Space action games for PC. Space games on PC with an open world. Video games Strike Suit Zero

With the exception of starting a career as an astronaut or hitchhiking into deep space on an unmanned probe, computer games are the best and so far the only way available to humanity to leave Earth and go on a journey towards the unknown. Peaceful trade or pirate fishing in the vastness of the Milky Way, or escaping from a terrible alien monster in an abandoned orbital station - all this is on our list of the best games for PC, one way or another dedicated to space.

Leaving their planet behind, humans begin to colonize Mars: you are now entirely responsible for the outcome of this process. Your new civilization will begin its development from a small settlement in the Martian desert and grow into a vibrant, growing and extraterrestrial metropolis. But we advise you to monitor your oxygen and electricity levels, because a deficiency of either of these components will lead to a terrible death of the population on the red planet.

Released: 2017 | Developer: Fullbright | Buy

The space squad mysteriously disappeared from the Tacoma lunar mobile station. You are sent to investigate this situation and restart the artificial intelligence of the lunar station. This is an atmospheric, sci-fi story from the creators of Gone Home.

Characters reveal a compelling story in detail through interactive augmented reality recordings. Extreme attention to detail adds to the mystery of the story. The more thoroughly you explore every meter of the station, the more immersed you become in solving the mystery.

Elite: Dangerous

Released: 2014 | Developer: Frontier Developments | Buy

In this large-scale and exciting simulator, an entire galaxy plays the role of an open and accessible world for exploration. Starting the game with a simple ship and a handful of credits, you become the master of your own destiny. Become a fearsome pirate? A famous merchant? Or an outstanding discoverer?

The beauty of Elite Dangerous is that it gives the player complete freedom of action. Intense space battles or serene exploration of the nooks and crannies of space - here everyone can find something to their liking. On top of that, the ships in the game are simply fabulous: controlling the nimble fighters and massive cargo ships in Elite is definitely worth blowing off the dust from the old joystick.

Released: 2003 | Developer: CCP Games | Buy

Providing the opportunity to live a fulfilling life in space, EVE Online is an unparalleled MMORPG where the development of the world lies entirely in the hands of the players. This is a galaxy teeming with life, where thousands of capsule players fight, trade, mine resources, and explore the unknown side by side. Once you leave the confines of the relative safety of the police-patrolled launch system, you will find yourself in the middle of an uncompromising Wild West in a vacuum of space.

Whether you prefer to fight in large-scale space battles, each of which consists of thousands of ships costing thousands of real dollars, or explore the vast expanses of New Eden alone, EVE will provide you with many unforgettable experiences.

Released: 2017 | Developer: Rockfish Games | Buy

There is no way to recover in this rogue game. But the money earned in this battle will remain and will be used by you to improve the characteristics of the ship, which will help you win in the future. Improving these features will allow you to visit the far reaches of space with complete determination.

The game process itself is a continuous cycle. If your character dies, you won't be upset and will happily start playing again to see how far you can go this time.

Released: 2006 | Developer: Petroglyph | Buy

The game was developed by a group of experienced programmers from the Petroglyph company, who once worked at Westwood. This real-time strategy game is the best PC game in the Star Wars series. The simplified interface and low system requirements may turn off avid fans of the genre.

However, the sheer amount of chaotic and exciting battles on earth and in space are simply stunning and will excite any Star Wars fan. And such key characters as Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker make the game even more popular.

Released: 2017 | Developer: Suspicious Developments | Buy

In this 2-D sci-fi game, you find yourself on board a spaceship, where your main task will be to destroy the crew using a huge variety of weapons and gadgets. The genius of the game is how strongly your imagination is developed, which will allow you to play according to your own scenario. The reaction and chaos from the revelation of your presence on the ship turns the game into one continuous joke. Sometimes things can go wrong, which is what makes the game fun in its own way.

Released: 2016 | Developer: Misfits Attic | Buy

Despite its minimalistic, retrofuturistic interface, Duskers is one of the most frightening modern sci-fi horror games on PC. In it, the player will need to take on the role of the pilot of a small “vehicle fleet” of drones, with their help searching abandoned ships in search of fuel, spare parts and threads to understand why the unknown galaxy in which the main character finds himself is completely devoid of life.

However, almost completely: the ships being explored are infested with creepy and aggressive creatures, which makes moving through their dark, narrow corridors an unexpectedly stressful experience.

Released: 2017 | Developer: Bungie | Buy

Bungie is a massively multiplayer first-person shooter hybrid that features alien environments and is simply addictive. The forested ruins of the planet Earth, the vast seas of the planet Titan, the red forests of the planet Nessus and the volcanic nature of the planet Io - all these areas delight the eyes of those who like to shoot and shoot.

The game's end goal is vague, but fans of the sci-fi genre will enjoy the lively and vibrant setting.

Released: 1995 | Developer: LucasArts | Buy

Point-and-click adventure game from LucasArts, for some reason never received due recognition. A mission to deflect the flight path of an asteroid threatening to collide with the Earth turns into a disaster for the participants: due to mysterious circumstances, they find themselves in a distant and lifeless world.

