Games Like FTL: Faster Than Light

Command an ancient starship and fight your way to the heart of a dying Empire. Fend off attacks from demented cultists, craven space pirates, and xenophobic Imperial soldiers. Discover powerful artifacts and use them to build your ship into a fearsome war engine.

Why similar: Space 17.9%, Real-Time with Pause 17.7% ★, Perma Death 13.5%, Roguelike 12.4%, Difficult 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: It channels the same event-driven galaxy runs and subsystem-focused ship battles, but with a darker and more oppressive warship tone.

Shortest Trip to Earth is a roguelike spaceship simulator focused on exploration, ship management and tactical battles. Embark on a perilous journey across the universe with nuclear missiles, armed crew and a cat.

Why similar: Space 21.4%, Roguelike 15.5%, Space Sim 10.4% ★, Sci-fi 10.3%, Difficult 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: It expands FTL’s formula into longer, denser runs with boarding, multiple compartments, and nonstop crisis management.

Trigon: Space Story sees you take command of your very own spaceship. Carry out tactical battles, defend your vessel against space pirates, and escape from enemy territory. On your voyages, you’ll face a slew of tricky decisions in your quest to uncover the mystery of the galaxy.

Why similar: Real-Time with Pause 17.9% ★, Space 15.2%, Roguelike 13.7%, Perma Death 11.2%, Difficult 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: It is the most direct modern FTL-style game on Steam, with sector routing, crew and subsystem management, pausable ship combat, and run-ending permadeath.

Crying Suns is a tactical rogue-lite that puts you in the role of a space fleet commander as you explore a mysteriously fallen empire. In this story rich experience inspired by Dune and Foundation, each successful run will uncover the truth about the Empire... and yourself as well.

Why similar: Real-Time with Pause 20.1% ★, Space 18.2%, Roguelike 13.6%, Perma Death 10.8%, Sci-fi 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: It combines node-based roguelite progression with tense flagship management and hard strategic tradeoffs between encounters.

Battlevoid: Harbinger is a hard sci-fi space exploration game blending roguelike, turn-based, star map strategy, and real-time space battles. You are a young commander venturing out into enemy territories, to unknown galaxies, never knowing what you will face as you jump out from hyperspace.

Why similar: Space 32.6%, Roguelike 18.2%, Real-Time with Pause 11.5% ★, Strategy 11.3%, Sci-fi 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: It offers procedural space runs, crew and equipment upgrades, and tactical pause-based encounters very close to FTL’s core loop.

Control powerful mechs from the future to defeat an alien threat. Each attempt to save the world presents a new randomly generated challenge in this turn-based strategy game.

Why similar: Roguelike 32.6%, Strategy 19.2%, Sci-fi 13.5%, Roguelite 9.3%, Tactical 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: From the same developers, it distills FTL’s razor-sharp run-based decision-making and no-margin-for-error tactics into perfect turn-based battles.

Explore the galaxy in this deckbuilding, sci-fi roguelike where ship upgrades and crew management are key to your survival. Optimize resource generation, engage in intense turn-based battles, and take on ever-growing threats as you seek out The Signal.

Why similar: Roguelike 34.5%, Difficult 16.2%, Procedural Generation 13.6%, Strategy 13.3%, Roguelite 11.7%

Why You'll Like It: It takes FTL’s ship duels and route planning into a deckbuilding roguelite structure without losing the subsystem-management feel.

A sci-fi roguelike deckbuilder with a deep new single-axis spin on tactics games! Dodge missiles, line up your cannons, and blast 'em out of the sky... Then get to the bottom of these time loops, before it's too late!

Why similar: Roguelike 32.1%, Space 27.2%, Sci-fi 17.3%, Strategy 12.3%, Tactical 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: It captures FTL’s run structure and star-map decision-making in a cleaner deck-based ship combat format built around crew synergies.

Convoy is a tactical roguelike-like inspired by Mad Max and FTL in which you cross a wasteland in search of parts for your broken ship. Presented in pixel art and set in a future post-apocalyptic setting, Convoy is a squad based tactical combat roguelike-like in its core.

