Starfinder: Afterlight, the playtest is small but the potential is there

Is it possible to enjoy Baldur's Gate 3 without ever having played D&D? Yes, but 30% of the game's overall enjoyment is lost if you don't know the basics of the world's most famous RPG. Starfinder: Afterlight works the same way; those who have never tried Paizo's sci-fi RPG will have in their hands a solid turn-based RPG with a beautiful space setting; those who know it well, will appreciate the rivalries, complexity, and backgrounds of its characters.

I venture into this prediction after having previewed the playtest, which you can sign up for on the game's Steam page, which lasted about an hour. The available content is limited, but varied enough (two branching dialogues and two turn-based battles) to at least give a taste of the architecture and style the game will have when it releases "by 2026" in Early Access, just like Larian's masterpiece did.

Describing Starfinder: Afterlight as a sci-fi take on Baldur's Gate 3 may seem reductive, but the similarities are innumerable. Both are based on a tabletop pen and paper RPG, both are turn-based adventures with party-based combat, and both star Neil Newbon.

It's not possible to create your own custom character in this test, but this option will be available in the finished game. The two companions I met in the first hour of play (a religious insectoid with a holy larva to tend to and a charming necromancer gravedigger) were a great appetizer, and I'm curious to see what the rest of the cast will be like.

I also liked the setting and art style: despite their unfinished and unpolished appearance, the sci-fi environments have just the right amount of grit and tech to make us feel like we're in a future that's not exactly rosy, but rather corrupt and full of dangers.

The combat system is turn-based, works around distance and character positioning plays a key role. We only faced a few bots in this test, and we hope that, given their variety and complexity, the other enemies currently in development will provide a little more fun.

If you're a Starfinder player, don't hesitate to try this game to get a feel for what it has to offer and whether it might be worth supporting during its Early Access journey. If you loved Baldur's Gate 3's Early Access (with all its issues and reworks), then you have the patience and enthusiasm to support Epictellers Entertainment as they polish the project.

If you're just a sci-fi fan and are looking for a turn-based, party-based RPG, it might be best to wait to try Starfinder: Afterlight. That's because it's in a very rough state, and the lack of many bells and whistles and key systems could create a first impression that will prevent you from appreciating all the good things the game has to offer.

The game presents those who try it with a very specific approach that they either like or dislike, and for me, it's a compelling approach. We don't know where the story will go, what the advanced progression systems will be like, or how ambitious the developers are in regards to the setting. This test, however, made me want to follow the game closely because space nerds deserve their new great RPG.