FTL: Faster Than Light

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1531 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,248 out of 1531
  2. Mixed: 185 out of 1531
  3. Negative: 98 out of 1531

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  1. eponymous
    Jun 29, 2014
    9
    I've circled back to this game a few times having played it clean through at least twice. It represents great value and is quite rewarding. Frustratingly so at times. Hard to get this much entertainment for under 5 bucks.
  2. sypisybi
    Aug 22, 2013
    9
    The enjoyment of simply playing FTL, as well as the amount of replayability through discovering new ships, makes it one of the most enjoyable rogue-likes that you can currently get.
  3. AnonJ
    Nov 16, 2013
    8
    After reading so many unfavorable reviews being rated as most helpful, I actually find the game far beyond my expectation. I understand people's claim about the random difficulty, but otherwise the game is a near-perfect indie game, with a lot of story events and achievements quite attractive. Definitely worth many times of re-playingthrough, unlike some comments claim.(Don't know whetherAfter reading so many unfavorable reviews being rated as most helpful, I actually find the game far beyond my expectation. I understand people's claim about the random difficulty, but otherwise the game is a near-perfect indie game, with a lot of story events and achievements quite attractive. Definitely worth many times of re-playingthrough, unlike some comments claim.(Don't know whether they actually added more elements in later versions, but as long as my experience goes it's really nice). If you really feel some issues about its difficulty, go and use a game editor, now that most of them are already really mature. Then you can enjoy the immersive game world without a gripe.… Expand
  4. Type4101
    Sep 13, 2013
    8
    FTL is proof that gameplay--not graphics--make a game fun. A reasonably-priced indie gem, FTL offers surprising depth in a little package. It is a "rogue-like" game, and that has some pros and cons (brutal difficulty at times due to randomness and permanent death, but a level of satisfaction upon winning that feels like an accomplishment). I eagerly look forward to an even deeper sequelFTL is proof that gameplay--not graphics--make a game fun. A reasonably-priced indie gem, FTL offers surprising depth in a little package. It is a "rogue-like" game, and that has some pros and cons (brutal difficulty at times due to randomness and permanent death, but a level of satisfaction upon winning that feels like an accomplishment). I eagerly look forward to an even deeper sequel (let us hope!).… Expand
  5. neigenoire
    Sep 25, 2013
    10
    Pros:
    + Very fun and addictive
    + Gameplay is simple but very tactical + Can be extremely challenging + Randomness factor coupled with interesting achievements and unlockables add a degree of replayability + Music is absolutely perfect + Makes you feel like a captain of a spaceship Can't really think of any big cons off the top of my head. Just a fun, little game that will rid you    Pros:
    + Very fun and addictive
    + Gameplay is simple but very tactical
    + Can be extremely challenging
    + Randomness factor coupled with interesting achievements and unlockables add a degree of replayability
    + Music is absolutely perfect
    + Makes you feel like a captain of a spaceship

    Can't really think of any big cons off the top of my head. Just a fun, little game that will rid you of sleep for a couple days/weeks.    … Expand
  6. fbtsjxl
    Sep 11, 2013
    9
    FTL is fun, despite the fact that most of the time you die a horrible death as your ship breaks apart and explodes. You play the Captain or Commander of a small starship with an important mission essentially save the galaxy from the enemy fleet.

    On the rare occasion your ship isn’t destroyed prepare to see your roguish crew eviscerated in front of your eyes by praying mantises,    FTL is fun, despite the fact that most of the time you die a horrible death as your ship breaks apart and explodes. You play the Captain or Commander of a small starship with an important mission essentially save the galaxy from the enemy fleet.

    On the rare occasion your ship isn’t destroyed prepare to see your roguish crew eviscerated in front of your eyes by praying mantises, suffocate in the airless corridors of your ship, or test the old adage that in space no one can here you scream.

    Your neighbours will here you scream though as the ship and crew you’ve navigated star systems with and grown attached to are subjected to all sorts of interstellar bad luck.

    That is where the game shines. It's a simple premise, you select a ship, choose and name your crew and set off into the galaxy. The entire galaxy is randomly generated so you will get a different experience each play through you could get very lucky and have a breezy first couple of systems and luck out and find some great weapon systems and tech, or you could have a tough time of it as you are forced to fight your way out of system after system. Your crew give life to the galaxy, you really do grow attached as they do their stuff, as your engineer makes a life saving fix on the damaged engines allowing you the few precious seconds dodging enemy fire and missiles to charge your jump drive then making a dramatic escape! That was just one example of the things that could happen in your run!

    The simple retro-stylings of the graphic make the game feel light hearted and fun despite the threat of your crew being ejected into the void of space at any moment.

    Staying ahead of the encroaching enemy fleet leaves you little time to explore star systems at your leisure. At the same time, this tension forces you to make sure the route you plot through systems is filled with difficult choices. Do I head into a nebula to slow enemy sensors? Blast through a ring of pirates? Or slide my way around enemy ships to make it to the end of the level? This combination of choice and danger makes FTL a gripping experience that is surprisingly nuanced for such a simple premise.    … Expand
  7. Dcruize
    Oct 4, 2013
    9
    The best rogue-like game I've played I'm not usually a fan of them( and stop playing after a couple of deaths), but FTL is an enjoyable and highly challenging blast. The difficulty is very random and I'm convinced the vast majority of seeds are not 'winnable', but hey, all part of the fun.
  8. Muscularmouse
    Sep 23, 2013
    8
    FLT is a perma-death game based on living the Star Trek life you've always wanted to live, being the captain of the vessel. To clarify, FLT being a perma-death game completely changes the way people play the game and how the game is made in general (Not necessarily for the worst). It makes people think twice before making a decision, which is mostly what FLT is based upon, makingFLT is a perma-death game based on living the Star Trek life you've always wanted to live, being the captain of the vessel. To clarify, FLT being a perma-death game completely changes the way people play the game and how the game is made in general (Not necessarily for the worst). It makes people think twice before making a decision, which is mostly what FLT is based upon, making decisions. This is a great approach on a perma-death game rather than it just be 60% luck..... well, it would be if that weren't true for this game.
    All of the decisions you make are based on luck, where you end up teleporting is based on luck, how strong the enemy is luck, but these aren't bad things. These are necessary for a game that has random-generating levels, though, they come with the consequence of needed luck. This would be fine for FLT, but FLT is, as said before, based upon making decisions, which are based upon luck. So, while you have quite some control over how your fate ends, the decisions you make are more like rolling the dice, and choosing which dice to roll, the 6-sided dice, or the 8-sided dice.
    Now on to the part of the game that bothered me the most, the ending, ending boss in particular. Final bosses in games are typically grand, massive, exciting, and the climax of the game. FLT covers all of these factors, however, they overdid one aspect of a final boss that isn't always thought of. The difficulty. The FLT final boss is VERY difficult to defeat, and by VERY difficult, I mean, it makes Ghosts N' Goblins bosses seem like a joke. The difference between FTL and most other games, as said before, is that it's perma-death, and if you can't save at a checkpoint of any sort, you're going to fight that final boss and lose and not be able to fight him again for a while... because the rest of the game is pretty hard too. You can't learn from your mistakes or learns a strategy for the final boss. While you could argue that it's a perma-death game and isn't meant to be memorized, you can't say that beating the final boss the first time around is possible either. The thing is that the boss comes as a surprise. While the hardest ships you may be fighting with may have 3 shields and 2 weapons, the final boss has 5 shields, 4 weapons (including a freaking tri-rocket-launcher thingy that wrecks havoc) with massive health and a cloaking device...... see where the difficulty spike is here?
    Now despite the problems mentioned here, FLT is still a really good game. It puts your strategy to the test is a unique space commanding adventure. It challenges you with thought-provoking problems and and many different situations to deal with. While some situations may be dealt with luck, you will know that you are making your own decisions for the majority of the game..... at least until you reach the final boss.    … Expand
  9. flametail
    Sep 29, 2013
    8
    Its a fun space game, but you will get stuck on something, like for example; they ships running out of oxygen and there is a drone in the "O2" chamber, and the doors are open for killing alien reasons.

