FTL: Faster Than Light

Visit game websiteVisit Steam store
FTL: Faster Than Light game image

Overwhelmingly Positive

Total: 43.7 ThousandPositive: 41.9 ThousandNegative: 1.82 Thousand
96%
4%
Steam review score: 9

Sorry!

This game is not fully supported yet!

If you are interested in having this game completly analysed please contact us.

AI Review

FTL: Faster Than Light scored 89.34 % rating
FTL: Faster Than Light is a thrilling indie spaceship simulation roguelike that puts you in command of a starship and crew on a perilous journey across a randomly generated galaxy. With an AI Community Rating of 88.64%, this game is praised for its complex strategic gameplay, replayability, and immersive soundtrack. Players love the challenge of managing ship systems, making tough decisions, and battling unique alien races. However, some find the heavy reliance on RNG frustrating, especially when luck dictates shop availability or enemy encounters. Despite this, FTL’s permadeath mechanic and pause-for-strategy feature keep every run intense and rewarding. The free Advanced Edition adds even more content, including new ships, weapons, and events, making it a must-play for fans of strategy and roguelike games. If you enjoy high-stakes decision-making and space exploration, FTL: Faster Than Light is a stellar choice.
IndieSimulationStrategy
Single-playerSteam AchievementsSteam Trading CardsRemote Play on PhoneRemote Play on TabletFamily Sharing

What the community wishes

We analysed the 11 most impactful community reviews and collected 20 ideas and suggestions on how the game could be better.
Reduce RNG dependency for fairness
The game's heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating losses, especially when shops, enemy ship designs, or sector generation are unfavorable. Reducing RNG influence in critical areas like shop availability and enemy encounters would make losses feel less arbitrary and more skill-based.
Improve early-game balance
The early game can feel overly punishing, especially for new players. Adjusting difficulty scaling or providing more forgiving mechanics in the early sectors would help ease players into the game without discouraging them.
Add more ship variety
Some ships feel underpowered or less viable compared to others. Expanding ship variety and ensuring all ships have unique, balanced strengths would enhance replayability and strategic depth.
Expand modding support
While mods like Multiverse add significant content, official modding tools or Steam Workshop integration would make modding more accessible and encourage community creativity.
Add difficulty customization options
Introducing customizable difficulty settings, such as adjusting RNG influence or enemy scaling, would allow players to tailor the experience to their skill level and preferences.
Improve tutorial for new players
The learning curve is steep, and new players often struggle to understand core mechanics. A more comprehensive tutorial or in-game tips would help onboard players more effectively.
Add mid-run save options
Permadeath can be frustrating, especially during long runs. Adding a mid-run save feature, even if limited, would make the game more accessible without compromising its core challenge.
Expand endgame content
After defeating the flagship, the game lacks additional endgame challenges. Adding more post-game content or alternate endings would extend replayability and reward long-term players.
Balance useless items and systems
Some items and systems feel underutilized or ineffective. Rebalancing these to make them viable options in more situations would increase strategic diversity.
Add more narrative depth
While the lore is present, it could be expanded with more detailed storytelling or branching event outcomes. This would make the universe feel more immersive and engaging.
Improve shop RNG consistency
Shops often feel too random, with critical items like weapons or repairs being unavailable. Making shops more consistent or predictable would reduce frustration and improve strategic planning.
Add co-op or multiplayer mode
A co-op or multiplayer mode, where players control different parts of the ship or fleet, would add a new dimension to gameplay and attract a broader audience.
Expand soundtrack variety
While the soundtrack is praised, adding more tracks or dynamic music that changes based on gameplay events would enhance immersion and keep the audio experience fresh.
Add more visual customization
Allowing players to customize their ship's appearance or crew visuals would add a personal touch and increase player attachment to their runs.
Improve event outcome clarity
Some event outcomes feel too opaque or random. Providing clearer indicators of potential outcomes would help players make more informed decisions.
Add more achievement variety
While achievements are easy to obtain, adding more challenging or creative achievements would give players additional goals to strive for.
Expand crew interaction mechanics
Crew interactions are limited. Adding more depth, such as morale systems or unique crew abilities, would make crew management more engaging and impactful.
Add more sector variety
While sectors are diverse, adding more unique sector types or events would keep exploration fresh and unpredictable across multiple runs.
Improve pause functionality
Pausing is essential for strategy, but the interface could be improved to make it easier to manage multiple systems and crew actions during paused moments.
Add more ship upgrade paths
Ship upgrades often feel linear. Introducing more diverse upgrade paths or modular systems would allow for greater customization and strategic experimentation.

