Summary
Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of science fiction and, more specifically, space operas, is the sense of discovery and spirit of adventure that comes with the territory. Venturing across the stars and discovering new worlds, new locations and lifeforms;spacefaring can be a particularly awe-inspiring activity, especially in video games.
Fans of exploration, space combat, heightened drama, and high concepts will more than likely enjoy these titles. Be it the deep world-building ofMass Effector the thematic space battles ofCobalt Core, there’s something here for everyone.
Mass Effectis a spacefaring RPG that puts players at the helm of their own spaceship, traveling across the stars and gaining a deeper understanding of its myriad cultures as they go. Fans of military sci-fi in particular are perhaps more likely to enjoy it, but there are plenty of unique ideas presented via the game’s dense world-building.
The characters, writing, and overall narrative are the key draws here, and gameplay takes an appropriate back seat. As a result, players that enjoy RPGs with a closer focus on dialogue and world-building are potentially more likely to enjoythis space adventure.
FTL: Faster Than Lightisa unique roguelikethat tasks players with the management of a spaceship and its crew on a daring escape across the galaxy. The visceral space combat is the clear draw here, though the node-based exploration provides an intuitive palette cleanser between battles.
Managing the ship’s crew in real-time can be stressful, especially while prioritizing power systems and assessing the enemy, butFTLallows players to pause the game at any time. As a result, it’s able to provide an experience that’s both accessible and deep, making for a decidedly replayable experience.
Star Traders: Frontiersis a sandbox RPG that allows players to take command of their own ship and its crew, venturing across an open universe in node-based exploration. The game’s presentation may be simple, butStar Tradersoffers deep customization and myriad systems that keep it engaging.
Star Tradersis able to offer consistent spacefaring adventures by championing player agency, providing emergent gameplay with its systems for exploration, trading, questing, and combat. These myriad systems also offer a great deal of diversity, and frequent dangers help to keep players on their toes throughout.
In keeping withthe rest of the series,Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apartprovides players with a colorful, accessible, and decidedly lighthearted experience that’s full of heart. The diverse arsenal of quirky weaponry helps to keep combat an engaging experience, butRift Apartexcels with its exuberant personality and adventurous spirit.
Barreling through a colorful universe and making stops at a myriad of exotic locales,Rift Aparttakes players on a tour through some truly creative environments. These locations allow for a tremendous number of impressive set-pieces, making the adventure all the more memorable.
Freelancerisa classic space simthat affords its players a great deal of freedom. Players can perform the familiar space sim activities of hunting bounties, engaging in piracy, and trading, thoughFreelancerstands out with its intuitive controls and core narrative thread.
The third-person flight controls allowFreelancerto be a pain-free experience that’s more about expression than it is mastery. As a result,Freelancerallows players to venture across space with relative ease. Unfortunately,Freelancerisn’t readily available anymore, but it remains a pioneer in the genre and a worthwhile space adventure even today.
Cobalt Coreis a cozy sci-fi deck-builder that offers bite-sized adventures across space, giving players command of a small but expressive spaceship on a dangerous journey. The colorful, crunchy pixel-art graphics, soothing soundtrack, and charming characters are arguably what make this journey so memorable, butCobalt Corealso excels with its gameplay.
AlthoughCobalt Coreisa deck-builder, it’s able to stand out from the crowd via its tactical and thematic twists. In the game, players are able to control their ship along a single axis, using their cards to manage resources, avoid incoming attacks, and line up their cannons for devastating volleys. All this is made better via the game’s system for ship crew, which each member being represented by their own cards.
Offering meaningful exploration in a truly unique, bite-sized solar system,Outer Wildsprovides a contemplative adventure steeped inan immersive atmosphere. The melancholic soundtrack, charming characters, and, perhaps most importantly, the creative and exotic locations to explore make for a particularly mesmerizing adventure.
Best of all,Outer Wildsallows players to pilot their own spacecraft with complete freedom, jetting off across the stars in search of answers, or simply exercising the curiosity of a distant planet. There’s little here in the way of mechanical depth, but players looking to immerse themselves in a strange and awe-inspiring world are unlikely to be disappointed.
For fans of sci-fi westernssuch asFireflyand first-person RPGs such asFallout: New Vegas,The Outer Worldsis perhaps the perfect blend. Giving players a great deal of freedom both via dialogue and in how they approach obstacles,The Outer Worldsis an expressive RPG elevated by its abundance of unique and memorable characters.
One ofThe Outer Worlds' greatest strengths is its variety of player companions, who take up residence on the player’s ship and provide not simply warm company but their own narratives to progress. This gives a familial feel to the game, especially as it progresses, providing players with much-needed warmth amid stretches of dangerous exploration.