    That's the fun part, figure it out find out a way to save them.
  10. Idiocracy
    Sep 30, 2013
    10
    I adore this game, enjoyed every minute of it, loved the originality, and loved that the gameplay was exactly what they said it was, there was no trickery. So to decide if you want to play this just read the description and watch the video, easy peasy no way to coq it up. Yes this is a Roguelike game which means yes once you die you die, it also means is random, so if you read that in theI adore this game, enjoyed every minute of it, loved the originality, and loved that the gameplay was exactly what they said it was, there was no trickery. So to decide if you want to play this just read the description and watch the video, easy peasy no way to coq it up. Yes this is a Roguelike game which means yes once you die you die, it also means is random, so if you read that in the description, then saw it in the video, then bought the game and said WTF THIS IS RANDOM AND HARD, then got on here to talk trash about it, then its your fault and go die.… Expand
  11. Jadetiger
    Oct 18, 2013
    8
    When I first booted this game up, I didn't get what all the fuss was about. It's low tech, with very simple graphics. But after I played a while, upgraded my ship, found new crew members, and journeyed deeper into the galaxy, I got it.

    Different weapons work against different shield types. You can upgrade your ship with drones which can ward off missiles or attack an enemy ship.    When I first booted this game up, I didn't get what all the fuss was about. It's low tech, with very simple graphics. But after I played a while, upgraded my ship, found new crew members, and journeyed deeper into the galaxy, I got it.

    Different weapons work against different shield types. You can upgrade your ship with drones which can ward off missiles or attack an enemy ship. This is all presented in a simple manner, but the gameplay is very addicting. The game is perma-death, which keeps you on the edge of your seat.    … Expand
  12. GPuzzle
    Oct 21, 2013
    9
    Roguelikes.
    If you like them, go buy this ASAP.
    If you don't, I'll give you some critical reviews on this game: The game is fun if you enjoy the process of creating something, not the end of it that means that I had more fun trying to figure what would be the most efficient way to solve a problem launch that Hermes Missile right into their weapons or try to set their shields down with    Roguelikes.
    If you like them, go buy this ASAP.
    If you don't, I'll give you some critical reviews on this game:
    The game is fun if you enjoy the process of creating something, not the end of it that means that I had more fun trying to figure what would be the most efficient way to solve a problem launch that Hermes Missile right into their weapons or try to set their shields down with a Ion Beam and a Burst Laser MkII? than I had actually winning the fights. It also raises some morality questions while getting a slave free is certainly the best option, you must spend quite some scrap on it perhaps you could force the slaver into giving on for free for you if you damage his ship enough then again, this won't stop his activities, so you may as well destroy his ship. Also, there are several other options do I upgrade my shields or try to upgrade my weapons? And then again, how am I gonna get the scrap? By killing people?
    The entire game runs on randomness, so it is quite similar to RPG games, and I mean the ones with actual Roleplay, where you throw dice and this makes the entire point of the game. I've never had a single equal game yet. It's fun to see what you can do in the situation. Sure, your skills and your choices matter a lot. They are the main things that you'd expect to be used. Your knowledge. I've gone through over 200 games now, all of them ended up differently. My knowledge mattered. What I did, mattered. It's the fact that your captain may die right now if he doesn't stop fighting the mantises and you'll lose someone with two stars on driving a starship, but, at the same time, the mantises may be able to take down your weapons and you won't be able to fire again until you've cleared them out.
    It's a game where you need to think "maybe I could have done X right here... I should do Y now to counter that and allow me to do Z."
    Not one where you can say "I'll do X and then Y".    … Expand
  13. Azzanation
    Mar 13, 2020
    10
    To this day, FTL is still one of my favourite Rogue Like Indy games. Its brutally difficult however addicting with an amazing sound track and a clever art style. If you have a PC this needs to be played if you are looking for a challenging experience.
  14. PeregrineOmega
    Mar 9, 2014
    10
    Simply put: The Star Trek game they never made. A great little indie title with so much character and heart, it's hard not to get lost in it. It's a real challenge, but not unfair. It encourages replay like no other game I've played, and truly caters to the hardcore sci-fi fan. Worth every penny.
  15. rahto56pilko84
    Nov 22, 2013
    8
    very good game. Not feeling like writing a detailed review, you can just read what others have said already So i am filling this text to reach the 150 character mark!
  16. flame2057
    Nov 30, 2013
    9
    Awesome fun RPG. Very fun and, hard. Great especially if you like star trek! I love how the game doesn't focus on whats outside the ship, but whats going on inside the ship and controlling the crew.
  17. rdowney1
    Dec 25, 2013
    10
    If you want to control a ship, and the crew of it, putting out fires, repairing stuff, and beaming on board enemy ships and taking on their crew, then this is the game for you. On PC, via Steam the game is dirt cheap! It is coming to IPAD, and they are going to release an update for free! Great game. Go buy this game.
  18. Circadia
    Feb 14, 2014
    9
    Fantastic game. Have put over a hundred hours into it already. How many times I have I finished the game, maybe twice. It is a challenging game, but those frustrated with not being able to make it through to the end each time are missing the point. FTL is about the journey through space, the agony of loosing a character you have ranked up, the thrill of hiding in a nebula making repairs,Fantastic game. Have put over a hundred hours into it already. How many times I have I finished the game, maybe twice. It is a challenging game, but those frustrated with not being able to make it through to the end each time are missing the point. FTL is about the journey through space, the agony of loosing a character you have ranked up, the thrill of hiding in a nebula making repairs, the joy of taking down a hardened foe with new upgrades and the sense of actually traversing a dangerous galaxy. I am conrfused by reviews that argue the game is both random and lacks replayability. The random nature of each adventure is what makes the game replayable. Each trip through the game brings different side-quests, random events and enemy vessels. After all the time I have put into the game, I have yet to unlock much of the content or finish many of the side quests. This is the brilliance of the game. While the concept is simple, the designers have maxed the core ideas of the game. I am very eager to see the new content for FTL advanced.… Expand
  19. SilentHell
    Apr 8, 2014
    5
    An interesting game, but the final boss is really, whatever ship u'll have at the end, an unbalanced "pita".

    Another point is the fact that luck (a lil less with last patch) is a too important part : it brings tactics and strategy to a secondary level, and doesnt reward ur carefully assembled setups...

    Lets hope FTL2 will erase those defaults.
  20. pinkj
    Apr 14, 2014
    9
    I believe FTL is one of the those games that people will keep playing for years, maybe decades, in the same way there are still people playing Nethack.

    This is a near perfect game in what it sets out to do - to survive against the odds. The more you play (and die), the more the game opens up which eventually makes you a better strategist in certain situations. It is not fully random    I believe FTL is one of the those games that people will keep playing for years, maybe decades, in the same way there are still people playing Nethack.

    This is a near perfect game in what it sets out to do - to survive against the odds. The more you play (and die), the more the game opens up which eventually makes you a better strategist in certain situations. It is not fully random as some reviewers think as each sector grows in difficulty in a predictable way. Over time, you learn what is more likely to work in one case versus another.

    Also, it doesn't get boring as you have the choice of a large number of ships and the game, from start to finish, is less than 2 hours.

    This game is the complete opposite of games like Diablo 3 where D3 makes you feel incredibly powerful almost from the very start. In FTL, you feel very humbled and at odds with the Universe FTL has created. Only when you beat this game will you feel powerful and sense that you've accomplished something more than almost any other game out there.    … Expand
  21. Jbod
    Apr 25, 2014
    9
    Hard and addictive. There is a lot of possible combinations to win (and loose) the game. Great music, great pixel style, if you like it.
    A rare game that has a unique spirit, enjoyable gameplay, and you can stop and play back again anytime you want..
  22. pongkrit03
    Feb 18, 2020
    8
    I just have a chance to play FTL and Wow ! this game is much better than I expected. I beat the game two times now, easy and normal. It is so addictive. The idea is brillantly creative. I never played game like this in my life. I can't even imagine how someone could think of something like this. Luck is also a factor here but if you know how play, you can still manage to win.

