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Top 25 best sci-fi games for Android phones and tablets

These science fiction and space games will take you to another galaxy in one breath.

Updated by Ivan Spasojevic on January 16, 2024  - re-checked the list We all know about sci-fi movies, novels, TV series and comic books. But we don't always think about sci-fi games.

That's probably because we define them more by the way they play than their settings and storylines. But there are heaps of sci-fi games out there.

The future has been rich pickings for game developers from the beginning. Space Invaders and Galaxian took us on a journey to the stars in the '70s - admittedly to blast aliens to smithereens, but it was a start.

1984's Elite took a more sophisticated approach by giving us the option to trade with said aliens rather than ping laser fire at them. More importantly, it created a rich science fiction world to explore and thrive in.

Sci-fi games have only gotten richer and more nuanced in the years since. And that now includes mobile, where there are countless shooters , RPGs , and strategy games that fall under the sci-fi banner.

The following Android sci-fi game selections don't merely contain a futuristic setting. Each one pulls you into a fully realised sci-fi world.

1 Out There

Out There is a brilliant, mysterious, brutal choose-your-own space adventure that sets you out exploring the dark void of space. It looks absolutely mesmerizing, and the action has massive comic-book vibes. It pretty much looks like a comic book come to life.

You'll have tons of fun exploring the unexplored and the various sceneries and planets, and the characters you will interact with only add to the quality of the action within. It's absolutely brilliant. Read our Out There review if you don't believe us!

2 Knights of the Old Republic

Knights of the Old Republic is a Star Wars title that lets you fill the role of an amnesiac Jedi, forging your path towards the dark or the light. For sci-fi fans, it's paradise. If you haven't played any of the KOTOR games yet, then you're clearly missing out. An engaging story will keep you on the edge of your seat, and although the graphics is a bit outdated, it's still far from being bad or unplayable.

This stunning creation is the epitome of sci-fi - it is a premium title that is well worth devoting your time to, as long as you're a Star Wars fan. Otherwise, you're probably not going to enjoy it as much.

3 Ticket to Earth

You wouldn't necessarily expect an RPG-puzzler mash-up to come up with an involving sci-fi story, but Ticket to Earth does just that. Even better, this tale of mutant insects and rampaging robots has been rendered in a classy comic book style.

We've also got a Ticket to Earth review if you want to find out how this hybrid RPG puzzler plays out! It's incredibly fun, and makes for a truly terrific, one can enjoy pretty much anytime. Oh, and it's also got an intriguing story that you can unfold in the meantime.

4 Star Traders: Frontiers

A staggeringly accomplished RPG, ported successfully from PC. This is an ambitious open-world sci-fi adventure that lets you mould your own adventure as the captain of your ship. Fight, trade, steal, explore - it's entirely up to you. There are a plethora of tasks at hand, and there's never a shortage of them when it comes to keeping you busy.

It's one of the best space games that the Android platform can support - even in 2024. There are so many elements that make up the wholesome experience you'll find in Star Traders: Frontiers that no other title comes anywhere close to it. It's probably because of the addition of characters and turn-based battles.

5 Spaceteam

If you ever thought that you'd be great at piloting the Starship Enterprise with your buddies, Spaceteam will hilariously disabuse you of that idea. You are in charge of a ship and you can shout your heart out at your crew if they are doing a poor job. All sounds simple thus far, yeah?

Well, how about the fact that your ship is falling apart and all the while you are doing your best to outrun a supernova? It suddenly gets a tad more complicated. It's a brilliantly well-done space game, and if you haven't checked it out yet, you need to do so ASAP.

Take the much-maligned No Man's Sky, reign in the ambition to a more succinct format, and make it more instantly fun. That's Morphite for you: a wonderfully outward-looking, explorative sci-fi adventure. You have blocky 3D graphics that are not the usual choice for sci-fi games (we all know sci-fi aficionados love a realistic approach), but we cannot be mad at that.

They look particularly delightful, so they perfectly complement Morphite's intriguing narrative. If you want to learn exactly how that plays out, make sure to read our Morphite review . As we mentioned, it does everything perfectly.

7 Punishing: Gray Raven

Punishing: Gray Raven is a fantastic RPG set in a dystopian far future, where the world is engulfed by Mechanoids. It has you piloting 3 characters called 'Constructs' in the battle against them and boy, do they look astonishing. The anime graphics cleverly combined with the futuristic approach create a fully immersive sci-fi game that gets your blood pumping.

PGR is basically a hack-and-slash RPG with a rich narrative behind it and more than enough fuel to keep it atop the rankings from every point of view. It's not your typical space game though - it's just a clever sci-fi title that is hard not to place in any list.

For more info, take a look at the PGR tier list to find out which characters are in meta, while also redeeming some of the codes for Punishing Gray Raven that we have!

8 XCOM: Enemy Within

Probably the one that many players are already familiar with, XCOM has made its way onto the mobile leaderboards too. You have to make deeply strategic moves every step of the way, and the narrative and gameplay are perfectly intertwined. That's exactly why we have it lying about in every other list of ours.

But let's talk about this version of XCOM in particular. Okay, so XCOM: Enemy Within's plot is a bit 'B movie' - and not in the knowingly ironic sense. But when it comes down to the gameplay itself, all you can say is that it is a turn-based strategy at its best. I mean, you have to plan every turn during the action, and when you pull off a perfect run without having wounded or killed team members, it feels very satisfying. Of course, if you like the first one, try the XCOM 2.

9 Beholder 2

Not all sci-fi relates to talking robots and space battles. There's a rich seam of dystopian speculative fiction out there, and Beholder 2 is one of the foremost gaming examples. As a newly employed department officer in a totalitarian state, will you become a hardened careerist or protect your fellow citizens?

We cannot help but mention the grey approach when it comes to the characters - it perfectly encompasses their soulless bodies in the world of Beholder 2. And we don't mean that in a gore-y way, but rather a metaphor for how they feel inside - that's what I like to believe, at least. Makes me look at the game from a different angle.

10 Void Tyrant

Void Tyrant's playful, cartoony choose-your-own-adventure style hides an ambitious roguelike card battler that applies the basic rules of Blackjack for its simple but strategic battle system. It doesn't do a good job of reflecting just how challenging and deeply strategic it is. Instead, it plays it down and makes you think that it's just another random casual card game. Well, surprise - it's not!

In Void Tyrant you can recruit various heroes and use them to adventure into the secret areas with your self-built card deck, and hope for the best - a good drop, a good encounter, or simply managing to come out victorious. It's truly fun, exciting, and challenging! A fun little Android space game with cards.

11 Star Trek: Fleet Command

Many of you probably know a thing or two about Star Trek, since it's such a popular franchise - however, not many know just how good this mobile adaptation is. Star Trek: Fleet Command is a well-designed and deeply immersive 4X mobile sci-fi game, but its true value is its Star Trek IP and Kelvin Timeline setting (if you don't know what that means, this probably isn't for you).

Fleet Command will let you upgrade, customise and collect various ships from all the factions we all know and love (well, some at least), and the best part - you can collect popular characters and use them to aid you in battle as captains and commanders. Of course, those that love to take shortcuts can read about the Star Trek: Fleet Command best crew combinations !

12 Crescent Moon Games Stellar Wanderer

Stellar Wanderer is one of the best multi-platform space simulators for mobile devices. It's got high-quality graphics, attractive visuals, and a huge space universe divided into galaxies full of unique planets.

You will have to choose one of four classes, upgrade your starships, fight in epic battles and explore boundless space. You can also collect resources, trade, or become a space pirate. Everything is up to you in this game. Considering all activities, playtime can be very extensive. What's more interesting, all of the activities named above are available in multiplayer as well, so you can invite friends to play along.

13 Xenowerk Tactics

Pixelbite created a compelling, deeply atmospheric sci-fi world in the original Xenowerk, and we have to admit - Xenowerk Tactics is not too far away either. However, this one has a more tactical approach, straying away from twin-stick shooting to tense team-based tactics. It's a brilliant match.

Everything about it, from graphics to gameplay feels right and delivers a high-quality space game for Android that every fan of strategies should play at least once in their lifetime. And the best part yet - on Android, you can play the first part for free and in case you like it, then you can go ahead and purchase the rest.

14 Lifeline

A brilliantly tense interactive fiction title, with top writing from Dave Justus. The key twist here is that it all unfolds in real time, with the survivor of a spaceship crash communicating with you directly throughout the day. That's something we see in very few games, but in this environment it makes you look forward to the next event in a... unique way.

You will rarely want to skip through time (fast-forward your device's clock) because it has something new and exciting happening every moment. Of course, it's an interactive sci fi, so there won't be much to brag about in terms of visuals - but the narrative is quite literally out of this world (good pun?).

Lifeline is a premium title, and if you are wondering whether or not you should purchase it, make sure to read our Lifeline review first. We strongly believe it's worth it, but that's just us - if you love a game with a pleasing narrative, you'll probably agree with us.

15 CyberSphere Online

Are you in hot pursuit of a high-quality space shooter for Android? Then look no further, because CyberSphere Online is the answer. A lovely title that has it all - action, robots, shooting, explosions and lasers. Did I miss anything? Oh, a multiplayer option too.

In CyberSphere you team up with other players across multiple platforms and take part in various game modes. From bosses to PvP matches, there's a little bit of everything. And while the graphics are not nearly as good as in other multiplayer online games, this sci-fi shooter is by no means ugly. It plays smoothly and lag-free (as long as your connection is stable), and you know that when it comes to shooters that's an important factor.

16 Pixel Starships

If you love pixelated graphics as much as the next person, but you get easily excited about everything space-related, chances are you won't often put the two together. However, in Pixel Starships the two create something beautiful - a stunning space game where you build your own ship, expand it and carry out interstellar battles.

Pixel Starships is ideal for those who want a more laid-back sci-fi title, with a colourful approach and a multiplayer mode. While there is not much that is original in terms of gameplay, it is still great if you want something simple. In our Pixel Starships review we were actually not impressed with it that much, but it still made the list for several reasons. For one, it's pixelated; two, it's simple, and three, it's got a new challenge at every step.

17 Infinite Lagrange

We have played Infinite Lagrange for a while, and it's safe to say that it's pretty similar to many other space games out there - however, it stands out because it's a game that doesn't actually need you to charge money to become relevant. You have multiple choices in terms of how you want to play - do you want to rely on PvP? Maybe you're more into mining resources idle and letting the game unfold until you're strong enough.

No matter what it is, chances are you can do it. Oh, and it's worth mentioning that the graphics are fairly similar to what you have in EVE Echoes. They're beautiful, realistic, and everything offers a new possibility.

If you're in a new area of the galaxy, you can look for resources and set up a temporary base. If you want to settle down anywhere, you can do it with just a couple of taps. The only problem is finding that one spot which isn't heavily mined by the other players! All in all, it's a beautiful game and if you love sci-fi games, you need to give Infinite Lagrange a shot. We even got a few Infinite Lagrange guides to help you along the way!

18 Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus

If you're looking for ultimate space sci-fi, there's no frontier better and bigger than Warhammer 40K. Ask Henry Cavill if you don't believe us. The Games Workshop should give him a big bonus for advertising their work wherever he goes. Man loves his figurines.

For a good reason, however, as Warhammer 40K lore is pretty deep and engaging, it's not hard to figure out why someone can get hooked that much. Tacticus was a mobile game of the year in 2022 by players' votes, which tells a lot about its quality. Figurine models are well animated, in 3D and it's easy to recognise them.

You'll play several campaigns with various factions and unlock (but also boost) a myriad of characters. It has a PVP element called arena where you can test your teams against others, and a few other modes as well. Combat is turn-based, and it gives you enough time to thing and use the right ability or attack. If your characters are not underpowered, winning or losing is 100% in your hands, so you can't blame it on someone else in case you get wrecked!

19 SpacePlan

SpacePlan is actually a clicker game, but that would be an understatement. You do have to tap continuously in order to make the numbers go higher, but you also have to find some rather intriguing space secrets! This casual clicker is great to play anytime, any day, even when you have just 5 minutes of playtime at your disposal.

You can take your time and let the universe unfold at its own rate (which is not too impressive, we have to admit) but hey - it's the Space Plan all along (I'll see myself out). Jokes aside, there are some quirky remarks in SpacePlan, including launching your very own potato-based probes.

All in all, it's a premium title that will put a smile on your face and if you aren't looking for games with massive action, this is the one you need to play. Just read our SpacePlan review and convince yourself!

20 Neon Chrome

Now that we had a few relaxing sci-fi games, it's time to shift the direction and mention one which takes action to a whole new level. Neon Chrome is a roguelike twin-stick shooter set in a dystopian future dominated by corporations and neon signs. It combines cyberpunk elements with laser battles and much more.

There are shades of Gibson, Bladerunner, The Running Man, Cyberpunk, and a bunch of other sci-fi classics here, so it's hard to go wrong with a mash of some of the best titles out there. We even have a Neon Chrome review for you, so if you're up for some next-gen action, you should try this one out.

Its strategic elements combined with beautiful neon visuals make for an incredibly addictive game. See it for yourself!

21 EVE Echoes

Even in 2024, EVE Echoes can't be counted out as the best sci-fi game on the Android list. It's still a strong contender, and that's because EVE Echoes has a well-established player base and a massive legacy to keep. In EVE you can choose a faction and start your space journey, upgrading your ships, trading and building, and even becoming a space pirate - why not?

Players can discover unique space regions, or simply cruise through the galaxy and enjoy the view. We love the trading part of the game, which is an alternative that helps players make money. Of course, it takes time and equipment (if you want to go farming for resources), but it's all worth it. There are many layers to EVE Echoes' complexity, and they all make it that much more enjoyable.

Another fun feature is screenshots! EVE Echoes looks so good that you can take screenshots from literally every angle and they'll look fabulous. Easy to use them as your phone wallpaper.

22 Machinarium

An unexpected guest on our list is Machinarium - but that's not becaue it's an out-of-this-world space game (see what I did there?), but rather because it's a compelling sci-fi story of Joseph who tries to save his girlfriend. Oh, Joseph and his girlfriend are both robots.

In Machinarium, Amanita Games tells a compelling stories without any actual words. Much of its success comes through the richness of its strange sci-fi worlds, such as in this steampunk point-and-click adventure. The world within Machinarium looks like it came from a faraway world. It's brilliant.

If that was not enough to convince you, make sure to read our Machinarium review too!

23 Hades' Star

Hades' Star is a sprawling sci-fi MMO with mining, colonising, and commerce all built into its framework. It takes a very clean approach to space, space exploration and the like, and everything (from the menu to the actual worlds) looks extremely clean and well-polished.

