Ever heard of ‘astrolust’? It’s like wanderlust but in space. If you’re reading this, the chances are you’ll have at least some degree of astrolust (or ‘starbourne longing’ as it is also called).
Despite NASA’s best efforts, though, we’re not quite at the stage of offering commercial flights out to the final frontier just yet. So, in the meantime, those of us who’ve been landed with a hearty dose of space fever can turn to these space exploration games for their cosmic fix.
Whether you’re looking to command powerful starships in battle or simply want to try your hand at survival in the void, read on and join us on a stellar journey through the galaxy with these 10 space exploration games.
1. Starfield
Starting off strong and celestial, we have Starfield, a vast space discovery game developed by the makers of The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.
Set in the distant 24th century, Starfield invites players to explore an expansive open-world universe comprising over 1,000 planets, space stations, star systems, and moons. Since Bethesda Game Studios are known for their immersive RPGs, you won’t be surprised to learn that Starfield offers its players numerous opportunities for role-playing — namely in character creation and faction alignment, making every player’s experience unique.
Similarly to Space Engineers (as we’ll cover later on our list), Starfield encourages players to build their own ships to further their exploration efforts; however, this game’s ground exploration is already rich enough with alien biomes, resource mining, and highly detailed environments to discover.
Released on Xbox Series X|S and PC, players can enjoy Starfield how they like, immersing themselves in the game’s strong narrative and unfamiliar terrains on a familiar console.
2. The Mass Effect Trilogy
A space exploration game list wouldn’t be complete without a nod towards Mass Effect; that being said, how could we choose just one?
The Mass Effect trilogy is an iconic, critically acclaimed space exploration series that dominated sci-fi gaming and redefined storytelling in the gaming world in the 2000s and early 2010s. First developed by BioWare in 2007 for the Xbox 360, Mass Effect takes players on a colossal journey across the galaxy as military hero, Commander Shepard, in his quest to unite civilizations against the Reapers.
Alongside its immense breadth, Mass Effect also manages to give players considerable depth and detail in the form of diverse alien species, moral challenges, branching dialogue, and vibrant landscapes. The second and third games contribute even more detail and opportunities for exploration, finishing the thrilling saga off with high-stakes decisions, refined combat mechanics, and RPG elements.
3. Elite Dangerous
Up next, we have Elite Dangerous, a breathtaking exploration and combat simulator that does oh so much justice to the vastness of space. Developed by Frontier Developments, this massively multiplayer game presents players with an impressive, panoramic recreation of the Milky Way and thousands of star systems to explore.
Elite Dangerous truly puts exploration front and center in the gameplay since players take on the role of a spaceship pilot navigating tricky trade routes. From engaging in dogfights to mining asteroids, the narrative of this game is tightly-woven and all interconnected, meaning that every action has consequences. Available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, Elite Dangerous offers gamers an interstellar journey that knows no bounds.
4. No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky simply had to feature on our list as a modern classic in the space exploration game category. Launched by Hello Games for multiple platforms in 2016 (now even including Nintendo Switch), No Man’s Sky was and remains a groundbreaking adventure-survival game, loved by PC and console gamers alike.
Exploration is one of this game’s four pillars (the other three being survival, combat, and trading), so players can expect discovery, crafting, foraging, and travel elements aplenty.
The world inside No Man’s Sky is brimming with diverse lifeforms, unusual planets, and unsolved mysteries — practically begging players to roam free and explore as far as they can. Despite being criticized at its launch for lacking certain promised features, after major updates such as “Beyond” and “Origins” were rolled out, No Man’s Sky became a vast, richly detailed, open-world game that rewards curiosity and satisfies astrolust through and through.
5. Star Citizen
Ambitious and deeply immersive, Star Citizen is a space exploration game that has taken one giant leap for gamekind into the realm of simulation.
Developed by Cloud Imperium Games, Star Citizen places players in a variety of different modules where they must explore and venture beyond the confines of their comfort zones in order to survive. Combining desirable elements from first-person shooter and massively multiplayer online genres, Star Citizen redefines what is possible in space games, even adding a zero-gravity mode and interactions with NPCs and other players.
