Pathfinder has a new space opera spin-off videogame, an RPG called Starfinder Afterlight

What We Know About Starfinder’s Videogame Debut

Starfinder: Afterlight aims to capture the essence of the Starfinder tabletop experience while converting it into single-player RPG format. Here’s the rundown of standout features:

• Turn-Based Combat: Unlike Pathfinder’s real-time-with-pause gimmick, Afterlight embraces fully turn-based combat. And get this, it’s not limited to ground battles. Space combat is in the mix, too. Strap in and get ready to make those tactical decisions mid-dogfight.
• Second Edition Rules: The game will faithfully adapt Starfinder’s second edition rules. Whether you actually understand those rules or not will probably matter less as long as you can shoot and loot.
• A MIA Captain: The story kicks off with your spaceship’s captain mysteriously disappearing (because what’s a space opera without a missing authority figure?). Cue your character stepping in to assemble the ultimate crew of six companions, from misfit androids to morally questionable aliens.
• Moral Dilemmas: Speaking of questionable, expect every crewmember to have “personal stories and moral dilemmas.” Translation? You’ll spend just as much time babysitting their existential crises as you will fighting off space pirates.
• A Stacked Voice Cast: Neil Newbon, the voice actor best known as Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3, is on board to direct the game’s voice actors. Talk about wielding charisma stats in real life.

A Game for Tacticians and Story Lovers

Epictellers has promised a gameplay experience lasting 40 to 60 hours, with difficulty settings ranging from “story-focused” (for the casuals among us) to the ominously titled “tactical nightmare.” You can pick your poison for how you want to experience the story, whether you prefer getting lost in space politics or min-maxing your crew for ultimate destruction.

What’s more, Afterlight will launch with mod support on PC. Hear that? It’s the sound of the Starfinder community gearing up to fully re-skin the game with even more obscure tabletop references.

Why You Should Care About Starfinder (Yes, Even If You’re Not a Pathfinder Fan)

Here’s the thing about Starfinder: it’s not trying to be Pathfinder in space. It’s carving out its own niche by blending the fantastical with high-stakes sci-fi. Instead of fighting dragons and liches, you’ll be jetting from planet to planet, uncovering interstellar threats, and recruiting companions who are all (predictably) harboring dark secrets.

For any RPG fans feeling the fatigue of medieval-inspired settings, this could be the breath of fresh (or vacuum-sealed) air you’ve been waiting for. And for those who’ve been burned by poorly executed tabletop-adaptation games (looking at you Pathfinder Online), there’s a new developer behind the wheel in Epictellers, which gives this project a bit of cautious optimism.

When Can You Play Starfinder: Afterlight?

Okay, here’s the kicker. Don’t hold your breath for an imminent release. Starfinder: Afterlight is going the crowdfunding route with a Kickstarter campaign ahead of its planned early access launch in 2026. That’s right, you’ll be waiting three (or more) years to get your hands on this baby.

But hey, you can’t rush space exploration or RPG perfection, can you? If you’re already invested in the Starfinder universe or just need a reason to dream about skipping “real life” for a galactic adventure, keep this one on your radar.

Starfinder’s space opera spin-off is getting its own videogame, and from the looks of it, *Afterlight might actually pull off the tricky job of bringing tabletop charm into the digital world. With compelling characters, tactical combat, and a hefty runtime, it’s got all the makings of a hit (or a galaxy-wide flop). Only time will tell where we land.*

What do you think? Hit or miss? Drop your thoughts below.

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