Deal | Steam: This 95%-positive strategy game drops below $2 for the first time

Anyone who has always wanted to be the captain of their own spaceship will feel right at home in FTL: Faster Than Light. Instead of piloting the ship directly, players take command of the crew and try to make sure it reaches its destination as intact as possible. According to SteamDB, the 2012 title from Subset Games is currently 80% off for the first time on Steam, bringing the regular price down from around $9.99 to $1.99.

The small spaceship is tasked with delivering vital information to the Federation fleet, with the journey taking the crew through a procedurally generated galaxy. There isn't much time for leisurely exploration, however, as the rebels are hot on their heels. Each waypoint can bring hostile ships, merchants, distress calls or short events with multiple choices. The goal is to make it through eight sectors, upgrade the ship along the way and ultimately defeat the rebels' powerful flagship.

Combat takes place on a schematic layout of the player's spaceship. Players send crew members to put out fires, repair damaged systems or repel enemy boarding parties. At the same time, limited power has to be distributed between weapons, shields, engines and oxygen systems. Battles play out in real time, but can be paused at any moment to issue tactical commands. The strategy game also features typical roguelike elements: If the ship is destroyed, all upgrades and resources from the current run are lost and the journey starts over from the beginning. Only unlocked ships are retained permanently.

According to Eurogamer (in German), FTL offers deep tactical ship management, straightforward controls and high replay value. However, the strategy game is also said to be very challenging and can sometimes depend heavily on luck. Overall, the publication awarded it 8 out of 10. Around 95% of its roughly 79,000 Steam reviews are positive, while its Steam Deck compatibility (currently $800 on Amazon) is rated as “Playable.”

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