If the dense galaxies of Starfield and Stellaris have left you wanting more, then Starcom: Unknown Space is the game for you. After finally leaving Steam Early Access late last year, the old-school-inspired space exploration RPG is on sale, so now’s the perfect time to give it a shot. Taking place entirely on a 2D plane with space combat, shipbuilding, and in-depth decision-making, Starcom is easily one of the best intergalactic games on Steam right now, and it’s cheaper than ever.
Starcom: Unknown Space features a full universe for you to explore. There are countless planets to discover, alien factions to meet, and mysteries to solve across the galaxy – but you’re not going to get anywhere in the RPG without a ship.
That’s why you’ve first got to dive into a spacecraft-building system, with countless modules and upgrades to choose from. You’ve also got complete ship color customization, so if you’ve been looking for a 2D ship-building system to rival Starfield’s, you’ve found it. You even have a command crew, who participate in away missions and help you with shipboard activities, so you’re not going to be darting between all the systems alone.
Once your ship and crew are ready, that’s when you can start exploring the untouched universe. You can find new planets, lost derelicts, or even come across alien races, with over 230 anomalies to find that each has its own unique illustrations and stories.
As you make it to the farthest reaches of the universe you’ll gain Research Points, which you can use to unlock new ship modules and invest in techs that reflect your playstyle. So however you decide to fly around the universe and deal with threats, Starcom: Unknown Space has options. The game also has over 60 main story and side missions, so you’ll always have something to come back to.
When you’ve got all these weapons it’s up to you to decide how to use them, if at all. Just like in Stellaris, plenty of other factions are darting between star systems, and you can choose to put your trust in them, trade with them, or even attempt to destroy them on sight. These factions will also act differently depending on your decisions, so I’d be careful not to make too many enemies right at the start if I were you.
As of writing, Starcom: Unknown Space has reached its highest Steam player count since it launched in early access, with 2,721 people playing it at once. Starcom also has some incredibly respectable reviews, with almost 2,200 players pushing the game to a 91% positive rating on Valve’s platform.
Starcom: Unknown Space is available on Steam for 25% off until Thursday January 16, so expect to pay $18.74 / £15.74 until then. You can get involved here.
If you want more we’ve also got all the best open-world games and best simulation games you can play on PC today.
You can also follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides, or join our community Discord to stay in the know.