When it comes to gameplay, it's pretty much what you can expect from such a space game - you have to build and expand your very own galactic empire. You have a very similar game to Infinite Lagrange in this one, except a lot simpler in terms of visuals.

Now about the space battles... they are something else. To be fair, they might not be what you might expect. Still, they're good enough to keep you going for more. There are multiplayer modes in Hades' Star to keep players busy, and you can team up with other players to collect artifacts, or you can compete against them (it can be both PvE and PvP focused), so there's something for everyone!

24 Black Paradox

A brilliant roguelike shooter with chunky pixel graphics and a classic '80s sci-fi vibe. Black Paradox takes the R-Type template and blasts it into the stratosphere. With hot pink and blushing orange hues, players can swipe through the galaxy and equip a bunch of lasers meant to blow stuff up.

Black Paradox feels and looks great. In our Black Paradox review we mentioned that there are multiple elements you can upgrade when it comes to your car. All of these upgrades will make you more of a badass, and that's only the icing on the cake.

The cherry on top comes when you fight bosses. If you have another car, it will pop up to fight beside you (not the lone driver/pilot anymore). Small details like this one make Black Paradox one of the best sci-fi games on Android.

25 Infinity Ops: Sci-Fi FPS

Let's wrap up our best sci-fi games with a bang, shall we? And for that, we're going to mention a highly immersive FPS set in a cyberpunk world. Of course, we're talking about Infinity Ops. This brilliant shooter takes place in the far distant future, where technology is no longer limited. Humanity's knowledge of technology has advanced and thus enabled a wide variety of weaponry.

Players can choose between various classes and assume their role in the team. There are multiple weapons with different skills and a bunch of different game modes that players can jump into. We even have an Infinity Ops beginner's guide to help you start your journey!

14 Best Space Games for Android and iOS

I have always been a casual gamer and enjoy laid back games but I can always get behind a high intense game if it has an interesting story and decent graphics. Growing up playing Space Invaders, Galaga, and Asteroids, I enjoy most of the space-themed games on mobile and I have made a list of best space games in every category. Let’s begin.

Gaming on smartphones has come a long way but it’s nowhere near Console or PC gaming yet. You do get decent graphics and interesting storyline every once in a while but I mostly play the games which are easy to control on a touch screen and bring a fresh idea to the gameplay.

Also Read: Best Escape Room Games for Android and iOS

Best Space Games

1. jump drive.

Category: Arcade

The first space game on the list is a free app, Jump Drive. You drive a spaceship through hurdles that open at a specific interval. You tap once to charge the ship for the route, it sounds easy but you have to time your taps as it takes a few milliseconds to charge the ship before moving forward. The hurdles are intentionally designed to confuse you which makes the game more fun to play. The background score matches the gameplay and compliments the neon theme.

Install Jump Drive ( Android  | iOS )

2. Captain Tom Galactic Traveler

Category: Adventure

Next, we have Captain Tom Galactic Traveler, a space explorer on a mission to explore outer stars, asteroids, and planets. This low poly black and white, indie game really took me by surprise with its minimal graphics and simple controls. Although I don’t really like the misplaced control button, I did enjoy the gameplay. You discover different asteroids in the space and you can plant flowers on the surface just by walking . You have to collect bubbles and start to get ahead. There are secret tunnels that you can uncover to find hidden stars and use the space shuttle to move to other asteroids. The game is free on the Play Store and I recommend you check it out.

Install Captain Tom ( Android )

3. Galaxy Attack: Alien Shooter

Remember Space Invaders? Galaxy Attack is the overpowered relative on steroids. This arcade game is intense with vibrant graphics. You start as a recruit on an attack ship and your aim is to eliminate an army of aliens. The level-based game starts slow with low firing guns and as you destroy enemy ships you get upgrades which increase the intensity and quantity of firepower. As you progress the alien ships get more offensive and hard to kill. Make sure you dodge the incoming missiles when firing your artillery weapons because unlike the ships the missiles are immune to your attacks and would destroy your ship instantly. You can play multiplayer online with your friends by logging in with your Facebook. The game is free and you can purchase a lot of powerups and ships as in-app purchases.

Install Galaxy Attack ( Android | iOS )

4. Space Snake

I’ve played countless variations of the classic Nokia Snake game and I haven’t found a game this difficult. For starters, This game has a Third person view instead of the usual bird’s eye view which offers completely different gameplay. Second, It has walls and pits as obstacles which makes it more challenging. Third, the game is controlled using a slider type control which is very sensitive and a slight flick of the thumb and your snake is down the platform. The game is fun to play and I thoroughly enjoy it even though my best score is in single digits. Space Snake is free and you can get it on the Play Store and the App Store.

Install Space Snake ( Android | iOS )

5. Space Corgi

Space Corgi is a mild adaptation of the infamous Flappy Bird . You play as the Corgi floating in the space. You have to go through pipes dodging the edges and collecting bonecoins. It is a lot easier than Flappy Bird and actually fun to play. There are some additional elements added like the space background and a cute space helmet. Space Corgi is free.

Install Space Corgi ( Android | iOS )

6. Auralux: Constellations

Category: RTS

Although there is no separate category for real-time strategy games on the Play Store there are plenty of games that can be distinguished from Strategy games. Auralux is a real-time strategy game where you have to spontaneously come up with a strategy to win the game. You play has a Planet which is constantly spitting out particles and you have to take over a constellation system by defeating other stars . The minimalistic graphics and a relaxing music pair perfectly in the game creating a different experience than other strategy games.

Auralux has 150 different levels and you can play against the computer, another player, or online. It is free on the Play Store and the App Store.

Install Auralux ( Android | iOS )

7. Lunar Mission

Category: Simulation

This next game reminds me of the old Flash game Starship Eleven . Lunar mission adds a lot more Physics and graphics to make it more realistic. Lunar Mission is set on the moon and you have to take your lunar module to other parts of the Base and avoiding damage to the vessel. You can choose from three different types of modules which set the difficulty in traversing the game. You have to be careful while landing the module so that you don’t damage the landing gear. The game is a time kill once you get the controls right and understand the basic laws of physics. Lunar Mission is free to play.

Install Lunar Mission ( Android | iOS )

Category: Puzzle

Next, we have a puzzler, Lintrix is a minimal design puzzle game where you defend your tower from the enemies. Your tower has protective cubes that can create an impenetrable shield against the enemy arsenal but a cube can connect with one other cube to create a barrier. To effectively protect your castle you have to be quick on your feet by creating and breaking barriers to win the round. Lintrix has decent graphics and a mild background score. If you’re looking for a space puzzle game, Lintrix is a good one.

Read: 20 Best Android Puzzle games

Install Lintrix ( Android | iOS )

9. Breakneck

Category: Racing

Breakneck is a fast-paced game and when coupled with high definition graphics and strong background music gives you a natural adrenaline rush. You play as the rider of a hover ship which runs on incredibly high speed and your aim is to collect all the coins and run for as far as possible without dying. The game controls are simple, you can tap either side of the screen to steer the vehicle. Your vehicle gets supercharged when you glide through obstacles and walls which you can use it by tapping with both your thumbs on the screen at the same time. Breakneck gives you an immersive experience and if you like fast-paced games, you’ll love it.

Must Read: Best Racing games that don’t need Wifi 

Install Breakneck ( Android | iOS )

10. Fractal Space

If you remove the portal gun from the game Portal and add deadly lasers and saws, you get Fractal Space. A sarcastic AI program wakes you up in a space lab where you have no memory of the past. You have to escape the different test chambers which have deadly obstacles . You play with the First-person view, control the motion with the left side of the screen, and viewing angles from the right. The game is fun and interactions with the snarky AI are quirky. If you want something like Portal on your smartphone Fractal Space is the closest option.

Install Fractal Space ( Android | iOS )

11. Star Trek: Fleet Command

Category: Strategy

For a Star Trek fanboy, this official game is nothing less than a Christmas present. Star Trek is a strategy game where you lead the charge of a ship where you destroy enemies and liberate alien colonies. You can interact with all the key staff of the Fleet Command like Scotty, Captain Kirk, Spock, Captain Picard, etc. You have to devise a strategy to combat different forces like the Romulan , Klingon, and the Federation. The game is open world and ready to be explored, are you?

Install Star Trek: Fleet Command ( Android | iOS )

13. Subdivision Infinity

Category: Action

Subdivision is an immersive action game where your objective is to drive a combat ship and destroy enemy spacecraft. The graphics are incredible and you can almost feel yourself in outer space. Paired with a pounding background score, Subdivision takes you on an interstellar journey where you can mine rare minerals, create new vessels, and destroy hostile drones . There are a lot of side quests that you can complete to gain experience. The first map is free and you can purchase others as in-app purchases.

Install Subdivision Infinity ( Android | iOS )

14. Musiverse

Category: Music

The next game musicverse is a music game where your aim is to create a high score by completing a track. Headphones are a must for this game. When you play this game, the race track changes color in sync to the beats , the bumps and curves add a visual music experience. The game is very stimulating and you should definitely try this one. It is free on the Play Store and the App Store.

Install Musiverse ( Android | iOS )

The Best Space Games in Every Category

These were some of the best games that I enjoy playing on my smartphone. Auralux and Musiverse are my go-to games. Space Corgi is fun to play when bored and Lunar Mission brings backs the nostalgia of Flash-based games. Tell us which Space game do you enjoy the most in the comments below.

Works as an in-house Writer at TechWiser and focuses on the latest smart consumer electronics. Closely follows the latest trends in consumer IoT and how it affects our daily lives. You can follow him on Twitter. Yes, he sometimes speaks in Third Person.

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The Best Space Games for Android

• The Infinite Black 2
• Spaceflight Simulator
• Kerbal Space Program 2
• Release date: New first
• Review score: Best first
• IOS (iPhone / iPad)
• PS4 (Playstation 4)
• PS5 (Playstation 5)
• Xbox Series X
• Oculus Rift

Frequency (2023)

Drive the world and make it dance as you piece together the geometric puzzles and build musical tracks that are intertwined.

• multiple-endings
• walking-simulator
• online-capable
• interactive

The Infinite Black 2 (2022)

Command a fleet of ships to hunt aliens, trade resources and loot treasure! Form corporations with your friends while fighting a never-ending intergalactic war in this open-world online space adventure!

• multiplayer

EarthX (2023)

EarthX is a rocket company management game. Go from launching small rockets on Earth to eventually building a colony on Mars. Create your own Internet constellation, develop new technologies, supply the International Space Station and terraform Mars!

• family-friendly
• grand-strategy
• base-building
• competitive
• atmospheric

Asteroids (2024)

Asteroids ++ is the best Asteroids game you will ever play in your life. Customize your spaceship with your weapon loadout, save your solar system, and destroy those damn Asteroids! And remember, you can never end Asteroid genocide!

• multidirectional
• customization
• shoot-em-up
• replay-value

Spaceflight Simulator (2022)

In Spaceflight Simulator, you will get to build your rockets, plan launches and flights, attempt landings, deploy payloads and explore new worlds.

• exploration

KELVIN (2022)

Escape a distant planet before it is swallowed by a black hole

• point-and-click
• action-adventure
• environmental

Kerbal Space Program 2 (2023)

Kerbal Space Program 2 is the sequel to the acclaimed space-flight simulation game Kerbal Space Program. Enter the next generation of space adventure with exciting new parts, stunning visuals, fully revamped UI and Map View, and rich new environments to explore.

• rocket-building

Tin Can (2020)

You've barely managed to escape your exploding spaceship. Now in an old escape pod, you hurtle through space at the mercy of the cosmos. With no knowledge of the pod’s complex systems, your life depends on a technical manual and your own wits. How long can you survive?

• resource-management
• survival-horror

Planet S (2023)

Planet S is a real-time strategy game where your goal is to colonize multiple planets in a solar system to advance your civilization, build a city and supply it to grow your faction.

• city-building

Orbt XL (2017)

Stay in orbit while avoiding obstacles or being sucked into a black hole. Survive as long as you can while dodging and weaving between the various obstacles, the closer you orbit to the center; the faster you achieve points. The longer you last, the harder it gets. Good Luck and have fun playing with gravity!Simple one button controls; just pressing the Orbt button allows your planet to move away from the black hole, not pressing the button forces your planet to be sucked towards the black hole. Features:

• single-player
• challenging

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Flappy bird's return mired in bad vibes as the original creator weighs in, this new android 15 setting pairs perfectly with your blackout curtains.

Science fiction is fundamental to gaming and has been part of gaming culture from the very beginning. Today's science fiction games have evolved significantly from the early classics like Asteroids and Zaxxon. No longer is the genre confined to spaceships and blasting things (although there's plenty of that to be found!), instead it's expanded into themes like exploration, isolation, and revolution, to name a few. The best part is, these incredible gaming expriences (which are among the best Android games out there) are available to play on your phone or shiny new Chromebook .

Lifeline is, without a doubt, one of the most original games on Android. The basic idea is you receive texts in real-time from a marooned space traveler asking you for help. The plot (written by Dave Justus, best known for his work in comics) plays out like a choose-your-own-adventure story, with you guiding the decisions of the unfortunate castaway. Playthrough once, and you can set the game to fast mode and progress through it at your own pace.

2 Out There: Ω Edition

Out There is a brooding space exploration game that offers rogue-like elements and an intriguing story. You probably won’t survive your first few play-throughs, but that’s okay; the universe is big, and it’s not very forgiving. As you explore the cosmos, managing your limited resources and looking for a way to return to Earth, you’ll find a captivating story that emerges as you encounter alien life and upgrade your starship. Exploring the stars has never been more fun!

3 Ticket to Earth

Are you ready for a sci-fi RPG with a unique art style and puzzle-based combat mechanics? If so, Ticket to Earth is your game. Combat takes place on a square grid that you can only traverse by moving on same-colored tiles. Different colors buff different powers, and the more tiles you can traverse, the more damage your attacks do. On top of this original combat system is a story of revolution and revenge in a dystopian colony world in the far future.

4 Star Trek Fleet Command

Fleet Command might have one of the best twists in the collectible RPG genre. Like most games in the genre, you’re essentially playing with action figures, but where Fleet Command excels is in wrapping the package up with an engaging story while not bogging you down with a daily grind just to keep playing. As you build up your base and fleet of ships, you have to navigate resource management, space combat, and the delicate politics between the Federation, Romulans, and Klingons.

5 Iron Marines

Despite the limitations of mobile gaming, Iron Marines is a full-fledged RTS. It's never hard to move your units around and coordinate their actions, unlike many RTS games that come from PC. In addition to the typical mainstays of the RTS genre, like grunts, snipers, and turrets, you also can choose from multiple Hero units to deploy and upgrade. Don't get too frustrated when you die because it's going to happen, and you can retry a level as often as you like or turn down the difficulty.

