To Boldly Go: Best Space Exploration Games
Exploring space in a video game is generally one of two things: the most mind-numbing experience ever or a jaw-dropping adventure. It partly depends on the player as to which kind of experience they receive, too; some people just aren’t wired to enjoy these kinds of games.
RELATED: No Man’s Sky: Things Players Didn’t Know They Could Do
They’re (generally) chill, time-consuming journeys that require the right mindset and the right expectations. But when these games hit just right, they’re some of the most rewarding gaming experiences out there. Here are the best space games out there with a heavy emphasis on space exploration.
Updated December 15, 2022, by William Quick: No matter what the current trends in gaming are, the idea of exploring outer space will always be a popular topic to explore. With the release of Callisto Protocol, High On Life, and the announcement for STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor, space games are getting bigger and more impressive. There’s a lot of popularity surrounding space battles or fighting on weird alien planets, but there’s also lots of value in simply exploring and discovering everything and anything that may be out there. No matter what kind of space adventurer you may be, there’s a space game out there for you, and here are some suggestions for those that allow you to explore the universe in a number of ways.
31 High On Life
When Rick And Morty was released, it quickly dominated the adult animation circuit. Though it has lost steam in recent years, it still has a huge fan base, but Justin Roiland, one of the show’s main creators, wants to pursue other projects. His latest and biggest is High On Life, an interstellar FPS that has you wielding talking guns.
As a nameless human-turned-bounty-hunter, your mission is to stop an intergalactic drug cartel from turning all humans into drugs. This means you’ll need to use warp technology in order to travel to various alien worlds seeking out high-ranking cartel members.
You’ll also gain the ability to actually warp in structures and facilities while visiting these worlds and appreciating the endemic wildlife… assuming it’s not trying to kill you.
30 Starship Troopers: Terran Command
Watching bad movies has become something of a pastime with one of the most entertaining being Starship Troopers which came out in the late 90s. Despite this, it has inspired a number of games including the recent and well-received Starship Troopers: Terran Command which challenges to do better than the heroes.
Following a plot similar to the film, you are leading an organized force of humans against an overwhelming number of all-consuming alien bugs. You’ll travel to different locations, raise armies, and build the necessary facilities you’ll need to exterminate the extraterrestrial vermin once and for all.
29 Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate — Daemonhunters
Among tabletop titles is the expansive series taking place in the Warhammer 40,000 universe which is set in the far future full of new technology and endless warfare between various races, hostile monsters, and the forces of chaos.
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate — Daemonhunters has you leading a specialized team to hunt down some of the biggest threats.
RELATED: Every Class In Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate — Daemonhunters, Ranked
One of the strongest and most established factions is the Space Marines, and a special group called the Daemonhunters has been assembled. This RPG has you gathering a squad of specialized space warriors and chaos slayers as you travel the star rooting out any forces of chaos, such as powerful Daemons and their followers.
28 NEBULOUS: Fleet Command
When you have everything competing to explore the stars, warfare seems inevitable. You never know who or what you’re going to encounter among the stars and so your ships must be designed for resilience and firepower. You’ll get to command such ships in the Early Access game NEBULOUS: Fleet Command.
This game takes place almost exclusively among the stars as you lead your fleet across the galaxy. As such, you’ll need to contend with enemy ships using radar to track them and advanced tech to identify your weaknesses.
Use whatever resources you can find to build the most unstoppable fleet and claim galactic superiority.
27 Avorion
Voxel graphics are simple and solid, which allows them to support grand-scale projects like Avorion. This is a pure sandbox game that’s centered around building your very own with a number of colorful blocks. You can build by yourself or jump into the co-op mode to build together.
Customize your ship down to the last block and then take it for a cosmic spin. The more you travel, the more opportunities you’ll find to fight, harvest, and build an empire to take on the mysterious force that threatens to destroy the whole galaxy.
26 Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition
One of the coolest parts of space exploration is the spaceships. From fighters to freighters, every single type has the potential to be an amazing vehicle that you’d be tempted to fly across the universe. Thankfully, you’ll get command over a fleet of powerful ships in Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition to take on the ever-changing vastness of space.
While the game is focused primarily on space combat and looting, there are many times when you’ll need to risk visiting unknown and hostile planets. You’ll need to send an able-bodied crew to the surface in order to handle any dangerous species while hoping that the risk will be worth it to find anything that can improve your fleet or crew.
