You start the game by selecting one of three factions: The Mars Mining Operation, Earth Union, or Venus Protection Corporation. After choosing your faction, you’ll find yourself in your faction’s space station with a good chunk of change. The first thing I recommend doing is using some of your money to purchase a new ship, as the starting one is terrible. After purchasing your new ship, you should spend the rest of your money on ammunition and extra armor. With your new upgrades, you should be able to hold your own against both NPCs and other players in the beginner zones. Not only will you have to defend against the other two warring factions, but your own faction allies can even attack you if they so choose to.

The controls in “DarkOrbit” are fairly simple. Movement is done by point and click mechanics, but in a great move there’s an autopilot system, which will let you select a spot on the map and have your ship move their automatically, without tons of clicking. Attacking enemy ships and aliens is also accomplished by left click on them. In PVP it’s recommended you learn to strafe to help dodge your opponent, since unlike NPCs, players will try to anticipate your moves.

It will be in your best interest to beat other players, as not only do you protect your ship, but you can actually earn rewards through PVP combat in the form of XP and loot drops, including minerals and supplies.