Games Like X4: Foundations

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 20.2%, Space Sim 17.9% ★, Trading 15.8% ★, Sandbox 10%, Economy 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: Lets you start in a single ship and grow into a trade and combat empire in a large simulated universe with strong faction interaction.

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 19.6% ★, Trading 13.4% ★, Economy 10.9%, Flight 10.2%, Sandbox 9.2%

Why You'll Like It: Offers the same climb from a lone ship to self-built fleets and stations in a huge sandbox driven by mining, trading, and warfare.

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 25.7%, Space Sim 21.1% ★, Simulation 10.2%, Sandbox 9.3%, Sci-fi 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: Shares X4's Egosoft DNA of station management, trade networks, and capital-ship-scale command, just in a more streamlined structure.

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 21.7% ★, 4X 15.4% ★, Space 13.3%, Moddable 11.3% ★, Flight 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: Combines direct ship control with open-world trading, faction conflict, and the ability to field fleets and conquer territory.

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 22.7% ★, Space 18%, Economy 12.6%, Trading 10.6% ★, Sandbox 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: A classic version of the same formula where trading, factory placement, and freeform spacefaring matter as much as combat.

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 33.3% ★, Space 26.9%, Sandbox 14.9%, Simulation 8%, Open World 8%

Why You'll Like It: Delivers an EVE-like single-player loop of mining, manufacturing, trading, fitting ships, and building yourself into a space power.

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 40.6% ★, Space 19%, Trading 13.6% ★, Economy 7.4%, Simulation 7.4%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses heavily on dynamic economy, merchant routes, station construction, and fleet logistics in a single-player space sandbox.

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 30.7% ★, Flight 16.5%, Economy 14.2%, Space 11.2%, Open World 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: Blends open-world piloting with faction politics, mining, trading, and large-scale systems that let you expand beyond a single ship.

Start with nothing... End with everything! All you have is a basic ship, barely fit for combat, with it you'll start your journey and empire. A open world space sandbox, inspired by and expanding the classics.

Why similar: Space Sim 18.8% ★, Trading 14.6% ★, 4X 12.5% ★, Moddable 9% ★, Sandbox 8.3%

Why You'll Like It: Gives you cockpit action, mining and trade, plus RTS-style control over fleets, bases, and sector expansion.

Take control of your own starship and blaze your trail in an ever-changing galaxy. Master the arts of combat, mining and trade or venture out into the unknown across a 1:1 scale universe.

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

Why You'll Like It: Best if your favorite part of X4 is the piloting, trading, and galaxy-scale exploration rather than the station-management layer.

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 23.3% ★, Trading 22.9% ★, Economy 11.9%, Space 11%, Sandbox 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: Captures the living economy, industrial depth, and fleet-scale ambition of X4, albeit in a player-driven MMO format.

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 27.5%, Trading 18.9% ★, Space Sim 16.6% ★, Open World 8.7%, Sci-fi 6%

Why You'll Like It: Its 2D presentation hides a rich sandbox of trading, outfitting, faction reputation, and gradual fleet growth from humble beginnings.

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 31.9%, Sandbox 25.9%, Open World 13.3%, Exploration 10.3%, Sci-fi 9%

Why You'll Like It: A sandbox action-RPG with mining, trading, ship progression, faction systems, and the freedom to carve out your own career in space.

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 28.6% ★, Space 15.8%, Sandbox 13%, Building 9.6%, Open World 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: More survival-crafting than X4, but it still supports ship and base building, planetary and space exploration, and player-made operations.

X²: The Threat is of a new generation of space simulator games, you play the role of Julian Gardna who continues the story set by X: Beyond The Frontier. The updated graphics engine gives the universe a fresher feel with newly designed ships and stations adding to the complexity of the universe.

Why similar: Space 18.2%, Space Sim 18.1% ★, Trading 16.1% ★, Economy 11.9%, Sandbox 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: Older but still very recognizable as the X formula of hauling goods, building factories, and turning one ship into an economic network.

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 33.9% ★, Space 18.5%, Building 11.7%, Sci-fi 11.6%, Exploration 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: Lets you design ships, trade, mine, fight, and gradually command a small industrial armada of your own making.

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

Why similar: Space 23.3%, Space Sim 20.1% ★, Open World 14.3%, Sandbox 12.9%, Exploration 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: Strong pick if you want more hands-on exploration and base building while still keeping ships, freighters, trading, and a huge universe.

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 24.7% ★, Trading 20.3% ★, Sandbox 10.4%, Space 9.5%, Building 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: Emphasizes custom ships, stations, trading, and open-ended space survival in a slower, systems-driven sandbox.

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 30.9% ★, Space 22.9%, Sandbox 10.3%, Simulation 7.6%, Sci-fi 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on ship progression, crew, trading, and faction encounters in a campaign-driven but still fairly open space sim.

Distant Worlds 2 is a vast, pausable real-time 4X space strategy game.

Why similar: 4X 41.3% ★, Space 21.5%, Simulation 12.6%, Strategy 10.3%, Sci-fi 10%

Why You'll Like It: Ideal if the fully simulated economy and autonomous universe are what you love most, even though it leans more grand strategy than cockpit sim.

