Best Space Games to Play in 2025

Space games are a lot like those old sci-fi movies you watched growing up. The big difference now is that you are in control. The special effects are much better too. There are so many options out there right now. We are going to look at 15 of the best space games you can play today.

The Full List

Best Space Strategy Games

If you like thinking ahead and managing empires, these Space Strategy Games are for you. They offer deep systems and rewarding gameplay loops.

Stellaris

This title is a unique mix. It is a four times grand strategy hybrid . But it is also a galactic role-playing game. You don’t just move ships around. You create an empire sim with huge options.

The best part is the species creator. You can make almost any alien you can imagine. You might play as a fundamentalist society built on slavery. Or maybe you want to be hyperintelligent lizards that use robots for everything. The game makes space surprising again with its event chains. It is highly recommended for strategy fans.

Release Date: May 9, 2016
Genres: 4X, Simulation Video Game, Strategy
User Score (Metacritic): 8.0 out of 1162 Review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Linux, Microsoft Windows
Stellaris Steam Page

Homeworld Remastered Collection

This series remains unsurpassed in the genre. The collection includes the original games which launched 15 years ago. It is rare for a strategy game to have such a great story. The narrative is both tragic and hopeful.

The gameplay is filled with tension. It feels like a voyage of discovery as you learn about the past. You spend the game desperately struggling to create a future for your people. It is a beautiful and haunting experience.

If you enjoy managing complex systems, check out our guide on the Best Simulation Games in 2025.

Release Date: February 25, 2015
Genres: Simulation Video Game, Strategy
User Score (Metacritic): 8.0 out of 369 Review
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Classic Mac OS
Homeworld Remastered Collection Steam Page

Top Sci-Fi RPGs

Role playing games let us live out our interstellar fantasies. These are some of the best space games for story and character progression.

Starfield

Starfield is a massive space RPG. It offers over a thousand planets for you to explore. The game features customizable ships and deep base building systems. These features provide hours of content.

The story might not hit the same highs as previous Bethesda works. However, the character interactions offer a nice sense of depth. The game really shines in its customization and freedom. You can craft your own experience. It is a solid entry with a satisfying progression loop.

Release Date: September 6, 2023
Genres: Open world, Shooter Video Game, Action role-playing game, Action-adventure game, Nonlinear gameplay
User Score (Metacritic): 6.8 out of 13226 Review
Platforms: Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming
Starfield Steam Page

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

This is a must-play for any space fan. It bundles the original games into one neat package. It provides the ultimate experience for space exploration. The game is a planet-hopping adventure.

You get a strong story and a great set of characters. You command a functioning ship to explore the galaxy. It is widely considered one of the best sci-fi RPG games you will play.

Release Date: April 30, 2021
Genres: Shooter Video Game, Action role-playing game, Adventure game
User Score (Metacritic): 7.7 out of 1546 Review
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now
Mass Effect Legendary Edition Steam Page

The Outer Worlds

Think of this as a love letter to old school RPGs. It has a witty and satirical take on corporate greed. The writing is very sharp. It features genuinely funny dialogue.

You play as a colonist thrown into a star system run by mega corporations. You can decide to be a hero or an anti hero. The game is a shorter and more focused adventure. It is perfect if you want a fun experience without spending hundreds of hours.

Looking for more solo adventures? Read our article on the Top Single Player Games in 2025.

Release Date: October 25, 2019
Genres: Adventure game, First-person shooter, Action role-playing game, Fighting game
User Score (Metacritic): 7.8 out of 2007 Review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
The Outer Worlds Steam Page

Immersive Space Simulators

Simulation games focus on the details of flight and physics. They are perfect for players who want realism.

Kerbal Space Program

This is the ultimate playground for wannabe rocket scientists. The core of the game is exploration and experimentation. You design, build, and launch your own spacecraft.

Most games ignore actual rocket science. This game is grounded in reality. Your main goal is often just to avoid crashing into stuff. You manage a quirky race of little green astronauts called Kerbals. It is challenging but rewarding.

Release Date: March 20, 2013
Genres: Space flight simulation game, Indie game, Open world
User Score (Metacritic): 8.3 out of 837 Review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Linux, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
Kerbal Space Program Steam Page

Elite Dangerous

This game is a sandbox on an unimaginable scale. You can trade, fight, explore, or mine. Every journey feels like a unique story. For a long time, the galaxy felt a bit static.

A new expansion has changed that. It introduces system colonization. You can now build entire settlements and star ports. This adds a layer of creativity that was missing before. The galaxy is now a blank canvas for players.