Why similar: Roguelike 35.8%, Strategy 13.9%, Sci-fi 12.5%, Difficult 10.6%, Roguelite 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: It is basically FTL on a post-apocalyptic highway, with route choices, random events, salvage, and punishing run-based combat.

Chocks away! Bomber Crew is a strategic simulation game, where picking the right crew and keeping your bomber in tip top shape is the difference between completing your mission or losing it all! USAAF DLC NOW AVAILABLE! FLY THE ICONIC AMERICAN BOMBER!

Why similar: Strategy 23.6%, Difficult 17.5%, Roguelike 13.8%, Simulation 12%, Perma Death 11.6%

Why You'll Like It: It recreates the thrill of juggling stations, repairs, fires, and permadeath under pressure, just inside a WWII bomber instead of a starship.

Pilot drones into derelict spaceships to find the means to survive and piece together how the universe became a giant graveyard.

Why similar: Space 23.9%, Roguelike 18.7%, Difficult 10.5%, Sci-fi 8.3%, Roguelite 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: It nails FTL’s claustrophobic improvisation and attrition, with every derelict expedition feeling like a high-stakes systems puzzle.

Reclaim the Sea is a roguelike strategy game set in a pirate fantasy world. Fight your way through randomly generated maps and text events. Command your pirate crew, upgrade your ship and make tactical decisions to beat the boss and save the world… or die trying.

Why similar: Real-Time with Pause 22% ★, Roguelike 21%, Perma Death 12.8%, Difficult 10.7%, Strategy 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: It translates FTL’s run-based ship command and hard strategic choices into a nautical setting with strong roguelike pressure.

Embark on a space voyage with your ragtag crew of civilians in search of a new home. Build spaceships tile by tile, create optimal gas conditions, manage the needs and moods of their crew, encounter other space-faring groups, and explore the universe in this spaceship colony simulation.

Why similar: Space 31%, Space Sim 21.6% ★, Sci-fi 15.4%, Strategy 11.3%, Survival 10.4%

Why You'll Like It: It scratches the crew-management and ship-operations side of FTL with much deeper boarding, construction, and colony-ship simulation.

Heat Signature is a game from the developers of Gunpoint where you break into spaceships, make terrible mistakes, and think of clever ways out of them. You take a mission, fly to the target ship, sneak inside, and make clever use of your gadgets to distract, ambush and take out the crew.

Why similar: Space 21.7%, Real-Time with Pause 18.3% ★, Roguelike 16.6%, Sci-fi 7.6%, Perma Death 6.6%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the same emergent space-mission chaos and pause-heavy problem solving, even though the focus shifts from ship management to boarding actions.

Battle for survival in the skies of a mysterious future Earth in this unique action-strategy game mixing arcade combat, exploration, management and diplomacy. As giant flying ships wage spectacular aerial warfare, a prophecy tells of one who will save the world – could it be you?

Why similar: Sci-fi 25.9%, Tactical 24.5%, Strategy 22.3%, Simulation 8.4%, Indie 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: It delivers the same feeling of barely surviving a campaign through smart routing, repairs, fuel anxiety, and subsystem-heavy combat.

Take command of an 'Age of Sail' ship and her crew, exploring a vast, story-filled world that reacts to your decisions. Engage enemy vessels, fortifications and sea monsters in brutal tactical combat, all framed in an art style inspired by classic Naval Oil Paintings.

Why similar: Perma Death 21.5%, Roguelike 21.2%, Choose Your Own Adventure 11.1%, Roguelite 10.1%, Tactical 10.1%

Why You'll Like It: It turns FTL’s ship-command tension into a naval roguelite with crew placement, subsystem damage, and dangerous event choices.

Design and simulate the starships of your dreams! Command your ship or fleet in epic battles and manage your crew while exploring a dangerous galaxy. Play alone or with friends, test your ships in online PvP, and let your imagination reach for the stars!

