Endless Sky

About

Endless Sky is a single player role playing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Michael Zahniser and was released on October 30, 2015. It received very positive reviews from players.

Endless Sky is a 2D space trading and combat game inspired by the Escape Velocity series. Explore a vast galaxy filled with hundreds of star systems, planets, and alien species, while completing missions, trading goods, and upgrading your ship. With a strong focus on customization and open-ended gameplay, Endless Sky offers a rich and immersive space exploration experience. The game is free, open-source, and available on multiple platforms.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,104 reviews

story478 positive mentions

grinding126 negative mentions

Endless Sky is a fantastic homage to the classic Escape Velocity series, offering a rich universe filled with engaging storylines and diverse factions.
The game features extensive ship customization and allows players to build and manage their own fleets, providing a satisfying progression experience.
As a free and open-source game, Endless Sky offers incredible value, with continuous updates and a dedicated community contributing to its development.

The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, particularly for new players, making it difficult to navigate and engage in combat effectively.
Some players have reported issues with mission triggers and story progression, leading to frustration when trying to advance in the game.
The game can become repetitive over time, especially in the early stages where grinding for money and resources is necessary to progress.

story
2,271 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
75%
4%
The story in "Endless Sky" is rich and engaging, featuring a well-developed universe with multiple factions and intricate lore. Players can immerse themselves in a variety of missions, from trading and escorting to combat, while the narrative unfolds through text-based interactions that enhance the gameplay experience. Although currently limited to one main storyline, the game is continuously updated, promising more content and depth in the future, making it a compelling choice for fans of space exploration and storytelling.
- “I found myself lost in the stories; I'm a sucker for a well-done sci-fi plot, and this is an amazing example of literature integrated into a game.”
- “The story is fantastic and it just keeps going seemingly endlessly, and the complexity in ship and outfit variations gives so many hours of fun.”
- “The writing is surprisingly good, and along with all the different worlds and quests, it helps build the atmosphere.”
- “The story aspects of the game amount to: go to a place, read some text, go to another place, read some text, go to another place, read some text... etc. You often have multiple choice responses, but it rarely seems to matter which you choose.”
- “The main storyline disappears if you don't actively look for it.”
- “The game has a slow start but it acts as a tutorial before you start the first storyline.”
gameplay
563 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
58%
6%
The gameplay of "Endless Sky" is characterized by its simplicity and nostalgic appeal, reminiscent of classic titles like the "Escape Velocity" series. While the mechanics are straightforward and can feel repetitive, they offer a surprising depth that engages players through exploration, trading, and combat. The game features a rich narrative and a variety of missions, though some players note that the learning curve can be steep and certain mechanics may feel clunky or unbalanced. Overall, it provides a solid, enjoyable experience, especially for fans of space trading and simulation games.
- “The gameplay is fun, the storyline is well made and it's free.”
- “The mechanics are simple, so min-maxing is the name of the game.”
- “The gameplay, mechanics, side stuff you can do, are all just that - things on the side of the mission chain narratives.”
- “Space gameplay-wise, Endless Sky is clearly dated.”
- “The gameplay loop is kind of repetitive though.”
- “Unfortunately, my attention span got kind of bored of the gameplay loop.”
graphics
286 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The graphics of the game are generally described as decent, with a charming retro aesthetic that pays homage to classic titles like Escape Velocity. While some players appreciate the simplicity and low system requirements, others note that the visuals lack polish compared to modern standards, often emphasizing that the gameplay and storytelling compensate for any graphical shortcomings. Overall, the graphics are functional and appealing enough to support the engaging gameplay experience, even if they are not groundbreaking.
- “Amazing game with excellent graphics and storylines.”
- “This is that classic vibe with updated graphics, and some new features that expand what was already an incredible game.”
- “The graphics are great for a 2D top-down game.”
- “The graphics are worse than EV Nova, which came out 15 years ago, but that's the least objectionable part of the game.”
- “The graphics aren't amazing, but it's a lot of game, especially for being free.”
- “The visuals are nothing special, just standard cliché'd spacecraft and space is mostly full of visually busy but physically meaningless asteroids and such.”
grinding
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, particularly in the early stages, where players often find themselves engaged in repetitive tasks to earn money and upgrade their ships. While some players appreciate the grind as a means to achieve long-term goals and enjoy the gameplay, many others find it tedious and monotonous, leading to frustration. Overall, the grinding aspect is a double-edged sword, with opinions varying widely on its impact on the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “A time when free games were not grindy idle simulators, or strung up with microtransactions or necessary DLCs.”
