space travel games pc

The 20 best space games on PC

Be pilots, pirates and space truckers

Video games are great at transporting us to different worlds, but none capture that feeling quite so perfectly as intergalactic space games - and 2023 looks set to be one of the biggest years for space games yet, with the launch of Starfield , Homeworld 3 and more all on the horizon. But what games have gone before them and staked their claim already on the dusty planet surface known as 'Best Space Games'? We reveal all below, with our carefully curated list of all the best space games you can play on PC right now. Whether you're a budding space cruiser captain, a wannabe space conqueror or an intrepid space-faring explorer, there's a space game for you.

Best space games

We've kept our definition of "space game" fairly traditional here. There are still plenty of hybrid games in our best space games list, from RPGs and space-themed strategy games , but almost all of them are about being in space, whether that's hurtling across the universe in a ship of some kind, or wafting around in zero gravity. Games about settling down on the surface of a new planet such as Surviving Mars and Astroneer, or those set in space-like locations such as Alien: Isolation aren't present in this list, as you never actually get to go to space while you're playing them.

Plus, while there are still plenty of classics here, we've mainly focused on games we'd recommend you play today, rather than a 'greatest space games of all time' affair. Disagree? Tell us about your favourite space game in the comments below, and maybe you'll convince others to give it a try.

• Everspace 2
• Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
• Hardspace: Shipbreaker
• Star Wars: TIE Fighter
• Rebel Galaxy Outlaw
• Star Traders: Frontiers
• Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2
• Sins Of A Solar Empire
• X3: Albion Prelude
• Homeworld Remastered
• Distant Worlds Universe
• Outer Wilds
• FTL: Faster Than Light
• No Man's Sky
• Elite Dangerous
• Kerbal Space Program
• Freespace 2

20. Everspace 2

Everspace 2 is a classic arcade space shooter that feels like it's flown in through a wormhole from the early 00s. While the first game was more of a roguelike, Everspace 2 ditches that structure for a more traditional action RPG that sees you gradually upgrading your ship with bigger and better parts and weapons grabbed from ships you've just obliterated with some well-executed laser beams.

Battles are spectacular and frantic, but beneath the space fighting veneer, these ships are essentially behaving like your favourite RPG classes. Each has their own special and passive abilities, and if it weren't for the flying around in space aspect, you could almost swear you're actually playing something like Diablo. Just, you know, without the endless grind cycle. It's enormously entertaining, and its hand-crafted locations are some of the glossiest and most spectacular pockets of galaxy this side of No Man's Sky.

19. Mass Effect Legendary Edition

The Mass Effects are Captain Kirk simulators. You're not Sulu, blowing Klingons out of space, or Chekov, piloting a ship; you're the boss. And being the boss largely means telling people what to do - and snogging.

Commander Shepard's second mission remains their best - it's a planet-hopping Argonautica and suicide mission with some of BioWare's best-realised characters - but now the entire trilogy has been remastered as part of the Legendary Edition, there's really no reason not to play the whole lot from start to finish. After all, no Mass Effect is an island. The middle game might be the best, but the first lays all the groundwork. And don't listen to the naysayers, the final game drops the ball a bit during the closing act, but otherwise it's a cracking end to the trilogy.

18. Descent

Having been lumped in with run-and-gun first-person shooters since the time of its release (CGW magazine called it "Doom on Benzedrine in a vacuum"), Descent's numerous innovations have often been serially overlooked. True, it didn't have many rock star developers working on it, there were no demons from hell rampaging through it's claustrophobic corridors and there was not one smear of blood to enrage or delight its audience. What it did have was speed, maze-like 3D levels and a range of movement in all directions that was at beautiful odds with the limited space in which to manoeuvre.

Disorientation was a constant companion - for some players so, too, was motion sickness - but in rescuing trapped colonists otherwise doomed to die and escaping each quaking level before it was engulfed in a nuclear fireball the game paid out in full. After more than 20 years, does Descent remain an essential game in the same way as Doom? Given that it would morph into Freespace and remain to some degree in Red Faction's DNA, yes, yes it is. More importantly, it's still enjoyable, more so in many ways than the game that inspired it.

17. Hardspace: Shipbreaker

Hardspace: Shipbreaker is one of those working sims that utterly transports you into the mind and soul of one of its titular shipbreakers the moment you fire your very first laser cutter. You're a nameless employee of the Lynx Corporation with an enormous debt to pay, and you'll gradually chip away at this impossible sum of cash by stripping derelict spaceships for parts and materials. Not from the comfort of a nice space hanger, though. Oh no. You've got to do this in zero gravity, and carefully punt each individual component into their respective recycling bins, or face the wrath of your corporate overlords. It's a tough gig, but oh so fulfiling.

Played correctly, Hardspace: Shipbreaker is wonderfully mundane. And we mean that in the best possible sense. Yes, there's the occasional explosion when you accidentally slam a laser through volatile fuel pumps, and yes, you'll need to manage your fuel and oxygen levels as you go about your work. But there is a zen-like loop of cutting, grabbing and punting that lets you revel in your own sense of growing expertise, and stripping a ship clean in record time like some giant, indentured space vulture is intensely satisfying.

16. Star Wars: TIE Fighter

Contrary to popular belief, the X-Wing series wasn't a direct assault on Wing Commander. It was an attempt to transpose the systems and success of Totally Games' first series onto what would be its second. Indeed, you don't need to play much of either to see that there's more of Wing Commander in Battlehawks 1942 and Their Finest Hour than there is of X-Wing or TIE Fighter in Wing Commander. Just as Star Wars' space battles are inspired by WWII combat footage, the X-Wing series are informed almost entirely by Totally's WWII fight games. That they all featured a mission builder, combat recorder and historical missions only serves to underline that fact.

In any case, had X-Wing been intended as Star Wars' answer to WingCo, X-Wing 2 would surely have followed it. Instead Totally and Lucasarts opted to flip the story to the Dark Side, in so doing allowing players the opportunity to fight for the Empire for the first time while avoiding the mistake of painting everyone in it as wholly and irredeemably evil. Even though we knew we were on the wrong side, the game had us believing our hearts were in the right place, even if our guns were pointing at the good guys.

Plus, if you want to see what TIE Fighter might look like with modern day graphics, be sure to check out the recently released TIE Fighter: Total Conversion mod for X-Wing Alliance, too, which pretty much recreates TIE Fighter from the ground-up, and adds in VR support.

15. Rebel Galaxy Outlaw

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is that rare space sim that manages to capture the thrill and wonder of exploring a star system without wildly over-promising on what to expect. It may only be set in a single region of space with 40-odd star systems to peruse, but within those limited confines is a game packed with dogfights, bounty hunts, underhand deals and fraught delivery runs. Action is the name of the game here, and Double Damage Games makes you get you're able to get your hands dirty at every possible opportunity.

Thanks to Outlaw's clever targeting system and auto-pursuit system, dogfights are brilliant fun. You can turn off auto-pursuit if you prefer to go old-school with your space fights, but leaving it on makes every skirmish feel like a nail-biting battle of wits rather than chance pot-shots into the void. Rebel Galaxy Outlaw also manages that rare feat of giving us a character we actually care about, and a story that gives them a place and purpose in this vast region of the unknown. A lot of it covers familiar ground, but it makes a refreshing change from your No Man's Sky and Elite Dangerous types. Lovingly crafted and always stunningly pretty to look at, Rebel Galaxy Outlaw always has us coming back for more.

14. Star Traders: Frontiers

Space captains are better served than ever for 2D Elite-ish games, but Star Traders: Frontiers is by far the best out there. Create your captain, pick a ship, and fill it with a crew of pilots, navigators, swordsmen, and whatever niche experts suit your needs. Getting on your feet can be hard, but once you've got a little money and the favour of some political figures, the galaxy is yours to adventure in.

Your ship and crew define you more than in any space RPG, as you can refit and reorganise them as you see fit. Almost everything you do in Frontiers can affect the economy, status, and political relations of local characters, planets, and factions, whether you want to dig into its multi-threaded story jobs or not. And you'll inevitably end up doing more than you planned for when opportunity knocks. Your unarmed spy ship might make a great smuggler. Your ship-disabling pirates might create perfect opportunities to start taking on bounty hunter jobs. Or you might just stumble across some exotic goods, and find yourself waylaid in a chain of unexpected events on your way to find a black market to sell them at. Plus, you can hire a sniper who wears pink thigh high boots in space. What's not to love?

13. Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2

If you're happy to trade off realism for sheer spectacle when it comes to space battles, then Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 (the definitive Warhammer 40,000 navy 'em up) is going to be your happy place. Despite all the cinematic 3D camera work, its battles play out on a resolutely 2D playing field. It's essentially a sea battle game with bombastic, giga-scale space stylings, and it pushes a lot of the same buttons as Total War games in terms of play feel - you build up fleets on a campaign layer, then position them on a tactical map and shove them into the enemy to start knocking lumps out of each other.

Conflict in BFGA2 feels huge: hundreds of individual turrets batter away at each other, while fighters zip around like clouds of dust, and massive ships explode gloriously with a groaning sound like a whale reading its credit card bill. You can play as 12 of the major 40k factions in BFGA2's skirmish mode, while four get their own campaigns. The strategic game sometimes feels a little light, but not so much that it feels stripped down, and there's an impressive level of storytelling and lore involved, when it didn't necessarily have to be. The big draw, however you choose to play, and whatever you choose to play as, is that you're guaranteed one hell of a light show.

12. Sins Of A Solar Empire

Ironclad Games' RTS pinches the scale of a 4X game and pits massive armadas against each other in orbital laser light shows. All the diplomatic, trade and research systems borrowed from 4Xs prop up the constant war, funding and upgrading increasingly diverse fleets. At first you'll just be throwing light attack ships at planets you want to gobble up, but eventually you'll be surrounding worlds and enemy fleets with capital ships the size of small moons and a whole host of support vessels, carriers, tiny fighters and bombers.

