When it comes to making a Sci-Fi game, there are a handful of common requests that just about any fan is going to have, and the ability to pilot a spaceship of their own usually takes the number one spot. But while many Sci-Fi games let players fly a ship, only a handful then let players customize it to truly make it their own, and thankfully, Starfield is one of those few.

Having a dedicated ship-building mechanic isn't something all that new for the video game industry, but until now, it's been a tad inaccessible. More often than not, a game with a fully-fledged ship customization and building feature will make the process needlessly difficult, often restricting players with realistic, simulator-like constraints like real-world physics. The ideal gaming ship-builder should strike a perfect balance between accessible and complex, and Starfield does exactly that.

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Starfield's Ship Customization Is Accessible But Expansive

Starfield's entire ship-builder can be accessed less than an hour into the game. After completing the character creator and tutorial mission, players will be given access to their first ship. After landing on New Atlantis, players will be greeted by a ship technician, who will give them access to Starfield's ship-building feature. Though players won't be able to actually purchase much due to their severely limited funds at the start of the game, there's nothing stopping them from testing out the system, moving parts around, and seeing how it all works without spending a single credit.

The first thing long-time Sci-Fi fans will notice is just how accessible Starfield's ship-building feature is. Starfield's ship-builder works on a modular structure, with each spaceship component fitting together like individual puzzle pieces. Players can easily drag out any of their ship's modules, flip them, move them around, and eventually slot them back into place anywhere they can see a white circular node. It's immediately evident the second a player grabs a piece where they can place it on the ship.

Starfield's ship-builder is also only as complex as the player wants it to be. If all the player wants to do is quickly upgrade all of their ship's core components, then all they need to do is buy said component, place it on the ship, and call it a day. But if players want to really get into the weeds of customizing their ship, then Starfield has no shortage of possibilities. The gaming community is already seeing fans create some incredibly detailed ships in Starfield, and it's all a testament to just how accessible yet limitless this ship-building feature is.

Admittedly, Starfield's ship-builder isn't perfect. While the actual act of moving, replacing, and setting parts is extremely straightforward, there are some more obtuse rules that aren't explained all that well. One of these is that players will need to be at a certain skill level in order to use some ship components in conjunction with one another. Another slight barrier to entry is the confusing reactor system, limiting how many and what type of weapons and components players can use. But if players are able to wrap their heads around that, then Starfield's ship customization easily becomes one of the game's most rewarding systems. There's nothing quite like seeing a fully customized ship in the flesh for the first time, bearing a wholly unique name, and all kitted out and looking exactly how the player designed it. It's also very rewarding to see that any module changes also affect how the ship looks from the inside.

Starfield is available now for PC and Xbox Series X|S.

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