Why similar: Space 20.4%, Real-Time with Pause 20.3% ★, Sci-fi 14.4%, Space Sim 13.7% ★, Difficult 8.7%

Why You'll Like It: It is less roguelike, but designing a ship and watching its crew scramble to keep systems online feels wonderfully FTL-adjacent.

Approaching Infinity is a turn-based space RPG in the spirit of the sci-fi classics, with endless progression and exploration. Fight tactical battles or use diplomacy. Seek powerful artifacts. Quest, mine, trade, and craft. Level up forever or attempt 10 victories in hardcore or adventure mode.

Why similar: Space 19%, Roguelike 16.9%, Perma Death 16.3%, Sci-fi 13.1%, Space Sim 11.8% ★

Why You'll Like It: It offers deep procedural space exploration, away missions, and classic roguelike risk-reward for players who love FTL’s replayability.

Dungeon of the ENDLESS™ is a Rogue-Like Dungeon-Defense game, in which the player and their team of heroes must protect the generator of their crashed ship while exploring an ever-expanding dungeon, all while facing waves of monsters and special events as they try to find their way out...

Why similar: Roguelike 34.4%, Perma Death 14.3%, Strategy 11.2%, Sci-fi 10.9%, Difficult 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: It shares FTL’s run-based structure, resource triage, and constant pressure to survive one more room with an underpowered team.

Out There is an award-winning space exploration game blending roguelike, resource management and interactive fiction.

Why similar: Space 25.3%, Roguelike 19%, Sci-fi 11.3%, Difficult 8.4%, Strategy 7%

Why You'll Like It: It focuses on the lonely survival, resource scarcity, and event-driven exploration that made FTL’s map layer so compelling.

Explore a randomly generated Galaxy populated with factions, enemies, missions, and items providing you with a unique experience each time you play.

Why similar: Space 51.2%, Sci-fi 15.1%, Strategy 9.1%, Procedural Generation 8.6%, Top-Down 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: It offers top-down ship upgrading and chaotic space survival that scratches part of FTL’s indie space-command itch.

You are the captain of a starship venturing through a massive open universe. Customize your crew and take command at the helm of your very own ship as you explore a galaxy torn apart by internal strife, alien threats, and political intrigue.

Why similar: Space 17%, Space Sim 16% ★, Perma Death 15.6%, Sci-fi 14.5%, Difficult 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: It gives you a heavily customizable ship, crew, and event-driven galactic career with the same constant sense of dangerous improvisation.

EVERSPACE™ combines fast-paced combat with roguelike elements, great visuals and a captivating story. It takes you on a challenging journey through an ever-changing, beautifully crafted universe full of surprises. Shoot, craft and loot your way to victory while the odds are stacked against you.

Why similar: Space 44.9%, Space Sim 15.7% ★, Sci-fi 12.3%, Roguelike 9.4%, Roguelite 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: It is much more action-driven, but its run-based space progression and high-stakes deaths still resonate with FTL’s roguelite appeal.

A roguelike deckbuilding game in space! Explore randomly generated systems, enemies and strange encounters. Build your deck, survive and reach For The Warp gate!

Why similar: Space 23.6%, Roguelike 20.1%, Perma Death 17.3%, Sci-fi 13.4%, Procedural Generation 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: It explicitly borrows FTL’s branching sector runs and travel decisions, then swaps ship systems for deckbuilding combat.

Design your battleship and fight your way through unforgiving space. This is a tale of a lone spaceship on a centuries-long mission. As the captain, you´ll make strategic decisions, explore unknown sectors, meet allies and enemies, gather resources, technology and crew. To battle stations!

Why similar: Space 25.2%, Real-Time with Pause 16% ★, Strategy 14.6%, Sci-fi 13.4%, Simulation 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: It blends ship progression, survival pressure, and tactical space action in a way that will appeal to FTL fans wanting a rougher indie take.

A retro space strategy RPG with base building, deep tactical combat, crew management and emergent storytelling. Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition is a massively enhanced version of the Award Winning indie strategy RPG, Halcyon 6.

