Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vectoris a highly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed tabletop-inspired sci-fi RPG by solo studio Jump Over The Age.Citizen Sleeperinitially caught the attention ofindie gamefans thanks to its dice-based RPG mechanics that evoked the feeling of sitting at a table with a dungeon master, taking advantage of the unique qualities intrinsic to tabletop gaming that aren’t always translated to video games.
Citizen Sleeperwas acclaimed for its world-buildingand writing style. The entire RPG’s story and dialogue are communicated through vibrant prose, and it’s a testament to Damien Martin Gareth’s creative vision they could captivate their audience without voice acting or flashy action scenes. The cyberpunk setting Gareth has envisioned is bleak; it’s a world where individuals faced with massive debt are placed in cryo-sleep while clones of their consciousness work away the debt in an artificial, specialized body—this world’s eponymous Sleepers.
Game Rant was given a hands-on look atCitizen Sleeper 2, and although we had access to a substantial portion of the game, our preview coverage is limited to the game’s opening hours. Throughout that portion of the content, we learned to appreciateCitizenSleeper 2’s tightly balanced gameplayloop and the various interwoven systems that push players to take risks. Even in the earlier hours of the game, we were surprised to be struck with some gut-wrenching story moments that bode well for the game’s emotional impact once events reach the inevitable tipping point.
Citizen Sleeper 2’s Core Gameplay Loop Is Surprisingly Tense
Citizen Sleeper 2, like its predecessor, hinges entirely around dice. At first glance, this may not sound groundbreaking considering the prominence of tabletop-inspiredgames likeBaldur’s Gate 3, butCItizen Sleeper 2’s relationship with dice is unique. Dice are rolled at the beginning of each Cycle—essentially one day inCitizen Sleeper 2—and are consumed for the Cycle upon use. Consequently, players begin each Cycle with five pre-determined dice rolls to carefully spend on actions. Pre-rolling the dice introduces an interesting problem-solving dynamic: should the player risk failing a roll with a lower-numbered die, or guarantee success with a coveted six that could come in handy later?
To complicate matters,dice inCitizen Sleeper 2have health that can deplete when failing rolls while the Stress level is high. Since Stress can increase when rolls fail, risky moves can snowball into catastrophes. Destroyed dice slots are a devastating but solvable problem that become a top priority to address. Repairing dice requires scrap, which can be purchased outright or occasionally looted. At one point we found ourselves with three broken dice, compounding the difficulty since we only had two actions per Cycle to “spend” them on. We still needed supplies and fuel while we tackled this, but thankfully crewmates can passively acquire a chosen resource once per Cycle.
Citizen Sleeper 2 Is A Game of Cycles
Solving these problems invariably involves progressing Cycles, a time-pressure element that underpins all decisions made inCitizen Sleeper 2.The player is on the run from an extremely resourceful villain, and shortly into the game, we are introduced to the Hunt timer. Each Cycle spent at one of the game’s hub areas progresses the Hunt timer, and the villain will catch up if it fills. Traveling cuts a decent chunk off the timer, so it’s important to stay stocked on fuel and avoid sticking around for too long. Risk management is critical as recovering from a catastrophic contract can waste valuable Cycles. For a methodical, text-based game,Citizen Sleeper 2brings a sense of urgency that we’d expect more from agame likeHelldivers.
A typical Cycle earlier in the game will involve players arriving at a new, unfamiliar hub, and players will need to spend dice on exploration to uncover its locations and amenities. Locations have individual Cycle meters that are filled each time a successful roll is made, usually triggering a narrative event, revealing a Drive—a quest inCitizen Sleeperparlance—or opening up new resourcing opportunities. In one instance we gained access to a gambling den by repeatedly spending time around the bar, while in another, we gained a valuable new crewmate. Contract objectives are also handled similarly; filling the meter by rolling successfully and repeatedly will complete the task at that location. When out on contracts, crewmembers can contribute their dice, modified by their skill attributes similarly to the player. Bringing alongthe best party membersfor the job is another layer of decision-making to consider.
Citizen Sleeper 2’s Emergent Storytelling Makes It Highly Replayable
Once we’re fueled, fed, and tasked with a contract, we depart the hub on our shoddy spaceship and head to the destination.Citizen Sleeper 2is significantlylarger in scope thanCitizen Sleeper, comprising numerous hub stations and other destinations to visit. Some destinations are in dangerous areas that require ship upgrades to access, making the ship a focal point for progression. Contracts can involve anything from simple asteroid sampling to full-blown heists, and the game’s prose makes both prospects equally interesting.
Citizen Sleeper 2’s classesbring a lot of variety, each bearing different attributes and Push abilities. As the name implies, Push abilities allow players to give themselves an advantage, but usually at a cost. For our playthrough, we went with the Operator class which is skilled with technology and hacking but entirely incapable of strength-related skill checks. Our Push ability allows us to reroll one of our dice at the cost of stress, and upgrade points earned from completing contracts helped us mitigate the cost and tailor the benefits. Eventually, rolling a six would decrease our stress, and we were guaranteed not to reroll a one. The chosen class can significantly impact problem solving, and class choices are the source for much of the game’s emergent storytelling. A strength-oriented player may have easily torn open a stuck door, while our meager Operator racked up stress points and broken dice taking a more challenging route.
Citizen Sleeper 2is a significant upgrade from its predecessor in every regard. It’s bigger, the pressure is high, the systems are tight, and the core loop induces a zen state once adequately understood. For fans of tabletop games, good sci-fi writing, and risk-reward decision-making,Citizen Sleeper 2is amust-play indie game for 2025. It never ceases to amaze how talented, dedicated solo developers like Damien Martin Gareth manage to deliver games that can contend with big-budget franchises.
