14 intergalactic PC games that, like Starfield, will send you into orbit!
Starfield, Bethesda's huge space RPG released today to the acclaim of many stargazers, lets you explore the far reaches of space, encounter alien civilisations and influence the fate of the universe.
Starfield isn't the only game to take you on an amazing journey into space. Many other PC games have already explored this theme, with different approaches and ambitions. The human drive of understanding our place in this universe is insatiable therefore we've compiled a list of those games to help you fill some of that void. Here's a comparison between Starfield and 14 other successful intergalactic games.
No Man's Sky is a space exploration and survival game released in 2016, developed and published by Hello Games, which has enjoyed huge success and continuous content expansion through free updates. The game invites us to explore a procedural and infinite universe, where we can discover new planets, solar systems, species and civilizations. The gameplay is based on exploration, survival, combat and construction. No Man's Sky shares with Starfield the same ambition to push back the limits of the universe to be explored. That being said, Starfield offers a more scripted and coherent universe, with more elaborate and lively planets, whereas No Man's Sky offers a more random and chaotic universe that is ultimately more generic. Starfield also features an elaborate role-playing system, with moral choices, factions and quests, while No Man's Sky offers a more basic progression system, based on upgrading equipment and ships. On the other hand, No Man's Sky offers an online cooperation mode, while Starfield only offers a single-player mode.
Journey to the Savage Planet is a 2020 adventure game developed by Typhoon Studios and published by 505 Games. The game puts you in the shoes of an explorer sent by the fourth-best space exploration company, Kindred Aerospace, to an unknown and potentially habitable planet. Our mission is to catalogue the local flora and fauna, gather resources and discover the secrets of this wild world. The game is played from a first-person viewpoint, with gameplay based on exploration, combat, puzzle-solving and equipment-building. The game stands out for its quirky humour, colourful art direction and online co-op mode. Journey to the Savage Planet is highly exploration and discovery centered game around a single planet rather than 1000 in Starfield. However if you're fascinated about scanning hand tailored local flora and fauna with a bit of combat thrown into the mix you might enjoy this experience.
The Outer Worlds is a role-playing game released in 2019, developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Private Division. The game puts you in the shoes of a colonist who wakes up from cryogenic sleep in a solar system colonized by corporations. Our mission is to join the scientist who awakened us and discover the secrets of this world. The game is played in first-person view, with gameplay based on combat, dialogue and choice. The game stands out for its dark humour, social criticism and retro-futuristic look. Starfield offers a more realistic and serious universe, while Outer Worlds is more satirical and comic. Starfield offers greater freedom of exploration, with several planets to visit, while Outer Worlds concentrates on a handful of planets. Worth noting here is that Obsidian used to work on Bethesda to deliver Fallout New Vegas. Obsidian is very talented in terms of writing, quests and ambiguity of moral choices. If you're looking for an interesting space RPG this one hits many similar tones to Starfield.
Hardspace Shipbreaker is a simulation game released in 2020, developed by Blackbird Interactive and published by Focus Home Interactive. The game puts you in the shoes of a space scrap dealer, who has to cut up and salvage wrecked spaceships to pay off his debt to the Lynx corporation. The game is played in first-person view, with gameplay based on physics, resource management and risk-taking. The game stands out for its realism, immersion and sandbox aspect. While both games are space simulation games in first-person view they are vastly different types of games but we are mentioning this one as those of you who like to disassemble and collect stuff in Starfield might get their itch scratched in Hardspace Shipbreaker.
Elite Dangerous is a space simulation game released in 2014, developed and published by Frontier Developments. The game plunges us into an open, persistent galaxy, where we can choose our own path among several possible activities: trade, combat, exploration, piracy... The game is played in first- or third-person view, depending on whether you are controlling your ship or your character. The gameplay is based on simulation, management and interaction. The game stands out for its realism, richness and online multiplayer mode.
Starfield features a deep role-playing system with dialogues, quests and consequences, while Elite Dangerous offers a more simplistic reputation system based on faction affiliation but the core role-playing interactions are driven by interactions with other players and the game's universe political landscaped is shaped by the players themselves.
Everspace is a space shooter released in 2017, developed and published by Rockfish Games. The game puts us in the shoes of a pilot who must traverse a series of hostile space sectors to reach his objective. The game is centered around space combat, looting and upgrading your ships all in roguelike format. The game stands out for its action, difficulty and randomness. For those of you who wish to experience more in-depth combat system, than the one in Starfield, will not be disappointed.
