ZeroSpace from Starlance Studios, Ironward and Gamersky Games is a self-described hybrid RTS / RPG game. In ZeroSpace, players will take on the role of a commander of The Protectorate, a galactic force dedicated to securing humanity’s future in the galaxy.
While that all sounds great on paper, does the game actually deliver on what it sets out to do, and is it worth picking up in Early Access right now?
What Is ZeroSpace?
ZeroSpace kicks off with players being put into the shoes of Legate Aster, a Protectorate officer on a mission to planet Vyrellis, a planet overgrown with Koru, a special type of plant that’s essential to space travel. Koru produces Flux, a resource that’s necessary for humanity’s spacefaring ambitions since it allows faster-than-light travel. Unfortunately for humans, though, the Grell, a vicious alien plant/insectoid race seems to have a symbiotic relationship with the Koru and will do anything in their power to destroy mankind.
However, these aren’t the only factions in the game. Later on, you’ll encounter the Legion and also the Xol. Each faction in ZeroSpace has its own motivations for conflict and survival in the galaxy, and the Protectorate will have its work cut out for it in just trying to survive in the far reaches of space.
A Mixture of RTS and RPG Gameplay
Gameplay in ZeroSpace is a mixture of RTS and RPG mechanics. In the RTS component of gameplay in the campaign, you will command your forces to complete set objectives in story missions. While completing objectives, you’ll listen to voice chatter and the game’s story will progress. You’ll also be treated to cinematics where more of the story gets fleshed out.
In the RPG component of the game, you will move your character from an isometric or top-down viewpoint and interact with other NPCs and have conversations with them. You can then select from multiple dialogue options and it all feels very reminiscent of Mass Effect, to be quite honest. This is definitely not a bad thing, and the game’s story actually drew me in quite quickly since it seems rather well done so far. The dialogue is also all fully voiced and this is great because it helps with immersion in the game’s world and lore.
Classic RTS Gameplay With StarCraft Influences
Coming back to the RTS gameplay, ZeroSpace feels like a great RTS game which draws inspiration from the greats of yesteryear. There’s a very clear StarCraft influence here and you can immediately tell that the developers were fans of it back in the day. A lot of the system mechanics are very StarCraft-like and that’s great because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Early Access Issues and Rough Edges
Currently as it stands right now though, the game does suffer from a few hiccups and jankyness. For example, during cutscenes, I’ve noticed quite a few visual artifacts and problems with the animations. Characters seem a bit stiff and could use a bit more refinement or polish. Some of the user interface could also use some work since it’s rather difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for.
In-game, during RTS gameplay segments, there seems to be an issue with pathing and attacking, especially when using vehicles alongside smaller infantry units. However, for the most part, the game plays rather smoothly and way better than I was expecting.
ZeroSpace Early Access Content and Game Modes
ZeroSpace might be in Early Access but I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen and played so far. There’s currently a single player campaign with 15 main story missions (As of September 2026) with the promise of more to come, a versus mode, a Survival mode and a noteworthy mode called Galactic War.
Galactic War serves a persistent online mode where factions will fight for survival. Unfortunately though this seems to be half-baked right now and seems to rely on other players and a community which isn’t a good idea when the game’s playerbase is currently rather small. A persistent online faction based war and map works when there’s an active, large community and playerbase. Something like what’s seen in Helldivers 2 for example works because there’s a large community and unfortunately, as it stands right now, ZeroSpace just doesn’t have that yet in its Early Access form.
Mission Length and Difficulty
Coming back to the RTS gameplay for a bit, ZeroSpace seems to check a lot of the right boxes but falters somewhat when it comes to difficulty and length. Missions seems to be over very quickly and since there’s only 15 missions currently available, players will breeze through this in no time flat.
There also seems to be more emphasis on just throwing as many units as possible towards enemies and hoping for the best rather than some actual strategy being applied here. This might change as the game gets patched and updated with new content but that’s how it felt right now playing through the campaign.
Final Thoughts on the ZeroSpace Early Access Build
ZeroSpace undeniably has a tonne of potential. The game has a solid core framework established and just needs to be developed further into something that will really shine. It’s also priced really well on Steam and given the amount of content in the game right now, I can safely say that it’s worth picking up even in Early Access form. When the full game eventually releases, I’m hoping that it will be something that gets picked up and maintained for years to come as a proper RTS.
We’re currently starved for games in the genre with very few and far between that can scratch the itch that StarCraft 2 and Command and Conquer could back in the day. ZeroSpace has the potential to be great and I hope it really does reach it when it reaches its 1.0 release build.
Read more awesome previews >>here<<.
The game was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
The Code was Provided to us to preview the game in early access NOT to review as the game is not complete.
ZeroSpace Preview Q&A
What is ZeroSpace?
ZeroSpace is a hybrid RTS/RPG from Starlance Studios, Ironward and Gamersky Games, combining real-time strategy battles with story-driven RPG elements.
What platforms is ZeroSpace available on?
ZeroSpace is available on PC through Steam Early Access.
What is the gameplay like in ZeroSpace?
Players command armies in RTS missions while exploring environments, talking to NPCs and making dialogue choices in RPG sections.
Does ZeroSpace have a single-player campaign?
Yes. The Early Access version features a single-player campaign with 15 main story missions as of September 2026.
What game modes does ZeroSpace include?
ZeroSpace features a single-player campaign, versus mode, Survival mode and Galactic War, a persistent online faction-based experience.
Is ZeroSpace similar to StarCraft?
Yes. ZeroSpace takes clear inspiration from classic RTS games such as StarCraft, with familiar strategic mechanics and army-based combat.
Is ZeroSpace worth playing in Early Access?
Yes. Despite some technical issues, short missions and an underdeveloped Galactic War mode, ZeroSpace has a promising foundation and is worth considering for RTS fans.