Reviews

Toxicity trend

N-Grams

Most relevant voices from the community
great extremely replayablegreatest roguelikes ofextremely good butbest video gameworth the pricetrue space adventurebest game sincefavorite game ofbanger OST pairedeasy to understandaddictive gameplay andhard to mastervery replayable inwell worth youreargasm very goodincredible formative forinsane value forexcellent multiverse modvery good gameplay

Keywords

Top 15 keywords for sentiments
What the community loves
We collected 301 positive keywords.
fun
23
gameplay
6
recommend
6
strategy
6
love
6
favorite
5
replayable
5
enjoy
5
soundtrack
4
best
4
worth
4
good
4
replayability
4
addictive
3
engaging
3
Where the community is undecided
We collected 387 neutral keywords.
RNG
9
strategy
7
luck
7
ships
6
difficult
6
crew
5
boss
5
difficulty
5
gameplay
5
easy
5
hard
5
ship
4
hours
4
random
4
money
3
What the community dislikes
We collected 259 negative keywords.
RNG
15
frustrating
13
difficulty
8
luck
7
random
7
repetitive
6
hard
5
unfair
5
boss
5
difficult
4
slow
3
fun
3
gambling
3
punishing
3
recommend
3

In-depth analysis of most impactful community reviews

Positive

This game is my white whale. I don't think I will ever beat it, but by god I will try. It's easy to understand, hard to master and I always play on the easiest difficulty. Maybe I just suck at video games?

  • Sentiments

    • I feel a strong sense of determination and challenge towards the game, as it feels like a personal goal I may never achieve but will keep trying.
    • I find the game easy to understand, which makes it accessible and enjoyable for me.
    • I acknowledge that the game is hard to master, which adds to its challenge and replayability.
    • I always play on the easiest difficulty, which suggests I prefer a less stressful or more casual gaming experience.
    • I question my own skill at video games, expressing self-doubt about my abilities.

Positive

The game on its own is incredible. Formative for me and many others, deep - very replayable in its own right. Easy to clock in a hundred hours. In my case two hundred. But once you've done all that and had your fun, the excellent multiverse mod awaits. A total conversion that adds, what, about 5 extra games worth of content? I have another estimated 75 hours in multiverse not tracked on steam. FTL in its base form and modded has been a companion to me for over a decade, from the ages of 10 to 21. Sure I may have many more hours on other games, but over much shorter periods of obsession. Very few games can claim to have been as such a long-standing partner as FTL. Always there for you to pick up.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game to be incredible and formative, having a significant impact on me and many others.
    • I appreciate the depth of the game and its high replayability, making it easy to spend hundreds of hours playing.
    • I have personally clocked around two hundred hours in the game, which shows my deep engagement and enjoyment.
    • I am impressed by the excellent multiverse mod, which adds an estimated five extra games worth of content.
    • I have spent an additional 75 hours in the multiverse mod, further extending my enjoyment of the game.
    • I consider FTL, both in its base form and modded, to have been a long-standing companion over a decade.
    • I feel that very few games can claim to have been such a consistent and enduring partner as FTL has been for me.
    • I acknowledge that while I may have more hours in other games, they were over shorter periods of obsession compared to FTL.
    • I value the fact that FTL is always there for me to pick up, providing a reliable source of enjoyment.

Positive

The best game since 2012. Keeps me coming back year after year, banger OST. Paired with the Multiverse mod, what more can you ask for. Insane value for money. When you get tired of the basegame or think you've seen it all slap Multiverse on there and enjoy 100x more to do.

  • Sentiments

    • I consider this game to be the best since 2012, which shows my high level of satisfaction and admiration for it.
    • I keep coming back to this game year after year, indicating its lasting appeal and replayability.
    • I find the OST (original soundtrack) to be a banger, which highlights my strong appreciation for the music.
    • I believe the game paired with the Multiverse mod offers an incredible experience, showing my enthusiasm for the combination.
    • I think the game provides insane value for money, which reflects my satisfaction with its cost-to-content ratio.
    • I feel that when I get tired of the base game, the Multiverse mod adds 100x more to do, which demonstrates my excitement for the mod's impact.

