Space has always been one of the best gaming playgrounds. Whether you’re charting uncharted galaxies, hunting for rare loot across alien landscapes, or just soaking in the beauty of a vast Starfield, there’s something about the final frontier that makes open worlds feel bigger, bolder, and more mysterious. From sprawling RPGs to loot-fueled shooters to player-driven sandboxes, space-themed games offer a unique kind of freedom: the thrill of exploration mixed with the promise of discovery.

If you’re looking for space-themed open world games worth your time, here are six of the best. These picks balance freedom, exploration, and rewarding gameplay – and we’ll give you an idea of how much time each one asks from you.

1. Starfield

Bethesda’s take on space exploration is as vast as you’d expect. Starfield puts you in the role of a customizable explorer with an entire galaxy at your fingertips, mixing the studio’s trademark quest design with a staggering sense of scale. It’s not just about flying from planet to planet – it’s about discovering new factions, customizing your ship, and building outposts that feel like home. Whether you’re diving into story missions or wandering off the beaten path, the sheer breadth of possibilities makes it one of the most ambitious space RPGs ever made.

Key Gameplay Features

• Massive star systems with over a thousand planets.
• Deep RPG mechanics: skills, perks, dialogue choices.
• Combination of on-foot exploration, ship travel, base building, and space combat.

Pros

• Immense freedom to chart your own path.
• Strong quest writing, especially in faction storylines.
• Mix of exploration and progression keeps things engaging.

Time Commitment

Expect 30-40 hours for the main story. For completionists, the game can stretch to well over 100 hours thanks to side quests, exploration, and base building.

Exploration

While many planets are sparsely populated, the handcrafted hubs – like cities and settlements – are rich with detail and secrets. Exploration here is less about constant discovery and more about carving your path through a massive galaxy.

2. No Man’s Sky

Few games have reinvented themselves as dramatically as No Man’s Sky. Once known for over-promising, it has grown into one of the most expansive and rewarding space survival sandboxes out there. You begin with nothing but a broken ship, and over time you expand into a galactic explorer, fleet commander, and base builder. Every planet holds a new surprise – strange creatures, rare resources, or beautiful landscapes – and the joy of discovery never really wears off. It’s a game that can be both meditative and endlessly engrossing, depending on how you play.

Key Gameplay Features

• Procedurally generated universe with billions of planets.
• Survival mechanics: crafting, resource management, upgrades.
• Base building, freighters, and multiplayer support.

Pros

• Constant free updates add new features and systems.
• Relaxed pace makes it ideal for shorter or longer sessions.
• True sense of discovery – no two planets are the same.

Time Commitment

You can play for 20 minutes at a time and feel productive, or invest hundreds of hours building massive bases and fleets. It’s one of the most flexible games for busy players.

Exploration

Exploration is the core loop. Alien wildlife, environmental hazards, and strange anomalies keep things fresh. The variety means every jump to a new star system feels like rolling the dice on something new.

3. The Outer Worlds

While many space games emphasize infinite scope, The Outer Worlds keeps things tight and focused – and that’s its strength. Instead of a sprawling galaxy, you hop between handcrafted planets, each packed with stories, side quests, and colorful characters. It’s very much an Obsidian RPG: sharp writing, branching choices, and companions who make the journey memorable. For players who value strong narratives over raw size, it delivers a concentrated dose of sci-fi adventure without asking you to commit hundreds of hours.

Key Gameplay Features

• First-person RPG with choice and consequence.
• Several smaller but densely packed open-world zones.
• Companion characters with unique skills and storylines.

Pros

• Excellent writing and dark humor.
• Compact design avoids filler content.
• Decisions feel meaningful and impact the story.

Time Commitment

A main playthrough takes about 20-25 hours, though side quests and DLC can stretch it further. It’s a very manageable RPG for players with limited time.

Exploration

Each planetary zone feels handcrafted and distinct, with plenty of nooks to uncover. Exploration is more about quality over quantity, rewarding curiosity with clever writing and hidden quests.

4. Borderlands 4

Borderlands 4 doesn’t try to be a serious space epic – it’s chaotic, loud, and hilarious, and that’s exactly what makes it work. You jump between planets in a loot-driven, open-world shooter where every firefight feels explosive and every new gun could become your favorite toy. The humor is still over-the-top, the co-op gameplay is as addictive as ever, and the environments are diverse enough to keep exploration fresh. If you want your space game to be fast, flashy, and full of absurd weapons, this is the one.

Key Gameplay Features

• Fast-paced first-person shooting with RPG skill trees.
• Planet-hopping campaign with varied environments.
• Co-op support for seamless multiplayer.

Pros

• Addictive loot loop with endless weapon variety.
• Co-op makes it one of the best multiplayer space experiences.
• Bold art style and humor keep things from feeling generic.

Time Commitment

The main story takes about 25-30 hours, with replayability through co-op and DLCs pushing well past that.

Exploration

Exploration is structured around loot and combat encounters, but each planet has its own identity, making it fun to see what’s around the next corner. The environments strike a balance between humor and spectacle.

5. Mass Effect 2

Often regarded as the high point of BioWare’s trilogy, Mass Effect 2 balances cinematic storytelling with just enough freedom to feel like an open-galaxy adventure. You play as Commander Shepard, assembling a crew for what may be the most dangerous mission in the galaxy, all while making decisions that shape the fate of civilizations. While its world isn’t infinite, the mix of main missions, loyalty quests, and side explorations makes every hour feel purposeful. It’s the rare RPG where story, characters, and exploration all carry equal weight.

Key Gameplay Features

• Third-person RPG with squad-based combat.
• Player choice drives branching storylines.
• Loyalty missions deepen character arcs.

Pros

• Exceptional writing and pacing.
• Memorable companions and relationships.
• A balance of narrative and exploration that few games match.

Time Commitment

The main story can take 25-35 hours, with side quests and DLC easily adding more. It’s deep but not overwhelming, making it great for story-focused players.

Exploration

Though not fully open-world, planetary missions and hub areas encourage exploration. Each mission feels crafted to reveal lore and character moments, making even smaller areas rewarding to explore.

6. EVE Online

Unlike the other games here, EVE Online is less about scripted quests and more about what players make of it. Set in a persistent galaxy run almost entirely by its community, it’s a space MMO where you can mine, trade, fight, or build empires that last for years. Wars between player alliances can involve thousands of pilots and shake the balance of the universe. It’s a slower, more strategic kind of open world, but for those willing to invest, the freedom is unmatched – every choice ripples across a living galaxy.

Key Gameplay Features

• Persistent universe with real-world player politics.
• Deep systems for trading, combat, and resource management.
• Sandbox gameplay without a set “main quest.”

Pros

• Scale and freedom are unmatched.
• Community-driven events create real drama.
• Perfect for players who want long-term goals.

Time Commitment

This is the most demanding game on the list. While you can dabble for short sessions, the real appeal comes from months or even years of investment.

Exploration

Exploration in EVE is about scanning, probing, and venturing into dangerous, unknown regions. Because everything is tied to the player-driven economy and politics, exploration always has stakes and potential rewards.

Final Thoughts

Space-themed open world games come in many flavors, and the six above highlight just how broad the genre can be:

• Starfield offers scale and role-playing freedom.
• No Man’s Sky is perfect for pure exploration and discovery.
• The Outer Worlds keeps things compact and narrative-driven.
• Borderlands 4 brings the chaos, humor, and loot.
• Mass Effect 2 delivers one of the best stories in gaming.
• EVE Online provides a living galaxy shaped entirely by players.

Whether you’ve got just a few hours a week or the appetite for months of galactic conquest, there’s a space adventure here worth your time.