In this space exploration RPG, players command a 4-person crew that ends up lost on the other side of the universe after the first light jump goes horribly wrong. Stranded with a rapidly deteriorating ship and dwindling supplies, players must manage the politics of different alien races, the limited yet valuable resources at their disposal, and the survival of the ship all while trying to bring the crew home.

The Long Journey Home combines the best of classic space adventures like Starflight and Star Control II with the replayability of modern roguelikes, in a procedurally generated, endlessly surprising living universe inspired by beloved modern science fiction shows like Farscape and Firefly.

Your goal: to find the way back to Earth. An accident during humanity’s first jump drive test has catapulted you and your crew to the other side of the galaxy, and the only way home is through. Lead your crew as you explore new worlds in search of allies and support. Face searing storms and deadly gravity as you plunder alien worlds for their secrets and technology. Befriend alien races and earn their trust. Keep your people alive.

Every decision the player makes has consequences and will influence how the game unfolds. To get the space ship’s crew home to Earth safely, finesse and skill are needed. It is always a tough call to decide if it is time to pick a fight or handle matters with diplomacy…

Do whatever it takes to get home.

Daedalic Entertainment has today announced the first major update to The Long Journey Home, the company’s ambitious space RPG, with the addition of a new ‘Story Mode.’ Designed based on feedback from the engaged community of The Long Journey Home players, this new mode offers a perfect introduction to the game, as well as a way for players to experience the aliens, questing and other parts of the diverse and colorful galaxy without being burdened by the fight for survival and some of the harsher dangers of unplanned intergalactic travel.

New players are especially invited to try Story Mode to experience a smoother introduction to space before challenging the Adventure (formerly Explorer) and Rogue Modes, which continue to offer the more survival-focused, hardcore gameplay that has won the heart of streamers across Twitch, where every decision counts and mismanaged resources or diplomacy mean death.

Specifically, Story Mode provides a far friendlier galaxy to explore, where resources are more abundant and valuable, where aliens are more generous with their trade agreements, and featuring far more planets with Earth-like conditions and fewer extreme hazards. Players are also equipped with a more resilient Lander and additional assistance for tricky parts of the game, such as easier orbiting around planets and reduced damage from celestial threats. Additionally, the pirate presence has been reduced throughout the galaxy. With these changes, players will be free to take their time crossing the galaxy, better upgrade their ships for advanced challenges like bounty hunting, and enjoy the atmosphere and witty script instead of wondering where the next refuel is coming from.

We still recommend Adventure Mode as the ideal way to play The Long Journey Home, with Rogue Mode for the ultimate survival challenge. However, Story Mode is the perfect way to get into the game, and get to grips with its systems, as well as simply enjoying the Journey. We have, however, added a few quality of life additions to all modes, including the much requested secondary confirmation before destroying installed devices and a dedicated windowed mode.

CHANGELOG IN BRIEF

New Mode: Story Mode

• Reduced planetary difficulty conditions
• More abundant galactic resources
• Resources worth more in trade and for ship repair/maintenance
• Increased Lander strength
• Reduced impact/heat/environmental/drilling damage in the Lander
• Reduced fuel consumption in the Lander
• Enemies cannot lock player into Encounter
• Aliens offer more credits and more generous deals in trade
• Reduced flyover damage in event of failed orbit
• Greatly reduced pirate presence
• Larger orbit window

General Changes

• Explorer mode renamed “Adventure Mode”
• Devices now require timed button press to uninstall/destroy
• Can now jump back to same system if required
• Lander roation speed and thruster agility increased
• Reduced pirate presence
• Native fullscreen mode
• Many bug-fixes and scripting tweaks

Key Features:

• Real Flying: Flying in space is a bit complicated…really, we looked it up. “The Long Journey Home” provides a flying experience with actual planetary gravity, which can be difficult to master but can also be used to your advantage. Flying in Long Journey Home is a bit different than in many other space games. Be careful not to be sucked into a black hole or outmaneuvered by an alien warship!
• Lost in Translation: Meet and try and befriend fifteen strange alien races – four empires out of eight, plus assorted smaller civilisations in every game. Will they appreciate you approaching with raised shields as a sign of respect, or see it as an aggressive display? Can you win their respect, and with it, their assistance? With over two novels worth of dialogue, you’ll feel part of a living universe full of memorable characters and big decisions.
• Weigh Your Options: Players have to land on planets in order to gather resources. By doing so, you always risk damaging the landing unit or even losing a crew member. Be sure to carefully consider the risks involved in every reward.
• Andreas Suika notes that “‘The Long Journey Home’ is about making the right decisions. When you alone are in space, there is no room for wasteful choices. It’s important to remember: always think twice and once you’ve made a decision, be ready to deal with the consequences.”
• Procedural, not Random: Although most of the game is procedurally generated, there are no random aspects in it. For example, dialogues with aliens may vary in different playthroughs but the lore behind each race is very much consistent. Quests or reactions might change, but their core attitude and character always stays the same.
• Same Game, Different Journey: Thanks to the variety of the key elements of the game, the experience can be very different with every new run. Players can expect to see about 20% of the possible content in one run which should only take about 6 – 8 hours

The Long Journey Home is currently available as digital download through Steam on May 30, 2017 for $39.99.