In the popular Persistent Universe module, players can freely navigate around moons, planets, and a gas giant as they please, roaming with different levels of freedom — encountering spacecraft, cities, and even cave systems where they may find rare ores.
Star Citizen remains unparalleled in its attention to detail and world-building, so — while it is currently only available for PC via Windows — we hope it becomes widely accessible to all gamers soon.
6. Dead Space (2023 remake)
Next up, we’re blending space exploration with horror in the form of the eerie, spine-chilling game Dead Space.
In this meticulously crafted remake of the 2008 survival classic, players are placed on board a vast mining ship as an engineer and must navigate through miles of labyrinthine corridors and machinery to save the crew.
We’re taking a bit of creative license with this one as, although players are not technically exploring space, the game offers a deeply complex and highly-tense exploration of a space ship — so that counts in our eyes.
Developed by Motive Studio, this game is paradoxically both expansive and claustrophobic, trapping players on a ship (a huge one, but still a confined space all the same). Available in both PC and console versions, players can experience the chilling journey through the ship with new improvements on the original — including dynamic lighting and faster loading times.
7. EVE Online
Coming in at number 7, we have EVE Online, a totally unique and innovative space exploration game that pushes the limits of what’s possible for gaming immersion.
If you’re looking to really live and breathe a journey to outer space, this is the game for you. This MMO is set in the vast galaxy of ‘New Eden’ 21,000 years in the future, where players can explore around 7,800 star systems (yes, you read that right), offering unparalleled depth and freedom to explore.
Players can become adventurers, traders, tacticians, or even warlords if they choose, with every decision they make impacting the universe around them due to the game’s sandbox design. The immaculate soundtrack does some heavy lifting for the immersion element of this game — as do the stunning visuals and player-driven stories. More than a game, EVE Online has become its own universe waiting for you to step inside and explore
8. Helldivers 2
Next on our list, we have Helldivers 2, a cooperative third-person shooter game that sees players fully immersed in interstellar exploration — with a heavy dose of combat along the way.
Developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, this sequel gained widespread acclaim for how expansive its universe was and the level of engagement made possible by the detailed graphics and gameplay. In the game, players become elite “Helldivers” soliders who must reclaim human-colonized planets from the clutches of aliens (if it sounds vast, it’s because it is).
Alongside the environmental storytelling and tension, what’s most impressive about this game is its lore-building. As players explore space, they also uncover logs, notes, and messages that enrich their immersion within the game even further.
9. Space Engineers
This one’s for the Minecraft lovers in our midst. If you love building and creating, Space Engineers is the perfect sandbox in space. From sprawling space stations to agile aircraft, Space Engineers lets players design, build, and maintain space-borne structures and vessels to explore.
With realistic physics and complex recreations of the harsh environment of space, this game is ideal for exploring what is and isn’t possible in outer space. Mine asteroids, fend off enemies, and become the ultimate astrological architect in a game designed to unite creative thinkers, tinkerers, and space lovers all at once.
10. Destiny 2
Destiny 2 finishes off our list — and what a way to end! This immense MMO is packed full of galactic exploration, full-on action, and captivating storytelling. Not for the faint of heart, Destiny 2 invites players to take on the role of ‘Guardian’ in order to protect Earth’s last city against alien threats.
Although players must defend Earth, the game is set in a sprawling universe brimming with ancient ruins, mysterious plans, and moons. There is no shortage of discovery in Destiny 2 as players are encouraged to explore stunning environments and peel back multiple layers of lore and mystery, making this the perfect game to satisfy anyone’s astrolust.
Developed by Bungie and available on PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, and Stadia, Destiny 2 makes galactic exploration accessible to all audiences and, with ongoing updates and expansions, there’s always a new frontier for players to explore.
Take to the stars with Displate…
…or, rather take the stars to you. The cosmic exploration doesn’t have to stop just because the gameplay ends. With Displate’s range of cosmic posters, you can remain immersed in outer space from the comfort of your living room, bedroom, or gaming room, even if your consoles are on standby.
From galactic cats to interstellar dreamscapes, explore our full range of space posters here or supplement them with some stills from your favorite games in our gaming posters collection.