25 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
The Star Wars universe is arguably the biggest sci-fi franchise that is still generating unbelievable amounts of revenue. Despite this, the name hasn’t had the most stellar track record when it comes to video games, but this has changed recently. Thanks to Respawn Entertainment, players are able to experience a quality adventure in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
RELATED: Jedi Fallen Order: Reasons Why It’s The Best Star Wars Game
Set just after Order 66 eliminated a majority of the Jedi, you play as a surviving Jedi that is on the run while still trying to fight back. To improve your chances, you’ll need to take to the stars while stopping by as many planets as you can to train, improve your equipment, and hopefully find some allies.
It’s a huge galaxy out there, but don’t let the Empire have all of it.
24 Spaceflight Simulator
Although humanity has been to space in several capacities, this is a feat that eludes the average person. That’s why there are games like Spaceflight Simulator to help people play out their space-faring fantasies in a fun way that incorporates realistic elements. You’re tasked with building an efficient and reliable ship with the aim of reaching beyond the stars.
It lives up to its sim name with all of its management elements, physics, and all the details that go into every aspect of building your ships and more. While still in Early Access, this game has been a big hit with casual players and space enthusiasts all across the board.
23 RymdResa
There are many scary things about space, but there’s also much beauty in it. Beyond that, what’s most intriguing is the mystery of space and the possibility that absolutely anything could be out there, which is both alluring and terrifying.
It’s poetic in a way which is what comes through in the spaceship adventure RymdResa.
This pixel rogue-type game puts you in command of a ship of your choosing in a universe that’s never the same and constantly growing. Fly around getting into battles, collecting materials from celestial bodies, and interacting with strange sentient beings. It’s up to you to find meaning in your journey and see if there are others who share your thoughts.
22 Hardspace: Shipbreaker
Salvaging is a practical profession that requires a sharp eye for potential, and you’ll need it for Hardspace: Shipbreaker. You play as a space salvager geared up with all the latest tech needed to carve up what you want. Spaceships tend to explode for a number of reasons, and you’re not going to let all that material go to waste.
Though this game is still in Early Access, it’s overflowing with content. You can travel through space looking for the most valuable wreckage to you can pay off your debts and upgrade your equipment, so you can be the best salvager ever!
21 Starbase
The idea of establishing a society in space is one that has both been fantasized about and dreaded over.
These conflicting feelings come together in Starbase, an Early Access game about expanding throughout the stars. It’s set in an ever-expanding universe that’s constantly generating new places to explore and dangers to face.
It’s up to you and whatever crew you team up with to pull together and build a ship strong enough to handle whatever chaos this universe can throw at you. A recent entry to the game library, Starbase boasts a lot of promise and plenty of activity in its current state.
20 Slipways
Space is seemingly endless, so it’s natural to want to stretch as far as you can in hopes of reaching the outer limits. This can involve piloting a ship and exploring as much as you can or establishing connections between worlds as you would in Slipways. This strategy game puts you in charge of building a universe-spanning trading company through research and discovery.
It’s incredible how quickly you can start with just one world before you have an entire network of planets communicating with each other as you look for new worlds in which to expand.
There’s a good mix of puzzling and strategy as you manage trade and develop new technology.
19 The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is what would happen if you combined pieces from Bioshock with Fallout and launched it into space. It’s a sci-fi RPG full of different planets, colorful characters, flashy weapons, monstrous aliens, and sinister plots. You play a colonist unfrozen from a flagship thought to be lost only to wake up in a colonized galaxy dominated by a corporation called Spacer’s Choice.
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As you defeat enemies and accomplish goals, you’ll get new perks, combat skills, and an improved ability to slow your perception of time. As you dive deeper into this universe, you’ll need to decide between Spacer’s Choice or the right choice.
18 Exo One
People are naturally curious and are inclined to investigate the unknown. There’s so much unknown in the vastness of the universe, that anything people are able to latch onto has tremendous significance.
That’s the premise of Exo One, a game where you fly a small ship across space in search of a signal.
Much like Flower and Journey, the game is heavily focused on visuals and audio. You’ll soar over a variety of landscapes, both peaceful and chaotic, in hopes of finding the source of the signal that set you off on this grand journey in the first place.
