Highlights:
* Open-world space exploration games offer some of the best virtual experiences, particularly in VR.
* In Star Wars Outlaws, Kay Vess can explore planets such as Tatooine, Kijimi, and Akiva.
Open-world space exploration games appeal to players while also allowing developers to express their creativity and imagination freely. The virtual solar systems or galaxies are created with immaculate detail and certain discoveries are sure to amaze players. They can fill the players with horror or wonder. They either fill the players with dread or with wonder, making each space adventure a memorable experience. Due to the open-world aspect, the terrains are endless, and players can spend hours exploring various celestial bodies and even terraforming them in some titles.
5 Most Captivating Open-World Space Exploration Games
The wealth of possibilities in open-world space exploration games not only affects the experience of gamers but also creates compelling narratives. Players have to travel from one celestial body to another to complete missions. Usually, there are intriguing cutscenes or space creatures ready to surprise them.
Here are some of the best open-world space exploration games:-
Kerbal Space Program
| Developer | Squad |
| Platforms | PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, MacOS |
Although Kerbal Space Program isn’t visually impressive as compared to modern titles, it delivers in the open-world space genre. It gives a high degree of freedom to the players in each aspect. They can build spacecraft and explore the game’s solar system in a non-linear fashion. Essentially, they can explore different planets while keeping in mind the rules of physics, which the game implements beautifully in its world. Kerbal Space Program also has references to real-life hardware used in shuttles and missions inspired by historic moments such as the moon landing.
Outer Wilds
| Developer | Morbius Digital |
| Platforms | PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC |
A critically acclaimed title, Outer Wilds has a funny take on space travel. Adventurers explore different celestial bodies but they have limited time in one run, 22 minutes to be exact, which means one is stuck in an endless loop. Each journey to the mysterious planets leaves players curious for more as they have to solve puzzles or are compelled to retry after blowing up their spaceship. Moreover, there are constant changes in the planets. For instance, an underground city would be buried under sand the next time they journey to a specific planet.
No Man’s Sky
| Developer | Hello Games |
| Platforms | PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC, MacOS |
No Man’s Sky gradually became one of the best open-world space exploration games. After drawing heavy criticism during its launch, it redeemed itself with several multiplayer features and even VR support. No Man’s Sky’s essence is its adventure and survival. Players spawn in a randomly generated world next to a crashed spacecraft. Next, they have to get accustomed to the planet’s temperature, defend themselves from various monsters, collect resources for crafting, and be aware of their exosuit’s wear-and-tear. The title surprises players with its vast world filled with both friendly and hostile aliens.
Star Wars Outlaws
| Developer | Massive Entertainment |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
Among the latest open-world space exploration games is Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws. Once she is in orbit, Kay Vess not only can explore space but also travel between different planets with the hyperdrive. The varied worlds in Outlaws, which has many canonical shout-outs to the Star Wars series, can be explored by Vess while she rides a Speeder Bike, occasionally taking missions from underworld bosses or honing her skills by conversing with mentors. There are dangers, however, so Kay may need to put down a few Stormtroopers or a giant snake in the desert.
Elite Dangerous
| Developer | Frontier Developments |
| Platforms | PS4, Xbox One, PC, MacOS |
Ending the list of open-world space exploration games is the massively popular Elite Dangerous. It allows players to journey to a stunning recreation of the Milky Way, eventually exploring billions of stars and planets. Spaceships travel from one planet to another and the transition from space to orbit as well as the landing is captured on the screen. Plus, there are an array of minerals and materials to scan, mine, and take notes of. The developers are also dedicated to the game as they release new content every year, be it in the form of missions, spaceships, or cosmetics.
For a completely different experience, check out the 7 best games where you are a vampire.
