Best Space Exploration Video Games
The world that we can see through our telescope continues to unravel and reveal its mysteries, day-by-day, week-by-week.
Looking into space is invigorating and humbling, giving those of us lucky enough to have a powerful telescope or access to such facilities a firmer understanding of our place in the universe. There is very little terrain left on earth unmapped, untouched and undiscovered. Still, turning our equipment skywards sees us once again on the cusp of discovery, as the early pioneers were in their ships, sailing across the ocean.
Not everybody has the luxury or privilege of seeing the things we see and experiencing the thrill of a discovery, which is where space exploration video games come in. They deliver an exploration experience to everybody, whether they have access to telescopes or not. Even those without a rudimentary grasp of space can experience finding new planets and stars from the comfort of their sofa.
There are many space-related titles on consoles and mobile, and not all of them are focused on exploration. Titles such as Halo on home consoles take a liberal approach to what is really out there and delivers an entirely fictional experience based around shooting and aliens. On mobile, the processing power required for an exploration game is limited, so those titles often take the themes and imagery and develop them into other game genres. Gala Casino features multiple titles with space themes as well, such as Starship Keno Multiplayer and Galacticos, which use space as their basis, but the core mechanics are that of a slot machine. Space Invaders is another which uses the backdrop of space, but with a substantial degree of interpretation rather than scientific fact.
Some games may have elements of fiction around them but still deliver a space exploration experience, of sorts, to the gamer. These are three that anyone without access to a telescope but with a thirst for exploring the unknown might find enjoyable.
Elite Dangerous
Very few video games are set in the Milky Way, with a fictional universe far less time-consuming to generate for players to explore. Elite Dangerous is different; it has the entire Milky Way on a 1:1 scale, complete with current scientific principles, data, and theories. That makes it a unique title within the space exploration genre, and for those who wish to feel truly immersed, you can even play it in virtual reality.
No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky straddles the concepts of Elite Dangerous, with exploration as a core theme, but also has a toe in the fictional, too. The worlds you can explore on this release are fictionalised, but you play as an intrepid explorer documenting the places you visit. The scope is vast, there is always something new to find, and after the problems, gamers experienced at the launch were fixed, this has become a staple of the exploration genre, even if you won’t find yourself on Mars or Venus.
Mass Effect
Mass Effect is an exploration game at heart, but it differs from No Man’s Sky in that there is a mission-led storyline to follow and a reason for your travels across space. Games Radar explains that a new, remastered version has just been released, so now is the perfect time to pick it up and play. You get to use a powerful telescope from the ship you take around the galaxy, but be warned – there is an arcade-style shooter element to the game as well. Not only will you discover new planets, but also hostile creatures to take down. Hopefully, the next time you step up to your real-life telescope, you won’t find Reapers looking to harvest the earth’s resources.