Why similar: Space 49.4%, Sci-fi 21.9%, Strategy 18.5%, 2D 5.3%, Simulation 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: It mixes crew progression, ship combat, and event chains in a highly replayable sci-fi command game.

SAIL THE STARS. BETRAY YOUR QUEEN. MURDER A SUN. Sunless Skies is a Gothic Horror roleplay game with a focus on exploration and exquisite storytelling.

Why similar: Roguelike 33.8%, Space 30.5%, Survival 12.1%, Top-Down 11.2%, Indie 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: It leans harder into story, but its event-rich journeys, fuel terror, and voyage-by-voyage survival echo FTL’s adventure layer.

The Long Journey Home combines an open world full of galaxies, planets and anomalies with quests and mechanics of a rogue-like RPG. One destination. Endless adventures. Where will this journey take you?

Why similar: Space 32.9%, Roguelike 18.1%, Strategy 13.4%, Sci-fi 9%, Simulation 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: It focuses on procedural navigation, scarce resources, and risky encounters during a hostile trek through space.

Deep Sky Derelicts is an original combination of turn-based strategy and RPG, enriched with tactical card combat and popular roguelike elements. Explore derelict alien ships, fight, loot and upgrade your gear, all in distinctive retro-futuristic comic book aesthetic style.

Why similar: Space 29.8%, Roguelike 19.3%, Strategy 18%, Sci-fi 11.4%, Roguelite 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: It replaces starship battles with turn-based boarding missions, but keeps the scavenging, attrition, and doomed-spacefarer atmosphere.

Rebel Galaxy is a swashbuckling space adventure, with action-packed combat, exploration, discovery, trade, and “negotiation” with the outlandish denizens at the edge of the known universe.

Why similar: Space 56.8%, Sci-fi 16.7%, Space Sim 16.7% ★, Simulation 2.4%, Adventure 2%

Endless Sky is a 2D space trading and combat game inspired by the classic Escape Velocity series. Work your way up from a relatively wimpy shuttle, cargo ship, or fighter, to a highly upgraded and customized flagship or to a massive fleet of warships or freighters.

Why similar: Space 57.2%, Sci-fi 14%, Space Sim 12.7% ★, Simulation 3.5%, Top-Down 2.3%

Deadnaut is Screwfly Studios' second game and follow up to cult hit, Zafehouse: Diaries. Deadnauts, so named because they’re unlikely to return, must explore, investigate and fight their way through the derelict ships of dead civilisations. Every mission is unique and no two locations are the same.

Why similar: Space 25%, Perma Death 16.6%, Roguelike 15.9%, Sci-fi 11.5%, Difficult 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: Its pausable squad control, salvage expeditions, and harsh sci-fi roguelike tone appeal to FTL players who love managing fragile runs.

In Kerbal Space Program, take charge of the space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals. You have access to an array of parts to assemble fully-functional spacecraft that flies (or doesn’t) based on realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics.

Why similar: Space 51.6%, Space Sim 23.6% ★, Simulation 6.6%, Sci-fi 5.5%, Difficult 4.8%

A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.

Why similar: Sci-fi 25.8%, Survival 19.9%, Strategy 17.6%, Procedural Generation 16.1%, Simulation 7.6%

Explore a galaxy full of wonders in this sci-fi grand strategy game from Paradox Development Studios. Interact with diverse alien races, discover strange new worlds with unexpected events and expand the reach of your empire. Each new adventure holds almost limitless possibilities.

Why similar: Space 40.5%, Real-Time with Pause 20.4% ★, Sci-fi 16.9%, Strategy 11.5%, Procedural Generation 5%

Starship Inspector is a Space Roguelike in which every choice you make matters. Save a galaxy or rescue your crew member? Serve an evil empire or help an ancient tribe? You'll constantly have to make hard decisions and deal with consequences.

