8 space exploration games to enjoy while waiting for Starfield (2024)

Starfield lands this September 6, 2023, on Xbox Series X | S and PC (also on Xbox Game Pass) and science fiction lovers couldn’t be more eager to delve into the Bethesda game, creators of sagas such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, among others. Everything we’ve seen of it looks really good, like the factions and stealth mechanics, but since there is still a month to wait, how about we try other video games in which we can cross the galaxy and explore space?

We know that it is not easy to compare these types of games, since not all of them allow us to get on a ship and land on all kinds of inhospitable planets. That, and that it wouldn’t make much sense to list here names like Dead Space or others that, beyond sharing the theme, don’t have much to do with something like that. For this reason, we have sought the balance to focus on games and series in which, at the very least, we undertake an intergalactic journey.

Outer Wilds

Don’t let its looks fool you: Outer Wilds is one of the best exploration games ever designed as far as science fiction is concerned. There’s a 22-minute loop where the solar system collapses and the player lives trapped in some sort of Groundhog Day, but everything that happens in that time is recorded in your research journal and you get further and further ahead. It also has an essential expansion for every holder of the Mobius Games title.

No Man’s Sky

Its premiere was rocked by numerous controversies, especially in terms of content and technical problems, but over the years, Hello Games -led by Sean Murray- have managed to shape a game that is much closer to their original idea. The millions of planets procedurally generated are there, waiting for you to visit them with your ship as you engage with aliens, face all manner of enemies, and try to reach the very center of the universe, literally. Although they are different concepts, No Man’s Sky offers an experience similar to what we will see in Starfield.

Mass Effect

Although it is true that getting on the ship and landing on unexplored planets is somewhat limited in the BioWare saga, the Commander Shepard trilogy is an absolute must for any sci-fi lover. A work that burns slowly, in which the relations with the crew, the scale of the intergalactic conflicts, and the sensation of living a true space odyssey check all the marks of the genre.

Star Citizen

Everything we say about it will fall short, because Star Citizen is much more than a video game; It’s like living a second life in space. It is not for everyone, since it provides a really absorbing experience in which we must customize and manage all kinds of elements. The game has raised almost 600 million dollars and it has more than 5 million registered users, whom you could meet during any of your trips. Exploration, commerce, work, political conflicts, space missions... It is the closest thing that exists to real life. Well, in space.

Elite: Dangerous

Many players define Elite: Dangerous as the ideal game for those who are attracted to Star Citizen but do not dare to delve into it. In addition, we are talking about a title that is not only somewhat more accessible to the controls but is also available on various consoles, therefore reaching a larger audience. In any case, one thing is certain: it will allow you to live an unforgettable experience in outer space.

Kerbal Space Program

If simulation is your thing and you enjoy realism, then you have to get hold of the Intercept Games title (or its sequel). In Kerbal Space Program you will not live fantastic stories, but you will undertake space missions as NASA does it, managing, calculating, and customizing almost all the way down to the last bolt of your ship or rocket. In addition, it has console versions in which the controls are very well adapted.

Starbound

It is a very different proposal from others on the list, but it should not be forgotten that Starbound became a true phenomenon thanks to the idea of taking us to outer space through an experience similar to Terraria, which in turn borrowed a lot from Minecraft. In addition, it is another one of those cases in which the developers work tirelessly to improve the game. Build your base on a distant planet, go further and further in your expeditions, and discover the secrets that are hidden beyond Earth.

Astroneer

What makes Astroneer a one-of-a-kind game is that terraforming planets is one of its main mechanics. If you can’t reach a place, you have the means to shape the terrain to your liking and always get away with it. A very satisfying survival and exploration experience that, despite the number of elements that you must keep in mind, is much more accessible than it seems.