Positive

While the base game of FTL is great, FTL Multiverse, a mod for FTL that adds a crazy amount of content (there's more than 10 times the amount of ships in this expansion), is what makes this game amazing and extremely replayable. If you're looking to get FTL, I advise playing until you beat the game a couple of times and then checking out Multiverse if you enjoy the base game. It's well worth your time.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the base game of FTL to be great, which sets a strong foundation for the overall experience.
    • I believe FTL Multiverse, a mod for FTL, adds a crazy amount of content, making the game feel significantly expanded and more engaging.
    • I am impressed by the fact that FTL Multiverse includes more than 10 times the amount of ships compared to the base game, which greatly enhances variety.
    • I think FTL Multiverse is what makes the game amazing and extremely replayable, adding long-term value to the experience.
    • I recommend playing the base game until you beat it a couple of times before trying out Multiverse, as it feels like a natural progression.
    • I advise checking out Multiverse if you enjoy the base game, as it feels like a worthwhile addition to the experience.
    • I believe Multiverse is well worth your time, as it significantly enhances the game's replayability and depth.

Positive

Gee I sure did get a good run this time surely I should be able to take on the flagship with no issue right? Hacking Drone on its way to hit my oxygen ░░░░░▄▄▄▄▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▄▄▄▄▄▄░░░░░░░ ░░░░░█░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░▀▀▄░░░░ ░░░░█░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░▒▒▒░░█░░░ ░░░█░░░░░░▄██▀▄▄░░░░░▄▄▄░░░░█░░ ░▄▀▒▄▄▄▒░█▀▀▀▀▄▄█░░░██▄▄█░░░░█░ █░▒█▒▄░▀▄▄▄▀░░░░░░░░█░░░▒▒▒▒▒░█ █░▒█░█▀▄▄░░░░░█▀░░░░▀▄░░▄▀▀▀▄▒█ ░█░▀▄░█▄░█▀▄▄░▀░▀▀░▄▄▀░░░░█░░█░ ░░█░░░▀▄▀█▄▄░█▀▀▀▄▄▄▄▀▀█▀██░█░░ ░░░█░░░░██░░▀█▄▄▄█▄▄█▄████░█░░░ ░░░░█░░░░▀▀▄░█░░░█░█▀██████░█░░ ░░░░░▀▄░░░░░▀▀▄▄▄█▄█▄█▄█▄▀░░█░░ ░░░░░░░▀▄▄░▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░▒░░░█░ ░░░░░░░░░░▀▀▄▄░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░█░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▀▄▄▄▄▄░░░░░░░░█░░

  • Sentiments

    • I feel confident about my progress in the game, believing I am ready to take on the flagship without any issues.
    • I am frustrated and anxious as a hacking drone is targeting my oxygen system, which could jeopardize my run.

Negative

I'm not a fan of games that require a heavy dose of random luck. This game requires a good bit of strategy, but it's more luck based. There is too much emphasis on random encounters, random outcomes from scripted encounters, and random loot.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the game requires a good bit of strategy, which is a positive aspect for players who enjoy tactical gameplay.
    • I am not a fan of games that rely heavily on random luck, as it reduces the sense of control and predictability in gameplay.
    • I find the emphasis on random encounters to be excessive, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
    • I dislike the random outcomes from scripted encounters, as it makes the game feel less rewarding and more frustrating.
    • I feel that the random loot system is too prominent, which diminishes the satisfaction of earning rewards through skill or effort.

Negative

I like challange, I like rogue-likes, but this is just beyond me. After 30+ hours I can clearly see why the developers went for RNG-free "Into the Breach" after realeasing this. "Losing is part of the fun" is probably the most important thing you have to achieve when making a rogue-like, but here it's NOT fun. It's pure frustration when you pour another hour or two into the run to simply fail because you couldn't find any shop to repair at, had a very unlucky enemy ship design which nullified all your abilities or the final level was so unluckily generated that it was basically made for you to lose. The thing about FTL is that a single run takes tons of time compared to other rogue-likes and thus losing feels very discouraging, especially if you didn't manage to unlock anything interesting to try out in the next run. It feels like a choir. For the first few hours of course, you learn a lot, but then when you start optimising your ships it becomes obvious that very much is just up to what shops, fights and events you get. When I defeated the flagship for the first time I didn't even feel joy, I was simply relieved that I'm finally done, that I finally got a run where RNG gods blessed me enough to win. I would really like to rate this game positively, because many parts of it are just great and clearly made with tons of effort, but for me at least it's simply too frustrating in the long run.

