18 Games Like Elite Dangerous
In these games like Elite Dangerous gamers will explore vast universes, engage in space combat and become the master of trade in these single and multiplayer games where the galaxy is yours to conquer.
Elite Dangerous originally launched in 1984 with a number of releases since that have expanded the franchise with new adventures and mechanics which was made possible with the growth of gaming hardware. At the core of this space adventure is an emphasis on open world adventure with sandbox mechanics that allow you to make your own story of skill, reputation, power and wealth. Originally a single player adventure this evolution of the Elite Dangerous series has seen the franchise transition to include multiplayer gameplay.
The depth and breadth of the universe for this adventure has also evolved from from small to a realistic representation of the Milky Way complete with billions of star systems that is set over a thousand years in the future. Other mechanics that have been introduced or enhanced over time to the Elite Dangerous franchise include mining, trading, piracy, factions, role playing and deep ship customisation through multiple modules.
The games like Elite Dangerous here are similar to both the original single player adventure and the more recent MMO style releases of the franchise (Elite Dangerous 2014). In these space themed games players are free to engage in combat, trade and exploration as they create a name for themselves in a vast galaxy.
Star Conflict
Star Conflict is a MMO experience that lets you to take control of your own starship and explore the vast depths of space while engaging in a wealth of PvP and PvE content. Originally launched in 2013 the Star Conflict experience has continued to expand with its free to play option in the space sandbox MMO genre available directly from their website or through the Steam platform. Star Conflict features clean 3D graphics with a galaxy that is set far into the future and approximately three thousa...[Read Review]
Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online (STO) is a free to play MMORPG that takes place within the Star Trek universe, bringing the decades of lore, characters, settings and alien races into a single large scale MMO world and populating it with science fiction fans. At launch Star Trek Online required a game purchase and monthly fee for access which provided the game a solid foundation of funding to develop a high quality adventure. Star Trek Online has been free to play since 2012. Star Trek Online takes place in the...[Read Review]
X3: Reunion
X3: Reunion continues the series of X adventure games with the third game in the franchise released in 2005. Just like the games before it players will find the game to be an expansive single player space experience involving trading, combat and plenty of galaxy exploration in between as you craft your own story within the world. Notable jumps from past additions in the franchise include improvements across graphics, user interfaces, economic systems and enemy AI that all combine to offer a grea...[Read Review]
Wing Commander: Privateer
Wing Commander: Privateer is a space simulation and adventure game that lets you create your own story in a dog eat dog universe of freedom. As part of the popular Wing Commander series fans and newcomers will both be catered for in this 1993 addition to the franchise which was further expanded in 1994 with the Righteous Fire add-on. While Wing Commander: Privateer is the fourth released game in the Wing Commander franchise it’s primarily a spin off set on the borders of Confederation spac...[Read Review]
Freelancer
Freelancer is a spaced based game for Windows that lets you take control of a spaceship and travel the galaxy engaging in combat and trading. Primarily a sandbox themed space title Freelancer is a game that lets players control where they explore, progress and the activities they engage with which includes trading planet commodities, mining resources, protecting other ships and hunting pirates. The events of Freelancer are set 800 years after the events in Starlancer (a similar space game made b...[Read Review]
Vendetta Online
Vendetta Online sends players through a galaxy of cross platform play for space explorers on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. Available initially free on all platforms through a trial period continued access to the Vendetta Online game world requires either a Lite subscription ($1 per month) with some game restrictions or the full Premium subscription ($9.99 per month and lower for annual purchases). As a MMORPG experience Vendetta Online has a vast game world universe to explore as you int...[Read Review]
Evochron Legacy
Explore the dark reaches of space in Evochron Legacy a freeform space flight simulation game that expands on the Evochron universe of games with a broader universe for players to embark on their own path. With an entire galaxy at your disposal Evochron Legacy is a space title that emphasises player control over their progression as you pick your own niche speciality or progress as a generalist instead. The backdrop for this galactic journey is the Evochron quadrant of space where the human race ...[Read Review]
EVE Online
EVE Online is the premier space MMO adventure that offers a galactic scale of content for players to dive into and master. Well known for its vast amount of depth, in game currency tied to real world value and epic scale of community space battles EVE Online has continued to develop its offering since the original 2003 release. While the game launched as solely a subscription based title and accumulated a loyal subscriber base during that period the game has since transitioned to a free to play ...[Read Review]
