The best space games on PC and consoles. Top online space games Best space games on PC

Let's first define what we generally mean by “space strategy”. The answer “well, it’s a strategy in space” obviously doesn’t work. Firstly, “cosmic” can be understood in different ways. There are at least two interpretations: the action takes place in interplanetary/interstellar space or on other planets. In other words, wherever space is relative to Mother Earth. Secondly, “strategy” can also be different. There are at least two pairs of concepts: global or local, step-by-step or real-time. So, the games on our list of the best strategy games can belong to ANY of these categories. We understand that everyone has their own understanding of “space strategy,” so we’ll make it clear to avoid disputes.

17. Surviving Mars (RTS)

16. Battlestar Galactica Deadlock (4X STRATEGY)

The events of Deadlock take place during the First Cylon War, when the Cylons, who had faithfully served the people, suddenly rebelled against humanity and began to seize remote colonies. After some time, it began to seem that the heat of war was gradually beginning to fade - and then the Cylons managed to destroy the entire command of the Colonial Fleet in one successful raid.

The eldest of the embroidered officers turns out to be Rear Admiral Lucinda Cain, who now has to gather the remnants of the fleet and protect the Twelve Colonies from the Cylon threat. To do this, you will have to design and build new ones, hire officers and conduct complex negotiations with colonial governments.

15. Ethereum (RTS)

A war for a unique resource can be considered at least one of the subgenres of strategy. This saves writers the headache of coming up with faction and character motivations and simplifies the economic system. Also, the name of the resource must be in the title of the game and end with “ium”! Meet our client – ​​Etherium.

In fact, although Etherium started in last place in the selection, it still got into it for a reason. The most interesting thing in this game, perhaps, is that there are no conventional “zergs” in it: a race that has a collective mind and wins in numbers. All sides fighting for precious etherium rely on technology, each in their own way and in their own way. People, of course, want to get it, aliens want to protect it, and other aliens... they are, in general, mysterious, there must be at least some kind of mystery?

The global aspects of Etherium are also interesting, although this itself is local. Firstly, it's the weather. Even though the aliens can control it, the planet itself still sometimes presents surprises. Secondly, these are invisible orbital stations that influence the course of the game. Actually, the player can either invest resources in a ground army or in space stations, which from their height slowly but surely destroy the enemy base. Of course, this is a very crude tactical calculation, but even in this form it looks interesting.

14. Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (RTS)

This top would be incomplete without a game in the “” universe. This top would be incomplete without playing on the engine of the legendary Age of Empires. This top would be incomplete... but it is complete because we only make complete tops for you. Like this. Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds is a poster for a classic franchise, stretched over the frame of a classic strategy game. Droids, clones, the Republican army, Wookiees and Gungans - they will all remind fans of Age of Empires of one of the ethnic groups.

It's funny that the name Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds doesn't do much justice to its essence. “Galactic battles” are about building more of your own houses on a small planet, and then using your soldiers to shoot the houses of your opponents. No epic stories, no Death Star, or even... no, there are, but they die from blasters just like other units. A sort of order 66 on the scale of one planet.

Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds stands the test of time and deserves an honorable place in the top, since it is one of the few local games where you control units and buildings, and not huge space cruisers. The graphics, of course, are no longer the same, and an HD edition of this game is unlikely to happen. Now Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds is a game to indulge in nostalgia for the evening.

13. Halo Wars (RTS)

The Halo universe has long and successfully set another level of quality for science fiction, sending ardent greetings to Mass Effect and Star Wars. Therefore, it is not surprising that in 2009 a strategy based on the game was released, first released on the Xbox 360, and many years later reaching the PC.

So, what does a showdown between the covenant and people look like from a bird's eye view? And they look impressive, as befits a game from . Fans of the universe will quickly notice both the “Spartans” and many other units. Moreover, they behave accordingly in Halo Wars. "Boars" jump from the mountains, shoot painfully, and the infantrymen curse and throw grenades at their opponents. The plot in this space strategy is also at a decent level. It is dedicated to the planet “Harvest” and is presented in the form of amazing videos between missions. The narrative is woven into the main canon and even intersects with the events of the book "Fall Fall".