    For an    I just have a chance to play FTL and Wow ! this game is much better than I expected. I beat the game two times now, easy and normal. It is so addictive. The idea is brillantly creative. I never played game like this in my life. I can't even imagine how someone could think of something like this. Luck is also a factor here but if you know how play, you can still manage to win.

    For an indy game like this, for this unique space idea and very cheap price. 10/10 deserved.

    Edit:: I would like to lower the score because replayability is not as high as I thought. Once you get a hang of it, winning is not difficult and should not take more than 3 hrs to win a round. Though you have many ships to play, enemies are same. It lost my interest fast.    … Expand
  23. coljac
    May 1, 2014
    10
    Looks like you either love or hate FTL. I love it. It's a relaxing and engaging game with infinite replayability.I have only unlocked a fraction of the ships available in the game and my enthusiasm for getting there has only grown.

    Pluses: Can play in quick bites. Replayable. Great music. Sense of humour. Minuses: Lots of luck involved. High level difficulty. Parts can be repetitive.    Looks like you either love or hate FTL. I love it. It's a relaxing and engaging game with infinite replayability.I have only unlocked a fraction of the ships available in the game and my enthusiasm for getting there has only grown.

    Pluses: Can play in quick bites. Replayable. Great music. Sense of humour.
    Minuses: Lots of luck involved. High level difficulty. Parts can be repetitive.

    Given the price of the game and number of hours I've gotten out of it, one of the best investments I've made.

    "I should really go to bed."
    *looks at clock*
    "One more jump won't hurt..."    … Expand
  24. Gordon7
    May 26, 2014
    5
    This is a great game for skilled gamers, or for a mediocre one like me that has TONS of time (which I don't have. maybe 2-3 hrs/wk to play). This makes it nearly impossible to play. there's really no way to come back to a "saved" game if you die or get close to it. so you have to start from scratch every time. I really don't mind the randomness that many complain about, i like theThis is a great game for skilled gamers, or for a mediocre one like me that has TONS of time (which I don't have. maybe 2-3 hrs/wk to play). This makes it nearly impossible to play. there's really no way to come back to a "saved" game if you die or get close to it. so you have to start from scratch every time. I really don't mind the randomness that many complain about, i like the difficulty it adds. however having to start completely over almost makes it very difficult to achieve much as you can put in a few hours playing only to get killed and have to start all over. This makes it monotonous fairly quickly. I've played this game for 17hrs on easy and only beaten it once (remember: I am not "skilled").

    It would be nice to at least have a "checkpoint" or something to make some recovery of the time spent playing to build up a good ship, i sorta kinda regret the money i've spent on this game now

    Other than this major flaw (for me) I think this is a fantastic game and I like the retro look and feel    … Expand
  25. couchbattle
    May 28, 2014
    9
    What can I say that hasn't been said about this title. Incredibly addicting and well worth the money you will pay for it. Fun and witty with a large learning curve that you can only get more excited about learning about. One of the best titles I have ever played
  26. carlosgtardon
    Jun 10, 2014
    9
    Para mí la gran aventura espacial de los últimos años, las mecánicas son interesantes y te obliga a la rejugabilidad ya que castiga pero pica. Interesante aunque corto, una experiencia de juego recomendable.
  27. hboogie
    Jun 23, 2014
    10
    This is a highly addicting game due to it's roguelike elements. I died so many times I lost count. You need to look up guides to be able to know how to play this game, but once you get the mechanics the game starts to be extremely fun. Even though you start over when you die the game still gives you an incentive to keep playing by being able to unlock other ships, or just playing it againThis is a highly addicting game due to it's roguelike elements. I died so many times I lost count. You need to look up guides to be able to know how to play this game, but once you get the mechanics the game starts to be extremely fun. Even though you start over when you die the game still gives you an incentive to keep playing by being able to unlock other ships, or just playing it again to see if a different strategy will give you a different outcome. This game gives you that sense of progression due to the unlockable features. There are 3 models for each type of ships and you have to unlock each model by doing achievements. The engie and stealth ships are my all time favorites to play with. This game have tons of replay value but with mods it adds even more replay value on top of it. It's a must buy game. 10/10… Expand
  28. Jpelda_CrazyCat
    Nov 3, 2014
    9
    Possibly the best space indie game in a long time, probably history. The game will challenge you, your nerves and logical thinking. After a few hours, the game can get a bit repetitive, but the it shows you something more and the fun is back. I saw, I played, I did not win yet, but I'll work on it. If you like space, strategies and rogue-lite challenging games, you shouldn't miss this one.
  29. whave
    Oct 4, 2014
    10
    First of all, addressing the complaining (most likely) younger generation gamers: no, I haven't only played the game for 2-3 hours. I put 120+ in, and still counting. This game is what I've been waiting for, and I didn't even know it. Reminds me of the golden age (which means the '90s for me) in terms of difficulty, atmosphere and replay value. Of course if you grew up on Halo, CoD and theFirst of all, addressing the complaining (most likely) younger generation gamers: no, I haven't only played the game for 2-3 hours. I put 120+ in, and still counting. This game is what I've been waiting for, and I didn't even know it. Reminds me of the golden age (which means the '90s for me) in terms of difficulty, atmosphere and replay value. Of course if you grew up on Halo, CoD and the likes, you won't value it. If you're a save-load-abusing kid, you won't value it. Yes, this game is not for everyone. But crying for the difficulty? Go and play your twelve-a-dozen railshooters which give you an achievment for shooting your weapon the first time.

    p.s. forgot to mention the AMAZING soundtrack. Ever noticed games these days don't really have a memorable soundtrack? It's either some overused orchestral wannabe-epic background track, or just some ambient whooo-lookatme-im-event-activated foolishness.    … Expand
  30. jphung
    Nov 3, 2014
    7
    Soundtrack: The soundtrack in this game is quite fitting. It uses techno music to put forth a feeling of being in a spaceship. The music itself isn’t distracting and allows the player to immerse himself into the game. However, after a while the music does get quite repetitive. 7/10

    Gameplay: The gameplay for FTL is quite enjoyable as it allows the audience to feel like each decision    Soundtrack: The soundtrack in this game is quite fitting. It uses techno music to put forth a feeling of being in a spaceship. The music itself isn’t distracting and allows the player to immerse himself into the game. However, after a while the music does get quite repetitive. 7/10

    Gameplay: The gameplay for FTL is quite enjoyable as it allows the audience to feel like each decision matters. Each decision in the game comes with pros and cons and makes the player think about each decision they are about to make. Do I send in my crewmembers to help out another crew ship and risk them dying or do I go the safe route and get no reward though? Each decision matters in this game and eventually starts to stack up on the final stage of the game. However, the RNG (Random Number Generator) in this game can screw the player over without notice. Sometimes the game will produce scenarios where it is a lose lose situation over and over again until the player loses. Although this is rare within the game it is still very frustrating to deal with. Overall the gameplay is 8/10.
    Storyline: The storyline in the game is not very long, but is sufficient enough to portray what the game is trying to sell you. In the end though the games storyline feels irrelevant after a couple play through and is quite repetitive. 6/10

    Graphics: Graphics in this game are highly pixelated, but this does not take away from the game nor does it add depth. This time graphic section is N/A.    … Expand
  31. ShawnD
    Jan 10, 2018
    8
    It's ok, I guess. 8/10

    Note that my rating of 8/10 is due to the fact that I only paid $2.75 for this game during a Steam sale. It's fun for about 3 hours and then it's just boring and repetitive. The randomness is nice, but it sometimes feels too random. There will be tons of games where it just doesn't work out. Enemies will all have ion weapons, there won't be any additional crew    It's ok, I guess. 8/10

    Note that my rating of 8/10 is due to the fact that I only paid $2.75 for this game during a Steam sale. It's fun for about 3 hours and then it's just boring and repetitive.
    The randomness is nice, but it sometimes feels too random. There will be tons of games where it just doesn't work out. Enemies will all have ion weapons, there won't be any additional crew members, etc. It basically means there's no way to plan anything because so much of the game is random. The short duration of games also means one can't get invested in the game. It's a lot like playing solitaire.