17 Breathedge
How serious can a space game be when it has a chicken? The title Breathedge attempts to answer this question. You play as a nameless astronaut who finds himself caught in the middle of a perilous plot. While traveling to a funeral, you’re caught in a crash that destroys your ship and leaves you stranded on various debris.
With your skills and the companionship of your eternal chicken, you’ll need to explore the wreckage to salvage whatever you can to help you survive. If you hold out long enough, you may even find out why your ship crashed and get a chance to meet a princess.
16 Trigon: Space Story
Anything can happen in space which means that there are tons of situations to encounter and many ways to approach them.
In Trigon: Space Story, you play as a crew of rebels who have set off on their own to seek their fortune and tell their own stories. You’ll have plenty of chances to do that with all the branching paths you’re given.
On top of the narrative elements, there are also the roguelike mechanics to give it more replay value and add challenge to your gameplay. Though you’ll encounter many beneficial events and folks willing to join your crew, don’t expect space to remain kind.
15 No Man’s Sky
This list could never be complete without No Man’s Sky. Let’s just skip over the part everybody talks about with this game, and just get to the good stuff: if you’re looking for a game about exploring space and the planets/moons therein, there is possibly no better choice than this.
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Sure, there are certain things that this game lacks; you aren’t going to find any sprawling space cities, for example. But if you just want to bum around the stars for a while, documenting the experience like an adventurer, then this game has to be on your must-play list.
14 Chorus
There are many things that could drive someone into the great unknown, and a desire for revenge is one of the most powerful. This desire has consumed Nara, the hero of Chorus, who wants nothing more than to find and eliminate the cult responsible for her suffering. However, it won’t be easy to find its members, and you’ll need to risk exploring the vast darkness of space.
Fortunately, Nara is aided in her mission by her conscious spaceship named Forsaken as well as a myriad of potent powers. This adventure will lead to some of the oldest and darkest places in the universe, so best brace yourself for the unknown.
13 Elite Dangerous
Another game that’s obvious for this list is Elite Dangerous. While this game isn’t on the same scale as No Man’s Sky, that doesn’t mean it’s small, by any stretch. The entire Milky Way on a 1:1 scale is present here, complete with current scientific principles, data, and theories.
This is, possibly, the best representation of space out there right now, chock-full of space objects you’d expect to see like stars, planets, and moons, and some other space objects that you won’t be quite as familiar with, like black holes, pulsars/neutron stars, and more.
If you love space, this is a game you have got to try out. (Psst, it’s in VR, too!)
12 Stellaris
Classified in the «Grand Strategy» genre of games, Stellaris is all about leading your civilization of space-dwellers into the future as successfully as possible. There are whole galaxies to explore, learn about, and figure out how to thrive in.
RELATED: Best Historically Accurate Video Games
A near-infinite variety of species and traits means that every playthrough is going to be a vastly different experience, requiring you to adapt to both the galaxy and play to the strengths of the species you’re currently leading.
Best space games of 2023: Outer Wilds, Kerbal Space Program, more
No Man’s Sky a ‘galactic sandbox’ role-playing game, is one of the top games of 2022.
(Image credit: Hello Games)
The Force is strong with the best space games right now, with a range of options available no matter what kind of experience you prefer. From space horror adventures with creepy crawlies, to space exploration that soars across alien planets and galaxies, entries in the best list of gaming are a fun romp through the genre.
The video game industry has been working on bringing in new entries as well as breathing in fresh life to older franchises, either through complete reboots or remasters for new consoles or by offering expansion packs to keep you playing. The list below offers some of the best games we’ve enjoyed in 2022, regardless of when they were released.
If you’re looking for games tied to the stars which are already available, you might want to check out our list of the best space exploration games or maybe the all-spooky best space horror games list. And if you’re excited about the future of space games, then our list of the most exciting upcoming space games will reveal what’s in store for you later this year and beyond.
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1. Outer Wilds
(Image credit: Annapurna Interactive)
- Release date: May 28, 2019
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Mobius Digital, Annapurna Interactive
Outer Wilds is open-world gaming at its best, as it creates a non-linear playing experience that allows you to crisscross the solar system.
It’s a timed adventure, actually, as you’re going to find yourself in a 22-minute loop that finishes with the sun dying. Your goal is to explore the planets in front of you in hopes that some alien race has a secret to show you how to stop the sun from its supernova explosion.
