The 15 best space games 2021

Find out in our guide to the best space games:

  • Which sci-fi games are worth playing
  • Which space games are suitable for which type of player

The endless expanse, alien species and unknown planets provide a good basis for breathtaking games. We present you the best representatives of space games in 2021.

Last update: 20.04.2021

Eve Online

  • Platform: PC, Mac OS X
  • Genre: MMORPG
  • Theme: Flight simulation, Sci-Fi
  • Game mode: Multiplayer
  • USK: From 12 years
  • Suitable for: Sci-fi fans, hobby pilots

Eve Online is a free-to-play MMORPG in which players choose their own path from numerous options. In Eve Online, everyone can learn everything, there are no fixed classes with exclusive abilities. The interactive economy ensures a constantly changing universe. Publisher CCP Games regularly provides players with free expansions. Thus, even after 16 years, the game still counts around 300,000 players.

Both PVE and PVP content is offered to players, with PVP content taking up the larger part of the endgame. Even far away from any battles, the game offers enough activities. You can explore with your spaceships, collect, recycle and trade resources, and build your own space stations.

Kerbal Space Program (with VR version)

  • Platform: PC, Mac OS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U
  • Genre: Simulation
  • Theme: Sci-fi technology
  • Game mode: Single player
  • USK: none
  • Suitable for: Sci-fi fans, tech enthusiasts
  • VR compatibility: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows MR

In the sandbox space simulation Kerbal Space Program, the player takes on various tasks of the Kerbal Space Center. These include rocket design, mission planning and rocket control. As usual with sandbox titles, the game doesn't give you a direct goal. One of the main focuses is on exploring the simulated solar system "The Sun".

The construction of airplanes and rockets also takes up a main focus in the game due to the countless components. Thus, despite the cute look, the game turns out to be a hard-hitting simulation that makes the flight to the moon more difficult than one first assumes. Thanks to GeForce Now compatibility, Kerbal Space Program can also be played on less powerful computers.

Outer Wilds

  • Platform: PC, Mac OS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch (from summer 2021)
  • Genre: Open World
  • Theme: sandbox, exploration
  • Game mode: single player
  • USK: none
  • Suitable for: Sci-Fi fans, Open World lovers

Solve a world puzzle around an entire solar system in 22 minutes? This is the challenging task you will face in the game Outer Wilds. You have to follow the trail of a disappeared people while exploring space. After the sun dies, you must return to the beginning of the time loop on the launch pad of the planet Woodchimney.

As the newest member of the Outer Wilds Ventures space program, you'll search for answers in a mysterious and dangerous solar system . Outer Wilds provides you with the intergalactic hiking gear you need to explore your surroundings and accomplish this task.

Prey

  • Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • Genre: First-person shooter/adventure
  • Theme: Sandbox, Immersive Sim
  • Game mode: Single player
  • USK: 16
  • Suitable for: Fans of Half-Life, BioShock and Dishonored

An oppressive science fiction epic from Arkane Studios, creators of the Dishonored series: as scientist Morgan Yu, you roam the Talos 1 space station, which has been invaded by shape-shifting aliens, the Typhon. Your task: Find out what was researched aboard the massive station, what happened there - and what you yourself have to do with it! In the style of previous Arkane games, you'll use your surroundings to improvise and outsmart the Typhon (and the lack of ammunition). But beware: Any coffee cup can also be a deadly alien!

Articles & Guides about Prey

Prey: 10 beginner tips for survival on Talos 1

Faster Than Light (FTL)

  • Platform: PC, Mac OS, Linux
  • Genre: Turn-based strategy game, Rogue-like
  • Theme: Sci-Fi
  • Game mode: Single player
  • USK: None
  • Suitable for: Sci-fi fans, strategists, fans of retro graphics

In the turn-based strategy game Faster Than Light you take on the role of a spaceship captain. Your goal is to successfully transport important data through the cosmos to the Federation base. You must reach this base before the rebels threaten you and destroy their mothership before they reach the Federation base.

In real-time battles, you'll tactic for lack of resources and you'll have to escape the rebel threat. In this, attack is the best defense. Because if you die, you'll have to start over. While the equipment of your ship increases with the duration of the game, the enemy ships also equip themselves better. You can put your strategic thinking to the test in several difficulty levels.

Articles & Guides for Faster Than Light (FTL)

Elite: Dangerous (with VR version)

  • Platform: PC, Mac OS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • Genre: Simulation, Survival, Open World
  • Theme: sci-fi, exploration, flight simulation, trading simulation, sandbox
  • Game mode: Single player, Multiplayer
  • USK: From 12 years
  • Suitable for: Sci-fi and open world fans, simulation enthusiasts
  • VR compatibility: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive via SteamVR

In Elite: Dangerous, the player's freedom is paramount. Whether you earn your space ribs as a bounty hunter , or you fight your way as a trader, smuggler, merchant or resource collector. You have the free choice. There are many different spaceships available to you for exploring the entire galaxy. Upgrades to these spaceships will make your interstellar explorations easier. VR players will experience them even more realistically thanks to VoiceAttack add-ons.

