An excellent selection of games and space simulators. Space Action 10 best games about space

Do you like science-fiction games that take place in cold space? Then our list of the best space games on PC is for you! For you, we have selected the most epic space games with spaceships and more!

TOP 10 best space games on PC

10th place: Mass Effect


A game that captivated millions of people not only with its graphics, but also with its unsurpassed plot. Here you will find interplanetary intrigues and space battles. It does everything that one of the best space games on PC needs.

9th place: Star Federation


An exciting game that will allow us to put on the uniform of one of the Star Federation soldiers, fly through millions of light years and, of course, shoot many enemies of the federation. Real space ones that will take us through cold and lifeless space, and then possibly kill us...

8th place: Dead Space


A game that rightfully deserves not only a place in our top of the best space games, but also a place at the top in our top. The story about an incident on a spaceship led our hero into a very difficult situation. After all, as it turned out, the ship is inhabited by terrible creatures who dream of tearing you apart. So now you are alone, in cold space. Good luck…

7th place: Eve Online


The huge cosmic world in the MMO universe opens up to us the wonderful world of space, with the ability to interact with other players to the fullest. The world of this game is many times greater than anything you have seen before, because the cosmic world is a priori very large. Such a game universe deserves seventh place in the top of the best space games.

6th place: Star Craft


The game was one of the progenitors of e-sports in the world, and also earned an honorable place on the PC. Here you have access to not only a huge and well-developed universe, but also a fascinating plot, which has rightfully earned its place in history, and in our list of the best games about spaceships.

The best space games on PC

5th place: Lost Planet


Before you is a wild world in which flora and fauna have declared war on all other forms of life. And you will fully learn what the planet is capable of in the fight against extraterrestrial beings. You will have to destroy alien creatures to your heart's content, and also experience all the hardships of life on your own skin... One way or another, this game opens fifth place in our list of the best space games on PC.

4th place: Home World


A strategy in which everything is implemented so simply and sincerely. In the game you will find just a lot of emotions and even more questions. After all, here you have to deal not with any nonsense, but with the search for your true homeland! As well as the alien life forms with which you are connected, the game will not leave anyone indifferent, even despite its age. A worthy fourth place among the best space games.

3rd place: Kill Zone


A bloody shooter in which you will enjoy battles between humans and mutants. The battle has been going on for many years, and the end is not yet in sight. What will happen at the end of this war and who will survive depends on you, dear players! So gather all the strength in your hands and show these scoundrels! Third place in our list of the best space games on PC.

2nd place: Doom


A game that made us think about only one thing - survival. The fascinating events that take place in space very frighteningly present us with the story of our heroes, but what will come out in the end will surprise you very much!
It is also worth noting that this game is one of the And here we have a top game in outer space! There are shootouts, spaceships, and aliens! This game is the epitome of all the games above, built into a single online game! And most importantly, this game is absolutely free! So if you were looking for a space game on PC, then you would be a complete fool if you didn’t play this masterpiece... I’ll even leave the link below! The best space game on PC!

And here's a bonus for you - a small but interesting video.

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Space simulators are not for everyone. This axiom does not depend on the genre, year of release, graphics or ease of control. The fact is that gamers treat game projects about space with some distrust and do not want to waste their time flying in outer space. Just look at the most popular games, whether measured by online player count or digital copy sales, and you won't notice space simulators there. We don’t take Star Citizen into account, because this game is above all laws, rules and regulations.

The most popular games today are League of Legends, Dota 2, with their “Battle Royale” and all multiplayer products of this type. They gain their fame for a lot of reasons, but they certainly deserve it. Everyone wants to come home or to a computer club, sit down at the computer and fight. To somehow express yourself, throw out negative emotions, communicate with friends and receive moral satisfaction from this. Space simulators provide a slightly different experience, which makes them not so popular among gamers.

Plus, space simulators, and games related to space in general, have two key problems that prevent them from becoming so widespread and popular.

First reason- difficulty in implementation. Creating a map for CS:GO or League of Legends is quite difficult; you need to think through many details and moments, draw graphics, test and release. However, this is a certain set of elements that will be polished and not touched again. Now imagine how much effort and time it takes to create at least a solar system. Create planets, organize locations, textures, animals, vegetation on these planets, add some activities or simply make them more or less interesting.

Now let's add transport to the planets - we need a ground version, aircraft, various spaceships and everything like that. If the game is built on the basis of exploring the galaxy, then you need to come up with a lot of mechanics, details and graphical components. As a result, it is much easier to create a shooter than to develop a really good game about space.

The second reason- popularity is lower than cliched shooters and MOBAs. Yes, now many EVE Online fans will say that space simulators have a huge audience, but even the coolest and longest-running EVE online at its peak was 50 thousand people. For comparison, Dota 2 is now in decline and 400 thousand people online are considered a meager figure, while two million people log in to PUBG every day. Naturally, the developers don’t have much desire to create a heavy project about space, when it will still have ten times fewer players than the modern version of the mod for WarCraft. And, if there are few players, then it will be more difficult to get a decent profit.

Because of these two difficulties, there are indeed very, very few space-themed game projects on the market. There are various indie games where only the name remains of space, there are games from the 2000s where the graphics have been redone and now play on the feelings of the older generation. There are quite a few powerful and interesting products that I would like to play. Today I will talk about five games that, in my personal opinion, are the best representatives of their genre.

Plus, after the main part of the article there will be a bonus for those who want to play something about space, but do not want it to be the basis of the entire gameplay.

EVE Online

I think even if you've never played EVE Online, you've definitely heard of it. Data constantly flashes online about the cost of ships destroyed during a battle for some important resource, a planet, or simply during a clan war. And, it seems to me, this is a shining example of a really good and complete game about space, with all the attendant possibilities.

There are a lot of active players here, minding their own business - building an economy, extracting resources, building ships, earning money, communicating, developing development strategies, and even waging political battles. Yes, this game has its own politics, its own strong clans, and they are constantly fighting for resources, benefits, advantageous locations and territories.

The game was released back in 2003. Just imagine - the game from 2003 is still played to this day, while the online presence is even growing a little and the players are not at all planning to move somewhere. The number of active subscribers (more on subscription a little later) is 330 thousand people, from 15 to 50 thousand people are constantly online. And, most importantly, they all play on one common server. Imagine - 50 thousand people on one server. In 2016, the developer received $86 million in profit, which means that the project will be developed and attracted more and more new users.

The game is free, but you won't be able to play for a long time without a paid subscription. The fact is that the free version has a number of restrictions on the character level and equipment that you can use, so it will be unrealistic to play comfortably without a subscription. It is worth noting the price tag for an annual subscription - $131. And, most importantly, even if you pay $10 a month for access to the game, no one guarantees you success, victories in battles or a sea of ​​resources. You can explore space with an empty pocket all this year and pay the cost of two AAA games just for the opportunity to use all the project's capabilities.

However, this is the largest space game in history. A huge number of players, ships that will take your breath away, real economics and politics, a myriad of opportunities for self-realization in various areas of virtual life. If you want to sit seriously and for a long time at the helm of a spaceship, then EVE Online will give you everything you could want.

It is worth understanding that the game is quite complex and requires you to explore not only the game world, but also mechanics, economic features, interaction with other players, and performing routine tasks. If you want to fly around the galaxy and fight a couple of enemies, close the game and go on about your business - this game is not for you. Absolutely not for you.

