Best Video Games Where You're An Astronaut

At some stage, many of us have imagined or even pondered over the thought of journeying into space. Luckily, we can experience this thrill without putting our lives on the line, thanks to reliable simulations that offer an out-of-this-world experience from the comfort of a cushioned office chair.

Is there any occupation more intriguing and multifaceted than venturing into outer space? From soaring through vast emptiness to setting foot on extraterrestrial ground, this job offers a unique blend of excitement. The science fiction genre has spawned countless imagined realms, from the fiery to the idyllic, but they all challenge the boundaries of human creativity.

Games that focus on astronaut characters usually incorporate elements of science fiction, survival, exploration, and sometimes even existential psychological horror. These games immerse players in space-themed narratives, often placing them in the role of an astronaut, where they must navigate through various challenges, discover new worlds, and face their deepest fears and questions about existence. Examples include “The Martian” (a novel turned game), “Subnautica”, and “No Man’s Sky”.

These titles span a spectrum, from tightly structured narratives that gradually escalate suspense, to broad landscapes inviting you to freely roam and explore.

10. Deliver Us Mars

A Puzzle-Heavy Adventure

Deliver Us Mars emphasizes puzzle-solving and platforming mechanics, while offering a story-centric experience that leans towards a relaxed pace compared to high-intensity action games you might find elsewhere. However, it certainly has its unique allure!

Just like Firewatch and Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture, you will gradually unravel an intricate and enigmatic tale as you traverse a forlorn landscape, piecing together cryptic hints along the way.

Building upon Deliver Us The Moon, this sequel unfolds on Mars, primarily focusing on unraveling an enigma surrounding a vanishing event. Progression throughout the game is achieved by overcoming climbing challenges and intricate puzzles.

Deliver Us Mars offers a distinctly engaging and realistic experience as an astronaut, complete with intriguing gameplay elements.

9. Fort Solis

A Highly Cinematic Horror Story

In this spine-chilling narrative, Roger Clarke (known as Arthur in Red Dead Redemption 2) takes center stage within a deserted Martian mining complex. Although the plot follows a single, uncomplicated trajectory, it manages to maintain a firm grip on its audience, successfully conveying an undeniable sense of vulnerability that is crucial when exploring such a harsh and inimical setting.

The narrative primarily focuses on the internal aspects of the facility, yet it showcases a remarkable level of detail in the surroundings, incorporating numerous interactive items like logs and insights into the residents of the base and their objectives.

From a visual aspect, Fort Solis stands out as an impressive feat of technology. It showcases some of the most lifelike graphics you’ll encounter in any science fiction video game, though these graphics are primarily limited to a rather linear narrative and predominantly indoor settings.

In this production, all actors deliver convincing and captivating performances, making the storyline seem genuine and intriguing. What sets it apart is its lack of a traditional heads-up display or obvious game elements, contributing to an incredibly engrossing experience for the audience.

8. Astroneer

A Unique Survival Space Game

If you’re in search of a less serious but engaging space expedition experience, consider giving Astroneer a try. The objective within this game is to transform desolate planets into thriving Gaian paradises, filled with flourishing life forms and abundant resources.

This sci-fi game offers an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind sandbox experience, allowing players an unprecedented level of flexibility to design and build alien landscapes according to their preferences. Yet, it’s important to remember that survival necessitates managing vital resources like power and oxygen.

As a spacefarer immersed in this intergalactic adventure, you’ll find yourself mostly roaming across various planets, but don’t let that fool you! The game offers exciting opportunities for you to voyage beyond these initial worlds, discovering new celestial bodies and zipping between them as the story unfolds.

In simpler terms, the low-poly design of Astroneer gives it a unique appeal and contributes to a less intense gaming atmosphere compared to other games.

The distinctiveness of this survival encounter lies in its immersive nature and abundance of creative possibilities. In contrast to traditional survival games, it lacks direct combat elements. Instead, the perils hidden within the intricate surroundings are what truly pose a threat.

7. The Invincible

An Iconic Sci-Fi Story

As a devoted admirer of the renowned sci-fi writer Stanislaw Lem, I find myself deeply captivated by his enigmatic masterpiece, “The Invincible.” This intriguing narrative follows my personal journey as an explorer, unraveling the mystery surrounding a lost crew of engineers on the alluring and elusive planet of Regis 3.

The game offers a highly narrative and progressive playthrough, which may initially seem slow-paced, yet doesn’t compromise its quality in any way. Rich source material enriches the game with captivating characters, intriguing backstories, advanced technology, and superior writing. These elements are further amplified by the audio-visual medium.

This tale takes you on a deeply contemplative and thoughtful exploration, set against a backdrop of an atom-punk world. It’s certain to evoke strong feelings and heighten your pulse as it unfolds along its intricate and moving storyline.

The game’s exceptional soundtrack, composed by Brunon Lubas, deserves recognition too. It’s primarily created with vintage analogue synthesizers, effectively capturing the authentic ’70s sci-fi ambiance.

Brunon Lubas’s unique soundtrack for the game is worth noting. He mainly used old-school analogue synthesizers to create it, resulting in a truly immersive 1970’s sci-fi vibe.

6. Space Engineers

Creative Sandbox Spaceflight

Over time, the space engineering game created by Keen Software House, known for its sci-fi theme, has built up a devoted fanbase. This group remains passionate and actively engaged in playing the game, long after its original debut.

