Games Like Elite Dangerous

Your journey to building a vast space empire begins behind the controls of a single ship. Explore, trade, fight, and build as you rise to command fleets, stations, and entire economies in a living, fully simulated universe that reacts to every decision.

Why similar: Space Sim 32.9%, Space 18.4%, Open World 11.9%, Trading 8.8%, Sci-fi 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: Its enormous sandbox universe combines first-person ship piloting, trading, mining, combat, faction reputation, and the ability to build a personal economic empire.

Over 20 years of legendary space battles! Explore a massive living universe of danger and opportunity in a challenging and highly rewarding space adventure. Fight, trade, build, and connect with a universe driven and shaped directly by players.

Why similar: Space Sim 30.4%, Space 14.9%, Massively Multiplayer 11.9%, Open World 10.9%, Trading 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: This persistent MMO offers player-driven industry, trading, exploration, piracy, and massive faction warfare in a consequential shared galaxy.

No Man's Sky is a game about exploration and survival in an infinite procedurally generated universe.

Why similar: Space 24.7%, Space Sim 20.6%, Open World 19.1%, Sci-fi 8.8%, Exploration 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: Its vast procedural universe supports relaxed exploration, resource gathering, trading, ship collecting, multiplayer, and landing on countless planets.

Embark on a journey to greatness. Get ready for adrenaline-fueled battles and a chance to claim your place in the galaxy. Grab the controls of your ship, gear up for the fight, and unleash your ambition to conquer and build a new empire in the vastness of space.

Why similar: Space Sim 53.7%, Space 20.5%, Open World 17%, First-Person 4.4%, RPG 3.3%

Why You'll Like It: It delivers an open galaxy of free-roaming ship combat, trading, mining, faction politics, missions, and personal progression.

Advanced Space Flight, Combat, Trading, and Exploration Simulation. Set in a vast explorable universe, Evochron Legacy offers freeform gameplay with many diverse objectives and paths to choose from.

Why similar: Space Sim 32.3%, Space 14.5%, Open World 9.3%, TrackIR 7.2% ★, Trading 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: A cockpit-focused open-world space sim with seamless planetary travel, mining, trading, contracts, combat, and extensive ship customization.

The co-op open-world space sim where everyone has a role! Pilot the ship. Reroute power. Launch nukes. Explore alien planets. Research new talents. Work together to find the Lost Colony! ...or just deliver some biscuits

Why similar: Space Sim 37%, Space 16.8%, Open World 12.9%, Sci-fi 7.7%, Exploration 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: A cooperative first-person starship game where crews explore a procedural galaxy, manage ship systems, trade, and survive hostile encounters.

In the distant future, the X universe faces a period of profound and irrevocable change. While the universe stumbles towards an uncertain future, countless adventures await as new enemies rise in search of power.

Why similar: Space 35.1%, Space Sim 27.9%, Sci-fi 10.9%, Simulation 8.8%, Open World 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a living economy, faction-driven missions, trade, mining, and large-scale space combat from a highly detailed ship-centered perspective.

It is the year 2938. The long wished-for encounter of the X Universe and the Earth holds both joy and sorrow for the people. Despite flourishing trade, the clash of the diverse races, cultures and life forms creates new tensions, mistrust and open conflict that need to be overcome!

Why similar: Space 33.1%, Space Sim 28.3%, Open World 9.3%, Sci-fi 7.4%, Trading 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: A classic open-ended space simulation centered on commerce, combat, exploration, station building, and eventual fleet management.

Infinity: Battlescape is a multiplayer space combat sim supporting hundreds of players on a single server. Join one of the corporate factions and fight for domination of a seamless, true-to-scale procedural star system. Participate in massive space and planetary battles involving hundreds of ships.

Why similar: Space Sim 35.6%, Space 25.2%, Massively Multiplayer 24%, Sci-fi 6.7%, Simulation 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the large-scale piloting side of Elite with seamless travel between space and planetary surfaces in multiplayer battles.

Rebel Galaxy is a swashbuckling space adventure, with action-packed combat, exploration, discovery, trade, and “negotiation” with the outlandish denizens at the edge of the known universe.

Why similar: Space 34.6%, Space Sim 26.9%, Open World 14.3%, Sci-fi 9.2%, Trading 3.2%

Why You'll Like It: Its open-world structure of contracts, trading, mining, bounty hunting, and upgrading a personal ship closely matches Elite's career freedom.