Pros:

• 15-50 thousand people on the server;
• a virtual world of unimaginable size;
• many ships;
• politics, economics, society;
• a serious, full-fledged game about space.

Minuses:

• costs $131 per year;
• There is no point in playing for free;
• delving into it is long and difficult;
• even with a subscription you need to work like Papa Carlo;
• cool ship costs as much as a used car.

May not like:

• the game takes a lot of time;
• you need to play for years;
• politics and economics are more important than battles.

Elite: Dangerous

A game that has earned a very mixed reaction from users. The fact is that the developers promised gamers a lot of opportunities and a rich life throughout almost the entire Milky Way, but in reality only small areas of the overall map turned out to be truly populated. Agree, when you are promised enemies, traders and explorers on every planet, behind every asteroid and solar system, and you fly for a couple of hours in search of at least someone alive, the sensations spoil.

But let's not talk about sad things. This project was released in 2014 and the developers are really working to make the game more enjoyable for you. Constant updates, patches, free add-ons and a cool plot line will bring you a lot of positive emotions literally in the first minutes of playthrough.

It is worth making a clarification - the game allows you to play independently, without other people; you can play co-op with friends; you can play the multiplayer version of the project.

The first two options for passing are clear - you fly alone or in the company of friends, fight, explore planets, extract resources, enjoy open space and limitless possibilities. But, sooner or later, you will want to plunge online and the sensations will change dramatically. Yes, no one has been to the most distant planets, and if you fly a little further than the zone of main activity, you will search for a living player for hours. If you stay in the high-activity sector, you get a very vigorous space simulator.

You might get robbed. Or you and your friends can rob a single person, take all his goods and then do nothing until you catch the target again. You can explore planets, go down to them (you need to pay for the DLC to do this) and drive across endless planets, collecting valuable supplies. You can just fly and watch beautiful landscapes, visit the most interesting planets and relax.

There are really a lot of activities, but the online presence here is noticeably lower and the game is not available by subscription. This is a significant difference from EVE Online - where players pay ten bucks a month and don’t want this money to just disappear. Here, users are not so motivated by achievements, wars and the economy, since the game can be bought for ridiculous money on sale and receive content for many years in a row.

Pros:

• low entry threshold;
• on sale you can get it for $10;
• no subscription;
• three game modes;
• there is no need to invest in donation.

Minuses:

• the Milky Way is 95% empty;
• there is no important social component;
• the players are not that serious;
• landing on the planet for DLC priced at $20.

May not like:

• sandbox without a plot;
• the planets are bare and boring;
• New mechanics have been introduced for years.

No Man Sky

After the official release of the game, it became clear that No Man Sky is not what the developers promised us. Actually, because of this, such a storm of negativity arose, which can only be compared with the recent events around Star Wars Battlefront 2.

The fact is that the developers, as usual, promised a lot of things. In particular, they promised players the endless expanses of the galaxy, where each planet would be unique, and its flora and fauna would not be repeated. At every interview, the creators talked about a special formula that creates millions and billions of planets for the player with a unique shape, color and features.

And, although Sean Murray also lied in this regard, the two main lies are different.

First lie - the game world will be so huge, diverse and multifaceted that two friends playing the game will never be able to meet on, say, the same planet. It is because of this that the developers put pressure on the fact that it would be more interesting to play alone, because you will never meet your friend - the world is too big and you are separated by enormous distances. But in just two hours of play, players were able to get to the same planet, visit the same locations, and even communicate with non-player characters who gave the same quests and dialogues. That is, the world is not that big here.

Second lie - multiplayer game. It is because of this that the game was returned to stores by thousands of users. It is because of this that the game will never reach even an average rating on Steam. It is because of this that the game is called the biggest deception in the gaming industry of the twenty-first century.

During interviews, the developers repeatedly said that the game is multiplayer and although you will not be able to find your friend in a huge galaxy, you will meet other players and interact somehow. It's just a single player game. There's not even co-op here, just a game for one person. Imagine that you've been waiting for a game for years, hoping that you're about to set off with your friends on a spaceship across the galaxy in search of adventure and riches, only to be told that in reality this won't happen.

After such a negative start, you might think that the game didn’t improve for me and how did it even get to the top. However, if we ignore all these speeches from the creators of the product, the expectations of users and the criticism of angry fans, then the game is very cool.

We have a really big virtual world. It’s not so big that you’ll spend hours flying from planet to planet, but you can’t fly across the galaxy in a couple of minutes, there are decent distances, solar systems and everything like that.

The planets are large, populated and more or less unique. It is worth understanding that all planets and flora and fauna were created according to a set of templates and a formula. If you play for twenty hours, then you already notice the similarities between the planets; after a hundred hours, nothing new will be shown. On the other hand, the planets are interesting, you can land on them, collect resources, look at the surroundings and fly further to explore wondrous worlds.

Let's not forget about tasks, various kinds of dialogues and stories, the possibility of upgrading a ship or purchasing a new aircraft. It’s all there, it’s implemented quite cool, and if you didn’t expect something like multiplayer from the game, then you’ll like it much more than EVE Online or Elite: Dangerous. Still, flying between planets, exploring them, extracting resources manually, completing tasks and enjoying unrealistically beautiful landscapes is much more interesting than engaging in politics or wandering through deserted locations in search of opponents to fight.

Pros:

• huge open world;
• inhabited planets;
• tasks, dialogues, stories;
• ship improvements;
• the freedom of action.

Minuses:

• lies from the developers;
• disappointment of the century;
• don't play with friends.

May not like:

• it gets boring after a hundred hours;
• where are people?

Star Citizen

The Star Citizen project holds the record for raising funds for development, but many consider the game a scam. Actually, there are reasons for this and quite compelling ones, but whether you believe it or not is another question. Fundraising for the development of this space simulator began in 2012 and continues to this day, but the developers have not shown a full-fledged product; there is only a tiny fraction of the promised content.

The fact is that on the Kickstarter platform the developers asked for a little more than two million dollars to create their incredibly cool project. Having collected more than four million, the team began creating the first module (part) of the game, simultaneously selling content on their website, by purchasing which you get access to the game immediately after release. That is, the fundraising continued, although the amount collected was twice the required amount.

Only in 2013 was the first part of the project shown - a hangar module in which you could monitor your ship, upgrade it, and so on. Just think about it - for a whole year the studio, consisting of two offices in Austin and Los Angeles with four million dollars in hand, created a hangar in which you can only look at the ship and repaint it, add some elements. During this period, EA may release a new Need For Speed ​​with hundreds of cars and tuning, for example.

The release of alpha version 3.0 was scheduled for early 2017. The amount that the developers managed to collect exceeded $170 million. However, in the five years since the start of fundraising, the game has not left the alpha version and we were given only four moons from the promised galaxy.

At the moment, players have gained access to some content, which, although very far from what the developers promised, but it already looks cool. We have four moons (not to be confused with the Earth's satellite - the Moon), there is a decent distance between them and you can move between objects by jumping into hyperspace. Yes, just like in Star Wars, when the stars around you stretch into lines and you cover enormous distances in a matter of moments.