    Now that I've typed that out, this seems like a perfect game for killing time in an airport. If you're waiting for a flight or something, FTL would be a great way to pass the time on a laptop with low specs and no mouse. If there is a phone version of the game, that would be worth looking into.    … Expand
  32. SanctuaryCat
    Jun 14, 2015
    9
    FTL is a wonderfully put together rogue-like where you captain a ship and cross sectors of space to defeat all in your path. Full of variety, character and intrigue, each game is a new story. Often insanely difficult and at times damn right brutal. My only criticism is the unlockables; the unlock criteria are too strict! I've only seen 3 ships so far in 24 hours play. Apart from that thisFTL is a wonderfully put together rogue-like where you captain a ship and cross sectors of space to defeat all in your path. Full of variety, character and intrigue, each game is a new story. Often insanely difficult and at times damn right brutal. My only criticism is the unlockables; the unlock criteria are too strict! I've only seen 3 ships so far in 24 hours play. Apart from that this game is flawless.… Expand
  33. B3AR
    Dec 30, 2014
    8
    FTL: Faster Than Light is a truly incredible game. When I bought it, in the almighty Steam Winter Sale, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know much of anything about the game and was really taking a shot in the dark buying it. I am glad to say that it really paid off.

    FTL is a game in which you control a small spaceship delivering highly important goods across the galaxy. The    FTL: Faster Than Light is a truly incredible game. When I bought it, in the almighty Steam Winter Sale, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know much of anything about the game and was really taking a shot in the dark buying it. I am glad to say that it really paid off.

    FTL is a game in which you control a small spaceship delivering highly important goods across the galaxy. The Kestrel is the name of your ship- however it is re-nameable- and it has three workers by default, an engine worker, a pilot and a weapons specialist, again all of whom are re-nameable- as you progress through the game, they become more skilled at whatever it is that you have them working away at and learn to repair their specialist object/area faster if, inevitably, damaged.

    As you slowly traverse through each sector of the galaxy, you are constantly bombarded by hostile alien ships, lost travellers and many other beings/unmanned ships. You also occasionally come across distress call or shop. The distress calls often give you the choice to help a ship out or not, and the shop allows you to buy new crew members, weapons, ammunition, repair your ships hull or even sell unwanted items.

    Overall, it is a massively addictive game, and after having studied it for just a short while, I can see why it has a lower Metascore than I previously expected. You see, FTL is not a game that you can easily pick up and instantly beat on normal difficulty after just a few attempts, I am yet to get further than the third sector on easy mode and even then I think I just got lucky. Some people strongly dislike games like this, others love them. If you're a fan of challenging games, Science-Fiction or are not sure about it, then I'd recommend that you pick it up. (£7 on steam, can be picked up on sale for roughly £1.50-£2.50). However, I'm only going to give FTL an 8(I would give it an 8.4 but I don't have that option) because even though it is a fantastic game, there is room for improvement. I would love it if it had Steam Workshop support so that the community can share their ships, and I would also like it if there was an easier and more difficult difficulty setting. The easy mode can be tedious for new players to get used to and I can only imagine that the hard mode gets boring for more experienced players.

    Thanks for reading.    … Expand
  34. Rednetter
    Aug 18, 2015
    9
    A small game, but well worth the $10 price tag. It's simply fun to play! The game might be quite simple in terms of graphics and game design, but it is so well balanced and solidly programmed that it is enjoyable to play. It also seems to get the balance right between being simple enough to play casually, like an arcade game, while also requiring just enough strategic thought andA small game, but well worth the $10 price tag. It's simply fun to play! The game might be quite simple in terms of graphics and game design, but it is so well balanced and solidly programmed that it is enjoyable to play. It also seems to get the balance right between being simple enough to play casually, like an arcade game, while also requiring just enough strategic thought and concentration to keep you engaged. This makes it perfect when you want a low-key relaxing game.

    My only gripe is the lack of control one has in getting some of the special missions - it can require many plathroughs of the same ship just to get the chance to complete some of the special quests that unlock new ships, which means you are stuck with tedious or give up.    … Expand
  35. overkoell
    Jan 12, 2015
    10
    Great sound, great look, great Game!

    FTL is challenging, yet fair (mostly). One play trough takes around 1 - 2 hours. Yet you will want to play it over and over again because of the different ships, crew and systems. Every Ship has its individual strengths and weaknesses and offers a different experience because it forces you to adept. The visuals are just great and definitely work    Great sound, great look, great Game!

    FTL is challenging, yet fair (mostly). One play trough takes around 1 - 2 hours. Yet you will want to play it over and over again because of the different ships, crew and systems. Every Ship has its individual strengths and weaknesses and offers a different experience because it forces you to adept.

    The visuals are just great and definitely work great in the game.
    The sound alone is worth the price of the game and is the best sound i ever heard in an indie game.

    One of the best Indie Games out there and maybe THE best rogue-like.
    You will not regret buying this gem - promised.    … Expand
  36. 350gamesSince94
    Feb 27, 2015
    9
    FTL is an enjoyable Tactical simulation that shows young indie game designers of the future that there is still a huge amount of forgotten game mechanics that people are starving for these days. This game has amazing loyal developers who are willing to add more content even after release to maintain its gleaming fine polished indie game art style. Considering this game went beyondFTL is an enjoyable Tactical simulation that shows young indie game designers of the future that there is still a huge amount of forgotten game mechanics that people are starving for these days. This game has amazing loyal developers who are willing to add more content even after release to maintain its gleaming fine polished indie game art style. Considering this game went beyond recycling an older idea and enhancing it with an on board crew mechanic made it worth the money and time I had spent on it.

    Its only real weak points are that the seemly random generated are pretty much similar in the sense that I know the best case scenario and the worst case scenario. The blue options are in my opinion an appropriate measure to give players a better chance by having the right ship modules and weapons at the right time, but not enough to completely eliminate the fact that some items are a must have in order to stand a chance in the 8th Sector. The mod teams and mod support are the go-to sort of people to fix the most of the problems, but why couldn't the Dev's give a little more variety then get to world 8 and kill the rebel fleet boss.
    Everything else seemed almost flawless with the game design with the oxygen system I had only found in very few games and the crew boarding just makes the game feel exciting when on the offense and devastating on the defense. Then the game offers even more than the typical "blow up the the space ship" by providing legit opportunities and benefits to some surrendering ships who want to live. Most of the time I find myself blowing them up for scrap so I can upgrade but often intrigued by the offers they make.
    This is an absolutely positively must own this on your phone if you have one, and is well worth the price it charges. I could even compare these mechanics to my favorite games I ever played list and that on itself made me having second thoughts on whether I should give this an 8 or a 9 despite it having a slight issue with crude random map generation that could be expanded on vastly. Then again the developers even spoiled us further with FREE new content instead of a ridiculously stupid DLC that I want to see gone forever. It would of been a ten if the game was perfect and I have yet to see that perfect game yet, so this is possibly the highest I ever scored a game anyways.    … Expand
  37. meltdownmonk
    Jul 15, 2016
    9
    Well designed game that gets better with each play through. You will die many many times before winning, but each experience helps you understand better strategies for survival. Mastering different weapon combinations, learning the best timing for spending your money (known as Scrap), customizing and unlocking content make this game fun, not to mention you are micromanaging a shipWell designed game that gets better with each play through. You will die many many times before winning, but each experience helps you understand better strategies for survival. Mastering different weapon combinations, learning the best timing for spending your money (known as Scrap), customizing and unlocking content make this game fun, not to mention you are micromanaging a ship travelling through space!!! I kept thinking I was on the USS Enterprise - I would imaging yelling : divert all power from shields to the weapons, or the engines... target their oxygen systems... etc., etc. Very addictive. Although it is random, once you play enough you start to see some patterns, or know certain things to expect. Failing is just as interesting as succeeding.… Expand
  38. kloplos
    Mar 24, 2015
    9
    It's an extremely replayable indie space adventure game with roguelike elements. It can be difficult at times. The challeges you face and the decisions you make will ultimately decide whether you'll make it to the end or not. However, it's this very difficulty that makes completing the game very satisfying.
  39. yoloswagins
    Apr 21, 2015
    5
    At first this game feels like the game every sci-fi fan has been waiting for; command your own ship, crew, power usage and more just like on your favorite movies/TV shows. The combat system is also fun and the game feels like a fresh new idea, at first.