The implemented multiplayer mode won't leave you feeling lonely. Elite: Dangerous regularly makes headlines with community activities, such as the volunteer group "Fuel Rats", the stranded pilots refuel the ship as a last resort. The economy in Elite: Dangerous is also dependent on the players. The hustle and bustle in multiplayer also affects the solo game, so a constant online connection is mandatory for both game modes.

Everspace (with VR version)

  • Platform: PC, Mac OS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
  • Genre: sci-fi, action, rogue-like
  • Theme: spaceship combat, shooter
  • Game mode: Single player
  • USK: Ages 12+
  • Suitable for: Fans of action-packed spaceship battles
  • VR compatibility: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive

Everspace stands for fast-paced space battles with high replay value. The levels are randomly generated, as is usual for rogue-like games. While the story is less important here, the back and forth between death and rebirth should result in a motivating cycle. With earned credits you can permanently improve the spaceship after your death.

While your future earnings increase each time, the difficulty of your enemies also increases steadily. But not only your enemies pose a threat, but also natural hazards like space lightning that can sweep you out of space. Once you've completed a section, you're off to the next space sector via hyperspace. The risk of engine damage during a jump can only be minimized by having enough fuel. Once in the next sector, the enemies will become stronger again.

Observation (with VR version)

  • Platform: PC, PlayStation 4
  • Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
  • Theme: Puzzle
  • Game mode: Single player
  • USK: None
  • Suitable for: Sci-fi fans, story enthusiasts
  • VR Compatibility: PSVR

In the story-driven Observation, you take on the role of S.A.M., a computer intelligence aboard the international space station Observation. You are the sole contact for an astronaut who seems to be the only survivor of an incident.

Together, you investigate what may have happened to Dr. Emma Fisher and her mission team. From voice pattern analysis and verification to troubleshooting transmission glitches, there's a lot to take care of. Even if the role as an on-board AI sounds rigid and bound to the spaceship at first, there are ways and means tomove freely inspace.

No Man's Sky (with VR version)

  • Platform: PC, PlayStation 4
  • Genre: Action-Adventure, Open World
  • Theme: Sandbox, Exploration
  • Game mode: Single player, Multiplayer
  • USK: From 6 years
  • Suitable for: Sci-fi fans, open-world lovers
  • VR Compatibility: For all VR glasses that support OpenVR

No Man's Sky has put its focus on open-world exploration, where you'll take part in a very special gaming experience through seamless transitions during planetary landings. Flora and fauna differ from each other on each randomly generated planet. The universe is huge, so it will take you many hours to reach the primary objective of No Man's Sky: the center of the galaxy.

While you'll always strive to collect resources to maintain your life-saving shields, you'll also have to take care of keeping the spaceship's tank full. The shorter journeys at the beginning will be just enough for the built-in tank, but you'll have to take care of an upgrade promptly, otherwise you won't be able to travel further distances.

On your journey through the huge game world, you'll encounter different races, mysterious places and various resources that you'll need to build your own space base. The multiplayer mode includes co-op with up to four players. Since 2019, you can also play No Man's Sky in VR for an even more immersive experience.

Articles & Guides for No Man's Sky

Star Citizen (Alpha version)

  • Platform: PC, Linux
  • Genre: Flight Simulation, Shooter
  • Theme: Sci-fi, economic simulation
  • Game mode: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-op
  • USK: None
  • Suitable for: Sci-fi fans, action and simulation enthusiasts, and graphics enthusiasts

Star Citizen will be a comprehensive space simulation, which will feature a solo campaign and a constantly evolving online universe. In the online universe, as in Elite: Dangerous, you are free to decide which career path you take. Become a trader, mercenary, pirate or scout.

A guild system is also available and is called "Organization" here. The world of Star Citizen is freely explorable for you. Any actions will have an impact on your reputation with the various factions in the game in a later version of the game. For the release, 10-20 solar systems are planned within the Milky Way of the game. More systems are to follow later.

To keep the internal economic system in balance, self-acting NPCs will be used. For example, they should be able to accept and carry out orders that have not been carried out by players for a longer period of time.

An official release date for Star Citizen has still not been set. The current target date for the solo adventure Squadron 42 is 2021. By purchasing a so-called game package, you can already play the alpha version and see for yourself how far Star Citizen has really come.

Mass Effect (Shepard Trilogy)

  • Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox One
  • Genre: Action role-playing game
  • Theme: sci-fi, third-person shooter, making decisions, dialogue
  • Game mode: Single player
  • USK: From 16 years
  • Suitable for: Sci-fi fans, story enthusiasts, fans of meaningful decisions, action and role-playing game lovers

Action-packed sci-fi gunfights, great characters, and a story full of decisions that will keep you guessing for years to come: the Mass Effect trilogy is one of the best and most intense action role-playing game series to date. Always on board: Commander Shepard, with whom you can fight against powerful threats to the universe as either a woman or a man.

You'll enter the field in a third-person perspective, and depending on your class, you'll attack your enemies with all sorts of weapons, technical gadgets or biotic abilities. You'll be supported by up to two team members, to whom you can indirectly give orders. The heart of the game, however, is Mass Effect's excellently written story, which is told over three parts in excellently dubbed dialogues and cinematic cutscenes.

