Starflight (1986)

Developer: Binary Systems
Publisher: Electronic Arts, Tec Toy
Platforms: Commodore C64/128/MAX, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Atari ST/STE, Mac, DOS, Amiga
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Adventure
Rating: 3.9 of 5, 19 player ratings
Main story: about 25 hours
Completionist: about 55 hours

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

A vast open-galaxy RPG where you captain a starship freely, discovering alien civilizations and unraveling cosmic mysteries at your own pace.

open-endedexplorationspace operaslow burndeep rpgsandboxsci-fi

About

Starflight is a space exploration role-playing adventure video game developed by Binary Systems and published by Electronic Arts in 1986. Originally developed for IBM compatible and Tandy systems, it was later released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh and Commodore 64. A fully revamped version of the game was developed for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis in 1991. Set in the year 4620, the game puts players in the role of a starship captain sent to explore the galaxy. There is no set path, allowing players to switch freely between mining, ship-to-ship combat, and alien diplomacy. The broader plot of the game emerges slowly, as the player discovers that an ancient race of beings is causing stars to flare and destroy all living creatures.

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.