EVERSPACE

Don't be dissuaded by the "small number of ships", which is what I mainly see people complain about. This is a brilliant semi-persistent roguelike (in that, after every run you spend the resources or money you gained to upgrade or unlock new things, so you go farther next time, etc etc). The ships are classes. Don't think of it as lacking the requisite 74 differently styled corvettes and 45 frigates and carriers etc, you'd be approaching it from the wrong angle.

You've, roughly speaking, got your rogue, wizard, and generic warrior. With the expansion (which I believe just comes with a bundle at below the old price of the base game, since ES 2 came out) you get another ship which would be more like a "technician" in a Doomrl-esque sci-fi roguelike.


That said, the build systems are deep and the gameplay loop is wonderful. A run is structured in exactly the same way as in FTL (I know ES is at least a decade old, I'd rather not feel old by looking up which came first). Either one was inspired by the other or both we inspired by something I'm unaware of, but the overmap progression system is the same. The depth is much, well, deeper, in this game. You even have varying loadout unlocks similar to FTL, but there are a lot of other systems at work as well that ftl lacks.



If you're having trouble deciding, just think of it as 3d ftl with very fast paced and compelling "arcade" style dogfighting (for the most part). I love a good sim and all but I've always felt that zero-g makes for an un-fun reality when implemented. I leave my hard sci-fi in my books. Fluid physics is, in my opinion, the way to go for space games unless you're specifically making a sim, like elite dangerous. To each his/her own, but I think they made the right decision. "Arcadey" does not mean easy mode, either.


This game scratches an itch I didn't know that I had. There are many games that set out to do exactly this, but on a 2-d plain and with "realistic" physics (in two dimensions... I mean, people can enjoy what they like but it seems pointless to me). I wanted FTL, but I could really pilot the ship, and not from a top-down view. I didn't know I wanted it until I found it, though. As an aside, it's not on steam but I did know that I wanted mount and blade in space and starsector (make sure to google essential mods, just like m&b you really need them) is that.



FYI to anyone considering if they should buy this one or the sequel: THEY ARE DIFFERENT GENRES.

I can't speak to the plot, bits and bobs get revealed when you hit new milestones but I'm only 5 hours in, I head that it fleshes it out more though.

From what I've seen the actual flying is more-or-less the same, fleshed out and expanded as one would expect from a sequel, but it is a (possibly open world? I'm seeing conflicting things) narrative game. The original game is a semi-persistent roguelike, the sequel eschews that entirely. I don't know if they added a lot more ships to the game, but for me I think I would need a lot more than 4 if I'm not playing a roguelike and have to make my way through a plot based game.

I hear ES 2 is excellent, and the cult-like playerbase actually responded positively to a full-on genre change. I mean, I think if you know gamers there can be no higher praise than for a dedicated fanbase not to lose their minds when you change a core element of a game. ES 1 is cheaper and a different game, you don't need to play it to play ES 2 in any way in terms of lore (from what I understand), but ES 1 will show you what you're getting into with 2 at a lower price-point, and be sufficiently different that you'll get equal enjoyment out of both, even switching between. They scratch different itches.



My only complaint is that nobody told me about this sooner.

One of the few rare roguelikes, where the game being roguelike is justified - though keep in mind I played with the DLC.
While I am not the biggest fan of the metaprogression currency grind, the game has a solid story that is well implemented within the roguelike formula - as well good motivation to try different ships and builds.
The game has great variety of environments, acitvities, weapons, enemies and builds. One issue beign, you SHOULD play on easy to experience the most out of it and gain enough power and unlocks for other difficulties. While the game tells you you get less, in reality you get way more progress by playing on easy, as you get way further and that is where you get majority of the progression.
Even on easy, the game is fairly challenging and fun to explore, where as if you play on medium, you will be stuck (if you are noob like me) in firstcouple areas, which are ultimately the blandest, least interesting and with the worst content.
Endgame regions are very fun to explore, as there is lot to find, and they are pretty beautiful.
Couple words to DLC, it is amazing, as it provides stories that progress through the runs, and all of them are good, and meaningfully impact the gameplay exprience as well. Or in other words, without it, I assume, game is way worse off.
PROS:
Graphics, sound, all that space jazz
Pretty good story
DLC stories and content
Great gameplay
Good amount of variety of activities
Good amount of builds, ships and gameplay options
The runes are really cool, unlike the meta currency gathering
DLC
CONS
Meta currency gathering sucks
Medium difficulty is needlessly hard at first
Easy difficulty is good at first, but there is missing something between easy/normal
Need to own the DLC, they should really just merge it into one game
Great game, I prefer it a lot over the second one, which I played a little at friend’s place, did not like how they changed it at all, but guess I am in a minority. Still, this is one of my all time space favourites and I do recommend it.

