Games set in space

Science fiction doesn't always means space battles, space exploration, exploding stars, etc. In some games, though, the "space" element is heavily present. Space simulations, shoot 'em ups, RPGs are some of the genres where science fiction "space" games are abundant.

Most popular space games

Wing Commander

Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares

Spacewar

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Anacreon: Reconstruction 4021

DOS1987freeware Thinking Machine Associates

Welcome to the future, where space empires are managed entirely via text and colored dots. Anacreon puts you in charge of an interstellar civilization and lets you conquer galaxies with the graphical intensity of an Excel spreadsh...

Armada 2525

DOS1991

Armada 2525 is what happens when a spreadsheet decides it wants to conquer the galaxy. This is classic 4X strategy with all the bells, whistles, and menus your early '90s heart could desire. You’ll build colonies, research t...

Ascendancy

DOS1995 The Logic Factory

Ascendancy is the friendlier, trippier cousin of Master of Orion. It’s 4X strategy in space, with bizarre alien races, psychedelic menus, and a soundtrack that sounds like it was composed by a stoned dolphin. The early game ...

Ascii Sector

Windows 10/11LinuxDOS2007freeware

Ascii Sector is what happens when someone takes Privateer, removes the graphics, and replaces them with pure ASCII and sheer willpower. It’s open-world space sim meets roguelike: you trade, fight, explore, get stabbed in sha...

Astro Dodge

DOS1982 Digital Marketing Corporation

Astro Dodge (1982) is basically Frogger — in space. You control a tiny spacecraft tasked with dodging endless waves of meteors, space debris, and possibly your own questionable life choices. There’s no shooting, no exp...

Babylon 5: I've Found Her

Windows XP/98/952003freeware Space Dream Factory

Released in 2003 for Windows XP, Babylon 5: I've Found Her is the kind of fan-made game that makes you question whether it’s actually fan-made or secretly a pilot for a new sci-fi show. You pilot sleek Starfuries in this spa...

Battlestar

Windows 3.x1996freeware

No, not that Battlestar. Battlestar (1996) is more obscure than a reboot that never happened. Set in deep space with a top-down view and UI only a Windows 3.x user could love, it mixes tactical combat and sci-fi storytelling like ...

Blasteroids

DOS1989 Atari

Blasteroids is a video game developed and released by Atari, Inc. in 1987. It's a sequel to the classic arcade game Asteroids, which was released in 1979. In Blasteroids, players control a spaceship tasked with destroying asteroid...

Bubble Trouble

Windows XP/98/951998

Here comes another bubble game—but this one packs a punch. Bubble Trouble is a frantic shoot-’em-up where you pop evil bouncing bubbles before they bounce you out of existence. It’s part arcade mayhem, part refle...

Captain Blood

DOSMac OS1988 ERE Informatique

Captain Blood is a space exploration video game released in 1988. It was developed by the French company ERE Informatique, and it was designed by Philippe Ulrich and Didier Bouchon. The game is set in a futuristic universe, where ...

CHAMP Asteroids

DOS1997remake ChamProgramming corp.

CHAMP Galagon

DOS1997remake ChamProgramming corp.

Command Adventures: Starship

DOS1995 Future Vision

Cosmic Crusader

DOS1982 Funatics Software

Deep space: Operation Copernicus

DOS1986 Lerner Research

Descent: FreeSpace - The Great War

Windows XP/98/951998protected Volition

Devastator

DOS1984 COMPUTE! Publications

Eagle's Rider

DOS1991 Microids

Earthrise

DOS1990 Interstel Corporation

EGA Trek

DOS1988remake

EGA-Roids

DOS1986freewareremake Designer Software

Elite

DOS1987freeware Firebird

Elite Plus

DOS1991 Realtime Games

Elite Plus is an enhanced version of the classic space trading and combat simulator Elite, released by MicroPlay in 1991 for MS-DOS. It was designed as an update to the original 1984 game, improving graphics, performance, and over...

Epic

DOS1992protected Digital Image Design

Eye of the Storm

DOS1993 Rebellion Developments

Frederik Pohl's Gateway

DOS1992 Legend Entertainment

Frederik Pohl's Gateway is one of the best abandoned adventures games from Legend Entertainment. Gateway is an interactive fiction with graphics and an improved interface (unusual for IFs), based on the Frederik Pohl's novel ...

Frontier: Elite 2

DOS1993 Frontier Developments

Frontier: Elite II is a classic space simulation and trading game released in 1993, developed by David Braben and his company Frontier Developments. Frontier is the sequel to the pioneering 1984 game Elite and is often considered ...