EDIT: This game WAS given a 5-star rating by me previously. I am - until the problem is fixed - amending that to a 1-star rating, as the current state is broken.

Dev has uploaded a version of the game that's locked behind a third-party launcher app (Steam) instead of the correct standalone version of the game. At present, this renders the game unplayable to me. Below is my original review, as that still stands for people who do use Steam. I am not able to do so (Valve's fault), so this has functionally removed my access to the game until it's fixed.

If you've played FTL, the gameplay will feel familiar, but it's not so close that it feels like a mod. If you're familiar with Warhammer 40K, the ship designs take some obvious inspiration, and there's a lot of not-so-subtle hints that this setting is similar. The combination of FTL style crew management and a grimdark sci-fi world works beautifully.

I won't go into a lot of detail about the small differences this game has from FTL, but it's worth covering a few of them quickly. When you start, you pick a captain and a ship separately, with the option to create synergies or cover weaknesses right from the start. Missiles operate on a separate system from other weapons, which changes up how they're used, and they share ammunition with artillery systems. Lance weapons start fully charged, but have a limited number of shots per jump. Oxygen moves a bit differently from how it does in FTL, making it slightly harder to refill an empty room, but also harder to lose all your oxygen while life support is still running. Crew don't gain experience just by doing things, but have varied bonuses and the ability to use different types of equipment.

If nothing else, it's worth trying the demo for yourself. It sold me on the game, and gives a good feel for a lot of how the game differs from others like it.