Parallax

A new client for Netrek, the 1989 team space game.

Coming soon to Apple TV, Mac and iPad.

Join the beta

The beta is open to anyone, through Apple's TestFlight. You don't sign up with us, and we don't see your name or email address.

Join the beta on TestFlight

How to install it

iPad or Mac: install Apple's free TestFlight app, then open the link above on that device and choose Accept.
Apple TV: open the link on an iPhone or iPad signed in to the same Apple Account and choose Accept. Then install it from the TestFlight app on the Apple TV. You'll need a game controller there, because the Siri Remote can't fly the ship.

Needs iPadOS 26.2, macOS 26 or tvOS 26.2 or later. Questions? Email support@silentspice.com.

What's in 1.0

Tutorial

Learn the controls for the device in your hands, then take your first flight.

15 Missions

Training missions that go from first flight to last stand.

Skirmish

A battle against robots that lasts as long as you like.

Play Online

Live games against people on the public Netrek servers.

Game controllers

Fly with a game controller on every device. On Apple TV a controller is needed, because the Siri Remote can't fly the ship.

Game Center achievements

Earn badges for finishing missions and for flying well.

Free to play, and open source

Multiplayer in Parallax is free to play, always. The tutorials and the first missions are free too. Only the Advanced and Expert missions are a one-time in-app purchase, to cover our costs: the developer account, the server and our time.

Netrek is one of the first online multiplayer team games. Parallax plays on the classic public servers with everyone else. We are opening the code in steps.

Now: Parallax's protocol and networking code is a public Swift package, NetrekProtocol, under the MIT license. It grew from Netrek-SwiftUI by Darrell Root, and it keeps his copyright.
When Parallax 1.0 ships: the multiplayer client and the game engine go open under MIT. The engine grew from Darrell Root's netrek-server-swift.
Three years after 1.0, or sooner if Parallax has been off the App Store for 12 months: the missions, tutorial, robots and new ship art open too. The code is MIT and the art is CC-BY.

Part of what Parallax earns goes to the volunteers who run the public Netrek servers. Each year we will post what came in and what went out.