Not only do you grow more and more fond of the multi-layered characters, but the world and its peoples also gain an unusual depth. Whether you maintain professional, friendly or even romantic relationships with your comrades is entirely up to you. That's why it can hit you especially hard when you have to decide the fate of your allies or entire alien races over and over again in the course of the story. Thanks to the importable game saves, even decisions from the first part can have an impact in Mass Effect 3.

Articles & Guides for the Mass Effect Trilogy Remaster

Homeworld Remastered Collection

  • Platform: PC
  • Genre: Real-Time Strategy
  • Theme: Space battles, Sci-Fi
  • Game mode: Single player, Multiplayer
  • USK: 12 years and older
  • Suitable for: Fans of massive space battles, sci-fi fans, story enthusiasts

The original Homeworld revolutionized not only the sci-fi but also the real-time strategy genre in the late 90s. The spectacular space battles between gigantic mother shipsthe game's visuals, including mighty battle cruisers and scurrying fighter squadrons, were simply breathtaking. What's more, Homeworld didn't suffer from the same story weaknesses as other genre representatives and delivered an exciting plot full of epic and sad moments.

in 2015, the strategy classic got a general overhaul with the Homeworld Remastered Collection - and with success. Visually alone, the remastered version is a stunner. In particular, the high level of detail of the ships, the cracking effects and the beautifully atmospheric space backgrounds are convincing.

But the old strengths have not been forgotten either. Fans of the original can still look forward to plenty of strategic possibilities as well as an appropriate tactical demand. The same applies to the story, which still knows how to motivate and is staged in stylish black-and-white films.

Articles & Guides for Homeworld 3

Endless Space 2

  • Platform: PC, Mac OS X
  • Genre: Turn-based strategy
  • Theme: Sci-fi, Economic simulation, Real-time battles
  • Game mode: Single player, Multiplayer
  • USK: From 12 years
  • Suitable for: Sci-fi fans, simulation enthusiasts, strategists, freedom lovers

In Endless Space 2 you are the leader of an advanced civilization that sets out to conquer the galaxy. You have eight different races at your disposal, each of which prefers a certain play style. However, whether you become known as a ruthless expansionist or a peace-loving diplomat and explorer is entirely up to you.

You'll experience most of the gameplay on the strategic galaxy map, where you'll expand your influence turn by turn. Numerous menus and overviews help you keep your empire under control. In addition, there is the new political system, which not only lets you get into contact with other peoples, but also adds political factions and conflict areas to your own civilization.

Of course, space battles should not be missing either. In Endless Space 2 you can prepare these in advance with battle plans before watching the outcome in gripping real-time battles. These are worth watching simply because each faction has its own fancy ship models - which then effectively shoot each other to space debris.

Starbound

  • Platform: PC, Linux, Mac Os X
  • Genre: Action-Adventure, Survival, Rogue-like
  • Theme: Sci-Fi, Exploration, Sandbox
  • Game mode: Single player, Multiplayer
  • USK: None
  • Suitable for: Sci-fi fans, fans of retro graphics, exploration-minded gamers, tinkerers

Those who like Terraria should also have fun with Starbound. Instead of a colorful fantasy block world, however, this platformer takes us to a whole galaxy full of randomly generated planets that want to be explored by you in all their diversity.

After escaping from your own planet, your hero crash lands right at the beginning on the next rock floating around in space. From then on it's typical sandbox style: hunting, collecting, fiddling and building. Once the spaceship is repaired, you can go to other planets, which differ massively in their climate, geography, flora and fauna.

But no matter where you are, you can found colonies, build underground bases or kill hostile alien creatures with self-made weapons. You'll upgrade your spaceship with new upgrades and crew members over time. When you've had enough of free exploration, you can also dive into the main story of Starbound with its numerous side missions.

Stellaris

  • Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Linux, Mac OS
  • Genre: Science Fiction, Strategy
  • Theme: Exploration, Economy & Colonization
  • Game mode: Single player & Multiplayer
  • USK: From 6 years
  • Suitable for: Fans of the grand strategy genre in the style of Civilization 6 or Anno 1800.

In Stellaris, you have the task of establishing, managing and expanding a star empire through exploration and colonization. Depending on your choice of species, you start with a small fleet of spaceships on different home planets. You can even create your own race, which influences the entire society in the course of the game, from space technology to philosophy.

At the beginning, the focus is on research and construction management, but as your empire grows, more challenges come your way. As in other games of this genre, you're free to react peacefully or warlike to other peoples. In addition to numerous diplomatic options, you'll also have state-of-the-art weapons and ships at your disposal.

However, you are not only threatened by hostile races, but also by random events. Instead of natural disasters on Earth, invasions from alien galaxies or robot uprisings await you in Stellaris. These events affect the entire universe and can turn the gameplay upside down. In this way, the developers want to prevent the lategame from becoming boring because one race has become too powerful.

More guides to the best games of many genres

Visit us on Facebook and Instagram to discuss your favorite games.