Summary

  • Space exploration in games can be mind-numbing or jaw-dropping, depending on your mindset and expectations.
  • Games like SpaceEngine offer endless new discoveries and a vast appreciation for the universe's vastness.
  • Titles like Starcom: Unknown Space let you brave the dangerous unknown to uncover secrets and fight for discovery.

Exploring spa𝓰ce in a video game is generally one of two things: the most mind-numbing experience ever or a jaw-dropping adventure. It partly depends on you as to which kind of experience you receive, too; some people just aren't wired to enjoy these kinds of games.

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They're (generally) chill, time-consuming journeys that require the right mindset and the right expectations. But when these games hit just right, they're some of the most rewarding gaming experiences out there. Here are the best space games out there with a heavy emphasis o🀅n space exploration.

Updated March 21, 2025, by William Quick: While actually going to space may be a long way off, we can experience the next best thing by going into all the different sci-fi game universes. Whether we're flying ships ourselves or just passengers heading into the stars, the doors to all that space has to offer are plentiful and wide open. These titles are worth the lift-off because they offer opportunities to explore all the different interpretations of real-life and fantastical universes.

Astrometica

Rebuild And Survive The Cosmos

A ship flies among the asteroids in Astometica.

It's lonely out in space, but there's something that will keep pushing us forward. Maybe it's our survival instinct or natural curiosity that pushes us to keep doing what we must when﷽ever we're caught in a difficult situation. Things don't get more difficult than in Astrometica, so brace yourself.

This experience is set during a period following 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:a devastating event that has echoed across the stars. As 🀅a lone survivor with a ship and reliable tech, you must prepareꦍ to mine and harvest whatever you can to build a sustainable base of operations. With a solid base, you can risk heading out into the universe, exploring planets, and trying to figure out what happened.

Beyond Galaxyland

A Grand Old Fantasy Adventure Across The Stars

Looking at various planets in Beyond Galaxyland.
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Your Rating

168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Beyond Galaxyland
Adventure
Action
RPG
Systems
Top Critic Avg: 82/100 Critics Rec: 75%
Released
September 24, 2024
ESRB
Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, 🦩Alcohol and Tobaccoꦉ Reference
Developer(s)
Sไam En✤right
Publisher(s)
United Label 𒆙📖
Engine
Unity
Number of Players
1

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

With the flair of Beyond Galaxyland, you know your human protagonist i💙s in for a ride and won't be shor༒t of weird and interesting company.

The title follows the journey of teenager Doug when he's suddenly thrust into a space-faring adventure on a massive scale. He'll travel across space to strange new worlds, visit various futuristic cities, and 168澳🐻洲幸运5开奖网:meet companions of varying backgrounds and species. Of course, between all the wonders, Doug 🌳and their friends will have to fight beasts and creations of a𒉰ll kinds to continue their story.

Void Crew

Join Together And Conquer Space

The four explorers meet in Void Crew.
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Your Rating

Void Crew
Action
Adventure
Systems
Released
November 25, 2024
Developer(s)
H🏅utlihut Games
Publisher(s)
Focus Entertaဣinment
Engine
Unity Engine
Number of Players
1
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

Platform(s)
PC

If there's anything more wil𝓀d and unpredictable than the unknown forces in the universe... it's human behavior. When we come together, we think we're all on the same page, especially regarding dangerous scenarios. But that kind of thinking must be put aside for Void Crew.

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This roguelite sci-fi adventure tests you and whatever other people you choose to take with you as a crew on a💜 spaceship. You'll explore different areas of the universe as you fly through space, discover new things, and get into spaceship battles with all sorts of entities. When you're on the ground, expect to do a lot of hands-on w🎃ork, exploring and fighting whatever creatures are waiting for you.

