The sci-fi MMORPG seriesElite Dangerousis one of the most in-depth space simulator games out there – the game’s huge player base and popularity are still growing six years after the game’s original release, perhaps due toElite Dangerous: Odyssey’srecent release on PC and consoles.
RELATED:Elite Dangerous: Every Large Ship, Ranked (& How Much They Cost)
Though the game certainly has more than enough to do for players looking to dedicate their time to its vast open world, it can be fun to takea break fromElite Dangerousand check out similar games. Even if other games end up not being up one’s alley, it makes the experience of returning toElite Dangerousall the better.
Updated June 28, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: Elite Dangerous is a complex game to get into, but once the initial hurdles of learning the game are crossed players are rewarded with one of the best space simulator games ever made. It’s a game with a lot of variety, which is what makes it so easy for fans of Elite Dangerous to get into other spaceflight and sci-fi games. Everspace 2, for example, is much closer in style to Elite Dangerous than Rimworld, but sometimes the best way to fully appreciate a great game is to try something a little further out of your normal preferences. Games like Spore and Stellaris give players another strategic sci-fi game to try out, but when you want something completely different, an RPG like The Outer Worlds or a lift-off simulator like Kerbal Space Program might be just the ticket.
13Everspace 2
TheEverspacegames are incredibly deep looter-shooter-starship-simulator games, and the popularity of the first led to a successful Kickstarter campaign for a sequel.Everspace 2improves on its predecessor in a number of ways, but it stays true to the heart of what made the first game special.
If your favorite part ofElite Dangerousis spaceflight and fighting enemies with your starship rather than on foot,Everspace 2is probably right up your alley. It is worth noting, however, that the game was released in early 2021 but is still labeled as an “Early Access” game on Steam.
12Rebel Galaxy: Outlaw
If you’re looking for something a little lighter thanElite Dangerousthat still delivers on the deep sci-fi universe front, look no further thanRebel Galaxy: Outlaw. This game is more focused on story thanElite Dangerousand brings its characters and grimy world to life with a bright, cartoony visual style.
It’s essentially a space trucking game, but there’s just as much intrigue, dystopian aesthetic, and good old barfights as there are space fights and exploration among the stars.
11Rimworld
Rimworldis a bit of a longer leap fromElite Dangerous, but big fans of the latter are sure to enjoy this simulator gem. Instead of exploring galaxies and engaging enemies in zero gravity, though, you are in control of a colony on a distant planet.
It’s incredibly complexity and variety of paths to follow make it very replayable, and the AI storyteller that reacts to your decisions makes it all feel a little bit more real. If your favorite parts ofElite Dangerousare the survival and simulator features,Rimworldis worth checking out.
10Starcraft 2
The epic sci-fi strategy gameStarcraft IIis as grand in gameplay asElite Dangerousis vast. It’s a classic “easy to learn but difficult to master” kind of strategy game, with manysimilar visual elements and narrative themesto theElite Dangerousworld.
The game is not good for players who don’t want to sit down for a long session in the same game, though. The campaign is very well put together if you are looking to get away from the multiplayer experience.
9EVE Online
Eve Onlineis about as close toElite Dangerousas one will get. Both games take place inan epic futuristic open world, both games are MMORPGs at their core, and both games feature complex mechanics and systems for exploration and combat.
WhereEve Onlineis different fromElite Dangerous, though, is the veracity of its fan base.Eve Onlineplayers take the game extremely seriously, which might be off-putting to a newcomer.
8No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Skywas initially seen as anover-promised failure of a game, but since the relaunch of the game with the release ofNo Man’s Sky BEYOND,the game has seen stellar improvements. It’s got a similar flight and exploration system asElite Dangerousbut with a few important differences.
The game is all about learning and exploring in a player-guided universe, and the graphical style of both games is different too –Elite Dangerousleans towards realism whileNo Man’s Skyleans towards stylish fantasy.
7Kerbal Space Program
The spaceship building gameKerbal Space Programhas been one of Steam’s most popular strategy games since it launched. The fan base for this incredibly complex simulator is as helpful as it is insanely creative, though there’s not much of a multiplayer system.
RELATED:Pro Tips For Starting Elite Dangerous In 2021
The game is similar toElite Dangerousmostly for the sci-fi setting and mechanics. Flight in space is totally different, too, and there’s little in the way of exploration – however, it’s good for a light-hearted break from the attention-sapping MMORPG.
6Destiny 2
Destiny 2is one of the most popular looter-shooters out there, having recently gone free-to-play. It’s visually similar toElite Dangerousand takes place in a similar futuristic type of universe.Destiny 2is alsoan MMORPG at its core, but without the open-world multiplayer exploration outside of parties.
Destiny 2is well-regarded for its gameplay and the continuous support the game has received over the years. The storyline is a little bit hard to follow for some, though.
5The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worldsis a game that was created by former developers from theFalloutseries, and features a breadth of meaningful narrative choices intertwined with satisfying combat and a gorgeous world.
The exploration and RPG elements are similar toElite Dangerous, but the game itself is quite different in a lot of regards. If you want to switch up the genre and try astory-driven singleplayer campaign,The Outer Worldsdelivers impressively.
4Stellaris
The grand strategy gameStellarisis one of the most complex empire-building games on the market, and one of the most time-intensive too. Campaigns can last dozens of hours, and much like theCivilizationseries can be played over and over again with newly generated galaxies.
RELATED:Elite Dangerous: 10 Best Ships For Exploration, Ranked
Elite Dangerous’s space exploration is very similar to the space exploration inStellaris, though the MMORPG features a lot less depth to its empire-building systems thanStellarisdoes.
