I'm a pretty thrifty guy; no one will ever accuse me of being a hoarder or a bulk shopper. You won’t ever see me at a Costco lugging around 48-count packs of toilet paper, hernia-inducing apple bags, or ginormous 5-pound boxes of Goldfish Crackers.

But after tinkering around with "The Last Starship" for a while, I think I could be converted into a doomsday prepper; someone who loads up on necessary supplies and has a keen sense of the proper protocol for acquiring stockpiles of food, water, ammo, and —if I were stuck out in deep space — oxygen.

After being available in early access for nearly three years, "The Last Starship" 1.0 was finally released on Feb. 6, 2026, for PC from Introversion Software, the same inventive creators of "Prison Architect". It's hardly a new release at this point, but I've been absorbed by it for the last few months, and it's definitely one that space game fans should check out.

This engaging indie sci-fi video game teaches single-player gamers how to strategically operate an interstellar shipping and trading conglomerate. It does this by repeatedly driving home the importance of planning ahead while operating in the cold vacuum of outer space and fortifying your sturdy spaceship.

Oh, and watch out for space pirates!

Introversion's "The Last Starship" is officially classified as a 2D space construction and simulation game, where you design, build, and upgrade your very own working starship. Once it’s in operational order, you strike out into the starfields to investigate colorful solar systems, discover rare resources, and even stumble upon arcane secrets.

There's a dreamy, meditative element to "The Last Starship" that can’t be denied, even in this middle-aged gamer’s attitude of flying by the seat of my pants and holding an advanced degree in procrastination from Cambridge University.

You get a sense of genuine pride in accomplishing goals, fine-tuning your interstellar trading operations, and seeing them flourish before you.

Just as in real life, your specific choices will dictate your personal odyssey, whether you’re a brave soul itching to become a pirate hunter, a working joe looking to get into salvaging, mining, or transport delivery, or a visionary scientist like the Stargate engineer.

First, choose an appropriate spaceship hull, then boost its propulsion system with engines, add critical life support systems, external sensors, thrusters. Then, supply your crew with tasty chow, and some bristling lasers and autocannons to test your might on the battlefield against space buccaneers. Rescue crews and civilians in peril, or go into business for yourself organizing an asteroid mining camp for profit. The choice is yours.

And for my fellow right-brained individuals who can barely fathom how a basic kitchen toaster works, this indie gem is a real eye-opener to the planning and engineering know-how that goes into such fantastic machines.

Once you’re up and running and your dutiful crew is bustling about carrying out various operational tasks, you're free to explore the galaxy in your new cosmic ride as its proud captain, picking up missions.

Gliding around the cosmos as the master of your own epic domain with your starship humming happily beneath you provides a supreme sense of satisfaction. Mostly you’ll be hopping around the open-world environment, building and customizing your vessel, and grabbing contracts for a variety of legitimate and illegitimate enterprises to fatten your alien-skin wallet.

Feeling ambitious? Become a hustler as a commercial spacebus driver or strike out excavating and smelting minerals for profit to sell and bolster your bank account to purchase even larger starships or equipment upgrades. Feeling lazy? Just play around and create cool ships while traversing the universe!

For intrepid commanders, the game’s procedurally generated map delivers missions and meteor storms featuring a multitude of characters inhabiting their own storylines waiting to be uncovered.

Managing your resources will be of the utmost importance, but organizational aptitude and drone deployment will exponentially increase your survivability in the final frontier. Intense space combat sessions do remind me of some of the cooler "close quarters battle" scenes in "The Expanse."

On the slight downside, "The Last Starship" might be a bit rudimentary for gamers seeking more challenging logistical endeavors, as I've found it's pretty easy to build up your spaceship. Obstacles are usually solved easily by slapping on another module or installing more reactors and managing your oxygen and CO2.

Despite that, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable initial iteration that’s constantly receiving attentive updates and patches, so hang with it, ye gallant captains.

"The Last Starship" is an excellent 2D open-world, spaceship-building game that offers tons of strategy fun in a nostalgic visual package. If you’re an "F.T.L." fanatic, you’ll absolutely dig it!

"The Last Starship" is available for purchase on Steam, Humble Store, and GOG for Windows and macOS. Oh, and there's a free demo you can check out if you're on the fence.

Creator Gene Roddenberry's "Wagon Train To The Stars," has certainly lived long and prospered since "Star Trek" first launched on the NBC Television Network on Sept. 8, 1966 with the hour-long debut episode titled "The Man Trap."

Since then, this hopeful space fantasy franchise flourished and grew to encompass a total of 9 live-action series, 3 animated series, and 14 feature films across six decades, inspiring multiple generations with its adventurous spirit, enduring optimism, and thoughtful humanism.

Now, as its 60th anniversary approaches, Paramount and its crew of worldwide partners are celebrating the milestone occasion with global fan events, theatrical screenings, special TV programming, and even a voyage into orbit.

Here’s a short list of some of the more notable "Star Trek" festivities planned for Earth:

Firstly, limited-release restored 4K screenings of the initial four "Star Trek" feature films will blaze across the big screen at 750 AMC, Cinemark Alamo Drafthouse, and Regal Cinemas across the country from Sept. 4-8, perfectly paired with the "Star Trek: The Original Series" episodes they were inspired by.

Each of these monumental showings will offer limited-edition "Star Trek" Enterprise popcorn buckets and cool multi-colored anniversary drink cups at most participating theaters... until they're all gobbled up!

On Sept. 7, "Entertainment Tonight" is broadcasting an "ET Vault Unlocked" episode showcasing archival interviews with Gene Roddenberry and cast luminaries from the franchise.

If you’re into game shows, both "The Price Is Right" and "Let’s Make a Deal" will air special "Star Trek" themed episodes Sept. 8 on CBS and Paramount+, including guest appearances by "Strange New Worlds"' Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck.

Not to be left out of the party, Nick at Nite delivers a marathon of "The Big Bang Theory's" most geeky “Star Trek” episodes that same day.

For fans across the pond, Trekkies can participate in a free live world record attempt on Sept. 8 at the Science Museum in London when loyal fans try to break the Guinness World Record for the most humans flashing the "Star Trek" Vulcan Salute at once!

In Tinsel Town, Gene Roddenberry’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star will receive a polished-up restored plaque on Hollywood Boulevard for the "Star Trek" creator courtesy of the Roddenberry family, the Hollywood Historic Trust and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Finally, and most appropriately, the European Space Agency will bring "Star Trek" up into the final frontier with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot adorning her uniform with the Captain’s Delta badge from "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" while aboard the International Space Station on Sept. 8, accompanied by commemorative content.

You know you want one of those $80 USS Enterprise popcorn vessels! Resistance is futile! However you celebrate "Star Trek's" anniversary, here's to another 60 years of "Star Trek"... or perhaps we should say, may it live long and prosper!