    It's not surprising how this game has so many high scores(roughly 8, 9 and 10s) as this game is inviting and will quickly draw you in.    At first this game feels like the game every sci-fi fan has been waiting for; command your own ship, crew, power usage and more just like on your favorite movies/TV shows. The combat system is also fun and the game feels like a fresh new idea, at first.

    It's not surprising how this game has so many high scores(roughly 8, 9 and 10s) as this game is inviting and will quickly draw you in. However when the novelty begins to ware off, it's flaws become more and more noticeable.

    FTL is very repetitive and you will find yourself grinding your way through the game. The game almost forces you to grind because if you don't get good enough gear before advancing to the next sector you will probably be greatly outmatched. It doesn't help either that, once you beat the game a couple of times, you will begin to notice the random events happening repeatedly and get a bit bored of them. The different ship layouts do help add variety however it's disappointing that there isn't even the option to design your own ship in the vanilla game. Each ship has an advantage and a disadvantage at the beginning of the game which means your playstyle is already greatly determined from the start of the game which is out of your control.

    If you are the type of person that likes grinding, then FTL still has issues such as the dependence on the randomness of the game. For example, the way you play the game is greatly effected by what gear you can find in stores and random events will punish you for no apparent reason e.g. an event goes something like this: "you find a mysterious capsule with a life form inside it. Open the capsule? ... Yes ... one of you crew members got killed by the life form" WTF what sort of incapable crew am I leading? Who the f*** would get themselves killed like this? If I was opening the capsule I would get the f*** out of there as soon as possible or at least get a machine or something to open it for me. Anyway the game is filled with these frustrating events but these 2 problems aren't the biggest problems. Possibly the biggest problem with the randomness is a mechanic called "dodge". This is blatantly bad game design. It is very hard to execute any strategy when there is a chance that the strategy won't work, not because the AI anticipated your strategy and adapted like it should be, but because the game thought "sorry if I let you do that, things would be too easy" so instead makes you repeatedly try the same timing over and over again until it finally works and by which time the enemy has somehow got really lucky and screwed you over. This is one of the things that prompts many people to adopt strategies that don't involve dodge such as teleporters, cloaking or ... teleporters which seems to be one of the only viable (but admittedly fun) real strategies. The reason the game developers probably put dodge into the game is to make things more interesting, basically to hide underdeveloped strategies.

    The AI in FTL is also very simplistic. It doesn't feel like you are fighting intelligent enemies which makes victories a bit hollow. You didn't win because you had more skill than the AI, you won because you had better gear/timing/luck (the AI is horrible at timing btw). Skill is a component in winning however it is too small of a factor in the game-play (think about videos you have watched about FTL, do you see any unique play-styles that can be used to beat a heavily stronger opponent? not really, everyone seems to play in an almost identical way imo). Because of the simple AI, enemy ships are buffed to greatly out-stat your own ship (e.g. the flagship). Unfortunately some of the only ways to beat the flagship are exploits that don't even make sense (e.g. killing everyone but one person because any captain of a star ship would obviously do that).

    To conclude, FTL is worth the buy because of how cheap it is but don't expect anything spectacular out of this game.    … Expand
  40. dderpington126
    Apr 24, 2015
    10
    I've had this game for about 1.5 years. First off, the art style is really awesome. I love that you start out and you get to upgrade your ship. Overall this game is AMAZING. If you don't know if you want it, it's some of the best money I've ever spent.
  41. IvoryFlux
    Jul 4, 2015
    9
    An amazing and challenging game! Put over 85 hours into FTL, and still play it from time to time. Micro-manage your ship into detail with the use of strategy to beat back the rebels!
  42. the_Slugman
    Aug 24, 2015
    10
    FTL manages to immerse you in a new story every single time that you fly out in a shiny new ship. As you might have surmised from the other reviews, you will die in a fiery space explosion, your crew will suffocate to death, they'll be eaten by giant mutant space spiders, they'll be beaten to death by giant rock aliens or mantises, you'll fly too close to a sun and burn up, a virus willFTL manages to immerse you in a new story every single time that you fly out in a shiny new ship. As you might have surmised from the other reviews, you will die in a fiery space explosion, your crew will suffocate to death, they'll be eaten by giant mutant space spiders, they'll be beaten to death by giant rock aliens or mantises, you'll fly too close to a sun and burn up, a virus will devastate your crew, etc. etc. etc. more time than you can count. FTL is brutally hard, and that's where it's beauty lies.

    Your crew members and ship upgrade individually and you'll be heartbroken each time a beloved slugman, human, or android is sucked into the cold abyss. In terms of setting, few games manage to create as intricate, random, and volatile a universe as FTL does. The tactical sacrifices you'll be forced to make while playing this game will make you cringe and curse your opponents, giving you all the more reason to persevere and destroy the rebel forces once and for all.

    The actual fighting of this game is so complex it deserves it's own wikipedia page. The strengths, weaknesses, and intricacies of each weapon, ship upgrade, character trait, and system must be studied carefully (as well as those of your opponents). The need to balance your ship's power between your weapons, shield, and other subsystems is quite possibly the most genius game mechanic of all time. You never know what you'll run into with your next FTL jump so you'll be taking a gamble with every bit of scrap you spend to upgrade your shields instead of fixing your hull or hiring a new crew member or purchasing a new beam drone. The game is intelligent, difficult, and completely engrossing. On top of all of this, the boss is a serious feat and, once finally vanquished, will make you want to write all of your friends and family to tell them of your greatest life achievement.

    Get this game on PC or iPad (PC is obviously better but it's probably the best iPad game out there) and you're making an investment in your future – I'm convinced my IQ went up by 20 points after figuring this gem out.    … Expand
  43. Kopter
    Oct 23, 2015
    8
    Llevar el control total de tu propia nave espacial, sin saber que te deparará el próximo destino ¿bandidos? ¿ayuda? ¿nuevas armas?¿Un enemigo capaz de volarte y tener que salir por patas? Todo esto, aunque sea en 2D y con unos gráficos "malos" Hace que te enganche. Un grandísimo juego que poco bombo se le ha dado.
  44. TinyDetails
    Jan 2, 2016
    10
    Also, in addition to my previous rating (which was high because this is a good and playable game) I'd like to note that I've played this game for several months in my free time, and that it's fun and playable throughout the entire time. This makes sense, since I consider myself to be pretty good at the game, and I hardly ever die, and almost never at the beginning of the game. Give thisAlso, in addition to my previous rating (which was high because this is a good and playable game) I'd like to note that I've played this game for several months in my free time, and that it's fun and playable throughout the entire time. This makes sense, since I consider myself to be pretty good at the game, and I hardly ever die, and almost never at the beginning of the game. Give this game some time and think about it, and it'll be fun and definitely doable.… Expand
  45. tbst
    Apr 29, 2016
    10
    The game is amazing. So much fun.. quite difficult, steep learning curve.
    Sometimes it just screws you because of, but that's the way she goes sometimes. Great replay value.
  46. chars1991
    Jul 22, 2016
    7
    Any game dubbed 'rogue-like' should be expected to be more like morbid Dark Souls series where trial and error is the norm, rather than the minecraft or pokemon series in which you're treated with velvet gloves all the way to the bosses. And FTL is no exception, with its capricious random factor and its overpowered final bosses with literally all kinds of weaponry and 'cheats' to boot. AAny game dubbed 'rogue-like' should be expected to be more like morbid Dark Souls series where trial and error is the norm, rather than the minecraft or pokemon series in which you're treated with velvet gloves all the way to the bosses. And FTL is no exception, with its capricious random factor and its overpowered final bosses with literally all kinds of weaponry and 'cheats' to boot. A hair-pulling, gut-wrenching, madness-inducing, FTL is an engaging, addictive strategy game with one heck of a soundtrack, albeit a tad tampered by its lack of depth and its frustrating gameplay even on easy mode. Causal gamers be warned: buyers' remorse is a common symptom after purchasing FTL, be sure to consult your physicians before use.