Sins' smartest trick is the use of restrictive lanes to connect worlds. It forces fleets to travel down predetermined paths, appearing in specific places. Even in space, then, there's terrain, with the lanes' entrances and exits acting as choke points around which weapons platforms can be constructed and fleets positioned. The Rebellion standalone adds the additional wrinkle of new playable rebel factions and their accompanying victory conditions, but also powerful Titan-class ships and overhauled vanilla factions. Oh, and it's quite a bit prettier!

11. X3: Albion Prelude

Although it started out as a rather humourless and unhurried take on Elite, the X series has carved out an impressive niche for itself over the course of 15 years or so, becoming the go-to game for space captains who'd rather explore a capitalist frontier than venture beyond anything physical.

Egosoft would no doubt argue that there's been more to its games than first-person Industry Giant in space, pointing to the series' motto and the prominence of fighting ahead of thinking. The truth is that that it took a few attempts for the German developer to properly nail combat. The X3 games seemed to nail it though; each release offering a more evolved OS-styled control setup that managed to avoid falling into the FPS mouse trap while complimenting the complexities of the trading simulation underpinning the game. Some might protest that the Albion Prelude expansion went a step too far, with too much slow-burning intricacy and not enough explanation, but by setting the X universe at war with itself ahead of the slate-cleaning Rebirth, it offered players the best opportunity in the long-running series to make good profit at the expense of others.

10. EVE Online

For all its infamous high stakes drama and ruthless corporate betrayals, there's room for a lot more in EVE than most people think. The enormously complex player economy is ultimately about loads of random players all doing their own thing, after all.

More so than perhaps any other game, EVE is about interacting with others, but that too can be done as you see fit. The jostling alliances of hundreds-strong players make the headlines, but exist alongside countless small groups of friends, pairs, even the occasional solo player making their space life by trade, manufacture, murder, or just quietly shooting endless disposable NPC ships for an hour or two after work to unwind. It's a demanding game for sure, but getting to know even a small corner of it feels satisfying. Seeing familiar names and knowing what they're up to, who they're friends with, and what things you can achieve together is one of the promises that few MMOs deliver on.

It takes some patience and a lot of initiative, and the ability to sigh and shrug some things off. But if you're not enjoying what you're doing in EVE, you can just do something else. Get talking to someone, for heaven's sake. There are opportunities everywhere if you're willing to make the effort.

9. Homeworld Remastered

The original Homeworld is one of the all-time great space RTS games, but trying to get it running on a modern PC is a bit of a nightmare - if only because it hasn't been available to buy for the better part of a decade. Thankfully, Gearbox's 2015 remaster brought it bang up to date. Bundling remastered editions of both Homeworld and Homeworld 2 and a special Steam multiplayer mode, this is the definitive way to play one of the best space games of all time.

A lot of Homeworld's accomplishments may seem like old-hat now. Moving multiple units in 3D space? Yawn. A choice between total annihilation and desperate survival? Been there, done that. And yet, the thrill of Homeworld's epic space battles remains just as strong as it did back in the olden days of 1999. Add in modern dynamic lighting, hi-res textures and a remastered score, and it really is quite the homecoming.

8. Distant Worlds Universe

Distant Worlds Universe collects Code Force and Matrix Games' complex space 4X game and its DLC in one package, and it was our strategy game of the year back in 2014. The accolade is still well deserved. It's a sprawling behemoth of a game set in a universe that gets along with or without you. Trade companies do business all across the universe, empires rise and fall, sectors transform from tourist traps into warzones.

Rather than presenting empire building as a series of paths, it's a pure sandbox absent all but player-defined goals. If that sounds daunting, it is! But that that's OK because Distant Worlds also boasts an unparalleled automation system that breaks the game up into manageable chunks. If war isn't your cup of Earl Grey, you can leave all martial matters up to the extremely competent AI. The same goes for every system. If you really want to ease into things, or if you just fancy exploring space, you can give up control of everything apart from a single ship. Effectively you take a break from being Emperor to become a simple spaceship captain. From that perspective you can just watch the universe evolve around you. When that gets old, you can start switching off the automation of other systems one by one until you find your limit.

7. Outer Wilds

The solar system of Outer Wilds may only take a few minutes to cross in your rickety old space ship, but the mysteries of its six planets and accompanying moons, comets and satellites will keep you guessing for hours and hours. Our game of the year in 2019 , Outer Wilds is a clever space detective game with a Groundhog Day twist. The sun goes supernova every 22 minutes, but thanks to a strange encounter with an ancient alien artefact, your wide-eyed explorer manages to escape being turned into space dust by getting stuck in an infinite time loop. The only way to break it is to solve the mystery of the space-faring Nomai, whose architecture, technology and discoveries shape each and every planet you'll eventually touch down on.

The planets themselves are marvels of design and engineering. From Brittle Hollow, which has a black hole tearing it apart from the inside, to The Hourglass Twins, which are linked by an epic column of sand that gradually drowns one and reveals the secrets of the other with every passing second, the world that Mobius Digital have created here really captures your imagination. It's exactly the kind of mad science fiction you've always dreamed about in games, and each one feels like a distinct ecosystem with its own rules and systems. You're free to explore them at your own pace, too. Driven by hints and secrets you gather by translating ancient Nomai scrolls and texts they've left behind (but never giant 'go here next' icons), Outer Wilds' greatest achievement is simply letting you follow whatever trail of Nomai-shaped breadcrumbs you please as you work to solve this galaxy-wide mystery. Brilliantly written and beautifully crafted, Outer Wilds is a truly stellar stuff.

6. Stellaris

After years of simulating the politics, economics and wars of history, Paradox decided to head off into the stars with their grand strategy/4X hybrid, Stellaris. Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IV had been pumping out weird stories and slices of historical drama for a few years, and more than anything else that's what Stellaris brought to 4X's sector of space.

You can spend hours creating your brand new alien species, right down to their government type and how good they are at making babies, but new technology and special events can transform them into something completely different. Since launch, Stellaris has gone from strength to strength, with Paradox adding a steady stream of new expansions, species and story packs. Its latest expansion, Nemesis, came out in April 2021, too, making it a great time to jump in if you haven't already.

5. FTL: Faster Than Light

Subset Games' roguelike-like darling deconstructs spaceship sims and presents managing a vessel as a series of disasters and crises. Each of FTL's procedural adventure casts you adrift in space with a single goal: outrun the Federation and bring their secret plans to your Rebel allies. In between you are scouts, pirates, people needing help and horrible space parasites. You can't turn back, though, because the Federation is always nipping at your heels.

In real-time fights against other ships, you'll see your crew slain, your ship boarded by droids, hulls ripped open, explosives teleported in and allies psionically controlled. But you'll be able to do all of that to your enemies as well. Along the way, you'll also find or rescue new crew members, get access to the fanciest of future tech, and hopefully get tough enough to take on the final Federation boss.

Even seemingly blessed runs can end in catastrophe, but each failure becomes another brilliant sci-fi story. The journey of the Ham Sandwich, for instance, ended particularly tragically. After a run in with a pirate, the ship looked to be done for, with a fires and breaches in multiple rooms and just about every system offline. The engine fire was the worst of the problems and if it wasn't taken care of, the whole ship would be doomed. Our engineer tirelessly fought the fire, even as the oxygen was sucked out of the room through a tear in the hull. With his final breath he managed to put out the fire, the doors could be unsealed, and the rest of the crew repaired the hole. Unfortunately, an encounter with a solar flare one jump later finished the Ham Sandwich off.

4. No Man's Sky

It's been a bumpy old ride for No Man's Sky since it launched in 2016, but after a steady stream of free updates, patches and a lot of jiggery-pokery behind the scenes, Hello Games' epic, procedurally-generated space exploration game has finally become everything we hoped and dreamed it would be. No Man's Sky has gone from strength to strength in recent years, adding a proper multiplayer experience, full VR support, aquatic biomes, and even more beasts, flora, fauna and customisation options. Heck, you can even fly around in sentient, living, breathing space ships now, and if that doesn't shout 'best space game' material, we don't know what does.

It is, without doubt, one of the greatest comeback stories of the last decade. At its heart, No Man's Sky is still a crafting-based survival 'em up that sees you journeying toward the centre of the universe and gradually upgrading your ship so you can jump farther and farther distances, but it's also about flying to and from stunning looking planets and staring slack-jawed at all the mad creatures you'll find therein. You no longer have to make the journey alone, either, as up to 32 players can now join a single server, and you'll see other players appear onscreen when they're nearby. Its VR support is also first rate, making it one of the best VR games you can play on PC right now, and it's also one of the best games to play in ultrawide mode, too.

3. Elite Dangerous

What makes Elite Dangerous so compelling isn't so much about the game as the experience. It's the tinkering with and the taking out of a performance car for a Sunday drive, not to rack up more miles, nor to break any speed limits, but to just feel the growl of the engine and the wind comb through what's left of your hair. To remember those carefree days arched over a BBC Micro or blinking angrily into a Lenslok and to forget for a short while that you have to make 357 people redundant in the morning. Elite is a hermetically-sealed escape capsule and it's the best there is. Hell, you could fire the game up and just sit there on a launch pad and the sounds are enough to carry you away, so strong is your ship's presence and so absorbing are the station surroundings.

Taking off, tearing through the station entrance a little too fast and just missing a Python, angling for the next jump, scooping fuel from a blazing sun, spinning the camera around your ship to catch its best profile, starting a fight just for the hell of it, seeing smoke rise from the command console, hearing the screen crack and precious oxygen escaping into space and landing back at base with seconds to spare - these are the moments that make Elite essential. Trading, missions, mining - not so much. But it's all right, we're not going anywhere.

