Starter Guide
Try Star Citizen without buying
Yes — usually through Free Fly. This page is the short path for people who want to test Star Citizen before spending money or choosing a starter pack.
Use referral code to start with 50,000.
Use it during signup. No price change — just the starter bonus.
Create account + claim bonus
Where to paste it New accounts only
Quick answer
Answer
Use Free Fly as a trial run, not as your final long-term setup. Create the account correctly, test the game, then decide later whether you actually want to buy in.
- Use Free Fly to judge the feel of the game, not to force every system into one weekend.
- Free Fly is the easiest way to try Star Citizen without buying. Your goal is not to do everything — it is to answer one simple question: “Do I enjoy this?”
- A good test session has 3 parts: spawn → claim a ship → complete one simple contract.
- If performance ruins the test, fix that first — otherwise your impression will not be fair.
Do this now
- Create an RSI account (optional bonus) — Create your account first. If you want the signup bonus, enter the referral code during signup.
- Download + install on SSD — Install on SSD/NVMe. Avoid HDD for a fair first impression.
- Run one simple loop — Spawn → claim ship → take a basic delivery/entry mission → complete it once.
- Decide with clarity — If you enjoyed the loop and will play again, a minimum starter pack makes sense.
Common mistakes (and exact fixes)
| Mistake | What happens | Fix (exact) |
|---|---|---|
| Trying to “see everything” in one session | You get overwhelmed and quit. | Do one simple loop first. Expand later. |
| Judging the game from a laggy session | You mistake performance issues for gameplay. | Run the performance 10‑minute fix before deciding. |
| Buying before you tested | You spend money before you know your tolerance for a sandbox. | Try Free Fly first if you’re unsure. |
Next steps
- Open the full Free Fly guide — best next step if you need the wider event context, signup path, and expectations.
- Use the first-hour plan if you want the cleanest possible trial session.
- Fix performance next if lag or stutter is muddying the test.
- Use the reality check if you finished the trial but still are not sure whether to spend money.
- Use the buying guide only after the trial feels good and you want the minimum clean path into the game.
FAQ
Do I need to buy anything to play Free Fly?
No. Free Fly is designed for trying the game without buying.
What should I do in my first Free Fly hour?
One simple mission loop: spawn → claim ship → complete one contract → log out cleanly.
What if the game runs badly?
Fix performance first (SSD/RAM/settings). Otherwise you can’t judge the experience fairly.
When should I buy a starter pack?
Only after you’ve had at least a couple sessions you want to repeat.
Where does the referral code fit in?
If you want the signup bonus, enter it during account creation before you play Free Fly.