    Notable features:
    1. Length of gameplay: it's neither too long nor short for a strategy game, with one round lasting 3 hours at most. Critics largely lashed out at the constant chase by the rebels throughout the game, but without the overarching threat of being caught up by the rebels would render the gameplay stale, its pace ground to a halt. Grinding for scraps and weapons WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT is a thrilling experience essential and indispensable to the game, without which FTL would just turn into another grind-it-until-you-make-it game like all the other mainstream games.

    2. Difficulty: That said, the same argument cannot be made for the random factor that is another glorified feature of the game. There is no lack of reviews here that lambasted the luck factor at play in the game. Sometimes it works in your favor (random drops of weapons or drones at certain nodes); but mostly it works against your game plan in a myriad of ways (the harrowing Giant alien spiders, the mantis boarding events, etc.) It reminds me of Mike Tyson's famous words: Everyone has a plan until they got hit in the face. Ocassionally, regardless of how well-planned you seem to be, an ill-fated jump to a troubling node, a gamble gone totally awry in some events, or simply an enemy so well-equipped that can crippled your systems and wreak havoc on your ship before you can jump away, can send all those so-called game plans into oblivion. While it's desirably challenging at times, the learning curve of this game can be so steep that it can be off-putting to a lot of gamers. Worse of all, FTL needs some serious balancing in terms of the ship systems, notably Cloaking. It is arguably the most critical system in deciding the outcome of the game. Your chances of surviving the last boss are greatly enhanced once you have cloaking installed. And that stifles the strategic element of the game if only because it turns the game into saving enough scraps for certain game-breaking systems or weapons, which is too under the heavy influence(or interference) of the random factor. Simply put, the slot-machine feature and the masochistic difficulty of the game are what alienate most of the gamers.

    FTL also suffers from its repetitive game play. The game started to get monotonous after beating the boss several times. The lack of interaction with other ships, be they friendly or hostile, other than the one you are fighting against during the battle stage is appalling. It appears that the game developers can't think of anything to add into the game play other than just TWO ships battling out at every node. How about three-way battles in which three ships are hostile against each other, and you have to decide, during not before the battle stage, which one to shoot down. Sounds familiar? Because there's indeed such an event in the game (the conflict between mantis and zoltans, slugs and pirates), and developers can seem to flesh out their events enough to diversify the game play - a glaring and disappointing omission from FTL.

    3. Soundtrack by Ben Prunty: one of the bright spots of the entire game. Mostly suspenseful, at times adrenaline-pumping, Ben's soundtracks do not just complement the game, they elevate the gameplay. The battle scores are the spiced-up of the navigation ones. Be sure to check out the new Lanius music.

    Overall, an thoroughly engaging game with a sliver of strategic elements and a tinge of Star-trek-like adventurous suspense, albeit marred by the repetitive, monotone game play and its notorious, almost condescending difficulty. An injection of a more diverse game play(three way battles, missions, personnel escort or protection during enemy boarding, all of them during the battle stage I must stress, you name it) is sorely needed for anyone to be investing anything up to four days into this game.    … Expand
  47. Smatt--
    Nov 12, 2016
    9
    FTL: Faster Than Light, is the most fun game I've played this month, there's just some sort of charm to it. It has great replay value, this is because the amount of stuff you can unlock, and because you always want your current run through to beat the last, and you always want to do better. There's always something new to expect each run too.

    The game is highly addictive, the RPG    FTL: Faster Than Light, is the most fun game I've played this month, there's just some sort of charm to it. It has great replay value, this is because the amount of stuff you can unlock, and because you always want your current run through to beat the last, and you always want to do better. There's always something new to expect each run too.

    The game is highly addictive, the RPG elements are executed really well, but the difficulty curve does sneak up on you from time to time, even on easy mode.

    A must have for your collection. 9/10    … Expand
  48. Sn0r
    Oct 5, 2016
    8
    It will keep you very entertained for a short amount of time. Although they literaly do everything to maintain replayability, for me that didn't work out too well. You soon get a hang of how your "decisions" influence the game. In most cases your decisions are just "fight" or "don't fight" hidden behind a neat flavor text.
    You still get a good value for the price and I am definetely    It will keep you very entertained for a short amount of time. Although they literaly do everything to maintain replayability, for me that didn't work out too well. You soon get a hang of how your "decisions" influence the game. In most cases your decisions are just "fight" or "don't fight" hidden behind a neat flavor text.
    You still get a good value for the price and I am definetely looking forward to second part or any expensions of FTL.    … Expand
  49. Hassaleh
    Oct 14, 2016
    9
    The game that introduced me to the joy of rogue-like games and still the best of the genre that I have ever played. Every time I jump back into this game I discover something new, a new combination of weapons and technology, a new cool way to defeat your foes and save the galaxy. Most of my playthroughs I die before the final boss but that's what draws you back into the game again andThe game that introduced me to the joy of rogue-like games and still the best of the genre that I have ever played. Every time I jump back into this game I discover something new, a new combination of weapons and technology, a new cool way to defeat your foes and save the galaxy. Most of my playthroughs I die before the final boss but that's what draws you back into the game again and again, until you finally beat the thing, giving you an amazing feeling of pride and satisfaction. You should really try it, it's great!… Expand
  50. hassall
    Dec 3, 2016
    9
    I really liked this game it was one of my favourite games of 2012.The thing i don't like about the game is each play it depends on luck but apart from that it is a masterpiece.
  51. demonalter852
    Mar 16, 2017
    9
    This game is pretty amazing for a indie title. here are the pros and cons
    pros
    - rogue like elements
    -amazing and catchy music
    - excellent and difficult combat (p.s. you die, you die for good and you start from all of the way from the beginning)
    - variety of ways to customize your ship and your attack
    - fun story and side quests to do

    cons
    - i never rate games 10 out of 10
  52. auditbadger
    Jul 30, 2017
    9
    I think that this is truly a unique game and I would recommend that if you are a fan of this type of genre then I think you should give this game a try.
  53. aditya1101
    Oct 5, 2017
    7
    Pretty fun and really well designed game. I didn't like it as much as I was hoping I would, but I don't really have many bad things to say about the game
  54. Axilley
    Jul 22, 2021
    8
    good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good ftl gg
  55. Mordeth131
    Oct 29, 2017
    9
    Easily one of my fav games! Game can be very unforgiving and frustrating but when something goes well it so much more rewarding. This is one of my go to games when I have nothin else to play, strategy can be very simple or fairly complicated. For the price and replay ability it is a definite must have!
  56. RagingPoet
    May 29, 2018
    8
    8.5 out of 10.
    FTL is a great tactical rogue-like strategy that can provide countless hours of difficult and fun starship duels and resource management.
  57. Galope
    Oct 27, 2020
    9
    Cosmic dungeons

    It connects with the player from the first moment. Subset Games breaks the market with a title that forgets about visual parameters that easily impresses the player. All the efforts of the team have been put on offering a product with a brutal playability, a product that provides mechanics that are easy to learn and difficult to master. FTL is not a game for the lover    Cosmic dungeons

    It connects with the player from the first moment. Subset Games breaks the market with a title that forgets about visual parameters that easily impresses the player. All the efforts of the team have been put on offering a product with a brutal playability, a product that provides mechanics that are easy to learn and difficult to master.

    FTL is not a game for the lover of retro games, it is a game designed for the video game lover. Many players will emit a quick and fragile opinion accusing the game of belonging to a very small audience: those retro lovers who despise the tricks and technical ornaments of the new generations. Those players are wrong. FTL offers playability. FTL offers a depth that translates into hours of play, full of alternative paths, thousands of possible situations, continuous decisions that translate into small stellar achievements. And this is where the key to its great playability lies on: in the decisions that we make. FTL makes us participate of everything: the paths to take, the long-term strategies that will take our ship to beat the empire, the weaponry and updates that we might consider useful and the very necessary micromanagement needed in battles. FTL makes us consider the details such as the design of our fleet adapted to our style of play, the analysis of those races that fit into the configuration of our crew, the navigation chart, and a thousand other reasons that are there for us to discover as the game progresses.

