5 great space games to play that are not (and possibly better than) Starfield
Starfield is out now but sometimes struggles with the magic of space exploration and awe achieved by these alternative experiences.
By now players have had more than enough time to delve into the behemoth of a game that is Starfield. The new space RPG from Bethesda has certainly inspired a certain subset of the Xbox audience, but I myself have struggled to get too attached due to the abundance of fast travelling brought on by the lack of a true open world. This got me thinking… what are some alternative space games to Starfield that do in fact succeed in scratching that exploration itch?
It's with this in mind that I’ve put together the following list of space games that are all easily accessible, for anyone struggling to get fully on board with Starfield’s version of an endless universe. None of the below will eat up as much of your time or are even on the scale of what the Xbox Series X|S exclusive tries to achieve. All, however, will give you the feeling of traversing their unique versions of the universe in a way few other games are able to.
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 focuses on you leading a team of companions on what is essentially a suicide mission (Bioware)While it’s true I could have just immediately cleaned up and put the entire trilogy on this list by giving Mass Effect: Legendary Edition the nod, I chose to play it riskier by selecting the very best in Bioware’s iconic series. Mass Effect 2 is not only a great space opera full of memorable characters and important choices available for the player to make but also one of the best RPGs ever. Playing once again as legendary hero Commander Shepard, it’s your job to form and guide a team required to prevent the oncoming of an intergalactic threat.
Better yet, Mass Effect 2 doesn’t really require prior knowledge of the first game to be enjoyed fully. While a lot of the first game’s squad mates like Garrus and Tali carry over, their relevant companion quests in the sequel do an equally excellent job of letting you grow attached to them. The galaxy and planets you visit in Mass Effect 2 aren’t quite as vast as Starfield, but everything you do on your journey to save the universe feels so much more meaningful.
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The Outer Worlds
Despite being ravaged by corporate capitalism, locations in The Outer Worlds are quite beautiful (Obsidian)Not to be confused with the equally as brilliant (though for very different reasons) Outer Wilds that released the same year, The Outer Worlds was Obsidian’s grand return to the Western RPG format after arguably outdoing Bethesda with its work on Fallout: New Vegas. It’s a space western in all the best ways, casting you as the captain of a ragtag crew who must hop from planet to planet as part of an adventure that isn’t afraid to poke fun of itself.
This galaxy full of satirical slogans, mascots and corporations is primarily what separates The Outer Worlds from the far more po-faced Starfield, giving it a humorous edge that makes even the blandest quest a blast. The Outer Worlds is easily the most comparable game to Starfield on this list, yet its skills and perks system is arguably a lot more flexible due to how companions impact it. Small tweaks to the Bethesda RPG formula like this make it well worth a look.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor perfectly captured the spirit of what it means to be a jedi (Electronic Arts)Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was released earlier this year with a few technical qualms on both console and PC. I hardly experienced any of them, though, hence why I rated it five stars in our review and had a grand old time stepping back into the role of Cal Kestis – now very much an experienced Jedi master. The opening planet of Koboh may initially throw a lot at you, but its nature to gradually open up as you gain new abilities and return to it is one of the most gratifying things I’ve felt in a space game.
This isn’t to discount other new and familiar planets like Coruscant and Tanalorr either, all complement each other perfectly within the established Star Wars universe each time you hop onto the Mantis ship and zoom off. Such tight space exploration is complimented by a more refined combat system compared to its 2019 predecessor, being far more fluid than ever before to truly make every lightsaber encounter feel empowering and special.
No Man’s Sky
No Man's Sky now feels like a fully formed game compared to its launch day limitations (Bandai Namco)No Man’s Sky, alongside Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, represents one of the greatest comeback stories in all of games. What first started out as a rather bland and misguided procedurally generated space exploration game has now utterly transformed thanks to significant updates, that make features like base building, resource gathering and combat fun. Not to mention that all of it can be experienced in the immersive view that PSVR2 brings.
There’s no denying the fact that No Man’s Sky presents a universe far more colourful than the one seen in Starfield. And though not as authored or handcrafted, it’s still a great background primed to inspire players on all platforms to create their own interstellar stories – either alone or together. In many ways, I envy any player getting to jump into No Man’s Sky for the first time today, because the adventure they’re embarking on is far greater and stacked with things to do.
Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic can be played alone, but is better for creating all-out chaos with friends. (Ghost Ship Games)This last entry is a bit of an off-kilter choice because it actually has very little in common with Starfield at all. However, if you’re looking for your next online co-op fix sure to provide hours of hilarity and entertainment, you could do a lot worse than roleplaying as space dwarfs mining planets for resources while fighting off spiders. Deep Rock Galactic uses this as a firm basis to let chaos regularly ensue, particularly since you’re often carving your own route through planets, which you’ll then need to get out of.
Though tasks don’t get shaken up too much, all four dwarf classes having different abilities work to keep the action fresh as you constantly do battle with alien spiders who almost always inhabit the procedurally generated planet you’re on. Deep Rock Galactic is the gift that keeps on giving, offering players a simple premise that plays out very differently each time.
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