Which is the Best Game?

[White Lion]

So until now, I only see 4 games which can actually compete with each other. They are:
1. No Man's Sky
2. Osiris : New Dawn
3. Empyrion
4. Star Citizen

Out of all 4, I think Star Citizen will be the best game out all 4, in every aspect. Unfortunately, the game development seem to never end even after almost 10 years, since its initial publication through kickstarter. Hence, at current state, it is still in beta testing, in parallel with addition of a lot of new features.

So I'm more concern about the other 3 game. I've played No Man's Sky. It's very fun. You can mine, build base, shoot targets, craft items, trade anything, and most importantly, explore the entire galaxy. I believe it is similar to all of the other games. But I haven't played the other games.

But my real question is, what is the pros and cons between each of them (#1, #2, #3) ?

a. In terms of Graphic Quality

b. In terms of Sound Quality

c. In terms of Gameplay Mechanics, such as character movement, crafting ability, mining experience, interaction with the environment, interaction with NPC, interaction with machinery, trading commodities, travelling between distant location, shooting accuracy, etc.

d. In terms of Variations (planets, terrains, items, vehicles, base, NPC, etc)

e. In terms of Simulation, like how weather changes can impact the character, how the creatures reacts to our actions, how explosions can cause a crater on terrains, how lasers can emit light to its surroundings in dark places, the possibility of a character to sit on a chair or lie on a bed, how a small object can be moved when we push it, and how night and day cycle can change the behavior of creatures or environment.

Could you guys help out by giving your testimonies about those 3 games ?

[XLjedi]

Originally posted by angrytrex:

Originally posted by XLjedi:

I think there may be risk of this, if you just use other people's stuff. If you are designing your own craft, I'd say the life is extended considerably. I probably spend 80% (or more) of my play time building and vetting designs.

You've actually fallen into the same trap I have, where 80% of playtime is just hopping in to design a ship when in a creative mood. There's just not much to do with the ship afterwards other than publish it and see how many others get use out of it. Sometimes i'll fly it around for like 10 minutes but then it quickly gets dull.

Well, the "trap" is 80% of why I play sandbox building games. There are other such games that are FAR worse than this in the lack of gameplay beyond the build. This one actually has a fair amount of story and missions to tinker with.

[Sap]

missing
Interstellar rift:
Sandbox ship building complex multy player game
Avorion:
Sandbox ship building game

[`KokoJacK_^]

1. No Man's Sky
This game is a perfect screenshots simulator. It has pretty visual, very good artistic direction and the sounds are well designed (suit voice is annoying tho) but the gameplay is really, really lacking :

Lot of things has no meaning to it, like a load of ressources which serves almost no purpose but to fill your inventory which make it a hassle.
Base building has no real purpose and is limited. Can't build space station or vessel.
Getting bigger ships just for bigger inventory slots, because dogfighting in this game is a joke. You can just stay stationnary and you still win every fight.
Freighters and settlements are time gated mini games and feel like it belongs to a mobile game or a mmo.
Learning alien words is tedious and only helps to solve POI riddle (which in turn are useless)
Exploration is good tho

Mods make it a bit better but break after every update

2. Osiris : New Dawn
I was interested to get this one but the development seems to take forever, might be in development hell. Also, the reviews kind of prevent me to buy it.

3. Empyrion
Visuals are ugly, animations are lacking, the sound design is even worse. The music is good tho. I like the very sci-fi setting it has. The gameplay of this game is where it shines :

Can build anything, from bases to vessel.
POI are interesting, dungeon like, it feels good to have better loot and actually progress.
Dogfighting is ok, could be a lot better tho.
Exploration is good, even if it lacks diversity in assets, it really feels like an adventure.
Can use the steam workshop to share builds.

Scenarios like Project Eden and Reforged Galaxy add so much for the game, it is incredible

4. Star Citizen
Right now, it is an expensive tech-demo, visuals are stunning, sound design is excellent. Perfect sci-fi setting. But the gameplay is very basic for now, flying does feel good tho and dog-fighting is the best of all this list.
There is no building in this game, which is too bad.
Also, very few planets to explore.

It might get better in several years, but I feel like I say this every year and it progresses at snail pace. This game might be to ambitious to ever be done.


