Everyone dreams of entering the great unknown and capturing the marvels of space, but it’s not that attainable for the average person. Unless you’re training to be an astronaut or your name is Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos, the closest you’ll get to space is visiting a space learning hub, looking through a telescope, or setting up your PC and entering into the world of gaming. Continue reading to find out the best five games for space exploration.
Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous has been a clear winner for anyone with a real passion for space. There are plenty of gameplay options and the scaled Milky Way galaxy is awe-inspiring. Playing this game will test your skills because there’s a steep learning curve, but the payoff will be enormous. When you need to give your eyes a rest from the screen, you should book yourself a visit to the space discovery center, which caters to all ages.
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds, which dropped in 2019, moves us away from realistic space exploration and into an unknown solar system. You will be trapped in a 22-minute time loop on a mission to work out why the sun goes supernova. Every planet brings a different level of strangeness to the table, and your job is to break free of the loop and save the universe.
No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky had such promise when it was released back in 2016, but everyone will remember it being overshadowed by streams of bugs and laggy gameplay. Fortunately, thanks to plenty of post-release development, the game is packed full of beautiful content, and it actually works. Mirroring the 1970s space literature, No Man’s Sky promises to bring plenty of optimism and exploration.
To enjoy this game to the fullest extent, you will need to make your way through the first couple of hours of gameplay. After that, there’s plenty to do and the journey will take you to places that no man has been.
Endless Space 2
Strategy games in space are always great, but Endless Space 2 easily dominates that market. You will need to explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate your way through space. The possibilities are vast and you will never find the same ending. Whether you choose diplomacy or bribery, you’ll have a great time growing your empire across the galaxy.
FTL: Faster Than Light
Faster Than Light doesn’t have the same high-quality optics as other games on this list, but don’t let that fool you. Your task is to reach a friendly fleet to deliver a critical message, but the journey through space can be treacherous. Much of the gameplay will involve managing the ship’s operational systems, which can be used to defend yourself and push forward on your mission.
There are plenty of games revolving around space exploration, with every genre being ticked off the list. Simulation fans will enjoy Elite Dangerous; strategy buffs will be captivated by Endless Space 2; combat-driven players will be pulled in by the expansive world of No Man’s Sky.