PAX West 2025 - STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expedition Is the Sequel We Deserve

It's been almost 10 years since System Era Softworks' widely acclaimed Astroneer was released into the world. The mixture of incredibly implemented co-op survival gameplay, gorgeous and uniquely simplistic alien planets to explore, and the rewarding base-building mechanics all but guaranteed Astroneer would go down in history as a must-play for indie lovers. At PAX West 2025, convention-goers finally got a taste of the long-awaited sequel: STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions. I had the wonderful opportunity to squad up with a member of the development team and had a wonderful time giving this highly anticipated sequel a try, and I was not disappointed.

Visually, STARSEEKER bears a strong resemblance to its predecessor. Colorful, pleasant lands expand to the horizon, with glorious alien landscapes and a plethora of vibrant flora covering the ground. The same polygonal art style makes a return, and I have to give props to the art department for that. It's difficult to create a world that is simultaneously simple and engaging, and both Astroneer and STARSEEKER accomplish this brilliantly. The terrain is so nice to look at that it practically begs you to discover other vistas. The explorers themselves are also instantly recognizable, as the adorable toy-like and bubbly astronauts make a return. It all comes together to be as cohesively wonderful as Astroneer, showcasing once again this studio's ability to create something beautiful and interesting out of simple polygons and colors.

Even with the visual similarities, it's apparent right away that System Era Softworks wanted to make something a little different from their survival game roots in Astroneer. Where that title focused intensely on the survival aspect of cooperation, STARSEEKER has a much heavier emphasis on exploration and objectives. You will be riding on the ESS Starseeker, and it is your job to work with other Astroneers to explore a multitude of planets, set up satellite beacons, complete objectives, and interact with the flora and fauna. You do this by using a specific set of tools meticulously designed to help you complete each task. Whether it's terraforming, dealing with the hostile alien creatures, or creating safe pathways to explore the planet, there will be a tool to help you. The kicker is that each implement is assigned to only one explorer, so you must work together to complete each task.

That collaboration is the heart and soul of what makes STARSEEKER such an intriguing game to play. During my 30-minute session with a member of the development team, we had to work cooperatively to plant an antenna at the highest point on the map. He had a terraforming tool, so once we found the mountain we needed to climb, he started to carve a tunnel right out of the center of it while I carried the antenna behind him. It took some time (especially after accidentally opening a hole directly under a pool of water, which promptly washed us out of the mountain) but we eventually made our way to the peak. One of the hostile aliens we encountered shot out a slick goo that made every surface slippery. I wasn't paying attention and slid right down into a hole from which I couldn't escape. We feared for our journey, as we didn't want to have to climb the mountain a third time, so the developer told me to simply toss the antenna to him so he could plant it, and I did as instructed. He planted it, blasted a hole through the mountain next to me, and I used the game's new gliding mechanic to safely make my way to the ground, where we finished the mission.

It might not sound like much, but those small emergent gameplay moments are just as exciting and important as what you would find in something scripted. I had just met this person at PAX for the first time, and within 30 minutes, we were laughing and joking with each other as we worked together to make our way up the mountain. According to the team, that was their main point when it came to STARSEEKER; it's supposed to be fun. Gaming can mean many things to different people, but one of the things it does best is bring people together to just have some fun. From the short time I spent with the game, System Era Softworks understands this at its core and used it as a guiding light to the core of the game.

If STARSEEKER's new direction isn't something you're looking for, you don't need to fret. The devs made a point to tell me that they're going to provide continued support for the original Astroneer and the game should receive regular updates in the near future. I got the impression that the people at System Era Softworks have a clear vision of what they want their experiences to be, and they don't want to take that away from anyone. That being said, even if it doesn't sound like it is up your alley, I highly recommend giving STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions a look - you may just surprise yourself.