Here are 3 space games to add to your wishlist
I don’t know if it’s the prominence of Apollo 13 re-runs in my childhood or growing up in the middle of Space Shuttle fervor (and its unfortunate decline), but I have such a soft spot for space games. There’s just something hopeful (and terrifying) about the endless expanse of space that I find infinitely fascinating.
For today’s list of three wishlist worthy games, I’m recommending three titles that have you donning a pressurized suit and having some very different experiences in space. Check these out and, as always, if you give any of them a go, let me know what you think!
Sector Unknown
Developed and published by Creative Storm Entertainment
Sector Unknown is an isometric RPG that, according to the developer, is inspired by games like Fallout 2, Knights of the Old Republic, Wasteland 3, and Colony Ship. It’s the far future and you’re dealing with a corporation operating unchecked in a hidden part of the galaxy. Build a stronghold on the planet you crash-land on, then unite the sector’s disparate peoples to take the corporation down.
From the breakdown on the Steam page, it’s clear this is a stats-driven game, with plenty of opportunities to muscle or speak your way through encounters. Manage a base, travel to 5+ planets, manage a research tree, and build a war effort against the corporation.
Available now in Early Access. Demo available.
Lunar Strike
Developed and published by Cognition
Lunar Strike is one of my favorite brands of space fiction: speculative, futuristic fiction about science. You play as a junior archivist visiting the Moon’s South Pole, Humanity’s last lunar colony. But, when sabotage turns your leisurely visit into a struggle for survival, you have to do more than manage your oxygen: you have to do your job. As you explore the lunar station, you’ll be asked difficult questions about what artifacts and texts to preserve and which to let disappear. You can’t save everything.
If the intense ethical questions of choosing what to archive isn’t enough for you, the developer mentions that the environments, orbital mechanics, and survival systems are all modeled on current lunar research. This is a must play for me, already.
The Last Detour
Developed and published by Sólymos Dávid
The Last Detour is already a deviation from the theme, but I’ve got my reasons. You play as a traveler on the hunt for a hidden power source on a desolate Earth, exploring an abandoned farm and the secret hidden beneath. The game is about an hour long and is a combat-free experience, allowing you to explore the farmstead.
If you like meditative walking sims, this one might be for you.
Available now.