Besides the overall arch of the gameplay, which is fun enough on its own, Outer Wilds comes with compelling characters, gorgeous puzzles, and mysterious situations that will require some creativity to solve.
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2. Kerbal Space Program
(Image credit: Private Division)
- Release date: June 24, 2011
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5
- Developer: Squad
Now is the time to sharpen your skills in Kerbal Space Program, because the successor game is coming to all platforms starting next year.
This romp through physics encourages players to create a space program and operate it using Kerbals, or little humanoid astronauts. Create vehicles and starships to explore the universe and you’ll be well on your way.
The original game is packed with mods and forums to get you going through the learning curve, and Kerbal has a loyal community that includes real-life space engineers and space agencies. This is a real fan favorite among space geeks, so make sure to join the program now.
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3. No Man’s Sky
(Image credit: Hello Games)
- Release date: August 8, 2016
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Hello Games
No Man’s Sky has come a long way since its difficult 2016 release and has been through a lot of reshaping to make it user-friendly and full of things to do.
There’s a lot of content to enjoy and every player will find a unique experience within the universe, as everything is automatically generated. Multiplayer options are also available to share the fun with friends or other players.
The universe Hello Games aim to present is supposed to be optimistic, full of opportunity and perhaps, a little bit of danger. You’ll never quite know what to expect when landing upon a planet, but that’s the fun of it. Give yourself the time to explore and you will greatly enjoy the opportunity.
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4. Eve Online
- Release date: May 6, 2003
- Platform: PC, mobile
- Developer: CCP Games
Don’t be fooled by the 2003 release date for Eve Online; it’s been accruing updates like barnacles in the decades since.
The most recent one, released in fall 2022, saw a suite of eight new ships arrive in the already massive universe. New quests and campaigns are also related to these vessels, so take a close look.
Eve Online, like Kerbal and No Man’s Sky, does tend to have a steep learning curve. Maker CCP Games have fought against the criticism with a user-friendly beginner’s guide, as well as other content to bring in people new to space. For those invested in this universe, they say the time is well worth it.
EVE Online’s November 2022 expansion includes a boatload of space vessels. (Image credit: CCP Games)
5. Stellaris
- Release date: May 9, 2016
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5
- Developer: Paradox Interactive
Stellaris combines exploration with enemy strategy, as you will be moving across a set of planets while trying to keep ahead of others who are looking to stop your empire before it can really get started.
Paradox call Stellaris a «sci-fi grand strategy game» and it has been expanding the universe regularly through various packs.
Stellaris Overlord is the latest expansion pack of the set, having come out in May 2022. The game is billed as allowing you to level up your empire with new mechanics to specialize what your vassals do as they serve you. If you prefer megastructures, there are a bunch of new ones there to get where you want to go a little faster.
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6. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
(Image credit: Bioware)
- Release date: 2021
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5
- Developer: BioWare
The masterful rerendering of Mass Effect brings the compelling space exploration game from 2007 to a fresh generation of consoles.
The trilogy allows you, as a space captain, to grow a space crew from recruits to seasoned veterans and your choices will have an influence upon the ending.
Along the way, you’ll meet numerous alien races, explore a bunch of planets, take part in more than a few space battles and probably, find yourself getting very connected with all the NPCs making up your team. This is a classic of space exploration that you will not want to miss.
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7. Elite Dangerous
(Image credit: Frontier Developments)
- Release date: December 16, 2014
- Platform: PC for the latest updates.
Legacy gaming is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 - Developer: Frontier Developments
Elite Dangerous is best experienced on PC after the company elected to turn away from consoles to shore up development. But even with that caveat, the massive game is an incredible journey through the universe, with maker Frontier Developments attempting to recreate the Milky Way and its planets at scale and to a high degree of realism.
Joining up with other players, you’ll find yourself making some tough choices that will influence how the gameplay goes on. You’ll start with a small spaceship and attempt to grow your commercial enterprise through activities like bounties, piracy, mining and even assassination.
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8.
Star Wars: Squadrons
(Image credit: EA)
- Release date: October 1, 2020
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5
- Developer: Motive Studio, Electronic Arts
Star Wars Squadrons brings first-person space combat right into a cockpit. Play the light side or the dark side, which will give you a choice of fan favorites like TIE Fighters or X-Wings. It is your destiny.
