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After years of rumors, leaks, and trailers, fans are finally set to get their hands on Starfield this coming September. The game will surely be massive and likely consume dozens of hours of our lives! It has even been labeled as a “combination of five or six games in one” by Bethesda’s Todd Howard. However, there is still one more month of waiting ahead, meaning players will need something to help pass the time. Here are 10 great space games to play while you wait for Starfield.
10: No Man’s Sky
We all knew this pick would be here! No Man’s Sky was released to mixed reviews in 2016. Since then, however, the game has received vital updates and improvements, turning it into a solid, highly regarded space exploration sim.
Although it may not contain many of the RPG elements that we are looking forward to in Starfield, it no doubt shares that same feeling of isolation and exploration. Plus, the game is constantly being iterated on, so if there’s something you wish it had, there’s a good chance it will be added in the future.
9: Star Citizen
Star Citizen is not a game for the faint of heart. Many die-hard fans of the game call liken it to franchises such as World of Warcraft, where all other forms of entertainment pale in comparison.
The title of Star Citizen is self-explanatory. Players will assume the role of an ordinary human as they attempt to gain a reputation amongst the millions of others in the settled systems. This involves taking on jobs such as cargo runs, bounty contracts, and much more. In this aspect, Star Citizen is quite similar to Bethesda’s upcoming game, making it the perfect title to indulge in until the wait for Starfield is over.
8: Kerbal Space Program
If building a personalized rocket to traverse the galaxy is the sole reason you are anticipating Starfield, then check out Kerbal Space Program! Despite its rather cartoonish style, the game has been praised mainly for its impressive gravitational and orbital mechanics. This, in conjunction with a drip-feed progression system, makes KSP impossible to put down.
We highly recommend sticking to the first entry in the series, as the sequel is a bit of a bummer. Don’t fret, though, because a hyper-active modding community has ensured that Kerbal Space Program is as fresh as the day it was released.
7: The Mass Effect Trilogy
The first three in the Mass Effect series were a cultural phenomenon when they first hit store shelves. Despite being some of the first AAA space RPGs, the games were executed masterfully.
Gameplay-wise, the series is quite different from Starfield. However, stellar characters, gorgeous set pieces, and hard-hitting story beats are all aspects we expect the two to share. Pick up the legendary edition for the most streamlined version of the trilogy, and prepare for an emotional rollercoaster while you wait for Starfield.
6: Cyberpunk 2077
Although the two games are stylistically different, Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077 have more in common than what initially meets the eye. In fact, CD Projekt RED took clear inspiration from Bethesda’s line-up of titles while developing Cyberpunk. Side quests, skill trees, and dialogue options are all an important part of the game.
Cyberpunk 2077 has also improved drastically since its launch. After a few years of constant patches and updates, the game is the most stable it has ever been – and just in time. The Phantom Liberty DLC is set to release on September 26th, just 20 days after Starfield finally launches.
5: Fallout 4
Chances are that if you are anticipating Starfield, you already have a hefty amount of time spent in Bethesda’s previous few games. However, on the off chance that you have never played Fallout 4, it offers the perfect gameplay experience while you wait for Starfield.
Fallout 4 tells the story of a parent who, after being cryogenically frozen, loses contact with their infant son. The whole game will feel very familiar to those acquainted with Bethesda RPGs, even despite the lackluster dialogue options. The ending of the game is astonishing and not talked about nearly enough in gaming culture. Do yourself a favor and play through Fallout 4 as the perfect appetizer to Starfield.
4: Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic is all about mining for precious metals on exotic alien planets. The game absolutely refuses to get old, offering players a plethora of classes, biomes, and weaponry to spice things up.
If playing through a massive RPG right before diving into Starfield sounds like a bad idea to you, then give Deep Rock Galactic a try. The game is light-hearted, the community is welcoming, and the 4-play coop makes for some hilarious adventures with friends. Just be sure not to take the losses too hard, as DRG can be unexpectedly tough!
3: Destiny 2
Bungie’s live-service shooter Destiny 2 is bombastic and over-the-top in all the best ways. The game clearly caters to fans of science fantasy and is not afraid to prove it by offering some of the most stunning visuals in any sci-fi game ever created.
Destiny 2 has a lot going for it right now, despite having come out way back in 2017. Some of the best gunplay of all time, along with constant content updates, means it has plenty of life left! At the end of the day, the base game is free, so don’t be afraid to give it a go.
2: Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous offers what is possibly the greatest space-flight gameplay available right now. Combined with a complete recreation of the Milky Way Galaxy, the game is a fantastic placeholder for Starfield.
It differs from Starfield in that the game is an MMO rather than a single-player RPG. This creates some experiences that are truly unique in the gaming space. There are even reports of a 3,000+ player battle that took place over the course of several days! Some epic space fights and pirating should hopefully make that long wait for Starfield feel just a bit shorter.
1: The Outer Worlds
Developed by Microsoft’s Obsidian Entertainment, The Outer Worlds is pound-for-pound the closest thing you can currently get to Starfield. For good reason, too — designing a multi-planet RPG is a nearly impossible task.
The award-winning single-player RPG has been heavily praised for its fantastic script and character writing – something that is endlessly evident through the game’s potent dark humor. If the first one has you hungry for more, rest easy knowing that a sequel is actively in development.
Related:
Starfield Won’t Feature Mounts or Ground Vehicles
Starfield is scheduled to release on September 6, 2023.