Some of the game's mysteries are difficult to understand, even by LucasArts standards, but the colorful and bizarre planet that serves as the setting is one of the most compelling extraterrestrial worlds of all time. Special mention is due to the voice acting with The X-Files and Terminator star Robert Patrick in the title role.

Released: 2014 | Developer: Giant Army | Buy

A space god simulator that allows you to control exact 3D copies of real galaxies and star systems and observe the catastrophic results of your intervention. You can start your interstellar experiments by increasing the mass of Jupiter to such a value that all other objects in the solar system will begin to revolve around it, or by completely removing the Sun, which will lead to the scattering of the Earth and other planets in different directions.

Released: 2016 | Developer: Ocelot Society | Buy

Drifting alone around Jupiter in an old spaceship, your only hope of returning home is connecting with an artificial intelligence suffering from severe emotional disturbances. You will have to communicate with Kaizen exclusively through the keyboard, and if you choose the right words and arguments, then in the end he will agree to cooperate.

Only to suddenly change his mind the next moment and close the external airlock, leaving the player suffocating from lack of oxygen outside the ship. Overall, it's a thoughtful adventure game with a subtle '70s sci-fi style.

Released: 2010 | Developer: BioWare | Buy

If you've ever imagined yourself in the role of Captain Kirk, commanding his own ship, coming into contact with various types of alien aliens and making difficult decisions that will affect the survival of the crew, then Mass Effect 2 gives you the opportunity to experience all this and more. Combining space opera elements with a plot that rivals the best Star Trek episodes, Mass Effect 2 is one of the best sci-fi games on PC.

It has a rather linear story and does not have the freedom of choice that Elite is famous for, but instead the on-rails plot takes the player on an unforgettable journey through the galaxy, including visiting phantasmagoric planets and communicating with their peculiar inhabitants. In principle, the entire Mass Effect series is worthy of mention on this list, but our choice fell on the second part.

Released: 2016 | Developer: Paradox | Buy

The game was developed by Paradox, known for such creations as Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis. Such a large-scale, sci-fi story made a huge contribution to the strategy genre. You have the opportunity to explore the universe, create alliances with alien factions, and take part in large-scale space confrontations. The diversity of the system makes the game a powerful generator of random stories. You will never be able to predict what kind of creature you will meet on your space journey.

Released: 2014 | Developer: Creative Assembly | Buy

In this spine-chilling survival horror, Amanda, daughter of Ellen Ripley from the Original Cinematic Universe, hides in a falling apart space station from a relentlessly pursuing xenomorph. As a large-scale homage to Ridley Scott's 1979 film, the game set the benchmark for slowly building tension.

The Sevastopol station itself is designed in the style of low-budget science fiction and is replete with bulky retrofuturistic technological devices and terrifying flashing lights. The developers managed to present the world with one of the most bona fide live-action film adaptations of all time, but at the same time, Alien: Isolation remains an outstanding representative of horror even if you take away its rich cultural baggage aimed at fans.

Released: 2016 | Developer: Hello Games | Buy

This is not to say that No Man’s Sky lived up to all the expectations placed on it, but nevertheless, you can still spend many exciting hours in its procedurally generated galaxy. Its sci-fi setting is one of the most aesthetically distinctive, and the ability to jump from outer space to a planet's atmosphere without loading screens is a pretty impressive technical feat.

Of course, the planets here are still empty and lifeless, but the ability to build bases, introduced in the recent Foundation update, brings some variety to the activities on their surface.

Released: 1994 | Developer: Totally Games | Buy

A rare chance to step into the shoes of a George Lucas space opera villain. Given its compelling storyline and variety of missions as an Imperial Stormtrooper - including fighter-to-fighter combat, VIP escorts, and capital ship attacks - this is one of LucasArts' best Star Wars games.

Basically, the same could be said about Star Wars: X-Wing, if only playing as the Rebel Alliance forces wasn't so boring. A separate advantage of this line of space simulators is the fact that they have all received re-releases from GOG.com and are compatible with modern computers.

Released: 2012 | Developer: Subset Games | Buy

In FTL, the player takes on the role of the captain of a Star Trek-style spaceship, which will have to be controlled through gameplay that combines elements of turn-based and real-time strategy. A solid roguelike action game takes place in a painfully familiar, but no less fascinating sci-fi setting.

Full of discreet humor, additional quests and unexpected encounters make every attempt to achieve the final goal exciting and unique. And the ability to give your own names to the crew members and the ship makes you really worry about their fate when they find themselves in yet another dangerous situation in the depths of hostile space.

Released: 1993 | Developer: Origin Systems | Buy

Fans of the series are unlikely to ever stop arguing about which part of Wing Commander is the best, but our choice fell on Privateer thanks to its more. This is a sandbox rich in possibilities, allowing you to become a mercenary, a pirate, a merchant - or something in between these three options.

