The Long Journey Home might finally make it this year

The Long Journey Home has seen some delays—from the first half of 2016, to the second half of 2016, and now, in 2017, to a decidedly "coming soon" status. This first game from Daedalic Studio West (a subsidiary of Daedalic Entertainment) takes us on a procedurally generated sci-fi adventure, stemming from the other end of the galaxy, to bring a ship and her crew home.

The ISS Daedalus went for man's first jump-drive test to Alpha Centauri. But, as these things go, something went wrong. Now the eclectic crew has to navigate the stormy seas of outer space, the other wild and woolly species populating the galaxy, and, hopefully, the hopes and fears they find in themselves.

I'm intrigued by the uncommon mix of 2D planetary sidescrolling, 2D topdown galactic exploration, and old school telecom screen meetups with other aliens. It's weird that the video doesn't clue you in to the size and personality of the ship's crew. Perhaps I'm overestimating their role-playing involvement, or perhaps Daedalic Studio West is just keeping an ace up its sleeve. Either way, Daedalic is invoking the holy names of Firefly and Farscape into its description, so let's hope they're not being flippant about that.

The Long Journey Home (formerly Project Daedalus: The Long Journey Home, and not to be confused with Journey, The Longest Journey, or Home) is coming soon to PC.

There are a million worlds in the galaxy. Only one of them is Home.

It was supposed to be a short test run - a quick flight to Alpha Centauri and back. But when mankind’s first experimental jump drive goes wrong, a misfit crew finds itself trapped on the wrong side of the universe - alone, injured, falling apart. The only way back… is through.

Explore an endlessly shifting universe. Form alliances with strange aliens, from the noble Wolphax Knights to cruel-minded Ilitza slaver empire. Harness your crew’s skills in everything from research to archeology to diplomacy. Learn the laws of an often hostile universe, and make tough decisions that may change it forever. Do whatever it takes to get back to Earth.

The Long Journey Home combines the endless freedom of space with a new open questing system that always leaves you in command. Deliver the stranded Glukkt to his homeworld as he asks, or to your new slaver friends? Attempt to make allies with everyone, or pin your hopes on the tougher races, and hope they never turn on you? Jump by jump, make hard decisions and live with the consequences, in a universe that is never the same twice.

One mission. Endless adventures.

Where will your Journey take you?
Features
Endless Space
Explore a living, procedurally generated universe inspired by both classic and modern Science Fiction. Meet different aliens. Find different stories. Take different risks. Learn the secrets of the universe and with them, new possibilities.

Hidden stories
Raid alien tombs full of traps and treasure. Compete in the galaxy’s greatest combat tournament. Find and research strange artifacts, and use your crew’s skills to find out whether that old skull is just a piece of bone, or the Holy Grail of an aggressive new species.

A crew worth leading
Choose four out of ten experts, all with personality as well as specialties. Far from just stats, you’ll come to know them as they share their feelings, their fears, their excitement and their concerns on the trip and your decisions. Learn how best to use their skills to help the others… and who might be willing to sacrifice themselves to get the others back Home.