$29.99Between the Stars Command a capital ship
Captain an interstellar cruiser across a procedural galaxy, fighting real-time battles and living with the consequences of your choices.
Is Between the Stars worth it?
Between the Stars is worth it if…
- you would rather command a heavy warship than a nimble fighter
- you like runs where every decision can ripple through the whole playthrough
- you enjoy text events and dice rolls mixed into your space combat
- you want a story that carries you from start to finish, with permadeath as an optional spice
Screenshots
Big ships, real-time battles
You fly a cruiser, not a fighter: heavy, deliberate, with guns covering a full sphere around you. Combat happens in real time, and it rewards timing more than twitch reflexes. You manage engine power, line up broadsides, and fire your ship's special abilities at the right moment to turn a fight around. There is no single best loadout: missiles, cannons and lasers each have strengths and weaknesses, and different enemies call for different answers. Unlock, buy and personalize new ships, upgrade their systems, and craft, salvage and research new weaponry to keep your firepower growing.
A crew and a captain worth caring about
You create a captain and develop them across the run, gaining attributes shaped by the decisions you make. Then there is the crew: hire them, level them up, and keep them alive, because casualties happen and replacements cost. Each crew member brings their own bonuses, which makes the ship feel less empty and more like a vessel full of people. Between battles, hundreds of text-based events test your judgment: a stranded ship hails you, a derelict drifts nearby, two crewmates have a problem only the captain can settle. What you decide in one event can echo through the whole playthrough, changing your ship, your people and the galaxy around you.
What should you know before playing?
Can you play it solo?
Yes, it is a singleplayer game from start to finish. You are the captain, and the crew you hire are your people: you assign them, level them up and cover your casualties when things go wrong. There is no multiplayer mode to lean on, so every decision and every lost crew member is yours to carry.
How hard is it, and what happens if you lose?
There is a standard difficulty mode, and a permadeath option if you want real stakes. The game is a roguelite, so runs can end: some events and battles carry permanent consequences, and a bad call can cost you a captain attribute or worse. If permadeath is on, a lost run is lost. Start on standard if you want to learn the ropes first.
How do the dice rolls work?
Some events and on-foot skirmishes are resolved with dice rolls influenced by your captain's and crew's skills, and there is an option to turn that system off if it is not for you. Fair warning: this is the part players disagree on most. Some find it adds tension and grew on them over time, others find it decides too much. If you like your outcomes earned through skill alone, look elsewhere or toggle it off.
Is the story any good?
The story is a big part of the game: you are protecting civilization from the Children of the Sun, a faction that dominates the border planets and wants more. The plot is extensive for an indie game, with choices that feel significant and events that sometimes pay off much later in the run. It carries the game from start to end, and it is a good reason to keep jumping.
