Spacebourne

Spacebourne is a space game with simulation, arcade, open-world and RPG elements. You explore a universe of over 100 solar systems, more than 400 planets and 37 landable space stations. You can mine asteroids, salvage wrecked and derelict ships, hunt bounties, engage in piracy, and discover uncharted systems and space anomalies such as black holes. Beyond the main story, you can trade, take side missions, help or hinder the warring races, or form a force of your own, making choices as you go.

The story

In July 2029, an unidentified alien object appears in Earth’s skies. The visitors do not communicate, and their purpose is unknown. In response, the nations of the world establish the World Air Defense Platform (WADP), an international committee led by a man known as the Commander.

In February of the following year, an epidemic called HX-4, or “Guest Influenza,” begins. Its one-year gestation period ends in a highly fatal, incurable disease. By 2032, while the world is still battling the outbreak, WADP prepares to attack the visitors, who are widely believed to have caused the disease. The aliens strike first, inflicting heavy casualties and initial defeats. Under the Commander’s leadership, WADP changes its tactics and destroys more than 20 alien ships over the next three years.

By 2035, nearly half of the enemy ships have been cleared from Earth’s skies, but nearly three quarters of the planet’s population has been lost. The Commander falls ill, and researchers fail to find a cure. On December 12, 2037, he is cryogenically frozen in the hope that a treatment will be found. When he wakes, he is alone on an abandoned space station orbiting Earth, with the disease still raging in his body. A deserted station, a ship in its hangar and the universe beyond are all that remain to him.

Ships and progression

You can acquire new ships, modify your current ship and create different weapons. The game has 322 weapons, each with its own characteristics. Your character also gains levels, new traits and improvements to existing ones. Passive traits such as Piloting, Trade and Charisma develop according to your playstyle, while you choose which active traits to acquire as you level up.

Races and discoveries

The universe includes four distinct races, each with different ships and specialties, and more than 3,000 entities to interact with. Except for the main storyline, content is randomly generated when you start a new game, so events and locations can differ between playthroughs.