10. Starsector

Starsector Gameplay

Starsector is an interesting mixture of things. You directly control your ship, but you can issue commands to other ships in your fleet. It has a focus on combat, but its developers are adding more features every day and plan to add a lot more in terms of economic simulations, exploration, and roleplaying.

As the game is currently in development, it’s hard to say what it’s going to look like in a year or so, but right now it’s a very interesting mixture of ideas.

It’s worth mentioning that as it is currently in development, you can purchase it as a lower price that its final retail release will be. So go give it a try, and see if this one is worth waiting for or not.

Starsector’s isometric view is fairly uncommon in the genre

Ship customization really makes the experience feel more personal

9. Endless Space

Endless Space Gameplay

Endless Space is a turned-based 4X strategy game in which you take control of a civilization and fight for control of “Dust” a substance left behind by the ancient alien race that controlled the galaxy millennia ago.

You will compete with other civilizations to be the first to fulfill a victory condition (economic, diplomatic, etc.).

It’s all a pretty standard formula but Endless Space does it well in a very “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” sort of way.

It’s gotten very strong positive feedback for its interface and ease of play, so it’s definitely worth a look if it sounds like your kind of game.

Hate to say it, but those ships really look like giant guns. Doesn’t leave much room to think of them as non-threatening.

A big, impressive, but decidedly not “endless” map.

8. Endless Space 2

Endless Space 2 Gameplay

If you liked Endless Space then picking up its sequel is a no-brainer. With improved visuals, expanded gameplay mechanics and an overall more polished experience; what is there not to like?

The early access release of Endless Space 2 launched in October of last year, and it’s been getting periodic updates ever since. As of March of this year, a new race has been added along with an early version of the upcoming multiplayer mode.

There’s a lot to play with here, including a very diverse set of races you can play as (my favourite are the Horatio, which are an army of clones).

This one is going to be amazing when it’s totally finished, I’ve no doubt.

Begun, the Clone war has.

I know I mentioned this on a previous game, but I’m a sucker for customization options so here you go.

7. Star Trek Online

Star Trek Online Gameplay

Star Trek Online is one of those huge MMOs that you’ve probably heard of but might not have played. I can say as someone who never really was much of a big Star Trek fan, this game great.

For those of you that are into Star Trek, a little background. This game is set 30 years after the end of Star Trek: Nemesis, and the alliance between the Federation and the Klingon Empire has devolved into all-out war. The Borg have returned, the Romulans are trying to get by without a homeworld, and the Dominion is rebuilding. The universe is a powder keg and it’s about to go off.

There are few MMOs that manage to be as large in scale or as strong in narrative as Star Trek Online, and even fewer still that you can play for free. Not only that, but on consoles as well after its release to Xbox One and PS4.

So grab your console of choice, and hit the galaxy. Just be careful, because it will hit back.

Does red armor mean the same thing as red shirts?

Of course, being an MMO you get the added bonus of holiday related events and assorted silliness.

6. Battlefleet Gothic: Armada

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada Gameplay

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is one of the rare examples of a really great Warhammer 40,000 game.

You will take control of one of six factions and take to space with your fleet, attempting to win control of the Gothic sector of space. The grim details of this universe are not lost in the brilliant ship design for each faction’s fleets.

Speaking of ships, you can customize every aspect of your ships from weaponry down to subsystems.

If you love the Warhammer 40,000 universe, than you will love this addition to the franchise.

I mean, what other franchise is going to give you a ship covered in skulls!? This thing is awesome!

Not that the rest of the ships aren’t also pretty cool, I do have some issues with the Ork ships producing smoke in space though …

5. Star Citizen

Star Citizen Gameplay

Release Date: December 2017

Star Citizen has been the most anticipated space sim for years now. For the longest time people thought it might not actually come out with all the delays that happened in its development, but it looks like it actually will be coming out this time.

In Star Citizen you will have a massive player driven sandbox to explore.

Think of it as a combination of Elite: Dangerous and No Man’s Sky. It has first person combat, a player driven economy, space combat and exploration. We don’t know all of what will be in the game just yet, but what little we have already seen is overwhelming in its scope.

It’s really a breathtaking game though … like look at that planetscape

Something that makes this one stand out, is that there will be planetside gameplay as well.

4. Eve Online

Eve Online Gameplay

Eve is one of the first and most persistent online space sims.

It’s got what is a pretty standard set up these days. You pick a race, make a character and go to find your way in the massive universe of the game.

Will you be trader? Will you be a mercenary? Maybe a pirate?

It’s up to you entirely. This game doesn’t have much of a plotline beyond what you make of it, so figure out what you would like to do and go do it. The sky is the limit (or … well not really because you’re in space but you know what I mean).

It does have a subscription fee, but it opens up a very wide experience for you.

A screenshot of the largest space battle in gaming history. 7,548 players fought it out and caused 11 trillion Interstellar Kredits in damage.

Eve lets you create a rather detailed avatar too, which I appreciate

3. Rebel Galaxy

Rebel Galaxy Gameplay

Do you love Firefly? It’s whole mash up of the western genre with sci-fi? Well then this right here is the game for you.

It combines space battles between enemy ships and your capital ship, and a blues/country soundtrack that really manages to work well to make the overall experience unique.

Combat revolves around the use of broadsides, making it feel a lot like you are piloting an 16th century galleon rather than a space ship.

We may never get a Firefly game, but Rebel Galaxy manages to carry over some of the spirit.

♫You can’t take the sky from me♫

It’s also worth mentioning that aesthetically speaking, there’s not a lot in the way of “sleek and shiny” ships in Rebel Galaxy

2. Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic Gameplay

Alright, I have to be careful with this one or I’ll talk and talk and this will be basically an article all of its own.

The Old Republic is in my opinion, quite possibly the best MMO ever released. From its fully voiced dialogue and ability to make decisions that impact missions, to its ability for you to play just about any character you might want (not forcing you to be a force user at all, nor a human).

It’s set in the Old Republic era, a few thousand years before the films. The Republic is under siege by the Sith Empire but a tentative peace has been reached with the galaxy divided between the two forces. Everyone knows that war will break out again, but no one knows when or how. This is the galaxy that you find yourself in, and these are the politics you are going to interact with.

You’ll choose a side, make a character and begin your adventure. Each class has its own exciting plot line that will take you all over the galaxy and keep you busy for many hours.

When all that is said and done, there are a bunch of story DLCs that have been released and you can get them all (and keep them) if you subscribe for any length of time.

So go pick this game up (it’s free to start) and see what you think.

Yeah, I definitely prefer the darkside. They have style, and cookies.

And for those of you who played KOTOR, Revan returns in a story DLC!