Kerbal Space Program
Release Date: April 27, 2015
Simulation, space sim, in space, educational, machines and equipment, indie games, singleplayer
Steam
This is the debut from the independent developer Squad. The game is an unusual simulator requiring the player to develop their own space program from scratch. Kerbal Space Program combines features of many genres, but the most important part here is an extensive ship editor, which allows the player to design and build their own, unique spacecraft. The ship is then supposed to fly and land safely on a moon of the Kerbin planet.
Videos and Screens
[1:33] Kerbal Space Program Loud & Clear update
[2:21] Kerbal Space Program launch trailer
The main pros of the game
- Realistic Simulation: Many users praise the game's realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics, making it a compelling experience for those interested in space and science.
- Creativity and Customization: Players enjoy the ability to design and build their own spacecraft, with a wide array of parts available, fostering creativity.
- Engaging Gameplay: The game is noted for being addictive and fun, with challenges that encourage learning through trial and error (the motto "Try, Learn, Succeed" is mentioned).
- Modding Community: There is a thriving modding community that enhances gameplay with numerous mods and graphical improvements, adding to the game's replay value.
- Visuals and Graphics: Despite its age, the graphics are described as beautiful, contributing to an immersive experience.
The main cons of the game
- Complexity: Some users find the game to be complicated, which might be overwhelming for new players.
- Technical Issues: There are mentions of bugs or glitches, such as loading screen issues, which can detract from the experience.
- Studio Closure: The closure of the studio by Take-Two has raised concerns among players about the future of the game and its updates.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- More Guidance for New Players: Some players feel that the game could benefit from better tutorials or guidance for beginners to help them navigate its complexity.
- Lack of Official Support: Due to the studio's closure, there is a sentiment that official support and updates may be lacking, which could impact the game's longevity.
- Desire for More Content: While the game is praised for its depth, some users express a desire for additional content or features to expand gameplay further.
Summary
- Overall, Kerbal Space Program is celebrated for its engaging and educational gameplay, but it also faces challenges related to complexity and future support.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 1122 votes. 1724 players anticipated the game.
Kerbal Space Program Description
Kerbal Space Program for PC, PS4 and etc. is an unusual game combining elements of many genres. The players are required to develop their own space program. The game was created by the Squad studio consisting only of a couple of people and led by Felipe Falanghe, also known as HarvesteR.
Mechanics
In Kerbal Space Program for PC, PS4 and etc., the player is given a relatively complex task of developing their own space program from a scratch. Thus, at the beginning, the player is required to build a spacecraft using many different parts. Each of them serves a specific purpose and affects the ship in flight. The spaceship is supposed to reach the Earth's orbit with a crew onboard, and then travel to one of the two moons of planet Kerbin, for example. The mission ends with an exceptionally difficult landing.
In the main, open game mode, the player is free to experiment with their spacecraft's settings. However, the game features also a set of story missions, which collectively build up a campaign (once the game was released, those elements became available). In this mode, the player hires and trains astronauts, conducts research, builds space stations, as well as bases and visits dozens of planets and moons.
Kerbal Space Program for PC, PS4 and etc. sparked the interest of players with several features it offers. Above all, the ship editor is both extensive and demanding - the player is capable of creating hundreds of space shuttles. The game offers a physics-based flight simulation generating realistic collisions and events. Furthermore, the player is required to monitor parameters, such as the amount of fuel or temperature. Apart from that, Kerbal Space Program offers proceduarlly generated environments of the in-game planets and many other interesting features. The game supports mods as well.
Technical aspects
Kerbal Space Program is relatively minimalistic in terms of the visuals, but this makes them more legible. The game utilizes the Unity3D engine and the in-game physics are based on the PhysX technology.
Last updated on April 25, 2016
Kerbal Space Program Summary
Game Series: Kerbal Space Program
Platforms:
PC / Windows April 27, 2015
PlayStation 5 September 24, 2021
Xbox Series X/S September 24, 2021
PlayStation 4 July 12, 2016
Xbox One July 15, 2016
Nintendo Wii U cancelled
Developer: Squad
Publisher: Private Division
Kerbal Space Program System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 512 MB GeForce 8800 or better, 4 GB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 460 / Radeon HD 5770 or better, 6 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
The uncertain future of Kerbal Space Program Forum. With Private Division sold, what does this mean for the franchise
The Kerbal Space Program forum is down, and fans are wondering if this is connected to the sale of its publisher in 2024. A new team of former Annapurna Interactive employees may now be in charge of the KSP franchise.
video games
Olga Fiszer
January 23, 2025
Is your KSP not launching? - Fixes
If your Kerbal Space Program is not launching, we have some fixes for you. You'll be able to play with us.
video games
Damian Gacek
January 9, 2023
Kerbal Space Program Support Ends; Devs Will Focus on Sequel
After more than a decade, support for Kerbal Space Program has ended. The development team, after releasing patch 1.12.2, shifted their attention to the emerging sequel.
video games
Paul Musiolik
August 7, 2021
Kerbal Space Program 2 Without Lootboxes and EGS Exclusivity
Startheory Studio has revealed more details about Kerbal Space Program 2. We won't see any lootboxes in the game, and the title itself won't be a temporary exclusive on Epic Games Store.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
August 22, 2019
Kerbal Space Program 2 Announced
A trailer announcing a new part of Kerbal Space Program has been published. We also learned when we can expect the launch and what new features await us in the game.
video games
Paul Wozniak
August 19, 2019