5 Starfield Alternative Games That Would Leave You Awestruck

Starfield is an anticipated space-themed RPG game due for release exclusively on Xbox and PC. The game is developed by Bethesda Game Studio, renowned for games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series. While we patiently await the release of Starfield, let's take a look at five other games that offer a similar feeling and adventure. These alternative games, all set in captivating and immersive outer-space, offer engaging gameplay, compelling stories, and gripping settings that have earned them a spot on this list.

1. No Man's Sky

Game Description

No Man's Sky, developed by Hello Games, is an open-world survival game set in an infinite procedural universe. Your exploration starts on an uncharted alien planet and spans galaxies.

Gameplay

The game is your canvas, and you can approach it depending on your playstyle. You can choose to be a fearless space explorer, a mercantile trader, or an aggressive pirate. As you journey through the cosmos, you gather resources to fuel your exploration and upgrade your starship, suit, and equipment. The game also offers a multiplayer mode, allowing you to explore the universe with friends.

Story and Setting

The narrative of No Man's Sky is relatively loose but deeply philosophical. You, an interloper, are guided by a series of mysterious signals across a galaxy filled with varied planets and unique alien species. You'll witness contrasting environmental conditions and encounter hostile creatures in different ecosystems.

2. Elite Dangerous

Game Description

Combining elements of adventure, combat, and trading, Elite Dangerous, developed by Frontier Developments, is a massive multiplayer game where you can carve your own path through the Milky Way.

Gameplay

The gameplay involves undertaking missions for in-game factions, trading goods in the open market, engaging in space combat, and exploring the expansive galaxy. The feature that sets this game apart is its player-driven narrative, where your choices can impact the in-game world.

Story and Setting

The game's setting is the year 3307 in a real-scale, Milky Way galaxy. You begin the game in a small starship with few credits. The story then unfolds based on player's actions like forming alliances, expanding territories, and performing quests.

3. Star Citizen

Game Description

Star Citizen, still in development by Cloud Imperium Games, is a first-person experience game that offers space trading, combat, and a Single-Player Mode called 'Squadron 42'.

Gameplay

The gameplay offers diverse experiences, ranging from trading, mining, and racing to first-person shooting and exploration. With an intricate ship customization system, each starship in Star Citizen is a reflection of your unique playstyle.

Story and Setting

The backdrop of Star Citizen is a 30th-century Milky Way, divided into multiple star systems for you to explore. The central plot of Squadron 42 revolves around an elite military unit embarking on a thrilling, cinematic story that features Hollywood A-lister voiceovers.

4. EVE Online

Game Description

EVE Online is an expansive multiplayer online game set in the space-centric universe of New Eden. Developed by CCP Games, it features player-driven experiences with deep economic and political elements.

Gameplay

There are numerous paths to choose, from mining, manufacturing, and trading to exploration and epic space combat. This game is famous for its player-made alliances, which can wage full-scale wars that impact the universe's economy and galactic politics.

Story and Setting

In the cosmos of New Eden, you start as a fledgling "Capsuleer". From there, you embark on your journey, joining corporations, building epic structures, and participating in monumental battles.

5. Mass Effect Series

Game Description

The Mass Effect Series, a trilogy developed by Bioware, is an exhilarating space RPG series that connects player choices across each game to weave together an overarching narrative.

Gameplay

The gameplay combines third-person shooting with deep character customization and dialogue choices that impact your relationship with other characters. Your decisions shape pivotal moments in the story, culminating in diverse ending possibilities.

Story and Setting

The series starts in the year 2183, following Commander Shepherd's mission to prevent the annihilation of organic life in the galaxy by a machine race called "Reapers". Each game explores different regions of the Mass Effect universe, showcasing colorful alien species, advanced technologies, and intricate political dialogs.

Each of these five games echoes the depth of exploration and the weft of the narrative that Starfield aims to deliver. They offer a rich and rewarding experience of virtual space and story immersion, making them worthy alternatives to Starfield.