Any other games like this?

[Horoai]

I'm looking to get into the genre and I don't even know what it's called.

All I know is I'm hungry for a space themed game but it cannot be a 4X, RTS or Strategy game where ships are just stylized icons most of the time. Instead I want to be close to the action.

I came here from Kinetic Void forum but considering how badly that one failed and whatever happened to StarCitizen I'm running out of both: Ideas for alternative titles and patience for early access.
LAN Co-op mode would be a huge plus but I'm not looking for a grindy MMO like EVE online (it should be neither grindy nor MMO).

So, are there any popular and proven titles similar to these 4? What can you recommend? How is this game doing?

[ravien_ff]

The ones I've played are this, Empyrion - Galactic Survival, and Space Engineers.

Each of those are good games for what they are but are also completely different from each other.

Honestly I've yet to find another game like Avorion.

[borndl]

Somewhat similar is From the Dephts. But there is more a focus on KI Ships vs each others. You can take control, but that only works with one ship. Also you'll find mostly surface ships. There is space but only one faction uses some statelites and thats it. And i should mention, the game is very complicated.

[Unome Koi]

Originally posted by Yggdrasil:

I'm looking to get into the genre and I don't even know what it's called.

All I know is I'm hungry for a space themed game but it cannot be a 4X, RTS or Strategy game where ships are just stylized icons most of the time. Instead I want to be close to the action.

I came here from Kinetic Void forum but considering how badly that one failed and whatever happened to StarCitizen I'm running out of both: Ideas for alternative titles and patience for early access.
LAN Co-op mode would be a huge plus but I'm not looking for a grindy MMO like EVE online (it should be neither grindy nor MMO).

So, are there any popular and proven titles similar to these 4? What can you recommend? How is this game doing?

For the longest time I was in the same situation as you. I tried so many different games and browsed for something that I didn't even know I wanted, for what seemed like forever. Then I came Across this game, Avorion.

The game I never knew I wanted. This game alows you to play in a variety of play styles. I play a little bit of every way, but building ships... That's where it's at! So many different ways to build a ship! Sure there are other games, like Sapce Engineers, witch are great games. They just don't compare in the building department. I love building ships!

If I didn't already own the game... I'd buy it.

[Chaoslink]

The only game that comes to mind for me is Elite Dangerous. I haven’t played too much of it, and it seems significantly less “casual” than this (also lacks the ability to build your own ships from scratch) but the gameplay comes off as very similar depending on how you look at it.

You have to buy pre-designed ships but can customize the guns/hardpoints. You can choose to be a miner and collect and sell minerals. You can be an explorer and get an income from exploring uncharted space while managing your fuel and resources, where running out means certain death. You can be a pirate and attack ships to take their goods, or be a trader and collect goods to sell to stations in need. You can be a bounty hunter and search out ships marked with bounties. You can work for factions and collect rewards for completing missions and even get involved in conflicts between them.

So you can do a more finished version of what I’m guessing will become part of Avorion eventually. You lose that building aspect, but the game is much more central around the gameplay than building. Depends on just what you want from the game.

[Nokta]

Exactly like this? Nope. This game is nice because it mixes RNG, building, trading, exploring and fighting all in one. It's kind of unique in this.

If you are looking for more space games where you fly around exploring, mining resources and fighting with your ship you can check the "X" series, Elite:Dangerous, Starpoint Gemini 2/Warlords.

There are even some "hidden" gems on Steam like Endless Sky.

If you don't mind outdated graphics you can go back to the classics like Freelancer or Freespace 2.

Or if you have time to sink and no life, there's always EVE Online

One day, around 2050, we'll may be able to play Star Citizen and then completely forget about anything else :D

[Caleb!]

