Space Engineers is Keen Software House's block and voxel sandbox, on Steam Early Access from 23 October 2013 and fully released on 28 February 2019. You build ships, stations and rovers from large grid blocks 2.5 metres per edge or small grid blocks at 0.5 metres, and anything you build can be ground down, shot apart or flown into a mountain. The vanilla Star System holds eight bodies, and their ore rules set the whole progression: platinum appears only on moons and asteroids, uranium only on asteroids.
Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Best Equipment | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric mining ship | A | Balanced | Hand Drill | Yes |
| Hydrogen launch vehicle | A | Balanced | Grinder | Yes |
| Refining station | A | Balanced | Survival Kit | Yes |
| Survival rover | A | Balanced | Refinery | Yes |
| Combat gunship | A | Balanced | Artillery Turret | Yes |
New player? Start with Hydrogen launch vehicle. See our beginner's guide for why.
Atmospheric mining ship
Atmospheric mining ship is a strong option in Space Engineers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Hand Drill |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Large and small grid building |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Hand Drill
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in EarthLike to learn Atmospheric mining ship-specific mechanics
- Focus on Large and small grid building. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Hand Drill as your first major upgrade
- See our full Atmospheric mining ship build guide for the optimal gear progression
Hydrogen launch vehicle
Hydrogen launch vehicle is a strong option in Space Engineers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Grinder |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Ore refining and assembly |
Strengths
- Most versatile, adapts to any situation
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Grinder
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in EarthLike to learn Hydrogen launch vehicle-specific mechanics
- Focus on Ore refining and assembly. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Grinder as your first major upgrade
- See our full Hydrogen launch vehicle build guide for the optimal gear progression
Refining station
Refining station is a strong option in Space Engineers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Survival Kit |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Thruster and gravity flight |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Survival Kit
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in EarthLike to learn Refining station-specific mechanics
- Focus on Thruster and gravity flight. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Survival Kit as your first major upgrade
- See our full Refining station build guide for the optimal gear progression
Survival rover
Survival rover is a strong option in Space Engineers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Refinery |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Oxygen, hydrogen and life support |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Refinery
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in EarthLike to learn Survival rover-specific mechanics
- Focus on Oxygen, hydrogen and life support. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Refinery as your first major upgrade
- See our full Survival rover build guide for the optimal gear progression
Combat gunship
Combat gunship is a strong option in Space Engineers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Artillery Turret |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Block damage and repair |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Artillery Turret
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in EarthLike to learn Combat gunship-specific mechanics
- Focus on Block damage and repair. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Artillery Turret as your first major upgrade
- See our full Combat gunship build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Build Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Hydrogen launch vehicle is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Atmospheric mining ship is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Hand Drill for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
Combat gunship offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.
For Group Play
Survival rover shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More Space Engineers Guides
- Space Engineers Space Engineers Overview
- Space Engineers Best Builds
- Space Engineers Tier List
- Space Engineers Walkthrough
- Space Engineers Beginner's Guide
- Space Engineers Tips & Tricks
- Space Engineers Weapons Guide
- Space Engineers Combat Guide
- Space Engineers Boss Guide
- Space Engineers Maps & Locations
- Space Engineers Crafting Guide
Similar Games
If you enjoy Space Engineers, check out these related guides:
- Terraria Classes Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- VRChat Classes Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Garry's Mod Classes Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