  • Sentiments

    • I like challenge and rogue-likes, but this game is beyond my capabilities, which is frustrating.
    • After 30+ hours, I understand why the developers moved to an RNG-free game like 'Into the Breach' after this.
    • Losing is supposed to be part of the fun in rogue-likes, but in this game, it feels purely frustrating.
    • It's discouraging to lose after investing hours into a run, especially when you don't unlock anything interesting for the next attempt.
    • The game feels like a chore because a single run takes a lot of time, and losing feels particularly punishing.
    • The first few hours are enjoyable as you learn, but later, it becomes clear that success is heavily dependent on RNG.
    • When I finally defeated the flagship, I didn't feel joy, just relief that the RNG finally allowed me to win.
    • I want to rate the game positively because many parts are great and clearly made with effort, but it's too frustrating in the long run.
    • The game's reliance on RNG for shops, fights, and events makes it feel unfair and unrewarding.
    • The final level often feels unfairly generated, making it seem like it's designed for you to lose.

Negative

Obvnoxiously random, slow, extremely unfair, absurd difficulty even on easy against which you cannot literally do anything because everything is random and completely out of your control. There IS skill involved with this game IF you ever manage, by pure luck to get something even vaguely good for your ship. There is a good game in this thing, but it's hidden under one million layers of unbearable randomness.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game to be obnoxiously random, which makes it frustrating and difficult to enjoy.
    • The game feels extremely slow, which negatively impacts the overall experience.
    • I perceive the difficulty as absurdly unfair, even on easy mode, which makes it feel unplayable.
    • I feel that the game is completely out of my control due to its heavy reliance on randomness.
    • I believe there is some skill involved, but it is overshadowed by the need for pure luck to succeed.
    • I think there is a good game hidden within, but it is buried under layers of unbearable randomness.

Negative

The game has such a high requirement for getting the perfect run, that it completely ruins the fun of the rest of it. When you have scrap, you're on top of the world; when you have little to no scrap, you have barely enough to even repair damage on your ship. I understand that the game is meant to be challenging, but I bought this game way, way, way back when I was younger and 2 days ago decided to try playing the game, because I forgot why I had stopped playing it all those years ago. Even Dark Souls has a better difficulty than this game, since Dark Souls doesn't rely on luck to get past basic enemies. I poured many, many hours when I was younger playing this game in Steam's offline mode, because my internet was garbage; I have played far, far longer than "8" hours. That being said, I didn't even know that the final boss warped away to fight you again after you beat it once. THIS MANY HOURS AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE BOSS HAD MULTIPLE STAGES. WTF?! So no, I don't recommend this game. Unless you enjoy banging your head against a wall.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the game's high requirement for a perfect run completely ruins the fun of the rest of the experience.
    • I find it frustrating that when I have scrap, I feel on top of the world, but when I have little to no scrap, I struggle to even repair my ship.
    • I understand that the game is meant to be challenging, but I feel the difficulty is poorly balanced and relies too much on luck.
    • I played this game for many hours when I was younger, but I stopped because I forgot why I had quit playing it.
    • I feel that even Dark Souls has a better difficulty system, as it doesn't rely on luck to progress past basic enemies.
    • I poured many hours into this game in Steam's offline mode due to poor internet, but I feel my time was not well rewarded.
    • I was shocked to discover that the final boss has multiple stages, which I didn't know despite playing for so many hours.
    • I do not recommend this game unless you enjoy extreme frustration and repetitive challenges.

Negative

Very fun gameplay loop, but its fun factor is dragged down by being *extremely* RNG dependent, with very few ways to mitigate it. I prefer roguelikes where I feel like every death was my fault. The game has a fairly high skill ceiling, and many of the situations that appear like "bullshit unwinnable RNG" are actually winnable with experience and better execution. However, as one gets good at the game, the situations that actually ARE unwinnable worse. Getting stunlocked in a random pulsar fight while an enemy gets to beat you to death feels a LOT worse when it ends a run earned through skillful execution and decisionmaking.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the gameplay loop very fun and engaging, which makes the game enjoyable to play.
    • I feel that the fun factor of the game is significantly reduced due to its heavy reliance on RNG, which makes it frustrating at times.
    • I prefer roguelikes where I feel like every death is my fault, but this game often makes me feel like deaths are due to unfair RNG rather than my own mistakes.
    • I appreciate that the game has a high skill ceiling, which allows for improvement and mastery over time.
    • I notice that many situations that initially seem unwinnable due to RNG can actually be overcome with experience and better execution.
    • I feel that as I get better at the game, the truly unwinnable situations caused by RNG become even more frustrating and demoralizing.
    • I find it particularly disheartening when a run earned through skillful execution and decision-making is ended by an unavoidable RNG event, such as getting stunlocked in a pulsar fight.

© 2024