2. Kerbal Space Program

It could be argued that Kerbal Space Program doesn't belong on this list, because it's a game about trying but (mostly) failing to get into space. Sometimes it's a game about smashing into the ground. Botched attempts and hopeless failures litter the path to success, but it's those disastrous experiments that often prove to be the most fun.

That might not be the Kerbal Space Program everybody recognises, though. We're sure it feels great to successfully get the Kerbals on and off the Mun without breaking a sweat, but we're just happy to see them drifting around in space. We don't even see our many misadventures as failures anymore because that implies that we haven't done what we set out to do, which is to draw a blank on everything we know about physics and just muck around with some cool rockets.

1. Freespace 2

Was it Freespace 2 that almost killed the space combat genre? Some like to think it was the game's commercial failure that did the damage; that there was no interest in space combat games any more and that if anyone persisted in making one, their sales would suffer the same fate. If it ever was a wreck, we now know that Freespace 2 wasn't left empty for very long, and that the message in the static was soon changed to offer a place of refuge, a rallying point for gamers uninterested in a New World Order of terrorist take-downs.

It's not simply that Freespace 2 is a highly accomplished sequel to what was arguably the finest game in its genre, but that it has become the source of so much creativity over the years. For space genre fans, Diaspora, The Babylon Project, Blue Planet and Wing Commander Saga have been some of the brightest releases in what has, until the last couple of years, been a veritable dark age.

The thing is, standard issue Freespace 2 remains largely unchallenged. Considering it was barely a year in development and many of Volition's ideas for ground attacks and super weapons went unrealised, it offers a number of improvements on the original game. Prior to Freespace 2, capital ships were largely treated as static backgrounds, but now they were part of the foreground, one that fizzed and crackled with explosive energy like never before. Of course Freespace wasn't perfect. But what the Freespace games did better than anything else was put the player in the midst of a series of epic battles, fighting against the odds versus a relentless and unknowable foe. The spectacular weapons, the frenetic and desperate movement that remains a perfect marriage of UI and controller and graphics that were so in advance of everything all those years ago that, even un-modded today, the game can maintain the fantasy. Even in this new space age, one of procedurally-generated universes and forceless feedback joysticks, Freespace 2 stands as a titan of the genre. The Galactica among Battlestars. The game that has lead the genre home.

Off the list

Alas, as with every update, there are inevitably some games we end up saying goodbye to. In this version of the list, we swapped Slipways and Galactic Civilizations II for Hardspace: Shipbreaker and Everspace 2. Everything else has stayed in the same position. It doesn't mean we love those games any less, or that they won't be featured here again in the future, but right now they just fall short of that top 20 cut-off.

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Video Game News, Lists & Guides

17 Best Open World Space Games For PC

Space is the place to be on PC!

#17 Everspace 2

#16 starfield, #15 kerbal space program, #14 lego star wars: the skywalker saga, #13 astroneer, #12 rebel galaxy, #11 starbound, #10 star trek online, #9 star wars: the old republic, #8 the outer worlds, #7 destiny 2, #6 outer wilds, #5 elite dangerous.

• #4 No Man’s Sky

#3 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

#2 mass effect legendary edition, #1 eve online.

Space games are a big part of the video game world, and on PC, you arguably have some the best to play. So check out these 15!

Platform: PC April 06, 2023 Release Date: PS5 XSX|S August 15, 2023

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

Everspace fans have a sequel to enjoy. Everspace 2 throws players into a cloned pilot setting off on his own adventure to establish where he belongs in this universe. With war-torn systems, mercenaries, pirates, and more out in the open, you never know who or what might come along your path. Players interested in fast-paced gameplay experiences might find this game a blast to play. Jump into your ship and equip it with weapons and shields as you dogfight your way through opponents.

Platform: PC XSX|S Release Date: September 06, 2023

Steam  |  Xbox

Are you ready to take to the stars above? If so, you’ll want to brace yourself for the epic adventure that is  Starfield . Bethesda has been working on this title for years, and you’ll witness the fruits of their labors as you travel across a sea of stars to do whatever you wish.

For example, you could follow the main campaign and make key choices affecting you, other characters, whole planets, and even the galaxy. Or you could just jump in your ship and fly it in whatever direction. You can even reach our own solar system if you travel far enough. So are you ready for your space adventure?

We will start with some of the “weirder” entries in this genre because plenty fill up this space. Pun intended.

The  Kerbal Space Program  features you as the leader of a space organization through a species known as the Kerbal. But, to be blunt, the Kerbals are idiots, and you need to guide them into space so that they can colonize other worlds.

But that will take plenty of trial and error. So you’ll need to test out various kinds of ships and ways to protect your Kerbals so you can get them into space and not blow them up to kingdom come every time.

You’ll see three games from a “galaxy far, far away” on this list, and we’ll start with  LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga . The game is the culmination of all the past LEGO titles within the universe. You’ll get to play your favorite characters across all nine movies as you blast, slice, and beat your way through enemy characters.

Each level has plenty of bricks to collect and secrets to uncover. Plus, you’ll get to battle in space, on the ground, and more!

The more you do, the more characters you unlock! So get them all and see if you can play as your personal favorite!

While many of the games on this list will let you explore scores of planets without much issue,  Astroneer  takes a different approach.

Instead, they let you go to seven unique planets, and then you can terraform them to what you want them to be. You can build upon or dive deep into the world to make an underground base. You can shape things how you want thanks to the tool you have, and once you’re done with one planet, you can go to another and do something different!

It won’t be easy, and every planet has something different to throw at you. But if you play it right, you’ll do well.

Typically, space adventures put you on the side of the “good guys” who happen to run a peaceful planet or the “bad guys” trying to destroy everything. But what about the rebels? The space pirates that do things simply because they want money, loot, or a good time?

In  Rebel Galaxy,  you’ll see that side of space culture and choose what style you want to enjoy.

Will you be a rogue who does what they want, when they want, and the universe has to deal with it? Will you attempt to amass power to drive out your competition and reign supreme?

With numerous options at your disposal, it’s your call.

As you’ll see as we continue this list, several open-world space titles want nothing more than to give you freedom and let you chart your unique course through space.

In  Starbound , you see that in many ways. You are the survivor of a destroyed world, and you can seek those that destroyed all that you loved and stop them from doing it again.

Or you can ignore that and venture into the galaxy to do whatever you please. You can visit other worlds and colonize them, or you can jump into the casual mode and have no fear of what will happen next!

It’s a big universe; explore it to your heart’s content!

Space, the final frontier, these are the voyages of…oh you know the rest. Plus, it’s not solely about the Enterprise when it comes to  Star Trek Online . You can even choose to be in another species outside of the Federation if you desire!

The game will give you a ship and crew, and you’ll guide them through various quadrants of space. As you do so, you’ll interact with legendary characters from series past, be embroiled in intergalactic wars, and more.

What will your legacy in space be when you’ve done all there is to do? It’ll be a while before you can answer, so get started now!

The second of our titles from this universe,  Star Wars: The Old Republic , is an MMORPG that lets you travel through the vast reaches of the galaxy and embark on a journey you drive forward.

Like many MMORPGs, you can pick your species, character class, and where you go at any given moment. You can be a Jedi or Sith, but don’t shake off the options of being a thief, smuggler, bounty hunter, or something else entirely.

You’ll interact with other players, go on raids, unlock new story parts, and more! So trust in the Force, or don’t, and see where it takes you.

Made by Obsidian Entertainment,  The Outer Worlds  is an excellent example of how an open-world setting perfectly blends with RPG aesthetics to deliver a player-focused experience.

In the title, you’re a person who was in cryostasis for a long time. Corporations have taken over everything when you awaken and threaten the colony you are now on.

You have a choice ahead of you. Will you fight to free the colony from its corporate overlords? Or will you help the business-like dictators so you can survive and make some profit off the whole thing?

The world will react to what you do. Choose wisely.

Are you ready to continue the fight to save the system? If you are, prepare to be a Guardian once again and fight threats near and far as everything in this universe’s story comes to a head!

You’ll have many challenges to overcome whether you play alone or with friends. The thrill of the game is to take on the threats head-on or to plan carefully with friends so you ensure that the job gets done.

Plus, with the DLC that continues to arrive, you’ll have more to do than ever before. So don’t be afraid to jump in and try it out!

Not to be confused with the other title we discussed,  Outer Wilds  puts you in the cockpit of a ship within a solar system stuck in a time loop. Every time you venture out, you can learn more about the system, but you’ll inevitably return to where you started.

But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing worth exploring, far from it. You’ll have access to various planets through your ship, and you’ll need to use your mind and skills to solve puzzles, unlock mysteries, and dive deeper into what this solar system is.

Do you think you can stop the time loop? Jump in and find out!

A few games on this list dare to push the idea of an open-world space game to its limits and beyond.  Elite Dangerous  is one of those titles.

The game gives you nothing more than a ship and some credits to start with, and then sends you off into the vast reaches of space to become whatever you want to be.

You might think that your character won’t impact the world much, but you’d be wrong. The game ensures every player can have actions that ripple throughout the universe. So even if you’re just one person doing their own thing, you matter.

#4 No Man’s Sky

There was a time when  No Man’s Sky  would’ve been touted as one of the biggest open-world titles ever created. That’s still technically true, but some baggage came with it. Mainly, while there was a universe with millions upon millions of planets to explore, there was never a reason to really explore them. Most were barren and with not much to do.

Fast forward to now, and Hello Games has overhauled the title so that it lives up to the hype and potential that it had before launch. You can explore the universe, travel with friends, and see what it offers. So why not take a trip there?

