This week marks the third anniversary of the Citizen Sleeper series. The inaugural title made its debut on May 5, 2022, and was lauded by critics, followed by the release of its sequel, Starward Vector, earlier this year.
In celebration of this milestone, developer Jump Over The Age has introduced a unique free-to-download solo tabletop game called Spindlejack.
In Spindlejack, players step into the role of a courier navigating the Far Spindle space station, a familiar backdrop from Starward Vector. Gamers will traverse the station, earn Cryo, enhance their reputation, carve out their niche in the courier world, and strive to survive in an unforgiving environment.
According to Jump Over The Age, this tabletop adaptation captures “the tough choices and spontaneous storytelling that fans have cherished in the series.” If you’re intrigued, download Spindlejack here.
Along with the release of the tabletop game, the developer shared some fascinating statistics about the Citizen Sleeper franchise. Since launching in 2022, the series has attracted more than two million players.
Interestingly, 26 percent of players in the first game joined a commune, while 19 percent engaged in producing bootleg mushroom alcohol (I expected this number to be higher). Six percent integrated into the fungal network, and 1.5 percent left Lem and Mina waiting at the dock in pursuit of solitude. As Jump Over The Age humorously remarked, “you monsters.”
In Starward Vector, 29 percent of players embraced the chance to adopt a stray cat (again, I assumed this figure would be higher), while 35 percent found luck with a glitched die. Furthermore, 18 percent allowed Surya to transform their ship into an airborne advertisement, and a mere 1.5 percent managed to complete the game on the difficult setting. “You heroes,” the Citizen Sleeper team expressed. I can definitely confirm that I am not part of that elite 1.5 percent!
Looking ahead, the developer announced plans to add French, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese localizations to Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector later this year.
With its original release, Citizen Sleeper garnered enthusiastic reviews and received multiple BAFTA nominations. The sequel continued this trend of positive reception, with our Bertie describing it as “terrific.”
“Featuring a newfound sense of tension and impressive Contract missions, Citizen Sleeper has evolved significantly. This sequel enhances the RPG experience in every conceivable way,” remarked Nova Play in their review of Citizen Sleeper 2.