6 Space Marshals 3

Space Marshals 3 is, without a doubt, the best western-themed, space-based, two-stick, tactical shooter on the Play Store. The game continues the story from the previous two titles, but you don’t need any of that background information to pick this one up. The gameplay consists of traversing a level to accomplish a goal, all while taking out the bad guys on the way. What makes Space Marshals special is the fact that you can play it with guns blazing, tackling your problems head-on, or you can take your time by using the environment to your advantage for a more stealthy approach.

Morphite is a first-person shooter with the same vibes as Metroid Prime or No Man's Sky. You play as a young woman exploring her small bit of galaxy who stumbles on an adventure that leads her to unlock the mysteries of her past. The controls are tight and customizable, the graphics are low poly and don't chew up my RAM, and the humor is quirky. There's a lot of game here between cataloging plant and animal life and shooting aggressive monsters to save your skin, but only the first two missions are available for free. The full game is only $5 and removes the ads as well. There are some other upgrades as well that aren't required to play the game (Quick Scan, Hover Boots, and Fast Refuel), but might be worth the $3. The game has been out for a few years but it's still receiving updates and is definitely worth it if you missed it the first time around.

Icey is a super stylish 2D hack-and-slash set in a robot-filled, dystopian, cyberpunk setting. On the surface, the game is pretty simple. Jump, dash, and slash your way through enemies, taking out bosses and buying upgrades for your cybernetic body, all while listening to a narrator guide you through the game. And here’s where it gets weird. You don’t have to listen to the narrator. In fact, if you don’t, he might start to get frustrated. It’s this meta-interaction with the game that really sets Icey apart from the crowd.

9 Shadowgun Legends

If you're in the mood for some first-person alien-shooting action, you'll probably want to give Shadowgun Legends a look. It has a solid single-player story to keep you busy in your down time, as well as social aspects like friends, co-op, and PvP. The game doesn't do anything exceptional or unique, but what it does do, it does well. It runs smooth (even on my Pixel 4a), there are tons of customization options, and the monetization doesn't get in the way of the game. Who could ask for anything more?

10 Starborne: Frontiers

Frontiers is another collectible RPG that takes a different tack than Fleet Command. It takes place in the same universe as the Starborne: Sovereign Space MMO, but whereas Fleet Command leans into the themes of exploration, Frontiers focuses on combat with a tactical twist. Before a battle you can see the placement and composition of the enemy fleet. Your goal is to choose the right ships in the right positions to dominate the battlefield. As you progress you'll have to recruit new ships to your fleet and strategically upgrade your pilots and ships. Although the combat isn't deep (it's an auto-battler) it is rewarding and quick, so you can jump in for a quick battle on your lunch break, or settle in for longer and work your way through the campaign.

To infinity and beyond with the best sci-fi games on Android

Don't think for a moment that this list is exhaustive. There's a whole universe of great games out there that we didn't have the space to touch on like these great Star Wars games . Of course, if you're in the mood for something besides science fiction, you should check out our list of the best retro games ported to Android .

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The best space exploration games for Android and iOS smartphones!

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Space has always been a fascinating place, an infinite and majestic expanse that extends far beyond our visual capacity. It is the subject of scientific analysis, philosophical discussions, narrative works but also the scenario of many video games animated by spaceships with laser guns, alien populations ready to invade the earth, and unexplored galaxies all to be discovered. The Google Play Store also offers plenty of space-based games, from strategy games to clandestine galaxy races, and in this article, we list the best space exploration games for Android!

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• Galaxy on Fire 2HD
• Green the planet
• MARVEL Challenge of Champions

N.O.V.A. Legacy

Gravity rider: extreme balance space bike racing, shadowgun legends, galaxy on fire 2hd: an adventure among the galaxies.

One of the best space exploration games on the Google Play Store  and the iOS App Store is Galaxy On Fire 2! It's a high-definition title that will take you into space through immersive three-dimensional graphics in search of the pirates to defeat. The default game mode provides a virtual joystick, with which you can rotate the direction of your ship, a button dedicated to acceleration, and a button to launch missiles.

Initially, this view can create some confusion and you will have to get used to the idea of selecting the down arrow to go up and vice versa, but you can always change mode and use the accelerometer of the device and rotate it physically to give the right direction to the pilot. It's an exciting galactic war during which you'll be accompanied by a fast-paced soundtrack that will give you the right boost.

Download Galaxy on Fire 2HD from the Google Play Store .

Download Galaxy on Fire 2HD from the iOS App Store.

Green the planet: give new life to an extinct planet

How the hell do you play? This will be the first question that will flash in your brain when you open Green the Planet, a pixelated sci-fi adventure available for free on the Google Play Store. The aim of the game is to grow grass on a lifeless planet by collecting and transforming the energy of comets with a decomposer, making strange objects rain from asteroids flying over the planet, and building more and more tools to accelerate the process.

The game is absurd but for some strange reason manages to capture my attention: it might be the graphics of the 90s or the hypnotic music or the fact that it is one of the most original space video games for Android on the entire Play Store.

Download Green the Planet   from the Google Play Store .

Download Green the Planet   from the iOS App Store .

MARVEL Contest of Champions: a Cosmic Fighter

This game is also set in space and features superheroes and villains from Marvel. What you have to do is take part in the great cosmic battle by creating a winning team to get the title of Champion of the Marvel Champions!

MARVEL Challenge of Champions is an excellent fighting game where you can test your strategic and management skills. Putting together the winning team and improving your champions won't be hard! Get ready to explore new mission maps and gain relationship-based synergy bonuses. A true Marvel-style adventure awaits you in space!

Download MARVEL Challenge of Champions from the Google Play Store.

Download MARVEL Challenge of Champions from the iOS App Store.

Many people regard N.O.V.A. Legacy as the best sci-fi game currently available for Android. While many would question that claim, what it does offer is smooth gameplay, excellent graphics, and very good story-telling. You may take some time to get used to the controls - but there is definitely good reason that N.O.V.A. Legacy has managed to rake up more than 50 million downloads on the Google Play Store. Do note that this is, in effect, a third-person shooter that you can play in campaign mode as well as multiplayer mode.

Download N.O.V.A. Legacy from the Google Play Store.

Download N.O.V.A. Legacy from the iOS App Store.

This one might be a controversial entry - but I am adding this to the list anyway because of the good graphics. Detractors may say this is just an arcade game masquerading as a sci-fi game. In my opinion, Gravity Rider has managed to straddle both these genres pretty well.

One major gripe I had with the game is that the actual playtime lasts hardly 20 or 30 seconds, and the rest of the time is spent on cashing awards and upgrading your vehicle. Still, I loved playing the game and that reason alone warrants it to be on this list!

Download Gravity Rider: Extreme Balance Space Bike Racing from the Google Play Store.

Download Gravity Rider: Extreme Balance Space Bike Racing from the iOS App Store.

Space Marshals 2

Space Marshals 2 is a tactical Combat & Stealth action game with its locales set in outer space. There are several modes you can play the game in; including tactical combat, stealth, and load-out & gear.

The graphics are great but the controls will take you some time getting used to. There are 20 different missions to chose from and 70 weapons at your disposal. Definitely worth a look at in my opinion!

Download Space Marshals 2 from the Google Play Store.

Download Space Marshals 2 from the iOS App Store.

I downloaded Shadowgun Legends with very low expectations as a longtime Call of Duty fan. But this game blew me away with its graphics and engaging gameplay.

The social interactions that you get to make in-between missions are fun and except for some expensive in-app purchases, I have very little to complain!

Download Shadowgun Legends from the Google Play Store.

Download Shadowgun Legends from the iOS App Store.

Xenowerk comes from the same guys that made Space Marshals. And that seems to be the reason for the excellent graphics. To be honest, it took me a very long time to get used to the top-down action shooter format and the controls were definitely not easy to master- especially coming right after testing an FPS game.

Xenowerk's storyline puts you in the center of a mutant infestation brought about by a scientific experiment gone wrong. Of course,  your mission is to destroy and eliminate all the mutants to prevent them from spreading. I will recommend a download just for the excellent graphics.

Download Xenowerk from the Google Play Store.

Download Xenowerk from the iOS App Store.

Do you know any better sci-fi games? What are you waiting for? Share them in the comments!

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Among the most experienced tech journalists from India, Rahul has spent the better part of the past decade writing and experiencing technology. In his decade-long career, Rahul has contributed to several Indian and International publications, including Mobilegeeks, Onlygizmos, iPhoneHacks, and The Inquisitr. Before joining NextPit, he held the position of Senior Editor at MySmartPrice - one of India's largest product research platforms.

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Video Game News, Lists & Guides

28 Best Space Games That Let You Explore the Unknown

Explore the great unknown.

#28 Starfield

#27 metroid prime remastered, #26 star wars jedi: survivor, # 25 dead space remake, #24 the callisto protocol, #23 spaceflight simulator, #22 the planet crafter, #21 star valor, #20 deep rock galactic, #19 dyson sphere program, #18 astroneer, #17 universe sandbox, #16 mass effect legendary edition, #14 star conflict, #13 empyrion – galactic survival, #12 star wars: squadrons, #11 starbound, #10 space engineers, #9 ftl: faster than light, #8 everspace 2, #7 stellaris, #6 kerbal space program, #5 endless space 2, #4 homeworld remastered collection, #3 eve online, #2 no man’s sky, #1 elite dangerous.

Space exploration games have only really been popular within the last few years because of the fact that games have allowed for more exploration. Some of the games that have been released have given players lasting experiences and narratives that have changed their perspectives on what video games can achieve. Check out our list of the best space games that let you explore the unknown and even take some of your friends along for the ride.

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?

Platform: Switch Release Date: February 08, 2023

For intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran, there’s no such thing as an “easy mission.” In  Metroid Prime Remastered,  you’ll see the start of the “Phazon Saga” with updated graphics and mechanics. You’ll head to the mysterious planet Tallon IV.

There, the villainous Space Pirates, headed up by Ridley, are trying to do experiments with the Phazon substance. But what are their end goals? What makes Phazon so powerful? Furthermore, what makes Tallon IV so dangerous?

You’ll find out after you end up on the planet and have to search its remains to expose the truth, regain your abilities, and stop their plans.

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S Releease Date: April 28, 2023

Steam  |  Playstation  |  Xbox

It was only a matter of time before this franchise embraced the open-world feel of numerous other games and made it their own.  Star Wars Jedi Survivor  will have you play Cal Kestis again, and you’ll once again explore the numerous worlds, moons, and stations of the galaxy far, far away. However, this time, you’ll get to go to places with a bit more depth.

Specifically, you’ll go to worlds where you can go off the beaten path and unlock new side missions. Or, you can return after learning new powers and abilities and see what new options you have available to you.

So don’t be afraid to take a beat and see what these worlds offer you.

Developer: Motive Studio Publisher: Electronic Arts Inc. Platforms: PC PS5 XSX|S Release: January 27, 2023

When it comes to space, the true terror is never knowing what will happen next and what you’ll encounter in the next stretch of it.

In the Dead Space Remake, one of the most horrifying space stories will unfold before your very eyes. You’ll play engineer Isaac Clarke, who was brought aboard a mining ship called the USG Ishimura to help fix what was wrong with it.

But the moment you arrive, you learn the truth. There’s more than one thing wrong here. There are monsters everywhere, the crew is dead, and your girlfriend is missing.

Explore the ship, fight anything that moves, and do your best to survive the experience.

Developer: Striking Distance Studios Publisher: KRAFTON Release Date : December 02, 2022 Platfrom: PC PS4 PS5 XSX|S Xbox One

Exploring the unknown is always a dangerous task. After all, it’s the unknown. You don’t know what’s behind the next corner or in the next room.  The Callisto Protocol  takes that notion and amplifies it to a terrifying level.

The “unknown” in the game revolves around a prison colony on one of Jupiter’s moons. An outbreak of unknown origin has caused monsters to be born, and they’ll kill everything they see. You play one of the prisoners trying to break out. But how can you escape a place where monsters are everywhere, and weapons are few?

Venture forth and discover the answer, or die trying.

• Release date: November 29, 2017
• Developer: Moroyna Limited
• Publisher: Moroyna Limited
• Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Macintosh operating systems

Have you ever seen a rocket launch into space and wondered how it got to that stage? Spaceflight Simulator will help answer those questions while also letting you create a spacefaring craft.

You’ll start simple as you’ll make a rocket ship and send it up into space. Or at least, that’s what you’ll try to do. The making of a craft will be easy, but making it work is another matter. Learn about the parts and components needed to make spacecraft powerful enough to go into space, and then land safely back on Earth.

Once you’ve made the best ships, go bigger and launch satellites and space stations! Then explore other planets and lead your space agency into a new age of exploration.

• Release date: July 15, 2021
• Developer: Miju Games
• Publisher: Miju Games
• Platform: Microsoft Windows

The act of terraforming is one that many scientists would love to use to colonize inhospitable worlds. The problem is that it would take a lot of time, resources and in the real world is unfeasible. But in the gaming world? It’s just a matter of time to get it done. The Planet Crafter will set you out as an astronaut who has to terraform a planet to make it livable for humans. You’ll start small by gathering resources and building up the machines you’ll need to change the planet. Make the atmosphere breathable, get the ground to be fertile, the water to a state it can be drank, and so on. Just remember, you have to survive before anyone else can arrive. So keep yourself healthy, and build a better world.

• Release date: July 14, 2018
• Developer: Rafael Burgos
• Publishers: Laious, Rafael Burgos

Star Valor puts you in a procedurally generated galaxy and lets you decide what person you want to be. You’ll have your ship at the start of the game and can point it in any direction you want to do whatever you want.

Will you join one of the factions of the galaxy and try to get fame by working with them? Will you stay an independent pilot and venture through the stars on adventures only meant for you?

Your destiny is in your hands. You’ll grow your character however you wish, improving your skills and craft by doing missions, bounties, mining, and so on.

Just remember that a galaxy is full of dangers.

• Publisher: Coffee Stain Publishing
• Developer: Ghost Ship Games
• Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS5
• Release Date: May 2020

Besides being a 4-play cooperative adventure game in space, you’ll be able to take advantage of exploring different cave and tunnel systems that are procedurally generated to be different every time you enter. As space dwarves, you will be tasked to carry on many different kinds of missions like mining for materials and stealing alien eggs with the objective of returning back alive. You can choose from four different classes, each with their own unique gameplay and weapons that you can use against the enemies that you will encounter. It spent almost two years in early access and has definitely become a fan among groups of friends.