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

Why similar: Space 48%, Open World 10.8%, Sandbox 10.1%, Strategy 9.2%, Sci-fi 8%

Why You'll Like It: Features a lively sandbox galaxy full of trading, bounty hunting, faction dynamics, and systemic events that keep moving without you.

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 28.4% ★, Trading 21.9% ★, Space 12.4%, Sandbox 10.6%, Open World 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: Great for players who want a more hardcore solo space sim with trading, mining, combat, and seamless exploration.

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 30.3%, Space Sim 24.2% ★, Trading 10.4% ★, Open World 10%, Sci-fi 7.9%

Why You'll Like It: Its broadside combat is different, but the merchant-corsair progression, missions, and sector-to-sector space sandbox feel familiar.

Design and then improve the ultimate mothership. Explore a persistent living galaxy populated by 200 unique captains that can do everything you can do. Survive the zombie infection and then fight them back. Make allies and start your own faction. Build your empire. Also includes Sandbox Mode.

Why similar: Space 34.9%, Sandbox 11.9%, Open World 11.2%, Space Sim 8.4% ★, Strategy 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: Offers a free-roaming galaxy where scavenging, outfitting, sector control, and growing a fleet drive the sandbox.

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 44.4% ★, Open World 11.6%, Space 10.9%, Sci-fi 8.8%, Flight 8%

Why You'll Like It: A more combat-forward privateer-style sandbox, but it scratches the same itch for space trucking, equipment tinkering, and freeform progression.

You are the captain of a starship venturing through a massive open universe. Customize your crew and take command at the helm of your very own ship as you explore a galaxy torn apart by internal strife, alien threats, and political intrigue.

Why similar: Trading 20.4% ★, Space Sim 18.4% ★, Moddable 12.9% ★, Economy 10.5%, Sandbox 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: Best for the trading, faction-politics, and captain-to-power-player arc, though it expresses those ideas through an RPG format.

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 27.9%, Flight 24%, Open World 14.8%, Exploration 11.5%, Sci-fi 9%

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: 4X 41.1% ★, Space 34.6%, Sci-fi 10.4%, Strategy 9.1%, 3D 2.8%

Embark on a space voyage with your ragtag crew of civilians in search of a new home. Build spaceships tile by tile, create optimal gas conditions, manage the needs and moods of their crew, encounter other space-faring groups, and explore the universe in this spaceship colony simulation.

Why similar: Space Sim 25.9% ★, Space 13.7%, Sandbox 13.7%, Building 8.7%, Management 8.3%

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 26% ★, Space 23%, Sandbox 10.4%, Trading 10.1% ★, Simulation 8.9%

Why You'll Like It: Another sandbox flight sim with freeform mining, commerce, mercenary work, and exploratory wandering.

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 20.2% ★, Moddable 16.3% ★, Sandbox 13.8%, Space 13.4%, Building 8.7%

The Human Race had advanced to the point where we could travel among the stars, we developed giant automated machines to help us colonise other worlds, but there was a fault in their programming and they turned and attacked. Forcing us to lay a trap to protect Earth and exiling the Human race to stay on Earth once again.

Why similar: Space Sim 19% ★, Trading 18.4% ★, Space 16.2%, Economy 10.6%, Simulation 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: The oldest and roughest ancestor of X4, but still fascinating if you want to see the original one-ship-to-industry blueprint.

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 30.1% ★, Space 28.2%, Simulation 16.4%, Strategy 10%, Open World 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: A lower-key but very systemic space-trucker sandbox built around navigation, cargo contracts, stealth, and surviving in a living setting.

Build the most efficient intergalactic factory in space simulation strategy game Dyson Sphere Program! Harness the power of stars, collect resources, plan and design production lines and develop your interstellar factory from a small space workshop to a galaxy-wide industrial empire.

Why similar: Space 22.4%, Space Sim 17.2% ★, Sandbox 13.5%, Building 10.9%, Open World 9.6%

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 35%, Space Sim 33.3% ★, Flight 13.2%, Sci-fi 8.5%, Action 4%

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 25.3% ★, 4X 19.6% ★, Space 12.4%, Sandbox 11.9%, Management 7.6%

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 24.7% ★, Space 23.7%, Sandbox 15.6%, Sci-fi 10%, Simulation 8.3%

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 25.7%, Sandbox 21.6%, Space Sim 14.3% ★, Open World 10.5%, Building 9.9%

Experience the epic space strategy games that redefined the RTS genre. Control your fleet and build an armada across more than 30 single-player missions. Choose unit types, fleet formations and flight tactics for each strategic situation.

Why similar: Space 48.9%, Sci-fi 14.5%, Strategy 11.5%, Moddable 10.7% ★, Simulation 5%

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 32.9% ★, Space 14%, Sandbox 13.6%, Building 10.6%, Open World 9.9%

IXION is an unrelenting, city-building odyssey across the stars. As Administrator of the Tiqqun, DOLOS’ prototype space station, you are tasked with balancing preservation and exploration as you manage infrastructure, resources and crew. Can you keep the flame of humanity alight in the cold dark?

