# Star Traders: Frontiers — The sci-fi captain RPG

> Sci-fi captain RPG with open-world exploration, crew customization, and ship upgrades. (iPhone/iPad app by Trese Brothers.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Trese Brothers](https://appshunter.io/developer/528949265)
- Category: Games, Entertainment, Role Playing, Strategy
- Price: $6.99
- Rating: 4.60/5 from 668 App Store ratings · 216 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 12.1 · 316 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2019-01-31
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232/reviews.md

## What is Star Traders?

You are the captain of a starship venturing through a massive open universe. Customize your crew and take command at the helm of your very own ship as you explore a galaxy torn apart by internal strife, alien threats, and political intrigue.

Command your ship and crew as a space pirate, merchant, bounty hunter, and more in Star Traders: Frontiers – an epic space RPG from Trese Brothers Games. Venture forth into a massive open universe, rich with adventure and the lore of the Star Traders. Choose your path by assembling and commanding your custom crew and spaceship in a constantly evolving galaxy torn by internal strife, political intrigue, and alien threats. Will you fly as a pirate terrorizing shipping lanes, join the solar wars as a military captain, or track targets across the stars as a fearsome bounty hunter?

 - Explore a rich, open universe: Discover endless procedurally-generated galactic maps, meet unique characters, and take on enemies to conquer the galaxy! 
 - Become an intergalactic captain: Take on the role of a spy, smuggler, explorer, pirate, merchant, bounty hunter, and more (26 jobs total)!
 - Customize your own spaceship: Choose from more than 350 upgrades and 45 ship hulls to build your very own vessel to venture across the vast reaches of space. 
 - Assemble and tailor a loyal crew: Assign talents and equip specialized gear for every spaceship crew member.
 - Experience an ever-changing narrative: Decide to make friends or foes with other factions and influence political, economic, and personal vendettas.
 - Mold the crew by your choices: As you make decisions and set the tone for your ship, your crew will grow and change to match. Destroy enemy ships with all hands on deck and your crew will become more bloodthirsty and savage. Explore distant worlds and loot dangerous wastelands and your crew will become intrepid and clever ... or scarred and half-mad.
 - Varied Difficulty Options! play with save slots to try out different builds or storylines or turn on character permadeath and enjoy classic roguelike experience
 - Achievement Unlocks: accomplish story and challenge goals to unlock additional optional (but not better) content like new starting ships and new starting contacts

First there was the Exodus – when survivors of a great war left the ruins of the Galactic Core behind in search of a new home in the stars. Scattered worlds were claimed on the fringe of the galaxy. Each pocket of survivors held on to an isolated set of worlds while trying to rebuild under the great law of Shalun. Three centuries later, technology has brought them back together again. Discovery of the hyperwarp has bridged what was once an unimaginable distance between far-flung colonies, long-lost families, and political factions. 

With that reunification has come great economic prosperity. The hyperwarp reestablished the transportation of cargo, goods, and technologies between the quadrants – but it has also brought great strife. Political rivalries have been rekindled, blood has been shed in age-old feuds, and the fires of war have been stoked. Amidst the political infighting, a ruthless revolution is rising – and the fervent explorers of the hyperwarp have awoken something that was better left asleep.

Our very first game, Star Traders RPG, took hundreds of thousands of gamers on an interstellar adventure. Star Traders’ success and overwhelmingly positive reception helped to launch Trese Brothers Games. It was the adventures of our community’s star-crossed captains that put us on a trajectory to share more of our worlds, ideas, and dreams.

We set out to capture the loneliness, bravery, and camaraderie of people living together in a spaceship sailing across the stars. It is with great pride that after releasing four other games in the Star Traders universe, we’ve created a sequel to the original Star Traders RPG. 

Step onto the bridge of your starship, take to the stars, and create your own story in Star Traders: Frontiers.

## Key features

- Open universe exploration
- Multiple captain careers (26 jobs)
- Spaceship customization (350+ upgrades)
- Crew assembly and talent management
- Dynamic narrative and faction influence
- Crew molding based on player choices
- Varied difficulty options including permadeath

## Chart rankings

- #49 in Top Paid · Role Playing (US App Store)
- #85 in Top Paid · Strategy (US App Store)

## What do users think of Star Traders?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🌟 Impressive depth and complexity
- 🌍 Vast open-world with endless possibilities
- 🔍 Engaging story and lore
- 🤖 Diverse gameplay options (trading, exploration, combat, etc.)
- 🕹️ Satisfying ship and crew management
- 🧠 Challenging yet rewarding gameplay
- 💎 Excellent value for money
- 👨‍💻 Dedicated and responsive developers

