Naev (2017)

Developer: Naev Team
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG, Free To Play
Rating: 4.0 of 5, 228 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 10 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

Freely piloting a customizable ship through a large, open galaxy, trading and fighting in a retro-styled space sim that feels unfinished.

open worldretrononlineartradingexplorationreal-timeunfinished

What players say

Players see Naev as a free, open-source Escape Velocity successor with deeper combat than its peers. They consistently compare it to Endless Sky, with opinions split on which game is better. While the lore and depth draw praise, many note unbalanced elements, obscure systems, and bugs that can be frustrating, especially for newcomers.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.