Interstellar travel, cosmic sceneries, and alien discovery make the space genre unique and iconic. The focus here is usually on the setting or the mood.
Whether it’s about getting samples from a strange planet or surviving from an extraterrestrial being, highly advanced sci-fi elements are present for each game in this list.
With that said, check below the 13 best space games on Switch. From engaging indie titles to notable franchises, each game listed is absolutely worth playing.
Gravitar: Recharged
Gravitar: Recharged is an arcade-like space adventure title. In this game, you play as a pilot exploring uncharted worlds and space stations.
You will face dangerous monsters and complete complex missions while the gravity changes as you progress through the game.
This game is a remake of Atari’s 1982 arcade title, which merged Lunar Lander’s gravity with the Asteroids and Space Duel gameplay features. Despite not being a commercial hit, it has become a beloved classic among Atari fans.
The new visual style takes the Gravitar modernizes Recharged with stunningly painted environments and pastel hues.
The original soundtrack, composed by Megan McDuffee, complements the art style perfectly, creating a sense of awe and wonder.
The gameplay is the heart of Gravitar: Recharged, featuring an arcade mode that allows you to explore various planets, each with its own set of challenges.
Orbit.Industries
Orbit.Industries has brought the fun side of space games to the Switch by delivering a good mix of builder and space elements.
This space station simulator imitates the work of a space engineer from top to bottom, allowing you to build your space station to your desire.
You can create as many modules and facilities as possible to gather a satisfying amount of Kreedits, which serve as the game’s currency.
You can use Kreedits to buy contracts and buildings necessary for your space building, and if you’re running out of credits, you can get contracts to boost your earnings.
You can also edit the appearance or structure of your station separately, organizing between external and abstract systems.
Overall, Orbit.Industries is an excellent start to your space gaming journey.
Halcyon 6: Starbase Command
Halcyon 6: Starbase Command is a space opera-like game that sci-fi fans would love. The game is an indie RPG.
Halcyon 6 has charming 16-bit-like graphics and a very daring soundtrack that complements the game’s premise and story.
On top of being a strategy RPG, it also provides tactical combat, base-building mechanics, crew management, and emergent storytelling.
In addition, the game also offers exploration, as you can go to other systems to build ships and gather resources.
This game might look simple at first, but it is surprisingly deep and overflowing with content and mechanics.
Inner Space
Inner Space is a beautiful indie space adventure game that offers players a tranquil and therapeutic experience with its stunning visual design and soothing soundtrack.
As you explore each domain, you will be immersed in different atmospheres that complement the game’s aesthetic, making it a center of attraction for exploration.
The game also lets you find relics that can grant you abilities that are useful to your adventures through the inverse.
The game’s motion control is easy to handle, as you can use the right-stick analog to slow down on tight spaces or speed up to open pathways any time you want.
Overall, Inner Space is a beautifully crafted game. If the overall concept of the game seems interesting to you, make sure to give it a shot.
Astroneer
Astroneer is an indie sandbox adventure game that takes the concept of Minecraft and applies it to a setting of faraway planets.
In the game, players can build and customize their own home base, using diverse resources found across the game’s snowy and vegetated environments.
One of the game’s most prominent features is its exploration mechanics, allowing players to discover rare and unique objects while witnessing beautiful scenery.
This game is not for everybody, and some players might feel lost at times. However, even by just following the main storyline, Astroneer will present players with a lot to do and will undoubtedly please fans of the survival genre.
Void Bastards
Void Bastards is a whacky sci-fi space game. It is a sci-fi comic book-style roguelike first-person shooter that features challenging gameplay with surprises and unexpected scenarios.
In the game, you must escape from the Void Ark, and the witty writing and humor that runs throughout it adds an extra layer of entertainment to the game.
Void Bastards pokes fun at common sci-fi tropes and creates its own quirky characters and enemies.
The game mechanics are adapted to be roguelike, but dying is not that punishing since players can keep the items they looted from their previous run.
This unique approach to storytelling and challenging gameplay is a sure hit for players who are looking for a fresh take on the FPS genre.
Rebel Galaxy Outlaw
Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is a space shooter that offers incredible dogfights. It delivers on the appeal of space western reminiscent of the Cowboy Bebop series.