• Publisher: Gamera Game
• Developer: Youthcat Studio
• Platform: PC
• Release Date: January 2021

The first game on our list that is still in early access, Dyson Sphere Program lets you explore the unknowns of space in a pretty unique way. Players will be in charge of collecting resources in order to create what is known as a Dyson sphere to sustain power to a supercomputer. You will spend most of your time constructing structures, collecting resources, and creating power systems all to help support the Dyson sphere. Eventually, you will be able to expand this sphere to other planets across the universe as you grow and sustain more and more power. If you’re a fan of factory simulation games like Satisfactory and Factorio, this will be right up your alley.

• Publisher: System Era Softworks
• Developer: System Era Softworks
• Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch
• Release Date: February 2019

Astroneer really gives you a lot of freedom when it comes to a space adventure that really lets you explore the atmosphere around you. It is a sandbox adventure game that allows you to explore open-world planets and terraform them according to how you please. You can craft items to help make the former easier like rovers, generators, solar panels, and more and then can upgrade them according to the resources that you collect via terraforming. You can play with others to complete the objectives on every planet but don’t expect there to be any sort of overarching background storyline. Just try to unlock as many blueprints as you can!

• Publisher: Dan Dixon
• Developer: Dan Dixon
• Release Date: October 2012

While this game is here, it isn’t so much a game more than it is a simulation. You will quite literally be able to explore different galaxies and run effects on them to simulate things like gravity, asteroid collisions, and more. The project has been in development for a very long time and is used in many educational aspects. Still, it’s fun to take control of moons and planets as well as watch famous collisions that really couldn’t be experienced otherwise. Although this game is very fun in its own right, don’t really expect to be getting down with space exploration through the late hours of the night with your friends.

• Publisher: EA
• Developer: Bioware
• Platform: PC, Xbox One, PS4
• Release Date: May 2021

This choice happens to be one of my personal favorites on this list. You play as Commander Shepard through all three titles in this collection as they travel the universe in search of different objectives with their crew. Shepard can either be male or female and every game consists of a crew of characters that not only could you explore various planets with, you could also start romantic relationships with them. All three of these games focus on a morality system that affects how other characters react to you as well as how certain missions can end. Each of these games comes with their DLC which includes even more content for players to enjoy on top of the incredible storyline that connects them all together.

• Developer: Maxis
• Platform: PC, Mac
• Release Date: September 2008

I genuinely remember when this game came out and being so excited to come home and create strange new lifeforms with my friends after school. If my memory serves me well, you quite literally develop organisms all the way from microscopic lifeforms to complex creatures. As you create more, they begin to interact with each other and with other creatures that they meet on other planets in the universe. There are different phases that the organisms go through that end up with players trying to reach the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy. It was a lot of fun then and it is certainly still a lot of fun now.

• Publisher: Gaijin Entertainment
• Developer: Star Gem Inc
• Platform: PC, Linuc, Mac
• Release Date: July 2012

Star Conflict has players controlling one of four basic ship classes combat spaceships that each have different roles. It is an MMO that requires players to establish certain skills and perfect different tactics to destroy one another in different game modes. There is also a dedicated co-op mode that allows players to fight against NPC and bosses with up to three friends. The more you play, the more available maps and ships there will be for you to play with so take advantage of learning which squads are the best and then take to the skies with your friends in this free-to-play space adventure.

• Publisher: Eleon Game Studios
• Developer: Eleon Game Studios
• Release Date: August 2015

Another title on our list that spent a lot of time in early access, Empyrion – Galactic Survival left early access in 2020 after being compared to other titles like No Man’s Sky. Players crash land on a planet where they are forced to survive against hostile enemies. You’ll be able to forage for resources and materials in order to build objects including bases and vehicles to better help you survive. There is also a multiplayer aspect where players can interact with one another and trade items or even engage in combat. This is a fun title to play with your friends if you’d like a relaxing experience in space.

• Developer: Motive Studios
• Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox One Series X/S, PS4
• Release Date: October 2020

Star Wars: Squadrons begins after the destruction of Alderaan with Darth Vader having ordered all Imperial forces to hunt down any refugees who managed to escape. It’s a first-person space combat game which means that you are behind the cockpit of a starfighter from either the Galactic Empire or the New Republic navy. You’ll find yourself deeply immersed in the gameplay and multiplayer combat that includes dogfighting in a team deathmatch mode called Dofight and a team battle called Fleet Battles. If you’re a fan of the Star Wars series and are looking for something to play with your friends, you’ve come to the right list.

• Publisher: Chucklefish
• Developer: Chucklefish
• Platform: PC, Mac, Linux
• Release Date: July 2016

Starbound is fun because it utilizes a pixelated graphic style that a lot of the other games on this list don’t take on. There is an overarching story but players are more expected to travel to different planets and collect resources in order to survive and explore across the universe. You’ll spend most of your time in a space shuttle that acts as your vehicle to get from place to place as well as an upgradable asset of yours. You’ll be able to customize it to your liking and join other NPCs or players on quests through different classes that you can choose from to complete different objectives.

• Publisher: Keen Software House
• Developer: Keen Software House
• Platform: PC, Xbox One

Space Engineers is another sandbox game on our list as well as another that saw early access for a long period of its lifetime. Players start either in a specific setting with different parameters that are chosen by the players. Once you start, you can basically expect to mine for resources and materials to create structures and other items to fill out your world. It is very similar to Minecraft in the sense that you are given free rein over creation to better accentuate the type of world you are in and the kind of resources you require. Also like Minecraft, there is a creative mode where you can take control of how many resources you have and how you would like to build without having to worry about mining or searching for them yourself.

• Publisher: Subset Games
• Developer: Subset Games
• Platform: PC, Mac, Linux, iOS
• Release Date: September 2012

The name of the game partly comes from the fact that players are in control of a spacecraft that has the ability to travel faster than light. Players have to use their created ship to battle against enemy ships and configurations. Different species of crewmembers can join your ship with each having their own unique set of skills and abilities that could benefit you in different ways. You’ll have to carefully maneuver through fights to come out on top as the victor while also managing to get to the Rebel Flagship to either lose or win against the Rebellion: an exclusively human and incredibly xenophobic rebel faction.

• Publisher: ROCKFISH Games
• Developer: ROCKFISH Games
• Release Date: June 2020

If you’re looking for a focus on energetic combat and exploration as well as looking for blueprints and graphics while you plot galactic domination, then Everspace 2 might be for you. Eversapce 2 brings RPG and shooter elements together to create a game that is rich in puzzles and loot. There is a dynamic story that will blow you away with a range of NPC and friends who will join you and create more side quests for you to complete. You’ll experience dynamic battles and immersive scenarios that will make you want to lose yourself in the discovery. Not only that, but you’ll also have access to tons of weapons for you to collect and upgrade that will definitely make the story that much more interesting.

• Publisher: Paradox Interactove
• Developer: Paradox Development
• Platform: PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Release Date: May 2016

Stellaris is a real-time strategy game that quite literally takes you through the expanse of space, creatures, and all. Each player plays as a government of a species that are beginning their journey into the exploration of space. As you progress through the game and meet other species and the personalities that they bring, the story will change and focus on things like universal domination that rely on the ethics of your choices. There are a ton of different ways to play this game and lots of different narratives and stories to explore that will definitely have you mindlessly flying through the expanse of space. There is also a major focus on resource collecting and structural upgrades too so there is plenty for you to do either by yourself or with friends.

• Publisher: Private Division
• Developer: Squad
• Platform: PC, Linux, Xbox One, Xbox One Series X/S, PS4, PS5
• Release Date: April 2015

Kerbal Space Program is a fun space exploration game where you play as Kerbals – green little aliens – who live on a spaceport where they can create things like rockets and rovers. There are three different game modes that let you either construct things at your leisure or follow a story mode that lets you earn funds and complete contracts. There is a lot of silly fun to be had in this game and you will soon find yourself playing through the intense physics engine offered. There have been a few DLC releases over the years that add more elements to the game as well as even more physics simulations for added fun.

• Publisher: Sega
• Developer: Amplitude Studios
• Release Date: May 2017

Endless Space 2 is a turn-based strategy game that takes place in the great expanses of space. You take control of one of 12 factions after all of the added DLC each with their own unique abilities and skills to explore planets and take advantage of their resources and materials. You are also given an empire that you can expand using the materials you find to eventually fight against other empires. You can build armies of ships and troops to fight for you and take advantage of the different kinds of strategies that you can come up with. You can play this in singleplayer mode or gather your friends to battle against their empires.

• Publisher: Gearbox Publishing
• Developer: Gearbox Software
• Release Date: February 2015

Experience an intense space story with an RTS strategy that lets you build an armada of troops for more than 30 single-player missions. This collection includes the first and second Homeworld Remastered games as well as the multiplayer and the original Homeworld titles. You’ll have access to more than 100 ships with new textures that will allow you to race and join other game modes that will let you engage in space battles on an epic scale. Solidify your fleet formations and secure the unit types you want to use as you explore space in a completely new way with mod support and even in-game mod tools that you can take advantage of.

• Publisher: Simon &Shuster Interactive
• Developer: CCP Games
• Release Date: May 2003

Eve Online has been around for almost two decades and has been just as popular the entire time. The game takes place 21,000 years in the future and has players creating ships and battle units to battle one another and collect resources in a massive MMORPG. There have been situations in the past where complete wars have broken out in the game that have involved many players and forum arguments. It is in the same vein as games like World of Warcraft where there are fandoms of players that have been with the game since its inception and would be more than happy to welcome to players to the meta. There are four playable races that you can choose from that each have their own lineages and narratives that further expand on the gameplay.

• Publisher: Hello Game
• Developer: Hello Games
• Platform: PS4, PC, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
• Release Date: August 2016

No Man’s Sky is one of my favorites on this list. When it first came out, there wasn’t a whole lot that players were able to do although it offered a large expanse of universal exploration with different alien races coupled with their own languages. Now, there are tons of things for players to do including creating structures and collecting NPCs that offer different elements to your space stations. You can even purchase and upgrade ships and even travel to find large cruisers for even larger crews and resources. There isn’t an overarching story but there are a bunch of small missions and events that you can take advantage of that will let you better communicate with the aliens that you will encounter and build better ships and multitools as you progress.

• Publisher: Frontier Developments
• Developer: Frontier Developments
• Release Date: May 2015

Elite Dangerous is another that allows you to take control of a ship in an open-galaxy where you are asked to trade, mine, and search for resources. There are other missions as well including assassinations and bounty hunting that you can play by yourself or with your friends in multiplayer and competitive arcade modes. There are three major factions that players can choose from each with their own missions and rewards for you to earn. There are rankings that players can earn as well that will grant you combat experience and shop discount prices for shop items. If you happen to have VR, you can take advantage of a first-person shooter mode alongside the first-person exploration mode.

About Nat Collazo

Nat Collazo is a writer with a little over a decade of experience in the gaming industry after having started as a sign flipper for Play N’ Trade stores while dressed as Mario. Now they spend all of their time writing, forgetting to drink their coffee, and playing Pokemon Masters.

14 Best Space Strategy Games for Android & iOS

Space games are always fascinating. Imagine getting onto a cool spaceship and start exploring the galaxy with a loyal crew. Well, we’ve got exactly what you need.

We’ve rounded up the best space strategy games for Android & iOS you could try. These games let you explore space and battle against other users in epic combats.

These games will test your strategic thinking and reflex in a fun way. You’ll get to improve your spaceships, build a felt and even construct full one-space cities. Let’s get into it!

Nova Storm: Stellar Empires

Nova Storm: Stellar Empires is a space strategy, where you will discover “thousands of planets”. These planets are located in generated star systems. At your disposal will get one of the “many unique races.”

This game is a curious strategic mix in which there is a global space map with various resources. Ground battles are also available with the destruction of enemy bases.

In the story missions are available only in limited pieces of space. Also in the game, there is a free game mode, which allows you to control the fate of the galaxy in your own way.

It is really interesting to play Nova Storm: Stellar Empires because each war is different from the previous one. It includes different paces, the nature of the game, and other trifles.

There are many unique races. In a convenient and versatile editor, you can also create new ones. The graphics are very nice. The technology tree is made in a very non-standard way. To travel around the galaxy, you can choose from three unique travel options.

The first thing to pay close attention to is the local technological tree. Here you get three branches of science. It will help you to simultaneously explore one technology at a time from the three proposed. Each time, complete the research, you can again choose one of the three technologies.

Deal with the game is easy. At first, the game seems very congested. But, this impression is deceptive. Most things are very simple. Only a few questions have to be approached more seriously.

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Stellaris is a great online Sci-if action game with excellent graphics.

First, you will see the main screen of the game. If you press on your profile picture in the top left corner, it will take you to your data. There you can see your development and strength stats, your level, achievements, and space station.

You will also see your title, which you can change. Different bonuses come with these titles. “Data Library” will show your game stats (battles, victories, ships won and lost, etc.) Below that you will see “Cabinet” which gives you bonuses depending on your skill.

If you have a red icon on top of the main screen, this means you have a negative resource. By pressing it, you will see what you can do to improve that and how much time is left.

Next to the red icon is your population. When you click that you will see the taxes people have to pay and the amount of food they require. The next one is “Energy Credits” which you will use to buy, maintain, and build ships.  

When you fight against other players you will see how close you are to a win on top of the screen. The more green color you have, the closer you are to a win.  

There are tons of other features, so you should download the game and explore it yourself. You will enjoy it if you like complicated strategy games that require lots of thinking.  

Nova Empire

A very classic spaceship game and the fans will surely appreciate the atmosphere of it. The main idea of this game is that you are building your own galaxy empire, being involved in the race with players all around the world.

You will take part in the cross-galaxy battles, will be making strategic planning, make deals with other players, and build your own space station. And yes, this is an online multiplayer game where you are going to play with people from all around the world.

The right strategy is everything in this game. You will have to choose your battles wisely so you can beat your rivals and invade new territories and resources.

Another super exciting part of the game is that you need to build a spaceship – the advanced tools in the game allow you to build the craft of your dream and you basically can make all your engineer fantasies come true.

Another essential part of the game is to find the right team that will lead you to the ultimate victory. Choose wisely and use your skills to convince the admirals to join your team. Moreover, you can build scientific laboratories to investigate and develop new kinds of weapons. The graphics are simply the top-level.

Hades’ Star

Hades’ Star is an excellent space strategy in which you can conquer new planets and develop them. The game modes are diverse. Space exploration is divided into four separate branches. Here you can develop military technology. Also, you have to travel to different planets and their colonization.

At the beginning of the game, you have to learn brief instructions. This will help you understand all the subtleties and become the best player. In the developed solar systems you need to build various useful buildings. To lead fleets into battle and to manage the affairs on the planets should your characters.

During the game, they get new skills and become irreplaceable. You can fight, trade, exchange technologies, and enter into alliances with other civilizations. With the help of satellites, you can spy on your rivals.

