Top 15 best space games

Space has always fascinated people with its mystery, and games allow us to feel like conquerors of this terrifying yet alluring void, even if only for a moment. The theme of space adventures has been incredibly popular since the earliest video games and now spans across various genres.

Of course, I won’t talk about every masterpiece, especially since 2024 is almost over! Let’s take a look at the coolest and most relevant space titles that aren’t ready to retire just yet.

Star Citizen

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The incredibly ambitious MMORPG, Star Citizen, promises to give players an unprecedented level of freedom in space... Someday, but not yet. The project has been in development for 12 years and has no plans for a full release anytime soon. However, you can already become a truck pilot, smuggler, bounty hunter, miner, or even a space station owner — anyone can join the closed testing.

The main feature of Star Citizen is its living, dynamic world that constantly evolves. The game stands out for its realistic graphics and physics, as well as the high level of detail in ships and equipment. The plot here is rather secondary — the main focus is on freedom of action and interaction with other players.

However, due to the long development cycle and lack of a full release, many players have already lost patience. Nevertheless, for those who crave total immersion in space and are willing to invest time in learning the game, Star Citizen can be a real treasure.

Elite Dangerous

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Have you dreamed of space adventures in the spirit of classic 90s simulators? Then Elite Dangerous is the project for you. Here, every player gets their own ship and an entire galaxy to explore. I’m not kidding — this title recreates the entire Milky Way!

Many highlight this as the main feature of the game. The developers recreated the Milky Way using NASA photos and computer simulations. There are thousands of star systems, planets, and asteroids that can be visited. If you see a bright spot in the night sky, you can travel there.

However, there’s a catch — the difficulty. Players will need to master ship controls, plan routes wisely, participate in space battles, and manage their assets skillfully. Despite its high entry barrier, Elite Dangerous captivates with its atmosphere and spirit of adventure. You can embark on a journey lasting months in real-time!

No Man’s Sky

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Don’t be fooled by its age — No Man’s Sky is more relevant than most modern titles. Today, it’s one of the best examples of how developers can fix mistakes and improve a game by listening to their community. Players can explore an infinite number of procedurally generated planets, each with its own flora, fauna, and unique atmosphere.

The main focus of No Man’s Sky is exploration. There’s no linear storyline or strict objectives: players choose what they want to do. You can explore planets, gather resources, upgrade your ship, or build bases. The constant updates add new mechanics and features, and all updates are free!

Today, No Man’s Sky is not just an exploration simulator but a whole universe for creativity, adventure, and discovery. Plus, the project supports multiplayer, so you can go on joint adventures with friends (though it doesn’t always work well).

Avorion

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Those who love building and managing ships will definitely appreciate Avorion. This game not only allows you to explore space but also to build your own spacecraft from modules, making it unique among other projects. Starting with a simple ship, you can grow your fleet into a powerful empire.

One of the main advantages of Avorion is its modular building system, where players decide how their ship should look and function. This adds a huge amount of variety and tactical decisions, especially in combat.

Besides building, players can engage in trade, piracy, or complete various missions, exploring a procedurally generated universe. In the end, you get a full-fledged simulator with a living world, factions, and very cool construction mechanics.

Outer Wilds

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What if you had only 22 minutes to save the universe? Outer Wilds will answer that question. Each time cycle in the game is limited to 22 minutes, after which the star at the center of the system explodes, and the cycle starts again. The player’s task is to unravel the mysteries of alien civilizations and figure out how to save the world within that time.

The main feature is its non-linearity and unusual time format. The entire universe in the project is alive, and events unfold independently of the player’s actions. You can choose where to fly and which secrets to explore, but remember — you have only 22 minutes.

Puzzles, unique planets, and alien technologies make every attempt new and exciting. The game has won numerous awards for its uniqueness, and it’s well-deserved!

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

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The legendary Mass Effect trilogy wouldn't have made this list due to its age. Fortunately, BioWare has gifted us the HD remastered version: Legendary Edition! Shepard is once again gathering a team to confront the Reaper threat and save the galaxy from destruction. This isn’t just a game, but a full-fledged series with a deep storyline that strongly resembles BSG, Star Trek, or Stargate.

Each title in the trilogy has its own charm, from the atmospheric first part with planetary exploration to the fast-paced action of the final part (the ending remains just as controversial). Mass Effect immerses you in a world of intergalactic politics, friendship, and betrayal.

The remaster primarily improved the graphics, especially noticeable in the first part of the series. The core mechanics of Mass Effect 1 were also overhauled, incorporating shooting and movement from Mass Effect 2, making Shepard's first adventure significantly better.

IXION

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Do you love city-building projects but wish they were set in space? No problem! Welcome to IXION — a space strategy title where the focus is more on logistics and survival than on battles. Players must manage resources, population, and the station's energy while exploring new star systems and avoiding catastrophes.

Gameplay forces you to plan every step. Mismanaging resources or energy could lead to catastrophic consequences — like turning off life support on the station. And you wouldn’t want to be without oxygen, would you?

The game immerses you in a dark, atmospheric universe where every choice matters. It’s a real puzzle for strategy fans who love to balance on the edge of survival.

Sins of a Solar Empire 2

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Fans of large-scale space strategies will be thrilled by Sins of a Solar Empire 2. This sequel to the cult real-time strategy blends 4X elements with dynamic battles. Players will build space empires, explore the galaxy, trade, and, of course, fight for dominance in space.