Why similar: Space 15.1%, Real-Time with Pause 13.8% ★, Roguelike 11.9%, Perma Death 11%, Strategy 10.9%

Lead your orbital battleships to victory in Flotilla! Fight, trade, and explore new planets in your journey through the galaxy. Featuring tactically rich 3D combat, flank and surprise the enemy from any direction. When the dust settles, generate another randomized universe for a brand new adventure!

Why similar: Roguelike 19.6%, Space 17.2%, Space Sim 17.2% ★, Sci-fi 12.5%, Strategy 9.1%

Equipped with cutting-edge salvaging tech, carve & slice spaceships to recover valuable materials. Upgrade your gear to take on more lucrative contracts and pay your billion credits debt to LYNX Corp!

Why similar: Space 42.7%, Sci-fi 20.3%, Space Sim 16.4% ★, Strategy 6.8%, Simulation 5.8%

Build and design your own fleets and stand opposed to the Particulate in this physics/strategy/RTS/fleet hybrid. Build partially destructible and self repairing ships that interact with enemies less controlled by some scripted logic and more driven by a real time massive physics particle simulation.

Why similar: Space 30.4%, Real-Time with Pause 26.1% ★, Strategy 19.4%, Sci-fi 9.1%, Simulation 6.7%

You’ve fled your home, only to find yourself lost in space with a damaged ship. Your only option is to beam down to the planet below, repair your ship and set off to explore the universe...

Why similar: Space 54.8%, Survival 17.4%, Sci-fi 12.7%, Indie 5.9%, Adventure 4.7%

Take on the role of a spaceship captain. Explore new worlds, and engage in intense ship-to-ship battles. Develop unique battle tactics, upgrade your ship, and recruit crew members as you fight for peace or piracy.

Why similar: Space 29.4%, Roguelike 15.4%, Strategy 9.9%, Sci-fi 9.1%, Tactical 8.9%

Become the Captain of an interstellar cruiser and journey across the galaxy to save the Republic. During your journey you will have to make important decisions, improve the weaponry of your ship and fight against numerous enemies.

Why similar: Space 36.5%, Space Sim 18.1% ★, Sci-fi 10.7%, Strategy 9.2%, Roguelike 6.7%

LOSE YOUR MIND. EAT YOUR CREW. DIE. Take the helm of your steamship and set sail for the unknown! Sunless Sea is a game of discovery, loneliness and frequent death, set in the award-winning Victorian Gothic universe of Fallen London.

Why similar: Roguelike 41.5%, Survival 23.1%, Roguelite 10.1%, Top-Down 6.6%, Indie 5.8%

We fused card games and roguelikes together to make the best single player deckbuilder we could. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and Slay the Spire!

Why similar: Roguelike 59.2%, Strategy 12.7%, Roguelite 10.1%, Difficult 8.5%, Indie 3.1%

Take control of your own starship and blaze your trail in an ever-changing galaxy. Master the arts of combat, mining and trade or venture out into the unknown across a 1:1 scale universe.

Why similar: Space 40%, Space Sim 31.9% ★, Sci-fi 14.8%, Difficult 4.3%, Simulation 3.9%

Pilot your ship in the seamless open world made of space, planets, and more. Find new ships and equipment, find allies and beat all the enemies in this open source space shooter!

Why similar: Space 54.3%, Roguelike 12.6%, Indie 6.9%, Difficult 6.8%, Procedural Generation 6.6%

Defend against waves of alien monsters in this unique roguelike action miner. Dig for resources, collect useful gadgets, and upgrade equipment to increase odds of survival – just hurry back before your dome is destroyed!

Why similar: Roguelike 33%, Space 24.3%, Sci-fi 15.3%, Procedural Generation 10.1%, Tactical 9.6%

The XCOM: Enemy Unknown - Slingshot Pack is Now Available!

Why similar: Sci-fi 32.1%, Tactical 26.5%, Strategy 22.2%, Perma Death 10.6%, Difficult 6.1%

LONESTAR is a strategic Roguelike spaceship deckbuilder. As a bounty hunter, you will capture criminals scattered across the universe. Win the shockwave battle to gain rewards and vacations. Find treasures, customize spaceships, unlock talents, defeat the felons and be a legend!

