Shortest Trip to Earth

Getting home sounds simple enough until every jump brings another crisis. One sector might leave you scrambling to repair damaged systems after a brutal battle, while the next has you stretching dwindling supplies and hoping your crew can survive whatever’s waiting beyond the next warp gate. Shortest Trip to Earth turns every decision into part of a much larger journey, where planning ahead is often just as important as winning the next fight.

Shortest Trip to Earth is a space simulation roguelite where you’ll command a starship across ten dangerous sectors on a desperate journey back to Earth. Along the way you’ll manage your crew, upgrade your ship, navigate random encounters, and survive real-time tactical battles, all while adapting to the unpredictable challenges each run presents.

What Makes It Different?

• Command a customizable starship across ten dangerous sectors
• Manage your crew, ship systems, and onboard resources
• Fight real-time tactical battles against a variety of threats
• Explore star systems filled with random encounters
• Upgrade your ship throughout each journey
• Unlock new starting perks between runs
• Balance exploration against the risks of staying too long

Every Jump Is a New Decision

Progress isn’t simply about reaching the next sector. Every stop along the way presents another choice, whether that’s exploring for valuable resources, avoiding unnecessary risks, or pressing forward before supplies begin to run low.

Those decisions naturally shape the pace of every journey. Taking time to investigate additional systems can leave you better prepared for what’s ahead, but it also creates more opportunities for something to go wrong.

Keeping Your Ship Together

Your ship is only as effective as the crew keeping it running. Battles, random events, and resource shortages constantly test your ability to prioritize repairs, manage your personnel, and respond to unexpected problems before they spiral out of control.

That steady balancing act gives every run a satisfying sense of tension. Even after surviving a difficult encounter, there’s always another challenge waiting just a few jumps away.

A Journey That Rewards Experience

Early attempts can be unforgiving, but every run teaches something new about managing your ship and navigating the dangers of deep space. As you continue playing, unlocked starting perks help future expeditions get off to a stronger start without removing the challenge of reaching Earth.

It’s that combination of long-term progression and unpredictable adventures that makes each journey feel worthwhile, even when things don’t go according to plan.

How Long Does a Run Take?

A successful run in Shortest Trip to Earth typically lasts 4 to 8 hours, taking you across 10 sectors on the journey back to Earth. Earlier runs often end within 1 to 3 hours as you learn the game’s systems, while exploring every star system and carefully managing battles can extend a playthrough even further.

Controller Support

No official controller support information is available for Shortest Trip to Earth.

Good If You Like…

If you enjoyed FTL: Faster Than Light, Jump Space, Crying Suns, and Cobalt Core, Shortest Trip to Earth offers a similarly rewarding mix of space exploration, ship management, and roguelite decision-making where every journey tells a different story.