Top 10 Realistic Space Games!

[@Slaintemaith]

“Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.” ― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

[@StarLightDotPhotos]

You missed “Orbiter” although that might be considered more of a simulator than a game.

[@lphoenix1091]

A couple of gems here that are so underappreciated. Awesome to see you show them off. Universe Sandbox is an incredible program alongside Space Engine :) Want to see more like this!

[@leandroschenone7253]

I'm surprised no one is talking about Stationeers, despite its cartoonish graphics, it features much more realistic mechanics than other games of its genre, considering also that most of them are not set in sci-fi.

[@efxnews4776]

Flight of Nova is a fantastic game for folks who want hard sci fi games. Re-entry in the atmosphere would look hard at first, but believe, this isn't nearly as hard as reach a space station in orbit... Fuel management is also Incredibly important in this game, although this i think should have difficult sliders because the flight model is quite difficult. If the guy who did the game add some more elements in the gameplay like legs and maybe so realistic vehicles, this would be one of the best space sims.

[@Felitaur]

"Giving players the tools to test their own spacecraft designs" as a flying tank goes past.

[@LTGamingYoutube]

hahaha :P I mean point taken!

[@RoonMian]

The Soviets actually did try that. >_>

[@probusthrax]

Don’t forget the Realism Overhaul mod for Kerbal Space Program. Very nice!

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Its great!

[@mysticmerlin1297]

Great video, love the angle and these type of games

[@Rose_Harmonic]

If I have my way, my project is going on to list like this one day. There is definitely a selection of experiences that I am craving and nobody is doing for me.

[@LTGamingYoutube]

What is the Project? :)

[@Rose_Harmonic]

​@@LTGamingKZbinI really want to spill it all out, but I will mostly restrain myself. I'll just describe it as a solar system development game in which the player builds supply chains starting from the moon and spreading across the solar system to achieve worthwhile goals while dealing with the inherently anti-human systems compelling bad behavior from corporate overlords. These days I'm making surprisingly good progress. I'm good enough at unreal engine that I can just approach a problem, solve it, fix the bugs, and move on to the next problem. It turns out that a huge portion of this project lives inside the user interface lol. It helps that I've had 3D art as a hobby for a decade now. Honestly, by all rights I should've given up several times before I achieved anything like my current pace, but I've got autism. And while I may have overcome a lot of the social problems I had growing up, I do have my collection of special interests and several of them keep yanking me back onto this project so I'm actually pretty optimistic that I can accomplish it even though I'm ignoring several sources of advice recommending against biting off more than I can chew for my first project. I just seem to be unable to give up. It doesn't help that there are just so many amazing and worthwhile things to do in space that seem bizarrely absent from our science fiction. It bothers me so I am compelled to do something about it.

[@Rose_Harmonic]

@@LTGamingKZbin I thought for sure that I answered this. oof. I came back to see if there was any reaction. Anyway, it's basically a solar system development game. Think Terra Invicta with no earth interaction, no aliens, and mostly basebuilding and logistics. Think Per Aspera but the ground level detail is simplified in favor of encompassing as much of the solar system as I can handle. The message of the game is that there are a lot of amazing and worthwhile things to do in space, but all of them fall flat when corporations are running the show. The way they naturally and inevitably hoard the wealth created by their workers is horribly destructive both in game and otherwise. That's the driver of the story. Most of the progress I have accomplished is confined to user interface work since that's where most of the gameplay is, and because it's a lot of work. I'm good enough at unreal engine now that I can chew through the challenges at a steady pace.

[@kennethv5250]

old games Independance War I&II are good examples too

[@sinner76028]

Still the pinnacle in some ways.

[@RoonMian]

I had hoped for Space Engineers on this list but I understand why it's not here.

[@Soul.food.]

yeah, that was my thought... it's a sim of sorts, but only claims to be a sandbox game. The physics simulation is kind of limited, but with the community-built mods you can have realistic orbits and aerodynamics, even planets rotating. It's truly a great game for its 10 year age. SE II ought to be pretty good once it's released... maybe this century 😆 [edit] and I just found where LT mentions Space Engineers in this- kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoXFq2B6gdpgmc0

[@joppek77]

Excellent list! Included a few games that I wasn't aware. 👍

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Appreciate that! I am sure there are many games I could also expand upon here :)

[@t1ckles0117]

Ha! Great list! Love to see the Helium Rain love but was extra excited to see ΔV: Rings of Saturn get some love! Such a great game that's weirdly chill for how complex it can be! Thanks for sharing!

