Summary
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.
Offering the accessiblegameplay ofLEGOgameswith the freedom of open-world exploration,The Skywalker Sagaoffers a distilled but still sizable experience that allows players to explore an abundance of planets. Thisfree-form designgoes hand-in-hand with the plethora of collectibles, resulting in a rewarding experience for fans of theLEGOformula.
In addition, as with allLEGOgames,The Skywalker Sagaallows 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.
Rebel Galaxycombines a unique combat system with anemphasis on player freedom. This title also excels with itssci-fi western settingand 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 ofRebel 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.
Star Traders: Frontiersis 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.
Kerbal Space Programis 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 butwholly rewarding experience.
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.
Freelanceris a classic title that provides players witha 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.
Freelancergives players no freedom in how its narrative progresses, butthe open-world explorationand freedom of activities between story beats leaves plenty of room for expression. Unfortunately,Freelanceris a game that’s hard to find at the time of writing, but for an adjacent experience, fans may enjoyEverspace 2.
While its quiet gameplay won’t be for everyone,No Man’s Skyis a spacefaring title that lets players loose with decided freedom. Exploring the procedurally-generated planets ofNo Man’s Skyand 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 ofNo Man’s Skymay leave some players unfulfilled.
Outer Wildsis 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 Wildsis 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.
