can read them for history about the in-game world and Clem herself. I found these slower moments giving me a chance to more deeply know Clem and her personal struggles. I also enjoy raising in-game chickens.

Around the Clock

There is a day and nighttime cycle that impacts what players can and cannot do. While it doesn’t mirror a player’s actual location time information, this cycle is important in managing Clem’s day. Bounties are posted throughout the day, but each have their own requirements. For example, some bounties require a specific time for completion. These requirements comes with extra rewards should they be completed per these specifications. Players can choose to interact with these bonus objectives. These can be as simple as completing a bounty within a certain amount of time or as difficult as not taking damage until the main objective is complete.

I struggled to not take damage, but could easily complete most other sub-objectives for a larger pay out. I also enjoyed that once a main objective was complete, some sub-objectives could still be completed as well as you can still explore the map. This allows for collecting more currency or potentially finding more weapons, weapons parts, and mods to upgrade your mech.

Clem’s mech heats up with each dash, jump, and use of her weapon. This means bounties done during the afternoon require special attention to avoid overheating. If you overheat in battle, your mech will be temporarily disabled. Overheating is less a concern in the morning and evening time. This mechanic can be frustrating when in the heat of battle, but adds a level of realism and urgency to tending to your heat regulation during fights. As someone newer to mech building in gaming, I found myself overheating less and less with time and practice.

Verdict

Bounty Star manages to ride that fine line between cozy gaming and engaging gunplay. Piloting a mech is a ton of fun. With the optional objectives within bounties, each mission can be as difficult as a player wants. This also means you can earn as much loot as you desire, making it easier to purchase upgrades for the mech and farm. The cozy elements are enjoyable but not overdone; it never just feels like playing a farm sim with some battling. The game manages to balance both well. The story is enchanting and Clem is a character I personally resonate with, both in her struggles as she faces personal failures and the way in which she strives for redemption. With an incredible art style and visuals (and a robust photo mode to boot), DINOGOD hit a homerun with Bounty Star, and it’s yet another gem atop Annapurna’s crown.

Score: 8/10

Bounty Star is available October 23, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.