The most anticipated space games

Routine | Lunar Software | twitter | website

There are games you know are destined to be a massive success. And Routine surely is one of them. Developed by a very small team, this survival game is set in an abandoned facility on the Moon. Which turns out to be not so abandoned after all. I’ve been a big fan of retro technology since… well, since it wasn’t retro at all. So you can imagine why I love Routine: floppy disks and CTR monitors are everywhere. I never had the chance to play Routine, but the closest game I can compare it to is Alien Isolation. Themes such as (guess what!) isolation, constant fear of being chased and inability to escape seems to be common in both. Replace xenomorphs with humanoid robots, sprinkle that good ol’ indie vibe and you here you have it: my most anticipated space game.

Flagship | Brad Jeffrey & Matt J | website

Let’s be honest: half the charm of Star Trek was imaging yourself on the bridge. Few games have attempted to replicate that feeling (such as Star Trek: Bridge Commander), but I believed they have ultimately failed. That’s why I am holding onto Flagship, which promises to fulfil my dream of controlling not just a ship, but an entire fleet. Fully integrated with VR technology, the game decided to have little to no UI. If you want to control something, go directly on a control panel and do it yourself. The approach is as simple as innovative. I’ve also been impressed by how the developers are trying to get sizes and distances right; something which is often impossible in space games.

SPACE DEATH | Glowing Slab | twitter | website

I’ve discovered SPACE DEATH last year, while sleeping networking in the relax area during Develop in Brighton. In a nutshell, the game is a mix between the rogue-like-like-ness of FTL and the building mechanic of Space Engineers. The different components of the ship have to be properly connected in order to work, and breaking them can have unpleasant effects such as flooding a room with radiation or plasma. The best aspect so far is the look of the game: every piece of the ship seems like a LEGO brick; and yes, when ships explode all these pieces fly around. FOR REAL. Despite being in early (I mean, EARLY!) development, SPACE DEATH is already very promising. The website indicates 2015 as the release year, but given its current state I’m not holding my breath.