Space Engineers is a voxel-based open world, developed and published by Czech Republic independent developer Keen Software House. In 2013, the initial developmental release of the game joined the Steam early access program. During the following years of active development, Space Engineers sold over one million units. As of 2024, the game has sold over 5 million copies. In May 2015, for approximately a year and a half, the game's source code was officially available and maintained by KSH to assist the modding community. On December 15, 2016, the game entered Beta and was later officially released on February 28, 2019.
Once in-game, the player controls a customizable astronaut, known as a "Space Engineer," equipped with tools including a drill, welder, and grinder (if enabled). Gameplay revolves around the construction and management of voxel-based structures, starting with the placement of foundational blocks. Players can create grids by placing blocks freely in open space, which form the basis of ships, stations, or other constructs.
Each block has specific properties, serving structural, functional, aesthetic, or interactive roles. For example, armor blocks are the primary building material and can deform or be destroyed through collisions or weapon fire. Functional blocks, such as assemblers and refineries, require power, which can be generated by solar panels or reactors.
Grids are classified as small or large based on initial block size. A block intersecting terrain forms a station, and a stationary large grid ship can be converted to a station via the ship interface. Functional connections often use conveyors for resource and power transfer. Grids can connect through methods like connector blocks or landing gear.
All placeable objects can be colored before they are placed using a slider-based graphical user interface (GUI). Players can adjust the hue, saturation, and value of the color, allowing for a wide spectrum of options. There are 14 slots available to save new colors for future use within the same world.
Astronauts can move freely in all environments using a Jet pack, which allows for six degrees of motion: forward, backward, up, down, left, and right. In gravitational fields (natural or artificial), movement is restricted to a standard horizontal plane when the jetpack is disabled, mimicking standard terrestrial physics. "Mag-boots" enable players to walk on surfaces lacking gravity but will disengage upon jumping.
Asteroids and planets are made up of terrain voxels, which are significantly different from blocks. While players can destroy these terrain voxels, they cannot create them unless they are in creative mode. Celestial objects, such as planets and asteroids, are fixed in space and do not move. However, rock and mineral chunks that have been mined are affected by gravity and will react accordingly. Asteroids can take on various basic shapes, including spherical, toroidal, and rod-shaped forms, as well as other variations or combinations of these shapes.
Planets are somewhat resource-rich, though extraction of useful products from the surface can be difficult. Resources are spread out, and due to planetary gravity and the inefficiency of ion engines within the atmosphere, the player must build ground-based alternatives. Atmospheric flight is possible even on worlds with oxygen-deprived atmospheres. In order to leave a planet, the player will need to use hydrogen engines with sufficient fuel or build a hybrid spacecraft with atmospheric engines (for liftoff) and ion engines (upper atmosphere to space).
Planets in Space Engineers were released on November 12, 2015, after being in development since February 2015. There are several types of planets, themed after Earth, the Moon, Mars, Titan, Europa, and an "alien" planet. All of these feature multiple space stations that can be traded with for entire grids and materials or gases. The alien planets feature Sabiroids, hostile 6-legged, spider-like NPCs, and the Earth-like planet features wolves, hostile dog-like NPCs.
In multiplayer, players can connect with others through various options:
Multiplayer supports collaborative construction, resource sharing, and competitive gameplay, enabling large-scale projects or faction-based conflict. Server settings can be customized to include rules, mods, and gameplay scenarios.
Mods can be accessed and shared through two platforms:
The modding community is said to by Keen to be highly active, creating content ranging from decorative blocks to performance optimizations and advanced scripting tools. Players can integrate mods into both single-player and multiplayer sessions, with dedicated servers often running mod lists to create distinguishable experiences. Players can also share their in game grid designs on these websites in the form of blueprints.
