What Underspace is
Underspace is an open-world sandbox RPG set in the galaxy of Croft, built as a spiritual successor to Freelancer with a Lovecraftian twist. Every star system is handcrafted, and each one has something to do: mine crystallized bones of ancient star beasts, haul artifacts between outposts, rob spacetrains, dig through lost stellar cities, or hunt monstrosities that pour out of the storms. The storms themselves are a core hazard — hyperspatial tempests sweep through space, distorting systems and spawning hazards, monsters, and treasure.
There are 114 star systems with no fast travel, though lanelines let you move faster across open space, plus 204 stations to dock at. The game ships with 16 main campaign missions, 60 sidequests, over 45 unique sidequest stories, 36 bosses, more than 68 enemy types, and over 40 factions with their own alliances and goals. The main quest runs about 12-15 hours; a completionist playthrough takes around 300 hours.
Playing it with friends
Multiplayer is listed as online co-op and online PvP, and the store text notes multiplayer is on the near-term Early Access roadmap. You can thrive alone or online with friends, so expect to fly together against the storms and the things living in them. The sandbox supports different roles at once — one friend mining or trading while another pirates or hunts — and PvP is available for groups that want to fight each other instead of the monsters.
Mod support is integrated, so a group can agree on mods and play the same setup.
Before you start
Underspace is in Early Access, which means content and systems can change as development continues. Ship customization is deep: over 60 ships to fly and paint, 533 equipment pieces, plus player housing and extensive cockpit customization. You pick your race and build your character around how you want to play — dashing hero or hellpriest, miner or pirate.
Expect a slow-burn space sim rather than a guided tour. With no fast travel across 114 systems, travel time is part of the game, softened by lanelines. The tone is Lovecraftian: world-eating serpents, possessed battleships, living minefields, and storms that rule the stars. You will need a bigger ship.