Best Space Sim Games on Steam
Unlike generic lists, our strategy game recommendations use a rigorous analysis of Steam user reviews to identify and feature only the best, community-validated space sim games. For those who prefer not to search, lists of the most played, top deals and best free space sim games are available at the bottom of the page.
Filters & Lists
Surviving Mars
There will be challenges to overcome. Execute your strategy and improve your colony’s chances of survival while unlocking the mysteries of this alien world. Are you ready? Mars is waiting for you.
3030 Deathwar Redux - A Space Odyssey
3030 Deathwar is a unique mix of Adventure and Space Sim. Explore star systems, mine and hunt pirates in top-down mode. Leave your ship and switch into classic Adventuring mode, where you explore derelicts, talk to shady characters or head over to the space bar for a drink.
Star Trek™: Bridge Crew
Star Trek™: Bridge Crew, playable in both VR and non-VR, will immerse you in the Star Trek universe. In co-op, form a crew of four players to serve in the roles of Captain, Helm, Tactical or Engineer. Make strategic decisions and coordinate actions with your crew.
EVERSPACE™
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.
Starpoint Gemini Warlords
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!
Interkosmos
Interkosmos is an arcady astronaut adventure in VR. Brace yourself for a rush of hectic gameplay to challenge your inner cosmonaut, and a fun story full of twists and Cold War absurdities.
House of the Dying Sun
House of the Dying Sun is a tactical space shooter that puts you in the cockpit of the universe's most terrifying starfighter. Hunt the enemies of the Empire and bring ruin to their people.
Children of a Dead Earth
The most scientifically accurate space warfare simulator ever made. Now with Steam Workshop!
No Man's Sky
No Man's Sky is a game about exploration and survival in an infinite procedurally generated universe.
Polandball: Can into Space!
Crazy fun rocket simulator game with countryballs theme. Can Polandball into Space? Try to find out!
Wayward Terran Frontier: Zero Falls
2d space combat like no other. From the perspective of a single crew member, explore the fully destructible interior of any ship in a massive living world. Engage in space combat with no hitpoints where you know your enemy is dead when you see them fall out of their ship into the cold dark of space.
Evochron Legacy SE
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.
Astrox: Hostile Space Excavation
Exiled to a deep space mining sector, you are left with a crappy ship, a laser, and a small mining beam. It is up to you to survive by working your way through the galaxy. Mine asteroids, refine and trade the ore, buy upgrades for your ship, hunt pirates... you get it.
Endless Sky
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.
Rebel Galaxy
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.
Planetbase
Guide a group of space settlers trying to establish a base on a remote planet. Grow food, collect energy, mine resources, survive disasters and build a self-sufficient colony in a harsh and unforgiving environment.
Universe Sandbox
Create & destroy on an unimaginable scale with a realistic physics-based space simulator. Explore the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. Use science to bend the laws of gravity, collide planets, boil away oceans, fire epic space lasers, and customize your universe.
SimpleRockets
I am excited to release my first game on Steam! SimpleRockets was released in 2013 for mobile and I've put a ton of work into it to get it ready for PC and Mac. It was inspired by KSP, and it offers a simpler 2D experience for building rockets and exploring space with realistic orbital mechanics.
Space Colony: Steam Edition
Space Colony: Steam Edition is a remaster of the real-time base builder and strategy game from Firefly Studios, creators of the Stronghold series. In Space Colony you colonize to survive, designing intergalactic bases that keep your crew productive, happy and defended against hostile alien threats.
STAR WARS™ - X-Wing Special Edition
Against the overwhelming might of the Empire stands a small but growing Rebel Alliance. Scattered resistance groups are uniting and what is needed most now are Starfighter pilots. Will you join their struggle to end this tyranny and become a hero of the Rebellion?
