New Horizons is a single player trading and space combat, freeware, audio game, written for Windows.
The game design was heavily influenced by Elite, originally created by Bell and Brabham.
Game play is split between a menu system when in port, and 2D arcade navigation and combat in space.
It makes use of FMOD by Firelight Technologies, for the sound.
Music by Eric Matyas, of sound image dot org
Screen reader speech interface provided by Tolk
The game is set in an area of space containing 10 thousand star systems, with a background story.
The player can start at the capital of any of 14 factions.
Hyperspace engines open artificial wormholes to neighbouring systems.
Systems contain stars, planets and many other objects.
Combat is optional at the start, aided by friend or foe systems, simulated beacons and optional radar.
The player can accrue credits to purchase equipment, or a better ship, perhaps even a small moon.
There are 17 different ships, with different specifications.
You may wish to increase your combat rank, and eventually gain access to the Dark Wheel.
A few optional missions are available within the alien sectors.
Career paths are open, allowing the player to trade, mine for resources, become a pirate or bounty hunter.
Star systems vary in population density. There are areas where you will be overwhelmed.
The interactive inhabitants of New Horizons are following their own career paths, in their own ships.
You will discover myriad stars, planets, asteroid fields, wormholes and space stations.
New Horizons 1.1 download link via Google Drive
It's pretty complex and took over a year to develop and write, part time. So please be kind.