In addition, upon arrival in the orbit of the moon, you can explore it on your aircraft, fly around the space object and choose the most suitable place to land. The size of the moons is truly impressive, and even flying over the surface of one such satellite requires a lot of time. After exploring the landscape, you can land on the surface and go on a journey - for this there is a special vehicle on six wheels.

True, there are only a couple of interesting locations on the moon, while approximately 98% of the surface is of no interest at all. Desert locations with rare craters and hills that will get boring within ten minutes of the trip. You can search for secret places and a base with its own population, NPCs and quests.

That is, today the project allows you to jump between four moons, drive along the desert surface of each of them, plus spend an unforgettable five minutes at the bases; there is nothing longer to do there. There are also repair stations, but they are also not very interesting.

At the same time, you can only play at adequate 30 frames per second on an empty server. If two or three more people enter the server, then FPS drops to 10-20 and does not rise higher, even if your computer costs five thousand dollars. The problem is in the network code - it is not optimized at all for computers with current capacities.

A fact that caused distrust in the entire project as a whole were changes in the rules for refunding users who bought ships and sets in Star Citizen. Previously, the rules stated that if the game was not released 18 months after the specified release date, “investors” would receive all their funds back. Now the rules have changed dramatically - funds cannot be returned until the team has completely stopped developing the game. Simply put, as long as the studio says that development is underway, you can wait at least ten years for a refund.

Players are simply afraid that the developers are deliberately delaying development and investing as much effort as is necessary to further earn money from the sale of ships. After all, apart from modest and boring moons with a hangar for repairs, nothing else was implemented over such a long period and with such huge money on hand. Naturally, investors are worried about their $45 (now this is the minimum amount for access to the game) and too many factors indicate that they are worried for good reason.

However, if the game is released in full form, then this will be the end of absolutely all space simulators, and most online projects of other genres too. The developers have already shown a completely seamless virtual world with the ability to board a ship and explore space without obstacles. In the future, we are promised the opportunity to land on any planet, collect resources or complete a quest, they promise cities with characters, housing, entertainment and work. And I’m not talking about such things as battles in space, ships, modifications, and so on.

The game really has a lot of ambitions, and if it is brought to fruition, it will be possible to explore space on your own, with friends, fight or trade, work and enjoy those activities that are not available in real life or other games. Only for its ambitions and what the developers show in their modules and videos for social networks, the game was called the best and most modern project.

Just imagine a game where you board your ship, fly through a dozen solar systems, fly to one of the planets, land (without loading or tearing), fight with other players for resources, fly away and move on. Into outer space, where there are no barriers. Sounds damn good if it were still optimized for a smooth gaming experience and given a little more content.

Pros:

• the most ambitious game in history;
• $170 million for development;
• open space without loading screens;
• hundreds of activities and hobbies;
• many variations of ships and equipment.

Minuses:

• for five years of development only an alpha version;
• 10-20 FPS;
• four desert moons with no content;
• buy a ship and let's play.

May not like:

• We may not live to see the release version.

Space Engineers

The game Space Engineers for me is a kind of improved version of Minecraft - here you also need to build structures, extract resources, but it’s really difficult to build something sensible. It’s enough just to open the Internet and look at the projects of various types of aircraft that players created in the game, and it becomes clear that the word “engineer” is written in the title for a reason. The designs are complex, they require an understanding of the circuits and features of some mechanisms, you need to calculate the engine power for the size of the ship and stuff like that.

The developers have taken on the very difficult task of creating a space simulator, in which the system for designing and assembling a spaceship will be thought out in great detail, a system of landing on planets and asteroids for extracting resources will be implemented, plus the process of interaction between players. For a small development studio this is a very difficult task, but they are gradually mastering it and this is pleasing.

Space Engineers has already been optimized so that you can play on your not very powerful computer and enjoy it with a stable frame rate without lags. At the time of the release of the project in the early access stage it was almost impossible to play, but now even on a mid-level computer the picture is quite pleasant. An endless virtual world opens up before you with such a range of possibilities that it will take your breath away.

You can get confused and find designs for huge ships online, then repeat the idea in the game, somehow change the design of the aircraft or redo the design. Very popular in this game are copies of spaceships from Star Wars, for example, which are very interesting to collect and you can always come up with something of your own. If you're not interested, you can quickly assemble a couple of ships with your friends and push them against each other, look at the beautiful destruction and have a good laugh.

Pros:

• ship design;
• manual assembly of aircraft;
• a lot of mechanisms;
• open space with all the laws of physics;
• the project is constantly updated and refined;
• there are hundreds of guides on the Internet for assembling the coolest ships;
• You can collect the Death Star.

Minuses:

• optimization is not perfect yet;
• not very user-friendly interface;
• complex mechanisms;
• building a ship takes a lot of time.

May not like:

• there are no mechanics for fun;
• There is also no need to communicate with other players.

Games closely related to space

Star Wars: Battlefront II
A game that received so much negativity at the start that now one can only hope that DICE will take on projects on this topic. Loot boxes have led to refunds for digital copies, hundreds of videos have been shot online and even more negative reviews have been written. All this tarnished the reputation of a game that can give you a much more positive feeling from conquering space than many products focused entirely on this idea.

I mean space battles - they are thought out very well and playing in space on a rebel fighter, or destroying everyone on an imperial ship, is quite cool and against the backdrop of these sensations you can even forget about the boxes. Indeed, the battle mode between spaceships here looks as vibrant as possible, players do unimaginable things with ships, and if you are a fan of all this and the theme of shootouts in space is close to you, then Star Wars: Battlefront II will give you the best multiplayer battles on space fighters on the video game market.

Mass Effect: Andromeda

Another game that was shattered by negative comments from reviewers, users and critics. Everyone expected something in the spirit of the old school from the project, while the developers from BioWare decided to go a different route and show more mechanics and a new story. It’s a pity that under the pressure of criticism, Mass Effect: Andromeda failed in sales and it is now reliably known that the entire franchise has been frozen indefinitely.

I won’t say my opinion about the product as a whole, it’s no longer important, but the implementation of space research here is fantastic. You find a new system, scan each planet manually, find the information you need and move further along the storyline. Sometimes we are given the opportunity to go to the planet itself and explore its territory on an all-terrain vehicle, look for resources, enemies and secret places. Plus, there aren't many games where you can have a relationship with a girl of alien origin.

This is already the third AAA-class project that has felt a mountain of negativity, not entirely deservedly, as it seems to me. Still, if you look at the storyline, game mechanics and graphics, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare seems even more attractive than Call of Duty: WWII. But that's not what we're talking about now.

This installment of the famous franchise has some of the best space combat I've seen. Of course, Battlefront II goes far ahead here, but COD also has something to answer. Well-developed controls, vigorous shootouts with dozens of opponents, dangerous turns and huge maps with a lot of small objects in outer space. Yes, it’s worth saying that these battles are implemented only in the storyline and some tasks seem drawn out, but, in general, in terms of space battles, this part of the shooter was really pleasing. I think no one expected such a good implementation of this gameplay element from the project.

EVE: Valkyrie

The article ends with one of the most advanced games in general on the gaming market, not only in the space simulator genre. The EVE: Valkyrie project was not initially perceived by players as something serious and exciting, and this is a VR game, that is, you also need to buy a helmet for it.