Space Engineers

Someone's Gotta Keep Everything Together

Space Engineers Repairing Something On A Rocky Surface.
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Your Rating

Space Engineers
Simulation
Sandbox
Systems
Critics Rec: 80%
Released
February 28, 2019
ESRB
T For Teen Due T🐻o Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
Developer(s)
♛ Keen Software House 𝓀
Publisher(s)
🎃 Keen Software House ꦆ
Engine
VRAGE 2.0
Multiplayer
♔ Onli🐼ne Co-Op, Online Multiplayer

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL

Cross-Platform Play
ꦚ PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Seriesও X/S
Number of Players
1-4 (Xbox); 1-16 (PC); 1-8 (PS5) 🍎
Early Access Release
October 🌜23, 2013
PC Release Date
Feb𝔉ruary 28,꧋ 2019
PS5 Release Date
💃 May 11, 2023
Developer
𒁃 𓄧 Keen Software House
Publisher
Keen So🔜ftware House
How Long To Beat
20 Hours
X|S Optimized
No
File Size Xbox Series
34 GB (May 2024) ♛
Platforms That Support Crossplay
PC, Xbox One, & Xbox Series X/S ꦿ
PS Plus Availability
☂ Ex❀tra & Premium
Steam User Rating
89% (October 27, 2023) 🅺

Before you can head out into space, you need a ship and all the right tools to ke𓂃ep it running well. Of course, unless you're super-talented all on your own, you'll be looking for a crew, and filling it up with a few engineers will help guarantee a safe voyage and exploration. T♔hat's who you're following in Space Engineers.

You have decided to venture out into space, but you need to start by 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:building a ship made for travel by gathering the right materials and putting them together. When you do decide to take flight, you may come across certain celestial bodies. You can rest, harvest, or try 𝐆to build a base or space statiඣon on new surfaces to ground yourself in the chaos of space before setting out further into the unknown.

Dead Space Series

As If Space Wasn't Scary Enough

Dead Space Isaac flying in zero-g through the station as bodies can be seen floating.
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Your Rating

Dead Space
Survival Horror
Systems
Released
October 14, 2008
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Go𓃲re, Intense Violence, Strong Language 𝓰
Developer(s)
📖 Visceral Games ♐
Engine
Frostbite

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL

Platform(s)
PC, PS3, Xbox 360
How Long To Beat
11 Hours
X|S Optimized
No
File Size Xbox Series
6 GB (December 2023) 🐭 ✃
Metascore
89

The reason space is so scary on its own is because it's so big, so dark, and so filled with unknown things that we can't even start to comprehend. Who knows what sorts of organisms are out there that could be planning our demise? Well, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dead Space prese🐽nts some very creepy possibilities for that.

After a space station goes dark, Isaac Clarke and his crew of semi-deposable💖 allies arrive to investigate. Isaac is there to fix some things and to look for his girlfriend but quickly encounters the hostile mutant-alien-zombie creatures called Necromorphs. Armed with various engineering tools and some weapons, Issac has no choice but to fight his way through the station and learn the fate of everyone aboard.

Empyrion - Galactic Survival

Build, Expand, And Survive The Galaxy

A white, orange, gray, and black spacecraft where smaller ships can land.
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Your Rating

Empyrion - Galactic Survival
Survival
Open-World
Systems
Released
August 5, 2015
Developer(s)
🌄 ൲ Eleon Game Studios
Publisher(s)
Eleon🍌 Game Studios
Engine
Unity
Multiplayer
🌠 🥃 Online Multiplayer
Steam Deck Compatibility
Playable

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

Platform(s)
PC
How Long To Beat
60 Hours

Space is full of mystery, and we, as humans, are driven to try to solve all the mysteries that we can. Of course, there's rarely ever a solution without risk, but it's one that we're all too willing to take as long as we feel p💫re🙈pared. Empyrion - Galactic Survival gives us the mystery of Empyrion that hides somewhere in the universe.

