Space is kind of terrifying when you think about it, given it’s an environment in which you need a ton of tech strapped to your body so you don’t instantly die. But that doesn’t stop us all dreaming about what it is like up there, and for most of us, space video games will likely be the only way we will get to experience that. From space games that try to keep things realistic to games that go in their own direction to alien video games, there are a ton of ways to explore the galaxy in virtual worlds. With a lot of variety and years of history, finding the best space games is not always easy. But fortunately I have done the hard work for you, with the best of the best below.
Top Space Games
With space being pretty large and the infinite possibilities for alien worlds, there are a lot of genres that jump into space as a setting. From grand strategy titles through to physics simulators and a lot of shooters, there are a lot of genres to choose from and thousands of titles within them.
With some many genres at play, there are a ton of different types of space games, with most choosing to go for fictional versions of space that do not resemble anything we know about in the real world. Others, decided to be set in our universe but in the future, while a handful try to mimic the areas of space we do know about. The games in the list below feature a bit of all three, and have been selected based on critical and fan reception and legacy.
10. Eve Online
The epic massively multiplayer online (MMO) from Icelandic developers CCP Games is not a game to enter lightly, as it takes a lot to learn and can take over your life. But this view of a somewhat realistic future in space is one of the best MMOs ever made.
Initially launched in 2003, the PC game has grown into one of the most infamously difficult games to get into thanks to the player controlled version of space that has been created. Different factions vie for control of the galaxy, engaging in political struggles and occasional wars to get what they want. But if that sounds a bit intense, you can fill a more basic role for your faction such as an accountant or sales person. It’s effectively a job simulator in space for a lot of people, but they really love it. If you want a space world you can get lost in for years, this is one for you.
9. Starfield
Bethesda’s space epic might not have hit the heights it promised, but it is still a very fun and competent role-playing game (RPG) shooter. Released in 2023, Starfield is essentially Skyrim in space, so if that sounds like your jam, you’ll love this.
If you’ve played a Bethesda Game Studios title in the last 20 years you’ll have a good idea what to expect in Starfield, as you jump in, create a character and then embark on an epic 100+ hour mission that you can take in many directions doing the side quests that appeal to you. The difference here is that it’s set in a part-fictional, part-real version of the Milky Way, with over 1000 planets to land on and experience. There’s a lot of game to explore, so if you want to get lost in a space RPG with a solid story, this is a good one to try, but it’s only on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
8. Alien Isolation
Despite launching in 2014, Alien Isolation from Creative Assembly is still one of the finest horror games ever made, and even after multiple play-throughs it will get your heart racing. When an Alien is stalking you across the Sevastopol space station, you probably would find it hard to remain calm.
While it’s listed as an action-adventure game, this is much closer to a survival horror experience as you sneak around the space station looking for info on what happened to your mother, Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley, while trying not to alert the alien to your presence. There’s a lot of hiding in cupboards, sneaking under desks and generally being stealthy. But the atmosphere is so tense that you are always on edge, which makes this a great experience for Alien and horror fans. It’s on PS4, PS3, 360, Xbox One, PC, Switch, iOS and Android.
7. Kerbal Space Program
Kerbal Space Program is a fairy simple game on paper. All you have to do is make a spacecraft that can make it into space and complete basic missions such as achieving a stable orbit or landing on another planet. It sounds easy, but with Kerbals at the helm, nothing is.
Initially released into early access in 2011, KSP from developers Squad is an all-time great in the world of indie games thanks to its challenge and comedy. Building a competent spacecraft is genuinely quite difficult, and getting the Kerbals to fly it well is much the same story. But failures are always funny, and the Kerbals only help with the entertaining vibe. It’s so good even NASA’s scientists have revealed they love the game. If you love the idea of building a space program, or just want a fun, somewhat sciency time, this is the perfect option and a great way to get younger players interested in space. It’s on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X/S.