To protect the lines you need to create ships. Each ship has a dashboard that allows for increased armor. Before the battle, you can adjust the sequence of targets and shooting angles. Between the ships do not have to constantly switch.

When you select the entire fleet, functions of all ships appear in the dashboard at once. The game has a lot of elements that make the gameplay more convenient. This is very important in space strategies.

The main difficulty lies in the fact that you never know what to expect from the enemy. All ships here are created manually in a special editor. With the necessary technology, you can create your own sweet. There you can store various types of weapons or assistive devices.

If you’re not a fan of fast-paced strategies that always keep you at the edge of your seat, this one is for you. It gives you a slow yet addictive experience of floating through space and fighting here and there. The game has minimalistic graphics and ambient music that adds up to the exp.

The mechanics are easy to learn, so even if you’re a newbie you’ll quickly figure it out. And although it ads require you to think strategically, it’s not the main goal. The game is here to help you relax and a have good time in space.

It covers over 150 unique lvls, so you won’t get bored here. All of these are different, and there are tons of twists that add a fresh feel to the exp. You can even sync the game to your smart TV to enjoy the graphics on a bigger screen.

There’s also a multiplayer mode, so you can battle it with other users from all over the world. New locations and maps get added every day, so you can explore black holes, stars, supernovas, and all that.

Galaxy Reavers-Space RTS

Galaxy Reavers-Space RTS is a unique and exciting multiplayer real-time strategy game. The cosmic age has arrived. Humanity began to create new planets in space. Become the leader of the planet and lead your power to victory.

Here you can:

• take part in epic galactic battles with thousands of players from around the world
• fight enemies
• build your space base
• create an invulnerable star fleet
• conquer new planets
• bring your tactical skills to a new level

The game is constantly changing and puts players in new conditions. Should you use powerful guns now or leave for later? Does it make sense to ram an enemy when your ship is already burning? Such gameplay situations are full of dynamics. On the screen, there is something that requires attention but does not tire.

Join the fight with friends and allies in a massive online battle. Conquer new territories. Consider building ships of the enemy. Develop strategies of attack, defense, and counterattack.

Make strategic decisions and select the right characteristics of the ships. Thus, they supplement each other favorably.

Immeasurable space map and countless planets. Each planet is important for the development of the camp. Conquer and defend them from enemy attacks. Expand the boundaries of your camp. Do not stop there.

Fight along with thousands of camp allies in galactic battles. Show your strength in battles. Prove that you are the greatest warlord and conqueror in the multiplayer strategy.

Cooperation and unity is the foundation on which the camp rests. Chat with thousands of allies around the world. Only with them can you come to victory.

Burningthumb Studios made a really engaging entry in this game genre because they have managed to create an atmosphere that really allows players to imagine what must have happened on Mars.

The essence of the game is pure: you go into the game and start looking for answers, exploring the territory of a planet that is probably, as far as you can tell, Mars. An uncomplicated game for the broadest range of users, nothing too perplexing, only an ingenious idea.

This app has options such as:

• open sandbox levels
• sci-fi 3D graphics
• simple movement mechanics and gameplay interactions

A separate mention deserves the rich design from the developers of the Martian landscape in its desert colors.

It is important to note the fact that at the beginning of the game, the user will be offered various prompts in order to start moving and take the first steps toward exploring the space.

Many players note that the app creates a very tense atmosphere, which only adds to the desire to play and continue to examine unknown spaces.

Check also: 14 Best Kingdom Building Games

Fractal Space

Would you ever like to play a really exciting brain game, with a sophisticated story and first-person gameplay? Fractal Space has a huge number of in-game capabilities that only delight the eye. Can you get through this game? Everything depends only on your ability to think.

This utility has such features as:

• using a tool such as a Taser, which allows you to perform various actions with switches at a distance
• possibility of management of a reactive satchel that allows moving freely in space
• variability in the choice of a large number of colors (even up to 15 shades) in an asset at a taser
• the worked plot which is under construction around the finding of the lost records and documents lifting the veil of secrecy of your emergence at the station
• compatibility with such devices as the gamepad, significantly simplifying the management process

Thus, it is the app really deserves your attention and is worth it spending one hour of time.

Celestial Fleet

Celestial Fleet is a life simulation game where players fight on an alien planet. Improve your buildings, unlock, and explore technology, train troops, and collect resources. The more you develop your base, the more opportunities you have in exploring the planet!

Game features:

• Fight, chat, and interact with players from around the world. The game has the ability to instantly transfer.
• A strategy with great potential and exciting challenges. Create your own base, train a high-tech army, and conquer the planets.
• Strong alliances. Join or create your own alliance. Fight with people from all over the world. Lead your teams. Fight against enemies and rob the fallen!
• An exciting battle system between players. Do you like the battle for an alliance, for control of the planet, or for yourself? Choose your path.
• Use futuristic weapons. You can choose laser guns, energy weapons, robots, and even ancient technologies.

The game has a unique ability to customize ships. You can change the appearance of the ship, make some improvements, or add extra features.

The confrontation between the planets looks and sounds perfect. Epic explosions go with any clarification of relations in this strategy about space. Also, you can use a system of ship upgrades and enjoy spectacular cosmic landscapes.

This game will appeal to experienced players. However, beginners who want to try something new can play this game too.

ASTROKINGS is a large-scale real-time strategy. Here you get directly to the center of events. You have to manage the forces of your fleet, fighting with hostile races.

The developers of ASTROKINGS made the game as convenient as possible. An incredible number of players are registered in this game. Here you can create your own alliances and lead them. You have to capture space bases and develop them.

Here you will be constantly threatened by powerful enemies. You will need to find and colonize new planets, build military bases and spacecraft.

You have to create life on a new planet. Also, you have to develop your fleet and defense, as well as get useful resources.

Each space battle has its own unique and unique result. This is facilitated by the diversity in the characteristics and parameters of wars.

• single and multiplayer battles in the Galaxy
• beautiful and user-friendly interface that will give you an amazing experience
• a balance between warships and planetary defense
• gather a fleet of 100 unique ships with their unique fighting style
• control your ships using hundreds of different strategies, special skills, and abilities
• protection of weak players
• get experience in the arena, fight with other players in weekly tournaments
• many completely different races
• improve your fleet with many features
• research of new technologies
• go through hundreds of tasks, paving your way through the entire fascinating storyline

Astral Runners: Tap Until Mars

Astral Runners: Tap Until Mars- this is a mobile game, thanks to which you will be able to test your speed, as well as the ability to develop tactics. Here you will find more than half a thousand exciting levels that are based on overcoming outer space and fighting alien monsters.

This game has two modes, differing in the main goals and objectives, as well as in complexity:

• Simple mode (here the speed of your character will increase gradually, and also, the fight against alien monsters will occur no more than once every twenty seconds. Here you will collect game coins and try to stay alive as long as possible)
• Hard mode (this mode is for real pros, because your speed will be insanely fast, and the fight against alien monsters can occur simultaneously with the appearance of obstacles in the form of asteroids, from which you will need to dodge. As for the game coins, there will be fewer of them here, and it will become much more difficult to collect them).

Clash of Stars

It’s a sci-fi strategy that lets you become a commander of a space fleet. You’ll get to dive into an epic galaxy journey exploring the universe and fighting with rivals along the way. There’s always a chance for you to get attacked here, so don’t get to distracted by stunning graphics.

But the coolest aspect of this one is the act that there are no permanent friends or enemies here. Everything is constantly changing, so there’s zero chance for you to get bored. Of course, you can form alliances and all that but don’t expect them to last too long.

In case you’re a newbie to the genre, there’s a special mode to let you get used to it. You’ll see the wide universe from a small zone and meet multiple challenges to get you ready for a battle. You’ll start from scratch, as always, and boost your gear and fleet with time.

Speaking of the fleet, the game covers tons of spaceships of all kin, so there’s smth for everyone. You can improve all of the m by adding new gear or layers of protection. And make sure to work on your strategy, it’s a key to success here.

This one is a little different in concept. Although it does include battles, it’s not the main point at all. This game lets you build your own space empire. You’ll start from a small ship and station that will grow into a full-on space city.

It’s a full-on space sim where you’ll need to think strategically to use your resources in a smart way. You’ll be able to explore the universe, build your own ships and stations and conquer the galaxy to expand your empire. As you do that, you’ll find new technologies and people that can help you grow faster.

Make sure to form alliances and trade the goods you find with other users. That’s right, there’s a multiplayer mode that lets you interact with others across the globe. The app’s active audience is m massive, so you’ll never be alone here.

There are over 20 combat units for you to use and tons of gear and techs, too. Plus, there are tons of events and special tournaments for you to join. These can bring you boosters, power, money, and valuable connections.

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Infinite Galaxy

Lastly, here’s a game that lets you enjoy good-old space combat. It comes with a vast space map for you to explore. It’s filled with stars, black holes, and of course, planets. That’s right, you’ll be able to explore diverse planets with unique habitats and techs here.

Plus, there’s an enormous fleet of options you could try. Of course, you’ll need to start small, but as you rank up you’ll get to unlock tons of stuff to elevate your exp. And not only do all the spaceships have unique perks, but you can modify them to match your needs.

There are over 30 ships for now, and the modification options are practically endless. You’ll also get to hire people for your space fleet. You’ll get to upgrade every one of them via training and new gear, too. Then, you’ll come face to face with rivals and fight your way to glory.

Make sure to think about your strategy, as you’ll get to stand against real users. Be smart, react first, and you’ll get to beat stronger opponents. You won’t have to pay to get into the winning position here, which is great.

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10 Outstanding Space Games for Android

Rakesh | 23 May 2018 | Android Apps

Space games have found a great home on mobile devices, as there’s no shortage of intergalactic apps to choose from. We scoured the Play Store and tried a ton of games based on their reviews to come up with this list, so there’s something for a bit of everyone.

Whether you prefer single player simulations, two player games , space-themed MMOs, or obstacle-dodgers ala Run 3 , this is the top ten space games currently available for Android.

Star Command

Star Command is a pixel-based micromanagement game with nods to Star Trek , Space Quest , and numerous other space titles. The game puts you in the shoes of a rookie ship captain, and you must build up your space ship’s infrastructure, such as adding rooms, crew members, and general repairs.

Strategy elements come from ship-to-ship battles and boarding invasions – success depends on your upgrade placements and crew commitment. It’s a rather short game at around 4 – 5 hours long, but definitely worth a look.

Star Wars: KOTOR

Star Wars: KOTOR has been around since its initial release in 2003 for Windows and Xbox platforms, but received an Android port in 2015 – and it’s a really well-done port, despite the graphics being toned down just slightly from its original PC / Xbox counterpart.

If you never played Star Wars: KOTOR in its original form, its basically an action-RPG where you choose one of three classes, and there’s a ton of tech-trees and alternative ways to complete missions – it’s truly a “pure” RPG in that regard.

Galaxy on Fire 2 HD

GoF2 is a space-trading and ship-combat simulation game, with highly detailed graphics. The gameplay is a bit standard – you hop around space stations, meeting new contacts and performing missions to advance the campaign – but the game really shines in the beauty department, with tons of lighting effects and space scenery to admire.

The devs tried really hard to make it compatible with all Android hardware, so while you can play the game on an old Android 4.0 device with scaled down graphics, it will look spectacular on a high-end, 7” screen. Ship battles are also really cool, and the touch-controls aren’t terribly difficult to get the hang of.

Battlevoid: Harbinger

If space-themed RTS games are your forte, Battlevoid: Harbinger is a good contender to satisfy you. It can be incredibly difficult with its penchant for micromanagement and permadeath, but the UI is fairly straight-forward and easy to grasp.

The game is also completely free , with absolutely no IAPs – a rarity in the Android market.

Vendetta Online

Vendetta Online is an MMO set in space, if the “Online” part of the title didn’t tip you off. It is also a bit graphically intensive, with the devs recommending at least 1GB RAM and a Mali T6 / Adreno 320+ / similar SoC for seamless gameplay. They also recommend an Android-compatible keyboard or gamepad for the best flight experience, as the touch-controls can be quite difficult. Being a fully-fledged MMO, it also takes up around >500MB of storage space.

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All of that aside, its got a bit of everything to satisfy MMO players; real-time PvP battles, trading, guilds, etc. There’s also a single-player “sandbox” mode which can be played even while offline, which allows you to master the flight controls and complete little mini-tasks.

A fast-paced action game, No Gravity has you piloting one of six customizable ships, and completing fairly difficult missions. Fast reflexes are a must in this game, as you’ll be dodging asteroid belts and other obstacles while blasting your way through alien ships with a variety of weapons.

No Gravity is a PSP port, so the graphics are fairly good for a mobile game, and it has additional optimizations if you play through NVIDIA Shield.

Interstellar Pilot

Space sim lovers should enjoy Interstellar Pilot , which is pretty similar to Elite Dangerous for PC. It’s a single-player game with a wide variety of things to do; trading, bounty hunting, completing missions, gaining faction reputation, managing factories, building up a ship fleet, ship battles, etc.

There really is quite a large number of things to do for all play-styles, whether you want to be a space pirate, station trader, or galactic tycoon.

Space Shooter: Galaxy Attack

If you’re a fan of modern Space Invaders style games, Space Shooter: Galaxy Attack is one of the better ones. There isn’t much to explain about the gameplay – you simply shoot wave after wave of enemies, with fairly trick boss battles.

The graphics are nice, with artwork done in a 2.5D style, and lots of interesting lighting effects and cool power-ups. Boss encounters are frequent and varied, and you’ll unlock various ship upgrades as the game progresses. It’s a quarter-plunker arcade shooter that will erase a few hours of your day.

Space Racing 3D: Star Race

If WipeOut clones are your thing, Space Racing 3D: Star Race will entertain you for a while. It boasts over 40 tracks, with 6 upgradeable ships to pilot. There’s also some Mario Kart thrown in for good measure, as you can attack other ships on the track.

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The only drawback is that upgrading ships require in-game currency, and there seems to be a good bit of rubber band AI to ensure that you somehow end up in last place, despite leading in first a majority of the races – so obviously, the game is a bit weighted towards IAPs.

Vega Conflict

If you have a large wallet and don’t mind dropping serious cash on IAPs, Vega Conflict is a challenge real-time strategy multiplayer game. Join alliances, craft ship upgrades, and attack other players in real-time. Gameplay is pretty much based on typical RTS mechanics, with fleet formations and armor/weapon type RPS ( rock-paper-scissors) deciding battle outcomes.

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The major downside is that being a loot-based game that’s been around for a while, new players will have a fairly difficult time getting into the game since there are in-game clans with seemingly bottomless pockets to spend on IAPs.