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2

Once again, we have to work to build ships and structures just to further our exploration and fact-finding. When you've got a sturdy enough ship, you can start flying to strange new worlds in hopes of encountering new materials and environments. They'll have you learning more about the richness and vastness of space while gathering what you need to improve your ships and gear. Whether you're an explorer or a settler, the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:mystery will be waiting.

SpaceEngine

The Universe Awaits

The ship takes flight in SpaceEngine.

Our universe is expanding every single second, which means there's more space for things to appear. This can be dust clouds, stars, or entire planets that can host multiple kinds of mysterious environments. Wit꧅h the SpaceEngine, you can try to reach the edge of an expanding universe without knowing what's out there.

This is a game that's all about discovering new things and gaining an appreciation for the vastness of all things. It prides itself on its powerful procedural generation, so you can head in any random direction and have an incredible opportunity to encounter enumerable new things. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Feel the physics, get lo🌺st i💞n the visuals, and have total freedom to explore this universe until you find your place among the stars.

Space Trash Scavenger

Unidentified Flying Garbage

The Scavenger Flying By A Ship In Space Trash Scavenger.
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Your Rating

Space Trash Scavenger
Released
November 9, 2023
ESRB
nr
Developer(s)
ꦫ 🀅 SquarePlay Games
Publisher(s)
﷽ Paradox Arc
Engine
Unity

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

Platform(s)
PC

People don't realizeꦫ how valuable trash can be, especially when so much of it can be repurposed and restored to brand-new condition. And this is just the trash that we can find here on Earth, so who knows what kind of refuse is floating in space? Well, the Space Trash Scavenger knows.

That's who you'll be when you start playing the game. You are someone who has the resources to fly through space and go through all the floating trash piles created by all sorts of species who've thrown it from their ships or launched it from their planets. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:The handy jetpack you've got is more than enough to explore all th♎e small celestial bodies and abandoned facilities on various planets' surfaces. Recycle that trash to grow your operation and become a space trash powerhouse.

Starcom: Unknown Space

Search The Dangerous Beyond

Exploring A Dark Part Of Deep Space In Starcom Unknown Space.

Since the universe is so incomprehensibly big, what is comprehensible is just how much dangerous stuff there is out there. However, someone has to be brave enough to go see what's going on out there and hopefully discover things that are safe and incredible. This risk will be t𒆙aken ꧃in Starcom: Unknown Space.

The title gives a good idea of what you're doing: going into an unknown space. The story begins when you assume the role of a commander, get a crew together, find a ship, and take off for the space that awaits. You'll encounter everything from empty planets to 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:alien species, friendly and hostile encounters, but it's all for the sake of discovery and learning the secrets of ꧂the universe. Keep your crew and ship in shape to make the unknown known.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

Travel Through The Void To Explore Deadly Space

The main crew of Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader in battle together.

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Your Rating

168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Warhammer 40,000: R𓆏ogue Trader
4.0/5
Top Critic Avg: 78/100 Critics Rec: 77%
Released
December 7, 2023
ESRB
T♏ Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of D📖rugs and Alcohol, Violence
Developer(s)
ꩵ Owlcat𒉰 Games
Publisher(s)
Owlcat Games 🌟
Engine
Unity

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL

Multiplayer
🍌 Online Multiplayer
How Long To Beat
90 Hours
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

If you don't understand Warhammer 40,000 here's the gist: It's the far, far, far future where everything is dark, power armor is standard issue, and everything is trying to kill everything else. However, some choose to distance themselves from the conflict and seek their own adventure, like in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader.

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You and a crew of rogues, for lack of a better term, have gotten your hands on a pretty sweet ride known as a Voidship that is built to traverse the darkest parts of space. The destination you're heading fo🍬r is the Koronus Expanse, a place so dangerous that the Empire won't even send grunts to check it out. This makes it a prime unexplored territory full of discoveries and, hopefully, lots of valuable loot and tech to plunder. Maintain your ship, explore the different worlds, and keep your crew in fighting shape for whatever awaits them when they touch down.