Pulsar Lost Colony

[BOYCOTT]

Originally posted by borndl:

Somewhat similar is From the Dephts. But there is more a focus on KI Ships vs each others. You can take control, but that only works with one ship. Also you'll find mostly surface ships. There is space but only one faction uses some statelites and thats it. And i should mention, the game is very complicated.

that comparison shames from the depths, this game is excessively lazy in comparison, you can't even fine tune how your missile boats' projectiles arc their weapons or anything really cool in avorion, but at the same time FTD has the absolute worst most impossible to use building interface known to man.

[Xype]

x4 Foundations at the end of the month, probably the closest you will get.

[Fox]

Originally posted by Xype:

x4 Foundations at the end of the month, probably the closest you will get.

I alrdy wondered why almost noone mentioned the X-Series, pretty much the same gameplay-wise without the ability to build your own stuff, instead offering a more consistent, alive galaxy...

My personal favourite would be X3-Reunion i think, definetly recommended for good plot and great modding community! (Singleplayer only tho...)

Originally posted by Too-DAMN-Much:

... but at the same time FTD has the absolute worst most impossible to use building interface known to man.

Couldnt agree more here!

[Chaoslink]

Originally posted by Too-DAMN-Much:

that comparison shames from the depths, this game is excessively lazy in comparison, you can't even fine tune how your missile boats' projectiles arc their weapons or anything really cool in avorion, but at the same time FTD has the absolute worst most impossible to use building interface known to man.

Wait... arcing missiles... in space... what? Like... what? I dunno what FTD is, but if that game has that feature, and is in space, that is incredibly stupid. Arcing anything requires gravity. Not a lot of that in space... I mean there is, but not enough to do things like arc missiles.

[Horoai]

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

Originally posted by Too-DAMN-Much:

that comparison shames from the depths, this game is excessively lazy in comparison, you can't even fine tune how your missile boats' projectiles arc their weapons or anything really cool in avorion, but at the same time FTD has the absolute worst most impossible to use building interface known to man.

Wait... arcing missiles... in space... what? Like... what? I dunno what FTD is, but if that game has that feature, and is in space, that is incredibly stupid. Arcing anything requires gravity. Not a lot of that in space... I mean there is, but not enough to do things like arc missiles.

Read the quote in quote.

Originally posted by borndl:

Somewhat similar is From the Dephts. But there is more a focus on KI Ships vs each others. You can take control, but that only works with one ship.

Also you'll find mostly surface ships. There is space but only one faction uses some statelites and thats it.

And i should mention, the game is very complicated.

[BOYCOTT]

Originally posted by Chaoslink:

Wait... arcing missiles... in space... what? Like... what? I dunno what FTD is, but if that game has that feature, and is in space, that is incredibly stupid. Arcing anything requires gravity. Not a lot of that in space... I mean there is, but not enough to do things like arc missiles.

it's not in space, but this game needs the granularity that building your projectiles (as well as a lot of other things, coaxial turrets namely) would inherently facilitate, for what it's worth, if the name doesn't give it away, from the depths is a naval game, you could build any sort of vehicle you want though, it also has quite an extensive AI programming function.

it's really frustrating actually, any game that seems remotely similar i get filled with false hope that it'll be FTD, except with a build mode i can actually tolerate using, it never is.

edit: just to pre-empt further questions, from the depths is a hybrid base builder / realtime strategy in how it plays more or less, you defend from enemy waves, capture and hold territory, it's a very deep and very complex game overall, hard to sum up, actually.

[Zaflis]

Void Expanse is also a small 2D indie game with very similar playing atmosphere to this. It's not voxel based and you can't build ships, only buy different ones and then outfit with varying equipment. But it also has missions, trading, mining and the likes. Also a skill tree with experience and levels.

[Xype]

You guys are really knocking on someone talking about arching guns, in a game that thinks what material a ship is made out of or its weight has any bearing on its stopping speed or how far it gets bumped when hit in space....lol...

[Chaoslink]

Originally posted by Xype:

You guys are really knocking on someone talking about arching guns, in a game that thinks what material a ship is made out of or its weight has any bearing on its stopping speed or how far it gets bumped when hit in space....lol...

Sounds to me like you need to read up on some things called mass and density...