Now we can say with confidence that this project is the reason why a gamer will buy a virtual reality helmet. A very colorful, bright and rich implementation of space battles, with almost complete immersion on the part of the player, allows you to completely forget about ordinary games with a mouse and keyboard/gamepad.

This game is the future of the industry, a shining example of how we will play in five years. If you really wanted to look at virtual reality, but did not notice any worthy games for which you could buy an expensive toy, then take a closer look at this simulator. It will satisfy even the most sophisticated users.

Kerbal Space Program

I can't call Kerbal Space Program just a game. This is a vivid example of how the virtual world can be as close as possible in terms of the laws of physics to the real world, and how a game about little green men can motivate the study of science more than the educational system. The developers give you such incredible scope for imagination and engineering ideas that it’s simply impossible to explain it in a nutshell.

However, I'll try. Why is this game so interesting? We have a team of carbonauts and the task is to get to some planet, conduct our research and return home. Moreover, throughout this entire chain, success will depend solely on you and no one will land the rocket or take off for you. You need to completely design the aircraft, design its take-off module, take off from the Earth (this does not always work out) and go into space. Let's add to this the calculation of the flight trajectory to the desired point and the trajectory of return to the home planet. And, of course, landing.

Sometimes it takes hundreds of take-off attempts to realize one successful rocket. A lot of mistakes, failures and problems force you to read relevant literature, look at photos of real rockets, watch videos about the launch of real shuttles into space. Studying physics and astronomy and technical knowledge helps a lot. This is not just a toy for those who want to shoot at enemies in the evening, it requires thinking, studying and enlightenment. Agree, you don’t know many games where you need to learn something from the real world and read books.

Interesting Facts:

• In schools in Europe and the USA, the game is used for scientific projects in astronautics and physics.
• NASA directly contacted the project developers and asked them to familiarize players with the 2020 program for capturing extraterrestrial bodies.
• The developers of mods for Kerbal Space Program have created a ton of content and continue to do so.
• On the Internet you can find detailed diagrams of a wide variety of rockets and assemble everything yourself.

Space games are a great genre for those who love the galaxy. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin went into space. This grandiose event showed that man is capable of anything. Those events gave hope that, someday, people will be able to fly freely across the expanses of the Universe, from one planet to another. So far, all this is only in dreams, but those who want to go into space and explore its vastness are invited to visit the virtual space world by playing one of the proposed games about space. With them, flights to Mars, travel between galaxies, and the exploration of new planets became possible. Game developers tried to create a realistic space world that allows you to make all your dreams of stellar reality come true.

1. Entropia Universe

Entropia Universe is a unique cosmic Universe with a real payment system. The player is invited to buy and sell a variety of items for real money. It is possible to display them on the map.

Players are given the opportunity to deposit and withdraw money, earning money from purchases and sales.

In Entropia Universe, players have several huge planets to choose from, open to endless exploration. Here you can hunt, work, perform various tasks to earn money. The economy in the system is stable. There is no intervention from the administration here. Players determine their own prices.

The Entropia Universe simulator opens up the opportunity to decide on your own play style. He can work monotonously in a mine or hunt in the vastness of the cosmic universe. A unique hero system helps create non-repetitive characters. Players themselves add originality to their characters: this system helps to emphasize individuality.

The game about space captivates with its realism and seriousness. Here, every mistake costs money - every step needs to be calculated.

2. Star Ghosts

Star Ghosts - cosmic. From the first minutes of the gameplay you are invited to plunge into the world of endless outer space. It is addictive: original soundtrack, clear interface, the ability to spend time with other gamers online.

A large number of characters and tasks will not let you get bored - there is always something to do, if you wish, you can create weapons for your ship yourself. Crafting adds advantages to Star Ghosts.

For greater realism, a full-fledged market system is provided in which absolutely everything is allowed to be sold, including weapons - there are no restrictions. Upon reaching the fifth level, you need to be prepared to face the cosmic universe in all its cruelty, when every ship flying past can attack with the aim of capture.

Star Ghosts are a new achievement of science fiction writers. The project absorbed everything that could be and provided an opportunity not only to play, but also to earn extra money.

3. Star Conflict

Star Conflict is a popular MMO action game. The scenario revolves around a struggle between two sides, chosen at random. In Star Conflict, the point is constant improvement, updates, and purchases of new ships. All this is done in between star battles.

The game has excellent quality graphics. This is not just a space arcade game, but a huge project where you can fight, control spaceships and more. From the very beginning of the space game, you are asked to choose which side you will play on. Not only the external differences of the starships, but also the sets of bonuses depend on the choice. The Empire is characterized by thick armor, and the Jerichos have good defense. The Federation is famous for its great speed. The choice of ships is huge, each race has its own set of devices. You can choose a type based on the characteristics of enemy ships.

There are three types of starships in Star Conflict: frigates, interceptors and attack aircraft. Interceptors are famous for their excellent maneuverability and high speed, with which they can easily fly behind enemy lines, destroying their fleet. Interceptors are fragile, but capable of shooting far.

The main striking force is attack aircraft. They are more powerful than interceptors, but slower. Stormtroopers have "survivability". They have average weapons, average speed and average firing range. Each vessel of this type has a special module that gives individual characteristics to the attack aircraft.

Frigates are heavy power. They shoot well from afar and are tenacious. But they are not agile. Small ships are capable of spinning a frigate, shooting it from the tail. If you learn to play it well, this type of machine will become a serious weapon.

At the start, the player receives the first rank - there are 15 in total. In each battle, experience points are awarded, which are spent on improving the level.

The game has no equal in its niche. The developers chose the direction well and created a truly interesting project that found fans.

4.Prey

Prey is one of the biggest space games, which even critics appreciated. This space game is one of those that is better not to know anything about. And all because this is not just a game, but a real study that can impress even a person who is far from the gameplay. It attracts with an unusual plot in a sci-fi style.

The plot takes place on the Talos space station. She survived the disaster. Most of the personnel died. Monsters are roaming everywhere. The main character is Morgan, a scientist suffering from amnesia. To survive, he will have to improvise. Most of the time the player needs to explore the world around him, try to restore pieces of history, solve various technical tasks, look for different paths, and make something. When completing tasks, the hero is upgraded.

In addition, the scientist has to fight monsters. The game teaches you to think, be attentive, cunning, and calculating. The hero is given few supplies and he has to do his best to get something.

In every fight you need to think to stay alive. Most often you approach enemies with empty pockets and poor health. In these situations, you have to improvise, using any raised objects. And these are not all the surprises that can be expected during the passage of Prey.

5.Mass Effect

Mass Effect is a large-scale space game set in the future. In this other universe, humanity ranks last among the interracial alliance. The main character is Captain Shepard. He and his team will have to uncover a conspiracy and stop evil from destroying life in the galaxy.

The plot of Mass Effect is interesting, but everything here seems already familiar: the main character walks, accompanied by two companions, travels across the galaxy, saving worlds. The developers have equipped different characters with different skills - they depend on the class. The soldiers are equipped with good weapons and increased life. Technicians are characterized by knowledge of codes and the ability to open any locks; biotics are a kind of sorcerers. They are frail in body, but can kill enemies with telekinesis and other supernatural abilities.

According to gamers, the game about space deserves attention. It seems to have a classic scenario, but this does not prevent it from dragging on for several game hours.

