Tin Can
Released May 2022
You've barely managed to escape your exploding spaceship. Now in an old escape pod, you hurtle through space at the mercy of the cosmos. With no knowledge of the pod’s complex systems, your life depends on a technical manual and your own wits. How long can you survive?
84% positive · 1,357 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
Medium confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
Medium confidence
Where to buy
Steam $9.99 $19.99 −50%
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Evaluation
Tin Can launched its 1.0 release on May 12, 2022, graduating from Early Access. At launch, the developers noted that VR mode was still in progress and would be delivered as a free update — a promise they fulfilled on February 27, 2026, when full VR support shipped to all owners at no extra cost.
Following the VR launch, the developers posted a patch on March 24, 2026 to address VR-specific bugs. Then, on April 19, 2026, the studio announced their next game, Space Chaos, framing it explicitly as their new project "after Tin Can." The post thanks players for their support on Tin Can and directs attention to the new title — a clear signal that the studio's focus has moved on.
The VR update post from February 27, 2026 mentions that a Meta Quest port is "something we'd like to pursue" if VR stabilizes, but this is framed as a speculative future platform port rather than a commitment to new game content for Tin Can. The subsequent announcement of a new game on April 19, 2026 further suggests the studio has concluded active development on Tin Can and moved on.
With all previously promised content (VR mode) now delivered, no unreleased DLC on the store, no announced future content, and the studio publicly pivoting to a new game, Tin Can appears to be content-complete as of the February 27, 2026 VR update.
Evidence
Studio announces their next game, Space Chaos, explicitly framing it as what they've been working on 'after Tin Can.' Post thanks players for their support on Tin Can, signaling the studio's focus has shifted to the new title.
Full VR support launched for all owners at no additional cost, fulfilling the promise made at the 1.0 launch. Post mentions a speculative Meta Quest port may be pursued if VR stabilizes, but no timeline or commitment given.
Content
1 of 1 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Tin Can Studio
Achievements
20
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player
About this game
!Hailing All Frequencies!
Beware space travellers! Surviving aboard the Tin Can is no trivial matter and can get quite frantic. Without a good look at the systems surrounding you, your onboard manual and patience, the only thing awaiting you is a cold (or hot) cosmic death.Consider yourselves warned. Good luck!
"In space, tech support can't hear you scream!"
Get your hands dirty!
"What a mess! The oxygen generator refuses to start up...I hope it's just the fuse cutting down the power and not some kind of issue with the atomic pile!"
- All the systems inside your escape pod are made up of many different components, from fuses to air filters. They are all interconnected and have their own critical function.
Listen to your body!
"My vision has been blurry for a while now and it's getting worse! I really need to find that leak before I pass out!"
- When all your systems are failing, in the dark, only the sound of your heartbeat and your shallow breathing will alert you of your imminent death. O², CO², atmospheric pressure, and temperature are realistically simulated for maximum immersion.
Your life hangs by a thread...don't lose focus!
"These incomprehensible error codes again!? Where is the damn manual? This pod’s a mess! Ah! Here it is!"
- The manual inside your pod is filled with detailed information that could very well save your life.
Plan ahead!
"What a view! Is it me or it is getting hot in here, though?"
- From asteroid fields to nebulae, these cosmic monsters will wreak havoc on your systems and won’t give you a lot of time to breathe...
Good luck!
Strong Points
- Manage pod systems down to every single component.
- Numerous systems which all have their own unique function and serve to ensure your survival. Every system is interconnected, from the oxygen generator to the emergency lights.
- Over a dozen different components, all having their own specific function and causing different problems when damaged. Ex : Defective buttons won’t trigger properly when pressed, while faulty electrical connectors won’t deliver enough power.
- Organic failures thanks to the simulated nature of resources and components inside the game. You will have to figure out what is wrong and retrace failures back to the source.
- Dismantle, swap and fix anything inside the pod.
- Realistic management of vital resources, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, temperature and radiation. There are no arbitrary numbers here. The levels of these resources required for survival are based on real life!
- An onboard manual providing detailed information about your escape pod.
- Real medical symptoms instead of health bars. For example, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) will make you breathe faster and stronger, will make your vision blurry and will slow down your movements until you fall unconscious.
- Cosmic events will strike your pod and will have different types of impact on its systems. From flying near the surface of a star that will cause overheating to asteroid fields that will pierce your hull, you need to anticipate and deal with the situations as they come to avoid certain death.
Background:
As a random member of your colony's space program, you leave Mars aboard a large transport ship, only for its reactor to go critical in the middle of your journey to new horizons. All your time spent in the simulator did not prepare you for such a dire situation! Now, drifting in your escape pod, without any FTL capabilities, you realize that an easy way out was not included. Use your own wits to fix systems in a similar way you would fix and build your own PC, by swapping and fixing individual components. With a bit of luck, you might be able to finally find a safe haven.Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 25, 2026
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