STAR WARS™: TIE Fighter Special Edition
The Imperial Navy is called upon to eradicate the last of the rebellion and restore law and order. As an Imperial navy starfighter pilot, you will safeguard imperiled lives thoughout the galaxy. Join the Emperor's cause in eliminating the Rebel uprising as the Empire strikes back!
STAR WARS™ - X-Wing Alliance™
A neutral family fights for its business - and its survival - and is swept up in the struggle against the encroaching Empire. You must defy the strong-arm tactics of a rival family who will stop at nothing to destroy your trading company.
Kerbal Space Program
In Kerbal Space Program, take charge of the space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals. You have access to an array of parts to assemble fully-functional spacecraft that flies (or doesn’t) based on realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics.
Elite Dangerous
Take control of your own starship in a cutthroat galaxy. Elite Dangerous is the definitive massively multiplayer space epic.
Most played space sim games on Steam
Take a look at the top space sim games that are currently attracting the largest player bases on the Steam platform, as of June 15th 2025.
1. Elite Dangerous
Take control of your own starship in a cutthroat galaxy. Elite Dangerous is the definitive massively multiplayer space epic. Elite Dangerous is a space sim, space and open world game developed and published by Frontier Developments. Released on April 02nd 2015 has received 100,024 reviews of which 77,388 were positive and 22,636 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. The game has hit the top spot as the #1 most played space sim game, thanks to its 4,961 peak concurrent players over the last day.
7.7
77,388
22,636
4,961
players
2. X4: Foundations
Thrilling space battles meet deep strategy. X4 invites you to explore, fight, trade, and build an empire in a dynamic, fully simulated space sandbox, where every decision shapes your journey. Now featuring the 2025 flight model overhaul. X4: Foundations is a space sim, simulation and sandbox game developed and published by Egosoft. Released on November 30th 2018 has received 23,847 reviews of which 18,951 were positive and 4,896 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. While seeing 2,460 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #2 among space sim games based on player count.
7.8
18,951
4,896
2,460
players
3. Void Crew
Void Crew is a Chaotic, Co-op Roguelite game for 1 to 6 players: Outfit your spaceship and crew for thrilling quests, brave fierce enemies in Space Battles... and try not to panic! Void Crew is a co-op, multiplayer and space sim game developed by Hutlihut Games and published by Focus Entertainment. Released on November 25th 2024 has received 6,713 reviews of which 5,922 were positive and 791 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.6 out of 10. While seeing 942 players online at once in the last 24 hours, this game is currently ranked #3 among space sim games based on player count.
8.6
5,922
791
942
players
4. Avorion
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. Avorion is a exploration, sandbox and space sim game developed and published by Boxelware. Released on March 09th 2020 has received 13,614 reviews of which 12,286 were positive and 1,328 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. With 741 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #4 spot among the most played space sim games.
8.8
12,286
1,328
741
players
5. Star Trucker
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. Star Trucker is a transportation, space sim and automobile sim game developed by Monster and Monster and published by Raw Fury. Released on September 03rd 2024 has received 4,271 reviews of which 3,373 were positive and 898 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. With 107 concurrent players in the last 24 hours, the game currently holds the #5 spot among the most played space sim games.
7.7
3,373
898
107
players
6. Spaceflight Simulator
In Spaceflight Simulator, you will get to build your rockets, plan launches and flights, attempt landings, deploy payloads and explore new worlds. Spaceflight Simulator is a sandbox, space sim and space game developed and published by Team Curiosity ✦. Released on February 17th 2022 has received 6,318 reviews of which 6,085 were positive and 233 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.3 out of 10. The game currently holds the #6 spot among the most played space sim games.
9.3
6,085
233
96
players
7. Starcom: Unknown Space
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. Starcom: Unknown Space is a space, exploration and open world game developed and published by Wx3 Labs and LLC. Released on September 02nd 2024 has received 3,168 reviews of which 2,928 were positive and 240 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.9 out of 10. The game currently holds the #7 spot among the most played space sim games.
