Afterlight, the upcoming Baldur's Gate 3-like CRPG?

It wasn't hard to predict Baldur's Gate 3 would encourage CRPG developers worldwide and upcoming Epictellers Starfinder: Afterlight is an early example of this. As the first ever video game from Epictellers, Starfinder: Afterlight it follows a pattern that is somewhat similar to the development process Baldur's Gate 3.

Unlike Baldur's Gate 3however, Starfinder: Afterlight it definitely has a sci-fi feel to it. This title may sound familiar to some fans of tabletop RPGs Starfinder is actually a TTRPG released in 2017 by Paizo, the same company Pioneer. But while Pioneer received numerous video game adaptations over the years, Afterlight will be the first ever video game based on Starfinder myth. Hopes are high, of course Starfinder: Afterlight's success as it promises to offer a unique take on the traditionally high fantasy CRPG space. Afterlight at the time of writing, it has raised nearly $1 million through Kickstarter, well above its original goal of $88,000 and indicating a critical level of audience hype.

What is Starfinder: Afterlight about?

The Starfinder Roleplaying game combines science fiction and fantasy to create a world defined by magic and technology. It is very clearly inspired by a number of successful sci-fi franchises, but its most obvious influence is Guardians of the Galaxyfrom which it borrows several designs, tones and elements of tradition. It is essential to Starfinder takes place in the same universe as Pioneeralbeit in the distant future. This continuity manifests itself in several ways, for example through Pioneer's fantasy races appearing in Starfinder.

IN Starfinder, Pioneer the home planet of Golarion mysteriously disappeared in an unexplained event called The Gap. This is used as context for world building in TTRPGs, but maybe Starfinder: Afterlight will offer interesting revelations about The Gap.

This combination D&D-esque fantasy staples and contemporary space opera conventions gives Starfinder a brand new setting where magic and elves rub shoulders with FTL travel, spaceships and blaster pistols. Starfinder: AfterlightThe actual plot is a little unclear at this point, but it seems to revolve around an encroaching darkness called the Afterlight that threatens to destroy the galaxy – unless, of course, the player and their motley crew stop it.

Starfinder: Afterlight's Companions

Companion characters are important in most RPGs, but they're absolutely essential in CRPGs, especially those trying to hone the TTRPG magic. Like its plot, Starfinder: AfterlightThe main cast is still somewhat of a mystery, but five of the six have been revealed via trailers and the Kickstarter campaign page:

Member of the party	Actor	Origin	Class and subclass	Background	Home world
Stryker bikes	Fred Tatasciore	Village	Solder (action hero)	Soldier	Village Prime
Silence	Inel Tomlinson	Ysoki	Operative (Infiltrator)	Scientist	Akiton
Preach & The Larva	Neil Newbon	Shirren	Mystic (healing)	Raised by faith	Castrovel
LU-323	Melissa Medina	Android	Envoy (in the spotlight)	Company representative	Unknown
Sterling	James Alexander	Human Borai	Solarian	Steward	Verses

Starfinder: Afterlight it also has a promising cast, including stars like Neil Newbon (Astarion), who voices Preach, and Roger Clark (Arthur Morgan), who plays the narrator. Newbon also came aboard the Epictellers team as Voice Acting Director, which the studio called invaluable.

Will Starfinder: Afterlight have romance?

In proper CRPG fashion, Starfinder: Afterlight will actually have romance options, allowing players to go through romantic plots with each party member, “plus some surprises,” according to Epictellers. It's not entirely clear how these romances will play out — and if they'll feature the same steamy cutscenes as something like Baldur's Gate 3—but at least Epictellers confirmed its existence.

How similar is Starfinder: Afterlight to Baldur's Gate 3?

Comparison of the upcoming CRPG with Baldur's Gate 3 it's easy, but how applicable is it in this case? Well, first of all, he directly quoted Epictellers Baldur's Gate 3 as inspiration in the past, but there are design elements that parallel Larian's seminal RPG. There are basic common features such as isometric perspective, but also more specific features:

Control system based on D20
“Story” and “tactical” difficulties
Optional supporting characters
Official mod support

Like Baldur's Gate 3, Starfinder: Afterlight will feature a turn-based combat system with integrated movement, although it will use z's famous three-action system Pioneer 2nd edition— the majority Starfinderthe rules are directly copied from Pioneer 2e. The three-action system is exactly what it sounds like: players can take three actions during their turn, whether it's a combination of three attacks, one move, two attacks, etc. However, some actions take up more than one action point.

Unfortunately, Epictellers has already confirmed this Starfinder: Afterlight it won't have multiplayer.

Many TTRPG enthusiasts claim that the three-action system is much better than that Dungeons & Dragons 5e action economy, which is used in Baldur's Gate 3so this resolution is promising to say the least. At the same time some Baldur's Gate 3 the fans can be turned off Starfinder: Afterlight's cel-shaded art style and a more upbeat, light-hearted tone. The game is still in early development and plans to launch early access in 2026, so it will be interesting to see how it develops.