Introduction to StarMade
StarMade is a voxel-based space sandbox game. You explore a procedurally generated universe, build ships and stations block by block, gather resources, craft items, fight enemies, and team up with other players.
The Universe at a Glance
The universe is divided into sectors and systems.
Core Gameplay Loop
- Explore — fly through space, discover planets, asteroids, and trading stations
- Mine — collect raw ores and crystal shards from asteroids and planet surfaces
- Craft — refine materials into components and build blocks
- Build — construct and upgrade ships and stations
- Survive — defend yourself against pirates and rival players
Game Modes
Singleplayer
You host your own universe. All admin commands are available. Blueprints are saved to your local StarMade/blueprints/ folder.
Multiplayer
You connect to a shared server. Server rules govern admin commands and what you can build. Blueprints saved to a server are stored server-side.
First Steps
When you first spawn, you will be in astronaut mode — a floating humanoid character. The spawn location is configured by the server; on a default setup you will start in a sector where you can find a trading station to buy basic supplies.
Your immediate goals:
- Get comfortable with character movement
- Familiarise yourself with the HUD
- Learn basic controls
- Find some asteroids and mine your first resources
Tip: Check the navigation panel (
Nby default) to locate nearby trading stations, asteroids, and planets from your starting position.