It’s appropriate that we talk about  Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order  ahead of its sequel coming out. The first title helped reignite the spark for games set with the galaxy far, far away, and many hope the sequel will carry that spark to a new height.

In the game, you play Cal Kestis, a former Jedi Padawan who survived the purge and has been in hiding ever since. But, after accidentally exposing his Jedi ways, he’s forced to flee the Empire and join a rag-tag crew of misfits to help locate something that could change the galaxy’s fate.

The lightsaber and Force combat in the game is top-notch, and as you explore multiple worlds, you’ll see the many ways they’re open to you.

Not unlike other games on this list, the  Mass Effect Legendary Edition  isn’t your standard open-world space title. However, the game lets you shape the universe’s events through your actions and choices. As a result, you are the catalyst for everything that happens, and the game can be radically different depending on your choices.

So as Commander Shephard, you’ll travel the vast galaxy, see various worlds, meet unique characters, and partake in missions that’ll save all life or doom it.

That doesn’t even mention the various side quests and interactions that help fill up this vast place and showcase the detail that Bioware put into the trilogy.

There’s a reason why  EVE Online  is the top game on this list. The title hails itself as the “#1 Space MMO,” and it can back up that talk with facts. For example, the game continues to grow and evolve after twenty years of life. How many other titles can you say does that?

Furthermore, you can do almost anything in the game and help shape the galaxy through it. That says nothing of the large-scale battles you can partake in. Some of them have even set Guinness World Records!

So if you’re looking for a game to dive into and be lost in for some time, this is the one for you.

About Todd Black

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25 Best Space Exploration Games (on Consoles & PC)

Humans are hardwired to dream of discovery and exploration. We wish to understand what surrounds us, from the bottom of the seas to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

That’s where video games come in.

Few of us will ever stand on the Moon or approach the surface of Mars. Still, developers worldwide are putting in the work to bring us the most exhilarating space-exploration experiences possible.

Whether you’re passionate about setting up a colony on Mars, designing the ship to get us there, or just cruising through the stars, you’ll find something in our ranking of the absolute coolest space exploration video games ever released.

25. Star Conflict (2012)

Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Steam

A favorite space fantasy of many is just piloting their spaceship around shooting down space pirates for cash like Boba Fett.

Developed by Star Gem Inc., Star Conflict focuses on small-scale dogfights in PvE or PvP, where skill determines who lives and who dies.

There’s a wide array of ships to acquire, ranging from agile corvettes to massive destroyers.

Regardless of what you pick, you can be sure you’ll be flying in style. Star Conflict features some of the most bad-ass spaceship designs I’ve ever seen hands-down.

24. Metroid Prime Series (since 2002)

Platforms: All major platforms, too many to list!

Metroid Prime series doesn’t let you cruise around space at your leisure.

But few other games present such well-designed and intriguing planets to explore on foot.

It’s a vicious universe full of ancient races and dangerous lifeforms, and it’s up to Samus Aran to lend a hand whenever something gets out of control.

The game will take you to fuming magma worlds, humid jungle-like biomes, and many abandoned ancient ruins from precursor races like the mysterious Chozo. Not to mention it’s been running on dozens of consoles for years so there’s a lot of variety out there.

23. Mass Effect Trilogy (2007-2012)

Platforms: PC, Mobile, All Major Consoles

BioWare’s Mass Effect Trilogy offers a similar experience.

Commander Shepard visits all kinds of alien worlds while chasing Space Pirates, stopping inter-species wars, and looking for ways to stop the ancient Reapers from ending all life in the galaxy.

Where Metroid Prime presents an isolating exploration experience, half of Shepard’s exploration comes down to meeting and negotiating with local intelligent species.

It’s a story set in a living, breathing galactic community. And it sheds some life on what it could be like to live as a member of a spacefaring civilization.

22. Distant Worlds: Universe (2014)

Platforms: PC

In Code Force’s Distant Worlds: Universe, you’ll have to micromanage trading, colonizing, and waging war for a budding empire. All in a stupidly vast custom-made galaxy.

This colossal scale is what sets Distant Worlds apart from some mainstream titles.

One of its best features is how many elements you can modify whenever you create a new galaxy to play in.

Any small tweak to the variables, which go from the geological to the demographic, can give you an entirely different experience . So yes, lots of replay value here.

21. Eve Valkyrie (2016)

Platforms: PC, PS4

The Eve franchise has been spawning spacefaring games for decades. And while CCP’s main project continues to be Eve Online, they’ve also made some other excellent titles – like Eve Valkyrie.

This space dogfighting simulator puts you directly inside the cockpit of your battleship thanks to VR technology.

Immersion is the top priority, which is why this cockpit is such a work of art.

But immersion means nothing without good gameplay. And this game has fun gameplay in spades.

After some introductory single-player missions to teach you the ropes, you’ll go right into frantic 8-player shootouts that perfectly capture the chaos of space battles.

20. Destiny 2 (2017)

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One

Bungie’s space-fantasy IP isn’t so much about exploring the universe, as it is about defending your homeworld from other spacefaring races.

Still, you’ll experience plenty of alien-world charm while exploring the colossal spaceships of the Red Legion, the corrupted nests of the Hive, or the advanced simulations of the Vex.

Most importantly you’ll get a lot of loot, which you’ll need to overcome the narrative-guided PvE missions or survive in the fast-paced PvP.

19. FTL: Faster Than Light (2012)

Platforms: PC, macOS, Linux, iOS

While most space-exploration games focus on lush graphics and beautiful vistas, Subset Games’ FTL presents you with a basic GUI representing your ship and calls it a day.

Its unique gameplay is mostly text-based, having you captain your ship towards your destination. All the while doing your best to avoid space pirates and hopefully escaping with your life.

Unless you’re a total master of strategy, there’s a lot of death and failure in your future.

But each time you’ll come back stronger and more prepared for the journey ahead.

18. Observation (2019)

Developed by No Code, Observation plays like a puzzle game and reads like a suspenseful horror story.

You’ll play as Sam, a space station AI charged with helping Dr. Emma Fisher survive a disaster after everyone else in her crew disappears.

That means going around solving puzzles to fix diverse systems and guiding Dr. Fisher through the facilities.

I know that doesn’t sound too exciting, but the thrilling narrative full of plot twists is sure to keep you hooked until the end. Not to mention the voice acting here is just fantastic.

17. Surviving Mars (2018)

Platforms: PC, MacOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One

Haemimont Games’ Surviving Mars gives you a more specific challenge than most open-ended city-builders do: You must survive the ruthless environment of the red planet.

To do this you’ll need to manage energy, oxygen, and many other scarce resources to keep your society going.

This hardcore survival city-builder is among the best I’ve ever played. And the biosphere colony aesthetic is just out of this world.

We’ve even collected some really cool mods for this game well worth checking out. You know, once you’ve played it enough that you want some customization.

16. Star Trek Online (2010)

Platforms: PC, MacOS, PS4, Xbox One

Star Trek is one of the most popular sci-fi franchises to date. And since its inception, it has been all about exploring space and charting the stars.

Fittingly, the free-to-play Star Trek Online MMORPG is among the best options for anyone looking to cruise the sea of stars.

It’s set in a politically unstable universe where massive co-op battles against NPC super-ships are frequent, and everyone is fighting for their place in the galaxy.

Just create your captain, jump into your ship, and start the grind towards greatness.

15. The Outer Worlds (2019)

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

The Outer Worlds, made by Obsidian Entertainment, was hyped by fans as Fallout: New Vegas IN SPACE… all the way up to its release.

While it failed to recreate the same thrilling storylines and detailed open-world experience of New Vegas, this action-RPG is really fun to play.

It remains an exciting, colorful voyage into a world run by ruthless spacefaring mega-corporations.

If putting together a crew of misfits and visiting colorful alien locales in an unforgiving universe sounds like fun, well then for sure try it out.

14. Civilization: Beyond Earth (2014)

Platforms: PC, MacOS, Linux

If rather than an unfortunate pawn, you’d rather play as the factions doing the colonizing, consider Firaxis Games’ Civilization: Beyond Earth.

Although long-time fans of the franchise prefer the classic Civ V over this sci-fi experiment, I do think Beyond Earth does a great job of selling the fantasy of little-by-little carving a place for humanity on an unknown alien world.

Considering most sci-fi turn-based strategy games focus on conquering entire galaxies, Beyond Earth is a nice change of pace with unique challenges that’ll keep you hooked for hours at a time.

13. Homeworld Remastered Collection (2015)

If you’re a sci-fi enthusiast, perhaps you’ve played the 1999 classic Homeworld .

It’s the game that follows the story of a nigh-extinct civilization fighting for their right to exist.

Gearbox’s remaster brings you the emotional story of the Kushan in a visually-upgraded form, with some mild tweaks to gameplay mechanics that make this remastered version the best way to play Homeworld.

The 3D space combat is a bit hard to grasp at first. But the excellent narrative makes it worthwhile to learn the ropes. You’ll get sucked in soon afterwards.

12. Space Engineers (2019)

While not everyone has the time and smarts to get a degree in Aerospace Engineering, just about anyone can have fun in Keen Software House’s Space Engineers.

The game features a sophisticated physics engine that serves as the basis for your space engineering projects.

You’ll also have to worry about finding resources on planets and asteroids if you choose to play in Survival Mode. These resources let you make bases and ships able to withstand the dangers of the void, helping you further explore locales such as the Earth, the Moon, Titan, and Europa.

11. SpaceEngine (2019)

As its name suggests, SpaceEngine isn’t so much a game as it is a 3D astronomy program.

This bad boy endeavors to simulate the entire known universe with scientifically-accurate mass, volume, orbits, and other such data. It’s a big undertaking.

