Features The 10 Best Space Sims

Freelancer deserves a higher spot than 10 - I say this as a completely objective and totally unbiased 100% fanboy.

 

Although it's still in Early Access, I'd say Everspace 2 could easily have a decent position in the top 10.
It's shaping up to be a fantastic space game.

 

I was addicted to the original Elite, Elite Dangerous I played for a while but then left me feeling a bit empty which was ruining my memories of the original.

That said, Elite Dangerous in VR is a different matter. That is how it shines for me. It's no longer a grind but it's a thankful escape and has got me hooked back in.

Nothing quite like just parking up on an icy rock and staring and a ringed planet.

 

I backed Everspace, which was a lot of fun but it got very samey, so I haven't really looked into the second one.

 

I spent alot of time in X3:TC - very enjoyable but it kind of plateaued out fo me.

 

I'll likely get shouted down for this but...

Wing Commander & Freelancer creator Chris Roberts is still working in this genre - anyone ever hear of Star Citizen?

 

I may be getting confused but was that some sort of ponzi scheme or something?

Tsk, my memory is not what it was.

 

Reading the list.
Where is Freespace 2?
Still reading the list.
WHERE IS FREESPACE 2!?
Gets to number 2.
Second, SECOND!? DEPLOY JUGGERNAUT FLEET.

I played Elite: Dangerous for over a thousand hours, nothing quite surprised me like the dive dive dive moment in FS2. Then again I was over a decade older when Elite Dangerous came out.

 

agree that freelancer shoulda placed higher but where is privateer 2 and starlancer? over all its a solid list and perhaps no mans sky should have placed higher as well

 

Freeelancer was AMAZING, you forgot to mention the awesome multiplayer it had.

Can remember loosing an entire i-series to it with the rest of us on our row

 

yeah it had great mp with a few easter eggs in, theres also an mp based space game around that time called jumpgate alot folks played that alot for a short time then it kinda died out

 

The best thing with Freelancer is its accessibility. I played using M&K and it's really well designed for that. I've not seen another space sim handling mouse input like Freelancer. (happy to be corrected, I'm itching for another space sim)

I've completed Star Wars Squadron, it's not bad but was very difficult on M&K, only playable via gamepad.

 

I liked Everspace for what it is - it scratched an itch right when I had one without needing a joystick. I never played the Wing Commander games back in the day (although I did play Privateer which was pretty fun, and I've since played 3 & 4 via GoG) but Freelancer and Starlancer left me cold. With Freelancer it was the mouse controls, with Starlancer it was the absolute lack of soul.

I've never played Elite: Dangerous (and I never will, despite how much it interests me) because of the volte-face they pulled about offline gaming. Yes, I know I'm missing out. No, I don't care.

I-War 2, Tachyon: The Fringe, X-Wing Alliance and Freespace 2 were my space combat games of choice. Only one is on that list, and all four should be.

I picked up Helium Rain a while ago, found it interesting, but it really failed to hold my attention, although that might be partially because I have been insanely busy.

 

I mainly play solo nowadays since I started exploring (don't want a random just being random when I have charts to sell).

I can see what you mean, I can also see that being connected means you are upto date with what is going on in the universe that other players are having an effect on and vice-versa.

To each their own though.

 

Or Defender, I noted sadly.

 

Would you classify these as sims though?