Shoot for the Stars: Journey Home

You crash-landed.
Your ship is gone.
The planet is hostile.

A survival idle game about rebuilding, exploring, and getting home.

The Game

Build a base. Launch a rocket.

Build a base from nothing. Gather resources. Keep the fire alive. Smelt metal. Assemble electronics. Defend against raids. Push through 9 technology tiers. Then launch a rocket — and find your way home.

9 Tech Tiers

Deep idle progression from campfire to fully automated base.

6 Alien Biomes

Each planet has unique resources, hazards, and an intro story.

Raid Defense

Threat builds over time. Build turrets and manage power to survive.

Meta Progression

Stellar Knowledge carries between runs for a permanent bonus.

Offline Progress

Your colony keeps running while you're away.

Optional rewarded ads · No pay-to-win

Free forever. Watch an ad for a bonus — or don't. Nothing is locked.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is the game free?
Yes. The web version on itch.io is completely free. The iOS and Android apps are also free to download. Optional rewarded ads on mobile — no pay-to-win.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Once loaded, the game runs entirely on your device with no internet connection required. Your progress is saved locally.
How do I save my progress?
The game autosaves every 10 seconds. You can also manually export your save as a JSON file from the Settings tab, and import it back later — useful for transferring between devices or browsers.
What is Stellar Knowledge?
Stellar Knowledge (SK) is the meta-progression currency. You earn +1 SK each time you complete a run by launching your rocket. Each point gives a permanent +5% production bonus to all automated buildings on future runs.
The early game feels slow — is that normal?
Yes, the first run is intentionally paced. Once you launch your first rocket and earn Stellar Knowledge, subsequent runs move noticeably faster. Focus on unlocking the Wood Slope and Generator early to speed things up.
How do raids work?
Threat builds up over time based on how many buildings you have. When threat exceeds 20% there's a chance of a raid each tick. Raids can damage buildings and steal resources. Build turrets in the Combat tab to defend — each level reduces raid damage.
What are tech tiers?
The game has 9 technology tiers (0–8). Each tier unlocks new buildings, recipes, and automation options. You advance by spending Research Points generated by the Research Desk building.
Can I transfer my save between web and mobile?
Not automatically — saves are stored locally per device. You can export your save as JSON from the Settings tab and import it on another device, but the process is manual.
My progress disappeared after an update — what happened?
Saves are generally preserved across updates. If yours was lost, it was likely due to clearing browser storage. We recommend exporting your save from the Settings tab as a backup before major updates.
How do I report a bug?
Email us at lifegamessupport@gmail.com or leave a comment on the itch.io page. Include your platform, browser/device, and what happened.

Support

Need help?

Check the FAQ above for answers to common questions. If you can't find what you're looking for, reach out directly.

For bug reports, feedback, or anything else:

Email Support

You can also join the conversation on the itch.io page — we read every comment.

Privacy Policy

Your data

Short version: we do not collect personal information. The mobile app uses optional rewarded ads via Google AdMob.

What data we collect

We do not collect personal information directly. The mobile app uses Google AdMob to show optional rewarded video ads. AdMob may collect device identifiers, ad performance data, and approximate location for ad delivery. See Google's privacy policy for details.

Local storage

The game saves your progress locally on your device using browser localStorage (web) or app storage (iOS/Android). This data never leaves your device and is not accessible to us.

Analytics

The web version uses minimal anonymous event tracking (e.g. "fire lit for the first time") to help us understand how players progress through the game. No personally identifiable information is included in these events.

Third-party services

Mobile app uses Google AdMob for optional rewarded video ads. Web version: no third-party advertising services. We do not use data brokers or sell any data.

Children

Shoot for the Stars is appropriate for all ages. AdMob is configured for non-personalized ads only. The app does not knowingly collect personal data from anyone, including children under 13.

Contact

Questions about this policy? Email lifegamessupport@gmail.com.

Last updated: April 2026