One of the biggest and ever-growing mysteries of the Universe is deep space. With a plethora of sci-fi games on the scene centered around space exploration, the fascination continues with innovative minds bringing new and dynamic narratives and a more well-rounded presentation of aerodynamics, astronomy, and physics to the mainstream. Video games offer players the perfect space to venture to new planets, species, colonies, and beyond. These games hit the mark in both space exploration, entertainment, cinematic graphics, and phenomenal characters to relish in.

Related

7 Best Sci-Fi Survival Games, Ranked

The survival genre continues to thrill players both on and off Earth in a variety of creative sci-fi settings worth checking out.

Immersing in space is one of the greatest triumphs of sci-fi games, and these titles present an exciting amount of realistic space exploration for players to indulge in. Whether that's trudging through low-gravity, doing barrel rolls in the freedom of a spaceship, or realistically reaching new worlds and discovering odd life both peaceful and hostile, these games know how to impress players and scratch their cosmic exploration itch for worlds beyond Earth.

8 No Man's Sky

Obtain Resources To Further Explore The Vastness Of An Infinite Universe

Despite the initial rocky start, No Man's Sky has continued to prove itself time and again that it's one of the best sci-fi games for exploring the stars. The game itself allows players a near boundless freedom, where they can take off in their spaceships and seek out new life on strange new worlds. From exploring a new galaxy entirely to entering the orbit of a planet, the realism and beauty of No Man's Sky is a wonder that everyone should try.

There is much beauty in the procedurally generated worlds of No Man's Sky, and the constant free updates to the game only make that further so. Players are required to search for resources, like fuel, to explore further reaches in the universe, discover rare materials, and new creatures, and even partake in a space battle or two with the intense controls of their ship as they elegantly fly through the vastness of space.

7 Starfield

Scope Hundreds of Planets and Star Systems for Distinct and Rare Galactic Artifacts

If players are looking for massive plots of intergalactic territory and diversity in missions and weaponry, Starfield is up your alley for heavy space exploration. The 24th century is a galaxy colonized by humans where star systems can be observed with the aid of rapidly advanced technology like the Grav-Dive. Starfield gives gamers a mix of modern graphics with the option of isometric views, which for certain missions can come in handy for combat layouts and planning.

Related

6 Most Immersive Bethesda Games, Ranked

Bethesda is excellent at creating immersive worlds, where the gameplay, characters, and plots make it hard to leave for reality.

The game centers on mystifying artifacts found from side quests, missions, and scavenges. Building an initial character can be intimidating before delving into environments like pirate-filled crystal asteroid mines or abandoned ships for quests. But the array and vastness of hundreds of stars will add dazzle to any venture in the game.

6 Ever Space 2

New Ships, New Guns, and Funny Robots Make Space More Lively

Everspace 2's supralight travel maximizes the curiosity that engulfs deep space exploration. Combined with combat and a third-person perspective looter/shooter system, Everspace 2 enhances the galactic visuals from the series' first installment while offering fans classic arcade game styles. Players lock in the excitement of preparing for missions and potentially catastrophic events like whole spaceships blown to bits.

Stockpiled with tons of menu options for fresh artillery and ship mods, the game embraces the vitality and buzz that come with any space venture. Although no one particular character or storyline stands stark or deeply resonates with fans, aside from a quirky robot and the fellow space folks and looters, the overall layout of the Everspace 2 map and the variety of missions is thrilling, with strong graphics to match.

5 The Expanse: A TellTale Series

Zero Gravity Fights Will forever Be Badass

This five-part episodic adventure game serves as a prequel to the iconic SyFy TV series of the same name. The Expanse showcases TellTale Games' lambent storytelling, throwing protagonist Camina Drummer into the eerie and daring rim of The Belt. Players follow the massive spacecraft, The Artemis, through the confounds of The Belt, scavenging abandoned ships.

Testy human alliances and betrayals among the NPCs of the game are visually great in the zero-gravity combat and fight scenes. The Expanse: A TellTale Series works to get players familiarized with the history and language of The Belt and the world of Camina and fellow scavengers and blends comic book-style animation with more traditional cartoon-like features for an engaging experience.

4 Deliver Us Mars

Explore Space, The Most Lonely Killer

Deliver Us Mars ranks as a top-tier cinematic space exploration game that is the most relatable to humanity's current era of galactic comprehension. Players can think of the central protagonist, Kathy, as a more desolate astronaut version of Lara Croft, as she prospects the bones of her father's Earthly past. In this sequel to Frontier Foundry's Deliver Us Moon, certain sections of the game have a tricky layout for platforms, which could discourage fans; however, Kathy's endearing narrative and the element of genuine human curiosity trumps this oversight.

Related

7 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Playing Deliver Us Mars

Deliver Us Mars is an enchanting story that lets players take on the big red planet, but it does come with its challenges.

The AI presentation leans into the supranormal while offering gamers a psychological space game that throws out simultaneous questions about humanity's intrinsic purpose the abstract isolation of deep space and the innate human need for socialization.

3 Warframe

Adventure Through A Galactic Wild West With The Stealth of Ninjas

Players are thrust into quick-witted survival mode in Warframe, as diminished and exhausted resources in the Origin System( aka the Solar System) force the absent memory race of ancient Tenno warriors farther into the depths of the Origin System. In this search for sanctuary, the Tenno find themselves up against the petrifying Technocyte virus, militarized humans, and self-replicating robots.

The vast multiplayer world of Warframe hits the nail on the head when it comes to envisioning intergalactic human warfare, offering a plethora of ancient and newly established species to engage with. Players are blessed with various game modes, from ninja-like combat styles to polarity and weapons mods, available on trending gaming platforms. As a third shooter game, Warframe caters to the theme of chaos among the stars.

2 Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

There's More to Diversity In Exploration and World-Crafting

The customizable Commander Shepard presses forth new bounds in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. This compilation role-playing game is a more immersive mash-up of the overall Mass Effect trilogy. BioWare creators enhanced the visual displays across the game from the asteroids, warships, and commander attire to the refreshed combat styles and melee attacks, making a more abundant playground for gamers to dive into.

Jumping among uncharted solar systems, probing uncolonized planets, and toying with time travel elements that even modern science hasn't yet conquered, Mass Effect Legendary Edition highlights the entrancing obsession and guileless wonder humans still hold with outer space. With the added component of a treacherous galactic war at the hands of the villainous Reapers, this game combines the mysteries of deep space with the brutality of a ruthless war, marking an exhilarating gamer experience.

1 Dead Space

Even In The Darkest Depths of Uncharted Space, The Human Soul Finds A Path To Bring Light

The 2023 installment of EA and Motive Studio's Dead Space has been hailed by critics and fans alike for the much-improved graphics that engulf players in the gritty intergalactic horror world following the central protagonist, Issac Clarke. This survival space thriller instills sublime terror in gamers' nervous systems as they tackle grotesque creatures like the Necromorphs.

The graphics of Dead Space fully immerse gamers in the grim existence of deep space, human space travel, and the innovative addition of reverse-engineered alien technology that poses a threat to all in the game. The Dead Space series is worthy of all praise for Issac's endearing personality that layers humor amid everlasting darkness. The tempered pacing of the narrative makes room for horrors that creep up on fans as aliens and Necromorphs terrorize the game. Paired with the prevalent fear of desolation, Dead Space is a captivating peek into a grimy reality of deep and dark space.

More

10 Best Side Characters In Sci-Fi Games

From Borderlands' Claptrap to Portal's GLaDOS, there are countless top-notch side characters within the sci-fi game genre.