A procedural co-op space sandbox where players can build their own space ships out of dynamically scalable blocks. Fight epic space battles, explore, mine, trade, wage wars and build your own empire to save your galaxy from being torn apart by an unknown enemy.

Why similar: Space Sim 37.8%, Space 18.2%, Open World 12.8%, Sci-fi 7.6%, Trading 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: It mixes an explorable procedural galaxy and faction economy with ship construction, mining, trading, combat, and multiplayer cooperation.

Strategy from the front lines! Starpoint Gemini Warlords combines 3rd person capital spaceship combat with 4X strategy and RPG gameplay elements. Build mighty war fleets and send them into battle or lead them into combat yourself. Become the Warlord and conquer the Gemini system!

Why similar: Space Sim 37.5%, Space 23.7%, Open World 14.9%, Sci-fi 8.9%, Sandbox 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: A captain-focused open-world space RPG with ship combat, trading, mining, faction warfare, and strategic station and territory management.

Captain your own space ship and roam the galaxy in 3D in this tactical space simulator with tons of RPG depth ! Space has never looked so inviting - but images can betray...It has been two years since the end of the second Gemini war, the situation in the wartorn system is further from resolution than ever.

Why similar: Space 32.8%, Space Sim 31.2%, Open World 11.8%, Trading 8.3%, Sci-fi 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: Its open galaxy supports free exploration, bounty hunting, commerce, mining, and customizable capital-ship combat.

Out of cash, out of luck, out on the fringe. Juno Markev has a killer to tail, a debt to pay, and more trouble headed her way. Rebel Galaxy Outlaw takes place in a greasy, blue-collar world of outlaws, truckers, cops and thieves.

Why similar: Space Sim 48.2%, Open World 16.1%, Space 12.4%, Sci-fi 10%, Simulation 4.5%

Why You'll Like It: This accessible cockpit space adventure revolves around dogfighting, mercenary jobs, hauling cargo, mining, and upgrading your ship.

Endless Sky is a 2D space trading and combat game inspired by the classic Escape Velocity series. Work your way up from a relatively wimpy shuttle, cargo ship, or fighter, to a highly upgraded and customized flagship or to a massive fleet of warships or freighters.

Why similar: Space 36%, Space Sim 21.1%, Open World 14.2%, Sci-fi 8%, Trading 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: A free open-ended space trading and combat sandbox with faction reputation, missions, ship purchases, escorts, and exploration.

Choose your own destiny as you explore an open-world procedurally generated galaxy where anything is possible. Become a miner, a trader, a bounty hunter, a pirate, or perhaps a jack of all trades. Start off small and build your way to the top but remember with every action, comes consequences.

Why similar: Space Sim 26.4%, Space 25.9%, Open World 16.4%, Sci-fi 10%, Sandbox 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: This top-down space sandbox offers a large procedural galaxy full of trading, mining, bounty work, faction standing, and ship customization.

Star Conflict is an action-packed, massively multiplayer space simulation game that puts players in the role of elite pilots engaging in a widespread interplanetary skirmish. The whole world for PVP and PVE!

Why similar: Space Sim 36.4%, Massively Multiplayer 17.5%, Open World 13%, Trading 10%, Sci-fi 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: This free-to-play online space shooter is a good fit for Elite players who most enjoy customizable ships, PvP, co-op, and fast dogfighting.

Astrox Imperium is a relaxing space game where you fly around a generated universe. Mining, Fighting, Building, Exploring, and Surviving. What makes this game unique? You have complete control of how it plays. A robust sandbox and lots of MOD tools. Make it your game, and play it your own way.

Why similar: Space Sim 37.5%, Space 32.2%, Open World 12.1%, Simulation 6.2%, Sandbox 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: It focuses on mining, trading, production, ship fitting, NPC crews, and building a financial foothold in a dangerous star system.

Become the Captain of an interstellar cruiser and journey across the galaxy to save the Republic. During your journey you will have to make important decisions, improve the weaponry of your ship and fight against numerous enemies.

Why similar: Space Sim 36.7%, Space 28.1%, Sci-fi 7.4%, Open World 6.9%, Simulation 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: It combines hands-on spacecraft piloting, crew and equipment management, exploration, branching missions, and combat across a large galaxy.

The spiritual successor to Freelancer with a Lovecraftian, sandbox RPG twist. Explore a vast handmade universe with mod support and PvP/co-op multiplayer. You're going to need a bigger ship.

