Starbound
You’ve fled your home, only to find yourself lost in space with a damaged ship. Your only option is to beam down to the planet below and gather the resources you need to repair your ship and set off to explore the vast, infinite universe… In Starbound, you create your own story - there’s no wrong way to play! You may choose to save the universe from the forces that destroyed your home, uncovering greater galactic mysteries in the process, or you may wish to forego a heroic journey entirely in favor of colonizing uncharted planets.
What it feels like
Discovery of alien worlds, strange creatures, and cosmic vistas instill a sense of awe and exploration. Creative freedom and optional goals invite experimentation and mischievous sandbox play.
What it's about
Space exploration, alien planets, and a damaged ship fleeing a destroyed homeworld define the setting. Surviving on strange planets with limited resources is a central challenge. A journey across the galaxy repairing the ship and exploring anchors the narrative frame.
How it plays
Gathering materials and crafting items is central to progression and ship repair. Managing scarce resources to repair the ship and survive creates persistent pressure. 2D side-scrolling platforming is a core traversal and exploration challenge on each planet.
How it looks and sounds
Deliberate pixel-art aesthetic is iconic to the visual identity and heavily user-tagged. 2D side-on perspective defines all planetary exploration and platforming.
How it's structured
A vast universe with many planets to explore non-linearly in a player-chosen order, foundational to the experience. Few imposed objectives; players set their own goals whether saving the universe or colonizing planets, core to 'create your own story' design. Deliberately authored planets and dungeons rather than purely procedural, though variety suggests some generation.
Kindred games
Shares Science Fiction, Resource Management, Open World, Base Building.
Both lean into Science Fiction, Resource Management, Base Building, Open World.
Shares Science Fiction, Open World, Crafting, Resource Management.
Both lean into Science Fiction, Open World, Crafting, Base Building.
Shares Sandbox, Open World, Pixel Art, Crafting.
Both lean into Sandbox, Open World, Crafting, Pixel Art.
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Closest hidden gems
A lesser-known kindred — Sandbox, Open World, Survival Against Nature, Crafting. 88% positive across 4,765 Steam reviews.
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Both lean into Open World, Survival Against Nature, Single-Player, Resource Management.