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About Shortest Trip to Earth
Shortest Trip to Earth is a roguelike spaceship simulator that blends exploration, ship management, and real‑time tactical battles. Players navigate a procedurally generated universe filled with exotic lifeforms, hostile ships, boarding parties, and inter‑dimensional monsters. The game features modular ship customization, a variety of crew, pets and drones, and hundreds of multiple‑choice events illustrated by hand‑drawn art. Permadeath is unforgiving, but unlockable perks can improve survival chances on subsequent runs.
01 / THE GUIDE
Procedurally Generated Universe
The universe is generated anew for each playthrough, offering massive space sectors that differ each run. This ensures that exploration remains fresh, with new layouts, resources, and threats to discover. Players encounter a wide range of exotic lifeforms and other deadly threats, making each sector a unique challenge to navigate and survive.
- Take notes on sector layouts to compare different runs.
- Observe how resource distribution changes between generations.
02 / THE GUIDE
Ship Customisation and Modules
Each ship can be equipped with modular components, perks, weapons, and nukes, allowing players to tailor strengths and weaknesses. Over 500 ship modules provide diverse strategic options. Customization extends to crew, pets, and drones, all of which can be managed from within the vessel to support combat and survival needs.
- Experiment with different module combinations to find a balanced setup.
- Consider how crew abilities complement your chosen weapons.

03 / THE GUIDE
Real‑Time Tactical Space Battles
Combat occurs in real time, pitting the player’s ship against hostile vessels, boarding parties, and inter‑dimensional monsters. Tactical decisions must be made quickly to survive encounters. Onboard combat adds another layer, as hostile intruders, drones, and battle‑hardened pets can engage the player directly inside the ship.
- Prioritize targeting the most threatening enemy first.
- Use ship weapons in coordination with onboard pets for synergy.
04 / THE GUIDE
Crew, Drones, and Combat Pets
The game offers over 50 types of crew, drones, and combat pets, each bringing unique abilities to the ship. Crew weapons number more than 30, providing varied offensive options. A selection of crew types and battle‑hardened pets can influence both space and onboard encounters, adding depth to management decisions.
- Mix crew types to cover multiple combat roles.
- Observe how pets affect boarding fight outcomes.
05 / THE GUIDE
Permadeath and Unlockable Perks
Shortest Trip to Earth features unforgiving permadeath, ending a run permanently upon death. However, players can unlock perks that increase survival odds in future attempts. These perks are earned through gameplay and provide incremental advantages, helping to mitigate the harshness of permanent loss.
- Focus on unlocking perks that improve survivability early.
- Track which perks have the greatest impact on your playstyle.





COMMUNITY
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