'Starfinder: Afterlight' brings Paizo's tabletop RPG to video games

'Starfinder: Afterlight' adapts the tabletop RPG to a video game with a Kickstarter soon, entering Early Access on PC in 2026.

: Paizo, known for its tabletop RPGs, is launching its first video game adaptation called 'Starfinder: Afterlight.' This single-player RPG is being developed by Epictellers Entertainment and will involve assembling a crew to save the galaxy through turn-based combat inspired by the tabletop version. Scheduled for a 2026 release on Steam Early Access, it will feature a branching narrative with various classes. The game will soon have a Kickstarter campaign, and its voice cast includes talents led by the director famous for 'Baldur's Gate 3's Astarion voice.

Starfinder: Afterlight marks the first-ever video game adaptation of Paizo’s science-fantasy tabletop RPG, Starfinder. Developed by Epictellers Entertainment in collaboration with Paizo, the game translates the rich world and mechanics of Starfinder into a single-player, party-based CRPG. Players will navigate a spacefaring narrative full of alien worlds, advanced technology, and moral complexity, aiming to stay true to the spirit of the original tabletop experience while offering a modern digital format.

The story centers on a crisis aboard a starship, where the captain has mysteriously vanished and a looming threat endangers the entire Pact Worlds system. Players can recruit up to six fully fleshed-out companions, each with distinct backstories and interactive questlines. These companions span archetypes like mystics, android assassins, and prophets, and their loyalties may shift based on the player's decisions, allowing for deep roleplaying and moral consequences.

Gameplay adopts the three-action turn-based system found in Starfinder Second Edition, offering tactical depth and character customization. Players will build their parties using familiar Starfinder classes such as Operative, Solarian, Mystic, and Witchwarper. Combat is grid-based and encourages careful planning, positioning, and the use of unique abilities, staying faithful to its tabletop roots while optimizing for digital play.

The game is expected to offer 40 to 60 hours of content, with multiple difficulty settings including a high-challenge tactical mode. It will launch a Kickstarter campaign soon, with Early Access on Steam planned for 2026. Voice acting is led by Neil Newbon, known for his role in Baldur's Gate 3, adding professional weight to the character performances. Mod support and community tools will also be included, reinforcing its appeal to RPG and Starfinder fans.

Starfinder: Afterlight seeks to blend the depth and branching narratives of classic CRPGs with the distinctive sci-fi worldbuilding of Paizo’s franchise. With an emphasis on player agency, tactical gameplay, and modding potential, the game is poised to attract both Starfinder veterans and new players looking for a spacefaring alternative to traditional fantasy RPGs.

Sources: Gizmodo, PC Gamer, RPGamer, Gematsu, WCCFTech

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