Most of the gameplay consists of hopping between systems in search of wanted criminals to capture and cargo ships to loot, but it's worth it - the space combat here excites the imagination. The plot is built linearly, but this does not take away the player’s freedom of action and choice.

Released: 2016 | Developer: CCP Games | Buy

If you have a set for playing in virtual reality, then you should not bypass this game. Here, online, you will test yourself in the role of a spaceship pilot who participates in space battles. On a subconscious level, you will feel the comfort of the cabin and the strength of the ship rushing at great speed. The battle mode is specially configured for a virtual reality helmet.

Released: 2015 | Developer:Squad | Buy

Defy gravity and the laws of physics as you try to build your own spaceship and explore space! It's a deep, complex and entertaining sandbox, full of both fun and science-based possibilities. The first successful liftoff from the surface of the planet Kerbin and landing on its moon Moon using a ship designed by oneself is one of the most magical sensations that can be obtained while spending time in a computer game.

Released: 2013 | Developer: Bohemia Interactive | Buy

Take On Mars from Bohemia, the developer studio behind the well-known Arma, is an ideal choice for those who prefer a more scientific approach to simulators - the process of space exploration here is based on real astrophysics. In it you can build a Mars rover a la Curiosity and use it to study the surface of the red planet or build your own lunar base. In general, this is a game for people who prefer science without a dash of science fiction.

Released: 2008 | Developer: Ironclad Games | Buy

Combining real-time strategy and 4X elements, Sins is all about galactic conquest. Choose a faction, accumulate enough forces and resources and become the all-powerful ruler of space. Slowly managing large-scale battles in real time is exciting, but the game's capabilities are not limited to this: you can also expand your influence through diplomacy.

Released: 2013 | Developer: Keen Software House | Buy

Basically Minecraft in space or something. The gameplay consists of extracting building materials from asteroids and making space bases and ships from them. Asteroid exploration is carried out using jetpacks or gravity generators pre-built on them. This is one of the best, which, moreover, constantly receives updates from the developers.

Released: 2013 | Developer: Chucklefish Games | Buy

SpaceEngine will allow you to experience all the delights of an existential crisis and feel small and insignificant, as the events of the game unfold on the scale of the entire universe - or, in any case, the part of it known to us. Taking off from Earth and accelerating the engines to full speed, you quickly realize that you are just a speck of dust rushing through an endless void.

The variety and elaboration of technologies in the game, allowing you to travel between galaxies and land on planets, is amazing. But, unfortunately, aside from exploring the vast open world, this game doesn’t have much else to offer.

Simulations, strategy, shooters, shooting games, RPGs and other genres are collected in our selection of the best space games you can play on PC right now. If you dream of leaving boring Earth and hunting space pirates, building a colony on Mars, or traveling on a ship between planets, then you will definitely like these online games about space.

This is a far from complete list of the best space games for PC; don’t forget about the Mass Effect series, the cult strategy Homeworld, the space simulator Everspace, the Star Wars franchise and the survival horror Alien: Isolation.


In the space browser game StarGhosts, the player can expect large-scale galactic battles with powerful bosses and online battles with real gamers. You join one of the existing factions, begin to explore the vast open space, collect artifacts and extract useful resources.

The obtained resources and in-game currency can be used to improve your ship, and the mesmerizing endless space in the background adds a special atmosphere to the game.

At the beginning of the game, you are given a very simple starship for transporting cargo, which is equipped with primitive weapons that allow you to fight off robbers with difficulty. As you complete tasks, you will accumulate savings for a new and improved model of a spaceship.

Thanks to the crafting system, you can independently create new weapons and modifications for the ship using blueprints. Extra parts and spare parts sell well on the in-game market.


The game was created by Russian developers together with fans of the famous game “Space Rangers 2” released in 2004 and is its independent addition with improved graphics.

The game has a new storyline dedicated to the pirate faction. You decide for yourself which side to choose: destroy the entire Coalition or put an end to the invaders of the galaxy. Your choice affects the tasks you receive, plot twists and character leveling.

The once outdated graphics and special effects from the previous part have been significantly redesigned and improved. Now the Space Rangers franchise, beloved by many players, can be easily launched on a modern computer and played comfortably.


Star Citizen is a first-person science fiction (Sci-fi) adventure game with MMO elements, but without an exact release date. Today you can play the alpha version and be the first to experience all the innovations in the game.

Star Citizen takes place in the 30th century, when the Milky Way galaxy is under the control of the United Earth Empire, which is on the verge of collapse. In a large open world, the player can engage in trading, exploration and even robbery with shooter elements.

All these features create a huge space sandbox that will allow players to manage the economy in an ever-changing universe. Regardless of the chosen path, the player will eventually achieve his goals and gain wealth.

Mixed single-player and multiplayer modes like Destiny 2 promise a whole new experience of space adventures among hundreds of planets.


The original Elite Dangerous became a gem of the gaming industry in 1984. The updated game (released in 2014) is a multiplayer space project with an open world full of adventures in a vast galaxy.