Now, there are other games that you might consider :

5. Space Explorers
This game is retro-like and feels like Daggerfall in space. Sound is very basic, visuals are pixel-arty. No multiplayer.
The exploration is nice tho for a small little game like this, it kind of feels like NMS.
There are POI which are proceduraly generated like Daggerfall
Can't build anything

It can't compete with the other game in this list as it is a one-man project and this game isn't ambitious. But it is also why it is good and really worth a try.
It's fun for a couple of hours.

6. Starship EVO
Visuals are pretty decent in this one, altho the artistic direction is cartoony sci-fi. Sound is basic at that time.
The gameplay is inexistant for now, we can only walk, fly, shoot AI controlled vessel or build. We can't land on planet yet, and survival is planned but not in game.
The building is really nice tho, as it is not block based, we can basically stretch anything so it allows creativity. We can also build weapons, and the game have moving parts. Mech building is planned too !
There is a workshop to share builds.

But for now, this game lacks years of development to compete in this list and the dev is alone so it is a slow devlopment. It looks promising tho

7. Starbase
Visuals are good, sound is good. Sci-fi setting.
This game is an MMO and has no PVE.
Gameplay is mining asteroids, building ships and space stations, trade at auction house and do PVP.
It kind of feels like EVE online in 3D.
Exploration is almost non-existant as we are limited to one planet (which is a gas giant so can't land on it) and its moons.
The building is the big point of this game, it is non-cubic, has moving parts, scripting, but the ship editor feels like Blender which is hard to use

8. Dual Universe
Didn't play this one, but looks like Starbase with a subscription fee

9. Space Engineers
Visuals are good, sound is cool. Realistic setting.
Gameplay is largely building. The building in this game is incredible, altho it is using a block system, we can build anything due to all the moving parts that are avalaible. You can also script the game using C# to automate things or do other crazy things
Survival is barebone, only health, oxygen and energy to worry about.
PVE is limited, no on-foot enemies, but ships and drone to fight.
Exploration is limited as there is no POI and only a handful of planets/moon on the solar system. Everything is on the same playground tho, so everything is seemless.
This game has "real" physics which is part of why it is great.
It is more of a sandbox game and less of a survival/adventure game

Mods are found on the Steam workshop and can add attacks to your base, POI to salvage, weapons etc


TL;DR
There is no "best game", each game has its own pros and co­ns

[Amrak]

Depends on the persons play style. You are asking for a personal opinion and all are different.

1)NMS Was interested in this game. First thing I noticed was the price for what the game has. That said it was on sale all the time. This tells me either it is over priced or the developers do not have confidence in their game.
Personally I do not like the play style of NMS. Watched some videos and really did not care for it. Fish characters etc. and the real lack of much reason to do anything. Maybe a good gather and build game but not for me. I did not care for what I see and the constant sales.

2)Osiris New Dawn. Been following this game for quite awhile. Original developers abandoned the game. After the new developers picked it up I watched the improvements and development. Bought the game 2 yrs ago. The graphics are very good. Occasional memory leaks that are being worked on along with constant game improvements. Really enjoying growing with this game. Though in alpha-beta it has great promise and good direction. So far decent balance in survival aspects and production to product. A little grindy in gathering resources but the mines have helped with that.

3)Empyrion. 4 yrs ago I was searching for a good space survival game. Looked at many, watch videos. Saw this and was in love! Graphics are good and in some instances can be stunning. Survival is very well balanced with production to finished product. Some grind with gathering resources but many ways do do it. You can move forward at a perfect pace while getting resources you need. Story is a work in progress but the game does not end. Being a sandbox game you can go and do whatever you want wherever you want. A galaxy with thousands of star systems and thousands of planets. While still in alpha it already has some much to do in so many different ways. Add the workshop for those of us who really do not want to build (or not that good at it) plus the custom scenarios. This is my main game I play. I enjoy going through the vanilla game after a major update then go back to Project Eden and recently Reforged Eden. Really enjoying being on the ride of development of this game. Received my moneys worth a thousand time over!!