While this program, created by developer Vladimir Romanyuk, started its life as a purely educational product, users have access to game-like additions nowadays.

These include things like HD textures that make asteroids, stars, and planets look gorgeous.

Few games in this list come close to the level of detail and realism of SpaceEngine. And with the right settings, it offers some breathtaking vistas.

Check out the main site to learn more.

10. Universe Sandbox (2019)

Universe Sandbox is a physics-based space simulator aimed at making education fun by turning users into all-powerful galactic gods.

What makes this simulation unique is how easily you can tweak values such as gravity and mass.

You can also move anything you want, which becomes an exciting way to see how even the slightest changes can completely transform the Earth and our Milky Way.

Among its best features are the realistic simulated collisions, which will probably happen a lot considering how destructive we all get after being given so much power.

9. Outer Wilds (2019)

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Not to be confused with The Outer Worlds, Mobius Digital’s Outer Wilds presents a simple problem: The nearest star is 22 minutes from going supernova, and it’s up to you to figure out what’s going on.

Easy right?

You’re highly unlikely to find the answers you’re looking for in the first 22 minutes, but this roguelike action-adventure game expects you to keep trying.

Every time you play you’ll find something new. Slowly piecing together the puzzle as you explore the system, one time-loop at a time.

8. Everspace (2019)

Platforms: PC, MacOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

Also on the roguelike side of gaming lies Everspace, Rockfish Games’ ruthless space shooter.

Death will happen often here. But both your credits and your knowledge carry over from one run to the next, which is nice.

As you hone your piloting skills and improve your ship, you’ll start making real progress through the game’s fantastic story. And really, it’s fantastic.

If you’re looking for a straightforward game taking place in a beautifully-rendered outer space, you can’t go wrong with Everspace.

7. No Man’s Sky (2016)

Hello Games’ procedurally-generated space adventure promised much and delivered little back when it was launched.

But don’t let that initial scandal keep you from giving it a go.

Over the course of 3+ years with real focus and hard work, we’ve seen developers tremendously improve the game . Basically breathing new life into its previously barren universe.

No Man’s Sky is all about chance encounters. Whether that means finding a cool planet with bizarre lifeforms or just bumping into space pirates when you exit hyperspeed, it’s all here.

Unlike most other space-exploration game, it’s fast-paced. Having you jump from rock to rock in search of fuel and materials to continue your journey towards the center of the universe.

Sound fun? Well give it a go!

And once you get bored maybe try out some mods to bring back the freshness.

6. Stellaris (2016)

If you’re into world-building and sci-fi stories full of bizarre alien races, you won’t find a better game than Paradox Interactive’s grand-strategy space epic.

Stellaris manages to find the middle ground between complex strategy gameplay and custom-made storytelling.

Every anomaly you research has the potential to turn into a multi-episodic story that changes your society forever.

Slowly they add up, weaving a multi-generational epic right before your eyes.

5. Endless Space 2 (2017)

Platforms: PC, MacOS

Developed by Amplitude Studios, Endless Space 2 offers a more focused grand-strategy experience.

Instead of creating a faction from zero, you’ll have to choose a pre-made one.

This may sound like it limits your freedom. But it also let developers craft more cohesive storylines and events, which you’ll slowly uncover as you explore the sea of stars.

It’s filled to the brim with sci-fi tropes like living crystals, space dragons, and ancient superweapons just waiting for you to find them.

If you’re a lore-junkie like me, you have to give this one a try.

4. Kerbal Space Program (2015)

Among the most well-known games on our list is Kerbal Space Program, a physics-based space exploration simulator with an educational focus.

Developed by Squad, this quirky game lets you design, build, and launch spaceships operated by little green men.

It’s full of slapstick humor and ridiculous situations. But it’s all just a ruse to keep you distracted from the fact that you’re learning physics in the process of playing.

It’ll take a while to grasp how to make a space-worthy vessel.

But stuff like calculating the right angle your ship needs to breach the atmosphere will slowly become second nature. Well, if you keep at it.

3. Star Citizen (2015)

Star Citizen isn’t a complete game. Far from it!

And yet, Cloud Imperium Games’ work-in-progress has more content than most AAA titles.

This ambitious MMORPG seeks to give players a complete simulation of what living in a galactic empire would be like, together with some more fantastical elements to keep things interesting.

Whether you want to become a trader, a bounty hunter, or a military operative – it’s all in your hands after creating your character.

While the game doesn’t seem to be anywhere near completion, it already features several unique planets and moons to visit. All of these are littered with resources to obtain, NPCs to meet, and challenges to overcome.

2. Eve Online (2003)

The reason Eve Online remains relevant after all these years is how this MMORPG’s community ultimately determines the course of the game’s story.

Empires rise and fall due to player interactions, whether that be amassing a fleet to conquer their corner of the stars, spying on each other and selling the information to the highest bidder, or forming massive alliances to overthrow a player that’s become too powerful.

It may feel a bit daunting as a new player, trust me.

But CCP Games has been focusing on streamlining the new player experience as much as possible for the last couple of years. Give this a try if you never have before.

1. Elite Dangerous (2014)

On the surface, Elite Dangerous’ title and marketing may lead you to believe that it’s a game about intense dogfights and smuggling resources through vicious enemy territory.

It certainly is all that. But it’s also a game that places a heavy focus on exploration – which is why it takes place on a colossal 1-to-1 representation of our very own Milky Way.

You can get on your ship and travel to the Moon, fly around in Saturn’s rings, or even make a trip to each of the stars making up your zodiac sign’s constellation.

And on the way you’re sure to run into many breathtaking vistas that make the journey 100% worth it.

Whenever you’re tired of exploring you can always engage in the game’s many missions, develop your character, improve your ship, or fight for your faction.

There’s always something to do in Elite Dangerous.

Nelson Chitty

Nelson Chitty is a Venezuelan expat living in Argentina. He’s a writer and translator passionate about history and foreign cultures. His ideal weekend is spent between leisurely playing games of Civilization VI and looking for the next seinen anime to marathon.

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To Boldly Go: Best Space Exploration Games

For anyone who has ever wanted to explore the vast reaches of space, these games are absolutely essential!

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 you as to which kind of experience you receive, too; some people just aren't wired to enjoy these kinds of games.

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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 February 17, 2024 by William Quick: New efforts are being made to get us further into space and make it more accessible to the average person. Since we still have such a long way to go, we should look towards sci-fi games about exploring the stars and visiting alien worlds. Sometimes it's peaceful and other times it's all about danger and conflict like you'll face in the recently released Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader. The space exploration area of gaming has something for everyone and here are some of the best and most entertaining games that we've found about reaching the final frontier.

Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader

Travel through the void to explore deadly space.

If you don't understand Warhammer 40K, here's the gist: It's the far, far, far future where everything is dark, power armor is standard issue, and everything is trying to kill everything else. However, some choose to distance themselves from the conflict and seek their own adventure, like in Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader .

You and a crew of rogues, for lack of a better term, have gotten your hands on a pretty sweet ride known as a Voidship that is built to traverse the darkest parts of space. The destination you're heading for is the Koronus Expanse, a place so dangerous that the Empire won't even send grunts to check it out. This makes it prime unexplored territory full of discovery and hopefully lots of valuable loot and tech to plunder. Maintain your ship, explore the different worlds, and keep your crew in fighting shape for whatever awaits them when they touch down.

Offworld Trading Company

Set up capitalism across the universe.

What's the first thing people are going to do once space starts to be colonized? Well, they're going to set up businesses, of course. Unfortunately, the companies and individuals with the biggest pockets will have a head start in the game, but you can catch up to them with ambition in Offworld Trading Company.

This is a game all about setting up a business that becomes so successful and profitable that it simply can't be confined to one planet. Once you make enough money, you can send off ships and rockets to other worlds to touch down and set up your business wherever you can squeeze it in. As you can guess, maintaining such an empire across multiple planets isn't cheap, but there's no reward without risk in the space market. Go big or go home... to your home planet.

Bethesda Makes A Big Splash In The Sci-Fi Pool

After all the waiting, Starfield launched onto the gaming stage to a very large and warm reception. In this sci-fi RPG, your character evolves as you play and can be any number of personalities, professions, and roles. You've also got your ship to pilot and a loyal crew to travel with you.

This is a game that you could spend the whole year playing and make a small dent in it. The story follows a mystery involving strange artifacts scattered across space that, when brought together, may reveal some unknown truths about the universe. Of course, this means you'll need to travel to different planets, moons, and other celestial bodies. You'll fight other space travelers with a variety of futuristic weapons and even alien life-forms. When you're not fighting, you can explore and talk to the various people of this universe.

A Long Return Journey Across The Stars

Home is where the heart is, and sometimes your heart is on a planet. You get a sense of this from the Homeworld series, which has you leading a race of exiled people on a journey across space to reclaim their home world. It'll be quite a long trip with losses likely, but it's all for the sake of getting home.

Even though you're in new waters, the people are very resourceful and technologically advanced. With the right decisions, you can put together a huge fleet of ships capable of traveling, transporting, and, of course, combat. Space is a dangerous place full of hostile fleets that are just waiting to shoot you down and steal anything of value. Strategic thinking and quick decisions are paramount to survival and success in battle, management, and continuing your journey.

Telltale's The Expanse

Experience the emotions of floating through space and more.

Telltale Games is known for making some of the most narrative-rich games out there, but sadly, had to close its doors to address several issues. The studio has since returned invigorated with new ideas like the episodic sci-fi epic known as The Expanse.

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This original story puts you in the shoes of Camina Drummer, an adventurous astronaut who has been sent on a mission to an unexplored but infamous part of space. As part of a salvage crew, the opportunity to scavenge through the numerous ships that have disappeared in that space is too great to pass up. However, you'll experience tension and fear as things start to go wrong and that there's more to this mysterious Belt than you could have bargained for and that may claim lives in the process.

