FTL: Faster Than Light

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 42,985 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • replayability
FTL: Faster Than Light Game Cover
The game is so fun, you may find yourself thinking you really are a starship captain because you play so much.
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FTL: Faster Than Light is a spaceship simulation game where you must save the galaxy from a rebel uprising. With every encounter offering unique challenges, you'll need to strategize and make quick decisions to keep your ship intact. The Advanced Edition expansion adds new races, events, weapons, and more, providing even more depth to this immersive space experience.

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  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 42,985 reviews
gameplay1,640 positive mentions
grinding110 negative mentions
  • gameplay3,633 mentions

    The gameplay of *Faster Than Light* (FTL) is widely praised for its blend of simplicity and depth, offering a unique mix of real-time strategy and resource management that keeps players engaged. While the graphics are minimalistic, the game compensates with a compelling soundtrack and a variety of tactical options, making each playthrough feel fresh due to its roguelike elements and random events. However, some players find the reliance on RNG frustrating, as it can lead to unpredictable outcomes that overshadow skill-based gameplay, particularly in challenging encounters like the final boss fight. Overall, FTL is celebrated for its addictive gameplay loop, high replayability, and the satisfaction derived from mastering its mechanics.

    • “Unlocking all these ships is no simple task and can easily provide you with many tens of hours of gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay has a nice amount of variation between 'sit back, relax and click on stuff while drinking a latte' and 'holy turnips you have to aggressively micromanage everything now now now', but I wouldn't consider that a flaw.”
    • “The gameplay is simple enough to learn in a few minutes, but hours won't be enough to master.”
    • “The gameplay is frustrating.”
    • “The game isn't difficult; it's just heavily reliant on RNG deck-building mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay becomes monotonous rather quickly.”
  • music3,193 mentions

    The music in *FTL: Faster Than Light* is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the game's themes of space exploration and combat. Composed by Ben Prunty, the soundtrack features a mix of ambient and intense tracks that adapt seamlessly to gameplay situations, creating a captivating experience that many players find addictive. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features of the game, often described as a masterpiece that complements its engaging mechanics and retro aesthetic.

    • “The music fits the theme of space exploration/combat wonderfully, and I never felt tired of hearing it.”
    • “The soundtrack is a celestial symphony, a harmonious blend of ethereal melodies that elevate the gaming experience to astronomical heights.”
    • “The soundtrack is incredible and makes the game more fun.”
    • “The music and graphics are okay; it's just a chore to do anything in this game. Oh bad luck, better restart over and over and over.”
    • “The soundtrack was hit and miss.”
    • “The music is fitting but nothing special and unless you like it, also repetitive.”
  • replayability2,983 mentions

    The game "FTL: Faster Than Light" is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with players highlighting the randomly generated maps, diverse ship types, and numerous unlockable content that ensure no two playthroughs are alike. Many reviewers note that the game's challenging nature, combined with its strategic depth and the variety of encounters, keeps them returning for more, often leading to hundreds of hours of gameplay. The addition of mods further enhances its replay value, making it a standout title in the roguelike genre.

    • “Innovative micromanaging mechanics, an addicting soundtrack, and a beautiful low-poly style, with infinite replayability.”
    • “Even with exposure to a broader variety of rogue-lites, I can still say the replayability of FTL is among the best.”
    • “The replayability of this game is fantastic, as with any true roguelike.”
    • “Once you get the idea what key upgrades your ship needs, which route is most viable, what parts of your ship you need to seal off and which parts of the enemy ship you need to knock out, the replay value takes a massive dive.”
    • “However, even without those extra features, it is an overall a fun, and admittedly sometimes frustrating game, that has loads of replayability, a pretty large amount of content, and good mechanics.”
    • “While on the topic of replay value, it would be a crime to not mention the mods for this game.”
  • graphics1,802 mentions

    The graphics of *FTL: Faster Than Light* are often described as simple, retro, and pixelated, reflecting its indie roots and 2012 release date. While some players find the visuals dated or basic, many appreciate their charm and how they complement the game's strategic gameplay and immersive soundtrack. Overall, the consensus is that the graphics serve their purpose well, allowing players to focus on the engaging mechanics rather than flashy visuals.

    • “The pixel art graphics and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complement the game's tone, creating an immersive experience that's both nostalgic and refreshing.”
    • “The graphics are simple but effective, with a retro-inspired art style that perfectly captures the feel of classic sci-fi games.”
    • “The graphics are charming and show how to get value for money in an indie game.”
    • “The graphics are totally out of what I would have called mind-blowing back in middle school on my Tandy.”
    • “The graphics might put some people off, but I think it's part of the charm.”
    • “The graphics are simple, but the game is very well thought out and challenging.”
  • story1,608 mentions

    The story in "FTL: Faster Than Light" is minimalistic yet engaging, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay. Players take on the role of a spaceship captain on a mission to deliver vital information to the Federation while evading a relentless rebel fleet, with each playthrough generating unique narratives through random encounters and player choices. While the overarching plot remains consistent, the emergent storytelling and diverse encounters create a rich tapestry of experiences that keep players invested in their journey.