**Cons**

- 🤔 Steep learning curve, lacks clear tutorials
- 🔍 Repetitive or tedious aspects in late game
- 📱 UI/UX issues on smaller mobile devices
- 🎲 Frustrating RNG elements and difficulty spikes
- 🔒 Lack of cloud save functionality
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crew combat screen UI issues causing accidental input
- Reputation/faction system bugs leading to unexpected outcomes
- Crashes and freezes when navigating certain screens
- Inconsistent behavior with ship component upgrades

**Most requested features**

- Ability to customize ship colors and appearances
- Option to command/control multiple ships as a fleet
- More end-game content and progression systems
- Improved UI scaling and optimization for larger screens
- Cloud save/sync functionality across devices

## Recent user reviews (10 of 216)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Release a new era, dammit.

*2026-08-09, version 3.4.59*

I said what I said.

### 5/5 — Never gets old

*2026-07-26, version 3.4.59*

Genuinely the best game on the app store hands down. I downloaded this game a while back and it’s been a recurring download each time I get a new phone. Endless captains and a super engaging game loop this game fulfills every space captains itch. TRESE BROTHERS PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS GAME. Also one request is to add more cosmetics whether it be outfits or making more face options as I keep having to reuse the same face models on multiple play throughs. Also cyber knights is a goated game

### 2/5 — no data collected but too grindy

*2026-07-06, version 3.4.57*

too often the encountered ships destroyed mine.  even early simple missions. 50/50 survival is 100% uninstall

### 4/5 — Great game but hard

*2026-05-30, version 3.4.57*

I love deep RPGs and this is one of them. However I’m not big on all the complex parts of this game. I always end up getting a certain way into the game and then encountering enemies I can’t beat. I lose a few battles and fail quests and then run out of money. 

I’d love it if you added a story level of difficulty where the battles are a little hard but you never lose even when outmatched. I’d pay extra if you added that or add a way for me to pay $4.99 and get 5 million credits or something. 

Thank you.

### 5/5 — Underrated

*2026-05-26, version 3.4.57*

A bit of a mix between freelancer and FTL. Choose what you want to do and which factions you want to support across the universe.

### 1/5 — Find a better game

*2026-05-18, version 3.4.57*

Actual dogcrap. Awful combat, painful UI that makes finding good trades far too lengthy, constant “oOo, SpAcE dAmAgE” godawful nonsense occurring every few seconds that wipe out any mediocre trade profits. There are a lot better trading games out here. Avoid this one.

### 5/5 — Truly innovative for iOS

*2026-05-09, version 3.4.57*

Star traders is so much fun, you can really get lost in the world and unless you’re killed, you just keep going, getting stronger, growing your own operation whether that’s being the strongest military ship in your faction or going around spying on everyone for who you decide deserves it. Awesome game, never seen this formula on iOS.

### 1/5 — I want to Love this game, but it’s to FINICKY!!!!

*2026-04-26, version 3.4.47*

It’s crazy how RNG this game is, so it makes early game gameplay a slug and coin flip. Then when you try to really invest in something, the game locks you out of the main story because you spent three months stuck in hyper warp. Wasting the whole hellish run. I hate this game for the time it’s wasted. It’s got way too much in it to be so finicky, the UI cramped, easy to misclick, save scumming basically needed. No way to make a good crew not completely out of dog water. I understand the guys have updated it for years, but it’s just to frustrating and iffy of a game to say it’s okay to INVEST time into. ABSOLUTELY NOT. It will screw too over each time on RNG, horrid UI, and extremely time limited story missions.

### 5/5 — This game is incredible.

*2026-03-30, version 3.4.47*

I’m enjoying this game more than any space RPG that I’ve played in over a decade.

### 5/5 — Hard Mode

*2026-03-27, version 3.4.47*

Hard mode is too hard… please provide tips book.

## Frequently asked questions about Star Traders

### What is Star Traders: Frontiers?

Star Traders: Frontiers is a sci-fi role-playing game where you take on the role of a starship captain. You explore a massive open universe, customize your ship and crew, and choose your own path as a pirate, merchant, bounty hunter, or one of many other careers.

### What are the key features of this game?

Key features include exploring a procedurally generated open universe, taking on 26 different captain jobs, customizing your spaceship with over 350 upgrades, assembling and tailoring a loyal crew, and experiencing an ever-changing narrative influenced by your decisions and faction interactions.