Land On New Planets And Set Up Society

Since almost all the major areas and places on Earth have already been discovered, all that is left is the rest of space. This is what drives you to the stars in the astronaut boots of an Astroneer working for discovery and exploration for the people and yourself.

This is a very bubbly and colorful space experience that gives you the option to travel to numerous uncharted planets and play around. You'll have a bunch of tools to navigate, study, and gather numerous materials and resources to use. The more you collect, the more you can build to further explore the planet's surface and travel even farther than you could when you first arrived. It also supports future trips into space to visit new planets and have new experiences alone or with others.

All That Matters Is Your Ship And Your Next Job

The work culture has changed in recent years with most people trying to make careers out of self-employment and freelancing. Years before this was the case, there was a game about trying to make a living your way in space called Freelancer.

You're put into the shoes of a spaceship pilot living in a dog-eat-dog universe. You can fly from planet to planet, visiting points of interest to get leads on well-paying gigs. Whether it's delivery, salvaging, or bounty hunting, you'll be able to make your way as long as you keep your ship in shape.

Ratchet & Clank

A furry alien and pint-size robot walk into an adventure....

Duos are popular in all forms because a partnership always has the potential for hijinks, whether they be comedic or action-packed. Both of these can be found in the stylistic sci-fi series Ratchet & Clank , going back to the first installment.

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The story follows the cat-like Ratchet and his little robot buddy Clank as they adventure across different galaxies, helping where they can. Their exploits allow them to get their hands on several useful gadgets and weird weapons that prove to be surprisingly effective. You'll also fly many ships to get to all the strange new worlds you need to visit.

Kerbal Space Program

Help the adorable kerbals take off.

Space is the final frontier, and it's not an easy or cheap one to explore. Even if you're just going to the moon, you're going to need tons of backing as well as a trained and willing crew like in Kerbal Space Program .

As the head of this program, you'll be leading an adorable organization of creatures in their dream of traveling to the stars. This means you'll need a lot of management and financial savvy to finance interstellar expeditions. Once you get to that point, you'll be rewarded with a chance to see other parts of the ever-expanding universe.

Star Conflict

Don't fight the stars, fight the ships among them.

Despite how much space there is in space, it's still not big enough for sci-fi stories to avoid arranging conflicts between sentient species. In addition to space exploration, there's also the excitement of space combat, which is captured by games like Star Conflict.

Take whatever money and resources you have to put towards a ship that can stand the pressures of space and those of other spaceships. If you want to get ahead, you'll need to fly into battle to shoot down other pilots, taking their parts, and looting for yourself. Space is cold, dark, and crowded, which means you'll have no shortage of spaceship fights.

Endless Space

A moniker taken from our own universe.

Some games stand out for having titles that make an obvious statement but still cause people to think. If the universe is constantly expanding, then it may be infinite and that's the idea behind Endless Space.

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This vast and complex sci-fi strategy game is about expanding among the stars. You'll start by setting up one base on a planet, so you can grow and build up resources to reach out beyond it. Do the best for your planet and people so that they have as much as possible when they set out for new worlds. Just be prepared to defend each of your planets with everything you've got.

High On Life

Become a bounty hunter and rescue talking guns.

High on Life is 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 to travel to various alien worlds seeking out high-ranking cartel members. You'll also gain the ability to warp in structures and facilities while visiting these worlds and appreciating the endemic wildlife... assuming it's not trying to kill you.

Starship Troopers: Terran Command

Lead the troopers to fight a galactic infestation.

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 many games, including the recent and well-received Starship Troopers: Terran Command, which challenges people 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.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters

Chaos is sending in forces and you've got to send them back.

Among tabletop titles is an 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.

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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.

NEBULOUS: Fleet Command

A fleet of spaceships awaits your orders.

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, 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.

Spaceships And Laser Shows Light Up The Dark

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 some 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.

Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition

Turn-based fleet battles and crew missions.

One of the coolest parts of space exploration is 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.

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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 to handle any dangerous species while hoping that the risk will be worth it to find anything that can improve your fleet or crew.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Become a jedi on the lam.

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 can experience a quality adventure in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order .

Set just after Order 66 eliminated a majority of the Jedi, you play as a surviving Jedi who 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.

Spaceflight Simulator

One way to learn spaceflight.

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 to reach 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.

Space Is Hauntingly Poetic

There are many scary things about space, but there's also a lot of 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.

9 Games Where You Can Build A Spaceship

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 others share your thoughts.

Best space exploration games

Reach for the stars with the best space exploration games that let you discover alien worlds, dodge supermassive black holes, or become an interstellar trucker.

We're going to infinity, and beyond with our list of the best space exploration games out there.

It’s a big universe out there, and video games have made traversing star systems a common activity. There was a time when space exploration games were limited to certain genres, but now it’s more of a theme, a core idea that defines the philosophies of wildly different titles. In this article, our aim is to showcase some of the biggest and best space exploration games out there. This is not a ranking, and all of the titles mentioned have something interesting and unique to offer despite sharing a common goal: making us feel closer to the stars.

But, what makes a good space exploration game? Well, we like to think they don’t have to be realistic experiences all the time. It’s all about the wonder of going out there and uncovering the cosmos’ secrets. Maybe the task is simply to abandon Earth, or maybe space is simply defining an otherwise simple adventure… or tales of conquest. The journey is what matters, and outer space is inherently the most unpredictable setting we can wish for.

If you’re looking for something more peculiar, you might want to check out our list of the best PSVR space games , or the best Star Wars games . The somewhat extensive list we’ll be exploring in this article isn’t bound to certain franchises or platforms, and we’ve tried to include something for everyone. Now, let’s blast off into the unknown.

1. Outer Wilds

• Release date: May 28, 2019
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch

An open-world game on the surface, Outer Wilds takes flight and sends players on a timed adventure across a solar system stuck in a 22-minute loop which ends with the sun going bye-bye. It’s all about the freedom of exploration and figuring out the system’s secrets – each planet is strange in its own way, and an extinct alien race might hold the key to breaking the time loop and stopping the sun from going supernova.

This one’s an easy recommendation for almost anyone looking for a compelling and emotional non-linear adventure that doesn’t overstay its welcome and is filled with interesting characters. Of course, it’s jam-packed with puzzles and situations that make your head spin. Take that into account before putting on your space suit.

2. Endless Space 2

• Release date: May 18, 2017
• Platform: PC

We promised you a bit of space conquest, and Endless Space 2 is the best turn-based, space-set strategy title that you can find right now. It completely behaves like a normal 4X game (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate), but the path to victory is never the same. This sci-fi universe is vast and rich, and so are its possibilities, but one thing always remains true: reaching new systems and colonizing their planets never gets old.

Build an isolated empire, expand your borders across the stars through diplomacy, or let money do the talking to keep your enemies away. Its expansion packs make things weirder and more unpredictable, as if sentient trees which colonize worlds with “celestial vines” weren’t strange enough.

3. Elite Dangerous

• Release date: December 16, 2014
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4

Space flight simulation aficionados are familiar with this one, as it’s been dominating that genre for years now, and with good reason. In spite of its steep learning curve, few games are as massive and rewarding as Elite Dangerous – the persistent online universe and a 1:1 scale representation of the Milky Way galaxy houses many gameplay possibilities that move at their own pace.

Elite Dangerous certainly isn’t for everyone, and is more of a lived-in experience that grows with you. Don’t expect to get a lot done in one hour. The journey matters here way more than crossing off tasks. Still, the number of different occupations (from space trucker to pirate) guarantee more than enough variety to keep patient players entertained for hundreds of hours. Furthermore, the Odyssey expansion (released May 19, 2021) introduces an on-foot FPS element to the game, although the community doesn’t seem to be vibing with it.

4. FTL: Faster Than Light

• Release date: September 14, 2012
• Platforms: PC, Android, iOS

Faster Than Light ain’t a looker, but it’s got it where it counts. It can be largely described as a procedurally generated roguelite, and the goal is to reach an allied fleet in order to deliver a package of critical information. The problem is that there are a bunch of dangerous space sectors between your single spacecraft and the bulk of your allies. Plus, a massive rebel fleet is also chasing you.

The game focuses on managing the ship’s systems and your crew, who are the “blood” that keep the entire thing working. It’s profoundly stressful but highly addictive, and remains one of the most unique space-related indie titles available. Moreover, you get to make some hard decisions as you push forward through the cosmos in a piece of junk, so it’s not all about battling pirates and fixing your ship with little to no resources.

• Buy FTL: Faster Than Light at Steam

5. No Man’s Sky

• Release date: August 8, 2016
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5

Everyone remembers how much of a disaster the launch of No Man’s Sky was, but Hello Games turned the ship around in spectacular fashion around a year and a half into post-launch development. With a few more years of massive updates, it now packs an absurd amount of content, so you’ll never be at a loss for anything to do. And, in case you didn’t know, its procedurally generated universe is practically endless and can be fully explored with friends and/or random players.

As stated by the developers, No Man’s Sky captures a sense of exploration and optimism typically seen in the sci-fi literature of the 1970s. That promise was always there, but the original experience was extremely shallow. Now, it feels like one of the liveliest universes we’ve explored in a video game. The first couple of hours might be rough, but it quickly picks up and goes where no game has gone before.

6. Kerbal Space Program

• Release date: June 24, 2011

Squad’s Kerbal Space Program (KPS) is another game that may not seem very enticing at first, but contains lots of absorbing ideas and executes most of them in an engrossing and charming manner. It took a while to get KSP out of Steam’s early access program, but the final result has captured countless players’ minds for years, and user-created mods might have something to do with that.