- “It is a game that tries so hard and fails in everything, a complete grindfest without meaning where you just move from one grinding spot to the other to be able to grind more at another place; combat is almost as dumb as having no separate mining/shooting button.”
- “There was no goal except 'try to get rich running freight', which while novel at first, quickly exposed itself as nothing more than grinding.”
- “After grinding for hours to get a good amount of income, I have found myself to a point at which doing anything other than trading was almost pointless.”
music
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
71%
12%
The game lacks an in-game soundtrack, which many players find to be a significant drawback, as it can lead to a monotonous experience during gameplay. However, users appreciate the ability to play their own music in the background, often recommending various sci-fi soundtracks to enhance the atmosphere. Overall, while the absence of music is a common complaint, players have found ways to adapt by curating their own playlists, which can complement the game's engaging content.
- “The pixel art style is charming, and the soundtrack complements the game's atmosphere perfectly, creating an immersive experience as you travel through space.”
- “One of the best games I've ever played; runs on about any computer and gives a chill experience with really well thought content and good stories, all that is missing is some music for the mood - that said you can just play sci-fi style on your computer and it adds to it perfectly!”
- “Overall, this game is really good, be mindful only 1 person worked on this game and even though there is no soundtrack, you can always go on YouTube to find a soundtrack.”
- “Overall, I really like this game and I go back to it every year or two; I wish it had music, it's still missing a very important part.”
- “The game has no tutorial, doesn't really tell you all the keybinds for your ship, and whilst traveling there is no music whatsoever.”
- “The only possible downside I've noticed is a lack of music and sound assets on planets and stations, but putting on Holst: The Planets in the background fixes that.”
replayability
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players noting the depth, variety of gameplay styles, and potential for modding as key factors. While some reviews mention limitations in content and repetitive missions, the promise of future updates and the ability to explore different strategies keep players engaged. Many users express excitement for the game's potential, indicating that it offers countless hours of entertainment and replay value.
- “Endless hours of replayability! Can't wait for future content!”
- “For a 2D game, the depth and replay value are insanely good.”
- “Quite easily the most addictive game I have ever played, with endless replay value due to the endless number of ways that you can play the game.”
- “And the fact that after the campaign you have all the money you could ever need, so it's just a slog to get a high enough combat rating to dominate planets, and after you have dominated them all, there is next to no replay value.”
- “On the downside, as it is right now, the game doesn't have much 'immediate' replayability.”
- “Replayability is a bit on the low side, as progression is a bit slow and you end up doing very similar missions over and over until you have a ship capable of actually fighting pirates, which can take a while to get.”
humor
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
8%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players noting its clever comedic timing, funny interactions, and amusing easter eggs that enhance the overall experience. Many found themselves laughing at unexpected moments, whether through quirky dialogue, humorous quests, or the absurdity of certain game mechanics. While some players expressed a desire for more depth in humor or graphics, the lighthearted tone and entertaining scenarios consistently kept them engaged and entertained.
- “I didn't expect to be laughing so much while playing this game; it genuinely has a great sense of humor and comedic timing.”
- “Even the spaceport random commentary is often hilarious.”
- “If you've got the eye for it, you can spot all the funny little puns and references.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat and fails to elicit any genuine laughs.”
- “I found the jokes to be forced and lacking in creativity.”
- “The attempts at humor feel outdated and miss the mark completely.”
monetization
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
79%
8%
The game is praised for its complete lack of monetization, featuring no microtransactions, in-game purchases, or DLC, which sets it apart in a market often plagued by aggressive monetization strategies. Players appreciate that it is genuinely free, offering a compelling experience without any hidden costs or advertisements, making it feel more like a premium title than a typical free-to-play game. Overall, the absence of monetization is highlighted as a significant strength, contributing to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “For being a free-to-play game with no in-game purchases, there is so much packed into it.”
- “This game is completely free and doesn't have any sort of microtransactions.”
- “One of those free-to-play games that you should get not because it's free, but because it's a really fun complete game with no in-game purchases, no catches, just a really fun game.”
- “Monetization has done so much harm that it is hard to even see it for what it is anymore.”