Each probe also possesses a button, which when pressed has a chance to reward the player with a collectible skin, similar to a loot box. The skin can be for the player character's helmet, suit, boots, or tools, and can be traded or sold on the Steam Market. Each skin can be obtained for free in-game, with the exception of three sets: the Veteran Set, which was awarded to players who had owned the game before and played between August and September 2017; the Medieval Set, which is awarded to players who also own Medieval Engineers; and the Golden Set, which is awarded to players who purchase the Space Engineers Deluxe Edition.
On May 14, 2015, the source code was made source available on GitHub to the public SpaceEngineers on github.com to allow easier modding. In February 2016 more parts of the game's source code were released. Space Engineers News: Full Source Code Access with Planets + DX9 Changes on marekrosa.org (February 2016) Updates to the public code repository were discontinued at the end of 2016.
Decorative Pack #1 | 2019 April | New small and large cockpit blocks designed for better downward visibility than existing models. Additionally, the pack contained various interior furnishings for large ships, crawlers, and fixed installations. | ||
Style Pack | 2019 June | Additional engineer suit models and emotes, as well as new block texture overlays. | ||
Economy | Added NPC trading stations, NPC factions, a faction reputation system and faction icons. | Economy Deluxe | 2019 August 22 | Adds vending machine and ATM blocks, as well as additional suits, block texture overlays, Safe zone textures, and additional faction icons. |
Decorative Pack #2 | 2019 October | Adds Dispenser and jukebox blocks, a transparent LCD panel (useful for creating custom Head-up display), various interior furnishings and window blocks, new catwalk blocks, railings, stairs and half stairs, a rotating warning light fixture, and a small collection of decorative metal crates. | ||
Frostbite Pack | Added a new planet (Triton), and the Frostbite scenario. | Frostbite | 2020 March 19 | Adds the Frostbite Scenario, the Antenna Dish, decorative engineer cadavers (skeletons in suits, for atmosphere), a 7.5m wide by 5m tall airtight door block, an offset door, a blizzard-themed block texture overlay, a pair of "I’m Cold" and "Checking suit vitals display" emotes, and some LCD posters. |
Sparks of the Future | Added Global Automatic Weather to planets. | Sparks of the Future Pack | 2020 June 24 | Includes a set of decorative neon tubes, sci-fi versions of various blocks such as the "Ion" and "Atmospheric" thrusters, LCD panels, Interior walls, button panels, sliding doors, and various button panels. Also includes a Sci-fi block texture overlay, two "Neon" block texture overlays, 8 new emotes, and a bar counter. |
Wasteland | Added a new planet (Pertam), and the Scrap Race scenario | Wasteland Pack | 2020 November 25 | Adds a set of wheels with airless tyres, an exhaust pipe block, a buggy-style cockpit, two automotive-style lighting blocks, an assortment of "barred" window blocks, two view port blocks, three flavours of Storage Shelves (with crafting recipes that correspond to the items shown on the shelves), three block texture overlays ("Concrete", "Dust", "Rust 2", and "Retro future"), a "Scavenger" engineer suit model, and two new character emotes. |
Warfare I | Added 3 pistols, 2 handheld rocket launchers, and the Uranium Heist scenario. | Field Engineer | 2021 April 22 | Adds the "Fire Cover" and "Half window" blocks, a weapon rack block, five new "passageway" blocks, an embrasure block, two new emotes, and the "Assault" suit. |
Heavy Industry | Added magnetic plates and plate armor blocks. | Heavy Industry Pack | 2021 July 28 | Adds a Large (7.5m by 7.5m) Magnetic plate, a set of truss beam blocks and Industrial conveyor pipes, a decorative cylindrical column block, a vertical button panel, remodeled versions of the Large Hydrogen Tank; Large Cargo Container; Refinery; Assembler; and Hydrogen Thrusters. And a hazard pattern block texture overlay. |
