What is StarBlast?
StarBlast is a multiplayer arcade shooter set across the cosmos where pilots mine mineral-rich asteroids, collect glowing crystals, and engage in tactical fleet combat. Starting in a nimble scout vessel, you gather resources to upgrade crucial vessel subsystems and evolve through a deep branching tech tree of 31 unique starships. Developed by Neuronality and originally released in November 2016, StarBlast blends responsive flight mechanics with strategic team coordination. The game runs directly in your desktop web browser with zero downloads or installations required.
Key features
- Expansive starship roster: Unlock and pilot 31 distinct vessels distributed across seven progression tiers.
- Dynamic economy: Harvest precious gems by shattering asteroids and salvaging defeated enemy starships.
- Deep subsystem tuning: Invest harvested crystals directly into eight essential craft attributes including shields, energy reserves, and weapon fire rate.
- Multiple combat modes: Jump into four game modes ranging from objective-based faction wars to competitive survival arenas.
- Faction warfare: Ally with three distinct interplanetary groups: Federation, Sovereign Trappist Colonies, or Orion Arm Guild.
- Tactical ordnance: Equip auxiliary weapon systems including mines, combat pods, drones, and heavy projectiles.
- Player modding scene: Engage with active custom community modifications alongside classic arena battles.
How to play
- Begin by completing the interactive training tutorial to understand starship handling, crystal gathering, and laser aiming fundamentals.
- Steer your craft across the asteroid belt using the arrow keys to navigate around drifting orbital obstacles.
- Target asteroids that match your current ship power and hold the left mouse button to blast them apart.
- Fly over released crystals to fill your cargo hold and recharge your upgrade meter.
- Apply collected gems across the lower subsystem interface to boost your defensive shielding, flight agility, and laser damage output.
- Evolve into advanced starship classes when your cargo capacity reaches full charge, unlocking superior weaponry and armor.
- Join your faction teammates to strike opponent bases or fend off hostile raiding squads in the arena.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard / mouse |
|---|---|
| Drive / navigate craft | Arrow keys |
| Fire main laser cannons | Left mouse button |
Ship upgrades and secondary arsenal
Gems form the foundation of progression in StarBlast. As you collect gems from mining and combat, you can instantly allocate them to eight individual performance stats displayed along the bottom dashboard:
| Upgrade attribute | Tactical benefit |
|---|---|
| Shield capacity | Increases total hull protection against incoming laser barrages. |
| Shield regeneration | Accelerates the recovery speed of your defensive shields after taking hits. |
| Energy capacity | Expands the maximum energy reservoir available to power weapons. |
| Energy regeneration | Boosts the rate at which your power grid recharges during intense flight. |
| Laser damage | Amplifies the direct damage inflicted by your primary energy cannons. |
| Weapon speed | Increases the projectile velocity of standard laser fire. |
| Ship speed | Enhances maximum cruising velocity across open sectors. |
| Ship agility | Improves craft turning responsiveness and maneuverability. |
Beyond core stat improvements, pilots can convert collected gems into credits at their faction station to purchase secondary weapons. These specialized munitions include high-impact projectiles, defensive mines, combat pods or drones, and utility equipment. In non-team arenas, secondary equipment can also be retrieved directly from floating debris left behind by shattered asteroids and destroyed opponents.
Tips and strategy
- Match rock size to ship power: Mine smaller asteroids early in your run to gather quick gems without draining your energy reserves on massive boulders.
- Use speed to survive: Low-tier starter starships cannot outgun heavier craft, so rely on your superior mobility to flee danger until you have upgraded your shields and blasters.
- Secure fallen salvage: When an opposing vessel is eliminated, it drops its entire crystal cargo, offering an immediate windfall if you can safely retrieve the loot.
- Prepare secondary ordnance before team pushes: Stock up on attack pods and defensive mines at your home station before joining your teammates in major fleet engagements.
- Invest in energy recovery early: Increasing energy regeneration allows your vessel to fire sustained bursts during mining and maintain offensive pressure during dogfights.
Game modes
Team Mode
Team Mode divides the arena among three rival factions: Federation, Sovereign Trappist Colonies, and Orion Arm Guild. Players work together to gather resources, deposit gems into their home base, unlock secondary weapons, and ultimately conquer opposing stations.
Survival Mode
Survival Mode is a competitive free-for-all environment where every pilot fights for individual supremacy. Starships mine, upgrade, and eliminate rivals while competing to outlast everyone else in the sector.
Invasion
Invasion mode unites pilots in a cooperative defense against escalating waves of hostile alien invaders, requiring coordinated firepower and disciplined resource sharing.
Pro Deathmatch
Pro Deathmatch focuses entirely on high-intensity dogfights, giving experienced combat pilots a dedicated arena to test their firing precision and tactical maneuvering.
Similar games
If you enjoy tactical cosmic battles and arena combat, explore these related browser games:
- Copter Io: Pilot an agile helicopter, destroy enemy drones, and climb the leaderboard in an aerial arena.
- Krewio: Team up on seafaring combat vessels and fire naval cannons against opposing player crews.
- Kour.io: Test your reflexes in fast-paced first-person multiplayer shootouts across compact maps.
Developer and history
StarBlast was developed by Neuronality, first premiering in November 2016. Thanks to its balanced seven-tier craft evolution system and active modding community, the game remains a staple of the multiplayer arcade genre.
