Space games - Capital ship based

[Hellfire]

Hey guys,

Looking for some game suggestions, Ideally space based games where you're in charge of a capital ship. (not really looking for RTS/fleet games) I have Dreadnought which is good but has no single player or story.

Anyone got any suggestions?

 

[rtwjunkie]

@Kursah is our resident space gamer!

 

[Hellfire]

Thanks,

For clarification I've played EvE previously, however due to work I can never commit enough time to warrant subscriptions, however I do love the game, I have ED/Star Citizen but obviously they're not Capital ships, I've always played games like Battlestar Galatica Deadlock & Battlefleet Gothic which are obviously fleet based/strategy type.

Also played X series over the years too

One of my favourite space games was Tachyon: The Fringe years back

 

[Kursah]

I'm more into RTS and fleet games and space sim games honestly.

Void Destroyer 2 is my space game of choice. It has RTS elements, has a very good space sim element...you start small in a fighter and build up to huge fleets where you can pilot the capital ships. But it has an emphasis on fleet control from mid game on. I really really really enjoy this one...it's so much fun and battles are so engaging. One of my favorite indie games, indie devs and one of the best EA backed games I've ever invested in. While it doesn't have the graphics of some modern AAA space sims...the gameplay is so much more entertaining and engaging IMHO. Though it does have simpler mechanics than say X3 for economy and trade. But there's plenty to do with all of that and a lot going on in its universe.

Check out the reviews, most posting reviews have dozens of hours if not over 100, I hit 125 hours recently. Still loving it. That speaks volumes.

• https://store.steampowered.com/app/369530/Void_Destroyer_2/

Have you tried Fractured Space? Looks like you have to pay to play it now...I haven't played it in years..

• https://store.steampowered.com/app/711020/Fractured_Space__Starter_Pack/

You could also look at Astrox Imperium, it's design focus is to sort of be Eve Offline. Its in early access and early stages of development, still a lot of fun to have with it.

• https://store.steampowered.com/app/954870/Astrox_Imperium/

If you want to try something different, you could check out Starsector. It is an impressive game with solid mechanics still in development...has been for years...tons of great mods too.

• http://fractalsoftworks.com/

Have you played X4 yet? I'm waiting for another year or two, I hear its good but buggy as hell...which I'm sure Egosoft will get under control at some point.

I enjoyed BSG Deadlock quite a bit, and started a new campaign with the end of Season 1...and I got a short ways into it before VD2 sucked me back in. I plan to go back. I didn't enjoy the first Battlefleet Gothic Armada as much as I'd hoped...after about 25-30 hours I was over it. 2 looks promising but I'm waiting for a sale before I even worry about it.

 

[Vayra86]

Battlefleet Gothic 2 is in development.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/573100/Battlefleet_Gothic_Armada_2/

Scratch that I see its already out, and it looks like its 'still in development' regardless, given the review score I was also eyeing this title, but I think I need a more convincing offer than what I'm seeing here.

Capital ships... you might find a surprisingly cool game within Space Engineers - basically Minecraft in space, with a pretty nice physics engine, inertia and all that other cool stuff. Its a very deep building game, and you can even add code to it/program blocks. Or just keep it simple and build a badass destroyer just the way you'd like it. Hangar bays, custom built fighters or remote controlled drones... all possible. The only limitation is what you want and can cook up. Its also in a feature complete and proper state right now (this wasn't always the case).
https://www.spaceengineersgame.com

Perhaps a somewhat similar idea to this (command of large things) with a turn-based approach is Battletech. But here the capital ship is just a base of operations. Still, it has very similar components to its gameplay to capital ship combat. The big ass robots are equally cumbersome and varied in their combat ability, it takes some proper planning to get things right, you get to target subsystems and use smart firepower to gain the advantage... It has a new expansion coming soon as well, lot of repetitive content but the combat system is very cool and you can customize everything. Good on a sale. Somewhat questionable at full price IMO.

