Questing Goose's debut title, Deep Space Pawn: Probably Stolen, has continued to heat up since its launch, becoming a hit on Steam. Released on October 28, the game reached a peak concurrent player count of 174,382 on November 4, according to SteamDB records.
The visual atmosphere of Deep Space Pawn: Probably Stolen is described as blending the aesthetics of Cyberpunk 2077 with the management and inspection systems of Papers, Please, while incorporating inventory management. Players take on the role of a market vendor in a dystopian space station, striving to repay loans, cope with rising rents, and generate profit under the watchful eyes of various factions.
Most high-profit transactions in the game tread the line of legality. Players can deal in firearms, chemicals, agriculture, and water sales, or choose to fence stolen goods; each path involves issues like addiction, inspections, equipment, and permits. As you expand your operation, you can run multiple businesses simultaneously.
The game currently holds an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam. Many players appreciate its addictive management loop and share strategies for easing operational pressure, such as hiding contraband or altering product ingredients.
Negative feedback mainly focuses on the lack of variety in late-game gameplay, though this issue typically only becomes apparent after dozens of hours. The game is currently priced at $17.99.
Detailed coverage from foreign media:
Occasionally, a game releases with little to no promotion, barely noticed at first, only to be boosted by platform algorithms and rapidly gain popularity. Deep Space Pawn: Probably Stolen is a recent example. Since its release on October 28, its player count has been steadily increasing. According to SteamDB data, it reached a peak concurrent player count of 174,382 on November 4.
Deep Space Pawn: Probably Stolen is the debut title from indie studio Questing Goose. It blends the art style and atmosphere of Cyberpunk 2077 with the gameplay mechanics of Papers, Please, while adding inventory management elements. Players run a market stall in a dystopian space station with one clear goal: make as much money as possible.
The catch is that most of your trades involve illegal goods. The game's Steam page describes it as follows:
"You were once a scavenger. With a hefty loan and a rather suspicious opportunity, you acquired a storefront. Now, with rent constantly rising and various factions keeping an eye on you, the most profitable businesses mostly operate in the legal gray area."
Players can choose which illicit trade they want to profit from. You can become a gunsmith, pharmacist, farmer, water merchant, or specialize in fencing stolen goods. However, each business comes with its own set of problems. You may have to deal with addiction issues, inspections, and additional hurdles like machinery and permits.
And that's not all. As your somewhat shady business grows, you'll unlock more operations, eventually allowing you to run multiple ventures simultaneously. But no matter how much you expand, make sure you never miss a rent payment.
Currently, Deep Space Pawn: Probably Stolen holds an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam. Player reviews share experiences that clearly explain its popularity.
One player wrote: "During a sudden police raid, I hid my storage box containing the most valuable items in a trash bin and forgot to take it out. Overnight, the garbage collector became the richest person in town."
Another review begins with: "I was just an honest water merchant. Life was tough... so I started lacing the water with opium to boost sales. It worked wonders."
Many players also praise the game for being highly addictive, encouraging them to play "just one more round," and believe it raises the bar for this genre. Some noted that compared to the flood of low-quality games recently appearing on Steam, Deep Space Pawn: Probably Stolen stands out significantly.
Player complaints are relatively few and mainly concern the late game. Some feel that the gameplay doesn't change much in the later stages. However, it seems players often need to invest dozens of hours before reaching this point. By then, the game's $17.99 price tag has likely long since paid for itself.
Free Update Plan