Stellar Tactics just hit 1.0 after a decade in Early Access

Solo developer Don Wilkins has officially launched version 1.0 of Stellar Tactics on PC. The sci-fi role-playing game exited Early Access on March 30, 2026. This wraps up a development phase that began back in September 2016.

According to GOG's announcement, the full release is available now. The game is a massive undertaking for a single developer. It combines open-world space exploration across 160,000 star systems with squad-based tactical ground combat.

I remember seeing this game pop up on Steam years ago. A ten-year Early Access period is usually a warning sign that a project is quietly dying on a developer's hard drive. We have all been there: buying an ambitious alpha build, playing it for three hours, and watching the update frequency slowly flatline over the next two years. In this case, Wilkins just kept issuing updates until the game was actually finished.

Despite the long wait, the community response remained largely positive throughout the testing phase. The game racked up nearly 1,500 user reviews on Steam during its Early Access run. It maintained an 80 percent positive rating the entire time. That is a rare feat for a game that spent a full decade in development purgatory.

Sir-Tech and Sierra roots

Wilkins operates under the studio name Maverick Games. He is not exactly a newcomer to the genre. His resume includes stints working with publishers like Sir-Tech Software, Sierra Entertainment, and 3DO. That background makes a lot of sense when you look at how Stellar Tactics plays.

The ground combat feels heavily inspired by classic isometric RPGs from the late nineties. You build a squad of mercenaries, customize their stats, and fight enemies in turn-based tactical grids. The character progression system is classless. Your squad members improve their skills simply by using them in combat. This is a welcome departure from rigid skill trees. Players can equip their team with various energy weapons, shields, and specialized gear found during exploration.

Once you leave the ground, the game shifts entirely. You manage a ship, trade goods, and explore a procedurally generated universe. The space exploration segment is not just a menu system. You actively fly your ship, engage in real-time space combat, and manage your crew's stations. You can upgrade your vessel with new engines, weapons, and cargo holds to handle more dangerous sectors of space.

The scope is frankly absurd for a solo project. It works, which is the nicest thing I can say about a game trying to staple two completely different genres together.

$17.99 without DRM

The 1.0 launch brings the game to GOG, Steam, and Humble. It currently costs $17.99 due to a launch discount. The regular price will sit at $19.99 once the introductory window closes.

The GOG release is particularly interesting right now. GOG co-founder Michał Kiciński just bought the storefront back from CD Projekt in December 2025. Kiciński has been vocal about refocusing the platform on its original DRM-free roots and game preservation. Stellar Tactics fits perfectly into that catalog. It is a dense, old-school PC RPG that you can download and back up on your own hard drive forever. You do not need an internet connection or a launcher to play it.

Wilkins has stated he plans to continue supporting the game with patches now that the core development is done. Building a universe from scratch takes time. Ten years is a long wait, but at least this one actually crossed the finish line.

Pick up Stellar Tactics on Humble Bundle.

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