Games Like Elite Dangerous

Your journey to building a vast space empire begins behind the controls of a single ship. Explore the stars, trade goods, fight battles, build stations, buy and equip ships, and command fleets in a living, fully simulated universe that reacts to your decisions.

Why similar: Space Sim 37.1% ★, Space 17.1%, Trading 10.8% ★, Open World 8.7%, Sandbox 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: It offers one of the closest single-player alternatives to Elite’s freeform loop of piloting, trading, mining, fighting, and building a life inside a dynamic space economy.

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 14.8%, Massively Multiplayer 11.7%, Open World 10.6%, Trading 9% ★

Why You'll Like It: It captures the same living-galaxy appeal of player-driven trade, mining, piracy, factional conflict, and long-term progression, just with a more MMO- and strategy-leaning interface.

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

Why similar: Space 24.8%, Space Sim 20.7% ★, Open World 18.8%, Sci-fi 8.9%, Exploration 7.7%

Why You'll Like It: If your favorite part of Elite is wandering a vast universe in your own ship, discovering worlds, upgrading gear, and dropping into multiplayer expeditions, this is a great fit.

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 32.2% ★, Space 14.4%, Open World 9.1%, Trading 7.5% ★, TrackIR 7% ★

Why You'll Like It: Its cockpit-heavy first-person space sim design, seamless travel, exploration, trading, and combat make it one of the most directly Elite-like games on Steam.

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 54.1% ★, Space 20.4%, Open World 16.6%, First-Person 4.5%, RPG 3.3%

Why You'll Like It: It gives you a huge procedural universe with faction play, missions, ship combat, trading, and open-ended progression for that same make-your-own-story appeal.

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 37.7% ★, Space 18%, Open World 12.5%, Trading 7.8% ★, Sci-fi 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: Beneath the ship-building layer is a massive galaxy full of mining, trading, combat, faction reputation, and exploration that scratches many of the same progression itches.

The spiritual successor to Freelancer with a Lovecraftian, sandbox RPG twist. Explore a vast handmade universe with Day 1 mod support and a planned PvP/co-op multiplayer on the Early Access roadmap. You're going to need a bigger ship.

Why similar: Space Sim 39.5% ★, Space 20.9%, Open World 13.5%, Sci-fi 8.2%, Sandbox 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: This Freelancer-style open-world space RPG emphasizes free-roaming ship combat, contracts, exploration, and trading in a way that feels very close to Elite’s career-driven sandbox.

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 32.8%, Space Sim 28.2% ★, Open World 9%, Trading 7.5% ★, Sci-fi 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: Its classic sandbox structure of hauling cargo, taking missions, fighting pirates, and working within a simulated universe strongly overlaps with Elite’s core loop.

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%, Space Sim 27.8% ★, Sci-fi 10.8%, Simulation 9.1%, Open World 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: Although more focused than other X games, it still delivers cockpit-based travel, trading, combat, and life in a busy simulated space economy.

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 28.1%, Open World 10.1%, Sci-fi 7.2%, Simulation 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: Like Elite, it is built around freeform ship piloting, open-ended contracts, exploration, trading, and a strong sense of independent spacefaring.

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 37.4% ★, Space 23.6%, Open World 14.6%, Sci-fi 8.9%, Sandbox 5.5%

Why You'll Like It: It blends open-universe travel, bounty hunting, trading, ship upgrading, and faction warfare into a captain fantasy that will feel familiar to Elite players.

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 36.6% ★, Space 28%, Sci-fi 7.4%, Open World 6.6%, Simulation 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: Its ship management, real-time space combat, sector-to-sector travel, and upgrade-driven progression echo Elite’s balance of danger, travel, and customization.

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 48.3% ★, Open World 15.9%, Space 12.2%, Sci-fi 10.1%, Simulation 4.7%

Why You'll Like It: Its cockpit dogfighting, station-to-station jobs, trading, and frontier-space vibe make it a strong choice if you love Elite’s more hands-on pilot fantasy.

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 36.1% ★, Massively Multiplayer 17.1%, Open World 12.7%, Trading 10.6% ★, Sci-fi 8%

Why You'll Like It: For players who mainly enjoy Elite’s online ship combat and progression, this offers fast multiplayer dogfights plus some open-space mission content.

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 26.8% ★, Open World 14%, Sci-fi 9.3%, Trading 3.5% ★

Why You'll Like It: Its open-world structure of missions, trading, upgrades, and outlaw hunting hits many of the same space-western career beats as Elite, even with a different combat style.

