Elite Dangerous similar games & best alternatives

Elite Dangerous - Trailer
Elite Dangerous - elite-dangerous_1.avif
Elite Dangerous - elite-dangerous_2.avif
Elite Dangerous - elite-dangerous_3.avif
Elite Dangerous - elite-dangerous_4.avif
Elite Dangerous - elite-dangerous_5.avif
Elite Dangerous - elite-dangerous_6.avif

Elite Dangerous

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), SteamVR, Mac, Oculus Rift, Xbox One • 2015

Should you play it?

Take control of your own starship and blaze your trail in an ever-changing galaxy. Master the arts of combat, mining and trade or venture out into the unknown across a 1:1 scale universe.

What works

  • Massive 1:1 scale galaxy
  • Deep freedom and autonomy
  • Immersive space flight simulation
  • Strong community and cooperation
  • Extensive ship customization and progression

Things to keep in mind

  • Steep learning curve
  • Grindy progression and engineering
  • Lack of traditional narrative
  • Performance issues with expansions
  • High barrier to entry for new players

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Space Engineers

  • Evochron Mercenary

  • Empyrion - Galactic Survival

  • Infinity: Battlescape

  • CyberCorp

  • Executive Assault 2

More story-driven

Games that feels like Elite Dangerous but with deeper narrative immersion

  • Star Trek Online

  • Homeworld Remastered Collection

  • Star Wolves 3: Civil War

  • SpaceBourne 2

  • Underspace

  • Star Control®: Origins

Less fellowship-oriented

Games that feels like Elite Dangerous but with less of a community feel

  • EVERSPACE™ 2

  • EVERSPACE™

  • Space Reign

  • Void Destroyer 2

  • X2: The Threat

  • Astrox Imperium

Choose your own criteria ->

From the same developer

From the same developer, ranked by motivational fit.

  • Planet Coaster

  • Planet Zoo

  • Jurassic World Evolution

  • Jurassic World Evolution 2

  • Planet Coaster 2

Similarity map

How to compare these games

Compare nearby games

Each card is a nearby game on the similarity map, compared with Elite Dangerous. Swipe sideways to move between games. Titles already listed in What to play next are left out.

  • Cover and title: open that game’s page.
  • What works / keep in mind: the same highlights as the desktop comparison panel.
  • Bars: the main motivational differences versus this game.
How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Swipe to compare nearby games with Elite Dangerous. These titles are not in What to play next.

Elite Dangerous: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Status, Competition. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Story.

Last update: 21/08/2026