It retains many features from its predecessor, even some of the old technologies, but everything is now bigger, better, and more beautiful. SoaSE still doesn’t let you crush your enemy with a massive fleet of tiny frigates—you’ll have to manage logistics, politics, and keep an eye on a new feature: orbital movements.

The list of races remains unchanged, but the visual component has significantly improved. The ship designs are still recognizable, but space itself is now incredibly vibrant and beautiful. Fans of detailed space ship models will be delighted.

Starfield

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One of the most anticipated games in recent years, Starfield, continues to spark debates. You start as a space adventurer, traveling across hundreds of planets and encountering various factions, monsters, and numerous mysteries of the galaxy. It’s like Skyrim in space, but... without that adventure atmosphere.

Starfield offers a unique mix of space simulation and classic RPG elements, which has earned it a devoted fanbase. The story, like in other Bethesda projects, is mostly there to glue the pieces together. At the same time, the side quests are fantastic.

What’s the verdict? It’s definitely not the groundbreaking title from Bethesda everyone expected, but for space enthusiasts, it’s a decent project worth your attention.

Space Engineers

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Yes, the very same Minecraft in space was officially released in 2019. In reality, Space Engineers has become a unique project and is a must-play for space fans. It’s a sandbox game offering vast opportunities for creativity and engineering. You can build your own spaceships, stations, and mechanisms from scratch.

The gameplay revolves around construction and survival. You don’t just control your equipment, but you also plan everything down to the smallest detail — from power sources to defense systems. The procedurally generated universe and multiplayer mode make Space Engineers perfect for those who love experimenting and creating their own unique projects.

The complexity of the game attracts players who love to think and create. Do you want harsh survival on your own? No problem! Or do you want to set up a server with friends based on a popular sci-fi series? You can do that too!

X4: Foundations

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The X-series is known for its depth and complexity, and X4: Foundations continues the tradition, offering players the chance to explore and conquer space in a vast open universe. In this title, there are no specific objectives — you’re free to do whatever you want: build trade routes, fight pirates, explore unknown parts of the galaxy, or build your own empire.

The key feature is that the world lives without your intervention. If you show up and do nothing, the game will start playing itself! At the same time, the economic, diplomatic, and combat mechanics make X4: Foundations a true find for fans of deep simulators.

Considering all these factors, the learning curve is very steep. It’s hard to get into X4 without extensive guides. The project requires time and effort to immerse yourself, but the reward is the feeling of control over entire galaxies.

Stellaris

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Despite its age, this is still the best space strategy out there. No, it’s not just a strategy project — it’s a true generator of epic stories, and I recommend it to everyone! Create your civilization, develop technologies, explore new worlds, and wage wars against other empires.

One of the main features of Stellaris is the flexibility in setting up your state—you can choose its culture, politics, and moral principles, all of which affect the gameplay. You can balance between science, war, and diplomacy, or go radical and choose something extreme. Even more fun, create a swarm of intelligent bugs and devour the entire universe!

The replayability is incredible, especially if you add a little imagination. Plus, the developers continue to support the game with major DLC releases.

Surviving Mars

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If you've ever dreamed of becoming a colonizer of Mars, Surviving Mars gives you the chance to make that dream come true. This title is a complex colony-building simulator set on the Red Planet. Your task is to build a city from scratch, provide it with resources, and, most importantly, ensure that your inhabitants don’t die from a lack of oxygen or food.

One of the main features of Surviving Mars is its attention to detail. Every element of the colony requires careful planning and management. You must develop infrastructure, research new technologies, and adapt to the harsh conditions of Mars. One wrong decision can lead to catastrophic consequences for your colony.

The game is full of surprises, from random events to secrets hidden on Mars that you must uncover. For fans of strategy and simulation projects, this is a real gem that challenges your management and planning skills.

Astroneer

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Space projects don’t always have to be deep and dark — they can also be bright and playful, like Astroneer. In this title, you play as an astronaut exploring procedurally generated planets, gathering resources, and building bases. And it all comes with a fun, cartoonish art style that gives the game its unique charm.

In Astroneer, you can shape and modify the environment around you, creating everything from simple bases to complex engineering structures. Resource management and survival are key aspects of the game, but it remains quite relaxing and player-friendly, unlike Space Engineers.

The project is perfect for those who love open worlds and free-form gameplay, where you can just relax and enjoy exploring distant planets with friends in co-op mode.

Empyrion - Galactic Survival

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I want to finish with the largest and most impressive space sandbox. Unlike many other games in the genre, Empyrion - Galactic Survival truly lives up to its name. In addition to surviving on various planets, here you can build an entire empire with other players!

Thanks to procedural world generation, travelers can discover new planets, each with its own unique biomes, flora, and fauna. In addition to exploration and resource gathering, Empyrion offers a deep construction system. The builder here is incredible and allows you to create anything from living modules to defense systems, vehicles, spaceships, stations, and even mini-cities!

Of course, the project fully shines in online multiplayer, but even in single-player mode, Empyrion - Galactic Survival is very engaging. Either way, I recommend checking out this title.

For every space enthusiast, there’s a dream game — from massive RPGs with thrilling storylines to deep strategies and building simulators. No matter your preferred style of play, in this list, you’re bound to find something that will take you on your own space journey and make you part of a great galactic story.

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