When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears is a story-driven, retro space shooter inspired by DOS-era space games like Star Control, Solar Winds, and Lightspeed. Blast your way through fast-paced arcade combat; build out modular, upgradable ships; and explore a galaxy torn by war.

<p class="bb_paragraph" ><i>When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears</i> is a story-driven, retro space shooter inspired by DOS-era space games like Star Control, Solar Winds, and Lightspeed. Blast your way through fast-paced arcade combat; build out modular, upgradable ships; and explore a galaxy torn by a war between a declining interstellar empire and the pirates who seek to hasten its demise.</p><h2 class="bb_tag" >Shoot it Out</h2><p class="bb_paragraph" >Test your reflexes in fast and deadly arcade-style space combat with modular ships. Your choice of weapon combinations drives different styles of play. Lasers fire fast but can overheat your ship. Missiles are devastating but have limited ammunition. Change your loadout to meet the mission.</p><p class="bb_paragraph" ></p><p class="bb_paragraph" ><span class="bb_img_ctn"><video class="bb_img" autoplay muted loop playsinline poster="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/524c58fbf198b169c7ab1f9715ce2728.poster.avif?t=1772250134" aria-label="Multiple ships shoot at each other, several are destroyed" width=1170 height=658 ><source src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/524c58fbf198b169c7ab1f9715ce2728.webm?t=1772250134" type="video/webm; codecs=vp9"><source src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/524c58fbf198b169c7ab1f9715ce2728.mp4?t=1772250134" type="video/mp4"></video></span></p><h2 class="bb_tag" >Modular Mayhem</h2><p class="bb_paragraph" >Take aim and destroy individual parts of enemy ships. Focus fire on enemy weapons to wreck them before they can fire again, or try to take out their engines so they'll be drifting dead in space. But watch out:  they can do the same to you. Take enough fire and you'll be limping back to base in an escape pod.</p><p class="bb_paragraph" ></p><p class="bb_paragraph" ><span class="bb_img_ctn"><video class="bb_img" autoplay muted loop playsinline poster="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/7c6ba345bcadf2b23701e795b95b906b.poster.avif?t=1772250134" aria-label="Two ships shoot at each other, destroying modules before one ship is fully destroyed" width=1170 height=658 ><source src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/7c6ba345bcadf2b23701e795b95b906b.webm?t=1772250134" type="video/webm; codecs=vp9"><source src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/7c6ba345bcadf2b23701e795b95b906b.mp4?t=1772250134" type="video/mp4"></video></span></p><h2 class="bb_tag" >Build your Ship</h2><p class="bb_paragraph" >Fly more than a dozen different ships composed of swappable modules. Every part of a ship can be replaced with one of fifty modules to transform a ship's capabilities. Is your ship too slow? Add a second engine. Are your lasers overheating?  Swap your escape pod for a heatsink. Discover new modules as you explore to open up even more options.</p><p class="bb_paragraph" ></p><p class="bb_paragraph" ><span class="bb_img_ctn"><video class="bb_img" autoplay muted loop playsinline poster="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/658ba6925d3b238e42d2af18786a1acc.poster.avif?t=1772250134" aria-label="A ship is modified using a shipyard interface" width=1170 height=658 ><source src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/658ba6925d3b238e42d2af18786a1acc.webm?t=1772250134" type="video/webm; codecs=vp9"><source src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/658ba6925d3b238e42d2af18786a1acc.mp4?t=1772250134" type="video/mp4"></video></span></p><h2 class="bb_tag" >Explore a Dangerous Galaxy</h2><p class="bb_paragraph" >Map the stars, find strange worlds, and meet the people, robots, and aliens struggling to survive in a war-torn galaxy. Untangle a morally ambiguous story of interstellar intrigue and conflict, and choose whether to aid or hinder those you meet. Will you help a dying republic survive, or deal the killing blow yourself?</p><p class="bb_paragraph" ></p><p class="bb_paragraph" ><span class="bb_img_ctn"><video class="bb_img" autoplay muted loop playsinline poster="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/c9dbc673b61a96273f068c40bace5315.poster.avif?t=1772250134" aria-label="A ship explores space and encounters a woman named Aemilia" width=1170 height=658 ><source src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/c9dbc673b61a96273f068c40bace5315.webm?t=1772250134" type="video/webm; codecs=vp9"><source src="https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/4464780/extras/c9dbc673b61a96273f068c40bace5315.mp4?t=1772250134" type="video/mp4"></video></span></p><h2 class="bb_tag" >Retro Design with a Modern Sensibility</h2><p class="bb_paragraph" ><i>When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears</i> is an homage to late 80's and early 90's space shooters, with hand-drawn pixel art using a 32-color palette and a retro-synth inspired soundtrack. But <i>When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears</i> adds modern design touches to smooth out the rough edges of those older games. A retro feel without the headaches.</p><p class="bb_paragraph" ></p>

Good Game Database

When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears Achievements