Why similar: Space 34.3%, Economy 19%, Building 12.6%, Strategy 8.2%, Simulation 7.4%

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 26.1% ★, Moddable 16.4% ★, Space 12.8%, Sandbox 12.4%, Building 8%

In Anno 2205™, you join humankind‘s next step into the future with the promise to build a better tomorrow. You conquer Earth, establishing rich, bustling cities and grand industrial complexes, but to secure the prosperity of your people, you must travel into space.

Why similar: 4X 22.4% ★, Economy 18%, Space 11.6%, Trading 8.9% ★, Strategy 6.9%

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 35.5% ★, Space 25.3%, Open World 11.2%, Exploration 9.1%, Sci-fi 6.9%

The Last Starship is a 2D space construction game where you design and upgrade your starship. Choose your path: pirate hunter, miner, engineer, spacebus driver, and more, whilst exploring vibrant star systems. Enjoy a growing sandbox world, with regular free updates. Your cosmic adventure awaits!

Why similar: Space Sim 31% ★, Space 15.3%, Sandbox 14.9%, Building 9.2%, Sci-fi 6.9%

Take command of a civilization that has just achieved faster-than-light travel in Galactic Civilizations IV, the newest entry in the award-winning space 4X strategy game series. Explore the galaxy, colonize worlds, shape cultures, make alliances, fight wars and pioneer new technologies.

Why similar: 4X 22.6% ★, Moddable 15.7% ★, Space 15.2%, Sandbox 13.3%, Management 7%

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 22.7% ★, Space 21.4%, Sandbox 17.3%, Building 13.2%, Simulation 9.6%

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 26.7% ★, Trading 26% ★, Flight 14.5%, Sandbox 12%, Open World 7.4%

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 29.1% ★, Moddable 14.5% ★, Space 13.9%, Sandbox 10.2%, Open World 7.9%

A spaceship building and universe-exploration game. Collect resources, expand and grow your fleet, and conquer your personal galaxy. Stellar ambience by Peaks.

Why similar: Space 29.3%, Sandbox 25.6%, Building 19.6%, Open World 6.1%, Strategy 6.1%

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 27.2%, Space Sim 21.8% ★, Sandbox 17%, Simulation 10.3%, Building 6.8%

ENDLESS™ Space 2 is a Strategic Space Opera, featuring the compelling “just one more turn” gameplay, set in the mysterious ENDLESS™ Universe. As the leader of your civilization, will you impose your vision and build the greatest stellar empire?

Why similar: Strategy 63.8%, Space 15.6%, 4X 12.1% ★, Sci-fi 3.9%, Moddable 1.5% ★

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 33.6%, Space Sim 28.3% ★, Sci-fi 10.4%, Exploration 9.6%, Open World 9.2%

Build an industrial empire on a remote island. Mine resources, reshape terrain with excavators, grow food, construct factories, lay train tracks, and trade with the outside world. Research 100+ technologies to advance from basic metal smelting all the way to nuclear power and space flight.

Why similar: Economy 42.9%, Management 16.7%, Building 15.1%, Simulation 13.3%, Strategy 9.5%

Take Command of a Space Corporation in the Sci-Fi Simulator Solargene! Manage personnel, design and develop colonies and orbital stations across the solar system! Mine resources, establish logistics, research cutting-edge technologies, trade, and complete missions

Why similar: Space Sim 22.4% ★, Economy 12.8%, 4X 11.6% ★, Sandbox 9.7%, Moddable 9.3% ★

The RTS/FPS phenomenon has moved into space! Build your base on an asteroid, command fleets of starships for epic battles, pilot fighters, mine and trade resources, assemble robots to defend or assault other stations. Take sole command or share the glory as you fight for control of the quadrant.

Why similar: Space Sim 45.8% ★, Space 18.6%, Building 14%, Sci-fi 6.7%, Strategy 6.3%

Stationeers puts you in control of the construction and management of a space station to run by yourself or online with your friends. Complex atmospheric, electrical, manufacturing, agriculture, and gravitational systems require your thought and management at all times!

Why similar: Moddable 25.8% ★, Space 20.2%, Sandbox 20.1%, Building 13.1%, Management 11.6%

An alien invasion has fractured humanity into seven ideological factions each with a unique vision for the future. Lead your chosen faction to take control of Earth’s nations, expand across the Solar System, and battle enemy fleets in tactical combat.

Why similar: 4X 25.5% ★, Economy 21.3%, Moddable 17.9% ★, Sandbox 14.2%, Management 8.7%

Kinetic Void is a 3D space adventure with a focus on customization and enjoyable space simulation. The shipyard allows players to construct their ship piece by piece. Ships can be as simplistic as a cockpit, a hull, a engine and a gun, or as complex as a player wants.

Why similar: Space 35.2%, Sandbox 18.1%, Space Sim 15.5% ★, Simulation 11%, Sci-fi 8%

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: 4X 24.6% ★, Space 20.3%, Sandbox 14.2%, Moddable 9.7% ★, Sci-fi 7.5%