Summary
- Top space games emphasize open exploration & freedom, making them successful.
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga offers free-form exploration & collectibles.
- Rebel Galaxy provides dynamic space battles & player freedom, a unique experience.
The final frontier is vast and full of promise, for many evoking an immediate sense of adventure. The potential freedom of such an open expanse is no doubt to thank, along with its many mysteries. Many titles have tried to capture this over the years, with varying degrees of success. Space games with the most freedom, however, are often the most successful.
These titles feature open exploration, rarely limiting the player. Furthermore, many of these games actively encourage players to explore, giving them the agency and motivation to exercise freedom in open space and on distant planets.
Best Space Games That Let You Play With Friends, Ranked
Exploring the vast reaches of space and alien planets can already be fun, but games like No Man's Sky and Star Trek Online allow for co-op antics.
7 LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Free-Form Exploration & An Abundance Of Collectibles
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
- Released
- April 5, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
- Developer(s)
- Traveller's Tales
- Platform(s)
- Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Offering the accessible gameplay of LEGO games with the freedom of open-world exploration, The Skywalker Saga offers a distilled but still sizable experience that allows players to explore an abundance of planets. This free-form design goes hand-in-hand with the plethora of collectibles, resulting in a rewarding experience for fans of the LEGO formula.
Most Accessible Open-World Games
These great titles offer easy onboard for players looking for accessible open-world games without overwhelming systems.
In addition, as with all LEGO games, The Skywalker Saga allows players to enjoy exploration in free play. This allows players to play a myriad of iconic characters as they explore. Furthermore, it encourages players to seek out and unlock new characters to play as, resulting in a rewarding loop.
6 Rebel Galaxy
A Swashbuckling Space Adventure
Rebel Galaxy
- Released
- October 20, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Drug Reference, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Double Damage Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Rebel Galaxy combines a unique combat system with an emphasis on player freedom. This title also excels with its sci-fi western setting and fitting soundtrack, as well as its broadside combat. Best of all, this combat plays at a fairly fast pace, feeling more like an arcade experience than a simulation.
The dynamic space battles are certainly a strength of Rebel Galaxy, making it a particular highlight of the experience. That said, players are still given the freedom to pursue trading, though it's not quite as consistently fun as fighting space pirates.
5 Star Traders: Frontiers
Freedom To Explore & Customize In Open Space
Star Traders: Frontiers
- Released
- November 14, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Star Traders: Frontiers is an indie sci-fi sandbox that gives players command of their own ship and its crew. In the game, players can pursue narrative quests, hunt bounties, mine asteroids, and, of course, trade goods. This results in a diverse experience that emphasizes player choice.
In addition, players are given a great deal of freedom to customize their ship and each of their crew members. Furthermore, the game features plenty of character conversation, complete with dialogue options that provide additional choice.
4 Kerbal Space Program
Sandbox Spacecraft Construction & Simulation
Kerbal Space Program
- Released
- April 27, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Kerbal Space Program is a hardcore simulation game that tasks players with building and launching spacecraft. Players are given almost complete freedom in their approach, resulting in a challenging but wholly rewarding experience.
Best Open-World Games Where You Explore Multiple Planets
Players who love discovering new planets in games will love what these immersive open-world titles have to offer.
The diversity of vehicle parts ensures players are able to exercise a great deal of creativity, allowing for plenty of freedom when designing new spacecraft. Furthermore, the game also features a sandbox mode that gives players complete freedom upfront, granting access to all vehicle parts and technology right away.
3 Freelancer
A Classic Open-World Space Sim
Freelancer
- Released
- March 4, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
Freelancer is a classic title that provides players with a spacefaring adventure, offering a linear narrative to experience with a sandbox structure. In the game, players are given a great deal of freedom to explore, pursuing bounties and trading goods across the stars.
Freelancer gives players no freedom in how its narrative progresses, but the open-world exploration and freedom of activities between story beats leaves plenty of room for expression. Unfortunately, Freelancer is a game that's hard to find at the time of writing, but for an adjacent experience, fans may enjoy Everspace 2.
2 No Man's Sky
Space Exploration Across A Wild Expanse
No Man's Sky
- Released
- August 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood
- Developer(s)
- Hello Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
While its quiet gameplay won't be for everyone, No Man's Sky is a spacefaring title that lets players loose with decided freedom. Exploring the procedurally-generated planets of No Man's Sky and encountering its myriad denizens, at the very least, evokes a true sense of discovery.
Players are encouraged to explore this procedural universe through sturdy survival game mechanics, providing motivation to move about the world and tread further out. However, the somewhat repetitive nature of No Man's Sky may leave some players unfulfilled.
1 Outer Wilds
Free-Form Exploration Of Unique Planets
Outer Wilds
- Released
- May 28, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
Outer Wilds is a distinctive open-world indie game that excels with its immersive atmosphere and free-form exploration. Backed by a tremendous soundtrack, charming characters, and stylish visuals, Outer Wilds is easy to love, though its minimalist gameplay may be too simple for certain players.
In the game, players explore a miniature solar system as they attempt to uncover a central mystery. Trapped in a time loop, players must explore the various and utterly unique planets of this solar system in their own spaceship. Best of all, this solar system provides an open-world that allows players to explore at their own pace, of their own free will.
8 Most Immersive Open-World Indie Games
These incredible indie games feature diverse open-world settings that excel in their immersive environments and engaging gameplay.