4)Star Citizen. Still watching this game. Appears to have very good graphics and meets my play style. My jury is still out waiting for more development/info. But I am very interested. holding back until it comes to steam. If not well I will probably not get it. Prefer my games on Steam. JMHO

These are just my opinions and what I like. Others may not agree or see them the same way. Graphics while nice do not make the game. I enjoy factorio and rimworld because they are great games not because of the graphics. ;p My personal play style is good balance overall. If I have to jump through hoops to get a product it gets boring and frustrating. I then uninstall and move on to something else. All of the above games are different from each other. So it is not about comparison as much as about personal opinions and play styles.

[White Lion]

Originally posted by XLjedi:

You can't compare sandbox games that allow you to build your own ships/bases with games that don't.

Why isn't Elite: Dangerous and about 50-100 other titles included in this wide-ranging list?

Oh, and please don't get me started on Star Citizen.

I don't see other popular Space game with similar complexity like those 4 games. If you know others, feel free to share.

[White Lion]

Originally posted by Boozy:

One thing that Empyrion has over NMS, the ability to build and walk around inside of your crafts. For some reason, this is a big thing to me.

In NMS, we can have a frigate and we can walk around inside a frigate. Is this what you mean?

[White Lion]

Originally posted by `KokoJacK_^:

1. No Man's Sky
This game is a perfect screenshots simulator. It has pretty visual, very good artistic direction and the sounds are well designed (suit voice is annoying tho) but the gameplay is really, really lacking :

Lot of things has no meaning to it, like a load of ressources which serves almost no purpose but to fill your inventory which make it a hassle.
Base building has no real purpose and is limited. Can't build space station or vessel.
Getting bigger ships just for bigger inventory slots, because dogfighting in this game is a joke. You can just stay stationnary and you still win every fight.
Freighters and settlements are time gated mini games and feel like it belongs to a mobile game or a mmo.
Learning alien words is tedious and only helps to solve POI riddle (which in turn are useless)
Exploration is good tho

Mods make it a bit better but break after every update

2. Osiris : New Dawn
I was interested to get this one but the development seems to take forever, might be in development hell. Also, the reviews kind of prevent me to buy it.

3. Empyrion
Visuals are ugly, animations are lacking, the sound design is even worse. The music is good tho. I like the very sci-fi setting it has. The gameplay of this game is where it shines :

Can build anything, from bases to vessel.
POI are interesting, dungeon like, it feels good to have better loot and actually progress.
Dogfighting is ok, could be a lot better tho.
Exploration is good, even if it lacks diversity in assets, it really feels like an adventure.
Can use the steam workshop to share builds.

Scenarios like Project Eden and Reforged Galaxy add so much for the game, it is incredible

4. Star Citizen
Right now, it is an expensive tech-demo, visuals are stunning, sound design is excellent. Perfect sci-fi setting. But the gameplay is very basic for now, flying does feel good tho and dog-fighting is the best of all this list.
There is no building in this game, which is too bad.
Also, very few planets to explore.

It might get better in several years, but I feel like I say this every year and it progresses at snail pace. This game might be to ambitious to ever be done.


Now, there are other games that you might consider :

5. Space Explorers
This game is retro-like and feels like Daggerfall in space. Sound is very basic, visuals are pixel-arty. No multiplayer.
The exploration is nice tho for a small little game like this, it kind of feels like NMS.
There are POI which are proceduraly generated like Daggerfall
Can't build anything

It can't compete with the other game in this list as it is a one-man project and this game isn't ambitious. But it is also why it is good and really worth a try.
It's fun for a couple of hours.

6. Starship EVO
Visuals are pretty decent in this one, altho the artistic direction is cartoony sci-fi. Sound is basic at that time.
The gameplay is inexistant for now, we can only walk, fly, shoot AI controlled vessel or build. We can't land on planet yet, and survival is planned but not in game.
The building is really nice tho, as it is not block based, we can basically stretch anything so it allows creativity. We can also build weapons, and the game have moving parts. Mech building is planned too !
There is a workshop to share builds.