Evochron Mercenary
Evochron Mercenary is a game of vast scale that has similarities to Freelancer with it’s science fiction theme and freedom orientated mechanics that encourage you to explore the galaxy on your own path. Evochron Mercenary belongs to the same universe as the popular Star Wraith series of space simulators that first started in 2000 with various titles in the franchise released since allowing for some cross-nostalgia experiences for fans of both titles. In this space sandbox style game you wi...[Read Review]
Distant Star: Revenant Fleet
Distant Star: Revenant Fleet blends the genres of space strategy title and rogue-lite challenge into a single galactic level adventure. Allowing players to design their ideal fleet this combat based journey will take you from one side of the galaxy to the other in order to save your home planet on Windows, Mac and Linux. Central to this adventure Distant Star: Revenant Fleet depicts the war between the A’Kari and Orthani races who have been locked in a war spanning the ages due to an ancie...[Read Review]
DarkStar One
DarkStar One focuses on space trading and combat as players explore the universe before them and carve their own path through the stars and planets. It launched in 2006 for Windows with an improved edition (Darkstar One: Broken Alliance) released two years later for the Xbox 360 platform providing console players the opportunity explore the universe of DarkStar One. In addition to a diverse range of planets and space anomalies your DarkStar One journey will feature half a dozen races with their ...[Read Review]
Galaxy on Fire 2
Galaxy on Fire 2 builds on the setting and gameplay of the first game sending players back into the void of space as they complete a story driven campaign, accept side missions from aliens and upgrade their ship to be a dominating fighter or large transport vessel. Available for both mobile (free to play base game) and computer gamers (paid game only) Galaxy on Fire 2 is particularly a stand out experience on mobile where games with the same level and polish to features are rare particularly wit...[Read Review]
Sins of a Solar Empire
Sins of a Solar Empire is a sci-fi strategy game with 4X elements that will have you conquering a large universe with military force, economic power or diplomatic negotiations. With elements of real time strategy also present the game seeks to combine the two well known strategy niches of RTS and 4X gameplay into a single challenge. Sins of a Solar Empire is set in the distant future and has you at the head of a space exploring race that are looking to expand their empire deeper into the stars t...[Read Review]
Astro Lords
Explore an impressively large universe in Astro Lords, a free to play 3D space MMO that encourages you to explore, fight and manage your own human settlement in a distant galaxy. With a huge number of different routes to take and real time battles to create a sense of action it’s a game that is literally out of this world. You’re Astro Lords adventure starts on your own asteroid which acts as your home base and stronghold from the threats that are out there in the Astro Lords universe. These ast...[Read Review]
X3: Terran Conflict
X3: Terran Conflict is part of the X series of video games. Just like its predecessors the game is about trading and combat in a space environment. The game is set far into the future (2938) and takes place after Earth has been reconnected with the larger system of jumpgates in the X universe. This connection to Earth while an occasion of joy also created many new tensions and conflicts which is what the main story line of X3: Terran Conflict explores. X3: Terran Conflict is a single player only...[Read Review]
Ascent – The Space Game
Ascent – The Space Game is a PvE MMO sandbox title that uses space and over 200 billion star systems as the foundation of your vast galactic experience. Set after the far reaching human empire has crumbled it’s time to build a new civilisation and rekindle the human drive for exploration using your available ships and other game tools to explore the galaxy and progress your own exploration story. In addition to this exploration focus players will construct, colonise, research, mine, ...[Read Review]
Astrox: Hostile Space Excavation
Astrox: Hostile Space Excavation sees you exiled deep into the mining sector of the galaxy with a simple ship and small mining beam with a dream of building up your galactic wealth. With this goal in mind players will start their humble existence as they scratch out a living from the mining region before saving funds up upgrade their ship to move to more profitable adventures such as pirate hunting. While the formula for Astrox: Hostile Space Excavation has been done before in various open world...[Read Review]
No Man’s Sky
Explore the vastness of space in No Man’s Sky, an action-adventure with elements of survival and exploration that lets you explore the galaxy while encountering all sorts of strange life forms. Originally launched in 2016 on PC and PS4 with an Xbox One release in 2018 No Man’s Sky had a rocky launch but with long term commitment from the developer No Man’s Sky has terraformed from a broken promise into a worthy space exploration game. The basis for No Man’s Sky is explora...[Read Review]