Is there more to do than in Elite Dangerous?

[Jeffo]

Topic is the question.
Is it the same grind? Or is there actually something to do?
Not counting automatically randomly generated content like missions that repeat all the time.

Can you destory all other factions? Can you controll all ships?
Can you start wars?

[Blueberry Muffins!]

No and yes?

They're not really the same game, except like most space games with FP piloting available they're sandboxes.

Yes? No?

No: E:D vehicle controls are different and at least on par with this, plus there's better FA-off pure-piloting challenges + eye candy, rotating stations make piloting amazingly deep, and the dune buggies are a blast when pushed to the limit.

Yes: exploration is much more explore-y, the EL galaxy map you start with is … not exactly complete? Also: designing and building your own stations is a thing (though I hear E:D 's getting something like that), there's a good bit more to crew and loadout management in EL, and the galaxy being smaller means what you do has more impact.

I guess I'd put it as: in Evochron the galaxy is small enough to be one whole place, you or you and your buddies stand some chance of imagining and creating yourselves master of a big, big chunk of it (though I doubt anyone could ever rule it all). In E:D, yeah, no. Your existence will leave no mark. Some scribbles no one will ever read on charts no one ever wants of stars about which no one cares. Have fun.

How much fun you have along the way in either depends on what you want to do. I will say piloting in Evochron is more engrossing than in any space game *other* than E:D, there's a progression of clever-er techniques.

If you want more storyline, more regimented progression and motivation, try Void Destroyer 2. Its physics are simplified but if you just go with it they really are fine, and the game makes (basically) bullet time a first-class combat mechanic, I've never seen anybody do that in a space game, you start to feel like a frikkin God as you learn how to use it.