6. Dead space

Dead space is a real space action movie, a cross between horror. From the first minutes it becomes clear that this is not quite ordinary science fiction. According to legend, humanity stopped searching for oil and gold, and went to explore space, extracting minerals outside the Earth. Moreover, mining is carried out in the most brazen way: a ship flies to the planet, takes a giant piece of soil and flies away.

This plan worked for almost all ships, but one was unlucky. The biggest earner stopped communicating. Initially, this was written off as a normal breakdown, and a team of specialists was sent to help. But the problem did not lie in the breakdown of communications. The star ship has been captured by monsters. For them, the human body is a building material.

Dead space completely immerses you in the world of an unusual cosmic universe, and then lets you float freely. A simple mechanic, Isaac, must save himself at any cost, contact the authorities and get away from this captured ship.

7. Eve online

Among space games, one of the most unusual is Eve online. Its plot from the first minutes draws you in for long game hours, forcing you to travel into the distant future - thousands of years into the future...

The events of Eve online take place in the future, when Earth's scientists have found a way to move in space and time. This technology made it possible to populate other planets. One day, a cataclysm disrupted the connection through the tunnel, and many colonies were cut off from supplies of resources and food. From this moment on, the real struggle for survival begins: interplanetary conflicts began to develop into a real war.

The player will have to choose an empire to fight for. The main task is to increase its position on the world stage. To do this, you can use any methods: trade, mine ores, or start a war.

Eve online is not easy to control, but you get the hang of it quite quickly. Initially, gamers are confused on the map, not understanding what to do and where to fly, but after that everything quickly falls into place. Soaring through galaxies, fighting, looking for minerals - all this is interesting and worth it to test your strength in outer space.

8. Lost Planet

Lost Planet is an arcade game that can amuse even the most serious gamer. The plot tells about an alien planet, huge insects. Earthlings decided to go into space and study one of the planets, but, as it turned out, it was not empty. Local inhabitants bury themselves under the snow. The research group is practically alone, not counting the enemies. The hero gets a modest arsenal, a grappling hook and a couple of cars.

The developers managed to surprise with good graphics and voluminous episodes, although some moments lack realism. But this drawback is not noticeable against the background of the overall impression of the game about space. This simple arcade shooter is impressive and captivating. Ice planet and giant beetles, hundreds of researchers, the need to survive at any cost. This is what you will have to face in Lost Planet.

9. Warframe

The action takes place in the distant future, during the dominance of the machines of capitalism and clones. The player is invited to explore 18 worlds with high techno-organic horrors. Battles are fought here, characters fight against corruption and greed. There is no need to fight alone - you can join the millions of Tenno who have already awakened from their sleep.

Warframe features over thirty fully customizable warriors. Each of them has their own abilities. The player has the opportunity to select an arsenal and expand the existing one. There are over three hundred weapon options and the ability to change them and fake them to suit your playing style.

In Warframe, everyone makes their own path. The character can be led undetected or break through further and further with battle, opening up new paths.

Warframe is a free space game. There are no barriers here that prevent you from joining the new world and starting to fight for it.

10. Star citizen

A space simulator that is rightfully considered an ambitious development in recent years. Star citizen has one unusual feature - it is published with the money of the players themselves, and not with the funds of the developers.

Events take place in the vicinity of the Milky Way, in the united Earth Empire. If desired, you can explore it, live there, trade, fly, fight. There are battles on ships with a first-person view of combat.

Star citizen provides one huge world, complex and dynamic. The economy here is developing rapidly. The gamer is offered many opportunities, including a well-thought-out solo company. The highlight of the game about space is that there are many different types of ships available here, freedom of choice of actions.

11. Surviving Mars

Surviving Mars is a global space strategy game with a colony management simulator. According to the scenario, players must build a base, monitor its inhabitants and their needs and standard of living.

The mission begins with a flight to a neighboring planet. The financing of the entire trip depends on the leader of the expedition and the organizer of the flight. It is important to correctly decide what exactly will be taken with you. Having arrived on the planet, the player will have to choose a landing site. Tips and guidelines help with this. They also tell you what difficulties you may encounter in the future.

Colonization begins with the construction of domes. As soon as all communications inside are completed and launched, a group of future Martians can be sent. They will populate the planet and begin their development on it. The colony encounters many troubles, including falling meteorites, lack of resources, routine, and Martian dust.

12. Star Wars: Empire at War

Star Wars: Empire at War is a multiplayer strategy based on the plot of Star Wars. Here players can decide for themselves which side to fight on: the dark side or the good side. In any of them the player will have to play in all possible modes.

The gamer must capture all the planets in the galaxy. On each of them you can build different buildings, factories, and produce units for defense. The army moves from one planet to another, capturing them. Battles are fought automatically or manually.

The battle can be fought on the planet itself or in outer space. Players like the last option better. Here, each side has one main structure - a station where units are built and upgrades are carried out. By improving it, you get the opportunity to create new warriors.

The developers created a quite good story with good graphics, and drew special effects. It is possible to control the camera, zoom in and out of focus. There is a live camera mode, which makes the fights seem like a full-fledged scene from the film.

The entire game about space is accompanied by good sound with decent voice acting for each movement: the steps of the soldiers are different, the sound of iron can be heard and more. The new Star Wars has pleased users with its unusualness and is quite worthy to go explore the cosmic Universe.

13. Elite: Dangerous

Elite: Dangerous is an epic embodiment of the classic space science fiction: open world, complete freedom, influence on the development of the plot, an entire galaxy at your disposal - the entire Milky Way.

The game begins with the ownership of a small ship and a small amount of local money. Adventures will allow you to gain new skills, knowledge, power and everything you need to survive and take your place in the star elite. The era of galactic warriors and superpowers, the actions of each person have a huge impact on the events of the game about space. The government collapses, victory and defeat replace each other, the boundaries of space change. And all this depends on the player’s tactical move.

The plot unfolds among millions of stars and planets, asteroid fields, black holes. The developers tried to create beautiful graphics and accurate dimensions, and they succeeded. What happens in Elite: Dangerous doesn't happen in other space games. This is one of the best space simulators.

14. Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is a unique MMO first-person shooter. Even critics appreciated it. The developers managed to present the world differently from what it really is. The full-fledged universe seems vast, and the plot is not entirely ordinary. According to it, humanity understands that the time has come to colonize Mars. Arriving on the planet, people encounter an unusual sphere. She was transported to Earth. She gave new scientific knowledge to all of humanity. Of course, there were races who wanted to get the sphere. The war began, humanity was on the verge of extinction. Those who protected the find gained magical abilities and immortality. Having defeated one race, another - the Cabal - attacked the Earth.

You have to fight the enemy, explore the universe, and level up your character. There are several missions to choose from: hold open events on different systems, patrol, look for important targets, destroy monsters, their bosses and more. The gamer can complete tasks in a team or go on a journey alone.

15. Kerbal Space Program

Kerbal Space Program is a simulator of a moderate arcade type. It opens up the possibility of flying a rocket around one of the star systems. According to the scenario, there is the planet Kerbin with its indigenous inhabitants, who have reached technologies comparable to our developments of the seventies. They decide to fly up to see what is there. A starship is being created, and you control the entire space program. You have the opportunity to create a mini-rocket that will launch the local “loon” into outer space. And here you will encounter unexpected surprises. At first glance, they are funny, but in order to complete a space exploration program, you have to put in a lot of effort, ingenuity and a lot of experimentation.