6. FTL: Faster Than Light
FTL is one of the games that really increased the popularity of roguelikes and is still considered one of the best in the genre despite being 12 years old. You command a space crew who are being pursued for information they hold, and you need to survive through eight procedurally generated sectors of space.
It looks simple, with a top-down view and basic graphics, but it’s anything but as you have to manage multiple areas of your ship and crew through space to make sure you survive the random events that come at you on your journey. It can be frantic as you try to put out fires, patch holes in the hull and keep your crew alive. Developers Subset Games did a great job on FTL, where it’s simplicity with a ton of depth makes it incredibly addictive and one for folks who like shorter but repeatable space adventures. It’s on PC and iOS.
5. No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky might be the greatest turn around in video game history. It had so much hype when it launched in 2016… only for fans to find a relatively empty universe with little to do, despite featuring 18 quintillion planets. But developers Hello Games turned it around, and now it’s an amazing space game.
Nowadays, No Man’s Sky is so large it’s difficult to define, but if you want to fly around a massive and beautiful galaxy with more planets than any one person will ever see, then this is the one for you. It’s one for explorers, rather than those who want a perfectly crafted narrative, but don’t let that put you off as it’s very easy to create your own stories and tales to tell friends. You’ll experience things no other person has ever seen, and eventually become a legendary explorer of the universe. It’s available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and iOS.
4. Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous is similar to the previous entry in this list in that there isn’t a detailed story or a lot of things to do other than explore. But as a space flight simulator that is best experienced with a joystick, this game is capable of taking thousands of hours of your life.
Developed by Frontier and released in 2014, Elite Dangerous drops you into a massive universe with a ship and lets you decide your journey. You could become an outlaw, smuggler, bounty hunter or just a simple space trucker, which is my preferred way to play. You’ll move around the galaxy completing whatever tasks you can find, increasing your bank balance and standing with different space groups. This is one for fans of flight simulators (but in space), or people who just want to fly around a massive galaxy and never leave the ship. It’s on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
3. Destiny 2
Destiny 2 is quite simply the best looter-shooter ever made, so if you like shooting things, watching big numbers come out of them and collecting the loot they drop, this is the one for you. It also happens to be set in space, so if you want that in space, it’s perfect.
Developed by legendary developers Bungie, Destiny 2 was released in 2017, then became free to play in 2019 and has been continually expanded since, so it’s a very different game to the one that was launched. However, if you like the idea of running around shooting aliens with some outlandish weapons and hunting for the best loot possible, there is no better game. There is a story in there to experience but it’s mostly secondary to the shooting. It’s available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
2. Outer Wilds
Released in 2019 and developed by Mobius Digital, Outer Wilds is unlike anything else out there. You explore a strange planetary system in space, but every 22 minutes the sun goes supernova and ends the galaxy, so you have to start again, and again and again.
Going much further in depth would venture into the world of spoilers, but the general gist is that over the course of multiple 22 minute runs, you are searching for a way to end this time loop. It’s an incredible experience that is unlike anything else, and should be experienced by anyone with an interest in single player games. I’m not going to spoil anything else, so just go play this on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 or Switch.
1. Mass Effect Legendary Edition
If you want an epic space adventure filled with some of the most memorable characters and missions in the world of games, then the Mass Effect Legendary Edition from BioWare is the one for you. It combines the first three Mass Effect games into one updated package that released in 2021.
The Mass Effect trilogy had its share of controversy, but it is the defining space RPG, and while the focus is on the adventure and story, the third person shooting mechanics are also great fun. It follows the story of Commander Sheppard, who over the course of three games must save the universe from the inevitable threat of the Reapers, an ancient alien race who can destroy everything. If you want to spend hundreds of hours exploring space, experiencing a great story and having a good time with your space pals this is the one for you, and with three games in one package it’s great value. It’s on PC, Xbox One and Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and Switch.
Bottom Line
The unknown of space allows for some truly great and imaginative games, and if you want to forget about the often terrible world we live in they are a great way to immerse yourself in a very different environment. Any of the games on this list will serve your space fantasies well.
