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
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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...
Wing Commander: Privateer
Windows XP/98/95DOSMac OS1993protected Origin Systems
WinTrek
Windows 3.x1992
Xiphos
DOS1990
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