Similar arcade space fighting games for single player with HOTAS Joystick support?

[captaincofresi]

Hi, I really enjoy Squadrons due to its easy learning curve. And now that I ordered a HOTAS Joystick I am looking for similar (space) flight dogfighting tactical games. At the moment I have this list:

1. Overload (by the makers of Descent) - action based, no co-cop, still cross platform multiplayer. This looks like the logical first choice.
   
2. Everspace (rogue like) - so die and retry is the concept just like in FTL, but besides that does anyone know how the learning curve is for the actual dogfighting and all? And do the retries get you ahead enough to enjoy the game? Or is it just 5 minutes, die and try again a lot?
   
3. Elite Dangerous (ED) - this looks more complex at first glance. Is that also the case?
   
4. Everspace 2 - this also looke to go more the way of ED, and looks far more complex than the first Everspace game.

I am interested in single player, and co-op multiplayer cross platform would be nice to have. Although I do knoww that is something that really takes time to develop well, so I would not make this a 'must have' just for that reason.

It would be really helpfull if someone could list a bit the pros/cons of the games above versus Squadrons.

EDIT: In the end Project Wingman is the only arcade game that comes close to Star Wars Squadrons. Has a single player campaign and a Conquest mode versus AI, and looks easy enough to get into.

[SirPorkinz]

Eve Valkyrie. Get it asap. It is similar and highly polished.

[ShaunTwilliams]

Starfighter origins is cool, more of a wing commander style single player space combat sim with lots to do.

[cloister56]

If you are prepared to go older then.

Freespace and Freespace 2 have excellent single player campaigns.
They have an epic story in a similar vein to something like Babylon 5's Shadow War.
The technology of the ships you fly also develops nicely alongside story elements.
There are some really impressive capital ships to fly around with nice beam weapon effects.
It has the same shield/engine/weapons balancing of the X-wing series of games which was carried forward into Squadrons.
Plus you can give commands to your squadron.

If you want more Star Wars then you can't go wrong with the old X-Wing series.
Tie Fighter is in my option the best one with an excellent campaign told through the eyes of the empire. Great music and voice work and loads of missions to go through.

Cons of all of these is probably the multiplayer, I don't play for that personally but hopefully these cover some single player options.

[kalnaren]

FreeSpace and FreeSpace 2 are the best space combat sims ever made. With the FreeSpace Source Cope Project and FreeSpace MediaVPs (upgraded models/graphics) they look like something modern rather than something released in 1998.

[captaincofresi]

Originally posted by cloister56:

If you are prepared to go older then.

Freespace and Freespace 2 have excellent single player campaigns.
They have an epic story in a similar vein to something like Babylon 5's Shadow War.
The technology of the ships you fly also develops nicely alongside story elements.
There are some really impressive capital ships to fly around with nice beam weapon effects.
It has the same shield/engine/weapons balancing of the X-wing series of games which was carried forward into Squadrons.
Plus you can give commands to your squadron.

If you want more Star Wars then you can't go wrong with the old X-Wing series.
Tie Fighter is in my option the best one with an excellent campaign told through the eyes of the empire. Great music and voice work and loads of missions to go through.

Cons of all of these is probably the multiplayer, I don't play for that personally but hopefully these cover some single player options.

Thanks for the suggestions, no I am not prepared to go older. Also own X-Wing Alliance, but then again Squadrons just felt so much fresher for me as it is much newer.

[captaincofresi]

Originally posted by jason.gilbertsony:

Eve Valkyrie. Get it asap. It is similar and highly polished.

I checked the game on Steam, but this seems to lack a single player campaign and is mainly aimed at multiplayer.

[kalnaren]

Originally posted by captaincofresi:

Originally posted by cloister56:

If you are prepared to go older then.

