Should I Buy Star Citizen?
Playing Free Fly now, or about to? Buy only after you've tried it. If you enjoyed your Free Fly, the First Flight Pack ($60 list, often on sale for $45, as of October 2026) is worth it: one-time purchase, no subscription, and every future update included. If you haven't played yet, wait for the next Free Fly before spending anything. Star Citizen is a genuinely unfinished alpha with real bugs.
The quick answer
If you had a good time during Free Fly — buy the First Flight Pack. Don't overspend — it is the only starter package RSI sells, and it is all you need to start. Give it 20 hours before judging it against finished games.
If Free Fly left you cold — don't buy. The paid game is the same game, minus the event ships. Nothing has changed about whether it clicks for you.
If you weren't sure — wait for the next Free Fly. IAE in late November is the usual next window (CIG has not announced IAE 2956 dates yet), and it's usually the bigger of the two annual events.
Using the Free Fly window to decide
- Play first, then decide
Give it about 20 hours before judging it against finished games. Free Fly is the only free way to find out if it clicks for you.
- Test your PC for free
Star Citizen is demanding. A bad run on weak hardware says little about the game. 32 GB of RAM and an NVMe SSD are recommended; check the official specs on robertsspaceindustries.com.
- Expect rough edges
It is an alpha. Crashes and broken missions happen. If that bothers you, that is your answer.
- Buy the First Flight Pack, nothing bigger
It is the only starter package RSI sells now, and it includes three 30-day loaner ships to try mining, salvage and cargo. Other ships can be rented in-game with UEC (the in-game currency).
- Use a referral code at signup
Enter it when you create the account, or within 24 hours. It cannot be added later. It is the one deadline that matters.
The full answer — what's in a package, wipes, PC requirements — is in the Day One Citizen guide.
The short version of the rest
- → The First Flight Pack gives you a starter ship and access to the live game. There is no subscription. It does not include Squadron 42, the single-player campaign.
- → Star Citizen is an alpha. CIG has no confirmed full-release date, so buy for what the game is today.
- → Ships and packages bought with real money are never wiped. In-game aUEC and some progress can reset in major updates.
- → It needs a strong PC. Check the official specs before you buy.
Haven't played yet? Don't buy — try it free first
CIG opens the full game to everyone several times a year during Free Fly events — typically a May flagship event (DefenseCon in 2026), Foundation Festival in mid-year, and IAE (November). For the event window, usually one to two weeks, you can create a free RSI account, download the game, and play the full Persistent Universe at no cost. No purchase, no credit card.
You're often given loaner ships larger or more capable than the usual starters, so a Free Fly is as close as this game gets to a real demo. It is the single best way to answer this page's question for yourself before spending a dollar.
What to buy after Free Fly ends
Updated October 2026: RSI now sells one starter package, the Star Citizen First Flight Pack. It costs $60 list and is often on sale for $45 (as of October 2026). It includes the game download, an Aurora Mk II starter ship, six months of insurance, and 10,000 UEC. It also gives you 30-day loaner access to three more starter ships: a Drake Golem for mining, a MISC Fortune for salvage, and a Crusader Intrepid for cargo hauling. It is Star Citizen only and does not include Squadron 42.
Buy that package and stop there. The most common regret in the Star Citizen community is buying a large ship too early. Other ships, including the Mustang Alpha, can be bought or upgraded to later if you find a playstyle you like.
Prices vary by sale. Check RSI's pledge store for today's price. dayonecitizen.com's starter package guide explains what the First Flight Pack includes in plain English.
One thing to do before you click buy
If you've decided to buy, there's one step that costs nothing and gives you real value: use a referral code when you create your account.
Paste STAR-GCQJ-N6NC into the Referral Code field on the RSI signup form. Your account gets credited with 50,000 UEC — in-game currency worth roughly $5 — the moment you log in. It's available even for free accounts; you don't need to buy anything to claim it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Star Citizen free to play?
No. Star Citizen requires a Game Package purchase. RSI now sells one, the First Flight Pack ($60 list, often on sale for $45, as of October 2026). However, CIG runs periodic Free Fly events several times a year where anyone can play for free for a limited window — usually one to two weeks. These are the best way to try the game before buying.
Should I buy Star Citizen during a Free Fly event?
Only if you have played it and liked it. Play for about 20 hours first. If you had a good time, buy the First Flight Pack. If Free Fly left you cold, do not buy: the paid game is the same game, minus the event ships. If you have not played yet, wait for the next Free Fly.
Is Star Citizen fully released or still in early access?
Star Citizen is in Alpha (the Alpha 4.x era as of 2026). It is not fully released and does not have a confirmed full-release date. The game is actively playable and receives regular updates, but it is incomplete software with known bugs and missing systems. Squadron 42, the single-player campaign, is in late development and also not yet released.
Do I lose my ships and progress if there is a wipe?
Ships you purchased with real money (pledged ships) are never wiped — they are permanently on your account. In-game currency (aUEC), some earned items, and reputation progress can be wiped during major patch updates. Wipes are announced in advance and are a normal part of alpha development.
Still on the fence?
Weighing Star Citizen against the rest of the genre first? bestspacesim.com's honest worth-it verdict scores it against Elite Dangerous, No Man's Sky, and more.