The game is set in after The Return of the Jedi and the Rebels’ victory in the Battle of Endor and has been praised by critics for its multiplayer options and flight mechanics. It’s well worth the ride, although parents will want to note the T for teen rating by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) for combat.
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9.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
(Image credit: Square Enix)
- Release date: October 26, 2021
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Just like in the movies and comic books, you find yourself as Star-Lord in an epic action adventure tale. Assemble your crew, find some pranks to pull on a galactic scale, and that will get you going. But look out, as your actions may actually affect the fate of the universe.
Fans really love the tools you can deploy in this game, like Element Blasters, jet boot-powered dropkicks and tag-team beat downs. These moves will really help you when running across powerful creatures.
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10.
Alien: Isolation
- Release date: October 6, 2014
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5
- Developer: Creative Assembly, Sega
Your job in this space horror game is to help Amanda Ripley (daughter of the famous Ellen from the series) to escape the Sevastopol station. We don’t want to reveal too much, except to include a line from the game’s synopsis: «Unprepared and underequipped, you will need all your wits and daring to get out alive.»
The game is considered one of the top entries of the Alien franchise and if you want to keep exploring, check out some of the expansion packs offered by maker Creative Assembly.
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Elizabeth Howell, Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before that, since 2012. Elizabeth’s reporting includes an exclusive with Office of the Vice-President of the United States, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, «Why Am I Taller?», is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada’s Carleton University and (soon) a Bachelor of History from Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science since 2015. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.
org/@howellspace
Space Sandboxes on PC — TOP 10 best games
Endless space, huge ships, trade and piracy, changing planets and chatting with friends in the clan — this collection contains a dozen great space sandboxes!
Don’t miss out, every game is worth installing. A nice bonus is that all games are in Russian.
1. EVE Online is a legendary game
EVE Online is a big world, unlimited freedom of action, active gaming community. And that’s not all that is in this space sandbox, released over 15 years ago. nine0004
| Game Features | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Hundreds of ships — collect them piece by piece, experimenting with the hull, armor and weapons. |
| 2. | Challenging combat — adapt to the tactics of each opponent in endless PvP and PvE. |
| 3. | Complete freedom — trade and diplomacy, fighting and crafting, repair and other professions. |
| 4. | Co-op — hunting, clan wars, politics, group quests. nine0022 |
Surprisingly, after so many years, the graphics still look decent.
2. Space Rangers HD: A War Apart — the same space rangers
«Space Rangers HD: A War Apart» is a game that evokes fond memories of many fans of the space theme.
| Game Features | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Endless adventure — fly wherever you go, sell parts, discover the galaxy. nine0022 |
| 2. | War with Dominators — fight against alien enemies and pirates, be a pirate. |
| 3. | The perfect ship — fly around space to find the right hull, armor or weapon. |
| 4. | Text quests on the planets — I bet you won’t be able to complete them the first time. |
There are battles with robots on the surface of the planets, interesting factions, a separate storyline for pirates.
This version also has improved graphics. nine0004
3. Reassembly is a 2D retro game
«Reassembly» is a cozy indie, space strategy sandbox that seems to have been transferred to PC from old consoles.
| Features of the game | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Two-dimensional space — colorful ships spectacularly destroy each other on a black background. |
| 2. | Ship assembly — fashionable weapons, impenetrable shields, the coolest hulls. |
| 3. | Own fleet — more interesting ships, more interesting combinations of parts. |
| 4. | Procedurally generated space — an endless battle with a huge number of enemies. |
Plus asynchronous multiplayer, beautiful vector graphics and high-quality physics. Note!
4. Kerbal Space Program — funny settlers
«Kerbal Space Program» is another cool indie that offers the player to lead a race of funny aliens.
nine0004
| Features of the game | |
|---|---|
| 1. | A lot of construction — own ships, orbital stations, ground bases. |
| 2. | Ship control — Explore the vast space and perform complex maneuvers. |
| 3. | Funny kerbals — choose the best, train them and send them flying. |
| 4. | Big space — scan objects, get resources, research technologies. nine0022 |
Good physics, nice three-dimensional graphics, there is humor. Regular updates and many mods.