[@LTGamingYoutube]

@@t1ckles0117 haha luv it dude! And yeah a lot for complexity on show here to enjoy 🚀

[@captainkoloth1631]

As a real-life astrophysicist, I was so excited to play Children of a Dead Earth- only to find it wildly cartoonish and inaccurate despite its claims to be the most realistic simulation ever 🤣 Reentry is an amazing underrated gem though!

[@LTGamingYoutube]

It's held up as very realistic so that's interesting to hear!

[@marcelgregorik3477]

Which parts of Children of a Dead Earth are inaccurate? (I don't want to fight, I'm really interested)

[@razorback8300]

The realistic part has to do with the fact that everything In the game , the damage model, weapons, engines etc. and orbital mechanics are using real science equations, rather than graphics

[@GeordiLaForgery]

These look mind blowing amazing cheers LT gaming wizards.

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Thanks dude 🚀

[@trax1794]

Lovely stuff!

[@K162KingPin]

KSP - The only one of these I have experience with. While I have put many hours into this game I would caution anyone who doesn't enjoy the pure sandbox nature of a game. While there are technically missions you can accept they are the equivalent of playing a simulation of earth with missions like "Go out and check the mail". While these missions may help encourage you to accomplish minor goals, nothing in the game really creates a reason to do anything. You can visit the moon or other planets for science points, but there is nothing unique in any location and no real reason provided by the game to go anywhere or do anything. There are no game mechanics which allow for or would make any point to building a base on the mun, or other planets. There is no possibility of colonizing or building manufacturing a facilities or anything like that on other planets or moons. Literally your only motivating factor to do anything is to gain "Science Points" to then unlock more of the tech tree. This could simply be done without ever leaving the orbit of the planet Kerbal which you start on. Also sadly while it should be possible to make large and impressive ships and space stations, sadly the physics engine simply can't handle it. Parts will bend and break for no reason, and even get stuck in a loop of oscillation resulting in catastrophic unplanned disassembly. So while its a fun game for building model rockets, it would have been nice if the developers had put any thought or effort into mid and end game content which they did not. Play the game, sure, its fun. Just don't expect more than this.

[@dyonisth]

In my opinion, a true realistic space game is not science fiction. A realistic space game would be what we can do today.

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Those are on the list 🚀

[@m1k4c]

I didn't play all of these, but I'd be surprised if any of these games offers orbital mechanics and high altitude fluid mechanics as Orbiter space simulator. Unfortunatelly, free program where planet surfaces are taken from NASA, everything from Solar system to addons feuturing individual vehicles, everything - made only by enthusiasts and space nerds. I wish they had unlimited funding, because nobody tried to make anything similar, not even close to it.

[@LTGamingYoutube]

@@m1k4c yes this was brought to my attention in the Discord 😂🚀 seems it warrants a future inclusion!

[@efxnews4776]

@@m1k4c Flight of Nova maybe close to this, i just wish i would have space legs...

[@m1k4c]

@@LTGamingKZbin It's really not a game. It's got downloadable MFDs in which you program your flight - you probably know how complicated flight directors are in games such as MsFlSimulator, only in this case, you program your flight to slingshot and gain or lose velocity in relation to target gravity well, and ofc, you need to work in all three dimensions, calculate exact ammount of burn at exact moment, executed on an exact vector, and if you don't do it right when you're supposed to, it's gonna take progressively more and more delta v (fuel) to correct afterwards. And that's just, let's say - traveling to Mars while using Moon slingshot. Now, if you want to travel to, say Neptune - you can't just put planets where you want them, you need to travel back or forward decades to find some allignment with which you can work with. Anyway... When you're set, you launch, allign yourself with whichever projected angle, enter orbit, then do de-orbit burn, go to wheever - in between these steps there are sometimes hours, sometimes days, and sometimes decades that you have to speed up sim to go through, otherwise your trip to Mars would literally take 6 months. Actually, there's a guy, I think he stopped doing this, but he made some of the most amazing voyages. Check out "Orbiter 2016 - Journey to Saturn (or Titan) - see if you still think this is a game afterwards. I learned everything I know about orbital mechanics from this game. Thanks to it - it became so irritating watching sci-fi movies in which spaceships approach planets with forward burn and similar shit. Today, only sci-fi show I recognize is "The Expanse", Orbiter ruined all others to me :D

[@3komma141592653]

"Steep learning curve" is kind of the name of the game if you want to have it realistic or complex. I don't even bother with games i fully understand in less then 10 hours, because obviously they can't offer any deeper gameplay.