Starpoint is a series of space strategy games developed by Targem Games and published by Iceberg Interactive. The series comprises ofseveral titles: with most recent one being Starpoint Gemini: Warlords (2017) and Starpoint Gemini 3 (2019). The games are set in a science-fiction universe where you have to manage your fleet of spaceships in a galactic conflict. The games are played in third-person or first-person view, depending on the mode chosen. Gameplay is based on strategy, diplomacy and trade. The games stand out for their depth, freedom and moddability. Starpoint Gemini differs from Starfield with it's gameplay approach putting emphasis on complex management system, with resources, relationships and contracts.
Between the Stars is a space action-adventure game developed and published by Isolated Games.The game puts you in the shoes of the captain of a spaceship, who must lead his crew in a war against the Children of the Sun, a faction that threatens the galaxy. Its gameplay is based on combat, exploration and management. The game features roguelike elements, dynamic events and customisation options.
While Starfield offers a more realistic and serious universe, with freer and more detailed exploration Between the Stars focuses its core gameplay around the ship and space travel.
Outer Wilds is an adventure game released in 2019, developed by Mobius Digital and published by Annapurna Interactive.
The game puts us in the shoes of an astronaut who must explore a miniature solar system that repeats itself every 22 minutes. Our goal is to discover the mysteries of this world and find a way to escape the time loop. The game is played in first-person view, with gameplay based on exploration, physics and storytelling. The game stands out for its originality, creativity and enigmatic aspect. Outer Wilds obviously offers a much smaller universe than Starfield but certainly not less mysterious and intriguing. The process of exploration and discovery is achieved through clues and hints that the player needs to investigate on his own. It really is a one of a kind space adventure where player is free to start his exploration of the game's universe where he wishes.
Destiny 2 started out as a premium game but became free-to-play with season pass content and new raids opened up through paid DLC. Destny 2 is a space shooter developed and published by Bungie. It plunges us into a science-fiction universe where we take on the role of a Guardian, a protector of humanity endowed with supernatural powers. Our mission is to fight the forces of evil that threaten the last city on Earth.The games are played from a first-person viewpoint, with gameplay based on combat, loot and co-op.The games stand out for their action, variety and online multiplayer mode. This game takes place in a universe that is more fictional than the one presented in Starfield. Destiny takes an approach that doesn't involve exploration as much as dungeon clearing and looting.
Space Engineers is a space construction game released in 2013, developed and published by Keen Software House. The game lets you create and pilot spaceships, space stations and planetary bases. The game is played from a first-person or third-person perspective, depending on whether you are controlling your ship or your character. The gameplay is based on physics, survival and creativity. The game stands out for its realism, immersion and sandbox aspect. Space Enginners doesn't have RPG elements and it's closer to Minecraft in space but taken much more seriously. Engineer involved in the game is really robust and allows to construct working replicas of any space ship, space station, satellites and many many more.
Kerbal Space Program is a space simulation game, the first episode of which was released in 2015. The game puts you in control of a space programme run by the Kerbals, clumsy green creatures. The aim is to design, build and launch space rockets to explore the solar system. The gameplay is based on physics, learning and humour. The game stands out for its realistic approach to rockets, its richness and its educational aspect. While there's not much direct comparison to be drawn with Starfield, the game does let you build space crafts for explorations.
X4: Foundations is developed by Egosof. The game primarily focuses on the player's ability to build and manage a space-based empire, engage in trade, construct space stations, explore a vast universe, and engage in space combat. It's a game that offers a deep and complex economic and political simulation. Unlike Starfield it does not offer much in terms of RPG elements or doesn't allow for planet landing but you get to manage a whole empire, your fleet but also you can build ships which you are able to steer yourself.
Alien Isolation is a space horror game released in 2014, published by Sega. The game puts us in the shoes of Amanda Ripley, Ellen Ripley's daughter, who must survive aboard a space station infested by a xenomorph. The game is played from a first-person viewpoint, with gameplay based on stealth and survival. While the only thing these two games have in common is its sci-fi space setting it is a game very much worth your attention if you're into space horror games. Perhaps there is a quest in Starfield that bears marks of a horror settings :)