Shortest Trip to Earth similar games & best alternatives
Shortest Trip to Earth
2019
Related articles
Quick resume
Shortest Trip to Earth is a roguelike spaceship simulator focused on exploration, ship management and tactical battles. Embark on a perilous journey across the universe with nuclear missiles, armed crew and a cat.
Global score
77/100
Genres
Action, Adventure, Indie, Simulator, Strategy, Real Time Strategy (RTS)
Similar games
Pros
- Deep and challenging gameplay
- Rich ship and crew customization
- Engaging tactical combat
- High replay value
- Immersive sci-fi setting and story
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Some ui and micromanagement tedium
- Occasional bugs
- Limited social or multiplayer features
- Some balance issues with weapons and resources
Motivations
-
Autonomy
Game with the same Autonomy vibe
4"Players have high control over ship systems, crew assignments, and tactical decisions during combat and exploration."
FTL: Faster Than Light
"Players have control over ship customization, crew assignments, and tactical decisions during combat and exploration."
-
Competence
Game with the same Competence vibe
4"The game is challenging with tactical combat, stress management, and resource constraints requiring skillful play and strategic thinking."
Aliens: Dark Descent
"Game is challenging, requiring skillful resource management, tactical combat, and strategic planning."
-
Competition
Game with the same Competition vibe
-3"Focus is on personal progression and overcoming game challenges rather than direct player-vs-player competition."
Brutal Orchestra
"Focus is on personal progression and overcoming game challenges rather than direct player-vs-player competition."
-
Continuation
Game with the same Continuation vibe
4"Many players report long play sessions, high replayability, and motivation to keep playing despite difficulty and grind."
Deck of Ashes
"Players report long sessions, high replay value, and motivation to keep playing despite difficulty."
-
Cooperation
Game with the same Cooperation vibe
-4"Gameplay centers on managing own crew and ships with limited multiplayer or cooperative elements."
Space Haven
"Gameplay centers on individual ship and crew management with minimal multiplayer or cooperative elements."
-
Creativity
Game with the same Creativity vibe
3"Players customize ship loadouts, crew composition, and tactical approaches, though ship layouts are preset."
FTL: Faster Than Light
"Players customize ships, crew loadouts, and module configurations, though within some constraints."
-
Domination
Game with the same Domination vibe
-4"Interactions are balanced against AI; no evidence of trash talk or social dominance features."
The Troop
"Interactions are with AI enemies and environment; no evidence of social dominance or trash talk."
-
Escapism
Game with the same Escapism vibe
4"Players use the game to immerse themselves in space exploration and escape real life."
Kerbal Space Program
"Players use the game as a challenging space exploration experience, escaping real life through immersion."
-
Expectation
Game with the same Expectation vibe
-4"Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."
KARDS - The WW2 Card Game
"Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."
-
Experimenting
Game with the same Experimenting vibe
4"Players try different ships, modes, and difficulty settings, exploring mechanics and testing strategies."
Super Galaxy Squadron EX Turbo
"Players try different ships, modules, crew setups, and tactics to overcome challenges."
-
Exploration
Game with the same Exploration vibe
4"Exploration of large galaxies, star systems, and discovery of new planets and phenomena is core gameplay."
Space Empires IV Deluxe
"Exploration of star systems, planets, and random events is a core gameplay element."
-
Expression
Game with the same Expression vibe
2"Some character and ship customization options exist, allowing for personal expression within the game."
Jump Space
"Some character and ship customization allows for player expression, though limited to gameplay mechanics."
-
Fantasy
Game with the same Fantasy vibe
3"Game features imaginative sci-fi setting with aliens and humorous story elements, providing a fictional experience."
Ancient Planet Tower Defense
"Game features imaginative sci-fi setting with alien species, space combat, and fictional events."
-
Fellowship
Game with the same Fellowship vibe
-4"Minimal social interaction; gameplay is focused on solo play and personal goals."
Jurassic World Evolution
"Minimal social interaction; gameplay is focused on solo play and individual objectives."
-
Growth
Game with the same Growth vibe
4"Players learn mechanics, improve strategies, and unlock new captains, ships, and perks over time."
From Glory To Goo
"Players learn game mechanics, improve strategies, and unlock new ships and perks over time."
-
Health
Game with the same Health vibe
-4"Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout
"Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."
-
Idle
Game with the same Idle vibe
-3"Requires focused attention and micromanagement; not designed for passive or background play."
KeeperRL
"Requires focused attention and micromanagement; not designed for passive or background play."
-
Intimacy
Game with the same Intimacy vibe
-4"No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing within the game."
No More Heroes 3
"No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing among players."
-
Leadership
Game with the same Leadership vibe
3"Players lead and manage the ship and crew, making strategic decisions and directing activities."
Stardeus
"Players lead and manage their ship crew and make strategic decisions."
-
Progression
Game with the same Progression vibe
4"Players accumulate resources, unlock parts, and upgrade ships and fleets over time."
Reassembly
"Players accumulate resources, unlock ships, and gain perks to improve future runs."
-
Relaxation
Game with the same Relaxation vibe
-2"Game is challenging and tense, requiring careful planning and attention."
Cogmind
"Game is challenging and tense, requiring constant attention and resource management."
-
Sensation
Game with the same Sensation vibe
2"Visual and auditory elements provide moderate sensory stimulation, but are simple and not intense."
Trick and Treat - Visual Novel
"Visual and auditory elements provide moderate sensory stimulation, though not highly intense."
-
Status
Game with the same Status vibe
-4"Achievements and progression are personal; no social recognition or popularity aspects."
The Slaverian Trucker
"Achievements and progression are personal; no social recognition or popularity aspects."
-
Story
Game with the same Story vibe
3"Includes some lore and graphic novel style events that add narrative immersion beyond gameplay."
Strinova
"Narrative elements and random events add lore and immersion to the gameplay."
-
Strategy
Game with the same Strategy vibe
5"Heavy emphasis on strategic planning, resource management, and tactical combat."
Songs of Syx
"Strong emphasis on tactical combat, resource management, and planning."
-
Thrill
Game with the same Thrill vibe
3"Tense combat and resource scarcity create suspense and excitement."
Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander
"Tense combat and resource scarcity create suspense and excitement."
-
Value
Game with the same Value vibe
4"Players perceive good value for time invested due to depth and replayability."
Project Hospital
"Players perceive good value for time invested due to depth, challenge, and replayability."
-
Violence
Game with the same Violence vibe
3"Combat involves destroying enemy ships with various weapons and abilities."
Ring Runner: Flight of the Sages
"Combat involves ship battles, weapons, and destruction of enemy ships."
-
Survival
Game with the same Survival vibe
4"Core gameplay involves avoiding failure, managing resources, and overcoming threats to survive runs."
Spirit Hunters: Infinite Horde
"Core gameplay involves managing resources and avoiding failure to survive through sectors."
Analysis
A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Leadership, Survival, Violence, Strategy. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation, Cooperation.
How to use the graph
Similar games map
Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.
- Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
- Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
- Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
- Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.
Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.
Last update: 30/04/2026