Very few games successfully merge the laid-back atmosphere of a trucking sim with the tense, mechanical management of a space survival game – but Star Trucker does exactly that. From the moment you slide into the cockpit of your spacefaring rig, there’s a tangible sense of immersion as you engage with the ship’s life support, gravity controls, fuel levels, and power distribution systems. It’s an intricate dance of checks and balances, and it quickly becomes clear that this is more than just an interstellar delivery game – it’s about survival and skill in equal measure, and it’s out now on PlayStation 5.
The core gameplay loop of accepting delivery contracts, planning routes across sector maps, and manually piloting your ship through hyperlanes feels rewarding once the controls click. But they do take time to master. Learning to maneuver in full 3D space using thrusters, adjusting your trajectory with finesse, and docking without incident can be challenging early on, especially with damage systems that punish even small mistakes. Running into debris or mismanaging oxygen levels can trigger domino effects that quickly escalate, and while that might frustrate newcomers, it adds weight and tension to every decision behind the wheel.
The atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting too. The developers have created a world that channels the solitude of long-haul trucking with a sci-fi twist – complete with a cozy, worn cockpit, blinking instrument panels, and grainy CB radio chatter from fellow truckers. That added Americana flavor, from the dusty in-game radio stations to the banter between drivers, gives the game a distinctive personality. It’s a universe that feels lived in, and one that makes mundane tasks like tuning a radio or patching a hull breach feel part of the larger simulation that’s alive, rather than distractions.
Where Star Trucker really starts to shine is in its progression. As you level up and earn cash, you’re able to take on increasingly lucrative contracts, upgrade your ship with new systems, and unlock licenses that expand your route network. It’s satisfying to see your humble rig evolve over time, and even more satisfying when you start accepting high-risk, high-reward jobs that take you through more dangerous sectors. However, the difficulty can spike sharply if you overextend too soon, and the game doesn’t always make clear which missions will test your build beyond its current limits.
That said, the systems in place do sometimes feel a little too unforgiving. A single poor decision – like neglecting to repair a subsystem before departure or taking on a volatile cargo type without proper shielding – can unravel a run. And while the slower pace works beautifully when you’re in the flow of things, it can make moments of backtracking or repetition feel drawn out. There are also some mechanical rough edges, especially when it comes to docking and navigating tight spaces, where the controls sometimes struggle to keep up with the game’s precision demands.
On the visual front, Star Trucker delivers a pleasant mix of detailed cockpit interiors and expansive outer space vistas. Nebulae glow in the distance, derelict ships float ominously across starfields, and your rig shows wear and tear as you push it through the void. Audio design is equally strong: alarms, hissing air valves, rumbling engines, and background tunes all contribute to a deeply immersive experience that blends tension with comfort.
Ultimately, Star Trucker offers a unique proposition. It’s not a game for those seeking twitch reflexes or explosive action, but for players who enjoy managing systems, optimizing routes, and embracing the zen of the open (space) road, it hits a very specific niche. There’s satisfaction in every successful delivery and every dodged emergency, and it’s wrapped in a lovingly crafted setting that feels unlike anything else out there.
Score: 7.5/10
Press Play Media 