Space, the final frontier; these are the video games often made with procedural generation. Their mission: to create entirely new worlds, to seek out thrilling new ways to dogfight, and to boldly go to new in-game locations that nobody has ever visited before… Or something like that.

While I don’t mind being cheesy from time to time, one thing that I don’t want to do here on Rogueliker is overextend myself by commenting on things that I don’t know much about. In this instance, that means there are a couple of notable omissions in this article about spaceship games, chief among them being Star Citizen. That feels like a sizeable gap, seeing as how the game has raked in an extraordinary amount of funding over the years. But what can I do?!

Instead, I’m going to do what I always do, and that’s focus on the stuff that I have played and enjoyed, avoid games made with gen-AI, evangelise indies where possible, and continue to lean into the wonderful world of procedural generation, which is extremely prevalent in this quadrant of gaming. I’m also going to over-indulge when it comes to highlighting roguelikes, and we’re going to start with one…

FTL: Faster Than Light | Subset Games | iOS (iPad), PC (Lin, Mac, Win)

This wonderful game gets top billing from me because… well… the clue is in the name at the top of the page. I like roguelikes, and FTL is an all-time genre classic. I love how Subset’s sci-fi adventure reshuffles every time, and how much flexibility there is in your ship build.

The soundtrack remains one of my personal faves, and while the graphics are undoubtedly low-fi, the UI is so perfect that FTL has gone on to spawn a whole fleet of imitators who all follow the same script.

As for the gameplay, the ship-to-ship combat intersects wonderfully with a choose-your-own-style adventure experience where you must guide your crew across the galaxy on a perilous mission, with an angry fleet in hot pursuit. The modding scene is impressive, too.

Elite Dangerous | Frontier Developments | PC (Win), PS4, Xbox + VR

Second billing goes to Elite Dangerous, a long-in-development sci-fi saga that has gone from strength to strength over the years, with Frontier continuing to add oodles of depth via an ever-expanding selection of ships, planets, and narrative elements.

One of the things that has always impressed me about Elite Dangerous is the way that the universe has been brought to life around the game using clever proc-gen techniques. There’s also a really deep economy built into the game, although if you’re mostly interested in space trade, I’m told that X4 is the one to look into.

Getting back to saying nice things about Elite: I think it’s also worth taking a moment to recognise the important role that the series has had in the industry. The original Elite stands as a landmark video game, and it’s great to see Frontier still pushing the envelope after all these years.

No Man’s Sky | Hello Games | PC (Mac, Win), PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox + VR

Another stellar sci-fi spaceship game is No Man’s Sky, which recently celebrated ten years of procedurally generated star searching with the tantalising fact that players have seen less than 1% of the planets in the game’s vast universe.

While No Man’s Sky might have gotten off to a rocky start, Hello Games has done an incredible job turning things around. The studio kept plugging away until the original vision was finally brought to fruition. If exploration is more important to you than an in-depth sci-fi piloting experience, I suggest you immediately set a course for No Man’s Sky.

Starfield | Bethesda Softworks | PC (Win), PS5, Xbox

Although it might be a slightly janky Bethesda RPG first and foremost (meant with love, not disdain), Starfield also offers a galaxy completely stacked with things to do, including planets built using a smart mixture of proc-gen and custom landmarks.

There’s a big grand story behind this first-person RPG, and that’s perhaps the part of the game that didn’t connect with me as strongly as other games on this page. That said, there is a lot to do in Bethesda’s sci-fi epic, and if you’re after something single-player-focused to sink a couple of hundred hours into, there’s enough good stuff in Starfield to warrant a recommendation.

Star Wars: Tie Fighter | LucasArts | PC (Mac, Win)

I’ve played a lot of Star Wars spaceship games in my years, but the one that shines brightest in the ol’ memory banks is probably the original Tie Fighter. I did go back and play it again more recently, and honestly, it felt rather archaic when compared to more modern titles. Including…

Star Wars: Squadrons | Motive | PC (Win), PS4, Xbox + VR

I know this one’s inclusion will split opinion, but I’m mentioning it because of the ship feel, which is extraordinarily good. If you want to feel what it’s like to sit inside a Star Wars cockpit, this is the best you can do on a budget. That said, this is an EA game, and I’d always suggest you support an indie developer instead, such as….

