Relic Space Windows, Linux game

Relic Space

Fourfold Games | Released Mar 9, 2023

Relic Space is a turn-based, roguelike RPG hybrid (with 4X elements!) in which you help rebuild civilisation following a galactic catastrophe. Through a mix of handcrafted and procedurally generated missions you will engage in deeply simulated, hex-based combat as an elite starship pilot - all set within an epic sci-fi narrative that you help construct through your choices.

Unique Turn-Based Combat

Tactical turn-based space combat

Use your tactical skills on a hex grid with ‘one-tile-per-turn’ mechanics inspired by traditional roguelikes.

Flexible development

Use your growing reputation and influence to acquire more powerful ships and equip them with countless weapon and utility combinations. Acquire new piloting abilities through a flexible skill tree.

Deep Simulation

Realistic combat mechanics simulate damage to individual ship components. Each weapon, engine or utility item can catch fire, leak power, and acquire many more status effects.

Immersive setting

Uncover a rich, branching narrative threaded with endless procedurally generated stories in a detailed setting inspired by hard sci-fi.

Open World

Explore a vast procedurally generated solar system with handcrafted elements. Factions and NPCs pursue research, trade, construction projects, and other goals irrespective of your actions – though your actions affect their success or failure!

In a Rich Sci-fi Universe

It is the year 2612 and the galaxy lies in ruins. You are a member of Omega, the elite pilot wing of a community of survivors known as the Order.

Originally an elite military organization set up to protect posthumanity from high-impact, low-probability threats, the Order is a community of genetically engineered supersoldiers with a fierce sense of tradition.

After failing to prevent the devastation known as the Fall, their core aim is to recover lost knowledge and rebuild civilization. But recent events show an emergent new threat to their very existence...

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Relic Space: starship strategy Early Access release

Mar 14 2023 News

That's right, the Early Access version of Relic Space is here, the result of more than 3 years of development so far. Though it's been so much work, it's also been so much fun to see this passion project grow, alongside a great community of players who've helped test earlier versions, and to whom I'm immensely grateful!

In this article I'd like to outline some of the key new features players will be able to experience in this Early Access release.

Explore a Procedural Universe

First off, players will be able to freely explore over 45 procedurally generated sectors, each with their own distinct mix of factions, stations and environmental effects. And of course each with missions generated out of this local context, which they'll need to complete to help their faction to victory.

And I do want to stress the 'procedurally generated' part. During the Early Access period I'll be adding a complex, branching narrative, told through handcrafted missions. But as the game is right now it's best to think of it more as a classic roguelike experience, where the fun comes not so much from the storyline, but the tactical challenge of taking on ever harder opponents, with an ever wider range of ships, weaponry and equipment, in runs that are never the same twice.

Find a Winning Strategy

Speaking of victory, the '4X-style strategy' layer of the game will work, for now, just as it did in the Demo - except that a whole lot more victory points will be needed for a win! Players will need to roam widely and choose the right missions to boost their faction in specific ways - all the while keeping a close eye on the progress of their rivals.

Regular missions that boost faction stats, will need to be balanced with the rarer missions that give a chance of discovering relics that unlock research goals. Unlike in the Demo, progress through the tech tree is essential to keep pace with one's enemies, as their ships will be upgraded with their faction's latest tech.

Game-changing Upgrades

Full access to the tech tree opens up a wide range of weapon and equipment options, including over 50 'base' equipment types, which each come in numerous variants in terms of size (Large/Medium/Small) and quality (Normal/Good/Exceptional).

Combine this with the wide range of ship hulls available to acquire, together with the fact that many equipment types come with new active skills, or offer entirely new combat strategies (Stealth Field anyone?) and you have a recipe for classic-RPG-style progression that never gets old!

Make Friends - or Enemies

Finally, while exploring players can now discover a total of 7 ‘minor’ factions in addition to the 3 main factions. Just to take two examples:

The Ludist faction structure their lives around games and play: many believe the universe itself to be a game, and the laws of physics its rules. Their stations are well-known for their combat arenas, in which bets are placed on battles between custom-built drones...
The Makers value pure creativity above all. Their anarchic, freewheeling culture often tips over into violence, and their combat ships are deadly works of art.

A fourth main faction, the Intelligence, will be gradually added during the Early Access, and will be integral to the main story.

Join the Community

The best way to keep up to date on the very latest on Relic Space is via the Discord. During Early Access you'll also be the first to gain access to bleeding edge builds, and of course will be able to discuss the game with fellow fans as well as the developer.

Alternatively sign-up to the low-volume newsletter to be notified of key updates and new releases.