I’ve started trying it out myself, even though I got defeated in the very first introductory mission, and I have to say, the potential is all there for another survival game you can easily sink countless hours into.
Sole Survivor Games opened the first public playtest of Space Scum, a tactical RPG that wears its Battle Brothers influence openly while moving the formula into a procedural sci-fi setting.
The playtest, now available, introduces the first planet and gives players a chance to test squad compositions, gear choices, and the consequences of permanent losses in a hostile universe.
The structure will be familiar to anyone who has spent time with mercenary management games. You assemble a roster of fighters, equip them with whatever you can scrape together, and take on contracts across procedurally generated planets.
Each run plays out differently depending on the chosen origin, the factions encountered, and the missions pursued. Battles lean on a mix of melee and ranged tactics, and the right balance can mean the difference between victory and a complete wipe.
As in Battle Brothers, permanent death sits at the heart of the design. When a merc goes down, they are gone for good, and losing a veteran reshapes the squad in ways that go beyond numbers.
It stings, but it also forces new choices, which is the point. Progression pushes back against that loss; experience and loot give survivors new skills and better gear, but the game never lets players settle. Early equipment quickly runs its course, and every fight risks thinning the ranks.
The presentation leans into the theme. Space Scum avoids glossy sci-fi and instead paints a universe where every planet feels harsh, every encounter dangerous.
Sole Survivor Games was founded in 2017 by Simon, a former lawyer turned designer, and Ed, a former technical draftsman now handling the code.
The two often describe the project as an attempt to capture what they loved about Battle Brothers while pushing it into a different genre space. Publishing support comes from Forklift Interactive, a label run by industry veterans with a track record of backing systemic, player-driven titles.
The open playtest that runs till the 9th of September on Steam is the first chance to see how all these ideas hold together. For veterans of tactical RPGs, Space Scum presents a familiar framework sharpened by a new setting and a procedural structure that thrives on loss as much as survival.
It is not about being a hero; it is about managing the fallout when your squad is anything but untouchable. Obviously, I still don’t have a release date to share, but a wishlist is a must. Below the Playtest Trailer