House of the Dying Sun | Marauder Interactive | PC (Win) + VR

Confession time. I only got halfway through the campaign for House of the Dying Sun before I hit a difficulty spike. As I was playing that one for fun, as is so often the way for us game critics, I had to move on to something else for review, and then I never went back. For shame. What I can tell you is that this indie shooter more than holds its own in combat, as you play as part of the armada defending an empire in rapid decline, and it was one of the first games I thought of when prepping this article.

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw | PC (Win), PS4, Switch, Xbox

If you’re after a spaceship game that really leans into the Wild West vibe, then Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is probably your best bet. I skipped the first game and went straight to the second, but I had a good time with the one I played for review back at my old place. It’s a spaceship game first and foremost, so expect lots of battles and dogfighting, naturally, but the Space Western vibes are strong, too.

Hardspace Shipbreaker | Blackbird Interactive | PC (Win) PS5, Xbox Series

While I’ve got you, if you like a good Space Western, I also advise you check out Hardspace Shipbreaker, which has a similar atmosphere but is about stripping spaceships down in an orbital junkyard rather than actually piloting them.

Of course, this isn’t a spaceship game in the traditional sense, but the sci-fi setting, the atmosphere, the playful voice-over and satirical narrative – I found the whole thing to be utterly charming, even if it is very much not my normal cup of tea.

Outer Wilds | Mobius Digital | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS4, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch

I’m going to get in trouble if I don’t mention it, so mention it I will. That said, I have to note that while Outer Wilds is an ambitious and highly experimental video game, its open-ended loop means that it’s not going to be for everyone. Let’s call this a cautious recommendation.

The core mechanic involves the universe resetting every few minutes, taking you back to the beginning of this immersive puzzle adventure. After that, you’re left to piece things together yourself, and while that open-ended gameplay might not be for everyone, Outer Wilds is the kind of game that makes its fans go all misty-eyed.

Stellaris | Paradox | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS4, Xbox Series

Shipbuilding is a huge part of Stellaris, the Paradox grand-strategy game that I’ve gone back to again and again over the years. This epic strategy sandbox among the stars is a remix of the studio’s normal approach, but I think it works wonderfully. Well, it was last time I played it, but Paradox’s aggressive approach to DLC and expansions means that the meta is always changing and thus can be hard to pin down.

Still, I’m including it here because it’s great fun to build a massive fleet and then smash it into another one. Not only that, but there’s a lot of potential for replayability thanks to all the post-launch DLC and a wealth of campaign customisation options.

Another option that operates in a similar space is Sins of a Solar Empire, which arguably has the greatest franchise name in all of gaming.

Everspace | Rockfish Games | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS4, Switch, Xbox

The listing is for the first, but I’m talking about both Everspace games in this entry, because they are similar in many ways, but also completely different, too. The first game is very much up my street as it’s essentially a starfighter roguelite with frantic, focused dogfighting.

The second game is much more of a traditional RPG experience with an expansive story and deep progression systems, and while I prefer the roguelite structure of the first, I can absolutely appreciate the merit in mixing things up for the sequel. Maybe get both?

Eve Online | Fenris Creations | PC (Mac, Win)

I can’t claim to have connected with Eve Online when I briefly tried it, many years ago; however, I’m fascinated by the meta side of this expansive sci-fi MMORPG, and I’ve been checking in on it every so often ever since – always in a professional capacity but always with great interest. If you’re after a connected galaxy full of other players, complete with its own in-depth economy and faction warfare, Eve Online is a unique game with a dedicated community that refuses to go away.

Descent | Parallax | PC (Lin, Mac, Win)

I’m going to date myself a bit now, but I played a lot of Descent and its sequel, back when they came out in the mid-90s. This was the era of the 6DoF shooter, and it was a good time. While Doom and Quake kept you stuck to the ground, these first-person shooters let you explore the full 3D space, and for a lot of console owners in particular, that new sense of freedom was being experienced for the first time.