The player controls a space program operated by small humanoids called Kerbals, and the goal is simple: come up with vehicles and plans to explore their star system while avoiding catastrophic failures. KSP plays out like a comedy based on the history of space exploration, and it’s slowly gained a cult following that is now eagerly awaiting the sequel, which launches in 2022.

7. Spore: Galactic Adventures

• Release date: June 23, 2009

We know this is an odd pick, but hear us out. Spore: Galactic Adventures was a great expansion pack that turned the basic Spore late-game experience (uneven and mostly shallow) into an exciting set of space adventures. Jumping from one planet to another and exploring every corner of the galaxy became more than just a chore, and the extensive adventure and planet creators gave users even more tools to come up with fun content.

Spore hasn’t aged that well overall, but its Complete Collection is, in our humble opinion, worth revisiting even now. Maxis threw lots of exciting ideas into it, and many of them still haven’t been successfully replicated by more modern titles. We wouldn’t reject a reboot either.

• Buy Spore: More Spore bundle at Steam

8. Homeworld Remastered Collection

• Release date: February 25, 2015

Relic Entertainment’s Homeworld games are landmarks of the real-time strategy genre, and even bigger triumphs for lovers of good, meaty science fiction. Gearbox Software’s substantial remaster of both titles only solidified their legendary status and made them relevant again. The series has now started to grow past the classic games, but they’re still must-play releases.

As in most RTS titles, the Homeworld games focus on gathering resources to build military forces to crush your opponents, but the plot and worldbuilding that hold everything together make them stand out: the Kushan exiles of the planet Kharak set out on a mission to reclaim their ancient homeworld of Hiigara from the Taiidan Empire. It’s a sprawling epic about space nomads with really cool ships. What’s not to love?

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Fran Ruiz is our resident Star Wars guy. His hunger for movies and TV series is only matched by his love for video games. He got a BA of English Studies, focusing on English Literature, from the University of Malaga, in Spain, as well as a Master's Degree in English Studies, Multilingual and Intercultural Communication. On top of writing features and other longform articles for Space.com since 2021, he is a frequent collaborator of VG247 and other gaming sites. He also serves as associate editor over at Star Wars News Net and its sister site, Movie News Net.

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Best space games which will let you explore the unknown

From Elite Dangerous to Outer Wilds, here's the 10 best space games which will let you journey through the stars

The best space games capture a sense of wonder and make the most of the setting to deliver adventures of all shapes and sizes. From sprawling RPGs to MMORPGs and creative roguelikes, there's no shortage of fantastic games out there that bring to life interesting and memorable experiences among the stars. Many games set in space are often counted among the best sci-fi games out there, but the wealth of possibilities the setting presents has also set the scene for some of the best game stories . 

Happily, we have plenty of new adventures that take place in space to look forward to, with upcoming Star Wars games such as Star Wars Outlaws .  But while we wait for what lies ahead, why not join us as celebrate all of experiences you try out right now. So whether you enjoy the setting, love getting lost in exploration, or you want to live out a space-faring fantasy, get ready for lift off as we take you through our pick of the best space games you can play right now. 

Recent updates

This list of best space games was updated on October 23, 2023 to add Starfield to the ranking. 

Platform(s) : PC Developer: CCP

Eve Online is bigger and better than ever before, as the community continues to expand their horizons. In Eve Online, everything is player-directed: From the structure of entire alliances to the whole in-game economy. With so many different factors at play – thousands of players online at any one time, each with their own goals – you find that cool stuff just constantly happens, from the collapse of superpowers to huge PvP fights with thousands of ships spewing lasers across the sky. Eve Online remains among the best MMORPG s to play in 2023. 

9. Elite Dangerous

Platform(s) : PC Developer : Frontier Developments  

Elite: Dangerous feels a bit like Space: The Game. It hands you a ship, boots up the engine and asks you to make your living however you like in a galaxy full of other players, be that via trading, smuggling, mining, exploring or dogfighting. It’s not a full-on flying sim, but it really sells the fantasy of space travel. Your cockpit is alive with blinking lights that let you adjust the balance of power to your ship’s systems, and the sheer scale of the world means flying between two planets can take ages, even with a hyperspace jump. Sit back and enjoy the gorgeous views.

8. Starfield

Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

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Starfield allows you step into an expansive universe and explore any one of its many planets as you join up as a member of the Constellation. If you've ever wanted to bring your own ship to life that you can pilot among the stars,  there's all kinds of parts and options to do just that. The ambitious RPG puts you behind the pilot seat of your very own spacecraft, with an extensive level of freedom when it comes to Starfield ship customization . There's plenty to discover as you venture through the cosmos, with companions who can join your crew and help you fight against any enemies that might cross your path. With a variety of Starfield traits and backgrounds to choose from, Bethesda's latest RPG is also home to different skills that can enhance spaceflight and exploration planet-side. 

Read our Starfield review

7. Kerbal Space Program

Platform(s) : PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X Developer: Squad

Half toybox, half science project, Kerbal Space Program is the most fun you can have while learning about space. On the surface, it’s a game about building ridiculous rockets and launching tiny green men into space – and then watching the whole thing literally fall apart before your eyes while you giggle. But the more you play, the more you want to understand it. Before long, you’re agonizing over the correct entry angle for a moon landing, or the right configuration of engines to achieve maximum thrust. The proper rules of physics apply, and the most satisfying achievements require careful planning and attention to detail. It’s a sandbox, but you’ll always have a goal to aim for. 

6. Stellaris

Platform(s) : PC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 Developer: Paradox Development Studio

Stellaris is a deep, gripping strategy game about building up a space-faring empire and squashing any foe in sight. Or, if you prefer, it’s about establishing a race of friendly technocrat turtles that help other species expand. That’s the beauty of it: you set your own goals, assign your own traits to your species, and play it however you like. It has all the exploration of a traditional strategy sim, but your relationships with other factions take on more weight than usual. You’ll steer your civilisation through war and peace, watch alliances form and betray each other, and band together with foes to fight extra-dimensional invaders. Dive in, and prepare to lose all track of time.

5. Outer Wilds

Platform(s) : PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch Developer: Mobius Digital

The cutesy presentation Outer Wilds belies just how clever this game is: as a first-time astronaut, you explore a miniaturized galaxy over the course of 22 minutes, zooming between planets in your ship and picking at story threads. When the clock runs out, you respawn and do it all over again – this time armed with everything you learned in your previous life. A truly dynamic and unique experience, The Outer Wilds is one of the most imaginative and creative space games out there. 

4. FTL: Faster Than Light

Platform(s) : PC, iOS Developer: Subset Games

One of the best indie games ever made still has plenty of fuel in the tank. As the captain of a top-down ship, your goal is to reach friendly territory by jumping between randomly-generated segments of space, each full of nasty enemies, traders, and the odd friendly face. Combat somehow feels both urgent and thoughtful: you can pause at any time to assess your options, and yet we’re always in a constant panic, re-routing precious power from our weapons to our shields to absorb damage, or even purposefully bombing our own ship to neutralise boarding parties. Every decision is tortuous, and every victory has a cost. Over a decade later, and FTL is still one of the best roguelike games on the market. 

3. Destiny 2

Platform(s) : PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5 Developer: Bungie

If you only have room in your life for one online FPS, make it Destiny 2 . It’s got it all: challenging PvP modes, big co-op boss fights, long story arcs, and, most importantly, tons of loot to collect on alien planets. When it comes to the actual shooting, Destiny 2 remains one of the best FPS games out there. Guns feel weighty but not cumbersome, and headshots reward you with showers of special effects. We’d advise playing with a group, especially for the toughest raids, but it’s still a fun time if you’re solo. Best of all, the base game is free-to-play, and you could easily dump 100 hours into it before being tempted to spend any cash on expansions.

2. Mass Effect 2 

Platform(s) : PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X Developer: BioWare

Mass Effect is among the best RPGs – the space RPG by which we measure all others. The original trilogy, and particularly the second game, remain masterpieces. And thanks to the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition , it's even easier to relive the excellent series all over again. The overall plot of the series – space hero tries to unite and save the galaxy against a deadly force – sounds generic, but doesn’t feel it moment-to-moment. That’s largely down to the crew you assemble, each with distinct personalities, goals, and senses of humor. As they gradually open up, you’ll look forward to every trip back to the Normandy between missions, just so you can see what they have to say next. 

1. No Man's Sky

Platform(s) : PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch Developer : Hello Games

No Man's Sky has so much to offer when it comes to space exploration. With a wealth of big updates recently added to make the experience even more in-depth, Hello Games presents you with infinite galaxies to discover, as well as more than 30 hours of story. The massive and ambitious Beyond update brought with it even more features and improvements, and along with the Origins , Prisms , Expeditions , and Echoes updates, there's never been a better time to jump right in. 

If you don't feel like exploring on your own, you can also play the space-faring adventure with your pals. The No Man's Sky multiplayer aspect offers you the chance to build up colonies together, try to survive the expanses of the galaxies, and even dogfight and race in your ships. The ever-growing community of players that continues to go from strength to strength just goes to show how much love there is for No Man's Sky, and it really has become of the best sim games for space-curious players around. 

Look ahead to future releases with our roundup of new games for 2023 and beyond. 

• Josh West UK Managing Editor, GamesRadar+
• Joe Donnelly Features Editor, GamesRadar+
• Heather Wald Senior staff writer

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8 Best Space Games for Windows PCs

There are many space games available on PC, so finding the best ones can be a challenge. We rounded up some of our favorites to get you started.

Space games have been around for decades on PC. The genre is more popular than ever before and with titles like Star Citizen on the horizon, it's easy to get lost among gorgeous nebula, massive planets, and endless space. Not all space games are worth your time, however. This is a list of titles we believe you should have in your collection.