8.9
2,928
240
77
players
8. PULSAR: Lost Colony
The co-op open-world space sim where everyone has a role! Pilot the ship. Reroute power. Launch nukes. Explore alien planets. Research new talents. Work together to find the Lost Colony! ...or just deliver some biscuits PULSAR: Lost Colony is a space sim, open world and simulation game developed and published by Leafy Games. Released on June 22nd 2021 has received 5,578 reviews of which 5,020 were positive and 558 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. The game currently holds the #8 spot among the most played space sim games.
8.7
5,020
558
77
players
9. Star Conflict
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! Star Conflict is a online co-op, free to play and space sim game developed by Star Gem Inc. and published by Gaijin Network Ltd. Released on February 27th 2013 has received 14,853 reviews of which 10,879 were positive and 3,974 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #9 spot among the most played space sim games.
7.2
10,879
3,974
76
players
10. Astrometica
Astrometica is a space exploration and base-building survival game. After a catastrophic event, explore vast space, gather resources, build bases, and uncover cosmic mysteries. Use advanced technology, craft tools, and discover new blueprints to survive and thrive in the unknown. Astrometica is a space sim, survival and open world game developed by BeryMery and published by RockGame S.A.. Released on December 10th 2024 has received 2,019 reviews of which 1,766 were positive and 253 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #10 spot among the most played space sim games.
8.4
1,766
253
57
players
Best deals on space sim games on Steam
Discover fantastic savings with the best discounts on a variety of space sim games available on Steam right now, updated on June 15th 2025. Looking for even more deals? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of discounted space sim games.
1. Rebel Galaxy Outlaw
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. Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is a space sim, open world and action-adventure game developed and published by Double Damage Games. Released on September 22nd 2020 has received 1,033 reviews of which 659 were positive and 374 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.2 out of 10. Featuring a massive 99% discount, this game currently holds the #1 spot in the best deals for space sim category.
6.2
659
374
-99%
24.99€
0.43€
2. BattleGroupVR
BattleGroupVR is a first person real-time space strategy where you lead a fleet of powerful warships into battle from the bridge of your own flagship. Assemble your fleet, upgrade your load-outs, train your captains, engage the enemy and secure the sector. Try not to go down with the ship. BattleGroupVR is a space sim, space and vr game developed and published by SpaceOwl Games. Released on July 31st 2023 has received 902 reviews of which 834 were positive and 68 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 98% discount, this game is now the #2 best deal in space sim games.
8.7
834
68
-98%
20.99€
0.42€
3. Juno: New Origins
Bring to life anything you can imagine from rockets and airplanes to cars and more. Automate them with a visual programming language. Explore 3D planets and make your own. Share your creations online. Complete contracts, conquer milestones, and unlock technology in the newly added Career Mode. Juno: New Origins is a building, science and space sim game developed and published by Jundroo and LLC. Released on January 26th 2023 has received 3,118 reviews of which 2,807 were positive and 311 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Thanks to its incredible 97% discount, this game is now the #3 best deal in space sim games.
8.7
2,807
311
-97%
19.50€
0.63€
4. PULSAR: Lost Colony
The co-op open-world space sim where everyone has a role! Pilot the ship. Reroute power. Launch nukes. Explore alien planets. Research new talents. Work together to find the Lost Colony! ...or just deliver some biscuits PULSAR: Lost Colony is a space sim, open world and simulation game developed and published by Leafy Games. Released on June 22nd 2021 has received 5,578 reviews of which 5,020 were positive and 558 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.7 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 90% discount, this title has earned the #4 position in the best deals for space sim games.
8.7
5,020
558
-90%
19.50€
2.01€
5. SimpleRockets
I am excited to release my first game on Steam! SimpleRockets was released in 2013 for mobile and I've put a ton of work into it to get it ready for PC and Mac. It was inspired by KSP, and it offers a simpler 2D experience for building rockets and exploring space with realistic orbital mechanics. SimpleRockets is a simulation, sandbox and physics game developed and published by Jundroo and LLC. Released on June 03rd 2015 has received 358 reviews of which 306 were positive and 52 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 89% discount, this title has earned the #5 position in the best deals for space sim games.