Freespace and Freespace 2 have excellent single player campaigns.
They have an epic story in a similar vein to something like Babylon 5's Shadow War.
The technology of the ships you fly also develops nicely alongside story elements.
There are some really impressive capital ships to fly around with nice beam weapon effects.
It has the same shield/engine/weapons balancing of the X-wing series of games which was carried forward into Squadrons.
Plus you can give commands to your squadron.

If you want more Star Wars then you can't go wrong with the old X-Wing series.
Tie Fighter is in my option the best one with an excellent campaign told through the eyes of the empire. Great music and voice work and loads of missions to go through.

Cons of all of these is probably the multiplayer, I don't play for that personally but hopefully these cover some single player options.

Thanks for the suggestions, no I am not prepared to go older. Also own X-Wing Alliance, but then again Squadrons just felt so much fresher for me as it is much newer.

Any particular reason you don't want to look at older titles?

[captaincofresi]

Originally posted by kalnaren:

Originally posted by captaincofresi:

Thanks for the suggestions, no I am not prepared to go older. Also own X-Wing Alliance, but then again Squadrons just felt so much fresher for me as it is much newer.

Any particular reason you don't want to look at older titles?

Yes, for the looks and graphics of it. Overload is a game I just got in the Winter Sale, and that is about as far back as I am willing to go in graphics at the moment.

[captaincofresi]

Originally posted by Baldrick:

Starfighter origins is cool, more of a wing commander style single player space combat sim with lots to do.

I checked out the game on Steam, looks like there is no HOTAS Joystick support for this game. On all other counts it does look promising though.

[kalnaren]

Of course it's your choice, but take a look at these before judging FreeSpace 2 SCP:

https://i.imgur.com/jG71M6m.png
https://i.imgur.com/8Sh2eki.png
https://i.imgur.com/Vec3Zkw.png

[Twelvefield]

Modded Freespace is excellent. Heck the original was spectacular. You cannot possibly go wrong.

ED, I am not a fan of. I used to love the original Elite and was thrilled when the remake came out, but over time the experience has soured. As Roger Longcock put it, all of the arrogant ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ have finally left. or something like that. I guess Elite should be experienced as it does have its moments, but I wouldn't want to spend my gaming time playing it now.

[Punkture]

X-wing Alliance Upgrade for a more immersive Star Wars experience, House of the Dying Sun, End Space, EverSpace, Elite Dangerous, Strikesuit Zero/Infinity (no VR), Project Wingman (arcade modern fighter game like Ace Combat).

[BAWz]

Everspace is excellent! It is NOT FTL by a longshot. It is more like Descent or Overload. Upon multiple replays you can upgrade your ship with massive end game rewards. Space games do not need high graphics. it's space and not a lot to see. But u do need a joystick and not mouse. With that in mind, definitely get Freespace 1 & 2. They are cheap and have graphics mods that make them beautiful. The old Xwing, TIE Fighter, and Xwing Alliance are great and have graphic mods as well.

[Gynsu2000]

House of the Dying Sun is the best game of the genre since XWA / Freespace 2.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/283160/House_of_the_Dying_Sun/

[captaincofresi]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Looks like enough to look at. I might even consider picking up X-Wing Alliance at first, since I already got that one on GOG. And I remember choosing this one due to its best graphics compared to the other games in the series like X-Wing versus Tie-Fighter.

All in all, then my main concern is a short learning curve. Starfighter Origins Remastered has been mentioned having the same Shield/Engine/Weapons management as the X-Wing series (including Squadrons). Just too bad HOTAS Joysticks are not supported for that game, would be the best first option I think.

As for other suggestions, is it all just missions with dogfighting and fighting capital ships and flagships? So action based and a bit tactical? Or do some games have more complicated resource management and such? Since I still would like it to be a bit casual with the focus on action and tactics / strategy, so no base building and resource gathering stuff. As an example from a different genre, the stealth squad management games: I prefer Invisible Inc. before X-Com (too much base management and research). So more action and tactical planning, less resource gathering and research development.