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 35.8%, Space Sim 21% ★, Open World 13.9%, Sci-fi 8%, Trading 7.2% ★

Why You'll Like It: Even in 2D, it nails the Elite-style fantasy of starting small and choosing your own path through trading, combat, escorts, exploration, and faction politics.

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 19.7%, Open World 13.5%, Sci-fi 7.6%, Exploration 6%

Why You'll Like It: It mixes ship piloting and interplanetary exploration with mining, crafting, and survival systems for players who want Elite’s freedom plus base-building.

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 36.8% ★, Space 16.7%, Open World 12.6%, Sci-fi 7.7%, Exploration 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: Its cooperative starship operations capture the thrill of handling a vessel and surviving deep space, especially if your favorite Elite moments are multiplayer and ship-focused.

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 33.2% ★, Massively Multiplayer 16.5%, Space 14.5%, Open World 12.6%, Sci-fi 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: Its persistent multiplayer space sandbox supports mining, hauling, ship tinkering, and open-ended player goals in a way that overlaps with Elite’s self-directed structure.

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 36.7%, Open World 23.9%, Sci-fi 12.1%, Exploration 11%, Simulation 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: It is more action-RPG than sim, but the satisfying ship handling, exploration, loot progression, and space combat make it a strong lighter-weight alternative.

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 22.2% ★, Open World 17.1%, Exploration 8.7%, Sci-fi 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the lonely-pilot-in-deep-space feeling with first-person ship control, open exploration, and seamless travel between ships and worlds.

Trade your wares and eliminate the competition in a cutthroat world. Buy new ships and stations to mine and haul resources. Explore the vast emptiness of space.

Why similar: Space Sim 53.5% ★, Space 25.8%, Simulation 6.6%, Trading 5.4% ★, Exploration 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: This is a slower, economy-focused space sim where hauling, trading, mining, and surviving in a living system feel a lot like Elite’s mercantile side.

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 51.7% ★, Space 18.8%, Multiplayer 8.4%, Online Co-Op 5.5%, Sci-fi 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: This co-op ship game is more session-based, but it captures the fun of managing a vessel, handling emergencies, and surviving dangerous sectors with a crew.

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 38.7% ★, Space 19.1%, Open World 13.2%, Sci-fi 8.7%, Exploration 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: If hauling cargo across dangerous space lanes is your favorite part of Elite, this turns that long-haul cockpit lifestyle into the entire game.

Objects in Space is a retro space game centred on 2D point-and-click stealth action in a massive open world. Players have their own customisable ships and can meet people, become a trader, bounty hunter, explorer, scavenger or all of them at once.

Why similar: Space Sim 31.5% ★, Space 30.4%, Simulation 11.6%, Open World 7%, Sci-fi 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: Its emphasis on navigation, scanning, cargo jobs, smuggling, and managing ship systems makes it a great match for players who enjoy Elite’s more methodical space-trucker gameplay.

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 37.1% ★, Space 14.8%, Open World 12.6%, Trading 9.2% ★, Sci-fi 6.5%

Why You'll Like It: This sandbox leans into flying, exploration, co-op, and customizable ships, making it a good fit if you like the idea of living out your own spacefaring career.

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 37.8% ★, Space 27.7%, Open World 15.1%, Sci-fi 7.8%, Exploration 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: Its focus on charting unknown regions, making discoveries, outfitting your ship, and pushing farther into space appeals to the explorer side of Elite Dangerous.

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 29.4%, Sci-fi 14.8%, Open World 13%, Multiplayer 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: While more MMO-driven and ability-based, it still offers a persistent online galaxy full of ship progression, mission-running, and faction conflicts.

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 39.5%, Space Sim 36.4% ★, Sci-fi 9.9%, VR 5.7%, Action 2.8%

Why You'll Like It: Its roguelite structure is very different, but the moment-to-moment dogfighting, scavenging, and ship management still resonate with Elite’s combat side.

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 33.5%, Space Sim 15.8% ★, VR 13.9%, Sci-fi 11.8%, Multiplayer 9%

Why You'll Like It: It lacks the open-world sandbox, but its excellent cockpit combat and VR support strongly appeal to Elite players who love immersive ship handling.