    • “While this game doesn't brand itself as such, it is a bit of a story generator; one run you could be a ruthless captain who meets his end to a group of human-sized mantis boarders, and the other you can be a heroic samaritan who gets their ship blown to pieces for being too much of a people pleaser.”
    • “Each encounter and mission adds a piece to the galaxy's rich tapestry, allowing players to create their own unique stories of heroism, betrayal, and survival against the odds.”
    • “The game's minimalist approach to narrative leaves much to the imagination, inviting players to fill in the blanks and become truly invested in the fate of their crew and mission.”
    • “I just wish it had more of an overall story to it rather than just being a series of small encounters across the galaxy as your ship attempts to complete the mission.”
    • “While it's a solid approach to game design, this does mean that you should look elsewhere if you're hoping for deep setting and a story beyond what is generated by the game's mechanics.”
    • “The main 'story' is also extremely bland and short, implying that most of the time spent in the game will be either restarting failed attempts, or refinishing the same 8 sectors with a different ship and crew.”
  • atmosphere283 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that shifts from relaxing to tense, perfectly complementing the gameplay. Players appreciate the combination of pixel art graphics and atmospheric music, which together create a nostalgic yet engaging experience of space exploration and survival. Overall, the game's ability to evoke feelings of isolation, urgency, and adventure in a richly detailed universe makes it a standout in the roguelike genre.

    • “The atmosphere of the game, the desperation your ship is in whilst slowly building strength, along with the absolute banger of a soundtrack from Ben Prunty, which goes from funky to mysterious, to scary, to foreboding, to a steady march forward into the last stand of the federation depending on the point you're at, fit amazingly and go really far in making the game hold your attention if that's what you're into, like I am.”
    • “Combined with the stellar sound design and a mesmerizing soundtrack, FTL creates an immersive atmosphere that draws you deeper into its vast universe.”
    • “The music is fantastic, and every asset contributes to the peaceful-yet-uncertain atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Despite the primitive looking graphics, the atmosphere enhanced by the soundtrack makes you feel like you are in the cold dark of space.”
    • “The atmosphere the simplistic, top-down art style provides, coupled with the incredibly suiting soundtrack by the amazing Ben Prunty, really draws you in.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is no slouch, this game will suck you in!”
  • humor180 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its clever flavor text, funny encounters, and absurd situations that arise during gameplay. Many reviews mention the balance of frustration and hilarity, as players often find themselves laughing at the ridiculous ways their ships and crews meet their demise. Overall, the game's witty writing and humorous mechanics contribute to a lighthearted experience, making it both entertaining and engaging despite its challenging nature.

    • “It's such a funny concept for meta progression.”
    • “You will fail, and you will fail in the most ridiculous and funny ways, and you'll have fun while doing it.”
    • “The hilarious and well-written random encounters are one of my favorite elements.”
    • “Sometimes the great random plays are not funny jokes, but hey, it's a roguelike after all. I wish there were more goals/scenarios to follow though, not just 'take down that rebel flagship' over and over again.”
    • “I've died so many times on easy difficulty it's not funny.”
  • emotional140 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "FTL: Faster Than Light" is a significant draw for players, who describe it as a heart-wrenching journey filled with strategic challenges and the potential for deep emotional investment in their crew. Many reviews highlight the intense feelings of attachment and loss that arise from the game's permadeath mechanics, leading to moments of genuine sadness and frustration when beloved crew members are lost. Overall, players find the emotional rollercoaster of triumphs and heartbreaking defeats to be both addictive and profoundly impactful, making it a memorable experience.

    • “Ftl: Faster Than Light is a searing emotional odyssey through space, following a band of misfits who progressively become friends and grow as people in fighting for the same cause.”
    • “The permadeath element encourages the player to become very emotionally invested in their ship and crew, and it is truly heart-breaking to lose a game that felt like it was going so well.”
    • “I laughed, I cried, I raged against the inevitability of death.”
    • “This game is an emotional rollercoaster, holy crap.”
  • grinding129 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, often requiring players to invest significant time to unlock ships and progress, with many encounters relying heavily on RNG. While some players find the grind rewarding and engaging, others express frustration with the lack of meaningful rewards and the monotonous nature of the gameplay, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall enjoyment of grinding. Ultimately, the experience varies widely depending on individual tolerance for repetitive tasks and luck-based mechanics.

