# Star Nomad Elite — An arcade space adventure

> Arcade sandbox space adventure simulator inspired by classic spacesims. (iPhone/iPad app by Anh Huy Phan.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-nomad-elite/id943377727 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Anh Huy Phan](https://appshunter.io/developer/896041754)
- Category: Games
- Price: $1.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 11 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 39 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2014-12-02
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-nomad-elite/id943377727/reviews.md

## What is Star Nomad Elite?

Star Nomad is an arcade top-down 2D sandbox space-adventure-sim. It was created as a tribute to classic spacesims of old such as Elite, Wing Commander Privateer, Escape Velocity and Freelancer. If you are a fan of these games, then you're in for a nostalgic ride! 

[Key Features] 

* Simple one-touch intuitive UI, no digital joysticks, just smooth easy flight & fight with one-touch!
* Be a Cargo runner. 
* Be a Mercenary unleashing firepower for wealth! 
* Be a Miner seeking rare ores. 
* Be a Merchant trading in goods! 
* Be a Smuggler dealing in lucrative drugs & evade the law! 
* Be a Pirate attacking merchant ships, become infamous & fight for anarchy! 
* Join huge multi-faction Fleet Battles! 
* Dynamic faction standing system, where your actions will determine friends or foes. 
* Multiple ship classes to fly, including drone carriers & the mighty Yamato Battleship! 
* All ships are up-gradable with modules.

In Star Nomad, you roam free in the Wildlands Sector while immersed in a sci-fi noir setting rich in humor. While a sandbox, it's also story driven with a personal plot inspired by classic cyberpunk such as Blade Runner, Johnny Mnemonic & Gundam that puts you right in the pilot seat to determine the outcome of an escalating corporate war!


[Death!]
There is no perma-death, but there is a death penalty, so take care! When your ship blows up, the life-pod will be rescued & towed to a safe location. Insurance will give you a starter ship, and payout to cover most modules, however, the excess can be expensive.

[Factions]
Below the Star Map, there's a dynamic faction standing indicator (green = ally, crosshair = enemy). Your actions will change the way the four major factions treat you.

Happy to receive feedback via email (halfgeekstudios@gmail.com) or twitter @AH_Phan

## Key features

- Top-down 2D sandbox space adventure
- Multiple career paths (trader, pirate, miner, etc.)
- Dynamic faction standing system
- Fleet battles and ship upgrades
- Story-driven plot with cyberpunk themes
- One-touch intuitive UI

## Recent user reviews (10 of 11)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-nomad-elite/id943377727/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Meh

*2017-07-17*

Controls aren't great. Neither is the interface.

### 2/5 — Really really want to like it...but...

*2015-05-26, version 1.1.1*

The game has SO much potential. Like it a lot but...for a small size game it uses a TON of battery and processing. The game after 5-10 minutes heats my iPad Air 2 (yes, the latest) hotter then a brick. Not sure if it has a memory leak or bad optimization but it could be damaging during longer plays. Lot of fun, but until fixed I can't play it much. 
Dev...you got a good review on TouchArcade. Please fix your app I think it has so much potential.

### 5/5 — Nice universe

*2015-02-09, version 1.1.1*

I've only just begun playing, but it is very promising so far. I can see myself spending a lot of time in this place. Controls are fairly simple to figure out and handle well enough. I like the contributions of the NPCs, both the space-operatic and the helpful ones. No save issues (I have 1.something gigs free). I was mildly surprised that upon a restart, only my general location (system) appeared to be saved, not the fact that I was at a particular station. Not a big deal, just a bit surprised. Moreover, this game features a key quality I look for in a game (besides no IAP:) it clearly was made with care. Thank you.

### 2/5 — Be careful background activity

*2015-02-07, version 1.1.1*

I played this yesterday and exited the game and put my iPad to sleep. I opened my iPad this morning and my battery had dropped 75%, I went to the usage and it told me that 70% of my battery usage for the last day was background activity going on with this game. I've removed it, perhaps they will fix it, but just be aware

### 5/5 — Awesome game!!!

*2015-01-31*

And very responsive and involved developer!!

### 4/5 — Fun and close to EV nova

*2015-01-19*

I was looking for something similar to EV nova, and on iOS this is pretty much the one.  The one change it needs is a bigger interface that is easier to use on an iPhone display.

### 1/5 — Waste of money

*2014-12-06*

Doesn't save my game..I wish I could get my money back! 

Complete waste of purchase price at its current state, do not buy!!!

### 5/5 — Buying Game for Developers Integrity and

*2014-12-06*

it turns out I love the game. :-)

### 5/5 — Excellent

*2014-12-05, version 1.0.0*

A well-crafted game that draws you in despite being 2d.  I think the music is great as well.  The gameplay is like Galaxy on Fire 2 with some elements that are like Elite Dangeorous.

### 1/5 — Not worth it - yet.

*2014-12-05*

I really enjoyed the gameplay, controls are what I expect for an iOS game. 

However, I played for nearly 2 hours and stopped playing for a minute. Then started the game to find everything I had done was gone.

Very frustrating, this is clearly an unfinished product.

## Frequently asked questions about Star Nomad Elite

### What kind of gameplay can I expect in Star Nomad Elite?

Star Nomad Elite offers a top-down 2D arcade sandbox experience. You can engage in various roles such as cargo running, mercenary work, mining, trading, smuggling, or piracy, all within a dynamic faction system.

### Does Star Nomad Elite have a story mode?

Yes, Star Nomad Elite is story-driven with a personal plot inspired by classic cyberpunk themes. Your choices in the game will influence the outcome of an escalating corporate war.

### How does combat and ship customization work in Star Nomad Elite?

Combat is handled with an intuitive one-touch system. All ships are up-gradable with modules, allowing you to customize your vessel for different roles and combat scenarios.

### What happens if my ship is destroyed in Star Nomad Elite?

There is no permanent death, but there is a death penalty. Your life-pod will be rescued, and insurance will provide a starter ship and cover most module costs, though there can be an expensive excess.

### How does the faction system work in Star Nomad Elite?

Star Nomad Elite features a dynamic faction standing system where your actions determine your relationships with four major factions. A standing indicator shows allies (green) and enemies (crosshair).

### Is Star Nomad Elite available on multiple devices?

Yes, Star Nomad Elite is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, offering a consistent experience across Apple's mobile ecosystem.

### How often is Star Nomad Elite updated?

The latest version of Star Nomad Elite is 2.0.0, which was last updated on April 18, 2019. This indicates a less frequent update cycle for the game.

### What is the age rating for Star Nomad Elite?

Star Nomad Elite has an age rating of 12+, making it suitable for players aged 12 and above. This rating suggests moderate fantasy violence and potentially some thematic elements.

## Version history (last 1 release)

### 2.0.0 — 2019-04-18

Rebuilt with an engine update to support modern devices and iOS 11 & 12+

* Fixed random crashes and crashes on startup on iOS 11+
* Fixed a fullscreen bug
* Fixed music and sound bugs

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## More apps by Anh Huy Phan

- [Star Nomad 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-nomad-2/id1088622798)
- [Nomads of the Fallen Star](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nomads-of-the-fallen-star/id1459211232)

All apps by Anh Huy Phan: https://appshunter.io/developer/896041754

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*