- “"free-to-play: an interactive advertisement for something you can hopefully convince people to pay for, preferably on a regular basis."”
- “Mostly when people hear free to play they think some big company that shoves microtransactions down your throat.”
optimization
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
26%
11%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly on a wide range of devices, including older hardware. Players appreciate the open customization options that allow for intricate ship performance adjustments, although some note that controls could be better optimized. Overall, the game delivers impressive performance with minimal resource requirements, making it accessible and enjoyable for various users.
- “Fantastically open customization options make the escape velocity successor a treat for any spreadsheet optimization nerd.”
- “This game is well optimized and can run on almost any device.”
- “The performance is impeccable, the game is lightweight and stayed smooth no matter what.”
- “Moving a fleet of different types of ships is fairly tricky due to the speed, range, and performance of each ship in the fleet.”
- “I don't know what the developers have done with it, but I suspect they're just pandering to the users with the top performance PCs, which would be a pity because this game used to be a great little game that worked fine on pretty much any machine.”
- “When you think you have optimized your ship(s) to extract the last drop of juice out of the available outfit space, you discover some new equipment that is even more optimized (but may have a tradeoff).”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
4%
82%
The stability of the game is a mixed bag, with some players reporting significant bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, while others experience minimal issues and praise the community support for troubleshooting. Overall, many users acknowledge the presence of minor glitches but find them manageable, with a solid save system helping to mitigate frustrations. Despite its open-source nature, the game is generally well-received for its performance, especially on platforms like Steam Deck and Gentoo Linux.
- “Excellent space sim, runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “The story is so incredibly rich and detailed, and the game is so polished and bug-free that it's hard to believe it was made by community volunteers in their spare time, for no profit at all.”
- “No bugs, no glitches, just seemingly endless 2D space exploration.”
- “Every top down space game wishes it was this good, however since this is open source it's extremely buggy, so expect to waste dozens of hours on nothing.”
- “The autolanding is buggy and requires repeated clicking.”
- “The first is that sometimes there are game-breaking glitches, such as when attempting to board a ship my screen would go black and I could no longer interact with anything, or when I sell the ship I'm currently piloting, but have one parked offworld and I am immediately sent to that ship.”
atmosphere
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
24%
14%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming pixel art style, immersive soundtrack, and detailed world-building, which together create a captivating experience as players explore various environments. Reviewers highlight the effective writing and narrative that enhance the overall ambiance, making the gameplay feel adventurous and engaging. While some note that the game can feel empty or grindy at times, the rich atmosphere and sense of exploration remain strong points that contribute to its appeal.
- “The pixel art style is charming, and the soundtrack complements the game's atmosphere perfectly, creating an immersive experience as you travel through space.”
- “The writing is surprisingly good, and along with all the different worlds and quests, it helps build the atmosphere.”
- “Immersive atmosphere and great narrative.”
- “It has its own atmosphere, but the whole game is empty, random, and grindy.”
- “For instance, there's a reason Escape Velocity prevented you from making a hyperspace jump too close to the center of a system: without this restriction, traffic moves too fast, and systems lack a sense of structure and atmosphere.”
- “Play some nice space background music on YouTube while you play for better atmosphere.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be deeply emotional and heartfelt, often feeling a strong connection to the characters and world. The writing and immersive gameplay evoke a sense of investment, making players feel like integral parts of the universe, leading to moments of joy and sadness. Many express a desire to return to the game after breaks, highlighting its lasting emotional impact.
- “Hands down one of the more heartfelt 110% free games on Steam, and I will love it to the moon (or whatever planet you choose) and back!!!”
- “I don't know how many times I've gotten emotionally invested in it, especially when someone harmed someone I cared about, in this case, Agent Katya.”
- “This game has made me feel more like a part of the world than almost any other game has. The world feels alive, and the amazing writing really breathes life into this world, making every interaction you have at a spaceport, job center, or bank feel truly alive.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with players noting that characters evolve significantly throughout the story, influenced by player choices. Many reviews highlight the emotional connections formed with characters, as well as the impactful backstories that enrich the overall narrative experience. However, some players feel that certain characters could benefit from more screen time to fully realize their potential.