No Man's Sky style base building space sim StarRupture launches new playtest

Once No Man's Sky got over those early hiccups, it became a game to define a generation. One of the best live-service games ever created, it has picked up countless awards for the amount of free updates it has offered its players over the year. But as developer Hello Games moves on to Light No Fire, we're left looking for our next space sim to hit all those same exploration beats. StarRupture wants to step into those enormous shoes. With exploration aplenty, survival mechanics galore, and—of course—base building, this first-person survival game could be the indie to take No Man's Sky's mantle.

It's no easy task, following in the iconic footsteps of one of the best space games of all time. But developer Creepy Jar is approaching StarRupture with appropriate levels of caution. As well as launching in early access this autumn, the developer has kicked off its first playtest to get an early swathe of feedback and ensure the servers are up to the task of hosting innumerable players at once.

As you can see, this game is basically Starfield but good. The survival mechanics look robust, pitting you against alien creatures as well as environmental hazards like lava. Base building looks suitably tactile, and the fact you can automate your systems in a Factorio-esque manner only compels me further.

Then you've got the shooting. I'm a sucker for a good sci-fi FPS, and if StarRupture can nail its combat, we could have a winner on the cards. Luckily, it won't cost us anything to find out, because the current playtest is completely free to join.

Like an extended demo, this is our chance to experience those mechanics for ourselves. We can see if Creepy Jar has followed Hello Games too far and overpromised, or if it has nailed the execution off the bat. Expect a few bugs and teething issues—this is an early access game, after all—but if the mechanics feel solid, then StarRupture is a game to get excited about.

Creepy Jar is running the Starrupture playtest for the next two days, finishing up on Thursday July 31. You can request access here.

If StarRupture leaves you wanting more—or, indeed, you missed the playtest—then check out the best survival games for something similar. If you prefer creating your own sci-fi city, be sure to try out one of the best building games instead. Or as well. I'm not your mom.

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