You start the game with a minimum amount of game currency and a simple spaceship. From this moment on, you yourself choose the path of development in order to achieve wealth, power, reputation and the highest skills.

Events take place in the Milky Way galaxy consisting of 400 million stars in the year 3301. Since the game gives complete freedom of action, players are invited to create their own story, and all actions will affect the change in the situation in the galaxy.

By joining one of the factions (Alliance, Empire and Federation) you can begin completing tasks for a generous reward. The funds earned will be used to improve the warship and its weapons.


It is a 4K grand strategy game with single and multiplayer modes developed by Paradox Development Studio. The basis of the gameplay is resource extraction, space exploration, empire creation, diplomacy and management of space civilization.

Stellaris is a mixture of RTS (real-time strategy) with elements of space adventures in Sci-fi style in the near future (2200). At the initial stage, the player is engaged in space exploration, possessing FLT technologies (movement above the speed of light).

Your task is to control ships, build space stations, study scientific and military technologies. You have access to one research flying ship, one construction ship and three small military ones.

Towards the middle of the game, when the empires grow to their maximum size, you will face a military invasion by enemies who want to expand their territories. Show off your accumulated strength and destroy the external threat.


EVE Online is considered one of the best free online space MMORPG games on PC. In its huge open world, each visitor will find his own place. In EVE Online, players can build and control spaceships in a game world filled with planets, stars, black holes, space stations and other galaxies.

Like any MMORPG, the online game EVE has a well-developed leveling system, including mining, trading, battles and piracy. The unique player development system works in real time and continues to function even if the player is offline.

The game has more than half a million players, and the gameplay is considered one of the most hardcore in MMORPG projects. This game is not suitable for every fan of multiplayer online RPGs.


The events of Warframe take place in a science fiction universe where there is a struggle for the galaxy. You play as an ancient warrior who awakens after hundreds of years of suspended animation. To fight various fantastic mutant enemies, the character uses powerful exo-armor (Warframe).

The exosuit has unique abilities, characteristics and weapons; you can customize it to suit your play style. Choose your favorite melee and ranged weapons to effectively fight in battle.

To successfully complete missions in space you need to assemble a team of four people. There are many types of tasks available in Warframe: destroying enemies, defending key positions for a while, capturing territory, and more than a dozen others.

3. No Man's Sky


In No Man's Sky, every star in the sky is a habitable planet that revolves around the sun, you can go to any of them if you want. You are able to move freely across open, seamless space and planetary surfaces.

At the center of the universe there is a powerful impulse that attracts all travelers who want to uncover the secrets of the universe. On the way to the goal, the player will encounter hostile creatures and dangerous space pirates. To survive in the world of No Man's Sky, upgrade your flying ship, weapons and suit.

The development of the game's plot on PC depends entirely on your choices. You can stuff a starship with powerful weapons, increase the maximum speed and engage in robbery. Or extract valuable resources in remote corners of the galaxy and sell them to counter merchants. Or explore new territories.

Players in No Man's Sky are able to share their discoveries with others or see the results of the work of other users.


The game, developed by MindArk studio, combines elements of a free multiplayer online game, RPG and first-person shooter (FPS). The game uses a micropayment system in which you can purchase the virtual currency PED for real money.

During the game, you obtain rare valuable resources that can be sold for currency, exchanged for real money and easily withdrawn to your account, thereby earning real money in a computer game.

The Entropia Universe is inhabited by thousands of players from all over the world who travel between dozens of planets with dangerous creatures. Thanks to its gameplay features, impressive graphics and game mechanics, Entropia Universe takes second place in our ranking of the TOP 10 best online space games on PC.


Star Conflict is a free-to-play MMO in which you can control your own combat starship and participate in massive star fleet battles. You can choose from both fast scouts and heavy ships armed with powerful guns and missiles.

In addition to battles, you can go in search of lost space colonies, mine valuable materials, join the ranks of one of the factions and create improved modules and ships.

Unite in a coalition with your friends and assemble the deadliest squadron, which will have no equal in strength and skill. Star Conflict is a kind of sessional “World of Tanks about space” that strives for a big bright future.

With the exception of starting a career as an astronaut or hitchhiking into deep space on an unmanned probe, computer games are the best and so far the only way available to humanity to leave Earth and go on a journey towards the unknown. Peaceful trade or pirate fishing in the vastness of the Milky Way, or escaping from a terrible alien monster in an abandoned orbital station - all this is on our list of the best games for PC, one way or another dedicated to space. From survival horror to grand strategy games to realistic simulators that allow you to live another life in orbit among a myriad of stars, there is something for everyone here.

One of the best single-player real-time strategy games ever released, it recently received a re-release from Gearbox studio, made with love for the original. The sight of thousands of player-controlled ships stretched out in a battle formation against the backdrop of colorful space landscapes is mesmerizing. The game's intense battles require a tactical approach, especially given the variety of ships in the game, from miniature fighters to colossal battleships. The Remastered Collection still holds its own and looks great on modern PCs, and is also bundled with the original Homeworld and its sequel.