Best Roguelite I have probably ever played. The only reason the reviews arent great is because the game goes on sale for so cheap that people who dont even like this kind of game will buy it and play it and leave a bad review even though it wasnt made for them. If you like tactical, skill-based roguelikes and space shooters you will love this game, and for $1 its a steal anyways. The graphics are beautiful and it can run on any computer.

Had this game for a while, just got a HOTAS so I thought I'd give this a shot.
Reviews say HOTAS aiming in this game doesn't work well, that there's a massive deadzone that won't go away regardless of your joystick settings. But this is fixable.
Turn off the setting "smooth controller inputs" and suddenly that massive joystick deadzone is *GONE*, sensitive as you could hope for. Very fun game, haven't played much yet but looking forward to getting deeper into it.

Everspace is a fantastic game at a great price:
It contains elements of exploration, shooting, RPG, and a truly engaging story!
You will begin your adventure without knowing anything about your past, completely disoriented, your only reference point being your ship's computer.
Your story will be told jump by jump, sector by sector, through excellent cutscenes.
The plot is linear but offers some depth.
During your journey you will encounter numerous different enemies and, if you have purchased the DLC (highly recommended), also various NPCs who will entrust you with very interesting and rewarding secondary missions.
One of the game's strong points is the graphics and the representation of the universe it offers, truly spectacular!
In addition to exploring and collecting various raw materials, which will allow you to craft consumables and weapons, your character will have to fight for his own survival. Otherwise, you'll have to start over.
At each new start, you can upgrade your ship's and character's stats using the dedicated menu.
You'll have three pilotable ships (four with the DLC) with different stats and compatible weaponry.
While it may seem tedious and frustrating at first to have to start over again and find every quadrant the same, don't give up; Everspace will provide you with hours of fun and even a few comical moments.
I recommend purchasing the Encounters DLC, which adds all the NPCs and their missions, extra weapons, and a new flyable ship. All for a small price!

Its strange to me that the ratings for this game have gone from very positive to mostly positive over the years and mixed recent reviews despite the game not changing at all. It seems that people may be judging this game through a different lens now but I do not know what that would be. Regardless while this game isn't perfect its a beautifully crafted fun little arcade space rogue-like. The game play is great and perfect for sitting down and going through a few sectors for short sessions, upgrading your ship and unlocking new load outs and abilities in subsequent runs. Something I noticed playing this vs other rogue-likes is I never really get upset when I die in this one, it always feels deserved. Whether I took on an Okkar Corvette thinking I was stronger than I was or I stumble upon an ancient alien being that zaps me from existence because I got too curious, its all part of the experience and you spend your credits upgrading one of the 4 unique ships and start again to stumble upon new things. There's definitely some FTL inspiration here but its not nearly as punishing (not to say this game can't be pretty challenging). If you don't like rogue like games this will not be for you. But if you want a time killer that will immerse you and take you on some great adventures then this is definitely worth a meager $20. As a side note the $10 DLC is highly recommended and adds even more replayability although it definitely could've been a free update.
EDIT: Just in case my hours seem strange compared to the stance im taking, I spent dozens of hours in Everspace on PS4.

Its fun and this game goes on sale in bundles and on its own for only a few dollars. If you are a space sim vet it will take time to get used to the movement as this game does not use a throttle where you set your speed but more a fps move scheme. Other thing is probably start on easy as I would say normal is too hard to just jump in. Once you have some unlocks its more reasonable but I found easy made me tanky enough to get used to how things move. 7.5/10 for me playing in 2025.