5. Elite Dangerous — a great space adventure
Elite Dangerous is, without exaggeration, an epic game. If you have never launched it, then how can you be sure that you love space?
| Game Features | |
|---|---|
| 1. | 400 billion star systems — real stars and planets in a huge open world. nine0022 |
| 2. | Any means to win — explore, trade, transport, hunt. |
| 3. | Multiplayer — spectacular space battles with hundreds of thousands of other players. |
| 4. | Deep customization of the ship — upgrade guns, radars, charge from the stars, master stealth. |
Convenient control from a joystick or keyboard, atmospheric, ever-changing universe, beautiful graphics. The maximum effect of presence. nine0004
6. ASTRONEER — exploration and terraforming
«ASTRONEER» is a rare example of a game whose developers promised a lot of interesting things and delivered on it. Now we have a beautiful sandbox for single and co-op.
| Features of the game | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Seven large planets — a variety of landscapes and biomes, dangers in deep caves. |
| 2. | Change the surface — demolish mountains and create rivers like plasticine planets. nine0022 |
| 3. | Vehicles and bases — build buildings, extract resources, create colorful cars. |
| 4. | From one to four — join your friends at any time, invite them to visit. |
And you also need to unravel the secret of mysterious structures scattered around the world and uncover the secret of extraterrestrial civilization.
7. Rebel Galaxy — Space Western
«Rebel Galaxy» is a colorful solo space adventure with a surprisingly good plot. nine0004
| Features of the game | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Big world — huge systems filled with stations, planets, asteroid fields. |
| 2. | Dynamic battles — simple controls, a wide variety of weapons and ships. |
| 3. | Thoughtful trading — if done correctly, the hero will definitely not die of hunger. |
4. |
Plot with freedom of action — interesting dialogues, insidious enemies, non-linear passage. nine0022 |
Nothing superfluous, the game catches not with originality, but with the quality of execution. And by the way, it has great sound!
8. Interstellar Transport Company — an economic simulator in space
Interstellar Transport Company is a rather difficult but interesting economic simulator in space.
| Game Features | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Take over the galaxy — create colonies, send ships with resources and settlers. nine0022 |
| 2. | Realistic business — manage cash flow, take out a loan, manage bonds. |
| 3. | Procedural generation of the world — from 1 to 100 star systems, choose your option in the settings. |
| 4. | Global leaderboards — show the galaxy who’s the hottest businessman around. |
In the near future they promise to start multiplayer, but even without it the game deserves attention. nine0004
9. Empyrion — Galactic Survival — a hostile space galaxy
«Empyrion — Galactic Survival» — this game is interesting because in addition to a large number of space travels, there is still a lot of attention paid to life on planets.
| Game Features | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Survival — Climb out of an escape pod to see how harsh the world is. |
| 2. | The solar system and the world — each planet has its own resources, treasures and enemies. nine0022 |
| 3. | Creative mode — just create stations, bases and ships, whatever comes to mind. |
| 4. | Change of planets — build a system of tunnels, level mountains, plant everything with trees. |
This is a real sandbox where you can craft and create absolutely everything! In single player mode and multiplayer.
10. Stellaris — a beautiful global strategy
«Stellaris» — completes the selection of another great game with a very beautiful and thought out to the smallest detail space. nine0004
| Features of the game | |
|---|---|
| 1. | A giant galaxy — thousands of planets, each of which has a job for the player. |
| 2. | Civilization editor — choose your race, political system, customize absolutely everything. |
| 3. | Conquest of star systems — interesting battles, deep economy, serious diplomacy. |
| 4. | There is a story — it is interesting to complete tasks, mastering the game takes hundreds of hours. nine0022 |
The case when it’s hard to tell, you just need to install and try this game. According to many players, this is the best space sim among global strategies!
Want more space games? Maybe about pirates, zombies or dragons? We have collections about anything, see for yourself by going to the appropriate section on the site!
List of sandbox space games
Kerbal Space Program
Released: 2015
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Platforms: Linux, MacOS, WiiU, PC, Xbox One
System Requirements: Medium
Genre: sandbox, open world, building, simulation
Kerbal Space Program is a unique space simulator that allows you to create real spaceships.