Why similar: Space Sim 39.3%, Space 21%, Open World 13.7%, Sci-fi 8.2%, Sandbox 6%

Why You'll Like It: A modern Freelancer-like space RPG built around direct ship control, free exploration, trading, missions, factions, and hazardous space weather.

EVERSPACE 2 is a fast-paced single-player spaceship shooter with exploration in space and on planets, tons of loot, RPG elements, mining, and crafting. Experience an exciting sci-fi story set in a vivid, handcrafted open world full of secrets, puzzles, and perils.

Why similar: Space 37%, Open World 24.3%, Sci-fi 12.1%, Exploration 10.8%, Simulation 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: While more mission-driven and loot-focused, it provides excellent direct spaceflight, exploration zones, trading, ship upgrades, and satisfying dogfights.

The life of an independent mercenary is rarely without excitement. Your spacecraft awaits and your adventure begins in the Sapphire star system.

Why similar: Space Sim 30.8%, Space 28.3%, Open World 10.4%, Sci-fi 7.2%, Simulation 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: An older but still deep flight sim featuring open-ended contracts, mining, commerce, combat, exploration, and customizable ships.

Starcom: Unknown Space is an action RPG of space exploration and adventure. Build your own starship while discovering an epic story in a universe of strange mysteries, alien factions and uncharted worlds.

Why similar: Space Sim 37.2%, Space 28%, Open World 15.4%, Sci-fi 7.8%, Exploration 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: It rewards charting unexplored systems, gathering resources, improving a custom ship, and choosing how to handle alien factions.

A Sci-Fi role-playing game featuring turn-based ground combat, space exploration, deep character customization and a massive living universe with thousands of star systems. Equip your ships with the best equipment you can find, gather a powerful crew of mercenaries and set out into the void!

Why similar: Space 28.1%, Open World 23.1%, Exploration 14.8%, Sandbox 13.4%, Sci-fi 12.9%

Why You'll Like It: This expansive space RPG offers planetary exploration, ship combat, trading, mining, faction interactions, and crew-based progression.

Space adventure, open world RPG, strategy, arcade, quest and more!

Why similar: Space 54%, Open World 15.2%, Sci-fi 9.2%, Simulation 5.4%, RPG 5%

Why You'll Like It: Its living galaxy supports trading, piracy, quests, faction wars, exploration, and emergent sandbox careers despite its different perspective.

Master the art of starfighter combat in the authentic piloting experience STAR WARS™: Squadrons. Feel the adrenaline of first-person multiplayer space dogfights alongside your squadron, and buckle up in a thrilling STAR WARS™ story.

Why similar: Space 33.6%, Space Sim 15.7%, VR 14.6%, Sci-fi 11.8%, Multiplayer 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: It is a more focused alternative for players seeking high-quality cockpit dogfighting, power management, VR support, and multiplayer space battles.

A physics-based mining sim, set in the thickest debris field in Sol. Every action has a reaction, lasers are invisible without a medium, and your thrust is a potent weapon. Find trade, adapt your equipment to your playstyle, hire a crew to help. Unravel the mysteries of the rings, or just get rich.

Why similar: Space Sim 35.6%, Space 22.7%, Open World 11.9%, Sci-fi 9.9%, Exploration 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: Its detailed physics-driven mining, ship systems, salvage work, and gradual economic progression make it especially appealing for Elite's industrial career fans.

Space Engineers is a sandbox engineering game where you design and build ships, stations, and planetary bases in a fully destructible environment. Explore planets and space, mine resources, survive hazards, and engage in combat alone or with friends in Creative or Survival modes.

Why similar: Space Sim 38.7%, Space 19.6%, Open World 14.1%, Sandbox 6.4%, Multiplayer 6.2%

A hyperdrive malfunction sends Keith T. Maxwell tumbling through space and time to fight for his life against a mysterious alien armada that is wreaking havoc.

Why similar: Space Sim 48%, Space 27.8%, Sci-fi 8.2%, Exploration 8.1%, Simulation 4.3%

Why You'll Like It: A more streamlined single-player alternative centered on cockpit combat, space trading, mining, exploration, and ship upgrades.

Build and explore in a true space sandbox survival adventure. Construct mighty capital vessels, sprawling planetary settlements, and vast space stations in your galactic journey to discover the mysteries of Empyrion!