In the game, you play as Juno, a bounty hunter who embarks on an intergalactic journey, looking for the ones who murdered her husband. Along the way, she accepts bounties and fights enemies in space.
The game’s action-packed combat brings out the fun of space dogfights, allowing you to shoot missiles and blasters at will, wreaking havoc across the stars.
It also features a buddy system that backs you up with suppressing fire or taking down annoying ships.
If you want a space fight simulator with RPG elements and an old-west touch, like seen in the Firefly series, this is probably the game you are looking for.
Everspace: Stellar Edition
Everspace is a single-player space shooter with roguelike elements. So, if you are into space dogfights, there is a good chance you’ll enjoy your time with this title.
The game takes you on a challenging journey through an ever-changing, dangerous universe. It has tight controls, beautiful visuals, and a fantastic atmosphere.
In Everspace, you can build different ships and equip them with different weapons and parts that will completely change their playstyles.
There’s also an aspect of exploration in this game that involves visiting uncharted systems, collecting fuel cells, salvaging weapons, and more.
Overall, Everspace is an excellent pick if you’re in the mood for space game cravings.
Outer Worlds
Outer Worlds is a first-person Action RPG that offers players sci-fi delight in terms of visuals and storytelling in an open-world setting.
Like Fallout New Vegas, the game allows you to loot everything around the area and wander to discover countless items and resources.
In addition, the game features a dialogue-based system that affects the state or feelings of NPCs when you choose which dialogue to say.
You can also gain a companion by talking to them and completing their quest. Each of them carries a different playstyle that might interest you.
The combat also has a great feature – the Tactical Time Dilation system, which slows time around you, allowing you to strategize your course of action effectively.
If you’re a fan of sci-fi and open-world games, The Outer Worlds might be the perfect game for you.
Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation presents an opportunity for players to immerse themselves in the sci-fi and space elements of the Alien movie series, delivering a spine-chilling survival horror experience.
The game’s first-person perspective seamlessly blends with the film’s signature space horror elements, creating a chilling atmosphere where players are constantly afraid of the Xenomorph.
Nevertheless, the alien can still locate players in hiding, so players must keep moving and switch the way they avoid it.
To survive, players must know how to remain silent, hide, and be resourceful. Crafting essential items like pipe bombs and noisemakers can help create distractions and delay danger.
The Nintendo Switch’s limited optimization doesn’t detract from the game’s performance, providing a smooth gameplay experience without input delays.
Overall, Alien: Isolation is the best way to go regarding space horror experiences on your Nintendo Switch.
Journey to the Savage Planet
Journey to the Savage Planet is an innovative sci-fi FPS that immerses players in a vibrant environment with quirky creature design.
Deployed to the AR-Y26 planet, your objective is to scan and collect living organisms while exploring non-linearly, making it a Metroidvania-style game.
There’s an element of crafting in this game, too. Thanks to your visor, you will be able to find resources that let you make items.
Combat is pretty simple and involves upgrading your trusty Nomad pistol and shooting hostile entities.
Overall, this title is a great sci-fi FPS that captivates players with its vibrant environment and quirky creature design.
Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal is the sequel to Doom (2016). In this game, players take once again the role of Doom Slayer.
Not many games provide such an incredible experience and aggressive playstyle in such a fun manner.
You can traverse between platforms, shoot in mid-air, and pop demon heads using different weapons at your disposal.
Like in the previous Doom game, this game also features finisher moves that are satisfying to perform.
Overall, Doom Eternal is exactly what a sequel should be. This game is all that Doom (2016) was, but it’s also so much more.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Knights of the Old Republic, also known as KOTOR, is an action RPG that is set in a galaxy far, far away. It is regarded as one of the best Star Wars games ever made.
The game embraced every aspect of a role-playing game, from selecting your class to picking your best traits to compensate you in every situation.
Playing KOTOR is an immersive experience. This conversational-heavy game is overflowing with content and fully fleshed characters.
For instance, players can pick which dialogue they want when replying to NPCs. Those dialogue choices can affect their progress and build relationships with other party members.
Furthermore, as part of the game’s immersive experience, players can pick which alignment they wish to gain afterward through their actions.
