FTL: Faster Than Light

Simple little game.

Playing some recent licensed IP "FTL-Likes" that somehow got released in Anno Domini 2026 got me to download the OG again and reminded me why it's a true classic that's essentially carved out its own sub-genre in the rogue-lite space. Primarily, the thing FTL does really well (especially once the devs added the content from the Advanced Edition update, and even moreso if you get some of the mods that expand it further) is find the right balance between individual encounter variability and campaign variability. Individual encounters are mostly simple enough in concept and largely center around the "real time with pause" tactical ship-to-ship combat, but there are enough elements and options to the system with different weapon types, secondary effects and system abilities that it's becomes quite complex and hectic and thus engaging. Meanwhile, the textbox story shard encounters that occur has you hop around the galaxy have enough variability and are tied into how you either upgrade your ship or develop your crew roster such that you always feel like your choices are having a real effect, whether positive or negative, which makes encountering the same events over multiple runs less repetitive than you'd expect. Sure you might encounter the "burning space station" event in Run A and make a dice roll on success, but if you encounter it in Run B with a rock guy crewman, you're guaranteed success. This kind of player choice reactivity is done simply, but superbly. The overall experience does suffer a bit as it's a true "Pray to RNGesus" game. You can absolutely get screwed over by the luck of the draw, with no meta-game systems (that I can perceive anyway) present to mitigate bad luck. You can have a great, well built ship by mid-game with a strong crew, and then run into an encounter or two or three that absolutely destroys your run entirely due to random chance effects not turning out in your favor repeatedly. Replete with an exceptional and moody soundtrack that, like Lebowski's rug, really ties the room together, FTL over a decade on from release is still a blast to play. At least if you're looking for that indie Rogue-Like Pseudo-Star Trek Captain adventure experience. It could do with a true sequel by now though, that basically pulls a Star Fox or Risk of Rain 2 and essentially just remakes the game but with prettier graphics. That'd be nice I guess. After all, if FTL is so great, why is there no FTL 2?