In this large-scale and exciting simulator, an entire galaxy plays the role of an open and accessible world for exploration. Starting the game with a simple ship and a handful of credits, you become the master of your own destiny. Become a fearsome pirate? A famous merchant? Or an outstanding discoverer? The beauty of Elite Dangerous is that it gives the player complete freedom of action. Intense space battles or serene exploration of the nooks and crannies of space - here everyone can find something to their liking. On top of that, the ships in the game are simply fabulous: controlling the nimble fighters and massive cargo ships in Elite is definitely worth blowing off the dust from the old joystick.


Providing the opportunity to live a fulfilling life in space, EVE Online is an unparalleled MMORPG where the development of the world lies entirely in the hands of the players. This is a galaxy teeming with life, where thousands of capsule players fight, trade, mine resources, and explore the unknown side by side. Once you leave the confines of the relative safety of the police-patrolled launch system, you will find yourself in the middle of an uncompromising Wild West in a vacuum of space. Whether you prefer to fight in large-scale space battles, each of which consists of thousands of ships costing thousands of real dollars, or explore the vast expanses of New Eden alone, EVE will provide you with many unforgettable experiences.


Despite its minimalistic, retrofuturistic interface, Duskers is one of the most frightening modern sci-fi horror games on PC. In it, the player will need to take on the role of the pilot of a small “vehicle fleet” of drones, with their help searching abandoned ships in search of fuel, spare parts and threads to understand why the unknown galaxy in which the main character finds himself is completely devoid of life. However, almost completely: the ships being explored are infested with creepy and aggressive creatures, which makes moving through their dark, narrow corridors an unexpectedly stressful experience.


Point-and-click adventure game from LucasArts, for some reason never received due recognition. A mission to deflect the flight path of an asteroid threatening to collide with the Earth turns into a disaster for the participants: due to mysterious circumstances, they find themselves in a distant and lifeless world. Some of the game's mysteries are difficult to understand, even by LucasArts standards, but the colorful and bizarre planet that serves as the setting is one of the most compelling extraterrestrial worlds of all time. Special mention is due to the voice acting with The X-Files and Terminator star Robert Patrick in the title role.


A space god simulator that allows you to control exact 3D copies of real galaxies and star systems and observe the catastrophic results of your intervention. You can start your interstellar experiments by increasing the mass of Jupiter to such a value that all other objects in the solar system will begin to revolve around it, or by completely removing the Sun, which will lead to the scattering of the Earth and other planets in different directions.


Drifting alone around Jupiter in an old spaceship, your only hope of returning home is connecting with an artificial intelligence suffering from severe emotional disturbances. You will have to communicate with Kaizen exclusively through the keyboard, and if you choose the right words and arguments, then in the end he will agree to cooperate. Only to suddenly change his mind the next moment and close the external airlock, leaving the player suffocating from lack of oxygen outside the ship. Overall, it's a thoughtful adventure game with a subtle '70s sci-fi style.


If you've ever imagined yourself in the role of Captain Kirk, commanding his own ship, coming into contact with various types of alien aliens and making difficult decisions that will affect the survival of the crew, then Mass Effect 2 gives you the opportunity to experience all this and more. Combining elements of Star Wars-inspired space opera with a story that rivals the best Star Trek episodes, Mass Effect 2 is one of the best sci-fi games on PC. It has a rather linear story and does not have the freedom of choice that Elite is famous for, but instead the on-rails plot takes the player on an unforgettable journey through the galaxy, including visiting phantasmagoric planets and communicating with their peculiar inhabitants. In principle, the entire Mass Effect series is worthy of mention on this list, but our choice fell on the second part.


In this spine-chilling survival horror, Amanda, daughter of Ellen Ripley from the Original Cinematic Universe, hides in a falling apart space station from a relentlessly pursuing xenomorph. As a large-scale homage to Ridley Scott's 1979 film, the game set the benchmark for slowly building tension. The Sevastopol station itself is designed in the style of low-budget science fiction and is replete with bulky retrofuturistic technological devices and terrifying flashing lights. The developers managed to present the world with one of the most bona fide live-action film adaptations of all time, but at the same time, Alien: Isolation remains an outstanding representative of horror even if you take away its rich cultural baggage aimed at fans.


This is not to say that No Man’s Sky lived up to all the expectations placed on it, but nevertheless, you can still spend many exciting hours in its procedurally generated galaxy. Its sci-fi setting is one of the most aesthetically distinctive, and the ability to jump from outer space to a planet's atmosphere without loading screens is a pretty impressive technical feat. Of course, the planets here are still empty and lifeless, but the ability to build bases, introduced in the recent Foundation update, brings some variety to the activities on their surface.


