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About Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters
Free Stars: The Ur‑Quan Masters puts you in command of humanity’s last starship after Earth is sealed behind a hostile forcefield. The open‑world galaxy is filled with thousands of worlds, quirky alien races, and a story that pays homage to classic science‑fiction authors.
You can explore, gather resources, and build a fleet while engaging in fast‑paced star‑ship combat. The game offers a single‑player adventure, a standalone Super Melee mode, and multiplayer options, all available for free under an open‑source license.
01 / THE GUIDE
Galaxy Exploration
The galaxy contains nearly 500 star systems filled with alien worlds that can be visited by traveling through extra‑dimensional HyperSpace. Exploration lets you discover resources and technology that are needed to upgrade your flagship and expand your fleet.
Exploring these worlds also introduces you to a wide variety of alien species, each with its own motives. By visiting many planets you can see how the game’s setting builds a sense of scale and variety across the galaxy.
- Visit planets to gather the resources and technology scattered across the galaxy.
- Note visual differences between systems to help locate unique habitats.
02 / THE GUIDE
Starship Combat
Combat features fast‑paced battles using 25 distinct starships, each with its own attacks and powers. You can fight computer‑controlled AI, friends, or other human opponents in the main adventure or in a separate mode.
The Super Melee mode isolates ship‑to‑ship fighting, allowing you to practice tactics without the surrounding story. Whether you play solo or with another player, the combat system remains the same set of ships and abilities.
- Try several ship classes to see which attack patterns suit you best.
- Watch enemy firing patterns in Super Melee to improve your own timing.
03 / THE GUIDE
Alien Interactions
The galaxy is populated by an eclectic cast of alien characters, all voiced in full English. You can befriend, threaten, or fight them, and each interaction is a chance to befriend, threaten, or fight them.
These characters display a range of personalities—from humorous to bizarre—providing distinct dialogue that can reveal motives or present obstacles depending on how you engage with them.
- Listen carefully to alien dialogue for clues about their goals.
- Experiment with both friendly and hostile approaches to see how the narrative reacts.
04 / THE GUIDE
Multiplayer Modes
Free Stars supports online PvP, shared/split‑screen PvP, and a standalone Super Melee mode that can be played against AI or another human. These options exist alongside the single‑player adventure, giving you flexibility in how you experience combat.
Both online and split‑screen formats let you duel friends or strangers, while Super Melee can serve as a practice arena before larger battles. The game does not require a separate mode to access these features.
- Test online and split‑screen PvP to discover which feels smoother on your setup.
- Use Super Melee as a warm‑up before entering story‑driven combat.
05 / THE GUIDE
Open‑Source Modding
Released under an open‑source license, the game’s code and content are freely available for modification. Players can tinker with the engine, add new ships, or adjust gameplay elements without needing additional purchases.
Community contributions keep the game evolving, and the open nature allows anyone to experiment with changes, compare outcomes, and share their work with others.
- Start by browsing the freely available open-source code and content to see how the game is built.
- Compare a mod’s ship stats to the base game to see its impact.
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