Indie Space Sims - post 'em if you find 'em

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

 

[ShaggyMoose]

Star Valor seems to be coming along nicely, still a regular flow of updates.

 

[ShaggyMoose]

Voidship doesn't seem to have been mentioned before in this thread. Was released in 2019, I recently came across it randomly and gave it a go as it was from an indie/solo developer. I reviewed it on Steam, summary copied below.

A combat heavy, procedural space opera with some interesting mechanics rooted in the unforgiving timescales of spaceflight. Gameplay is reminiscent of Reassembly, but I found this game more compelling despite the lower playtime. I completed the game within six hours, but could certainly replay it and attempt a completely different build for my starship. Recommended!

 

[ShaggyMoose]

Another random one that popped up on Steam; Silent Sector. Its a 2D top-down space game that immediately looks like a cross between EV and Starscape. Its by the makers of Jets & Guns, so the graphics are as vibrant as you would expect.

Haven't played this so can't give an impression, but reviews are positive (according to Steam). I would probably expect an emphasis on shooting based on the developer's history, but it does list as "an open world sci-fi RPG".

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

i'm on a small games spree. i'll probably let you know.

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

just started. a minute of forced immobility while nothing happened. then controls: if you press w the ship goes up, regardless where it's headed. no really noticeable inertia.
the game might be the most bestest masterpiece of history, but to me it's already shit.

holy crap this sucks so much. sound effects are horribly noisy and irritating, in the first mission there's already so much going on it's absolutely mandatory to lose track of what's hitting you from where.

 

[Norfleet]

So, a game named Silent Sector is actually a really noisy sector?

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

 

[ShaggyMoose]

Apparently this is based on a physical board game.

 

[Yaar Podshipnik]

All those games just look wrong... I want space that's dark, not cartoony. I want some coherent physics (newtonian or better would be nice, but I would settle for anything that works the same for you, enemies, weapons, etc.).

Ostranauts comes close

but it will take some time till it's polished and ready.

 

[Galdred]

It's an interesting trend that original creators of games from 80s/90s updating and re-releasing it by themselves.

By God that is ugly, even considering the era.

That may be true, but Space Junkie seemed to consider it the best capital ship game.

 

[Joggerino]

Randomly found this hard sci-fi space mining game on Steam, Delta V: Rings of Saturn.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/846030/V_Rings_of_Saturn/

Has 2D newtonian physics and realistic setting and equipment. Requires a lot of skill, either when utilising the auto pilot modes or flying by the seat of your pants. Its in early access, but the game already plays well and is stable. Very supportive and communicative developer and currently on sale for 50% off (~$4 USD).

I just played this for a while now and it's a pretty nice game. Flying feels similar to star sector except much better. You have stuff like center of mass shifting, thrusters being damaged in collisions or missaligned, thrust vectoring. So that part is great but unfortunately mining becomes boring and tedious and the hauling drones don't help much with that. So it's worth trying out but doesn't have much longevity.

 

[Alchemist]

It's an interesting trend that original creators of games from 80s/90s updating and re-releasing it by themselves.

By God that is ugly, even considering the era.

That may be true, but Space Junkie seemed to consider it the best capital ship game.

I played this back when it was new - I remember it having a fascinating amount of depth. I'm glad they're patching the original DOS version and not making some Unity remake abomination. Those who can't into ASCII should move along. This is for refined tastes in vintage gaming.

 

[Galdred]

It's an interesting trend that original creators of games from 80s/90s updating and re-releasing it by themselves.

By God that is ugly, even considering the era.

That may be true, but Space Junkie seemed to consider it the best capital ship game.

I played this back when it was new - I remember it having a fascinating amount of depth. I'm glad they're patching the original DOS version and not making some Unity remake abomination. Those who can't into ASCII should move along. This is for refined tastes in vintage gaming.

ASCII display is more high tech than the screens they use in the Star Wars movies anyway.

 

[ShaggyMoose]

I just played this for a while now and it's a pretty nice game. Flying feels similar to star sector except much better. You have stuff like center of mass shifting, thrusters being damaged in collisions or missaligned, thrust vectoring. So that part is great but unfortunately mining becomes boring and tedious and the hauling drones don't help much with that. So it's worth trying out but doesn't have much longevity.

Since I played it the developer has added a lot of features and there seems to be a lot more breadth to the game, like story events, factions and racing. However, its still a mining game at heart.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

 

[ShaggyMoose]

Another few randoms I found on Steam that look interesting.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1146420/Relic_Space/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1226510/Trigon_Space_Story/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1241390/Haunted_Space/

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Online ISS docking simulation.
https://iss-sim.spacex.com/

 

[J_C]

Online ISS docking simulation.
https://iss-sim.spacex.com/

This was a cool one, thanks.

 

[ADL]

I play this quite a bit. EVE Offline. Very good.

 

[Catacombs]

EVE Offline.

Sold.

 

[Alpan]

I play this quite a bit. EVE Offline. Very good.

When I hear EVE Offline, I tend to think of something like X3: Terran Conflict. How does this game compare?

 

[Joggerino]

EVE Offline.

Sold.

Development build version b0.0116

 

[polo]

I just bought it, might try it this weekend.
How is the world? Kind of empy? Is there conflict, factions whatever?