Everspace 2

EVERSPACE 2 is a PC single-player action RPG and looter-shooter set in a handcrafted sci-fi open world. The current storefront name remains EVERSPACE 2; it has not been replaced by a rebrand or definitive-name change. Developed and published by ROCKFISH Games, it shifts the series away from the first game's roguelike structure toward persistent exploration, ship progression, story missions, and repeatable endgame combat.

Its strongest appeal is the combination of fast arcade dogfights, meaningful ship customization, environmental puzzles, and a steady hunt for better equipment. It is not a traditional space simulation and does not offer multiplayer or co-op.

Arcade Space Combat With RPG Progression

EVERSPACE 2 uses a third-person flight perspective by default, with a cockpit view available for players who want a more immersive presentation. The handling is deliberately responsive rather than simulation-heavy. Boosting, dodging, rolling, and weapon management matter during every encounter, especially when several enemy types attack from different angles.

The campaign follows Adam, a clone pilot trying to escape the Demilitarized Zone of Cluster 34. Missions combine voiced story scenes with combat sorties, salvage work, mining, exploration, and optional activities. You move between persistent locations instead of restarting a randomly generated run after every death.

Combat is built around a flexible loadout of primary weapons, secondary weapons, devices, ship modules, and passive bonuses. Fighters, bombers, drones, gunships, capital vessels, and ancient guardians each create different tactical problems, so simply equipping the highest-numbered item is not always the best solution.

Players who want a more traditional roguelike space shooter should understand the distinction before buying. The original roguelike space combat of the first EVERSPACE is built around runs and permanent meta-progression, while EVERSPACE 2 focuses on a persistent character, permanent equipment, and a continuous story campaign.

Loot, Crafting, and Ship Builds

The central progression loop is straightforward: complete missions, defeat enemies, explore hidden areas, collect equipment, dismantle unwanted items, and improve the ship. Color-coded loot tiers make upgrades easier to assess, but the most valuable discoveries are often the ones that support a specific build rather than provide a simple statistical increase.

Equipment can be combined with ship classes, devices, perks, and set effects to create different combat identities. A fast interceptor can emphasize mobility and close-range damage, while a heavier ship may rely on stronger defenses, sustained fire, or area control. Traders and ship storage services make it possible to maintain a collection of fighters instead of committing to one permanent hull.

Crafting is an important alternative to waiting for a perfect random drop. Salvaged materials and mined resources can be used to produce or improve equipment, helping keep a preferred loadout viable as enemy strength increases. The system rewards players who inspect their gear and understand how bonuses interact.

Companions expand the progression layer without turning the game into a party-based RPG. Characters who join Adam's crew unlock upgradable companion perks, new services, and additional abilities. These upgrades support the broader campaign loop and give side missions a practical purpose beyond credits or experience.

Exploration, Puzzles, and the Cluster 34 Campaign

Cluster 34 is organized around more than 100 handcrafted locations spread across seven star systems. Areas include open space, asteroid fields, wreck sites, stations, ruins, and planetary environments. Exploration is structured rather than fully seamless, but each destination contains its own encounters, resources, secrets, and optional objectives.

Many activities are designed around observation instead of firepower. You may need to reposition objects, activate environmental devices, destroy asteroids, search salvage sites, or use the surrounding terrain to reach a hidden cache. These environmental puzzles and treasure hunts break up the combat and give exploration a stronger mechanical identity.

The narrative follows conflicts among colonial forces, outlaw groups, cultists, alien factions, and local power brokers. Supporting characters join Adam during the journey, and their stories feed into crew upgrades and mission progression. The structure is story-led, but it does not present itself as a branching choice-heavy role-playing game.

The campaign is only one part of the package. After the main story, players can continue improving equipment, completing challenges, clearing activities, and pursuing increasingly demanding encounters. The loop suits players who enjoy gradual optimization more than those looking for a short, linear shooter.

Expansions and Current Content Model

EVERSPACE 2 is a paid premium game rather than a free-to-play service. The base version contains the main campaign, the core ship roster, exploration systems, crafting, companion progression, and endgame activities. There are no required microtransactions in the standard progression model.

The major paid expansions are EVERSPACE 2: Titans and EVERSPACE 2: Wrath of the Ancients. Titans adds new story content, large-scale encounters, equipment sets, and repeatable challenges centered on the Dreadnought and Leviathan. It is aimed at players who want more endgame structure after completing the campaign.

Wrath of the Ancients expands the setting with new storylines, additional systems, new weapons and equipment, Okkar-focused content, and the Okkar Wraith ship class. The expansion is positioned as a substantial continuation for players who have already invested in the main progression loop.