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The 21 Best Space Games

Chances are that if you’re reading this, you’ll never get to set foot in space. So it only makes sense that so much media revolves around space travel, whether that’s movies or gaming. Exploring space through games is a captivating experience that can be fun, fascinating, and fear-inducing, even all at once. Games set predominantly in space have been a staple for years and appear in many different genres as well. Below, we’ve compiled a list of what we believe to be the 21 best space games out there right now.

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Best Space Games

1. 'Alien: Isolation'

Available on: ps4, xbox one, ps3, xbox 360, nintendo switch, pc - steam, epic games store, gog.com, ios, android.

Set a decade and a half after the events of the movie that kicked off the Alien franchise, Alien: Isolation follows Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, as she tries to uncover the mystery behind her mother’s disappearance. The game captures the spirit of the films and their abrupt action amongst slower tension pretty well and it’s one of the better entries in the franchise’s history, including all of the movies. Naturally, this is an even better experience if you’re already familiar with those movies first.

2. 'Dead Space'

Available on: ps5, xbox series x|s, pc - steam, epic game store.

Dead Space got apt praise when it first came out in 2008, but the remake from the top of this year (2023) did a great job of introducing it to a new audience, as well as letting long-time fans experience it on current-gen consoles. The game puts you in the shoes of Isaac Clarke, a ship systems engineer who finds himself on a ship that has been taken over and inhabited by Necromorphs, monsters that come in various shapes and sizes, but a unifying goal of ripping you limb from limb… quite literally. The game does an incredible job of building tension and making every turn as frightening as the next.

3. 'Destiny 2'

Available on: ps5, xbox series x|s, ps4, xbox one, pc - steam, epic games store.

Chances are that if you haven’t played Destiny 2 yet but are even a casual gamer, you’ve still heard of the game. It’s best enjoyed with a few friends, where its blurry stature as an MMO can truly thrive. The game is set on alien planets that are filled with loot that matches the environment. You can play normal story missions here, or engage in raids, which is a big part of the appeal in the game.

4. 'Distant Worlds: Universe'

Available on: pc - steam, epic games store, gog.com.

This game can look a little daunting from the outside, but once you put some hours in and learn the mechanics, it’s undoubtedly one of the better games out there that’s set in space. It’s a real-time 4X strategy game where you’ll feel the weight of having to be tactical like in a turn-based game and the scale of an MMO. There are over a thousand star systems and tens of thousands of planets, asteroids, and moons.

5. 'Elite Dangerous'

Available on: ps4, xbox one, pc - steam, epic games store.

Flight simulator games have been around for a long time and have remained popular up to now when it’s genuinely hard to tell the difference between graphics and real life. Elite Dangerous is a space-flying sim where the universe is your playground. The developers went out of their way to try to recreate our galaxy and its planets to scale and with a high level of realism, so even if you only have a basic understanding of things, you should be able to appreciate them. The game also supports you playing with a bunch of friends, which is always a plus.

6. 'EVE Online'

Available on: pc - steam, epic games store.

The most interesting thing about EVE Online is that it is a persistent world where the players dictate pretty much everything. The thousands of players that are online at once all play on the same server and can choose to go it alone or group up as they see fit, having an impact on the entire in-game economy along the way. This level of power comes with great moments but also should come with caution because players can also steal from others, extort, and more, all in the name of freedom of choice.

7. 'EVERSPACE'

Available on: ps4, xbox one, nintendo switch, pc - steam, gog.com.

EVERSPACE is a 3D space shooter that borrows the permadeath mechanic from many roguelike games. Dying here means having to start over while retaining only your money, which should help you have a more successful run each time you play. EVERSPACE 2 was released earlier in the year (2023) and you just might be compelled to see what all the hype is about with that equally amazing sequel after playing its predecessor.

8. 'FTL: Faster Than Light'

Available on: pc - steam, epic games store, gog.com, ios.

Released in 2012, this is widely considered one of the best indie games of all time. It has it all, including but not limited to permadeath, real-time strategy, turn-based combat, crew members you can name, and more. You can enter a battle only for one of your crew to fall sick, meaning you’re unsuccessful, but this kind of realism and unpredictability is what has kept FTL popular in the decade-plus since its release.

9. 'Homeworld Remastered Collection'

The Homeworld Remastered Collection houses the first two games, excluding Homeworld: Cataclysm . The first game came out in 1999 and the second in 2003, so while some of the reasons it soared to popularity might be a little dated now, these remastered versions of the games still hold up and have some of the magic about them. It might be a good idea to play this before the next game comes out next year.

10. 'Kerbal Space Program'

Available on: ps5, xbox series x|s, ps4, xbox one, pc - steam, epic games store, gog.com.

Many of the games on this list deal with being in space and all of its problems and wonders, but Kerbal Space Program takes a step back and much of the challenge is getting to space in the first place. You take the reins as the leader of a space program for aliens called "Kerbals." You must craft a ship that can not only get off the ground and into space but land on an alien planet. How you do this is up to you and the trial and error here is where the fun lies.

11. 'Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy'

The Guardians of the Galaxy game had somewhat of a slow burn with gamers, with those who tried it out early pretty much unanimously agreeing that it was a pleasant surprise. The Guardians crew is a favorite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it was crucial that a game captured the spirit of the characters and it does just that. Just like the trilogy of movies, things are light-hearted until they aren’t, but it’s fun the entire way through.

12. 'Mass Effect Legendary Edition'

Compiling and remastering Mass Effect 1 , 2 , and 3 , the Legendary Edition of these games sees players meeting various alien races, exploring a bunch of alien planets, and taking part in other-world battles, which is about as much as you can hope for from a space game. This is considered by long-time fans of the games to be the best way to play them.

13. 'No Man’s Sky'

Available on: ps5, xbox series x|s, ps4, xbox one, nintendo switch, pc - steam, gog.com.

Despite the unfathomable hype around it before its release, No Man’s Sky had a somewhat turbulent first few years, with gamers being unequivocally disappointed as a whole. Thankfully, it meant that the developers were forced to be quite receptive to this, and in the seven years since the game’s release, it has seen various updates of various sizes, and today, it’s the game that many hoped for upon release.

14. 'Observation'

Available on: ps4, xbox one, pc - steam, epic game store, gog.com.

Developed by No Code and published by Devolver Digital, Observation is an adventure game that actually sees you becoming an artificial intelligence software named "SAM" (Systems Administration and Maintenance) aboard a space station. The hero in the story is a woman named Dr. Emma Fisher, but the game takes a left turn instead by making you her trusty partner. The twists and turns of the story should keep you hooked here.

15. 'Outer Wilds'

Outer Wilds is one of the more unique entries on this list because the setting of space isn’t the focal point, but a driver for the story. You’re investigating a solar system that’s stuck in a time loop and must land on multiple planets within it to find out what’s going on. Exploring the environment is a lot of fun, as are the many great puzzles on offer here.

16. 'Star Conflict'

Available on: pc - steam.

Dogfighting games are often intense even in regular planes, but flying spaceships and doing battle amongst asteroids and overlooking galaxies is a whole different ballgame. There are numerous different modes to choose from here and all of them are fun for different reasons because the core gameplay is so great. There are over 100 ships to fly and all come with benefits and drawbacks.

17. 'Star Wars: TIE Fighter'

TIE Fighter isn’t the most popular of the critically acclaimed Star Wars games out there for gamers to play, but it’s still one of the best, despite its release nearly three decades ago. The plot kicks off shortly after the events of The Empire Strikes Back and before Return Of The Jedi , two fan favorites in the movie series. The game got praised for its graphics when it first dropped, but naturally, those haven’t aged the best. There’s still some great Star Wars -themed space fun to have here though.

18. 'Stellaris'

Available on: ps4, xbox one, pc - steam, epic games store, gog.com.

A 4X grand strategy game, Stellaris is a perfect offering for those who want to feel the immenseness of space and its combat at a large scale. The game lets you decide what’s most important to you and explore that area. If you want to engage in battle with any and every faction you see, you can do that. You can also form alliances with alien factions too. The universe has never been your oyster quite like it is here.

19. 'The Outer Worlds'

Available on: ps5, xbox series x|s, nintendo switch, ps4, xbox one, pc - steam, epic games store, gog.com.

If the baron lands in The Outer Worlds feel familiar to you, it might be because it’s developed by Obsidian Entertainment, who did Fallout: New Vegas . Though there’s not an open world here, the game does encourage you to explore and give you enough outside of the main story to do that with too. This is a lighter-hearted space adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously, which should appeal to gamers who like a bit more comedy strewn into their space exploration.

20. 'X4: Foundations'

Available on: pc - steam, gog.com.

Next up on this list of the best space games is X4: Foundations is essentially a sandbox game that takes place in a world that feels as though it’s living and breathing even while you’re not actively playing it. It’s not perfect by any means, but for those looking to get a dose of space in their gaming, this game has all of the facilities to let you build an empire in space as you please.

21. 'Starfield'

Available on: xbox series x|s, pc - steam.

From the makers of classics such as Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim comes a space opera that places you beyond the stars. Starfield gives you the freedom to explore the Milky Way galaxy and make your way across more than 1,000 planets. Along the way, you'll make friends and your fair share of enemies as you map out your journey however you see fit. First- and third-person combat comes into play as you run into space pirates and local planetary wildlife that may not take too kindly to your presence. Starfield lets you craft your own spaceship, get into ship battles, and even raid other people's ships if you see fit to do so. The options are endless for anyone who gives this game a try.

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To Boldly Go: Best Space Exploration Games

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Key Takeaways

• Space exploration in games can be mind-numbing or jaw-dropping, depending on your mindset and expectations.
• Games like SpaceEngine offer endless new discoveries and a vast appreciation for the universe's vastness.
• Titles like Starcom: Unknown Space let you brave the dangerous unknown to uncover secrets and fight for discovery.

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 July 18, 2024, by William Quick: We're still many years from where we can casually head into space and, when we do, have someplace to go. Until that becomes a reality (hopefully one that's affordable), we need to turn to video games to live out our space exploration adventures. It's not always about being a pilot. Maybe you want to be a scientist, an engineer, or a creative type looking for inspiration. Here are games that will have you exploring the mysteries of the universe and maybe take you beyond it.

Space Engineers

Someone's gotta keep everything together.

Before you can head out into space, you need a ship and all the right tools to keep it running well. Of course, unless you're super-talented all on your own, you'll be looking for a crew, and filling it up with a few engineers will help guarantee a safe voyage and exploration. That's who you're following in Space Engineers.

You have decided to venture out into space, but you need to start by building a ship made for travel by gathering the right materials and putting them together. When you do decide to take flight, you may come across certain celestial bodies. You can rest, harvest, or try to build a base or space station on new surfaces to ground yourself in the chaos of space before setting out further into the unknown.

Dead Space Series

As if space wasn't scary enough.

The reason space is so scary on its own is because it's so big, so dark, and so filled with unknown things that we can't even start to comprehend. Who knows what sorts of organisms are out there that could be planning our demise? Well, Dead Space presents some very creepy possibilities for that.

After a space station goes dark, Isaac Clarke and his crew of semi-deposable allies arrive to investigate. Isaac is there to fix some things and to look for his girlfriend but quickly encounters the hostile mutant-alien-zombie creatures called Necromorphs. Armed with various engineering tools and some weapons, Issac has no choice but to fight his way through the station and learn the fate of everyone aboard.

Empyrion - Galactic Survival

Build, expand, and survive the galaxy.

Space is full of mystery, and we, as humans, are driven to try to solve all the mysteries that we can. Of course, there's rarely ever a solution without risk, but it's one that we're all too willing to take as long as we feel prepared. Empyrion - Galactic Survival gives us the mystery of Empyrion that hides somewhere in the universe.

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Once again, we have to work to build ships and structures just to further our exploration and fact-finding. When you've got a sturdy enough ship, you can start flying to strange new worlds in hopes of encountering new materials and environments. They'll have you learning more about the richness and vastness of space while gathering what you need to improve your ships and gear. Whether you're an explorer or a settler, the mystery will be waiting .

SpaceEngine

The universe awaits.

Our universe is expanding every single second, which means there's more space for things to appear. This can be dust clouds, stars, or entire planets that can host multiple kinds of mysterious environments. With the SpaceEngine, you can try to reach the edge of an expanding universe without knowing what's out there.

This is a game that's all about discovering new things and gaining an appreciation for the vastness of all things. It prides itself on its powerful procedural generation, so you can head in any random direction and have an incredible opportunity to encounter enumerable new things. Feel the physics , get lost in the visuals, and have total freedom to explore this universe until you find your place among the stars.

Space Trash Scavenger

Unidentified flying garbage.

People don't realize how valuable trash can be, especially when so much of it can be repurposed and restored to brand-new condition. And this is just the trash that we can find here on Earth, so who knows what kind of refuse is floating in space? Well, the Space Trash Scavenger knows.

That's who you'll be when you start playing the game. You are someone who has the resources to fly through space and go through all the floating trash piles created by all sorts of species who've thrown it from their ships or launched it from their planets. The handy jetpack you've got is more than enough to explore all the small celestial bodies and abandoned facilities on various planets' surfaces. Recycle that trash to grow your operation and become a space trash powerhouse.

Starcom: Unknown Space

Search the dangerous beyond.

Since the universe is so incomprehensibly big, what is comprehensible is just how much dangerous stuff there is out there. However, someone has to be brave enough to go see what's going on out there and hopefully discover things that are safe and incredible. This risk will be taken in Starcom: Unknown Space.

The title gives a good idea of what you're doing: going into an unknown space. The story begins when you assume the role of a commander, get a crew together, find a ship, and take off for the space that awaits. You'll encounter everything from empty planets to alien species , friendly and hostile encounters, but it's all for the sake of discovery and learning the secrets of the universe. Keep your crew and ship in shape to make the unknown known.

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 .

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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 a prime unexplored territory full of discoveries 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, it 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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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 to play right now

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 , making it one of the most expansive genres. Luckily, we have plenty of new adventures in space to look forward to, with upcoming Star Wars games , and the newly released Star Wars Outlaws . But while we wait for what lies ahead, why not join us as we celebrate all of the space experiences you can try out right now? 

So whether you enjoy the setting, love getting lost in exploration, or want to live out a space-faring fantasy, get ready for lift-off as we take you through our pick of the 10 best space games you can play in 2024. 

Recent updates

This list of the best space games was updated on August 19, 2024, to make sure everything is up to date and that you'll find only the greatest sci-fi titles in our ranking. 

10. Eve Online

Platform(s) : PC Developer: CCP

Eve Online is bigger and better than ever before as the community continues to expand its 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 2024. 

9. Elite Dangerous

Platform(s) : PC, Xbox One, PS4 Developer : Frontier Developments  

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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. For more information, check out our Elite: Dangerous review !

