Spaceflight Simulator

Spaceflight Simulator is a physics-based sandbox video game developed by Romanian independent developer Stef Moroyna. The game was first released for mobile platforms in 2017 and later ported to personal computers via Steam in 2021. It falls under the simulation and construction genres, focusing on the design, assembly, and piloting of spacecraft within a simplified two-dimensional representation of a solar system. The game world includes celestial bodies such as the Sun, Earth, Moon, Mars, and Venus, each with realistic relative sizes, gravitational fields, and orbital mechanics. Players are not provided with a predefined narrative or campaign; instead, the primary objective is to achieve self-defined goals, such as reaching orbit, landing on a moon, or performing interplanetary transfers. The game’s physics engine simulates gravity, thrust, atmospheric drag, and collision dynamics, requiring players to account for delta-v budgets and trajectory planning. The visual style is minimalist, featuring a dark space background with pixel-art textures for planets and spacecraft components. The game supports modding, allowing the addition of custom parts, textures, and solar system configurations. No multiplayer or online connectivity is included; all gameplay occurs in a single-player offline environment.

Gameplay and controls are centered on a two-stage process: construction and flight. In the build interface, players select from a catalog of parts including fuel tanks, engines, command modules, parachutes, landing legs, and structural struts. Parts are placed on a grid-based assembly area by tapping or clicking to add components. The player must attach parts in a logical sequence, ensuring sufficient thrust-to-weight ratio and fuel capacity for the intended mission. The game provides a delta-v readout and a stage indicator to assist in planning. Once the rocket is assembled, the player launches by pressing a launch button. During flight, the primary controls are throttle adjustment and orientation. Throttle is controlled via a slider or keyboard keys (Z for full throttle, X for zero throttle on PC). Orientation is managed by tapping or clicking on the spacecraft to apply rotation, or by using the A and D keys for left and right rotation on PC. Staging is performed by pressing the spacebar or a dedicated stage button, which separates spent boosters or activates new engines. The game includes a time-warp feature, activated by buttons or the T key, to accelerate time during long coasting phases. A map view, toggled by the M key, displays orbital trajectories and allows the player to plan maneuvers by setting nodes for thrust direction and duration. No tutorial is provided; all mechanics must be learned through experimentation.