But for now, this game lacks years of development to compete in this list and the dev is alone so it is a slow devlopment. It looks promising tho

7. Starbase
Visuals are good, sound is good. Sci-fi setting.
This game is an MMO and has no PVE.
Gameplay is mining asteroids, building ships and space stations, trade at auction house and do PVP.
It kind of feels like EVE online in 3D.
Exploration is almost non-existant as we are limited to one planet (which is a gas giant so can't land on it) and its moons.
The building is the big point of this game, it is non-cubic, has moving parts, scripting, but the ship editor feels like Blender which is hard to use

8. Dual Universe
Didn't play this one, but looks like Starbase with a subscription fee

9. Space Engineers
Visuals are good, sound is cool. Realistic setting.
Gameplay is largely building. The building in this game is incredible, altho it is using a block system, we can build anything due to all the moving parts that are avalaible. You can also script the game using C# to automate things or do other crazy things
Survival is barebone, only health, oxygen and energy to worry about.
PVE is limited, no on-foot enemies, but ships and drone to fight.
Exploration is limited as there is no POI and only a handful of planets/moon on the solar system. Everything is on the same playground tho, so everything is seemless.
This game has "real" physics which is part of why it is great.
It is more of a sandbox game and less of a survival/adventure game

Mods are found on the Steam workshop and can add attacks to your base, POI to salvage, weapons etc


TL;DR
There is no "best game", each game has its own pros and co­ns

Thank you very much for this valuable comparison.

[White Lion]

Originally posted by Amrak:

Depends on the persons play style. You are asking for a personal opinion and all are different.

1)NMS Was interested in this game. First thing I noticed was the price for what the game has. That said it was on sale all the time. This tells me either it is over priced or the developers do not have confidence in their game.
Personally I do not like the play style of NMS. Watched some videos and really did not care for it. Fish characters etc. and the real lack of much reason to do anything. Maybe a good gather and build game but not for me. I did not care for what I see and the constant sales.

2)Osiris New Dawn. Been following this game for quite awhile. Original developers abandoned the game. After the new developers picked it up I watched the improvements and development. Bought the game 2 yrs ago. The graphics are very good. Occasional memory leaks that are being worked on along with constant game improvements. Really enjoying growing with this game. Though in alpha-beta it has great promise and good direction. So far decent balance in survival aspects and production to product. A little grindy in gathering resources but the mines have helped with that.

3)Empyrion. 4 yrs ago I was searching for a good space survival game. Looked at many, watch videos. Saw this and was in love! Graphics are good and in some instances can be stunning. Survival is very well balanced with production to finished product. Some grind with gathering resources but many ways do do it. You can move forward at a perfect pace while getting resources you need. Story is a work in progress but the game does not end. Being a sandbox game you can go and do whatever you want wherever you want. A galaxy with thousands of star systems and thousands of planets. While still in alpha it already has some much to do in so many different ways. Add the workshop for those of us who really do not want to build (or not that good at it) plus the custom scenarios. This is my main game I play. I enjoy going through the vanilla game after a major update then go back to Project Eden and recently Reforged Eden. Really enjoying being on the ride of development of this game. Received my moneys worth a thousand time over!!

4)Star Citizen. Still watching this game. Appears to have very good graphics and meets my play style. My jury is still out waiting for more development/info. But I am very interested. holding back until it comes to steam. If not well I will probably not get it. Prefer my games on Steam. JMHO

These are just my opinions and what I like. Others may not agree or see them the same way. Graphics while nice do not make the game. I enjoy factorio and rimworld because they are great games not because of the graphics. ;p My personal play style is good balance overall. If I have to jump through hoops to get a product it gets boring and frustrating. I then uninstall and move on to something else. All of the above games are different from each other. So it is not about comparison as much as about personal opinions and play styles.

Thank you for the comparison. As mentioned earlier, it's not about pleasing my play style. I'm more concern on how different are those games compared to each other. I only have NMS at the moment and are interested to add more to my collection.

So your input as well as others, are very appreciated.

[dragonbornzyra]

Originally posted by Amrak:

2)Osiris New Dawn. Been following this game for quite awhile. Original developers abandoned the game. After the new developers picked it up I watched the improvements and development. Bought the game 2 yrs ago. The graphics are very good. Occasional memory leaks that are being worked on along with constant game improvements. Really enjoying growing with this game. Though in alpha-beta it has great promise and good direction. So far decent balance in survival aspects and production to product. A little grindy in gathering resources but the mines have helped with that.