8. Starfield

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

Starfield allows you to 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. Check out our five-star Starfield review if you want more details. 

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 one of the best strategy games of all time 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 civilization 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, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S 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 neutralize boarding parties. Every decision is tortuous, and every victory has a cost. Over a decade later, FTL is still one of the best roguelike games on the market. You can read more about why we almost gave this title a near-perfect score in our FTL: Faster Than Light review .

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. Read our Destiny 2 review to find out more about this masterpiece. 

2. Mass Effect 2 

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

Mass Effect is among the best RPGs of all time and is the space RPG by which we measure all others in the genre. 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 – a 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 so that you can see what they have to say next. In our Mass Effect 2 review , we point out how this game is perfect, and years later, that statement still holds true. 

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 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 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 galaxy and even dogfight and race in your ships. The ever-growing community of players that continues to go from strength to strength goes to show how much love there is for No Man's Sky, and it really has become one of the best sim games for space-curious players around. 

You can find out more about the best space game of all time in our No Man's Sky review !

Look ahead to future releases with our roundup of all the new games coming out next year and beyond. Or, if you are keen to hear more about the latest big sci-fi release, read our Star Wars Outlaws review .

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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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A galaxy lies open for you to explore.

Endless Sky is a 2D space trading and combat game similar to the classic Escape Velocity series. Explore other star systems. Earn money by trading, carrying passengers, or completing missions. Use your earnings to buy a better ship or to upgrade the weapons and engines on your current one. Blow up pirates. Take sides in a civil war. Or leave human space behind and hope to find friendly aliens whose culture is more civilized than your own.

Downloads are available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Endless Sky is free and open source, the product of a growing community of developers and content creators.

After years of working a factory job, you have finally saved up enough money to apply for a pilot's license and make a down payment on your very first starship. The backwater planet where you grew up only sells three ship models: a shuttle, a cargo barge, and a light interceptor. Depending on which one you choose, you'll start out earning money by transporting passengers, looking for good trade deals, or perhaps mining asteroids or taking jobs escorting freighter convoys. Of course, you are hoping to save up enough money for a much better ship before long.

Human space is a network of two hundred star systems, most of them inhabited, joined by hyperspace links. No one really understands how the hyperdrive works or how the links were initially created, but they say that the strange aliens who live down at the edge of the Rim have other means of travel that allow them to visit other parts of the galaxy.

A merchant captain can earn a living by buying cheap food and luxury goods from the poorer parts of the galaxy and trading it for medical supplies or electronics on richer worlds. But you can often earn a better income by taking on special jobs. The more cargo space you have in your fleet, and the higher your combat reputation grows, the more jobs become available to you.

Of course, if you fancy yourself a hotshot pilot, you might be able to earn income more quickly by starting out in the interceptor and mining asteroids or even hunting pirates. In fact, no matter what ship you choose, if you stray into the wrong parts of the galaxy you're sure to run into pirates sooner or later.

The trouble is, you're flying the wimpiest ship in the galaxy right now, so early on your piloting skills will be useful mostly for dodging missiles and running away from combat.

Fortunately, there are hundreds of different "outfits" - weapons, engines, power generators, cooling systems, and much more - that you can buy to upgrade your ship. With the tiny ship you start out in, equipping it will always involve tradeoffs: buy better engines, to help you run away from pirates? Or sell all the non-essentials to make room for more cargo? Stock ships tend to be well balanced, but once you start modifiying your ship you'll also have to worry about energy requirements and heat dissipation.

Once you've paid off your mortgage (or qualified for a bigger one) it's time to think about buying a better ship, either to build a fleet or to replace your flagship. About 50 different models of ships are available in human territory, anything from massive freighters to powerful warships to quick, nimble scoutships. And, every once in a while you hear rumors that people have traveled beyond known space and discovered alien civilizations with technology far superior to your own.

To really make your mark in the galaxy, you'll have to choose which factions to side with, both in human space and beyond. Only one major story line has been written so far, allowing you to take part in a rebellion that reshapes human space. Endless Sky is designed to make it as easy as possible to create new content to add to the game, and people are hard at work on other story lines, as well as new alien species, ships, and outfits.

Space RPGs (also known as Space Role-playing Games) is a genre of video game where the player can control the actions and movements of the playable character or several party members in the Well-defined Space environment. Many Space Role-playing games have origins in tabletop RPGs and use the same setting, game mechanics and terminology. During the gameplay, the player takes on the role of the central character, or controls a team, called a party, and attain victory by accomplishing a set of quests or struggling to conclude the storyline. Players can explore the space, while solving puzzles, gather resources, and engage in combat. The key features of the Space Role-playing games are that the protagonist grows in abilities and powers. These games challenge the coordination and reaction time of the players, except Action RPGs. Role-playing games rely on a highly developed setting and story, which is split into multiple quests. Exploration is the primary aspect of many Space RPGs, and the player can walk through, picking up objects, overcoming traps and talking to NPCs. These games consist of three systems such as the Experience System, the Training System, and the Skill-point System.

12 Best Space RPGs for Android

#1 space rpg 3.

Space RPG 3 is an Adventure, Space Exploration, Role-playing, Combat and Single-player video game developed by Esaptonor for Android. The game revolves around the Space Role-playing genre and it takes place in the large space consists of hundreds of planets, stars, space stations, and brutal alien species as well as non-player characters. The game takes the player on an epic journey, where the player will encounter new worlds to explore, discover stars, and battle against enemies. There are multiple spaceships available from which the player can select one of them to start his adventure. During the gameplay, the player can upgrade his ship, weapons, and items using the money which the player has earned by completing different tasks. There are two main campaigns available each with a variety of secret side-missions, and extra replayability. The player can trade with NPCs to earn credits and can figure out the new trade routes to become the master. Space RPG 3 offers prominent features such as Trading System, Upgrades, Improved AI, Dozens of Ships, a Sprawling Universe, 100 Star Systems and more. Try it out, and you’ll like it.

#2 Dead Effect

For all those Sci-Fi Shooter enthusiasts who dearly love playing games, Dead Effect is actually a gift. This amazing game is packed with hardcore Action, Thrill, Stealth and Horror-Survival elements and offers a unique game-play experience. The game takes you to outer space and leaves you in a Star Ship fitted with a new FTL technology. The ship’s destination is a planet named as Tau Ceti F and after setting the course, all crew goes into hyper-sleep but when an elite member of Unit 13 wakes up, he finds the ship crowded with the Undead. In order to survive the Zombies, he starts finding the means to save himself and the story goes on. Dead Effect offers amazingly brutal encounters with Zombies, and leaves you alone to survive and to find other survivors. Your task is simple, get up, lace yourself with all the available weapons, start hunting down the undead and use your stealth abilities to prey on your targets. With amazing single-player and long campaigns, exploration, survival, loads of in-game achievements and state of the art weapons, and eerie soundtracks, Dead Effect offers brilliant visuals, a great story and a fantastic game-play.

#3 Arcane Legends

Arcane Legends is an Action, MMO, Role-playing, Fantasy-based, Hack and Slash video game developed and published by Spacetime Studios, LLC. The game takes place in the breathtaking 3D World populated with thousands of other players around the globe. You can create your virtual avatar and can customize your house using different accessories and items and can take care of your pet to level-up. Interact with other players, explore the game world, find loot, collect pets and fight with them against foes and other players. You can team-up with friends and can join a team of other players to immerse yourself in team-based experience. The game world comprises forests, castles, dungeons, etc. full of monsters and their supporters. All of the villains are planning to destroy the Arlor’s Kingdom and the game cast you to defend it. There are three different classes, hundreds of items, and dozens of skills to customize your hero. T has different modes such as Deathmatch, Capture the flag, PvP, Duels and more. Arcane Legends offers core features such as Mythical Pets, Loot Legendary Weapons and items, Co-op, and more. Try it out, and you’ll love it.

#4 Star Legends

Star Legends developed and published by Spacetime Studios for Browser, Android and iOS. The game revolves around Massively Multiplayer Online, RPG, and Sci-fi elements and takes place in the 3D world. The game offers mission-based Co-op Role-playing (CORPG) gameplay similar to Guild Wars and takes place in the futuristic year in 41st century and center around the war between four different factions in the distance stars. To get into the game world, the player must select his race, and choose the best weapons to immerse himself in PvP and PvE modes. The player can get into the role of the protagonist who is a space privateer and a part of a cooperative team and his aim is to accept missions and try to complete several objectives such as clear the stages, explore the procedurally generated world, solve puzzles, enhance his abilities, and more. There are thousands of other players around the world having the same task, team up with them and try to defeat the foes and against factions to progress through the game. Star Legends includes fabulous features, exciting gameplay, brilliant mechanics, and wonderful story. Try it out, and it’ll entertain you a lot.

#5 Vendetta Online

Vendetta Online combines the elements of Massively Multiplayer Online, Role-playing, Combat, Trading and Space Simulation. It offers both First and Third-person Perspective and includes shooting and PvP elements. The game takes place in a huge space environment populated with hundreds of other players around the globe. The player has to pilot his starship, fight against foes and avoid their attack. He can customize his ship using different tools and weapons. Explore the galaxy, team-up with other players and fight against enemy ships to protect the land. The player has to gather resources to survive and trade with other players or NPCs to earn money that he can use to unlock other features. There are different long-term objectives such as Conquerable Stations, Race Tracks, Deneb War, and Capture the Cargo. It has a variety of levels consists of different missions and tasks. Through crafting features, the player can create useful items. The player can join his military of his nation and take part in battles. With detailed environment, addictive gameplay, superb mechanics, and prominent features, Vendetta Online is the best Space Trading and Combat Simulation to play and enjoy.

#6 Galaxy Phantasy Prelude

Galaxy Phantasy Prelude, developed by “Moonfish Software Limited” is a free to play MMORPG and Action-Adventure video game. The game takes you to an interplanetary space settlement and puts you as an in charge of a huge fleet of spaceships to countless battles against your enemies and exploration. You get to command over forty six spaceships including little frigates, huge battleships, research lab ships etc. in an open world. Galaxy Phantasy Prelude provides you with an engaging and challenging game-play in which you can engage yourself into the most action and strategy filled battles, destroy your enemy ships, loot their resources (Energy, Rations, Supplies etc.) explore the vast and always expanding space etc. Galaxy Phantasy Prelude also lets you experience amazing graphics, easy swipe and tilt controls and a lot of upgrades available in app purchases. Galaxy Phantasy Prelude is a great game to play and enjoy. Do try it out.

#7 Tower of Saviors

Tower of Saviors is a Puzzle, and Single-player Role-playing video game developed by Mad Head Limited available to play on Android and iOS. The game consists of Match-3 gameplay and introduces different characters including Molly, Sean, Duncan, Endor, Nathaniel, etc. Each character has its unique skills and abilities. To get into the world, you have to choose your character first. It offers an exciting story, in which humans build an Ancient Tower in the pursuit of god thousands of years ago. The war begin between gods, demons and humans and the devastation covers the world. The world is divided into three parts. You act as the protagonist and your ultimate aim is to restore the world by matching at least three same colored gems to smash and score the highest points. As the gems crush, they will vanished and make a space for other upcoming gems. Progress through a variety of levels and unlock boosters, power-ups and more. As you advanced, the game becomes challenging. Take a chance to become the hero and save the people. Tower of Saviors offers prominent features such as a variety of Levels, Exciting Gameplay, superb Soundtracks, and more. Try it out, and you’ll enjoy it.

#8 Out There

Out There is an Adventure, Rogue-like and Single-player video game developed by Mi-Clos Studio for multiple platforms. The story of the game takes place in the futurist 22nd century, in which there are limited resources remain on the planet Earth, and the humanity is going to end. An astronaut is sent to space to the Jupiter’s moon in order to locate resources and supply to Earth. You assume the role of the hero, who must navigate the space, gather resources to supply Earth while facing the terrifying space entities like aliens, pirates, and monsters. During the journey, the astronaut sleeps until reaching his destiny. He wakes up and discovers that he stuck on a strange planet populated creatures. There are three different civilizations, and you have to select your favorite one to start the game. It focuses on resource management and exploration. You start the game with a small ship loaded with some equipment, oxygen, fuel, and hull metals. Out There includes prominent features such as Sci-fi Adventure, 59 Achievements, Leaderboard, 10 Spaceship No Combat element, Crafting System and more. Try it out, and you’ll love it.

#9 Sci-Fi Heroes

Sci-Fi Heroes is a Free-to-play, Role-playing video game with Arcade elements developed by Majesco Entertainment for mobile platforms. The game place in the sci-fi-theme world and introduces Sentient Robot, Space Marine, Technomancers, and Sci-Fi Heroes. In the story, an alien faction is threatened the space and you are selected to battle against. Your ultimate task is to command a team of heroes throughout a variety of levels against aliens and defeat those using weapons and different tools. In the beginning, you can find your perfect team by testing out various team combinations. More than hundred distinct items like laser swords, blasters, and more. Different pets are also included in the game to assist your team. Select your character from Space Cowboy, Trainer, Exxon, Priest, Healbot, etc. and struggle to kick out enemies from your land to restore the peace. Sci-Fi Heroes includes core features such as Ionic Heroes, Build a Team, Futuristic Weapons, Battle Bosses and more. Try it out.

#10 Space Grunts

Space Grunts is the mixture of Strategy, Turn-based, Role-playing and Rogue-like genres and brings a fabulous gameplay for those players, who love playing Rogue-like games with Sci-fi elements. The game features Pixel Graphics and supports Single-player mode developed and published by Orangepixel. It takes place in the procedurally generated dungeon and introduces the futuristic environment takes place in 2476. According to the story, the space federation of the Earth has been constructing moon bases around the galaxy. One of those moon space has sent a signal. The Space-federation sent to a group called Space Grunt to investigate and solve the problem. You are a part of the space team, and your primary goal is to locate the way into the base and figure out what has happened. Go deep into the moon-base and find the core problem while facing terrifying monsters, aliens and space pirates. During the gameplay, you will discover a collection of consumables all around the moon-base from destructive toys to weapon enhancers, armors, system hack, and explosives. Use the weapons wisely to progress deeper into the base and collect enough points and loot to become the master. Space Grunts is the incredible game with prominent features to play and enjoy.

#11 Space Rangers: Quest

Space Rangers: Quest combines the elements of Sci-fi, Role-playing, Adventure and Space. The game has Single-player mode developed by SNK Games and published by 1C Company. There are different spaceships and the game lets you pick your spaceship one of them and start your journey. In the game, you can assume the role of the ranger and his life is full of danger. The game takes place in the space environments and each spaceship offers unique set of weapons. In beginning, you have world complete illegal and dirty jobs to earn credits. But once you will unlock space maps, then you’ll get full access to the whole galaxy. You have to complete each level by fighting against pirates, alien races and robots. Space Rangers: Quest offers prominent features such as Text Quests, Space Battle, Role-playing, Random Events, Ingenious Puzzles, Unknown Turns and Twists and more. With addictive gameplay, superb mechanics, and brilliant visuals, Space Rangers: Quest is the best game to play and amuse.