### How much does Star Traders: Frontiers cost?

Star Traders: Frontiers is a paid application. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements within the game, offering a complete experience upon purchase.

### What kind of gameplay can I expect?

You can expect deep role-playing and strategic gameplay. You'll manage your ship and crew, engage in trade, combat, exploration, and diplomacy. The game offers varied difficulty options, including permadeath for a classic roguelike experience, and allows for multiple save slots to try different storylines.

### Who is this game for?

This game is designed for players who enjoy immersive sci-fi experiences, strategic decision-making, and extensive customization. It appeals to fans of space exploration, trading simulations, and role-playing games with rich lore and dynamic narratives.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.4.59 — 2026-07-15

- New AI Ship: Raptor Strikecarrier
- Reduced weight for Dagger Prow in AI ship builder
- Rebalanced Trait RNG in Explorer cards
- Reduced maximum level of Black Market crew combats during Mercenaries Rumors
- Fixed SFX issues where "Fast Cards" preference was set
- Fixed issue with empty cards in Explorer

### 3.4.57 — 2026-04-28

- Improved RTG stash generator for Explorer and Black Market
- Exploration now changes your Crew more than ever
- New Explorer Card: Positive Trait Mutation
- New Explorer Card: Negative Trait Mutation
- Improved Black Market: Rebalanced & Improved Positive Trait Rollers
- Improved Explorer: Rebalanced & Improved Negative Trait Rollers
- Improved loading performance for images
- Fixed issue where "Fast Cards" preference would be ignored after a Talent was used
- Fixed issue in getCraftRangedDefenseBonusEngine causing craft bonuses to not apply in some scenarios
- Fixed issue with percentage bonuses in Explorer being wrong after 100+ runs
- Fixed issues with some percentages (like +25%) showing as 125% in some hovers
- Fixed a rare type of zone that could cause explorer hands to repeat
- Platform optimizations

### 3.4.47 — 2025-12-03

- Added 2 new outfits to the game - more armored marines in space! 
- Improved weighting of all newer contact types to ensure they correctly appear on zones and match to Black Market opportunities
- Improved Agility / Speed for Level 8 Craft
- Reduced/standardized repair cost for Level 6, 7 and 8 craft by up to 10%
- Fixed typos in Rumors - thanks for reports!
- Fixed typos and reported crashes
- Added new planet background for molten lava worlds
- Revised sorting in new game Ship list as requested
- Granted AI Captains access to Raptor Strikecarrier hull template
- Added Dagger Prow and Cloaked Boarding Assault to AI ship builder
- Reduced general AI ship builder preference for cloaking to match player rates
- Boosted drop rates for Ki-Karat Siazah (2nd Hand Blade)
- Reduced drop rataes for Cryoseal Mesh (Armor)
- Fixed typos and reported bugs in Captain logs related to missions
- Fixed Ship Component pricing on Duranium Coating IV

### 3.4.43 — 2025-11-13

- Added 2 new outfits to the game - more armored marines in space! 
- Contact types Trade Emissary, Trobairitz and Retired Consul now offer Black Market if they have Traits: Hunna Agent, Conspirator Greedy, Corrupt, Unscrupulous or Underworld
- Balanced/reduced repair cost for Void Engine: Behemoth models (for M7000 the repair cost per 1% is now 700)
- Fixed issue with Pit Fighting storyline where an expiration dialog would appear even after you won
- Fixed bug where Thulun Advanced Mass Dampener 6 was available too early in galactic timeline
- Fixed bug where Daystar Railgun and Chimera Missile Battery were available at start of timeline incorrectly

### 3.4.39 — 2025-08-17

- New Contact Simulation Features: Better Rumor buying, faster processing, new friendly inter-contact behaviors
- New Contact Type: Spice Broker (Connected dealer)
- New Contact Type: Spice Archeotech (Dangerous Seeker)
- New Contact Type: Trade Emissary (Political Trade Operative)
- Improved Trobairitz Contact Type behavior in simulation (with local Prince)
- Fixes issues with Cloaked Boarding Assault components
- Fixes issues with Cloaking and Jyeeta Era rumors

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## More apps by Trese Brothers

- [Heroes of Steel RPG](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heroes-of-steel-rpg/id730818431)
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- [Star Traders 4X Empires](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-traders-4x-empires/id872458628)
- [Star Traders 4X Empires Elite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-traders-4x-empires-elite/id887028491)
- [Templar Battleforce RPG HD](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/templar-battleforce-rpg-hd/id991176230)
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All apps by Trese Brothers: https://appshunter.io/developer/528949265

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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 2026-08-29.*