But what kind of game can bear the name Halo if it doesn't have interesting online battles? By the standards of a space RTS, everything here is also very good. Lots of modes, co-op campaign, user-friendly interface and still working servers. In general, summing up everything described above, we can safely recommend Halo Wars to fans of both high-quality science fiction and real-time strategies. Even though a sequel was released in 2017, it is the first part that is more accessible both in price and due to its free sale in.

12. Sid Meyer’s Civilization: Beyond Earth (4x Strategy)

For one thing, this game will definitely be remembered for its epic and touching trailers. Otherwise, it’s the same “Civilization”, turn-based, just on another planet, with starships, lasers and aliens. It’s funny that in the story, humanity united to send a “ship of generations” to an inhabited planet, but after it reached its goal, people again found a reason to separate. This time, the boundaries between factions are not national, but ideological: each faction represents a system of approaches to a new habitat, its citizens and aliens.

In fact, they are perhaps the most noticeable innovation of the game. They have a significant impact on the gameplay, but the main thing is that they have a unique victory condition associated with them. People can merge with the living mind of the planet itself and become a fundamentally new biological species. To do this, you need to make friends with aliens, that is, not fight with them and help them. True, other factions are unlikely to be happy with these attempts, so you will still have to develop the economy, army and diplomacy.

Sid Meyer’s Civilization: Beyond Earth is the ideological successor to the “Civilization” series in general and Sid Meyer’s Alpha Centauri in particular. The most devoted fans of "civilian" for the most part still prefer a realistic, historical setting. They cannot even imagine how it is possible to “unite minds” with barbarians, whose role is essentially played by aliens in Beyond Earth. Either way, there's no denying that this game has its own charm.

11. Galactic Civilizations III (4x Strategy)

Igrostroy would not be an igrostroy if some online games did not try to get a piece of a competitor’s fame by trying on his name. Of course, no one has a copyright on the word “civilization” specifically, but everyone understands where the name Galactic Civilizations III comes from. Okay, let's not find fault with the hexagons on the map, only the lazy don't use them. Better about the game itself.

Galactic Civilizations III captivates with the ability to customize the selected faction, that is, in each game the appearance of ships and even representatives can change. So to speak, we added a little Sims. But the manipulations with these ships are approximately the same as in any other large-scale space strategy. Capture, defend, extract, trade - what else to do if the vacuum is no longer lifeless and limitless?

Compared to other global ones, the role of the fleet in Galactic Civilizations III is increased. Yes, players still cannot control ships manually, but they have more control options. In other words, players can not only send ships to the stars and planets, but also outline the scenario in which their fleet will fight if it attacks or is attacked. Agree, this is already more interesting than the concept of the fleet simply as the personification of power.

10. Battlefleet Gothic: Armada (RTS)

It would be very strange to see a selection of space strategies for PC without a representative of the Warhammer universe. May Dawn of War fans forgive us with their redistribution of planetary trenches, but the fresh Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is truly cosmic.

The game allows users to take on the role of one of the defenders of the Gothic sector, along with a small battle fleet. As the campaign progresses, divided into several acts, the mighty imperial admirals will have to fight off the Eldar and other eternal enemies of the imperium.

And this confrontation looks, sounds and is controlled in the highest class. Salvos of airborne guns, boardings, rams and epic explosions accompany any showdown in this space strategy. Between hot battles, moments of silence will be brightened up by a system of ship upgrades and impressive space landscapes. Both fans of Warhammer and simply players who appreciate space battles should definitely like the game, but there is still a certain coldness in its acceptance by the public.

9. Gray Goo (RTS)

If you're not at least a little into science fiction, the name of this game - "grey goo" - won't mean much to you. For reference, this is a hypothetical scenario for the end of humanity. In it, people create nanobots, give them the ability to create themselves, this whole industry gets out of control, and after a few days there is nothing left on our planet except them, a conventional gray mass...