The optional Supporter Pack is primarily cosmetic, adding ship customization items rather than a separate campaign. Storefront bundles such as the Galactic Edition and Complete Edition package the base game with expansions and selected bonus content, so buyers should check which edition includes the gameplay expansions they want.

Who Should Play EVERSPACE 2?

EVERSPACE 2 is a strong fit for PC players who want single-player space combat with clear RPG progression. It works particularly well for players who enjoy comparing loot, refining builds, exploring optional locations, and switching between fast missions and slower scavenging.

It is also a good choice for fans of classic arcade-inspired space shooters who do not want the strict simulation demands of games built around realistic flight models, complex navigation, or capital-ship management. The developers describe it as a narrative-driven open-world RPG with looter-shooter elements, not a conventional space sim.

Players seeking online co-op, competitive multiplayer, EVA gameplay, or direct control of capital ships should look elsewhere. Adam remains in his fighter, and the experience is designed around one pilot managing ship combat and exploration.

For a more focused story-driven space shooter with aggressive enemy encounters and supernatural abilities, third-person sci-fi dogfights like Chorus offer a useful comparison. EVERSPACE 2 is broader and more loot-driven, while Chorus places more emphasis on a tightly directed campaign and specialized combat powers.

PC Features, Controls, and Storefront Options

The PC version supports keyboard and mouse play, controllers, and specialist flight hardware. HOTAS and HOSAS support is available, while rudder pedals do not have official presets or testing. The game also supports cockpit view, ultrawide displays, three-screen setups, and TrackIR.

Steam features include achievements, trading cards, Steam Cloud, and Family Sharing. The Steam version also offers a demo, allowing players to check the controls and peripheral compatibility before purchasing.

GOG lists EVERSPACE 2 as DRM-free, with an optional offline installer and no requirement to use GOG Galaxy for the core game. The developer's FAQ also confirms PC availability through Steam and GOG, alongside support for macOS and Linux through Proton.

Localization includes English and German full audio, with interface and subtitle support for French, Italian, Spanish, Czech, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Russian. The exact voice and text combination varies by language.

Similar PC Games and Key Differences

Players who enjoy customizable ships, open space, and third-person combat may also want to compare space exploration and modular ship building in Starlink Battle for Atlas. Starlink emphasizes planet-hopping, weapon swapping, and cooperative play, whereas EVERSPACE 2 is single-player and places more weight on loot tiers, crafting, story missions, and long-term build optimization.

The closest comparison within the franchise is the original EVERSPACE. The first game centers on roguelike runs, randomized routes, and upgrades carried between attempts. EVERSPACE 2 replaces that structure with persistent regions, a conventional experience system, companion perks, ship storage, and a campaign that lets you return to previously visited locations.

That difference is the key buying decision. Choose EVERSPACE 2 if you want a larger, story-focused space RPG with loot and handcrafted exploration. Choose the original if you prefer compact runs, high-pressure survival, and the tension of rebuilding after each defeat.

EVERSPACE 2 FAQ

Is EVERSPACE 2 still called EVERSPACE 2?

Yes. The current Steam and GOG listings use the name EVERSPACE 2. Galactic Edition and Complete Edition are bundle names, not a replacement for the game's standard title.

Is EVERSPACE 2 multiplayer or co-op?

No. EVERSPACE 2 is a single-player game. It does not include online co-op, competitive multiplayer, or split-screen play.

Is EVERSPACE 2 a space simulator?

Not in the traditional sense. It uses arcade-style flight and combat with some trading and exploration systems, but its main identity is a narrative-driven action RPG and looter-shooter.

Can you leave the ship and explore on foot?

No. The game is built around piloting spacecraft. There is no EVA gameplay or general on-foot exploration.

Does EVERSPACE 2 support HOTAS and ultrawide monitors?

Yes. PC players can use HOTAS or HOSAS devices, and the game supports cockpit view, ultrawide displays, three-screen setups, and TrackIR.

What is included in the Complete Edition?

The Complete Edition combines the base game with Titans, Wrath of the Ancients, the Supporter Pack, and selected soundtrack and artbook extras. Buyers who only want the main campaign can choose the standard edition instead.

What does the endgame involve?

After the campaign, players can pursue High-Risk Areas and Ancient Rifts, which provide harder encounters and opportunities to earn powerful legendary gear. The endgame is centered on build refinement, challenge completion, and continued equipment hunting rather than an online seasonal ladder.