[@razorback8300]

No terra invicta ? It’s a pretty fun hard sci-fi 4x strategy game .

[@LTGamingYoutube]

I own that and need to dive into it more. Could be a worthy addition 🚀

[@razorback8300]

@@LTGamingKZbin yeah its a pretty fun game once you get the hang of it . though it does have a decently steep learning curve

[@LTGamingYoutube]

@@razorback8300 yes a few different gameplay phases?

[@Freidenker788]

I'm still waiting to see something like Take on Mars from Bohemia, a first person Simulator with a realistic approach and a realistic sense of actually being in another planet. If you know about some game alike please tell me and take my money!!

[@brandyhandy4157]

lovely video 🧡🙏🏼

[@mysticracoon7284]

How about Nebulous?

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Solid suggestion! But defo more of a Space Combat angle.

[@mrnickbig1]

Spore is the most realistic space game ever made!

[@K162KingPin]

11:51 Has anyone considered why a black hole would appear to have two rigs at right angles to one another? I've seen this sort of image for a black hold countless times, and yet no one has ever questioned this. I don't want to spoil it so if you think you know feel free to reply. For anyone else, I'll post the answer as the first reply.

[@K162KingPin]

. . . The black hole only has one ring. This is called the "secretion disk" and can span literally lightyears from the "event horizon" the "black" area of the "black hole". The reason the disk appears to go over the top as opposed to the way rings of a planet like Saturn appear to only go around the middle is an optical illusion. There is only one ring and it is only going in one direction. However due to the incredible gravitational strength of the blackhole it is bending the light bouncing off the erection disk on the far side allowing us to see it without having a direct line of sight. This is a fascinating proof that light is affected by gravity.

[@timogreen6209]

Where can I get Honorable Mention?

[@samdoorley6101]

I feel like Hardspace: Shipbreaker should get an honorable mention. I get it's not an exploration space game, but it ticks all the other boxes.

[@NoobsofFredo]

Aye, I'm inclined to agree. It'd definitely an underappreciated gem.

[@steam-SMOKEY]

Brilliant list, so many new ones for me, I appreciate it gents! You lads have a steam group?

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Thanks! We make these so people can find games. We have a discord 🚀

[@steam-SMOKEY]

@LTGamingKZbin Ive popped on and said hello

[@rathgrith3651]

Orbiter 2016?

[@PappyGunn]

KSP 1 was very good. KSP2 is a waste of money, I was a sucker, I bought it and its a big step backwards from 1 and will never be finished, a buggy mess. But hey, you have female Kerbils.

[@Swatmat]

Had to prioritise DEI before gameplay

[@PappyGunn]

@@Swatmat It makes me so mad. KSP was awesome, me and my kid were playing it, very good for his little brain learning to build, basic orbital mechanincs... ANd then the turd that was KSP 2. Oh well.

[@massimocole9689]

We've already had female kerbals in KSP 1 for years now.

[@Swatmat]

@@massimocole9689 females or 2024 females?

[@matthewforsee5092]

I agree. kSP 1 so much better. I discovered it by googling “most complex video game”. I got KSP 1 and Elite Dangerous.

[@commander_maddogtheog]

Is there a space game where you just select a ship and then you can just freely explore the universe? Without any combat or any kind of engagement?

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Space Engine you can do that!

[@commander_maddogtheog]

@@LTGamingKZbin ok cool thanks

[@efxnews4776]

@@LTGamingKZbin Space Engine has a space ship?

[@efxnews4776]

@@commander_maddogtheogthere a game that i played the demo called Spaceship Simulator, where you mostly explore the galaxy but the goal of the game is ship management.

[@commander_maddogtheog]

@@efxnews4776 ok thanks

[@turktownblue70]

If possible, could include a minimum pc spec? I know it got a lot of criticism but I loved No Man's Sky in the early years

[@efxnews4776]

@@turktownblue70 NMS isn't a realistic space game. It's a fun and engaging space game, but it is more like Star Wars than the Expanse.

[@smokestacklightning]

Elite Dangerous-

[@TheEvilJade]

Could you included Nebulous: Fleet Command in the list as well?