Desecrators | Woodhound | PC (Win)

Same idea, but brought kicking and screaming into the 2020s, this time with the added bonus of a replayable proc-gen campaign. As we noted in our review, the gameplay loop is well-polished, and the action is highly engaging thanks to a well-stocked arsenal.

Nova Drift | Chimeric | Android, iOS, PC (Mac, Win)

This top-down space shooter is on the more abstract side of things, but that shouldn’t dissuade you from checking it out. In my opinion, Nova Drift is a fantastic little ARPG with deep customisation and fun theory crafting that underpins frantic arcade twin-stick shooter gameplay.

There are tons and tons of classic arcade side-scrollers and top-down shooters out there, and I’ve spent more than my fair share of time playing originals such as Defender and Asteroids. If you’re after a modern game that captures that arcade spirit, you can’t go wrong with Nova Drift.

If you like the sound of that, also see the brilliant Sektori, which is a bit on the abstract side to get a full entry in this feature, but scratches a very similar itch, and comes from a former Housemarque dev.

Kerbal Space Program | Squad | PC (Lin, Mac, Win), PS4, PS5, Xbone, Xbox Series

While I haven’t played much of this one myself, I did watch my son play a whole bunch on the big screen while I typed in the background, so I’m quite familiar with this cutesy physics-based rocket sim. If you’re looking for a game that blends serious science with funny spacefaring creatures and an accessible approach to discovery and experimentation, the first Kerbal Space Program is well worth investing in.

Games Like FTL

And now we get to my favourite part of the article, but perhaps also the nichest sub-section in terms of general interest. That’s because we’re here to talk about games like FTL: Faster Than Light. As I mentioned earlier, FTL’s UI has proven so effective that it has given rise to a small fleet of highly replayable games.

Void War | Tundra | PC (Win)

While Void War sticks very close to the script, it does so with style. This isn’t an official 40k spin-off, but I expect anyone out there who knows their Warhammer is going to find lots of thematic elements to appreciate in this twisted and gruesome sci-fi game.

I’ve tried a bunch of games that essentially copy FTL, including decent efforts such as Shortest Trip to Earth, but I think Void War is my fave.

Lonestar | Math Tide | PC (Mac, Win), Switch

Although Lonestar does look a little bit like FTL, it leans much further into the theory crafting and engine building. Thematically, it’s quite different, too, as you’re playing as a bounty hunter who spends their downtime going out on interesting little side quests. There’s also a really light lane-based tactical element that helps make the combat feel distinct.

Cobalt Core | Rocket Rat Games | PC (Mac, Win), Switch

This adorable little sci-fi deckbuilder has a lane-based combat system similar to Lonestar’s, but Cobalt Core’s combat involves considerably more movement. I’d also go a bit further and say that you’d be hard-pressed to find a tighter, more controlled deckbuilder than Cobalt Core, and I heartily recommend it.

Battlestar Galactica: Shattered Hopes | Alt Shift | PC (Mac, Win)

For a while, I think I’d have had a Homeworld game in this article; the series that basically nabbed the story from Battlestar Galactica. Now we have a really good game based on the iconic sci-fi franchise, so I think it should be the new game from Alt Shift that gets a mention, as the studio does a fine job of capturing the spirit of the TV show. Not only that, but this is the same studio that gave us Crying Suns, a very good FTL-like that I would’ve may well have included if it wasn’t for Shattered Hopes.

Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown | Gamexcite | PC (Win), PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series

And now for something completely different: another classic sci-fi franchise turned into an FTL like game. This time, it’s the Voyager spin-off from Star Trek, and you must lead your crew across the Delta Quadrant, much like Janeway and co did in the TV show. Of all the games in this section, this one holds the narrative reins the tightest, but if you want an authentic Star Trek experience, a lot of work has gone into capturing the spirit of the show.

Finally, if you’re a dev or publisher and your game should genuinely be in this article, head to the About Page and Review Policy for guidance. As for me, I’ll keep playing and adding games as I find them.