    We have seen many space adventures, few of them so disciplined in their playability. FTL will make you play again and again until you realize you are late for work, forgot to eat, drink and shower.    … Expand
  58. The_Moon
    Mar 18, 2018
    8
    Soundtrack: 7/10
    Graphics: 10/10
    Story: 5/10
    Gameplay: 8/10

    The sountrack was a nice background to the gameplay, but nothing unusual. The graphics were a nice pixel art style that I had no problem with. There wasn't much of a story, when there was it was pretty average. The gameplay was fun and challenging, although I thought it was a little too hard to unlock new ships.

    Overall: 8/10
  59. Wineneeder
    Dec 20, 2020
    10
    I like it a lot. It could use a little more depth (I haven't tried to the expansion though), seems like mostly you just try to keep their weapons disabled and the AI is pretty basic.

    But I had a whole lot of fun with this.

    Though the randomness can really **** you over. I do not regret donating to this kickstarter.
  60. Fiona666
    May 10, 2018
    9
    God, I have spent so much time with this game. Critics point out that it is essentially a slot machine and that is true - luck plays a big role in FTL. The whole journey is randomly generated (from many predefined stories and events), so sometimes you will find valuable weapons and resources very early in the game and sometimes you are just overwhelmed by super-strong enemies. SometimesGod, I have spent so much time with this game. Critics point out that it is essentially a slot machine and that is true - luck plays a big role in FTL. The whole journey is randomly generated (from many predefined stories and events), so sometimes you will find valuable weapons and resources very early in the game and sometimes you are just overwhelmed by super-strong enemies. Sometimes every decision you make works out and sometimes everything goes wrong. The final battle is extremely difficult and only winnable if you had a lot of luck on the way there (if you make it at all). And while all of that sounds like bad game design the game is simply a lot of fun and I just want to love it!… Expand
  61. Snakeyellow
    Sep 17, 2018
    9
    Fantastic game! A bit on the hard side since it relies heavily on luck and randomness.

    Pro
    -Atmosphere
    -Gameplay is great
    -Replayability

    Con
    -Graphic are soso
    -Very random
  62. Vectis99
    Oct 18, 2018
    6
    FTL can be a very gripping experience which teaches players how to best optimize their available resources in the most synergistic way possible. Doing so successfully and efficiently proves to be a fun challenge which is very satisfying to pursue. Unfortunately, the game can quickly turn into a very mechanical process as decision making becomes either negligible or automatic for playersFTL can be a very gripping experience which teaches players how to best optimize their available resources in the most synergistic way possible. Doing so successfully and efficiently proves to be a fun challenge which is very satisfying to pursue. Unfortunately, the game can quickly turn into a very mechanical process as decision making becomes either negligible or automatic for players who are more familiar with the game's dynamic. The game has a pleasant aesthetic and a modular narrative which is well written, but not particularly deep or memorable. Overall, FTL can vacillate between being a relaxing and stressful experience, depending on the mood of the player.… Expand
  63. gentlebenno
    Jan 27, 2022
    10
    This game is a masterpiece of joy and pain. I get so into it and get shot up so many times I have nightmares about it. And yet I keep coming back and become obsessed. It doesn't help that I don't allow myself to use the pause button thus further increasing the difficulty level. I should be institutionalized.
  64. RoamGod
    Feb 23, 2019
    8
    Один из самых самых прекрасных рогаликов.
    Можно провести несколько замечательных вечеров за этой игрой.
    Ты буквально готов продать душу за свою команду и сломать компьютер если взорвут твой корабль.
  65. Soullex
    Nov 15, 2022
    3
    Aslında farlı bir şeyler denemişler, ama birkaç saatin ardından mantığını çözünce, sadece düşmanın silahlarına ateş edip ilerlediğim bir oyun oldu.
  66. sitebender
    Apr 19, 2019
    10
    After sinking hundreds of hours in, this is still an enjoyable two hour long real time strategy mixed with random opposing spaceships and random events. It has basic art, but it's just so much fun to get invested all the way to the end each time I play.
  67. Budgerigan
    Mar 5, 2020
    10
    Probably, this is one of the best indie game. I like everything in this game, especially soundtrack. Balance is great, even the game is pretty hard.
  68. edxtan
    Jun 19, 2023
    6
    The roguelike elements in FTL: Faster Than Light's get you to always think about optimizing your long-term and short-term strategies, but the extreme randomness and lack of mechanical skill often makes the game unwinnable.
  69. CriticalHit20
    Oct 21, 2019
    9
    I played the hell out of this game, delving into all the nooks and crannies and loving every second of it. I must admit I did bypass the rogue aspect of the game as that made it more fun for me. If I played it normally than my rating might only be 7.5. Hours pass but unlike many other games it was enjoyed and not wasted.
  70. ZetaJiffils
    Dec 27, 2019
    6
    Está bien, pero el jefe final es IMPOSIBLE de ganar incluso en modo fácil, aunque tengas toda tu nave mejorada al máximo.
    Eso ha hecho que deje de jugarlo...y lo que me molesta es que si no derrotas a esa nave final no te dan recompensas para tener más naves....
  71. RackNRoll
    Sep 2, 2020
    10
    Faster Than Light - это одна из тех игр которую ты скачиваешь из интернета бесплатно, но потом в голове рождается мысль "О ЧЕРТ ВОЗЬМИ, НАДО ЗА НЕЕ ЗАПЛАТИТЬ!".. почему спросите вы? да потому что это стоющая работа за которую не грех отдать те копейки, которые она стоит в стиме.. в нее хочется играть раз за разом, пройдя ее на одном корабле, другом, третьем.. четвертом.. пятом.. пока глазаFaster Than Light - это одна из тех игр которую ты скачиваешь из интернета бесплатно, но потом в голове рождается мысль "О ЧЕРТ ВОЗЬМИ, НАДО ЗА НЕЕ ЗАПЛАТИТЬ!".. почему спросите вы? да потому что это стоющая работа за которую не грех отдать те копейки, которые она стоит в стиме.. в нее хочется играть раз за разом, пройдя ее на одном корабле, другом, третьем.. четвертом.. пятом.. пока глаза не лопнут.. отличное звуковое оформление, музыка ненавящевая, радует слух.. красивая мультяшная графика не перестает удивлять.. огромный выбор вооружения начиная от бластеров, ракет и телепортирующихся десантников, вплоть до управления разумом вражеского члена экипажа.. огромный выбор кораблей и их модификаций, что делает игру разнообразной.. вообщем и целом это афигенная игра которая не потребует от вас супер реакции или убер креативного мышления и принесет уйму положительных эмоций.. если вы, конечно, не самый законченный "Ч"удак :)… Expand
  72. Wrathzo
    Mar 21, 2022
    7
    FTL: Faster Than Light is a space-based top-down real-time strategy roguelike game created by indie developer Subset Games, which was released for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux in September 2012. In the game, the player controls the crew of a single spacecraft, holding critical information to be delivered to an allied fleet, while being pursued by a large rebel fleet. The player mustFTL: Faster Than Light is a space-based top-down real-time strategy roguelike game created by indie developer Subset Games, which was released for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux in September 2012. In the game, the player controls the crew of a single spacecraft, holding critical information to be delivered to an allied fleet, while being pursued by a large rebel fleet. The player must guide the spacecraft over eight sectors, each with planetary systems and events procedurally generated in a roguelike fashion, while facing rebel and other hostile forces, recruiting new crew, and outfitting and upgrading their ship. Combat takes place in pausable real time, and if the ship is destroyed or all of its crew lost, the game ends, forcing the player to restart with a new ship.… Expand
  73. Ilmu011
    Feb 13, 2021
    8
    Solid roguelike.