Warfare II | Added various turrets and block weapons, and a fire control computer for providing elevation and azimuth data to player-made turrets. | Broadside Pack | 2022 February 4 | A model and texture overhaul of the nuclear reactors; battery blocks; airtight hangar doors; rocket pod and gatling gun; and couch block. It also contains a "searchlight" block (a spotlight-camera-turret combo), a heat vent block, a set of bridge windows, a light panel, a "helm" station, a new helmet, a reinforced sliding door, and two new emotes. |
Most Wanted | Free update that added New Armor shapes, conveyors, round windows and tons of other blocks requested by community | 2022 April 28 | - | |
Automatons | Added grid AI blocks and event controller that made automation of your ships and drones possible. Also Willis Ducts, 2x2 wheels, full block air vent, small connector and combat improvements. | Automatons Pack | 2023 April 13 | Emotion Controller, Saddle Cockpit, Compact Saddle Cockpit, Robot Helmet Skin, Plastic Armor Skin, Warning Signs, Top Mounted Camera, Angled Interior Walls, Inset Light Block, Pipework Blocks, Access Panels, Air Vent Fan, Automaton Programmable Block, Automaton Timer Block, Automaton Sensor. |
Warfare Evolution | Added new PvP scenario Space Standoff, performance and AI improvements, Round Armor Panels, Short Wheel Suspensions, Flat Atmospheric Thrusters, Control Pedestals and AI Warning Signs. | Decorative Pack #3 | 2023 August 29 | Warworn Armor Skin, Cab Cockpit, Twin-blade Wind Turbine, Colorable Solar Panels, Holo LCD, Inset LCD panel, Sloped LCD panel, Curved LCD panel, Round Beacon, Inset Couch, Inset Bed, Inset Button Panel, Entertainment Corner, Inset Bookshelf, Inset Aquarium, Inset Kitchen, Inset Cryo Room, Corner Medical Room, Half Bed, Half Bed Open, Scaffold Set, Crates & Barrels and Explosive Barrel. |
Signal | Added Broadcast Controller, Action Relay, Additional Round Armor Panels, Compact Antenna, Scenario selection menu overhaul, New Red Ship Starting Scenario, Claiming NPC Grids, QoL improvements + PvE preparation | Signal Pack | 2024 May 13 | Truss Set, Corridor Blocks, Narrow Corridor & Stowage, Narrow Door, Inset Walls Set, Decorative Console Blocks, Bay Windows Set, Extra Live Orchestra Jukebox Tracks. |
Contact | PvE Encounters (Planetary & Global), Faction Changes, The Factorum & Prototech endgame blocks, Toolbar Actions, Inset Connector, Ownership Changes, AI Improvements, more and upgraded Official Servers, QoL improvements | Contact Pack | 2024 October 14 | Gatling Turret Type II, Rocket Turret Type II, Small Gate Tall, Small Gate Wide, Modular Bridge Set, Captain’s Desk, Square Piston, Flood Light Set, Parabolic Antenna, Kitchen set, First Aid Cabinet, Bunk, Modular Cargo Container, Media Player. |
Fieldwork | Added Prototech Fusion Reactor, Small Oxygen Tank, Large Grid Small Connector, Refill Station, Complete Cargo Ships Overhaul, Complete Unknown Signals Overhaul, additional Set Value Actions and many QoL Improvements | Fieldwork Pack | 2025 April 28 | Lab Desks, Lab Experiments, Lab Vat, Lab Freezer, Lab Sliding Doors, Lab O2/H2 Generator, Lab Small H2 Tank, Lab Small O2 Tank, Lab H2 Tank, Round Passages, Pipes, Decorative Floors, Cargo Access Terminals, Exhaust Cap. |
Apex Survival | Added Food System, Farming & Harvesting, Meaningful Death & New Buff System, Reorganized World Settings, New Consumables, New Environmental Hazards (Radiation, Weather, Meteor overhaul), 30 New Random Encounters | Apex Survival Pack | 2025 September 8 | Welder Type II, Grinder Type II, Drill Type II, Half Oxygen Farm, Half Algae Farm, Inset Terrarium Desert, Inset Terrarium Forest, Inset Planter, Survival Kit Type II, Ore Detector Type II, Storage Bin Set, Conduit Set, Warning Signs |
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