Rocket Science

Rocket Science

Early access since Feb 2020

Take part in a space program. Design spacecrafts and send them off to explore the vast expanses of space. Experience the real scale of the Solar system and the size of its celestial bodies.

80% positive · 177 reviews
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned

Where to buy

Steam $19.99
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Evaluation

Rocket Science has been in Early Access since February 20, 2020 and remains there today. It is developed by a single developer (unbeGames) who has maintained an impressive and consistent record of major named updates over more than six years. The most recent major update, v0.25.7 "Radiant Veil," shipped on June 19, 2026 — exactly as announced on May 29, 2026. It delivered a sweeping graphics overhaul including volumetric clouds, a fully reworked ocean and buoyancy system, improved atmospheric rendering, reworked star rendering, and new rocket assembly tools. This was made possible by the developer forking Unity's HDRP rendering pipeline and rewriting large parts of it — a significant technical undertaking for a solo developer. Looking at the broader development timeline, the game has received at least six major named updates since September 2024 alone: v0.22.1 "Foundation" (September 2, 2024), v0.23 "Ascended Assembly" (December 27, 2024), v0.24.7 "Breaking Silence" (October 3, 2025), and v0.25.7 "Radiant Veil" (June 19, 2026), with several feature patches and bug fixes in between. This represents a sustained cadence of roughly one major update every 3–8 months. In a January 2025 development status post, the developer stated that v0.24 would be the last "system-like" update, after which the focus would shift to survival mode and adding game content. This signals a clear next phase of development ahead. The game's own store description outlines a four-stage roadmap, with only Stage 1 currently marked "Operational" and Stages 2–4 (building a new space center, Mars super-heavy rockets, and an extraterrestrial base) still to come. A March 2022 post described serious disruption caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and potential loss of income. However, the developer has continued shipping major updates consistently since then, demonstrating that those difficulties did not halt development.
Evidence
Major update v0.25.7 'Radiant Veil' released with volumetric clouds, reworked ocean and buoyancy, improved atmosphere and star rendering, and new rocket assembly tools — delivered on the date announced May 29, 2026.
news post · Jun 19, 2026 source content shipped
high
Developer announced v0.25 'Radiant Veil' release date of June 19, 2026, describing major graphics improvements from forking Unity's HDRP rendering pipeline.
news post · May 29, 2026 source content planned
high

Content

2 of 2 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
unbeGames
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player

About this game

"Rocket Science" is a declassified Soviet Union space program that aims to conquer Mars and the entire Solar system. According to official documents that have been unearthed, it consists of the following main stages:

===== Source =====

Stage 1. From 20 February 2000 [Operational]

Transfer to a designated person control of an abandoned Soviet cosmodrome located at the coordinates 50° 35' 13" N and 130° 23' 50" E ... as well as all the stockpiled spacecraft components, so that assembly and launchpad operations can be carried out in order to find optimal configurations for putting cargo and satellites into Earth and near-Earth orbit.

Stage 2. [Approval in progress]

Organize the building of a new-generation space center on the cosmodrome site. Restrict the construction of surface buildings so as to ensure the facility's security and secrecy. Give the go-ahead for the construction and commissioning of underground facilities. Transfer the facility from state financing to full self-sufficiency.

Stage 3. [At the planning stage]

Conduct R&D on super-heavy rockets capable of delivering equipment, cargo and people onto the Martian surface. Start building an extraterrestrial base and ensure the continuous flow of supplies to it.

Stage 4. [Data corrupted]

===== End Source =====

Take part in the first stage of the space program right now!

Design

Assemble spacecraft and rockets from over 30 available parts with varying physical parameters. The parts can be joined together through a system of connectors and slots. This significantly reduces the number of non-viable configurations without limiting the flights of your imagination.

Launch

Put the rockets under your direct control or make flight plans and launch automated missions. But remember that going into orbit around a real planet is far more complicated than orbiting an asteroid.

Explore

You've never been on Everest? Have you dreamed of visiting the Moon? Just send a spacecraft there and enjoy the view you'll get.

Additional game features

  • The Solar system and celestial bodies are modeled to scale (currently all inner planets and their sattelites are available for exploration).

  • A physically accurate simulation of the Earth's atmosphere with a seamless transition into space will make your game session unforgettable.

  • The planets' surfaces are generated from NASA elevation maps, and a procedural approach control is used to add fine detail.

  • Realistic rocket physics and orbital mechanics.

  • Speeding up of time by a maximum factor of 10 even while the engines are running.

  • More than 75 parts are available to design your dream spacecraft: command modules, engines and fuel tanks, control and orientation systems, structural elements, decouplers and docking ports, as well as batteries and solar panels.

  • Detailed configuration of some rocket parts and the ability to change their physical parameters.

  • The engines use real fuel pairs rather than an abstract "fuel" and "oxidizer".

And much more in future updates. You can examine the development plan in the Early Access section of the game page.

Last evaluated Aug 17, 2026
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