I will be reviewing the Top 15 Best Space Games to Play. Even though this is a ranking, I will try my best to remain unbiased. 

What is it about Space Games that we love? Is it the exploration of places we can only dream of visiting? Is it the escape from the world at large to a world of opportunities beyond the stars? Has it been in our veins since the first time our ancestors looked to the heaven’s  and saw the vast expanse of wonder? I believe it is a bit of all of these things, rolled into one great experience. 

15. Star Trek Online

Star Trek Online is an MMO that allows you to customize your captain and explore the expansive Universe of Star Trek. Begin your adventure as a member of the Federation, then unlock the opportunity to play as the Klingon Empire as you traverse the galaxy. 

Your goal is to complete missions by engaging in ship-to-ship combat, beaming down to planets, and collecting essential items to progress. There is also a massive world to explore as you go along. 

What sets Star Trek Online apart is its extensive selection of over 600 ships, each offering unique characteristics and customization. 

Create custom characters and battle through space in the classic Star Trek ships or create your own!

14. Endless Space

Endless space is a turn based strategy game set during the early era of space exploration and colonization. 

The goal of Endless Space is to lead your civilization to the domination of the galaxy. Achieve this by venturing into the cosmos to discover resources, artifacts, and potential allies. Alternatively, you can win by engaging in trade and diplomacy with other factions. For those who prefer a more direct approach, military conquest is always an option. 

What makes this game unique is the array of civilizations to choose from, each with its own traits, technologies and play styles.

Navigate nodes to rise in power and forge an empire that spans across the stars. 

13. Stellaris

Stellaris is a grand strategy game where players engage in interstellar diplomacy and conquest.. Build ships and explore the vast cosmos in order to further your galactic empire.

The objective is to exploit and exterminate these civilizations to expand your influence across the galaxy. Through strategic diplomacy, manipulate stronger civilizations to align with your cause and weaker ones to submit to your will. 

What makes Stellaris unique is its procedurally generated world. This ensures that each playthrough offers a unique and dynamic experience, as well as its deep space diplomacy mechanics These features allow players to negotiate alliances, trade agreements, and conflicts on a galactic scale. 

Make political connections in the vast expanse of the galactic empire. 

12. Starpoint Gemini 2

Starpoint Gemini 2 is an immersive open-world RPG filled with mystery and danger. Pilot your ship across the vast expanse of space, journeying from planet to planet engaging in thrilling battles against hostile forces. 

Your primary goal is to defend Gemini from foreign invasions, using your skills and firepower to safeguard the region from imminent threats. 

What sets this game apart is its diverse selection of ship types, each offering unique abilities and playstyles, allowing players to tailor their experience to their preferences. 

Fly through jaw-dropping nebulas to destroy the enemy ships in your custom ship!

11. Starfield

Starfield is a sci-fi RPG where you join a diverse group of characters on a quest to traverse the far reaches of the galaxy in search of mystifying artifacts. To do this you must work together with your team to reach the  outskirts of the universe. 

The goal of Starfield is to gather as many of these artifacts as possible to construct the Armillary. These artifacts grant visions and unlock profound knowledge. 

What makes  Starfield different from other games is its extensive character customization options, allowing players to finely tailor their avatar to suit their individual playing styles. 

Join a crew and do whatever it takes in space to get the Armillary built.

10. Eve Online

Eve Online is a space-themed MMORPG offering a vast array of experiences including PvP, PvE, mining, exploration, and  industrial expansion. 

The goals of the game are as varied as the stars themselves; strive to claim the most territory, amass wealth beyond imagination, or seek vengeance against those who dare to damage your ship. 

What makes Eve Online unique is the player-driven economy, where the market thrives on supply and demand, and every transaction and interaction is influenced by the actions of real players. 

Blast through space in this massive world of online players  as you do business and attack ships.

9. Kerbal Space Program 2

Kerbal Space Program 2 is an armchair rocket design simulator that challenges players to construct rockets using real-life science principles. Then  you take these rockets to complete missions. 

Your goal is to establish a successful space agency by conducting research and experimenting with various technologies. As you delve deeper into experimentation, you unlock new opportunities for exploration and innovation. 

What sets this game apart is its commitment to relatively accurate physics, providing players with a realistic and immersive experience as they navigate the challenges of space travel.

Get your Kerbal’s to space, then comes the tricky part. Getting them back home.