So, Gray Goo is not about this scenario. But why did we tell about him then? The fact is that this very mass is one of the factions of this space strategy, but this is the only similarity with the scenario. In the game, it is, rather, a kind of semi-mystical collective mind that can clothe itself in any form... and devour anything. Opposing him, as well as each other, are people essential to space strategy and highly intelligent (not to be confused with superintelligence) aliens.

Thus, Gray Goo also relies on the trinity of races, sacred to many strategies. The most interesting thing, of course, is to play as the “gray slime”, since it, in fact, does not have the usual stationary base, but “crawls” across the map, changing shape if necessary and absorbing the unfortunate. It is curious that according to the plot (small spoiler) this is not absolute, but a kind of “chaotic neutral”, if you rely on the Dungeons & Dragons moral system. Overall, Gray Goo is an interesting variation on the Starcraft theme... and it will be remembered as a variation.

8. Star Wars: Empire At War (RTS)

The theme of battles in interstellar space has long been occupied by Star Wars, and therefore in our list of space strategies this world is represented by two games. Unlike the obsolete Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, Empire At War presents the battles of the empire and the rebels from a more global perspective.

The main mode of the game is the capture of the galaxy, where many worlds that are significant for the universe are presented, for which you have to fight. The battle for each planet is presented in two stages: space and then ground. Both stages take place in real time and on maps corresponding to each planet.

Moreover, if in the case of space the differences between locations are not too significant, on the surface everything is much more interesting. Each world offers different types of environments, weather conditions and natives who may be loyal to one side. Besides all this, this space strategy looks and sounds like a full-fledged episode of Star Wars. So few people remained indifferent to Empire At War, as evidenced by the continued popularity of the game.

7. Sins of A Solar Empire (4x RTS)

It would seem that a game with such a pretentious name should have an epic, almost Shakespearean plot, a drama on a galactic scale, a space opera as it is. "Sins of the Empire of the Sun", wow, sounds like the title of a philosophical treatise! However, in reality it is a real-time strategy game with a very general description of the game world. Descendants of earthly colonists, alien invaders, trade wars - in general, everything is the same as everywhere else, so let's move straight to the gameplay.

An interesting feature of Sins of A Solar Empire is that you can - and should - switch between global and local modes. Global is the movement of fleets, the capture of planets and the extraction of resources from them, the expansion and retention of possessions. In Local Mode, the player takes direct control of their ships to tactically outmatch their opponents... or outperform them.

Speaking of balance, it is equal and stable in the game, since it is based on three races: conditional people, superhumans and aliens. New races did not appear in the expansions, since strategies are usually very sensitive to such changes. Diversity in both battles and the economy is provided by “weather” (all kinds of space disasters) and neutral factions and objects (, stations, space debris, etc.). Sins of a Solar Empire turned out to be an interesting and solid hybrid of global and local strategy, and the only thing it lacks is a campaign with memorable characters and conflicts.

6. Endless Space Series (4x Strategy)

Endless Space is a game whose formula Stellaris tried to replicate. Five years later, a sequel was released, in which the developers improved many aspects of the game... but they still failed to overtake Stellaris in popularity. That's why Stellaris is ranked higher, although it would be fair to place these games - along with the first part of Endless Space - on the same pedestal. It is together, as a franchise, that we will consider them (and this, by the way, applies to other franchises in the top).

The two main occupations of players in Endless Space 2 are economics and diplomacy. Only a third of the total number of races can boast of military advantages, while the rest prefer to trade and negotiate. Fortunately, there are many star systems, and there are even more planets in them, so there is usually enough space for everyone. But, of course, some planets are much more profitable to colonize and develop, so all races have the strength to at least defend.

In the best traditions of “Civilization,” a player in Endless Space can win by military, scientific, diplomatic, or conventionally “cultural” means. Separately, it is worth highlighting the economic one, since in this aspect Endless Space turns into a “game of one resource” - Dust. In such games, the legacy of Frank Herbert's legendary Dune is clearly seen, in which the war is waged over the miraculous spice (not what you think). Unfortunately, in strategies the essence of the “uber resource” is simplified, without giving it additional meaning, but only giving it absolute value.