The game will let you feel like a talented engineer creating rockets plowing space, and a fearless astronaut trying to overcome the force of gravity to go into outer space…
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82 /100
Stellaris
Released: 2016
Platforms: MacOS, on PC
System Requirements: Medium
Genre: sandbox, strategy
Stellaris is a strategy that offers the player to act in real time in space. You can choose one of seven possible races or create your own, unique race and represent its interests…
79 /100
Universe Sandbox
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Released: 2011
Platforms: on PC
System requirements: low
Genre: sandbox, building, simulation, indie, god game
By controlling the space simulator Universe Sandbox on a previously unprecedented scale of space, you can not only create and destroy, but also explore, experiment with stars, planets and galaxies …
77/100
Rodina
Released: 2014
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Platforms: PC
System Requirements: Medium
Genre: sandbox, open world, action, simulation, RPG, adventure, indie, rpg, arcade
Exploratory space action Rodina will plunge into the mysterious world of new planets.
It is also possible here to destroy the computers of enemies, improve your ship, travel around the universe…
75 /100
No Mans Sky
Released: 2016
Platforms: PlayStation 4, on PC
System Requirements: High
Genre: sandbox, open world, simulation, educational, adventure, puzzle, arcade, survival
Fully open-world games are on the rise, but No Mans Sky has surpassed them all! It was in it that the long-standing dream of all fans of open-world games came true, now you can fully interact with virtually all elements of the game world…
75 /100
Space Engineers
Released: 2014
Platforms: PC, Xbox One
System Requirements: Medium
Genre: sandbox, open world, building, life, simulation, indie
The world of the game «Space Engineers» is a huge sandbox in space in which the player builds stations and rockets, extracts useful materials from asteroids, controls spaceships and performs other necessary work.
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73 /100
Rebel Galaxy
Released: 2015
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One
System Requirements: Medium
Genre: Sandbox, Open World, Action, Shooter, Action, Simulation, RPG, Adventure, Indie, Arcade
Take part in an intergalactic adventure in Rebel Galaxy. Meet the inhabitants of the universe, travel, fight, engage in trade and diplomacy. Take control of a huge star destroyer and defeat the evil pirates…
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72 /100
Astroneer
Released: 2016
Platforms: PC, Xbox One
System Requirements: High
Genre: sandbox, open world, building, adventure, indie, rpg
Astroneer is a colorful sci-fi sandbox. Before you is a distant future: humanity has conquered space, and the extraction of important resources on other planets is not a fantasy, but a very popular way to earn money…
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72 /100
Star Nomad 2
Released: 2015
Platforms: PC, Android
System Requirements: Medium
Genre: Roguelike, Sandbox, Open World, Action, RPG, Adventure, Indie, Strategy
Star Nomad 2 is a space strategy game with elements of RPG toys.
The gameplay of the game is a kind of amazing journey through space, which has no boundaries…
70 /100
Lightspeed Frontier
Released: 2017
Platforms: on PC
System requirements: high
Genre: sandbox, open world, building, indie
Lightspeed Frontier is an action game set in outer space. Players will have to collect various modules from which unique spaceships will be created…
67 /100
Avorion
Released: 2017
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Platforms: on PC
System requirements: high
Genre: sandbox, open world, building, simulation, indie
Avorion is a massive science fiction sandbox game. The action takes place in outer space. Players can mine resources to build starships, and the form of transport is limited only by your imagination…
64 /100
Imagine Earth
Released: 2014
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Platforms: PC
System Requirements: Medium
Genre: Sandbox, Open World, Building, Simulation, Adventure, Indie, City Builder, Time Management, Strategy
Serious Brothers is a developer of a new megaproject, from which players can get a flurry of emotions.
Imagine Earth or «Imagine the Earth» in Russian…
60 /100
Empyrion — Galactic Survival
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Released: 2015
Platforms: on PC
System requirements: high
Genre: Sandbox, Open World, Building, Action, Simulation, Indie, Strategy, Survival
Empyrion — Galactic Survival — a space sandbox simulator in a 3D open world. The player is given the opportunity of interstellar travel, in which you can explore the flora and fauna of distant planets, get acquainted with the races that inhabit space…
55 /100
StarMade
Released: 2014
Platforms: on PC
System requirements: high
Genre: Sandbox, Open World, Building, Action, Adventure, Indie
StarMade is a sci-fi sandbox set among stars and planets. The game world in Starmade is randomly generated and the blocks are completely destructible, so every game will always be exciting in a new way…
47 /100
Asteroids: Outpost
Released: 2015
Platforms: on PC
System requirements: high
Genre: sandbox, rpg, survival
Asteroids: Outpost is a space survival MMO on a galactic scale.