Why similar: Space Sim 34.7%, Space 19.8%, Open World 13.8%, Sci-fi 7.6%, Exploration 6%

Starbase is a hybrid voxel/vertex-based space MMO with a fully destructible and infinitely expanding universe, with a focus on building and designing spaceships and stations, exploration, resource gathering, crafting, trading, and combat.

Why similar: Space Sim 33.1%, Massively Multiplayer 16.7%, Space 14.5%, Open World 12.9%, Sci-fi 6.2%

EVERSPACE™ combines fast-paced combat with roguelike elements, great visuals and a captivating story. It takes you on a challenging journey through an ever-changing, beautifully crafted universe full of surprises. Shoot, craft and loot your way to victory while the odds are stacked against you.

Why similar: Space 39.3%, Space Sim 36.2%, Sci-fi 9.8%, VR 6.2%, Action 2.8%

The Universe is yours. SpaceCraft is an online space exploration and building game. Explore a vast galaxy of solar systems and planets, mine and craft resources, design and build ships, automate planetary bases and interplanetary logistics, trade and cooperate.

Why similar: Space Sim 28%, Space 16.2%, Massively Multiplayer 15.1%, Open World 11.3%, Sci-fi 7.5%

In Star Trek Online, the Star Trek universe appears for the first time on a truly massive scale. Players take the captain's chair as they command their own starship and crew. Explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no one has gone before.

Why similar: Space 29.6%, Massively Multiplayer 29.5%, Sci-fi 14.8%, Open World 13.2%, Multiplayer 5%

Space. Ships. Resources. Trading. Production. Combat. Mine ore, haul cargo, and find profitable trade routes. Buy and capture ships, build your fleet, construct stations, and develop your production. Start with your first ship. Build your empire!

Why similar: Space Sim 43.6%, Space 19.2%, Open World 16.5%, Sci-fi 10.2%, Massively Multiplayer 4.2%

In Kerbal Space Program, take charge of the space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals. You have access to an array of parts to assemble fully-functional spacecraft that flies (or doesn’t) based on realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics.

Why similar: Space Sim 37.8%, Space 31.4%, Sandbox 7.9%, Open World 7.4%, Simulation 6.5%

Haul cargo, trade salvage and keep your space suit close as you search for fame and fortune among the stars in a game that puts an interstellar twist on the truck sim genre.

Why similar: Space Sim 38.6%, Space 19.2%, Open World 13.5%, Sci-fi 8.7%, Exploration 6.1%

Interstellar Rift is an open world starship simulator with an emphasis on ship construction and multi-player interaction. Survive in a hostile galaxy with your own custom designed and constructed starship. Invite other players to join your crew or fight them across the galaxy!

Why similar: Space Sim 37.2%, Space 14.9%, Open World 12.9%, Trading 8.7%, Sci-fi 6.5%

Void Crew is a Chaotic, Co-op Roguelite game for 1 to 6 players: Outfit your spaceship and crew for thrilling quests, brave fierce enemies in Space Battles... and try not to panic!

Why similar: Space Sim 47.6%, Space 16.8%, Multiplayer 7.3%, Sci-fi 7.1%, Online Co-Op 5.2%

The ultimate space sandbox. Participate in epic fleet battles, form alliances, strive to dominate entire galaxies and harness the universe’s resources for your industrious empire or the destruction of others. Customise your experience, the universe is yours!

Why similar: Space 30.2%, Space Sim 16.2%, Open World 15.4%, Sandbox 8.6%, Sci-fi 7.5%

Equipped with cutting-edge salvaging tech, carve & slice spaceships to recover valuable materials. Upgrade your gear to take on more lucrative contracts and pay your billion credits debt to LYNX Corp!

Why similar: Space 31.3%, Space Sim 30.8%, Sci-fi 13.4%, Simulation 6.9%, Sandbox 6.9%

Mine and craft your way to orbit, build your own starship and explore a vast, dangerous galaxy alongside your crew. For players who love a meaningful survival progression, a unique and elegant building system, and epic space-opera scale.

Why similar: Space 29%, Space Sim 28.6%, Open World 10.3%, Sandbox 7.8%, Simulation 7.6%

Explore a galaxy full of wonders in this sci-fi grand strategy game from Paradox Development Studios. Interact with diverse alien races, discover strange new worlds with unexpected events and expand the reach of your empire. Each new adventure holds almost limitless possibilities.