7.9
306
52
-89%
7.79€
0.89€
6. X3: Reunion
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. X3: Reunion is a space, simulation and strategy game developed and published by Egosoft. Released on July 21st 2006 has received 685 reviews of which 494 were positive and 191 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 86% discount, this title has earned the #6 position in the best deals for space sim games.
6.9
494
191
-86%
9.99€
1.46€
7. X4: Foundations
Thrilling space battles meet deep strategy. X4 invites you to explore, fight, trade, and build an empire in a dynamic, fully simulated space sandbox, where every decision shapes your journey. Now featuring the 2025 flight model overhaul. X4: Foundations is a space sim, simulation and sandbox game developed and published by Egosoft. Released on November 30th 2018 has received 23,847 reviews of which 18,951 were positive and 4,896 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 83% discount, this title has earned the #7 position in the best deals for space sim games.
7.8
18,951
4,896
-83%
49.99€
8.94€
8. Elite Dangerous
Take control of your own starship in a cutthroat galaxy. Elite Dangerous is the definitive massively multiplayer space epic. Elite Dangerous is a space sim, space and open world game developed and published by Frontier Developments. Released on April 02nd 2015 has received 100,024 reviews of which 77,388 were positive and 22,636 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 77% discount, this title has earned the #8 position in the best deals for space sim games.
7.7
77,388
22,636
-77%
19.99€
4.61€
9. Avorion
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. Avorion is a exploration, sandbox and space sim game developed and published by Boxelware. Released on March 09th 2020 has received 13,614 reviews of which 12,286 were positive and 1,328 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.8 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 58% discount, this title has earned the #9 position in the best deals for space sim games.
8.8
12,286
1,328
-58%
24.99€
10.71€
10. Star Trucker
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. Star Trucker is a transportation, space sim and automobile sim game developed by Monster and Monster and published by Raw Fury. Released on September 03rd 2024 has received 4,271 reviews of which 3,373 were positive and 898 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Currently offered at a significant 54% discount, this title has earned the #10 position in the best deals for space sim games.
7.7
3,373
898
-54%
24.50€
11.43€
Free space sim games on Steam
Check out this fantastic list of free-to-play space sim games you can enjoy on Steam right now, updated on June 15th 2025. Looking for even more free titles? Use the search filters to explore a wider range of free to play space sim games.
1. Star Conflict
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! Star Conflict is a online co-op, free to play and space sim game developed by Star Gem Inc. and published by Gaijin Network Ltd. Released on February 27th 2013 has received 14,853 reviews of which 10,879 were positive and 3,974 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.2 out of 10. The game currently holds the #1 spot among the most played free space sim games on Steam.
7.2
10,879
3,974
76
players
2. Space Commander: War and Trade
Fight, explore the stars, trade, and lead your fleet across the galaxySpace Commander: War and Trade is an ultimate single player space-sim featuring spectacular graphics, intuitive combat and deep mechanics. Space Commander: War and Trade is a action, rpg and base-building game developed and published by Home Net Games. Released on November 04th 2020 has received 656 reviews of which 442 were positive and 214 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.5 out of 10. The game currently holds the #2 spot among the most played free space sim games on Steam.
6.5
442
214
10
players
3. Sputnika Game
A Cosmic twist on a Suika-style game with space gravity. Help our little friend Sputnik on his journey to become the Sun. Sputnika Game is a casual, strategy and puzzle game developed and published by egunan. Released on February 11th 2024 has received 477 reviews of which 431 were positive and 46 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.4 out of 10. The game currently holds the #3 spot among the most played free space sim games on Steam.
8.4
431
46
7
players