One indie developer just had an idea so obvious you’ll wonder why nobody executed it before: combine FTL’s tactical 2D space combat with Elite’s persistent open-world exploration. Loadstar, in development by gareththegeek, takes the best elements from two legendary space games and merges them into something genuinely fresh. You get FTL’s pausable real-time combat where positioning and energy management matter, but without the roguelike reset. Instead, you explore an open world, upgrade your ship persistently, pursue personal objectives, and build toward long-term goals just like Elite.
Why This Combination Works So Well
FTL: Faster Than Light revolutionized indie gaming with pausable real-time combat where every decision matters. You manage energy systems, position crew members, make split-second tactical choices, and the whole thing feels amazing. But FTL is roguelike. Lose once and you start over. That’s perfect for some players but frustrating for others who want to build something long-term.
Elite: Dangerous offers exactly that long-term persistence. You own your ship. You accumulate wealth. You establish routes, build relationships with factions, and gradually work toward personal goals. The problem is Elite’s combat feels more like fiddling with systems than tactical engagement. It’s fine, but it’s not FTL-level satisfying.
Loadstar says: why not have both? Take FTL’s phenomenal combat and put it in Elite’s persistent universe. Suddenly you have something neither game offers: tactical, pausable combat in a world where progression matters long-term.
The Vision: Cargo Hauling With Consequence
Loadstar’s narrative framework involves cargo transport across a procedurally generated universe. You’re not a space admiral commanding fleets. You’re a captain moving valuable cargo from point A to point B while managing rival traders, pirates, and the dangers of space itself. There’s a dash of Sid Meier’s Pirates! in there—rogueish adventures where reputation and relationships matter.
The genius of this framing is that cargo missions give structure to what could otherwise be aimless wandering. Each delivery is an objective. Each region presents new challenges and opportunities. Your reputation grows based on successful deliveries, failed missions, and how you handle encounters. Over time, you’re building a legacy, not just clearing procedural roguelike runs.
Respecting FTL’s Combat While Adding Persistence
The combat systems in Loadstar maintain FTL’s core appeal: pausable real-time where you allocate energy to ship systems, position crew, and execute coordinated tactical responses. The difference is that your ship and crew persist between encounters. You accumulate upgrades. Your crew gains experience. You make long-term strategic decisions about how to outfit your ship for what lies ahead.
This creates genuinely different decision-making than roguelikes. In FTL, you’re optimizing for this specific run. In Loadstar, you’re thinking about your ship’s long-term development. Do you invest in expensive weapons that might not be compatible with future ships? Or do you stick with reliable upgrades that work everywhere? These persistent choices create emotional investment that roguelikes can’t match.
The 16-Bit Amiga Aesthetic That Should Never Die
Loadstar aims for a deliberate visual style inspired by 16-bit Amiga computers. There’s something timeless about that aesthetic. Clean, colorful 2D graphics with enough detail to feel alive without demanding cutting-edge hardware. It’s a look that ages gracefully, unlike hyper-detailed graphics that look dated five years later. The name “Loadstar” itself plays on this nostalgia—evoking that retro computing feel while also referring to lodestar (guiding star) and cargo loading.
The visual choice also makes practical sense. Lower technical requirements mean broader accessibility. The developer can focus on game design rather than graphics optimizations. And honestly, games like Into the Breach and FTL prove that aesthetic 2D space combat is more satisfying to watch than photorealistic 3D anyway.
Early Development, Promising Foundation
Loadstar is still in active development, with gareththegeek sharing early gameplay footage and actively seeking community feedback. The developer is transparent about the current state: combat mechanics need additional depth, but the core concept is solid. Community response has been enthusiastically positive, with players recognizing the genius of the concept even in early builds.
The developer’s roadmap includes a demo release before full launch, giving players hands-on experience before committing. This approach mirrors successful indie games that build community engagement through transparent development. Early feedback is shaping the final product, ensuring it delivers what players actually want rather than developer assumptions.
Why This Game Matters
Loadstar represents something important: a developer identifying two beloved game designs and recognizing how they complement each other. Not slavishly copying either one, but synthesizing them into something new. This is exactly the kind of innovation indie games are supposed to foster. Take two proven formulas, find the gaps each leaves, and fill them by combining the best of both.
In an industry obsessed with sequels and safe iterations, Loadstar shows that thoughtful game design can create something genuinely novel by respecting what came before while imagining new possibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Loadstar?
Loadstar is an indie space game combining FTL’s pausable tactical 2D combat with Elite’s persistent open-world exploration. You’re a cargo hauler navigating a procedurally generated universe, managing a crew, upgrading your ship, and completing missions while building your reputation.
Who is developing Loadstar?
Loadstar is being developed by gareththegeek, an indie developer who created it specifically to address gaps in existing space games. The developer is actively engaged with the community throughout development.
When will Loadstar release?
An official release date hasn’t been announced. The developer is planning to release a playable demo before full launch, allowing community feedback to guide final development.
What platforms will Loadstar be on?
Loadstar is confirmed for Steam on Windows. Console releases haven’t been announced but are possible after launch.
Is Loadstar still in development?
Yes. Loadstar is actively in development with the developer regularly sharing updates and seeking community feedback. It’s not in early access yet but will likely enter early access before full launch.
How does Loadstar’s combat work?
Combat is pausable real-time inspired by FTL. You manage energy allocation to ship systems, position crew members, and execute tactical responses. The key difference from FTL is that your ship and crew persist between encounters, allowing long-term progression.
Can I fail missions in Loadstar?
Yes. Mission success and failure affect your reputation, which opens or closes trading opportunities and faction relationships. Persistent consequences make decisions genuinely meaningful.
What’s the visual style of Loadstar?
Loadstar aims for a 16-bit Amiga aesthetic: clean, colorful 2D graphics inspired by retro computing. The choice reflects both artistic preference and practical benefits for development and accessibility.
How does progression work in Loadstar?
You accumulate ship upgrades, earn crew experience, build reputation with factions, and complete long-term objectives. Unlike roguelikes where runs reset, Loadstar features persistent progression across your campaign.
Can I wishlist Loadstar?
Yes. Loadstar has a Steam store page where you can add it to your wishlist to receive notifications when the demo or full release becomes available.
Conclusion
Loadstar represents exactly the kind of innovative indie game design that gets us excited about gaming. Taking two beloved, proven franchises and identifying how to synthesize them into something genuinely novel is creative problem-solving at its finest. gareththegeek is building something that respects FTL’s tactical brilliance while delivering Elite’s long-term progression and exploration freedom. The early development is promising, the concept is sound, and the developer’s transparent, community-focused approach suggests genuine passion for the project. Add it to your Steam wishlist now, and prepare for a space game that might finally deliver the best of both worlds. In a gaming landscape increasingly dominated by safe iterations and corporate caution, Loadstar is exactly the ambitious indie project that reminds us why we fell in love with games in the first place.