5. Supreme Commander (RTS)

Supreme Commander is the de facto successor to the Total Annihilation series and one of the most significant strategy games in history. And although space as such is not represented in the game, the events of this RTS take place in the distant future, where interstellar flights have long been mastered.

However, the thing that makes this game unique can be called “Cosmic”. This is the scale of each battle that players observe on their . Forget about the foolishness of 10 tanks and one infantryman, typical of most other games. Supreme Commander puts players in control of tank fists, clouds of bombers, and entire fleets of ships.

The plot of this strategy is quite classic for space-themed games. The three factions did not divide the living space and arranged a redistribution of property. OFZ, Cybranes and Eon have their own style and game features, which makes the gameplay even more rich and varied. Overall, Supreme Commander is a time-tested classic among PC games and is recommended for all fans of the genre.

4. Master of Orion (4x Strategy)

Orion is one of the few constellations that actually resembles in shape what it calls: a human hero, a mythological character. Moreover, it contains some of the brightest stars in our galaxy and is easily visible in the starry sky. It is not surprising that Orion appears in many science fiction works, including, of course, PC games.

For example, turn-based global strategy Master of Orion. The developers were successfully the first to “stake out” a kosher name for themselves, so their game cannot be confused with anyone else. But this is not only due to the name: the first version was released back in 1993, and in 2016 it was re-released, and MoO began to sparkle with new colors. The concept has not changed: all ten races migrated to the new version with almost no balance changes (only in the collector's edition you can play as a bonus faction).

Along with the races, the updated Master of Orion includes war, diplomacy and economics - everything you love in global strategies, flavored with a scattering of stars and planets. By the way, Master of Orion is one of the few computer games of this genre that was made from. Only the notorious “Civilization” received the same honor, but not its space version. So in this top, MoO is the only game that is both computer and board. It may not look like it on the surface, but in reality it is a serious confession.

3. Stellaris (Global Strategy)

While some strategies adhere to the rule “the fewer races, the better,” others are happy to offer players diversity on a truly cosmic scale. This has its own charm and logic: not all galaxies have only one intelligent species for thousands of light years around, as in ours. There must be others in which intelligent life is in full swing!

This is exactly the kind of galaxy that the Stellaris strategy depicts. You can play in it with a variety of creatures with unique methods of trade and diplomacy. This is what the game focuses on, since balancing so many factions on the battlefield is extremely difficult. Therefore, galactic powers strive for superiority through the development of the economy, political relations, science and... no, the development of culture is already about the Sid Meier series.

There are still battles in Stellaris, but for the above reasons, they are quite primitive. You can’t even control them directly; they fight on their own. In some cases, this may look spectacular, but since the player watches it almost indifferently, “from a bird’s eye view,” the battles do not cause such emotional impact as in other space strategies.

2. Starcraft (RTS)

Most of the games in this collection are global strategies, but real-time strategy comes in second place. It is worth recognizing that global ones are much more popular, and according to this logic, one of them had to be promoted to the leader... but still, this is Starcraft. This is a true artifact of an era when real-time strategy games were at their peak.

What is this era remembered for, why are the memories of it so pleasant? Perhaps because every worker, soldier, hero, and unit in general had an individuality. Take the memes, for example! Arthas from Warcraft (for my father), monks from Age of Empires (wololo!), from Starcraft (a nuclear missile launch was detected): people, although not often, remember them in funny pictures, and this means a lot in the modern world. Global strategies are captivating in general, but they are not captivating with such details.

Finally, Starcraft is of great importance to the genre and . It was this game that established and popularized the “holy trinity” - a balance based on three completely different races, each with their own disadvantages and advantages, having equal opportunities in the game with equal abilities of opponents. This, in turn, allowed Starcraft to become one of the very first eSports disciplines. In South Korea, official competitions are still held for both the second and first parts of the game. It is curious that it was the first one that received cult status, and it was she who was honored by releasing an HD re-release.