When creating Kerbal Space Program, the developers were able to create something between arcade and hardcore style. It seems like a simple plot, a simple beginning and a gradual increase in complexity attracts gamers.

16. Take On Mars

Initially, Take On Mars was a fairly easy development where you need to study Mars, ride a rover, take soil samples for research, get acquainted with local minerals and listen to the howling of the wind. But everything has changed, the game about space has become completely different. A mixture of science fiction and realism, the stories of colonists, the construction of buildings and the use of advanced scientific achievements - this is what the once simple exploration game has become. Now Take On Mars is a full-fledged colonization of the Red Planet, the main task of the gamer is to stay alive.

The developers thought through a completely realistic world, drawing every detail: dunes, craters, sunsets, equipment. You will face the lifeless Martian sands, where dangers lie. Will the hero be able to finish what he started? Everything depends on you.

17.SpaceEngine

SpaceEngine is hundreds of galaxies, stars, straight out of astronomy textbooks and turned into an unusual, vast game world. The size of the Universe and its greatness are fully felt in SpaceEngine. She can make you think about your pettiness and worthlessness. Comparing a person with this world, it seems that he is just an invisible atom.

The project gives absolute freedom to move around space. You can fly wherever you want, move from one star to another, explore clusters of galaxies, hover in orbits, visit nebulae, look at a black hole. The simulator will be appreciated by those who dream of going to the stars, conducting research and seeing it in real life.

18. Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Old Republic is another space game created in the style of a massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Its actions take place in the future, thousands of years in advance, but before the appearance of Darth Vader.

The creators successfully continued the Star Wars scenario, offering gamers a game world divided into two parts. In them, everyone must decide for themselves which side to take, for whom to fight. The choice may fall on the Sith Empire or fight for the Republic. Then you have to decide on a character and you can fly off to explore the endless space.

The gameplay of STAR WARS is made in a classic style. The entire plot turns on the side of the chosen character. The ships, the storyline, and the missions performed depend on it. Some of them need to be completed in a company, while others can be completed independently.

19. Kingstars

Kingstars is a large-scale cosmic project where everyone can feel like a strategist. The hero has a unique opportunity to begin his journey from managing a small planet to conquering the entire universe.

Kingstars is supported from any flash browser, which is very attractive. There is a very low threshold of system requirements here. This solution allows you to play from a PC without installing a client.

Kingstar begins with character selection. His goal is to develop the planet, search for minerals, develop deposits, build global defense structures and protect his territory from outside invasions.

From the first minutes after registration, a newbie must decide on a server. The bonuses with which he will begin to build his world depend on his choice. After the training course, the gamer takes the reins into his own hands and sets off on an adventure. To successfully complete missions, you need to extract resources, build structures, improve existing ones, create an army, and fight battles. The hero has at his disposal space cargo carriers that deliver different types of cargo to all corners of the Universe and stars. Despite the simplicity of the battle, the game about space delivers a lot of positive emotions.

20. Stellar Age

A unique project with a single space map, where fierce battles for dominance over the Universe take place. Stellar Age is a social MMO strategy. From the first minutes you can engage in battle with enemies, defend yourself, spy, and travel across galaxies. Super zoom allows you to see the cosmic world in a different light.

On your own planet, it is proposed to start mining, develop technology, and improve defense. Completing various tasks helps raise your rating, create a fleet, and the right strategy will protect the planet from marauders and invaders, and will also help expand your territory.

The galactic map includes hundreds of solar systems and celestial bodies where other characters live. Having made friends, it becomes possible to communicate with them. Allies can do much more than a solo player. The outcome of events depends on the chosen strategy.

The strategy proposes 20,000 solar systems with more than 300,000 planets. More than a dozen types of ships are available for their development. After the battle, you can disassemble enemy ships for resources. And that's not all there is to it. A well-thought-out plot, high-quality graphics and huge opportunities will not let you get bored.

21. Population Zero

Population Zero is an MMO where the player finds himself on a separate planet and tries to survive. All actions take place in the open world. Despite the banality of the plot, the space scenario is captivating.

People decided to colonize a distant universe by sending a ship to it. Upon reaching orbit, the reactor exploded, triggering a safety system that sent the colonists in their capsules to Kepler's surface.

Many argue that the project offers the same thing as many others in this genre: a disaster on an unknown planet, the survival of a handful of people, finding out the cause of the disaster, the development of a nation from the Stone Age to modern technology, leveling up characters and more. The only difference is servers with other players. Gamers can unite or try to survive on their own, fighting for resources, territory, and the aggressive fauna of Kepler. The hero can join a variety of groups, create his own equipment, and do whatever he deems necessary for survival.

Conclusion

Every year the fantasy world is replenished with new territories and monsters. It’s simply not possible to see everything, but every gamer has a unique chance to try playing some of the best games, take part in unusual missions, and visit other galaxies copied from astronomy textbooks. The variety of options for games about space allows you to choose exactly the plot that you like most. All that remains is to try playing the game you like and decide whether it suits you or not.

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.

Hi all! Below is a selection of the 33 best games about space and spaceships for the computer. The selection was collected over 3 years and was first stored on my computer, now it is here. Games are constantly monitored and the most delicious things are added here regularly.

Separately, I made a selection only. Games of other genres are also more represented here.

Freelancer

Release date: 2003

Genre: Space simulator

Far from new, but a truly Great (yes, with a capital G) space simulator, which many modern developers still look up to. Easy to learn and well thought out, Freelancer became an icon of space games for many years to come. The premise of the game is very simple - the young pilot Trent loses his ship and takes on any orders, retraining in the game from an errand boy to the savior of all mankind...

Players will find a huge living and believable world with its own political life, a wide variety of ships with unique upgrade options and weapons, an interesting and original plot, and even a free game, which can be started after completing the main campaign. In addition, today there are a great many different mods that significantly expand and improve various aspects of the game.

EVE Online

Release date: 2003

Genre: MMORPG

An online multiplayer game set in space. The player here acts as the captain of his own spaceship and, almost from the very beginning of the game, is free to act as he wants (extract resources, trade, fight, engage in piracy, and much more). A distinctive feature of the project is that the players themselves influence both the economic and political situation in the game world.

Four playable factions, 7 thousand star systems, countless ships, upgrades and leveling options, and simply limitless opportunities to play your own role in this truly monumental game will not leave you indifferent. It is worth noting that the game is paid (a monthly subscription is paid), but there is a free mode with certain restrictions on character development and payment of a subscription for in-game currency.

Space Empires: Starfury

Release date: 2003

Genre: space strategy

Space Empires: Starfury- a space strategy that opens up endless outer space for the player.

In this game you have to create your own empire and develop it as best as possible. Explore outer space, appropriate new territories, destroy enemies, develop diplomacy, because you are a star general. All that remains is to choose the path of development and, sticking to it, reach the victorious end.

X2: The Threat

Release date: December 2003

Genre: simulator

X2: The Threat- an exciting and very realistic space simulator with elements of research, trade, construction and military battles. Vast space worlds, an intriguing plot, an abundance of choice of spaceships (about 70 types), the ability to create your own intergalactic cruiser to achieve given goals, many objects and mysteries - all this is appreciated by players who are able to spend many hours at the helm of a starship.