8. NASA Moonbase Alpha

NASA Moonbase Alpha is a simulation game depicting the aftermath of an asteroid strike on a newly established lunar outpost. Because of that catastrophe, the game has a built in time limit. 

The goal is to restore the life support systems and replenish oxygen levels. accomplish this by utilizing a variety of tools and resources at your disposal.  This game requires some real world thinking to solve the problems.  

What makes this game unique is its unusual text-to-speech capabilities and the things the community has done with those. 

Survive as an astronaut in space with a failing life support system.

7. Fly Dangerous

Fly Dangerous is an unconventional flight simulator set in the vastness of space. Embrace the freedom to fly with wild abandon, defying the laws of physics and common sense, all in pursuit of the highest score on the leaderboard. 

Your objective is to showcase your piloting skills and soar to the top of the leaderboard. Do this by being the best pilot you can be. 

What makes this game different from others is that you can experience all of this in VR. 

Wiz through the air at breakneck speed to set the highest score on the leaderboard.

6. Space Engineers

Space Engineers is a sandbox game that challenges players to master engineering, construction, exploration, and survival in the vastness of space. Whether you choose to focus on engineering marvels, delve into deep space exploration, or confront the challenges of survival in hostile environments, Space Engineers has it all.

The ultimate goal remains the same, to construct a fully functional space station complete with all of the amenities needed for life among the stars. 

What makes this game special is its realistic volumetric-bases physics engine, allowing for unparalleled realism and immersion as players build and interact with everything.

Celebrate as you build the absolute best base you possibly can.

5. No Man’s Sky

No Man’s Sky is a multiplayer exploration game where the universe is procedurally generated, offering endless opportunities for exploration and adventure. With a vast and diverse universe to explore, there is always something new to discover. 

The goal is to reach the center of the universe, a daunting task that will push your exploration skills to the limit. While you’re free to roam wherever you please, the game will never be truly complete until you reach this elusive destination. 

What makes this game unique is the beautiful procedurally generated terrain, creating stunning vistas and awe inspiring landscapes. 

Explore the most breathtaking procedurally generated terrain as you search for the center of the universe. 

4. Star Wars Battlefront II

Star Wars Battlefront II is an action-packed shooter game. Players can choose from 22 iconic heroes and engage in epic battles across the galaxy. 

The objective is to eliminate a set number of enemies to acquire the necessary points for victory. This is achieved by collecting weapons and engaging in intense combat across various battlegrounds. 

What makes this game unique is its extensive inclusion of different eras and beloved characters from the Star Wars Universe, offering players the opportunity to experience thrilling confrontations and iconic moments from across the saga.

Play as Obi Wan, a Storm Trooper and much more on various missions in the galaxy!

3. Elite Dangerous

Elite Dangerous is a multiplayer open play game where you command your own spacecraft and chart your own path through the vast expanse of the galaxy. As captain of your ship, the choices are yours to make. 

The goals can include pursuing wealth through trade, hunting down pirates as a bounty hunter, or influencing the balance of power by aligning yourself with factions. Your ultimate goal is to amass wealth, establish yourself as a feared pirate hunter, and shape the destiny of the factions you support. 

What makes this game unique is the sheer scale of the game, offering an expansive and immersive universe that seamlessly integrates trading, combat, exploration, and diplomacy. 

Lock in on your target as you explore the vastness of space in your custom spaceship. 

2. Halo Master Chief Collection

Halo Master Chief Collection is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the iconic Halo universe. It is a compilation of first-person shooter video games spanning the legendary Halo series. 

As players step into the armor of the iconic Master Chief, they embark on an epic journey to uncover the mysteries surrounding the Halo rings and ultimately complete the “Great Journey” by activating the Halo Array. 

What makes this game unique is the exceptional quality of its first-person shooter mechanics.

 Become Master Chief on  an epic quest to save humanity and unlock the secrets of the Halo Rings.

1. Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is an action-adventure, first-person mystery game that is non-violent in favor of exploration and discovery. The world is open and offers players the freedom to explore as you see fit with no predetermined path to follow. 

Your goal is to unravel the mysteries of the world as it undergoes continuous changes within a twenty-two minute time loop. The central discovery to be made is the cause of this time loop, adding a layer of intrigue to your exploration. 

What makes Outer Wilds unique is its roguelike loop mechanic, which resets the game every twenty-two minutes, challenging players to make the most of their time and uncover the truth before the cycle repeats. 

Travel through the mysteries of space to discover tree covered planets with even more mysteries within.

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