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 19.5%, Open World 13.8%, Sandbox 6.5%, Multiplayer 6.3%

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 8%, Open World 7.2%, Simulation 6.8%

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 Sim 31% ★, Space 30.7%, Sci-fi 13.3%, Simulation 7.1%, Sandbox 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 23.5% ★, Open World 19.2%, Sci-fi 11.2%, Exploration 6.7%

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 16.3% ★, Open World 15.1%, Sandbox 8.8%, Sci-fi 7.5%

At the sunset of human life on planet Earth, you are a military pilot controlling a space ship, and you find yourself at the very epicenter of the battle in the solar system. You are forced to retreat into the unknown, distant Arcanum system through hyper-jumping.

Why similar: Space Sim 36.1% ★, Massively Multiplayer 18.7%, Space 15.8%, Open World 13.4%, Sci-fi 8.5%

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 Sim 28.6% ★, Space 27.8%, Open World 10.5%, Simulation 8.2%, Sci-fi 7.9%

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 44.2%, Sci-fi 16.8%, Sandbox 10.7%, Exploration 10.5%, Simulation 8%

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 35.2% ★, Space 25.4%, Massively Multiplayer 24%, Sci-fi 6.8%, Simulation 6.5%

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 38.8% ★, Space 28.2%, Open World 10.3%, Sci-fi 9.7%, Exploration 4.9%

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 38.2% ★, Space 31.8%, Open World 11.6%, Simulation 6.2%, Sandbox 6.1%

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 48.9%, Sci-fi 19.1%, Exploration 11.2%, Multiplayer 8.5%, First-Person 6.9%

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%, Space Sim 28.6% ★, Open World 11.8%, Sci-fi 11.1%, Exploration 7.2%

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 35.2%, Space Sim 27.3% ★, Simulation 8.7%, Sci-fi 8.2%, Sandbox 7.6%

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 47.5% ★, Space 24%, VR 11.2%, Simulation 6.4%, Sci-fi 6%

Space Engineers 2 is a sandbox about engineering and colonization where you build ships, stations, and planetary bases in a fully destructible world. Begin the story of Miro and Ivan Sokol, expand humanity’s foothold in the Almagest system, and fight to survive.

Why similar: Space Sim 31.9% ★, Space 21.9%, Open World 14.3%, Sci-fi 10.1%, Sandbox 7.8%

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 35.4% ★, Space 29.1%, Open World 7.8%, Sci-fi 7.7%, Simulation 5.7%

FPS is a Sci-Fi cargo pilot sim, with an engaging emergent mission-driven storyline, with a real-time economy with free flight and trading, on an alien world to explore. All in customizable upgradeable, well-simulated VTOL craft with real weather, and flight dynamics.

Why similar: Space Sim 35.1% ★, Space 19.7%, Open World 10.9%, Trading 10.8% ★, Sci-fi 6.6%

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 36.7% ★, Space 20.6%, Sci-fi 13.3%, Online Co-Op 5.9%, Exploration 5.8%

X Rebirth VR Edition is tailored to be an immersive VR experience, based on X Rebirth: Home of Light. TRADE, FIGHT, BUILD, THINK in the X Universe - the biggest sandbox this side of the galaxy.

Why similar: Space Sim 53.1% ★, VR 16.3%, Space 10.7%, Simulation 9%, Sci-fi 4.6%

Battle for galactic dominance in this real-time 4X strategy game with unrivaled scale! You’ll explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate through military force, diplomacy, trade, culture, influence, and other underhanded tactics.

Why similar: Space 61.9%, Sci-fi 19.2%, Multiplayer 12.3%, Strategy 4.8%, Singleplayer 1.8%

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 31.2% ★, Massively Multiplayer 29.5%, Space 25.4%, Simulation 6.4%, Multiplayer 4.4%

Stars End is a sci-fi survival sandbox set on the wild frontier of a distant star system. Play solo or host your own server as you craft, build, and battle to survive in a galaxy shaped by danger, discovery, and your own grit.

Why similar: Space Sim 24.3% ★, Massively Multiplayer 18.1%, Space 15.3%, Open World 9.7%, Sci-fi 5.9%

2d space combat like no other. From the perspective of a single crew member, explore the fully destructible interior of any ship in a massive living world. Engage in space combat with no hitpoints where you know your enemy is dead when you see them fall out of their ship into the cold dark of space.

Why similar: Space Sim 38.1% ★, Space 16.4%, Open World 13.9%, Trading 7% ★, Sci-fi 6.5%

Command a space-faring empire in Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion, the new stand-alone expansion that combines 4X depth with real-time strategy gameplay.

Why similar: Space Sim 38.3% ★, Space 19.3%, Sci-fi 9%, Online Co-Op 6.8%, Multiplayer 6.5%