The core focus of this game lies in building structures and vessels, but its mechanisms are incredibly user-friendly, making it easy to get into. What’s more, the gameplay cycles can be surprisingly engaging, even when you play by yourself, potentially leading to quite an addictive experience.

In Space Engineers, the gameplay offers a lot of flexibility, enabling you to choose between establishing a base on a specific planet or designing an impressive armada of vessels for conquest in a neighboring system – essentially, the possibilities are limitless and depend on your preferences.

The follow-up has likewise debuted early and seems poised to deliver significant developments down the line; however, at present, the original game offers a more refined and feature-packed experience overall.

5. Starfield

The Sky Is Not The Limit

Despite a somewhat divided response from fans regarding Bethesda’s ambitious space-adventure game, Starfield, it’s undeniable that it excels in several key areas. From its vast array of explorable planets to the extensive personalization possibilities, Starfield can leave a lasting impression – as long as you manage your expectations appropriately.

The gaming universe abounds with fascinating enigmas and tales, and certain side missions stand out particularly vividly in memory.

Starfield offers instances reminiscent of the olden times in games like Oblivion and Fallout 3, such as infiltrating a high-security prison on an alien world or observing as bets are placed during the Red Mile – moments that echo those classic days.

In this game, you can discover and enjoy places like Neon and Akila City, and what’s more, you have the freedom to build your own bases virtually anywhere throughout the game world.

4. Elite Dangerous

Incredibly Immersive Experience

When pondering about space travel and astronautics, Elite Dangerous is among the games that pop up promptly. Boasting a diverse assortment of roles and offering an exceptionally engrossing flying experience within any sci-fi game, it stands out as one of the finest in the genre according to multiple criteria.

Elite Dangerous isn’t just visually and audibly stunning; it offers a relaxing yet engaging gameplay experience as well. The core of the game lies in lengthy voyages through diverse systems, but regular updates have expanded this to allow players to investigate planets, align with factions, and earn income in numerous creative ways.

There’s lots more exciting content planned for Elite Dangerous in the days to come, and it seems like the creators are fully committed to the game without any signs of leaving anytime soon. In fact, some might argue that the future of this game is shimmering brighter than ever before.

This game can also be enjoyed through Virtual Reality (VR) and using a joystick, taking the experience to an entirely new dimension. If you’re seeking a game that prioritizes immersion over any elements of fantasy, Elite Dangerous might just be the perfect fit for you.

3. No Man’s Sky

Endless Cosmic Exploration

Speaking about open-world games, there’s hardly anything larger than No Man’s Sky. The virtually boundless universe within the game hosts a colossal number, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of distinct planets, each featuring exclusive landscapes, resources, and native creatures.

Initially receiving significant criticism for its procedurally generated content at its launch, the game’s reputation has since dramatically improved through numerous content updates over time.

Currently, No Man’s Sky stands among the top-tier space games, promising an individualized adventure for every gamer.

One alluring aspect of the game is the vast array of different planets, lifeforms, and environments to discover. Initially, the game focused primarily on exploration. However, over time, a substantial narrative mode featuring distinct missions and factions has been incorporated.

In most games, you can’t hop on a ship, aim it upwards, and jet off into space, visiting any star system or celestial body you stumble upon. However, No Man’s Sky offers just that experience, giving you unprecedented liberty to explore.

2. Dead Space

A Dark & Disturbing Astral Tale

In simpler terms, during the era of Xbox 360, the Dead Space trilogy stood out as a legendary science fiction horror game. It’s known for its compelling storyline, stunning visuals, and clever level design. Even though a remake of the first game was released in 2023, the original games remain just as impressive today, considering their age.

In the role of Isaac Clarke, starship systems engineer, you’ll be entrusted with exploring labyrinthine ship insides and confronting terrifying necromorph mutants lurking within them. However, Dead Space offers much more than just alien blasting, as you’ll also have to solve puzzles, repair machinery, and survive in a deeply atmospheric and suspenseful environment.

The narrative is complex, filled with surprising plot developments that feel genuine given the story’s environment, making it engaging and convincing.

For those with a sturdy constitution, the Dead Space series offers numerous unforgettable scenes and is guaranteed to thrill enthusiasts of space-exploration themed video games.

1. Mass Effect

The Ultimate Space Opera

Bioware’s Mass Effect series is widely regarded as one of the greatest science fiction games ever made, and for a good reason. By merging a richly detailed universe (or galaxy in this instance) with significant character relationships and deep role-playing game mechanics, it undeniably stands at the zenith of its genre.

In this game, you’ll step into the role of Commander Shepard, a character tailored according to your preferences. Your journey takes you across diverse worlds, where you’ll forge relationships with both friends and foes during various missions.

Though Mass Effect 2 is often praised as the standout game in the series, each installment brings something unique and it’s worth exploring them all. For those just diving into the franchise, the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which includes the first three games combined, might be the ideal starting point.

If you’re familiar with the Mass Effect video game series, my sentiments are likely echoing yours. However, if you’re yet to experience this renowned science fiction franchise, I strongly advise you to prioritize it on your desired games list.

2025-03-12 16:12

Best Video Games Where You’re An Astronaut