X3: Albion Prelude

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This is the godfather of space games . While not perfect, X3 ($19.99) offers incredible value for the money allowing the player to embark on various journeys and create their own story. Be a trader, stock broker, pirate, fleet general, company executive, explorer, miner, and much more. The sheer scale of the game is impressive, but it's showing its age.

Hopefully, X4 will pick up where Egosoft left off with Albion Prelude and take advantage of the latest hardware.

EVE Online is an online space role-playing game (RPG) that has hundreds of thousands of active players, many of whom take EVE gameplay and role-playing extremely seriously. You may have read about massive wars occurring in-game, lasting more than 24 hours and resulting in the scrapping of thousands of ships. But fear not, as it's an expansive universe, allowing players to do essentially whatever they desire. Wish to spend hours mining rock? Go for it.

Everything within the EVE-verse is player-driven, including the economy. Think of it as a space simulator that simulates a living, breathing community of star explorers. Best of all, you can get started for free.

See at Steam

If you wish to take control of an entire species and dominate (or integrate into) a galaxy, you'll want to pick up Stellaris ($39.99). This 4X title by Paradox Interactive is as in-depth as it is gorgeous. There's something about sending hundreds of ships into battle and watching all the lasers, missiles and mass particles fly across the screen. That is, if you're on the winning side.

As well as offering a strategic fix for players, Paradox worked hard implementing dynamic events and more variables to help make each playthrough feel slightly different.

Elite: Dangerous

Elite: Dangerous ($29.99) is impressive in the scale of the Milky Way galaxy Frontier, the developer, managed to accurately reproduce. Much like X3, you're able to take part in trading, be a pirate, take on other players and even particpate in a war. The game is also being continuously updated by the developer, adding in a bunch of features for free, and there's VR support if you own a headset (and powerful enough PC).

While the game itself can prove difficult to get the hang of from the get-go — seriously, who would have thought docking your ship would be such a pain? — Elite is incredibly rewarding once you master the controls and combat system.

Faster Than Light

Faster Than Light, commonly known as FTL, ($9.99) is a roguelike space adventure game that is terribly hard to master. You're in charge of manning a ship and leading a crew as you flee a rebel fleet through many sectors. Everything is randomized to offer unique playthroughs, and it's of paramount importance that you select upgrades, manage crew, buy weapons, switch load outs, and oversee resources to succeed.

Combat is fast-paced and fluid, as is movement across each sector. Just don't get too comfortable in your well-armed ship as FTL has every desire to pull you off your high horse in a few seconds. And seriously, buy the soundtrack to FTL — it's excellent and worth every penny.

Sins of a Solar Empire

Ironclad Games and Stardock brought PC gamers the excellent Sins of a Solar Empire back in 2012, and today it remains a top pick for anyone seeking a space-based real-time strategy experience. Picking from three races and two factions within (for a total of six) allows you to take on the mantle of responsiblity to start with a single planet and expand your empire. Various victory conditions are available, including diplomatic and warfare.

The multiplayer is also really good, especially when you have a full game of friends in multiple alliances. Let the fierce battles take place. Sins is helped a fair deal by being such a great looking game. It;s well worth picking up. The $51.19 price tag includes various extras and additional content.

Homeworld Remastered Collection

Developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sierra Entertainment in September 1999, Homeworld is a stunning space game that captivated the lives of many. Gearbox recently released the Remastered Collection ($34.49), which adds more up-to-date graphics and sound, but retains the magic that made the original so brilliant. But don't get too cozy in Homeworld, as it's a difficult game to progress through and you'll find yourself drawing the short straw more often than not.

As you progress through the single-player campaign, your task is to gather resources and build up a massive fleet, which you keep when moving between levels. If only it were that simple. My only gripe with the Remastered Collection is the lack of Cataclysm, a superb expansion pack that's sorely missed in playthroughs.

Rebel Galaxy

Rebel Galaxy ($19) is somewhat of a strange entry on our list because while it's an excellent and rather unique experience, it can become a little grind-like and repetitive. Still, it's a fun arcade shooter that requires you to ensure you're rocking the best equpiment your funds can afford.

Think of Rebel Galaxy as a wonderful mashup of Freelancer and Firefly. What makes it feel so unique is instead of relying on front-mounted weaponry, you're engaging with the enemy as if you were an assassin on a pirate ship. Everything is settled once your broadsides take aim and fire.

Notable mentions

• Freelancer : A gem of a game that offers an immersive galaxy to explore, if you manage to secure a copy.
• Freespace 2 : Just an awesome classic space combat sim.
• Mass Effect : This is not technically a "space game" in the same sense as other titles in our list, but it is still set in space and a kick-ass trilogy (sorry, Andromeda).
• Star Citizen : This game isn't complete yet, but it certainly looks promising (if we ever make it to the finish line).
• Star Wars: TIE Fighter : You're a recruit of the Imperial Navy under the command of Darth Vader. Need we say more?
• Wing Commander : A truly retro space combat title with a great story and awesome gameplay. ( Wing Commander 4 is also brilliant.)

Your favorites

What are the top space titles that keep you returning for more? Sound off in the comments and tell us why we should have included your choice.

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Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds .

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The best space games to play on PC Game Pass ahead of Starfield's arrival

Our August Game Pass showcase shoots for the stars.

It feels like a long while since I strapped in for an adventure to the stars (last time it was with Elite Dangerous, and it turned out to be less of an adventure and more of a 'getting lost in the endless void of deep space'). When it comes to exploring the galaxy and beyond, I need an at least somewhat curated experience: pamphlets, visual indicators, an irascible ship's computer that will tell me what planet I'm looking at. Y'know, the basic stuff.

With Starfield hitting PC Game Pass next month like an extermination event asteroid, now feels like a great time to wet our collective whistle by spending time with a bunch of the best interstellar games available on the service. So I threw on the ol' pressure suit, topped up the shuttle's windscreen wiper fluid, and got ready to blast off. Here's what I discovered. 

Game of the Month: Everspace 2

The big new supernova space game on Game Pass right now is unquestionably Everspace 2. Rocking an excellent '85' score here on PC Gamer, it builds on the space-trading-and-combat spirit of the classic Freelancer, but gravitates more towards a bountiful lootfest ("Diablo in space," our Ian Evenden called it). Get in dogfights against space pirates and roaming elites, accrue XP, then use that to upgrade your vessel with all manner of shields, guns, and other space tech. 

This is a gorgeous game on a pretty tight scale; you'll see planets haloed in shimmering atmospheres, minefields ominously glowing red in the darkness, and debris floating around ruined transport vessels, inviting you to plunder them. Those wary of being overwhelmed by intricate space sim controls will be pleased to hear that Everspace 2 is accessible and arcadey too.

It's a whole lot of action with a hint of exploration, perfect for those whose idea of fun in space is Star Wars rather than Stellaris.

The Outer Worlds 

This is probably the closest game to the ballpark of 'Bethesda-style RPG in space.' Made by one of the most treasured devs in the business, Obsidian, The Outer Worlds is a bright and quirky jaunt around a corporate-owned solar system. It's full of gags, fun characters, and vibrant planetary biomes to hop between. 

Don't expect rich, dark questing or factional politics like in Obsidian's other gem, Fallout: New Vegas (also available on Game Pass, by the way), but if you're looking for a refreshingly short and sharply written RPG that'll give you a sugary trip to space before Starfield, The Outer Worlds will slot in perfectly.

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Citizen Sleeper

It'd be remiss of me not to pick a representative from Game Pass' vast library of indie games, and last year's soothing, synthy RPG Citizen Sleeper has earned that spot . Shelve your dreams of interplanetary exploration for a moment, and settle in for an intimate story aboard a space station that's been taken over by a host of interesting factions and characters.

You play as a 'sleeper', a synthetic being in a human body, who's escaped from corporate control and made a home in this station run by blue-collar workers, revolutionaries, and renegades. In the spirit of tabletop RPGs, everything you do is based around dice rolls, which will propel you through a branching narrative where you try to make a living in a tough environment, evade your corporate captors, and uncover tons of intimate little side-stories on the way.

No Man's Sky

If your space fantasies revolve around exploring an endless cosmos, then No Man's Sky's promise of a billion (or something) planets is a seductive one. The game had an infamously bad landing back in 2016, but its journey towards fulfilling its initial promise since then has been pretty sensational .

The game's neon-coloured procedurally generated cosmos, which lets you seamlessly fly into the atmosphere of and touch down on any planet you see, still looks great today, and over the years the game's added things like base-building, multiplayer, vehicles, underwater exploration, better space combat, and cohesive questing and stories.

For all these layers, No Man's Sky is an exploration game at heart, and at the very least it's great for dipping into for a few weeks, planting your flag on some cool-looking planets, photographing some weird creatures, then moving on.

Those are my picks, but of course there's plenty more on Microsoft's subscription service. So, in the spirit of the great space explorers, head out to those far reaches of the Game Pass galaxy and see what you uncover.

PC Game Pass is available via xbox.com .

Robert is a freelance writer and chronic game tinkerer who spends many hours modding games then not playing them, and hiding behind doors with a shotgun in Hunt: Showdown. Wishes to spend his dying moments on Earth scrolling through his games library on a TV-friendly frontend that unifies all PC game launchers.

House Flipper 2 just became a platformer with a new 'The Floor Is Lava' mode, and no, it's not just an April Fools' joke

Classic '90s space sim Star Wars: X-Wing had one mission that was so brutally hard, a fan cut up his floppy disks and mailed them back to LucasArts

For their new roguelite, the Dead Cells team scrapped 2 years of work on combat and redid it in just 3 weeks: 'We need to be able to dare to kill a feature when it doesn't work'

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