    FTL is more strategic and almost feels like it's a turn-based game (even though it technically isn't). Trying out different ships and strategies is very fun and there is an appropriate amount of variety to them. It does have some balance problems, like some weapons not matching their supposed power levels, and most of the time you won't be able to try out a creative new    Solid roguelike.

    FTL is more strategic and almost feels like it's a turn-based game (even though it technically isn't). Trying out different ships and strategies is very fun and there is an appropriate amount of variety to them. It does have some balance problems, like some weapons not matching their supposed power levels, and most of the time you won't be able to try out a creative new strategy like you want to because the final battle is very static and will force you to use a similar strategy every time to be able to beat it (forget pure shieldless runs or pure asphyxiation runs). But you can still do it, just for the sake of it.

    Overall a good roguelike game.

    Playtime at review: 300 hours    … Expand
  74. hileger
    Oct 15, 2022
    8
    Залипалово вроде простенько но механики затягивают хотя рогалики в целом распиаренное говно ,всякие дед сел не смогут соревноваться с этим Щедевром
  75. eigenvalue
    Jun 22, 2020
    10
    Simple graphic, beautiful soundtrack, many tactics. Even if you start under the same conditions, it is fun to choose different tactics each time depending on various encounters and situations.
  76. tommydlbass
    Aug 16, 2020
    7
    A good strategy-simulator ship game where you gotta scape from different worlds and fight to other kind of human beings. Has it's problems (it's maybe too hard, some of the perks are more useless than others, there are some random events that once you know the game lost the magic) but overall it's worth a try.
  77. Oshiri_Maeda
    Aug 29, 2021
    5
    Space bar pressing simulator. A bit too tedious for my liking. However, I see why it's popular, just not my cup of tea. Into the Breach gave a way stronger impression.
  78. BobbyTarantino
    Aug 15, 2020
    8
    a man goes to the doctor. says he's depressed. he says life seems harsh and cruel. says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. the doctor says "the treatment is simple. the great clown pagliacci is in town tonight. go and see him, that should pick you up." the man bursts into tears. he says "but doctor... i am pagliacci."
  79. patty_boi
    Dec 23, 2020
    8
    So, the game is great, but there are some issues. For one, sometimes some of the screen doesn't work and you cant click on it to start a new game or something like that, and two, the soundtrack is GREAT but it doesn't show up in my steam library so I need to play it manually. overall, a great game.
  80. J1mbo
    Jul 9, 2023
    9
    The amount of time you last or if you even beat the game is determined by luck. However other than that complaint the game does require a good amount of skill. At the beginning of the game, you can pretty much go afk while you destroy a ship, however, as you progress it gets harder and harder to the point where you have to be glued to your screen making sure your ship is repaired and ifThe amount of time you last or if you even beat the game is determined by luck. However other than that complaint the game does require a good amount of skill. At the beginning of the game, you can pretty much go afk while you destroy a ship, however, as you progress it gets harder and harder to the point where you have to be glued to your screen making sure your ship is repaired and if you're targeting the most vital part of your enemy's ship according to your current situation. The game Spore would be a world better if it implemented some of this game's mechanics into its game.… Expand
  81. AdamBFS
    Nov 4, 2020
    8
    If you like a pastime type of game where you can slowly upgrade your equipment or find new crew members to help maintain your spaceship, then this game is exactly for you. After completing your first game, you can start to unlock new ships and new ways to play, this only adds to the replay value.

    Overall, I don't have anything negative to say about this game as it is just a simple 2D    If you like a pastime type of game where you can slowly upgrade your equipment or find new crew members to help maintain your spaceship, then this game is exactly for you. After completing your first game, you can start to unlock new ships and new ways to play, this only adds to the replay value.

    Overall, I don't have anything negative to say about this game as it is just a simple 2D space game.    … Expand
  82. Molok
    Apr 24, 2021
    1
    FTL is composed of wide variety of possible scenarios that are arranged randomly to create a unique run. Each play is distinct and creates a personal story of individual player's struggle. Here is just another one of them.

    I started with federation cruiser. Defying odds I progressed through increasingly difficult sectors before arriving to the Nebula under the control of Slugs. There I    FTL is composed of wide variety of possible scenarios that are arranged randomly to create a unique run. Each play is distinct and creates a personal story of individual player's struggle. Here is just another one of them.

    I started with federation cruiser. Defying odds I progressed through increasingly difficult sectors before arriving to the Nebula under the control of Slugs. There I resolved a few challenging combat scenarios, taking heavy damage because I didn't encounter any appropriate equipment and didn't really have an opportunity to upgrade weapons in earlier sectors. Luckily I found one more advanced weapon in stock, randomly found earlier. But I couldn't power it yet, needing a separate upgrade. With that in mind I pressed on. Eventually I arrived at a sector that housed a planet with several moons. The slug found on the surface quizzed me about the number of natural satellites orbiting the planet and taking advantage of my momentous distraction stole some of my missiles, drone parts, all of my exp and most of my remaining fuel. With exp gone and without a way to upgrade my system I didn't have realistic way to win future altercations but I pressed on.
    I encountered a dangerous ship. I disabled shields using my remaining missiles so I could actually damage systems using my pitiful lasers. All of my shots missed and I without ammo I couldn't switch to missile weapons. I dropped the shields, disabled the weapons, ordered all of doors opened to vent the ship of oxygen and concentrated the crew in one large chamber so they would suffocate. After they slowly and (I hope) painfully died I uninstalled the damn game.

    FTL is based entirely on your luck. It is a digital version of Russian roulette. Some weapons, augmentations and systems are just better than others. If you luck out and get them advancing through the game becomes trivial. If you do not it is impossible.
    I understand that it is alluring to some people as they like the risk. But I would advise anybody who likes to have any actual agency to stay away from the game.

    There are achievements that you can collect and unlock bonus ships. Unfortunately a standard run seems to be at least two hours long and if you die before getting an achievement you don't unlock anything. In that case each minute of your life spent playing is retroactively wasted away. There is absolutely no payoff if you lose. A standard tagline for rogue-lites is "Losing is fun". But this game simply isn't fun.

    On the other hand soundtrack is awesome. I would say that if you can get it without the game it's worth buying. Just don't buy FTL and don't give it any bump in it's statistics.    … Expand
  83. Tabbou
    Jun 1, 2022
    4
    I don't understand all the 9 and 10/10, just looks like others rogue-lite and strategy games, disapointed
  84. Thyrvi
    Oct 13, 2022
    9
    Great game.
    The random events, as in any challenging Roughlike, sometimes do not seem fair.
    However, this gives the game a really high replay value.
    Can recommend the game without reservation.
  85. Magical_Viktor
    Apr 30, 2023
    6
    Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»
  86. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    7
    Fun roguelike but very punishing RNG and the final boss is completely out of tune with the difficulty of the rest of the game.
  87. Night565
    Aug 12, 2023
    10
    Probably my favorite rogue like to this day. I had fun getting a good chunk of the achievements and unlocking all my ships. Good time all around, like to revisit when i'm bored late at night and need something to chill with. Game is pretty hard but its like a puzzle where you slowly learn the tricks, once you do you can pretty reliable clear the game without issue.
  88. PR9Gaming
    Aug 12, 2023
    9
    Hugely enjoyable space roguelike that makes you wanna rewatch Star Trek. Can you bring about the Flakening?
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Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best PC Game of 2012
21
#21 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012
13
#13 Most Shared PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 42
  3. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. Gamers' Temple
    May 27, 2013
    87
    Fulfill a sci-fi fantasy by becoming the Captain of your own starship! Don't expect great graphics, but do except to lose many hours to FTL and expect to lose your ship ... a lot.
    Read full review
  2. PC Master (Greece)
    Feb 6, 2013
    85
    Kickstarter has accomplished its mission in this one, giving the opportunity to an original, non-mainstream title to go public and meet its well-deserved success. Especially for sci-fi fans, it’s a no-brainer; buy this game at once and live the life of a courageous pilot that only has one mission: survival. [November 2012]
  3. GameStar
    Nov 24, 2012
    77
    Quotation forthcoming.
    Read full review
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