Fenix Fire Entertainment was and still are the developers for Osiris: New Dawn. I don't know why, but ever since they announced they are no longer working with the publisher Triple X Reverb, people have mistakenly assumed that there are "new" developers for the game. It's the same guy (Brian McRae) and a revolving door of other developers and coders and programmers that he keeps hiring and firing on his whim.

Speaking more on O:ND, it's practically a scam. Brian produces buggy "progress" then manufactures a problem out of thin air as an excuse to update or change or sidegrade developer's tools. He then reworks the system, removes 85%-90% of game mechanics and features, then claims the game is doing better than ever as he trickles in the removed features back into the game presenting them as "new/improved"

He bans people that do not parrot the game's acolades and how wonderful it is. Any criticism is removed. Unfavorable discussion about the game is locked down. He goes silent for months on end, then a sale shows up and he posts an update and some new screenshots and suckers in a whole new fresh crowd of hopefuls.

The "new" spacestation that was added? Been in the game since 2017. The moon/planets Azir and Zer? Been in the game since 2018. Most of the best new "features" that have been added were already in the game to begin with. The AI is very bad. The UI was last time I checked deplorable. Menu options are stripped down to near uncustomizable levels.

I've followed O:ND development for years and watched it stagnate for over a year at one point, then the cycle of "Strip down to bare features, rebuild, then strip back down again" I was/am personal friends with ThatGuyFuryan, the game and communities largest supporter and backer, and bug tester. Me and him were writing fanfics for the game's possible storyline.

But you can't point out anyone in FF when they tell a blatant lie, you can't post links to GlassDoor reviews or tweets that prove what they were declaring on Steam to be lies and libel. Brian has fired and went through more than several Community Managers, one of which I reached out to and was able to manage to get in contact with in private. I learned some things I have absolutely every reason to believe to be true from this person. Things I already suspected, and some things I had no idea about.

If you are interested in Osiris, I entirely and absolutely reccommend you wait until it's actually released, and then see the reviews and forum and YTer's to judge the completed and finished product.

The 2018 "Rise of Zer" build, with the original game devs (Before Brian fired them) was an actually incredible and hopeful foundation for an exhilerating space exploration survival game. But that foundation was taken apart and trashed and thrown all around in different directions. I don't reccommend the game, but to those that really want it, I suggest as I said waiting.

=)

[willy willington]

empyrion has a good amount of content but it comes at the cost of poor graphics and animations (which some people are ok with), bad AI, and just some general clunkiness. if you can get past all of that then empyrion is a lot of fun but as it stands I consider it a poorly made game with a ton of potential.

[wildblu]

"What is the best game" threads are always useless since it's equivalent to asking which flavor of ice cream is the best.

Everyone knows it's Cherry Garcia... or Rum Raisin... or...

My recommendation is to watch a few Youtube video series and, based on what you want in a "best" game, make up your own mind. If you have specific questions about the mechanics, game play, etc. after watching the videos, then you will find the forum useful.

[XLjedi]

Originally posted by Lenny Rat:

The big decision I need to make now is whether I break my rule regarding Creative mode. So far, I only build ships at my base in dry dock. Only then do I add them as BP's for later use in the factory.

The issue with doing it in game. I often want to try an idea on a whim, and then need the ability to undo it. The inability to undo something and I guess constant interruptions from hunger are the two driving factors for me to design in creative. It takes me awhile to figure out the best layout.

[Corrupt-nz]

Originally posted by ShelLuser:

The best game is the one YOU enjoy the most.

this this

[Darkside99x]

Sadley this is likely as good as its going to get, it seems that no developer wants to put the effort in to making real games anymore.

Starbase is a prime example, why bother making a game with depth when you all you need to do is give peole permission to grief each other, just change the setting and repeat.

Easy money.


I would throw Genesis Alpha One on the list however, yes they went Epic and yes it can get repetative but its honestly pretty a unique flavour of sci fi survival builder.

[Wally_c64]

I found NMS to be shallow and all about the visuals. A console game for a console audience. As for Empyrion, despite the clunkiness and lack of polish its a game that keeps bringing me back time and time again.