Another peculiar suggestion I have for you is this one. A much lighter game, but lots of fun, balls to the wall broadside ship combat. Yes, broadside - its a 2D-plane game
https://store.steampowered.com/app/290300/Rebel_Galaxy/

And if you want more, much more of that and don't mind freeroam, poor campaign and simple mission structure/repeatable content (and full 3D-plane mobility instead):
https://store.steampowered.com/app/419480/Starpoint_Gemini_Warlords/
-- or Starpoint Gemini 1. Its a more condensed experience. Warlords takes everything to 11 really, and can be overwhelming. Personally had a bit of trouble keeping myself attached to this franchise after having played part 1. I burned out fast on Warlords, but YMMV.

I'll leave the other cool suggestions to Kursah because he's much deeper into space than I am (lol).

 

[Kursah]

SPG Warlords is fun for sure... though I burned out too, I feel it was by far the best in the series. I didn't get ALL the DLC and most of my time was spent in EA. I didn't find it as fun or rewarding as Void Destroyer 2...but it is a pretty game that had solid mechanics for cap ship commander + lite 4X empire-ish building.

I am keeping an eye on Starpoint Gemini 3: https://store.steampowered.com/app/977720/Starpoint_Gemini_3/

Also keeping an eye on the next Rebel Galaxy, I really couldn't get into the first one...had entertaining story, but the 2D combat just wasn't fun after a couple rounds IMHO. I prefer 3D newtonian-inspired combat...even WW2 in space is fine. But Rebel Galaxy Outlaws does look promising.

It'll clearly be more arcadish and pilot-oriented. But looks like it'll be a blast!

 

[rtwjunkie]

Yeah, I can second that Rebel Galaxy is very fun!

 

[Solaris17]

Tachyon: The Fringe

Have nothing to add to the thread but I haven’t heard this name in years, this game was badass

 

[FordGT90Concept]

This is really fringe...and don't expect the best game ever...but could look at Into the Stars. You command a capital ship in a survival scenario where you need to reach the other side of the galaxy to escape hostiles. You have to drill planets for resources and try to keep as many civilians on your ship alive as possible.

In a similar vein is FTL: Faster than Light. Pretty much the same concept as Into the Stars but it is 2D instead of 3D and involves people management inside the ship itself.

Both games are Roguelike in design.


Trying to remember a really old game that was...very spaceship sim. If memory serves, you're the captain of a corvette. I swear I have it in a box somewhere but I can't find it... If you're not interested in 1990s games then I won't bother trying to figure it out.

Edit: Independence War! Thank you GOG!

Just be warned that Independence War is a sim above all else. It is a game you really have to commit to learning to play, then commit to finishing to enjoy. Reading manual is mandatory.

 

[theonek]

don't forget about space based strategy - Homeworld in a whole 3 parts...

 

[Vario]

X3 Reunion, Terran Conflict, Albion Prelude.
https://store.steampowered.com/sub/12985/

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I've got a soft spot for Nexus: The Jupiter Incident.
https://www.gog.com/game/nexus_the_jupiter_incident

I know you said you don't want fleet rts games but with Nexus you have one main ship that you have to control and manage. You get a couple of extra ships on some missions but it's not really a fleet Management game.


Homeworld is one of my favorite games of all time. Highly recommended.

 

[Bones]

Way back in the day I had picked up Galactic Civilizations II Dread Lords and it was an excellent game for the time, played it several times and was always fun to see how the other civs would kick your azz or you'd kick theirs.

Although limited by todays standards it's still fun and a great suggestion for retro-gaming if you're into that.
Still have it and may pick it back up again one day.

Others along the lines of older games space-based was the Starfleet Command Series and I have those too but the best that actually fits into the OP"s desire was Starfleet Command Bridge Commander. Best of all it's considered abandonware now and can be downloaded from here: Download Star Trek: Bridge Commander (Windows) - My Abandonware but be sure to read what's required to get it running if you do.
Had plenty of fun with the copy I have of it, has a good story and it's a tactical challenge to play too plus it even has an actual voice command feature. Not sure where you'd get the voice command profile but the functionality is there if you can find it somewhere to use.