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Certainly could be considered for an expansion! I'm learning in this area too 🚀

[@ShaighJosephson]

Never seen "Flight of Nova" before... That's the most realistic that I've ever seen... 😮 I think you left out all the top dogs in this fight...Star Citizen, Starfield, Elite Dangerous, Eve Online, and No Man's Sky...

[@xXxXGarettXxXx]

The "top dogs" are obviously missing because of the word "realistic" in the title

[@Whippets]

@@xXxXGarettXxXx You could probably argue for Star Citizen and EVE in some respects.

[@ScruffyMisguidedAndBlue]

It is a decent game, but how does ΔV: Rings of Saturn count as a realistic space game? Does it just have to have a vague space setting and physics to qualify?

[@massimocole9689]

The rocket engines it uses are all based on real nuclear thermal engine designs. Heat, propellant and engine wear are all important factors and its flight model is fully Newtonian. Its one of the more realistic games on that list.

[@guyrose2239]

More great work from gamers fastest rising stars… top drawer selection 🐸😎🐸🐌❤️👶👶👶🇮🇹🐌❤️👶🇩🇰

[@zeer0squared]

wow... no Star Citizen? :)

[@LTGamingYoutube]

this better be a joke haha

[@krazium1776]

furthest thing from realism unless hes reviewing the most free realistic mobile gambling games

[@Misterthe13]

Y U NO SFS????????????????

[@LTGamingYoutube]

@@Misterthe13 is this English?

[@valorin5762]

Uhm. Elite Dangerous? Newtonian physics, best space ship controls I know of. Simulated 1:1 Milky Way based on astronomical data. Full-scale planets put together by astronomical data with real-time orbits and so on... For some reason, Elite's actual core features (for me at least) are very rarely mentioned. :D

[@massimocole9689]

Elite's galaxy is definitely worth mentioning, but its ships and flight model isn't exactly realistic given how the ships all have max speeds of a few hundred meters per second when not in supercruise. There is no orbital mechanics, at least not for ships.

[@ZoeSummers1701A]

You’re kidding. ED is shit. Flying is awful and it’s. Just a dumb empty grind.

[@valorin5762]

@@ZoeSummers1701A nope, it isn't. I can fly, dock, do about everything without Flight Assist because that's actually learnable and works with newtonian physics. I have a lot more control over my ship than without. And well, I don't grind because I don't care about having the best of the best. I do little combat and no PvP at all. I'm an explorer. Both ship and vehicles are ultimately steerabe with a lot of control over them, given you are willing to learn and won't treat them like ships in most other games or your SRV like it's the Mako. If you go about Elite with an mmo mentality, and that's the only thing you want from a game, maybe just stay away. I don't and I enjoy the game for more than 8 years now.

[@user-bi4hw2wi2k]

A couple of good ones ...you need to rethink the title .

[@LTGamingYoutube]

@@user-bi4hw2wi2k thanks and I don't think so 😂🚀

[@AthosRac]

Star Citizen?

[@efxnews4776]

Star Citizen realism ends in graphical fidelity, it really isn't realistic, maybe some physics behavior of some features, but nothing beyond that.

[@sinisadovijanic]

compared to SC old funcional game like ED is far far ahead. SC doesnt have any orbital mechanic. one system frozen in space always the same. in ED you have all galaxy to explore and it looks like space that we know for now. SC is more FPS in space not a space simulator, and one day in near or far future it will became 1.0...maybe

[@_9287ArmyMan]

Starfield is best 2024 space game

[@LTGamingYoutube]

@@_9287ArmyMan haha that won't be popular!

[@_9287ArmyMan]

@@LTGamingKZbin let's see how Dlc will attract ppl

[@PappyGunn]

The Buzz Aldrin game is very boring. Sorry Buzz, the first game was better.

[@-_Nuke_-]

Conclusion: As of 2024 we STILL don't have a descent space game... And that is why Star Citizen albeit being a total scam - still thrives, because there is simply nobody willing to make a descent space game yet...

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Seems a ridiculous conclusion to make seeing how good some of these games are. I wouldn't pay you to deduce conclusions 😂😂😂😂

[@eqbal321a]

Realistic space games, what space???

[@LTGamingYoutube]

The space once you leave the atmosphere ;) You know that one....

[@efxnews4776]

There's a big difference between Star Trek and the movie/ book "The Martian", so read realistic as hard science fiction.