The space of space is divided into sectors, of which there are more than a hundred in the game. Between the sectors there are gates called hypergates. There are hostile, peaceful and unknown sectors. The player is given complete freedom of action, he can develop as he pleases. For example, build stations and factories, earning money from it. Or, for example, engage in piracy. Or even easier - just follow the plot of the game.

Space Rangers 2: Dominators

Release date: 2004

Genre: It combines so many genres that you’ll just get hooked: RPG, text quest, real-time strategy, action and arcade

People who play and love games for quite a long time know what Space Rangers are. For many Russian and not only Russian players, the game has become a cult. Many spent more than one day playing this game. The game takes place in space in the year 3400, where interaction occurs between five civilizations: Maloki, Pelengi, People, Faeyans, Gaalians. The player can choose a race, character, appearance. The game is on the all-time list.

After which the player can travel through space completing various quests, battles, trade, resource extraction, and so on. The world in Space Rangers is open and lives its own independent life around it. There are other rangers who, just like you, earn credits (game currency) and carry out their missions. Pirates can attack you at any time in the game.

There is humor in the game; you can often hear one or another joke in the dialogues of the characters. As you develop and earn credits, you can improve the equipment of your spaceship, improving its characteristics.

X3: Reunion

Release date: 2005

X3: Reunion– a space simulator with trading elements. The game was created for true connoisseurs of endless outer space, major intergalactic battles, freedom of movement, diplomacy, construction and trade. The game has its own plot line, but this does not limit the user’s freedom of exploration and action. The plot is built around the warlike and aggressive civilization of Haaki. In Khaaki society there is a strict hierarchy, where they obey a single leader. Their war fleet attacked the Earth and killed millions of people. The player must unravel the weak point of the warlike race and save humanity from death.

The game world is represented by a huge universe, in which there are 162 sectors. Each of them has portal gates through which you can quickly move from sector to sector. Representatives of eight different races live in the universe, including friendly and enemy ones. The development of the system of industrial production and trade relations is of great importance in passing the game. The construction of new plants and factories, the establishment of trade relations will help in the development of intergalactic business, improving your ship and much more.

Parkan 2

Release date: 2005

Genre: Space simulator, shooter

An old but very exciting space simulator from, which is a continuation of the game Parkan: Chronicle of an Empire, however, very different from its predecessor. And although the main features of the two games were similar, the second part made significant progress in terms of graphics, combat physics and the overall beauty of what was happening on the screen. A number of innovations were also added, for example, combat robots for planetary attacks.

In general, the second part of Parkan is a solid simulator with more than 500 different star systems. You have space, a ship and yourself, unlimited by any boundaries. The player can explore galaxies, land on planets (and even capture them!), fight, trade, communicate, fight again... The surface of the planets, by the way, is randomly generated, which significantly increases the replayability of the project. In a word, it’s better to try Parkan 2 yourself once than to read reviews about it.

STAR WARS Battlefront II

Release date: March 2005

Genre: First and third person shooter

A tactical team shooter in the Star Wars universe, which is a continuation of the game Star Wars: Battlefront. The second part is not fundamentally different from its predecessor, and the closest project with similar game mechanics can be called the Battlefield series. The game contains a variety of equipment from Star Wars, almost all the key characters, recognizable locations, and also plays out some important battles of the saga.

The second part of Battlefront has a larger number of different modes (compared to its predecessor), many maps, 4 opposing armies (two for each era represented in the game) and several classes of fighters for each side. Battles take place both on planets and in space, which significantly diversifies the gameplay. A definite must-play for both Star Wars fans and fans of games like Battlefield.

Release date: 2006

Genre: Spaceship simulator, open world

A space simulator with non-linear gameplay and first-person view. The player controls the control of a spaceship capable of moving between neighboring planetary systems using wormholes that create the spacecraft's power plants. Each system has only one habitable planet, around which an orbital station circles. Based on the name of the inhabited planet, the player selects a destination. Despite the fact that if there is a sufficient amount of fuel, a wormhole can be made anywhere within the system, the player will still have to navigate the ship to the station through outer space.

On his way, he may meet other ships, some of which will have to engage in mortal combat. The vehicles of space travelers in the game are armed with missiles and lasers. Most fights take place at close range with the enemy. However, in outer space the forces of gravity and inertia do not act. This makes the combat system very unpredictable.

Darkstar One

Release date: March 2006

Genre: Space simulator

A good space “flying game” with extensive capabilities and a strong, well-developed plot (there are a good 50 minutes of 3D videos alone). According to the plot, our protagonist gets his father’s unique spaceship, on which we begin our adventure. And although the game is not considered a standard of the genre, fans of space games will definitely like it.

At your service: more than 200 various improvements to the ship and its systems, endless expanses of space completely open for exploration, many unique races (each with its own characteristics), various opportunities for earning money (trading, smuggling, escorting, bounty hunting, killing pirates and etc.). It is noteworthy that “good” and “bad” roleplaying does not affect the plot, but somewhat changes the style of play.

Space Force: Rogue Universe

Release date: 2007

Genre: Simulator, open world

Space Force: Rogue Universe- space simulator. The game features realistic graphics, dynamic space battles, exploration and trading. You will be transported to outer space with picturesque planets, hot stars, comets, asteroids and black holes. In this simulator, in addition to military affairs, you can engage in trade, intelligence activities, diplomacy and earn money to improve the level of your skills.

The player can choose from one of 14 types of spaceships, which can be classified into three categories: heavy, medium and light. Starships can be improved according to their main characteristics: protection, weapons, cargo compartment volume, speed, etc. The game world is inhabited by ten unusual civilizations. The creators of Space Force: Rogue Universe placed the main emphasis on the development of the spaceship, as well as the free exploration of space. There really is a lot to explore - the game contains 46 star systems of the Milky Way. Each of them has its own characteristics, including asteroids, black holes, hostile races, etc.

Mass Effect series

Release date: 2007-2017

Genre: Third person shooter

Mass Effect has branching dialogues and many side quests, an element of space exploration and the worlds you visit, thoughtful leveling, excellent action component and much more! The decisions made by the player during the game influence the further development of the plot, while some of the choices made in the first part of the trilogy will be reflected, for example, in the final part. If you have not yet played this masterpiece, then urgently correct the situation, since this project has gained fame as one of the best games of all time.

Dead Space series

Release date: 2008-2013

Genre: Survival Horror, third person shooter

Dead Space is a series of games in the survival horror genre, which tells the story of the adventures of engineer Isaac Clarke. A seemingly simple mission pits him against bloodthirsty necromorphs (monsters into which dead people turn under the influence of a certain Obelisk). Over the course of three parts of the game, the main character tries to survive and at the same time figure out the devilry going on around him.

For fans of atmospheric games in general and horror films in particular, this game is highly recommended, since it skillfully plays on the player’s emotions, evoking in him such feelings as: fear, panic, a feeling of loneliness, fear of closed spaces, etc. The gameplay of Dead Space is something reminiscent of games such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill, but at the same time differs from them in the original setting and some game design “tricks”.

