Avorion (2017)

Avorion is currently in Early Access and is actively being developed. The game is set several hundred years after a catastrophic event nearly tore the galaxy apart, creating an impassable ring of fractured hyperspace at its center. Standard hyperspace engines cannot penetrate this rift, and no one has successfully reached the central regions since the disaster. Alongside this event, numerous hyperspace anomalies appeared throughout the galaxy, and a mysterious alien race known as the Xsotan emerged near the core. These aliens appear to have discovered a method to navigate the damaged hyperspace fabric, but no contact has been made with them. Concurrently, rumors have spread about a rare and powerful metal called "Avorion," discovered near the galaxy’s center and used by the Xsotan to construct their ships.

Start Your Journey

Players begin their adventure at the outskirts of the galaxy as relatively unknown pilots and gradually make their way toward the central regions. As you advance, the galaxy becomes increasingly dangerous but also offers greater rewards. Avorion incorporates sandbox elements from titles like X and Freelancer while introducing co-op multiplayer options. Players can design and build their own ships using freely scalable blocks, which can be procedurally generated. Ships in Avorion are fully destructible, breaking apart at the exact points where they are hit during space combat.

Combat

Equip your vessel with various weapons, including chainguns and lasers, to engage enemies. Combat is visually and mechanically dynamic, as ships fracture precisely where they sustain damage. Protect allies from pirate threats, pursue enemies for bounties, or engage in faction-wide wars. Construct hangars to deploy fighter squadrons or target enemy freighters to seize their cargo. Combat in Avorion emphasizes strategic planning and ship customization to optimize your effectiveness in diverse scenarios.

Exploration

Navigate stunning nebulae and asteroid fields while searching for hidden treasures and interacting with numerous factions that occupy the galaxy. Each faction has unique traits, such as peacefulness, intelligence, or aggression, and distinct ship and station designs. Exploration allows players to uncover valuable resources in derelict ships, claim uncharted asteroids, and gather clues about the events from hundreds of years ago. Avorion encourages careful exploration at your own pace, rewarding those who venture into uncharted territory.

Ship Building

Ship construction in Avorion is limited only by available resources. Players are not constrained by standard voxel designs and can focus on aesthetic and functional ship creation without excessive micro-management. Ship performance must still consider maneuverability and energy requirements. Customize ships for different roles: agile light cruisers, heavily armored battleships, or transport vessels with extensive cargo capacity. Collect resources, loot, and upgrades from defeated enemies to enhance your ships’ turrets, systems, and trade capabilities. Hire captains to command your fleet, manage crews and weapons, and expand your influence across the galaxy.

Trading

Expand your ship with cargo holds, locate profitable trade routes, and transport over a hundred different goods to generate income. Build a trading empire by establishing asteroid mines and factories, attracting NPC traders who will buy and sell products at your facilities. Trade management in Avorion allows players to grow their wealth and influence, reinforcing their presence throughout the galaxy.

Co-op Multiplayer

Avorion supports cooperative multiplayer, enabling players to join forces with friends to construct stations, combat pirates, and challenge enemy factions. Collaborative gameplay extends influence in the galaxy, fosters empire-building, and facilitates large-scale PvP engagements. Players can choose their preferred playstyle, whether hauling cargo, establishing trade networks, or engaging in aggressive combat. The sandbox environment provides freedom to pursue peaceful growth or engage in piracy, faction wars, and scavenging missions. Progression toward the galactic core rewards those who navigate increasing threats with strategic planning and skillful execution.

Avorion is a vast and ambitious space sandbox that lets you build ships, trade, and fight your way across a procedurally generated galaxy. The freedom to design ships from scratch and command entire fleets is impressive, and the co-op multiplayer adds a lot of fun for team play. Combat feels satisfying thanks to fully destructible ships, and exploration is rewarding with diverse factions and hidden treasures.

That said, Avorion is still in Early Access, so some rough edges remain. The interface can feel clunky at times, and the learning curve is steep for newcomers. However, the core gameplay loop of building, fighting, and exploring is solid and enjoyable.

We recommend Avorion for anyone who loves sandbox space games and wants a game that lets them experiment and create in a huge, living galaxy. Just be ready for some patience as the game continues to evolve.