- 4–8players
- Evenings at a time
- PC
- Xbox
A 2D space sandbox: hop between procedurally generated planets to mine, build, farm, fight bosses and follow a story.
Who can play
- No split-screen on any platform.
- Same room, own screens for up to 8 players on PC.
- Online for up to 8 players on PC and up to 4 on Xbox.
- No crossplay between platform families. Neither the Xbox store listing nor the developer's Xbox launch post names cross-platform play; on Steam, Windows, Mac and Linux players play together.
- Each player online needs their own copy.
How it plays
Everyone shares the host's universe but keeps their own character and ship, so the group can explore one planet together or split up to mine, build and farm on their own.
The story missions and dungeons can all be played together.
A player can switch on PvP with a chat command, but the game is built around co-op.
Each player needs a copy.
Is it good
90%
Very positive on Steam
“Each time I beamed down from my personal starship into the 2D sidescrolling craft-em-up that is Starbound, I found an experience that shoots for the stars and lands squarely among them.”
9.1/10 · IGN “If you’re a fan of games like Minecraft and Terraria, Starbound is not to be missed. It can keep you enchanted for hours, whether you’re playing solo or on a server with friends.”
8.5/10 · Game Informer “A charming space sandbox that will keep you busy and entertained for hours.”
84/100 · PC Gamer
- 81MetascoreMetacritic (Metascore; opens Metacritic in a new tab)
- 85Top criticsOpenCritic · Jul 2018 (OpenCritic top critic average, 16 reviews, as of Jul 2018; opens OpenCritic in a new tab)
- 82%RecommendOpenCritic · Feb 2025 (OpenCritic critics who recommend it, 19 reviews, as of Feb 2025; opens OpenCritic in a new tab)
540 playing on Steam, counted dailySteam Deck Playable
Every way to play together
No crossplay between platform families. No split-screen. Online for up to 8 on PC and up to 4 on Xbox. LAN play for up to 8 on PC.
- 8
Computers on the same network join the host's server by local IP address.
- 8
Joining a friend through Steam holds 4 players by default; the dedicated server that comes with the game holds 8 by default, and both limits can be raised in the config.
- 4
Xbox Series, Xbox One and Xbox One X consoles host up to 4 players; an Xbox One S hosts 2.
Quick facts
- Developer
- Chucklefish
- Platforms
- PC, Xbox Series X|S
- Released
- Jul 22, 2016 on PC, Mac and Linux
- Oct 24, 2024 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
- Languages
- Text in 1 language, voices in English
- Age rating
- Everyone 10+ (ESRB): Alcohol reference, crude humor, fantasy violence, mild blood
In these lists
Answers
- Does Starbound have couch co-op?
- No. Starbound has no same-screen multiplayer; play it together online instead.
- How many players can play Starbound together?
- Local co-op on separate screens for up to 8 on PC. Online co-op for up to 8 on PC. Online co-op for up to 4 on Xbox.
- Is Starbound crossplay?
- No: everyone online needs the same platform family. Neither the Xbox store listing nor the developer's Xbox launch post names cross-platform play; on Steam, Windows, Mac and Linux players play together.
- Do you need two copies of Starbound?
- Yes. Each player online needs their own copy.
- Can you play the Starbound story together?
- Yes: the main campaign is playable together on a local network and online.
- Does Starbound work on Steam Deck?
- Yes, with some extra steps: Steam rates it Playable for Steam Deck.
- Is Starbound free?
- No, it's a paid game.
