Space exploration simulations

Space exploration is one of the most unique genres and the first games ever published dates back a few decades. Space exploration games are a mix of simulation and action. The gameplay is all about piloting a starship in the vastness of space and having fun with activities such as space exploration, trading commodities, space combat, asteroid mining, pirate hunting, etc. The most popular space exploration games are Elite and Frontier, both designed by David Braben.

Most popular space exploration games

Elite

Ascii Sector

Frontier: Elite 2

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Apollo 18: Mission to the Moon

DOS1987 Artech Studios

Apollo 18: Mission to the Moon (1987) lets you relive the lunar missions in all their... spreadsheet-like glory. This game is as educational as it is punishing; you’ll learn about thrust vectors, fuel efficiency, and your to...

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...

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 ...

EGA Trek

DOS1988remake

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...

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 ...

Frontier: First Encounters

DOS1995 Frontier Developments

Independence War

Windows XP/98/951997protected Particle Systems

Independence War 2: Edge Of Chaos

Windows XP/98/952001protected Particle Systems

Iron Seed

DOS1994freeware

MDDClone

Windows 10/11LinuxMac OS2007remake

Millennia: Altered Destinies

DOS1995 Take-Two Interactive

Noctis

DOSWindows XP/98/952000

Nomad

DOS1993 Papyrus Design Group

Protostar: War on the Frontier

DOS1993 Tsunami Media

Psi 5 Trading Company

DOS1986protected Distinctive Software

Star Command

DOS1988protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Star Fleet 1: The War Begins

DOSMac OS1985 Interstel Corporation

Star Fleet 2: Krellan Commander

DOS1989 Interstel Corporation

Star Trek: The Rebel Universe

DOS1988 Firebird

Tau Ceti

DOS1987 Thunder Mountain

Visual Star Trek

DOS1990

Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space

Windows 10/11LinuxMac OS2005protected Digital Eel

Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space is a science fiction roguelike game developed by Digital Eel. Originally released in 2005, it is the sequel to Strange Adventures in Infinite Space. The game puts you in command of a sta...