#12 The Ur-Quan Masters

The Ur-Quan Masters is an Action-Adventure, Space Exploration, Strategy, Single-player and Multiplayer Simulation developed by Toys for Bob and published by Stardock Entertainment. It takes place in the massive space full of planets and space stations. The game comes with a variety of spaceships from which you have to select one of them to start the game. There are a series of levels, and each level has a set of objectives that the player needs to accomplish at any cost to advance through the game. In the starting of the game, the player can take command of the prototype ship with limitless upgrades. Along the journey, the player will explore new worlds, discover new stars, and encounter several alien species. It brings a thrilling story, in which the alien species known as The Ur-Quan Hierarchy, struggling to wipe out the humanity from the galaxy. The player has a chance to become the hero, equip his ship with advanced weapons and embarks on a mission to save the humanity. The Ur-Quan Masters includes prominent features such as a huge Universe to Explore, Pulse-pounding Action, Hair Raising Plot Twists, Side-splitting Humor, Multiple Alien Races, and more. Try it out, and you’ll love it.

Home Nine Most Popular Space Exploration Games You Must Try in 2023

Nine Most Popular Space Exploration Games You Must Try in 2023

• February 28, 2023

Table of Contents

by Danial Ibrahim

Space exploration has always been a subject of fascination for humans. The vast universe, the mysteries that lie beyond our planet, and the potential for discovery have inspired countless stories, movies, and games. With technological advancements and our growing understanding of the cosmos, space exploration games have become increasingly popular in recent years. 

These games offer players a unique and immersive experience, from building and managing space stations to exploring distant planets and galaxies. This article aims to provide insights into the nine most popular space exploration games you must try in 2023. There’s something here for everyone, from strategy gamers to fans of action-packed adventures. It’s time to buckle up for a trip to the galaxy like no other.

What Are Space Exploration Games?

Video games in the “space exploration” genre allow players to do just that: explore and interact with space regions that exist only in immersive computer simulations. These games offer a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of space travel and exploration, allowing players to embark on interstellar adventures, build and manage space stations, and even colonize distant planets. 

Space exploration games can be found in various genres, including strategy, simulation, action, first-person shooter, and role-playing games, providing players with diverse gameplay experience.

The ‘strategy’ genre is considered to be the most popular in space exploration games. Players are entrusted with constructing and administering their space station or colony in these games. They must gather resources, construct facilities, and manage their crew’s needs while defending against attacks from hostile forces. Examples of popular strategy games in this genre include Surviving Mars and Stellaris .

Another popular type of space exploration game is ‘simulation’ game. These games allow players to experience the challenges of piloting spacecraft, including docking, landing, and navigating through asteroid fields. These games often require significant skill and precision, making them particularly challenging and rewarding for players who enjoy a more realistic gameplay experience. Kerbal Space Program and Elite Dangerous are two examples of excellent games of this type.

Action and adventure games are another popular type of space exploration games. These games include intense battles against aliens or other foes and have fast-paced action scenes. Players must navigate dangerous environments and engage in battles while completing missions and objectives. Examples of popular action and adventure games in this genre include No Man’s Sky and Mass Effect .

Finally, role-playing games (RPGs) allow players to create and customize their characters, often with unique abilities and attributes. In these games, players embark on quests and missions, interacting with other characters, making decisions that affect the game’s story and outcome. Examples of popular RPGs include Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and The Outer Worlds .

9 Most Popular Space Exploration Games

What are the nine most popular space exploration games? What unique features and gameplay mechanics do they possess? Prepare to embark on an intergalactic adventure as we look at the best space games for pc available today.

No Man’s Sky

Developed and published by Hello Games, No Man’s Sky was first made available to the public in 2016 for PlayStation 4 and PC. Further releases included Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. While No Man’s Sky takes place in an unbounded world, players can discover its many planets, star systems, and galaxies.

No Man’s Sky’s gameplay centers around exploration, survival, and trading. Players can travel between planets and star systems using a spacecraft, discover new worlds, and mine resources to upgrade their equipment and spacecraft. 

The game features a day-night cycle, different weather conditions, a variety of unique and exotic creatures and plants to discover and study. No Man’s Sky is also known for its multiplayer features, allowing players to interact and collaborate in various ways. Players can join to form a civilization, share resources, compete in races, and engage in space battles. The game also features a shared universe, meaning that all players can exist in the same universe and potentially cross paths with each other.

Using complex algorithms to develop infinite planets, star systems, and galaxies, No Man’s Sky ensures no two players have the same experience. The game’s developers have also released several significant updates since its initial release adding new features, improving gameplay mechanics, and expanding the universe.

Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is a space exploration game released on May 28, 2019, for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One. It was later released for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. Developed by Mobius Digital and published by Annapurna Interactive, the game has received excellent reviews for its unique gameplay, compelling story, and stunning visuals.

The game’s story revolves around a time loop, where the player character wakes up at the beginning of the loop every time they die. Gamers only have 22 minutes before the universe ends, and the time loop resets, meaning they must make the most of each run to uncover new clues and progress through the story.

The goal is to explore a miniature solar system, uncover the secrets of an ancient alien race, and ultimately find a way to prevent the universe from ending. Players must navigate treacherous terrain, deal with hazardous environments, and manage their resources to survive.

Outer Wilds has a Metacritic score of 85 for PC and 87 for Xbox One, with many reviewers calling it one of the best games of all time. It has also received positive feedback from players, with an overall user rating of 10/10 on Steam based on over 40,000 reviews.

Another unique feature is the game’s emphasis on exploration and discovery. The game world is open and nonlinear, with many secrets and hidden areas to uncover. Players must use their skills and intuition to find the mysteries of the game’s universe.

Master of Orion 1 & 2

Master of Orion 1 and 2 are classic turn-based strategy games released in 1993 and 1996, respectively, by MicroProse. Those space games for pc are set in a futuristic sci-fi universe where the player takes on the role of a leader of a galactic empire, tasked with expanding their influence, managing resources, and engaging in diplomacy and warfare with other civilizations.

Both games in the Master of Orion series received much praise upon their first releases, cementing their reputation as one of the finest strategy games ever. Master of Orion 2, in particular, was praised for its improved graphics and gameplay mechanics, building upon the already successful formula of the original game. The game’s mechanics involve managing resources, building colonies, researching new technologies, and engaging in diplomacy and combat. 

Players must balance their economy, maintain their military forces, and negotiate with other civilizations to ensure their survival and dominance in the galaxy. One of the unique features of the Master of Orion games is their deep and intricate tech tree, which allows players to research new technologies and upgrades for their empire, including new ship designs and weapons. The games also offer various customization options, allowing players to create custom races and playstyles.

Another notable feature of the games is their focus on diplomacy and player choice. Players can engage in diplomacy with other civilizations, negotiating trade agreements, alliances, and treaties. However, if necessary, players must also be prepared to engage in combat, as other civilizations may become hostile or threaten the player’s territory and resources.

Kerbal Space Program (Space Flight Simulator)

An independent game developer, Squad, released their space flight simulator, Kerbal Space Program , in 2011, while Kerbal Space Program 2 was released recently. The game allows players to design, build and fly their spacecraft as well as explore and colonize different planets and moons in a fictional solar system.

Kerbal Space Program has received critical acclaim for its engaging gameplay, educational value and stunning graphics. The game has been praised for its realistic physics engine, which accurately simulates the effects of gravity, air resistance, and other physical forces.

Players can design and build spacecraft from various parts such as engines, fuel tanks, and structural components. They must then pilot their spacecraft through different missions, such as launching satellites, docking with space stations, and landing on other planets and moons.

One of the unique features of the Kerbal Space Program is its emphasis on realism and education. The game allows players to learn about the science and physics of spaceflight along with the challenges and risks of space exploration.

The game’s modding community is also noteworthy: an active and vibrant community with thousands of different mods available that add new parts, features, and gameplay mechanics to the game.

Mech Arena (Multiplayer Space Pilot Game)

Mech Arena is a mobile multiplayer game first released in 2020 by Plarium Global Ltd. It allows players to pilot giant mechs (mechanized robots) in fast-paced, action-packed battles against other mechs players worldwide.

Positive reviews have been written about Mech Arena’s exciting gameplay, beautiful visuals, and user-friendly interface. There is a wide variety of mechs, each with different skills and advantages. Players can pilot these through various maps and game modes, including team deathmatch, capturing the flag, and domination. Players must use their mechs’ weapons and abilities to outmaneuver and outgun their opponents while using terrain and cover to their advantage.

Mech Arena’s upgrading system is a standout feature. Players can upgrade their mechs with new weapons, armor, and other equipment, allowing for customization to suit their playstyle and strategy.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition 

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is a remastered collection of the original Mass Effect trilogy, developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. In May 2021, the game came out on PC, PS4, and XB1, with backward compatibility, PS5, and X/S consoles.

This version also includes updates from earlier releases, such as Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, featuring improved graphics, performance, and gameplay mechanics. The game also has all downloadable content released for the original games as well as various quality-of-life improvements and tweaks.

The Mass Effect trilogy is one of the finest video game series ever. Bringing the franchise to life for a new generation of players is one of the many reasons the Legendary Edition has been so well received. The game’s storyline follows the journey of Commander Shepard, a human soldier embroiled in a galactic conflict between several alien species.

The game’s mechanics involve role-playing, exploration, and third-person shooter gameplay. Players can customize their version of Commander Shepard and recruit a diverse cast of characters to join their crew and aid them in battle. The game also features branching dialogue trees and decisions that can have significant consequences for the storyline and its characters.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion (Space Strategy Game)

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is a real-time strategy game created by Ironclad Games, published by Stardock. The extension to the original game was published in 2012. It has a vast and immersive galaxy for players to explore, where they may fight in epic space wars while constructing their empires.

The plot of the game takes place in the far future, as three groups – the Trader Emergency Coalition, the Advent, and the Vasari – compete for dominance of the galaxy. Gamers may lead their troops to victory by traveling the universe, acquiring resources, and fighting in tactical battles as one of these factions.

This game combines real-time strategy with 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) gaming principles in an innovative way. To produce cash, players may construct and customize their ships, research new technologies, and develop trade routes. In addition, the game has a dynamic economic system that influences the player’s capacity to construct and expand their empire.

The focus on tactical combat in space is one of the game’s distinguishing qualities. Gamers may fight in large-scale battles with hundreds of ships on-screen simultaneously, utilizing a range of weaponry and strategies to gain advantage. The game also has a “phase leap” engine that lets players instantaneously transfer their fleets through the galaxy, making it simple to conduct surprise assaults and defend against invasions.

Astroneer (Space Exploration and Survival Game)

Astroneer is a famous space exploration and survival game developed and published by System Era Softworks. The game was initially released in 2016 for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One and later for PlayStation 4.

In Astroneer, players take on the role of an astronaut tasked with exploring a vast, procedurally generated universe to gather resources to sustain life and build new structures and equipment. The gameplay of Astroneer centers around exploration and resource management. Players must traverse a variety of unique and challenging planets, each with its terrain, climate, and environmental hazards. 

As they explore, gamers can mine resources such as iron, aluminum, and copper to create new equipment and structures as well as gathering oxygen and other materials to keep their astronauts alive.

One of the critical features of Astroneer is its emphasis on creativity and customization. Players can design and build their bases and vehicles, using various modular parts and pieces to create unique and functional structures. They can also use their cars to explore the terrain, including underground caverns and other hidden areas, in search of new resources and treasures.

Astroneer also features multiplayer support, allowing players to collaborate with friends to explore the universe. The game’s multiplayer mode also includes unique challenges and objectives, such as finding and repairing ancient alien artifacts and battling against hostile creatures and environmental threats.

X4: Foundations (Space Simulation)

Egosoft’s X4: Foundations is a space simulation game for Microsoft Windows launched in 2018. The game takes place in a vast and dynamic world, with players taking on the role of a space pilot traveling across numerous sectors, developing their empire, and partaking in commerce, mining, and fighting.

In X4: Foundations, players may pilot several spacecraft with unique strengths and disadvantages. They may also employ and manage a crew and train and assign them to various roles like combat, engineering, and logistics. The game has a robust trade system as well, allowing players to buy and sell numerous commodities across multiple sectors and groups.

The game’s open-ended nature is a central selling point since it allows players to realize their goals and dreams. Users may create trade routes, stations, and industries or even form groups. The game’s economy is dynamic, with prices fluctuating in response to fluctuations in supply and demand.

X4: Foundations also has a complex combat system that allows players to participate in space conflicts with other ships and factions. Gamers may equip their spacecraft with different weaponry and equipment to join in small-scale fights or large-scale fleet warfare.

The deep realistic world of X4: Foundations is another distinguishing aspect. The game has a rich and dynamic world with several factions and sub-factions, each with its ambitions and ties. Players may engage with these groups by accepting missions and contracts changing the universe’s power balance.

Best Space Exploration Game Goes To: “No Man’s Sky”

There are several reasons why No Man’s Sky has gained a dedicated following and is considered by many to be a top space game.

Firstly, No Man’s Sky offers a massive open universe that players can explore endlessly. With billions of planets to visit, each with unique features and resources, players can spend countless hours discovering new worlds and experiencing different environments.

Secondly, No Man’s Sky allows many players freedom and choice. Gamers can choose their paths whether exploring, trading, mining, or fighting, and customize their ships, weapons, and tools to suit their playstyle. The game also offers various modes, including survival, creativity, and multiplayer, to cater to player preferences.

Finally, No Man’s Sky has also become a symbol of redemption and resilience, as it overcame a rocky launch and criticism only to become a highly-regarded game. Developers’ and the community’s dedication and passion have turned No Man’s Sky into a story of triumph and inspiration.

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Final Thoughts

Space exploration games offer a thrilling and immersive experience that allows players to explore the wonders of space, build their space empires, and embark on epic intergalactic adventures. The games listed here represent some of the best and most famous examples of the genre, each offering unique gameplay mechanics, captivating storylines, and stunning graphics that transport players to the furthest reaches of the universe.

Don’t miss this bonus article! At Space Impulse, we have a strong passion for cutting-edge technology and immersive experiences. When it comes to the perfect fusion of these two worlds, nothing beats the Metaverse. Take a moment to explore the exceptional article by our wonderful friends at Metaverse Insider:  What is Metaverse? Guide into the Future of Digital Reality

Featured image: ResourceLab. Credit: No Man’s Sky

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