A rare chance to step into the shoes of a George Lucas space opera villain. Given the unique storyline and variety of missions performed as an Imperial Stormtrooper - including combat between fighters, escorting VIPs and attacks on capital ships - this is one of the best LucasArts games dedicated to the Star Wars universe. Basically, the same could be said about Star Wars: X-Wing, if only playing as the Rebel Alliance forces wasn't so boring. A separate advantage of this line of space simulators is the fact that they have all received re-releases from GOG.com and are compatible with modern computers.


In FTL, the player takes on the role of the captain of a Star Trek-style spaceship, which will have to be controlled through gameplay that combines elements of turn-based and real-time strategy. A solid roguelike action game takes place in a painfully familiar, but no less fascinating sci-fi setting. Full of low-key humor, additional quests, unexpected encounters and plot twists make every attempt to achieve the final goal exciting and unique. And the ability to give your own names to the crew members and the ship makes you really worry about their fate when they find themselves in yet another dangerous situation in the depths of hostile space.


Fans of the series are unlikely to ever stop arguing about which part of Wing Commander is the best, but our choice fell on Privateer due to its darker atmosphere. This is a sandbox rich in possibilities, allowing you to become a mercenary, a pirate, a merchant - or something in between these three options. Most of the gameplay consists of hopping between systems in search of wanted criminals to capture and cargo ships to loot, but it's worth it - the space combat here excites the imagination. The plot is built linearly, but this does not take away the player’s freedom of action and choice.


Defy gravity and the laws of physics as you try to build your own spaceship and explore space! It's a deep, complex and entertaining sandbox, full of both fun and science-based possibilities. The first successful liftoff from the surface of the planet Kerbin and landing on its moon Moon using a ship designed by oneself is one of the most magical sensations that can be obtained while spending time in a computer game.


At the time of this list, ambitious space simulator Star Citizen has raised an incredible $183 million through crowdfunding. This money will be used to develop a grand game set in a vast, interconnected universe. And Luke Skywalker personally took part in the voice acting of one of the game modes - Squadron 42 (more precisely, Mark Hamill, who played him). Star Citizen is still far from its official release, but some of its playable elements are already available to participants in the crowdfunding campaign.


Take On Mars from Bohemia, the developer studio behind the well-known Arma, is an ideal choice for those who prefer a more scientific approach to simulators - the process of space exploration here is based on real astrophysics. In it you can build a Mars rover a la Curiosity and use it to study the surface of the red planet or build your own lunar base. In general, this is a game for people who prefer science without a dash of science fiction.


Combining real-time strategy and 4X elements, Sins is all about galactic conquest. Choose a faction, accumulate enough forces and resources and become the all-powerful ruler of space. Slowly managing large-scale battles in real time is exciting, but the game's capabilities are not limited to this: you can also expand your influence through diplomacy.


To get the most out of this game, you will need 3 to 6 friends. Each player takes control of one of the ships, responsible for different functions - production, research, resource extraction, and so on. To defeat your enemies, you will need to act together, under the strict guidance of a pre-appointed captain. Essentially, this game gives you the opportunity to take the Kobayashi Maru test from Star Trek right in your own room - and it's simply priceless.


Basically Minecraft in space or something. The gameplay consists of extracting building materials from asteroids and making space bases and ships from them. Asteroid exploration is carried out using jetpacks or gravity generators pre-built on them. This is one of the best cooperative construction simulators, which, moreover, constantly receives updates from the developers.


Thanks to the rich tools of the ship design editor, capturing space has never been so creative. And due to the deep and multifaceted artificial intelligence of opponents, each gaming session can drag on for many weeks. To achieve your goal, you will have to form alliances, participate in grandiose space battles and maintain a balance between economic, technological and cultural development. In this, the game is reminiscent of the Civilization series, while having a much greater scope.


Gameplay in this turn-based strategy game from prolific indie studio Blendo (particularly known for Thirty Flights of Loving) moves in 30-second bursts. Give all the necessary orders in pause mode, and then watch the battle unfold until one of the parties involved is completely destroyed. With a relaxing, classical soundtrack that includes songs like Chopin's "Raindrops" prelude, and an original visual style, this is one of the more unconventional games on this list. In-game advisers in the form of schizoid space dogs serve as a humorous outlet for the military action.


A survival simulator in the spirit of Terraria in a sci-fi setting. In this wonderful sandbox you have to fly between randomly generated planets on a spaceship, hunt alien creatures for food, build colonies and underground bases, trying not to die in the process (which is not always possible). The list of playable races includes sentient robots, entities composed of solar energy, ape-like creatures and wingless anthropomorphic birds.


SpaceEngine will allow you to experience all the delights of an existential crisis and feel small and insignificant, as the events of the game unfold on the scale of the entire universe - or, in any case, the part of it known to us. Taking off from Earth and accelerating the engines to full speed, you quickly realize that you are just a speck of dust rushing through an endless void. The variety and elaboration of technologies in the game, allowing you to travel between galaxies and land on planets, is amazing. But, unfortunately, aside from exploring the vast open world, this game doesn’t have much else to offer.


