It wasn't hard to predict that Baldur's Gate 3 would galvanize CRPG developers the world over, and Epictellers' upcoming Starfinder: Afterlight is an early example of this. As Epictellers' first-ever video game, Starfinder: Afterlight follows a formula that is somewhat similar to the development process of Baldur's Gate 3.
Unlike Baldur's Gate 3, however, Starfinder: Afterlight has a decidedly science-fiction tinge. The name may sound familiar to some tabletop RPG fans, as Starfinder is actually a TTRPG released in 2017 by Paizo, the same company behind Pathfinder. But while Pathfinder has received numerous video game adaptations over the years, Afterlight will be the first-ever video game based on the Starfinder mythos. Naturally, hopes are high for Starfinder: Afterlight's success, as it promises to offer a unique take on the traditionally high-fantasy CRPG space. Afterlight has raised nearly $1 million USD through Kickstarter, at the time of this writing, blowing far past its initial $88,000 goal and indicating a critical level of audience hype.
What Is Starfinder: Afterlight About?
The Starfinder Roleplaying Game blends science fiction and fantasy to create a world defined by magic and technology. It's very clearly inspired by a number of blockbuster science-adventure franchises, but its most obvious influence is Guardians of the Galaxy, from which it borrows several designs, tone, and lore elements. Crucially, Starfinder takes place in the same universe as Pathfinder, though in the far future. This continuity manifests in several ways, such as through Pathfinder's fantasy races appearing in Starfinder.
In Starfinder, the Pathfinder home planet Golarion has mysteriously vanished in an inexplicable event called The Gap. This is used as worldbuilding context in the TTRPG, but perhaps Starfinder: Afterlight will offer interesting revelations about The Gap.
This combination of D&D-esque fantasy staples and contemporary space opera conventions gives Starfinder quite a novel setting, wherein magic and elves rub up against FTL travel, spacecraft, and blaster pistols. Starfinder: Afterlight's actual plot is a little murky at the moment, but it seems to revolve around an encroaching darkness called the Afterlight, which threatens to destroy the galaxy—unless the player and their motley crew can stop it, of course.
Starfinder: Afterlight's Companions
Companion characters are important in most RPGs, but they're downright essential in CRPGs, especially those trying to hone in on that TTRPG magic. Like its plot, Starfinder: Afterlight's main cast is still somewhat enigmatic, but five out of six of them have been revealed through trailers and the Kickstarter campaign page:
|
Party Member |
Actor |
Ancestry |
Class & Subclass |
Background |
Home World |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kole Stryker |
Fred Tatasciore |
Vesk |
Solder (Action Hero) |
Trooper |
Vesk Prime |
|
Tycho |
Inel Tomlinson |
Ysoki |
Operative (Infiltrator) |
Scientist |
Akiton |
|
Preach & The Larva |
Neil Newbon |
Shirren |
Mystic (Healing) |
Raised by Belief |
Castrovel |
|
LU-323 |
Melissa Medina |
Android |
Envoy (In the Spotlight) |
Corporate Agent |
Unknown |
|
Sterling |
James Alexander |
Human Borai |
Solarian |
Steward |
Verces |
Starfinder: Afterlight also has a promising cast, including stars like Neil Newbon (Astarion), who voices Preach, and Roger Clark (Arthur Morgan), who plays the narrator. Newbon has also come aboard the Epictellers' team as Voice Acting Director, which the studio has described as invaluable.
Will Starfinder: Afterlight Have Romance?
In proper CRPG fashion, Starfinder: Afterlight will indeed have romance options, allowing players to proceed through romantic subplots with each and every party member, "plus some surprises," according to Epictellers. It's not entirely clear how these romances will play out—and if they'll feature the same steamy cutscenes as something like Baldur's Gate 3—but Epictellers has confirmed its existence, at least.
How Similar Is Starfinder: Afterlight to Baldur's Gate 3?
Comparing an upcoming CRPG to Baldur's Gate 3 is easy, but how applicable is it in this case? Well, for one thing, Epictellers has directly cited Baldur's Gate 3 as an inspiration in the past, but there are design elements that parallel Larian's seminal RPG as well. There are fundamental commonalities, such as the isometric perspective, but also more feature-specific ones:
- A D20-based check system
- "Story" and "tactical" difficulties
- Optional companion characters
- Official mod support
Like Baldur's Gate 3, Starfinder: Afterlight will feature a turn-based combat system with integrated movement, though it will use the famous three-action system from Pathfinder 2nd Edition—most of Starfinder's rules are directly copied from Pathfinder 2e. The three-action system is exactly what it sounds like: during their turn, players can take three actions, whether that combination be three attacks, one movement and two attacks, et cetera. Some actions take more than a single action point, though.
Unfortunately, Epictellers has already confirmed that Starfinder: Afterlight will not have multiplayer.
A lot of TTRPG enthusiasts argue that the three-action system is much better than the Dungeons & Dragons 5e action economy, which is used in Baldur's Gate 3, so that distinction has promise, at least. At the same time, some Baldur's Gate 3 fans may be turned off by Starfinder: Afterlight's cel-shaded art style and more upbeat, lighthearted tone. The game is still early in development and plans to launch into early access in 2026, so it will be interesting to see how it continues to evolve.
- Developer(s)
- Epictellers Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Epictellers Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
Gather your crew and venture into the Pact Worlds in a tale of unlikely heroes, cosmic wonders, and the bonds that define us.
The galaxy faces annihilation, your captain has vanished, and doomsday looms. Assemble a crew of misfits from across the stars and become the legends in this single player party-based RPG.
Find 6 unique companions scattered across the stars—from android assassins to mystic prophets. Each brings personal stories and moral dilemmas. The bonds you forge through triumph and loss will determine their destinies—and whether the galaxy survives.
Experience turn-based tactical combat with Starfinder's classes—Soldier, Envoy, Operative, Mystic, Solarian and Witchwarper. Use Paizo's critically acclaimed three-action system to fuel endless strategies. Level up and collect alien gear while battling everything from Hellknights to digital ghosts.
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From Absalom Station to Eox's undead empire, from digital gods to cosmic dragons. Explore the Pact Worlds across 40-60 hours of adventure where magic and technology unite. In this universe, everything is possible—and probably is trying to kill you.