Why similar: Roguelike 26.9%, Perma Death 22.3%, Difficult 13.1%, Strategy 10.1%, Roguelite 8.8%

Take on a role of a hardened PMC fighter in a dark turn-based extraction RPG. Engage in unforgiving combat, manage your ship and pile up the bodies of your clones to unravel the dark mystery behind threat to all life.

Why similar: Space 19.5%, Roguelike 19.3%, Perma Death 16.1%, Sci-fi 10.3%, Difficult 9.9%

A spaceship building and universe-exploration game. Collect resources, expand and grow your fleet, and conquer your personal galaxy. Stellar ambience by Peaks.

Why similar: Space 57%, Strategy 14.1%, Sci-fi 9.8%, Top-Down 6.1%, Indie 4.3%

This "space station builder simulation roguelite" puts you in charge of a space station. Fight off enemy ships, fleets and rival stations to dominate your corner of space. Build and upgrade your station, hire and manage your crew. Survive as long as you can.

Why similar: Space 25.5%, Perma Death 16.5%, Roguelike 16.4%, Strategy 8.9%, Roguelite 8.8%

Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space is a hybrid roguelike game of space exploration, adventure and starship combat.

Why similar: Roguelike 24.1%, Strategy 18.6%, Space 18.6%, Perma Death 12.9%, Sci-fi 12.3%

In a cold, dark future dominated by mega-corporations, a small lonely planet on the edge of habitable space is the site of a shadowy research facility specializing in necrotic tissue reactivation. You are a scientist who has suddenly awoken to the realization that you are the lone survivor.

Why similar: Roguelike 37.6%, Perma Death 18%, Difficult 12.8%, Sci-fi 9.3%, Roguelite 5.4%

Door Kickers is an innovative realtime strategy game that puts you in charge of a SWAT team and lets you command them during a tactical intervention.

Why similar: Real-Time with Pause 30.3% ★, Tactical 26.1%, Strategy 17.5%, Top-Down 9.7%, Simulation 4.7%

Fight, Scavenge, Survive, and File Your Taxes. A grim yet hilarious space strategy roguelite where you must balance hull integrity against your company's relentless profit margins. Warning: Contains lethal doses of dark humor and corporate exploitation.

Why similar: Space 22.1%, Roguelike 19.8%, Space Sim 16.8% ★, Sci-fi 11.3%, Tactical 9.1%

Steam Marines is a squad based Roguelike set on a steampunk spaceship. It features tactical play focused on positioning and careful use of resources. Built to keep you on your toes as you progress through the decks of your besieged ship while clearing enemies and trying to reach each level's elevator.

Why similar: Roguelike 32.5%, Space 15%, Perma Death 10.6%, Strategy 10.1%, Sci-fi 8.7%

BAFTA award winning fleet-based RTS meets rogue-lite. In Distant Star: Revenant Fleet, build your fleet of up to 5 ships from a choice of 8 classes and traverse a randomly generated galaxy to defeat the Erebus Platform. NOW AVAILABLE ON MAC AND LINUX

Why similar: Space 28%, Roguelike 19%, Sci-fi 14%, Strategy 10.7%, Procedural Generation 10.6%

A sci-fi roguelike deckbuilder where you explore the galaxy, face hostile aliens, and upgrade your starship. It will take adaptability and strategic thinking to survive and uncover the secret your enemies want to keep hidden.

Why similar: Space 23.3%, Roguelike 19.1%, Perma Death 15%, Space Sim 13.1% ★, Sci-fi 12.7%

Experience the epic space strategy games that redefined the RTS genre. Control your fleet and build an armada across more than 30 single-player missions. Choose unit types, fleet formations and flight tactics for each strategic situation.

Why similar: Space 56.3%, Sci-fi 18.8%, Strategy 15.9%, Tactical 5.5%, Simulation 2.2%