Ostranauts, the game
An original overview of the game: who makes it, what you do, what platforms it runs on, and where to buy it.
A hardcore space-salvage sim.
Ostranauts is a single-player simulation about owning and crewing a spaceship in a noir near-future solar system.
You start broke, buy a rundown ship, and earn a living by taking salvage licenses, docking with derelict vessels, and stripping them for parts. The sim models what that actually involves: mortgages paid every shift, fuel and life support, air pressure, temperature, radiation, crew morale, and a police force that watches how you sell your loot.
It is made by Blue Bottle Games, the studio behind NEO Scavenger, and it shares that game's love of harsh consequences and systemic simulation. The in-game tutorial covers the first hours; the rest of the game is learned by reading, experimenting, and dying.
What the game actually simulates.
These are the systems players ask about most.
Ship & life support
Walls, floors, air pressure, temperature, power, and gas flow are simulated tile by tile.
Crew
Hire AI crew, schedule shifts, and manage physical and mental needs. They quit, break things, and argue.
Salvage economy
Buy licenses, dock derelicts, strip parts, haul cargo, and sell before the bills eat your profit.
Time
Runs 1:1 with real time. Mortgages are due every six hours, and long flights really take time.
Where to get it.
The official store page is the source of truth for price and current version.
Ostranauts is available on PC, macOS, and Linux through Steam and Itch.io. The game has been in Early Access since 2020, and the developer's recent roadmap notes that the project is nearing the end of its planned roadmap.
Interiors straight from the game.
A quick look at what the ships actually look like.
Getting started, straight from the publisher.
Kitfox Games published this official introduction to the game.
Common questions
Is Ostranauts multiplayer or co-op?
No. Ostranauts is a single-player game. Crew members are AI characters you hire, schedule, and manage.
Where can I buy Ostranauts?
On Steam (and Itch.io). Price varies by region; the Steam page is the canonical store listing.
Is the game finished?
Ostranauts has been in Early Access for years and, according to the developer's roadmap, is nearing the end of its planned roadmap. Check the Steam page for the current version.
Is the game hard?
Yes. It is a detailed simulation of owning and living aboard a spaceship: bills, life support, physics, and crew needs are all simulated. That difficulty is why this site exists.
Does the game support mods?
Yes. The community uses BepInEx and Nexus mods; see the mods guide for setup and recommendations.