Why similar: Space 44.7%, Sci-fi 16.9%, Sandbox 10.5%, Exploration 10.5%, Simulation 7.7%

Space Engineers 2 is a playable Early Access Alpha sandbox focused on engineering, exploration, and colonization in a fully destructible universe. Design and build ships, stations, and planetary bases while uncovering the story of Miro and Ivan Sokol. Help shape the future of the Almagest system.

Why similar: Space Sim 31.6%, Space 22.4%, Open World 14.7%, Sci-fi 10%, Sandbox 7.7%

Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4.

Why similar: Space 29.8%, Space Sim 23.6%, Open World 19.5%, Sci-fi 11%, Exploration 6.5%

Navigate your scrappy ship through the boneyard in search of valuable parts in abandoned vessels. Use salvage to upgrade your ship, or sell it for cash to pay down your mounting debt, or restock fuel, air, or food. Fly and role-play aboard your dream spaceship in this hardcore noir space-sim.

Why similar: Space Sim 39%, Space 19.1%, Open World 7.9%, Trading 6.4%, Sandbox 6.3%

Design and build a massive interstellar fleet in this simulation sandbox. Strip space of its minerals for profit, but stay alert: your greed attracts the alien. Master deep base-building and deploy warships to protect your empire in immersive real-time space.

Why similar: Space Sim 37.8%, Space 18%, Open World 12%, Trading 10%, Sci-fi 8.5%

A single-developer passion project. A seamless full scale solar system. Thrilling action. Be part of an incredible journey as a Universe is built from the ground up!

Why similar: Space 31.5%, Space Sim 22.1%, Open World 17.6%, Exploration 8.6%, Sci-fi 8.4%

Mine asteroids, salvage space debris, design your own small or massive spacecraft using individual functional components, complete missions, and engage in battles against enemies in a vast galaxy with realistic physics based on orbital mechanics or in a classic physics mode.

Why similar: Space 35.7%, Space Sim 27.1%, Simulation 8.4%, Sci-fi 8.1%, Sandbox 7.4%

Darkstar One offers a fantastic amount of freedom of choice. The story-based missions gradually lead you deeper into the galaxy to new races, new technologies and ever stronger opponents. Explore a vast array of solar systems in search of hidden artifacts of ancient races, essential objects for upgrading your ship--the Darkstar One.

Why similar: Space Sim 38.7%, Space 28.2%, Open World 10.5%, Sci-fi 9.7%, Exploration 4.9%

In a remote corner of the Milky Way, you, a star hunter, will control a fleet, take on a wide variety of bounty contracts and missions, and venture into the vastness of space. You will hunt for mysterious items for your employers and explore specific targets in uncharted territory.

Why similar: Space Sim 31.4%, Massively Multiplayer 29%, Space 25.8%, Simulation 6.2%, Multiplayer 4.6%

X3: Reunion continues the epic space saga, blending deep space trading and intense real-time combat. Explore a vast universe, establish your empire, and shape the new frontier. With enhanced graphics and intricate economies, it's a journey of strategy, simulation, and interstellar intrigue.

Why similar: Space Sim 35.5%, Space 29.4%, Open World 8%, Sci-fi 7.7%, Simulation 5.5%

Design and simulate the starships of your dreams! Command your ship or fleet in epic battles and manage your crew while exploring a dangerous galaxy. Play alone or with friends, test your ships in online PvP, and let your imagination reach for the stars!

Why similar: Space Sim 36.9%, Space 20.9%, Sci-fi 13.3%, Exploration 5.8%, Multiplayer 5.6%

Suddenly thrown into an unknown galaxy, you must explore, fight or befriend aliens and transform your ship from a small survey vessel into a powerful battlecruiser to unravel the mystery of the forces that brought you here and find your way home.

Why similar: Space 35.2%, Space Sim 28.2%, Open World 11.9%, Sci-fi 11%, Exploration 7.3%

Jump Space (formerly Jump Ship) is a mission based co-op PvE for 1-4 players, where you are the crew of a spaceship. Transition seamlessly from crewing the ship to on-foot exploration and space walks. Explore, upgrade, and survive intense encounters in deep space together.

Why similar: Space 42%, Sci-fi 19.3%, Exploration 12.7%, Multiplayer 11.6%, First-Person 7.8%

House of the Dying Sun is a tactical space shooter that puts you in the cockpit of the universe's most terrifying starfighter. Hunt the enemies of the Empire and bring ruin to their people.

Why similar: Space Sim 46.9%, Space 24.3%, VR 11.6%, Simulation 6.2%, Sci-fi 6%