Starfield is setting up to be Bethesda's biggest and most ambitious game yet. Players first saw a glimpse into the game's development when it was formally announced at E3 in 2018. Now with the release date being set for September 6, 2023, excitement is steadily building. The game certainly looks promising and will hopefully be worth waiting a little longer for, but in the meantime, there are games like Starfield to play until its release.
Starfield is one of the most highly anticipated games of 2023 and with its release near, players are looking for similar games to fill the time. The new sci-fi RPG was the spotlight of this year's Xbox Showcase with Bethesda showing off the game's ambitious character creation features, amazing sandbox gameplay, and snippets of its expansive open world. However, with some time to wait until its release, people may be looking for games like Starfield to pass the time.
Developed by System Era Softworks, Astroneer is a laidback sandbox adventure game that allows players to freely explore open-world planets at their own leisure. Each planet is unique and ever-changing with terraforming taking place via procedural generation. Players control an astronaut who's tasked to colonize planets. While there is no set plot like in Starfield, there's still plenty to keep players occupied with the ability to manipulate terrain and creatable items such as rovers and spacecraft. ​Astroneer does have some technical issues, mainly around its frame rate, but that aside, it's a wonderful space exploration game to tide over until the release of Starfield.
Endless Space 2 is a turn-based strategy game with RPG-style quests and a rich, expansive environment. Players pick between 12 factions as they battle against the major empires that seek to gain control and exploit the technologies left behind by the now-extinct Endless race. The gameplay can get repetitive at times and a lot of the battles tend to be automated, but the story of Endless Space 2 will certainly keep players entertained until Starfield is out later this year.
Outer Wilds is a strange and bold adventure game developed by Mobius Digital. It encourages players to explore the solar system while investigating a mysterious time loop set 22 minutes before a star goes into a supernova, with the time loop playing an integral part of the game with certain puzzles and locations only being accessible at certain times. This smaller title may not be the vast and expansive world that players are expecting from Starfield, but Outer Wilds has a brilliant story that will keep players engaged while they wait for the upcoming Bethesda game.
Developed by Arkane Austin and published by Bethesda Softworks, Prey is an immersive space-themed sim that incorporates first-person shooters and stealth elements. Set in an alternative timeline in which an accelerated Space Race leads humanity to inhabit space stations earlier than expected, the player takes control of Morgan Yu, a human stuck on a spaceship filled with hostile aliens known as the Typhon. Unlike the open world of Starfield, Prey gives more of a snapshot of space, but this game is great for players looking for a more story-driven sci-fi experience.
Set in the New Eden Star cluster, EVE Online is an MMO with a beautiful space landscape and strategic gameplay. The lore is deep and complex, spanning centuries of intergalactic war and politics as Earth collapses and humankind expands to other planets. Gameplay is unpredictable in the best way, including piracy and real-time combat that allows players to make big and lasting changes within the world. EVE Online is a great game for players looking for a detailed and fun multiplayer experience.
On its own, Elite Dangerous is a fantastic space exploration sandbox game that allows players to free-roam the galaxy, but it's the DLC, Odyssey, that really brings that Starfield essence players are excited for. Through Elite Dangerous and its Odyssey DLC, players can finally visit planets with first-person shooter elements. While the graphics and character creation may not be as impressive as what Starfield is promoting, Elite Dangerous is a fantastic introduction to the genre of space RPGs.
Kerbal Space Program 2 is hilarious with a sandbox mode that allows players' imaginations to run wild by making spacecraft to shoot into space. The cute exterior of these little green aliens is deceiving as the game is surprisingly difficult and educational, with KSPS2 using physics to teach real astronaut skills. Players are set up for failure as each level gets harder and takes them further into the galaxy, but its experimental nature keeps gameplay fun. Kerbal Space Program 2 is defiantly a game worth exploring before diving into Starfield's spacecraft creation.
Another Bethesda game, Fallout 4, is a great option for players looking for an immersive world and varied gameplay. While the whole series is worth a mention, Fallout 4 is the most advanced in its shooting mechanics and world-building, giving the players the ability to make their own colony. The story is engaging as players control a Vault 111 dweller across the post-apocalyptic landscape on the search for their child. Alongside the main story, players can occupy their time by building up their settlement and countless side missions.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition brings all three classic Mass Effect games into one unified hub with updated quality-of-life features that brings the series into the modern era. In 2148 CE, humans discover the ruins of an ancient race, Protheans, and its technology, allowing the transport of starships across galaxies. Players control Commander Shepard as they're sent to the colony of Eden Prime to recover an unearthed Prothean beacon but quickly become compromised. Mass Effect will take players across the galaxy and beyond with engaging combat and immersive lore that will keep them more than busy until Starfield arrives in September.
No Man's Sky follows an alien humanoid exploring an uncharted universe when their spacecraft crashes at the edge of the galaxy. There is so much to discover already with numerous planets, but with the use of procedural generation, the world is ever-changing. Fantastic crafting features allow players to create new technology and upgrades for their ships and weapons by digging up data that can be traded for blueprints. Despite the problems it had on launch, including issues with the multiplayer, over time No Man's Sky has turned into one of the best intergalactic games on the market.
Starfield is shaping up to be one of the biggest and most complex space RPGs. However, these 10 games are great introductions to the genre and will certainly help pass the time until its release on September 6, 2023.