A modern take on the arcade classic Lunar Lander in the form of a unique low-gravity flight simulator. It's not as comprehensive as some of the sims presented here, but the process of fighting the laws of physics presented in it to try to deliver cargo or land on a planet is implemented at an unprecedented level. On top of that, this is one of the best space games for VR headsets, so it's definitely worth a look for anyone with an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.


While most space simulators use regular airplane physics, FreeSpace takes a more realistic approach, resulting in responsive, weightless controls. The game's combat is similar to World War II fighter dogfights in zero gravity, making it one of the best space combat simulators for PC. We are sure that your first battle within the picturesque nebula will be an unforgettable experience for you.

Games about traveling across the vastness of the Universe, extraterrestrial civilizations, battles like stars in the night sky. But we still tried to collect the best single and online games about space in one place.

The cold emptiness of space has long attracted authors of science fiction works. Indeed, unlike fantasy worlds, which, despite all their diversity, still live according to the general canons of the genre, the infinity of space provides scope for the wildest fantasies and allows the implementation of grandiose author's ideas without compromising the integrity of the perception of the world. It is not surprising that it is in the space setting that many very worthy games take place, to which we have dedicated our selection.

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Mass Effect series

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Master of Orion is a legendary series of space strategies, which all followers are guided to one degree or another. Its history began back in 1993, and the relaunch was released in 2016. It is distinguished by a high barrier to entry and painstaking micromanagement of colonies.

Stellaris. Coming out the same year as the Master of Orion reboot, Stellaris managed to capture the spirit of the original series even better. As in all games, tons of detailed statistics, many opportunities to manage your empire, interesting quests and branded random events await us.

Galactic Civilizations is another version of the famous Civilization in a space setting, this time from the Stardock studio. The game uses a hexagonal map cell, which makes it similar to and expands the tactical possibilities in battles.

The Star Wolves series is very close in spirit and style to Space Rangers, only the graphics are more modern. Here you can already assemble a team of up to 6 pilots, capable of causing a stir on a galactic scale.

Nexus: The Jupiter Incident is a tactical simulator of battles on spaceships from the Hungarian studio Mithis Entertainment with stunning (for its 2004) graphics. The ships here are pathetic and majestic, and the battles between them proceed smoothly and measuredly, giving time for reflection and maneuvers.

4X strategy game created by the French from Amplitude Studios. In the game you need to extract resources, develop science, build a space fleet, equip colonies and weave diplomatic intrigues. Moreover, success on any chosen path can lead to victory.

Sins of a Solar Empire. The game combines 4X strategy and space sandbox, because there is practically no plot as such. Starting with a small, remote colony, the player will have to develop his Empire and try to bend the Galaxy to his will.

Games based on the Star Wars universe

Star Wars Republic Commando

Over the long years of its existence, the Star Wars franchise has acquired a detailed Expanded Universe, which, moreover, as a soft canon (everything is fair until the films show otherwise) includes games written based on this universe.

Our top games are headed by the shooter Republic Commando, released in 2005. This game differs from most other games in the franchise in that here our protagonist is not just another one. The MMORPG in the setting of the Old Republic continues the story told in the first two KOTOR and allows us to finally see what threat was strongly hinted at. I'm glad to have the opportunity to clarify the fate of old acquaintances, including the legendary Revan and the Exile.

Star Wars Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy is a classic action/shooter with a small RPG element, telling the story of attempts to restore the Jedi Order after the events of Episode 6. Here we will learn the intricacies of the Force under the guidance of the legendary Luke Skywalker and Kyle Katarn, and at the very end we will have the opportunity to go to the Dark Side. Even 15 years after the game's release, its multiplayer servers are still alive.

New Star Wars: Battlefront duology (2015-2017). In the restart, the original format of battles involving vehicles typical of the world of Star Wars is complemented by grandiose battles from the films and the opportunity to take tests based on the events of the cinematic universe.

Conclusion

Like space itself, our list includes bright stars like Mass Effect, mysterious nebulae like Stellaris, and dangerous black holes. Space games of varying quality are released every year, and with each new discovery of Curiosity or successful launch of Space X rockets, interest in such games will only grow. After all, humanity has recently entered its Space Age, which means all the most interesting things are still waiting for us.

LurelnLey

Games and books are my way of living several lives in one. My childhood occurred at a time when projects that had already become immortal classics saw the light of day: Heroes of Might and Magic, Diablo, Warcraft and others. Since then, interest in the industry has appeared, which is unlikely to ever fade away.

In 2148, artifacts of an ancient civilization were first discovered on Mars. Soon, terrestrial scientists were able to fully understand the technology of aliens, which provided a serious breakthrough in the technological development of our planet - space and time became subject to man, flights to space to distant star systems. Humanity emerged from its cradle and came into contact with other civilizations of the Galaxy... Almost forty years have passed since the discoveries on Mars. The Alliance of Systems is a dynamically developing interstellar state. The ship "Normandy" - the most modern starship of the Alliance is sent on its first mission. Your name is Shepard, you are assigned as an officer on this ship. Your journey to space begins!