    • “Definitely rogue-like with its randomness and newness, a bit like Oregon Trail even, with RTS combat and the classic strategic choosing of how and when to use your limited resources to ensure your best chance of survival. FTL is engaging but not tedious, easy to pick up but very in-depth in customization and gameplay.”
    • “Imperative choice elements (you cannot have it all, ever), a great feeling that every choice you make matters, a strong sense of urgency, no farming, no grinding, and persistence elements (unlockables and achievements) in the right amount to give you something to fight for and look forward to without changing the focus of the game.”
    • “Hey, at least there's no grinding in this game :)”
    • “The game forces you to explore the base combat systems for hours in your first runs, which is not only tedious but for some boring.”
    • “If I want to suffer through tedious fights with no real results and improvements, I will just live my real life, thank you very much.”
    • “The rng is poorly implemented and the game loop is more tedious than fun.”
  • optimization45 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players noting it runs smoothly even on low-performance laptops. However, some users express frustration with the game's mechanics, which can feel punishing and heavily reliant on random chance, impacting their sense of control over performance. While minor optimizations can yield slight advantages, the game can still present significant challenges that may hinder optimal play.

    • “This is really a well-optimized game.”
    • “It has just enough variation to force me to use different strategies for each run, making me react to the environment rather than falling back on one optimized approach, while at the same time being consistent enough that I always felt like I had control over my path.”
    • “The meat of the game plays as a strategy real-time (pausable) 'rogue-lite', where you control your ship and crew from a top-down view, and you need to manage which crew member mans which ship system (engines, shields, weapons, helm, etc.) for better performance, manage when and how to fire weapons, and also manage the allocation of power to each system.”
    • “This is a game that punishes you in every aspect: you are punished for experimenting, you are punished for optimization, you are punished for exploration, you are punished for fighting, you are punished for fleeing, you are punished for just playing the damn game.”
    • “It is also poorly optimized.”
    • “Your performance entirely depends on RNG not casually tossing you an enemy you have no chance of beating, so it's pretty tough.”
  • stability43 mentions

    The stability of the game is a mixed bag, with some users reporting significant issues such as crashes on startup, freezing during gameplay, and glitches related to resolution changes. However, many players also praise its performance on various systems, including low-spec PCs and Linux, noting that it runs smoothly without major bugs. Overall, while some players experience frustrating stability problems, others find the game to be largely polished and reliable.

    • “Runs great on M1 Mac.”
    • “Overall the game is very well done, it is not buggy, incredibly fun to play, and definitely worth the $10 price tag.”
    • “This is a complete, bug-free, well playtested masterpiece well worth the price.”
    • “This just crashes immediately at startup on Windows 11, and I'll say it's on their end when 50+ other titles work absolutely perfectly. My drivers are all up to date, I have modern specs, I've tried usual troubleshooting procedures (reinstall, launch commands, compatibility modes), and I have any possible dependent software (such as Java or runtimes).”
    • “After some update, they rendered the game unplayable with 15-20 second freezes on every menu change or jump.”
    • “Soooo buggy... sometimes works fine, then crashes, resizes display randomly, mouse won't work, all random... so frustrating, great game (when it works) but it's just not reliable and not much help from the company... they've already been paid I guess.”
  • monetization14 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, gambling elements, and DLC, offering a straightforward experience without the typical monetization pitfalls seen in many modern titles. Players appreciate the free expansions that add significant content, although some express frustration over intrusive advertising for the developers' next game. Overall, the absence of in-game purchases is seen as a positive aspect, allowing players to earn their rewards through gameplay rather than spending money.

    • “No microtransactions, no gambling, no DLC, just a simple concept done very well.”
    • “Late 2017 update: also, since it seems it's actually important to mention nowadays: it's completely free of microtransactions, crates, and similar nonsense.”
    • “I like the fact that there are no in-game purchases, in which they make you earn all of your arsenal through your own decisions.”
    • “A recent update added advertising for the devs' next game to the starting screen, so every time I load it, I'm greeted by an intrusive message telling me to buy some other game.”
    • “The only thing that prevents this game from being an evil pile of **** (it's still a pile of ****) was that they didn't add in microtransactions...probably because they ran out of time.”
    • “Late 2017 update: also, since it seems it's actually important to mention nowadays: it's completely free of microtransactions, crates, and similar BS.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is limited, with only six character designs available and minimal engagement with the crew, leading to a lack of emotional investment. While some players appreciate the game's mechanics and customizable elements, many feel that the brief duration of interaction with characters diminishes the overall impact of their development. Overall, the game offers a mixed experience regarding character growth, appealing primarily to those who prioritize gameplay over narrative depth.

    • “I generally am looking for that kind of thing because I love character development.”
    • “I completely recommend this for any player who loves space strategy games with influences of character development and customizable spaceships.”
    • “Had only 6 character designs to choose from.”
    • “There is no character development at all, so I couldn't care less about what happens to the crew.”
    • “The game has definite character development aspects, but you're only with your crew and ship for a couple of hours and then never see them again.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

89% average critic score

Buy FTL: Faster Than Light

Play time

50hMedian play time
93hAverage play time
12hMain story
112hCompletionist
19-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 364 analyzed playthroughs

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