Release Date: December 16, 2014
Genres: Space flight simulation game, Role-playing game
User Score (Metacritic): 6.9 out of 1914 Review
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, GeForce Now, Mac operating systems
Kerbal Space Program Steam Page

Star Citizen

Star Citizen takes the crown for the best looking video game. It aims to create a living, breathing universe. You can trade cargo, hunt bounties, or explore uncharted planets.

The game focuses heavily on immersion. However, it is still a work in progress. You will encounter bugs and unfinished systems. It requires patience. It is more of a journey than a destination.

Release Date: Aiming for a release in 2027 or 2028 (Alpha is Available)
Genres: First-person shooter, Space flight simulation game
User Score (Metacritic): TBA
Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Star Citizen Official Website

Space Horror and Action Games

Space isn’t always peaceful. sometimes it is terrifying or filled with war. These are the best space games for action and thrills.

Dead Space

Dead Space is a super intense horror game. You play as an engineer named Isaac on a massive ship. The ship is crawling with zombie aliens called necromorphs. The atmosphere makes the ship feel alive in the worst way.

Combat is unique here. You cannot just shoot enemies in the head. You must take them out piece by piece. Every shadow puts you on edge. It is worth playing if you like being scared.

Release Date: January 27, 2023
Genres: Survival horror, Shooter Video Game, Action-adventure game
User Score (Metacritic): 8.5 out of 2413 Review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Luna
Dead Space Steam Page

Alien: Isolation

This title is pure survival horror perfection. It is especially good if you love the Alien movies. You play as Amanda Ripley looking for her mother. The real star is the Xenomorph.

The alien is terrifying because it is not scripted. It hunts you based on sound and sight. You are never truly safe. You have to scavenge for supplies and hide in lockers. The tension is relentless.

Release Date: October 6, 2014
Genres: Survival horror, First-person shooter, Stealth game, Action-adventure game
User Score (Metacritic): 8.3 out of 1898 Review
Platforms: Android, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS, PC
Alien: Isolation Steam Page

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

This game lets you live out a Star Wars fan’s dream. You play as Cal Kestis, a Jedi on the run. The gameplay is a sweet blend of exploration and combat.

Combat is all about timing and skill. You cannot just button mash your way through. Blocking and parrying feel super satisfying. The worlds are dripping with detail. It totally makes you feel like a Jedi.

Release Date: November 11, 2019
Genres: Third-person shooter, Open-world, Action-adventure game
User Score (Metacritic): 8.6 out of 5786 Review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Steam Page

Destiny 2

Destiny 2 remains a firm favorite. It features Bungie’s slick gunplay. The game offers a gorgeous recreation of the solar system.

The latest expansion is called The Final Shape. It concludes the long-running light and dark saga. It is actually a perfect time to get involved. The new player experience has been dramatically improved.

Release Date: September 6, 2017
Genres: First-person shooter, Massively multiplayer online game, Adventure game, Platform game, Action role-playing game
User Score (Metacritic): 5.2 out of 3009 Review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Destiny 2 Steam Page

Massive Space Exploration Games

Sometimes you just want to get lost in the stars. These games offer massive worlds to discover.

No Man’s Sky

This game has one of the most impressive comeback stories in gaming. It felt empty at launch. Today, it is a completely different story. It is still about exploration at its core.

Now there are unique ecosystems and real settlements. You can shape the worlds with your own bases. The developers keep dropping new updates. It uses procedural generation to create over 18 quintillion planets.

Release Date: August 9, 2016
Genres: Open-world, Space, Third-person, Open World Survival Craft
User Score (Metacritic): 5.5 out of 5499 Review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch
No Man’s Sky Steam Page

Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds is a soulful mystery game. You play as an astronaut anthropologist. You explore ruins across your solar system. The goal is to learn about a mysterious alien race.

The game uses a 20-minute time loop. Your progress partially resets after each loop. You aim to discover a little more each time. It is an absolute treat for mystery fans.

Release Date: May 28, 2019
Genres: Indie game, Puzzle Video Game, Open world, Action-adventure game, Nonlinear gameplay
User Score (Metacritic): 8.9 out of 1718 Review
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Outer Wilds Steam Page

EVE Online

EVE Online is unique because of its scale. It has half a million inhabitants on one mega server. Players join together to form massive fleets.

Alliances can number in the tens of thousands. They lay siege to entire regions for months. The game has a complex player-run economy. There is nothing else quite like the stories this community generates.

Release Date: May 6, 2003
Genres: Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
User Score (Metacritic): 6.7 out of 331 Review
Platforms: Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, GeForce Now, Mac operating systems
EVE Online Steam Page