Precursors

Release date: March 2009

Forerunners is a project that combines elements of genres such as Action, RPG and space. People have long conquered space, and the meeting with extraterrestrial civilizations was surprisingly peaceful. Ultimately, the evil aliens became the people themselves, who split into several warring factions.

The main game events take place on planets. Here the hero takes on quests, completes certain tasks, fights, trades, etc. Gradually, the hero gains experience and acquires all sorts of perks. Once you receive your first starship, the game begins to resemble Freelancer-style simulators - the player can freely travel through various systems, each of which has planets available for landing with a new heap of tasks. Some quests can be solved in several ways. The plot is somewhat banal, but nonlinear, and a couple of times the player will face situations with a choice on which what happens next will depend.

Evochron Mercenary

Release date: 2010

Genre: space simulator

Evochron Mercenary is a space simulator that is based on the principle of the player freely searching for his own tasks and goals in the game world. At the start of the game, the user has the opportunity to decide on a gaming style, which determines the features of the gameplay: the roles of a merchant, mercenary, military man and racer. Thanks to the simulator's simulation of the real behavior of bodies in outer space, taking into account gravitational forces, the player gets an unrivaled feeling of being on a spacecraft. The game supports single and multiplayer modes.

At the beginning of the game, you will have only one spaceship at your disposal, consisting of a “frame” (the main part) and additional modules: stabilizers, fuel tanks, engines. Having saved up a little money, you can buy more advanced modules and frames. The types of available frames depend on the role that the player chose at the start of his career. You can also purchase and install new specialized equipment on the ship. This includes, for example, construction mechanisms that make it possible to set up stations in undeveloped locations in space.

The player can hire several additional crew members for his ship, which will increase the characteristics of his starship.

Starpoint Gemini 1 and 2

Release date: 2010

Genre: space Strategy,

Starpoint Gemini is an excellent space strategy containing all the components of a true hit. Events take place in free galaxies, the vastness of which is trying to be captured by different game parties. It all starts with small ore miners and prospectors. Subsequently, it is possible to qualitatively develop technologies by bringing large spaceships - frigates and battleships - onto the battlefield. The pinnacle of military power are cruisers. Having accumulated sufficient military force, the player can launch a massive attack on the enemy ship.

Events in the game Starpoint Gemini unfold in a three-dimensional world, thanks to which you can completely immerse yourself in what is happening. One of the foundations of economic well-being is the development of trade routes. First of all, this is a high-quality game, playing which you can isolate yourself from boring reality for many hours and be transported to the fascinating world of space battles. Perhaps you will be the next ruler of the Galaxy?

Starpoint Gemini 2

Release date: March 2014

Genre: Space simulator

Starpoint Gemini 2- the gameplay is presented in the form of a classic space simulator, in which the player takes on the role of captain of a large spaceship. The player is given a choice of one of 70 spaceships. You can choose between free mode and campaign. In the game world you are allowed to do whatever you want. To do this, the game has various in-game professions: miners, traders, space pirates, research scientists and keepers of the law. There are 3 classes in the game: Commander, Engineer and Shooter. The Commander's specialization is to control the entire fleet, the Shooter has developed attacking abilities. The Engineer is a mix of the two classes and has special support abilities.

The weapons of a spaceship are placed on turrets; the number of installed weapons, their position and the angle of attack of the turrets depend on the type of ship. During the game you can increase or decrease the number of turrets on your ship.

The weapon system includes light weapons (rail, beam, plasma weapons) and heavy weapons (missiles). The protective system is also non-standard - instead of a complete system, it consists of 4 parts of the shield. The player is allowed to use special equipment that affects his combat abilities and up to four skills, depending on the hero’s class. Thanks to all this, fast and tactical gameplay is achieved.

FTL: Faster Than Light

Release date: 2012

Genre: strategy, simulator, RPG

FTL: Faster Than Light– a space simulator with RPG elements. It describes fantastic events in the distant future. The Federation is in a state of civil war. Evil rebels are attacking from all sides. Only one small Kestrel-class ship managed to break through the rebel outposts and retrieve important data. The player's task is to get to a star system under the control of the federation. You become a brave captain of a spaceship with loyal crew members.

Land on the surface of planets, explore space, board your opponents - all means are good in war! The main thing is to get out of the cordon and get to your allies. Perhaps your heroism will play a key role and bring peace to a war-weary galaxy. But this will not be easy, because the small ship has a whole fleet of rebels on its tail.

Kerbal Space Program

Release date: 2013

Genre: Space simulator, open world, sandbox

KSP is a multi-genre game in which the player needs to build a rocket or spaceship capable of taking people into space. At your disposal are numerous components from which you can build a starship. Each part has its own functions and affects the flight characteristics of the vessel. There is also a hangar in which orbital and conventional aircraft are assembled. The ships are controlled by “Kerbanauts,” residents of the planet Kerbin. The main navigation device in the game is the “navball”, an analogue of the attitude indicator, which displays the vector and anti-vector of speed, the course of the ship and its speed. The cockpit also has a radar altitude indicator.

In research mode, the player needs to conduct scientific experiments and earn “science points” for this. They can be used to discover new devices and parts in the development of the “technology tree”. When choosing a career mode, in addition to accumulating science points, you will also need to complete contracts, for which you will be given the money necessary to build devices.

The Swapper

Release date: March 2013

Genre: Platformer, puzzle

An indie puzzle-platformer game in which the player takes control of a female astronaut stranded on board an abandoned space station. At this station, the heroine discovers a device that allows her to create her own clones and transfer her consciousness into one of them. Using this device, the player will have to solve many puzzles and learn about the fate of the missing inhabitants of the station.

The game has original mechanics, excellent visual style and a high-quality atmosphere. The levels become progressively more difficult, while the player also gradually discovers new possibilities for using the cloning device. It is worth noting that the project received many positive reviews and even won a number of awards, including “Best International Game” at Freeplay 2011.

Space Engineers

Release date: March 2013 In early access

As for the gameplay itself, it is very diverse. The field of activity in the game is vast. Organize the extraction of resources, build and upgrade starships using the obtained blueprints, occupy enemy territories and, of course, engage in battles with other users. The weapon system of the ships is also well thought out in the game. It is recommended to equip your combat vessel based on your own needs and skills. Install plasma cannons, super-powerful missiles, catapults for combat robots, and automatic miners on the spaceship.

Star Conflict

Release date: 2014

Genre: MMORPG, arcade, open world

Star Conflict - is a new dynamic MMO action game created by StarGem Inc studio together with Gaijin Entertainment. The game allows you to take the helm of a space starship and take part in massive battles of star armadas! At your disposal are dozens of different ships, from fast scouts to heavy frigates armed with guns and missiles. Each ship can be prepared to perform various tasks: reconnaissance, hunting the enemy, supporting allies, powerful attack, support with long-range sniper weapons.

PLAY

The player controls combat spaceships of different types and roles. The game has PvP and PvE game modes, as well as (starting with the Open World sandbox version. There is also a “Battle for the Sector” mode, in which only corporations (clans of players) participate. The developers position the game as a team game, where the interaction of players in battle and tactics are critical to victory. Participation in battles brings players synergy and income in the form of in-game currency and items that are used to improve ships and purchase new ones. On average, a session PvP battle lasts 5-10 minutes and involves from 6 to 32 players The duration of a session in the Open World is not limited.

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