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Mass Effect 2

  • PC games: space
  • Year: 2010
  • Genre: RPG action shooter
  • Developer: BioWare

Two years after Commander Shepard repelled the Reaper invasion, humanity has a new enemy, methodically exterminating human colonies on the outskirts of the explored space. To counter the looming threat, the legendary Specter will have to cooperate with the powerful and ruthless organization Cerberus, whose goal is to save humanity from destruction at any cost. To carry out an extremely responsible and dangerous mission, Shepard will have to assemble a squad of experienced and strong fighters and take command of the most powerful spaceship in the Galaxy. However, many believe that even with such resources, the operation is doomed to failure. Shepard must prove the naysayers wrong.

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Mass Effect 3

  • PC games: space
  • Year: 2012
  • Genre: RPG action shooter
  • Developer: BioWare

Not everyone is destined to survive. An ancient alien race known as the Reapers has launched a global invasion, leaving ruins of civilizations in their wake. The Earth has been captured, the galaxy is on the verge of complete destruction, and only you can fix the situation. The price of error is nothingness. Your role is Captain Shepard, a character you create yourself. Only you decide how events will unfold, which planets will be explored, and who will be part of the alliance you will assemble to eliminate the Reaper threat once and for all. You will lead this war at your own discretion: you can attack head-on, pouring fire on the enemy, or draw up a cunning plan for a surprise attack. Gather a versatile squad of professionals or choose the path of a lone wolf. Attack your enemy from a distance or engage him in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Mass Effect 3 will react to every decision you make - this story is up to you to write.

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Space Rangers

  • PC games: space
  • Year: 2002
  • Genre: RPG tactics quest
  • Developer: Elemental Games

The action takes place in the distant future, in the year 3000. By that time, people already knew for sure that they were not alone in the Universe, and not only did they know, they had already managed to fight with four extraterrestrial civilizations and sign a peace treaty with them. Naturally, most of the Universe has been explored, many space technologies are open and widely used, people have become part of outer space. It seems that everything is in order, the Universe lives in peace, even the pirates began to calm down after the last joint campaign of the five races against them, but as usual, if everything is fine, then trouble must be expected. A new race of Klisans has appeared, which destroys everything in its path without giving explanations or communicating.

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Space Rangers 2

  • PC games: space
  • Year: 2007
  • Genre: RPG quest strategy
  • Developer: Elemental Games

3300 year. Our galaxy has been invaded by Dominators - combat robots that have gotten out of control. A coalition of five races - the Maloks, the Pelengs, the Humans, the Faeans and the Gaalians - is relying on the Space Rangers to destroy the Dominators. You are now a ranger. Choose a race, get a ship, go on the road. Fight in space and hyperspace. Do trade. Complete government tasks. Free the planets from dominators. And, of course, solve text quests, each of which is a separate adventure. It is impossible to predict how events will develop. The game can end in victory for either side or last indefinitely. It all depends on the actions of the player and the inhabitants of the living world, in which you can make a career as a vile pirate or a famous hero who will understand the reasons for the appearance of the Dominators and be able to stop this bloody war.

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Parkan: Chronicle of the Empire

  • PC games: space
  • Year: 1997
  • Genre: simulator shooter
  • Developer: Nikita

The PARKAN spaceship sets out to search for a missing research vessel and, as a result of an accident, accidentally finds itself cut off from the outside world in an abandoned star sector, in which, after a devastating war, robotic clans remained on scorched planets, extracting fuel and building factories for the production of weapons and repair of starships. The point of the game is for the PARKAN pilot to complete the assigned task and survive in conditions of complete uncertainty and given freedom of action. There are many ways to survive in the game, directly related to the player’s behavior: from petty speculation and peaceful trade to the colonization of planets and outright robbery.

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Parkan 2

  • PC games: space
  • Year: 2005
  • Genre: simulator shooter
  • Developer: Nikita

Parkan 2> is a non-trivial fusion of several genres at once, allowing the player to feel like the pilot of a spaceship lost in the Universe. You have to explore hundreds of star systems, take part in a series of heated battles and meet a new enemy - a mysterious creature calling itself Hegemount. The game takes place at the same time as the action of the first part. The player actually has the same goals and objectives, but has an assistant - AI Irene. Become a pirate or a mercenary, get money for the most powerful star cruiser, colonize planets, create your own clan and show everyone who will be the new master of the galaxy. To improve relations with other clans, the player can complete tasks received from their planetary bases. For completion, money is paid in the form of fuel. Depending on how a particular race treats you, additional opportunities open up.

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Darkstar One

  • PC games: space
  • Year: 2006
  • Genre: simulator
  • Developer: Ascaron Ent.

Centuries have passed since the end of the General Intergalactic War. An uneasy peace has established between the races inhabiting the developed part of the Universe. A Great Council was created to enforce the truce and control the growing power of each empire. However, recently attacks on civilian ships have become more frequent, and the culprit was a race whose representatives live on the very edge of the explored part of the Universe...