1. Homeworld Series (RTS)

No matter what strategies come out before or after Homeworld, few projects can stand comparison with this series. The mechanics implemented in these RTS are so verified that the authors have released updated versions that extend the life of the games even longer.

One of the main selling points is the story, which follows an adventure to find a habitable planet that spans the entire galaxy. The atmosphere is closely related to the revelation of ancient secrets and overcoming enemies. The plot is presented in the form of stylish, presented between missions, which have long become legendary.

The gameplay is no worse. Few space strategy developers dare to use space the way Homeworld does. Full use of three-dimensionality, with a choice of “Altitude” for the flight of units, turns and dogfights, nebulae, asteroids and vast distances, these are just a few of the things that Homeworld’s gameplay is famous for.

And although the sequel was expected for a very long time, it turned out far from what many players imagined. Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, released in 2016, turned out to be a prequel to the original story. But the main difference was that the game moved to the surface of the planet. The gameplay has changed accordingly, but recognizable features such as an interesting plot, radio communications of units and the general style remain in full.

Thus, this is one of the best works on the theme of space, capable of captivating for many evenings. And the time after which players return to this series over and over again to relive its events is indisputable proof of these words.

Conclusion

Real-time strategy games have almost disappeared over the horizon, and we only see a glimmer of their former glory. Global strategies have taken their place, and they have all the makings to last just as long. But what happens next? The genre will definitely not go into oblivion, but what form will it take and what niche will it occupy? Maybe this will be partly a return to the roots, but it’s not for nothing that there are still those who hope for Warcraft IV. Or maybe combining with currently popular genres such as and. Surely something similar can already be found at indie studios, but not a single such project has taken off yet. Maybe they are hiding in the top? But wait, we don't have that... yet.

Starring Foxvic

is a beautiful shooter with elements of a dating sim set in a space opera setting. Yes, and all kinds, and the vaunted one, are more about war than about space. But projects about space exploration without shooting and alien monsters still exist, and in honor of Cosmonautics Day we decided to recall the best games about space.

10. Moonbase

By and large, this lunar base simulator, released in 1990 for DOS, Amiga and Macintosh, was a fantastic version of SimCity. You, as a base commander, had to monitor the distribution of oxygen, water, energy, heat, etc. in a growing colony. Build new bunkers, connect them with passages, extract minerals and resources, monitor supplies from Earth. A colony was considered successful when it became completely self-sufficient.

In 1993, an updated version of the game was released - Lunar Command. And in 2001, Moon Tycoon appeared, even more similar to SimCity - in full 3D, with trade and diplomacy options.

9. Mars Colony: Challenger

Mars Colony: Challenger is a Martian colony simulator, somewhat similar to NASA's Moonbase Alpha project. But in terms of graphics, the game by HyperKat Games is very unpretentious, it looks like it was made in the early 2000s. Plus, there are still enough bugs to ruin your experience.

We set up a colony by performing various tasks: establishing a connection with the Earth, growing food, extracting resources. Everything is quite leisurely, thanks to the inconvenient interface, carefully checking every action. The game has seven large missions, divided into several phases. In addition, you can perform them in the company of friends.

8.Extrasolar

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration is involved in the development of many of the above projects. In addition, NASA produces a huge number of applications related to certain aspects of the agency’s activities and providing access to photographs taken during various missions, including literally on the day they were received, information about spacecraft, biographies of astronauts, etc. . and so on. Just search for NASA in Google Play or the App Store and you will find dozens of applications, including games about space.

Happy holiday to everyone for whom space research continues to be the forefront of science and an important aspect of the activities of the people of planet Earth.

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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Computer games often touch on the topic of space travel. If you want to feel like a space wanderer without leaving a comfortable chair, then our top 10 best games about space are for you.

10 Take On Mars

9 Star Conflict

8 Freelancer

7 Kerbal Space Program

6 Doom

5 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

4 Universe Sandbox 2

3 Elite Dangerous

2 Mass Effect

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 on 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.