Games similar to Delta V

[Uriel]

It was mentionned in a discussion with Koder some time ago, it could be useful to have a thread that groups suggestions for games similar to Delta V. Steam is notoriously bad at suggesting niche and unique games, so in this case the best information source are the players themselves. You may or may not like what is suggested, but at least, you'll have found it.

To be considered similar, a game must have several traits, not all obviously (else that game is Delta V), but at least some. This allows for similar games while also opening new horizons. So, the game should have a combination of several of the following traits :

- Theme is space (this one is hard to avoid, but hey, if you have Delta V but with dwarves in a medieval fantasy setting, why not ?).

- Has top-down view. Or maybe side-scrolling view.

- Has fairly realistic physics simulation.

- Is centered around, or an important part of the game is / can be, piloting some vehicles.

- Is centered around, or an important part of the game is / can be, mining / gathering ressources.

- Allows customization of avatar / vehicles / whatever your proxy is, and not just looks, but function.

- Is made by an indie studio or developper.

- Has good pop culture references, and / or a sense of humour.

If you guys feel like I forgot something important, feel free to mention it and I'll edit this post. Basically, anything that goes "if you like Delta V, X might interest you" works too :)

[Uriel]

And I'm starting with a suggestion : Star Valor

https://store.steampowered.com/app/833360/Star_Valor/

Which boxes does it tick : Space, top-down view, piloting spaceships, has mining, customization, indie.

Which boxes does it not tick : physics.

Unknown : pop culture and humour. I haven't noticed anything, but it may have it.

Additional : exploration.

At its core, the game is a sandbox. The galaxy is generated randomly with many small sectors to explore, foes to fight, friends to make (which is which is up to you), ore to mine. You start in a crappy space fighter, and get better ships as you go. Depending on who you befriend, some may not be available.

You hire crew to man the turrets, the helm, and so on. Then you do whatever tickles your fancy, gather materials, buy new weapons, craft your own, hunt pirates (or become one), flying solo or with a fleet of your own design.

The game looks pretty good, is made by a single guy, gets a it repetitve after a while and some say it plays like a spredsheet rather than a game. As someone who does spreadsheets quite often at work, I respectfully disagree, but of course to each their own.

Contrary to Delta V, this game doesn't have realistic physics. Ships have set top speed depending on equipment, and if you don't have to keep the thrusters burning to move, you actually slow down a bit if you don't fire those torches.

[Full Metal Jacket]

Reassembly
https://store.steampowered.com/app/329130/Reassembly/
Those that played flash games may recall the design your ship by adding parts around your core approach.

Anyhow you have a big open map, like 9 unique factions that have different parts and thrus function different, some economy work, you can be a warlord if you play your cards right. The AI was not stupid in it from what I recall.

[Hexxus]

I enjoyed Space Pirates and Zombies.

Wiki link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pirates_and_Zombies

Store link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/107200/Space_Pirates_and_Zombies/

[Botji]

Hmm hard to really say they are similar but:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/445220/Avorion/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/799600/Cosmoteer_Starship_Architect__Commander/


Avorion is a 3D game but it does have quite a big focus on gathering resources and flying a ship(semi-newtonian physics) that you build/design though Its more of a sandbox-empire-builder with some Diabloish looting mixed in.

So Im not sure its all that similar, you could even almost entirely skip the whole "resource gathering" part by making AI/faction/empire ships do that for you while you just fly around shooting stuff.. or the other way around, thus the 'sandbox' part.


Cosmoteer is fairly similar to Avoirion except that its a top down game.

Yeah, not exactly similar to Delta V but both are fun space games at least.



Weirdly enough the game I feel comes closest to Delta V is probably Elite Dangerous, also very little in common with Delta V but outfitting a ship for mining and flying out into some non-central part, prospecting asteroids and doing the different types of mining can give you a similar feeling as Delta V does.

Basically the relaxing "I am out on my own fishing.. big rocks in space."

[AtomHeartDragon]

Originally posted by Uriel:

- Has top-down view.
- Has fairly realistic physics simulation.

That's not exactly common combo.

[Uriel]

Originally posted by AtomHeartDragon:

Originally posted by Uriel:

- Has top-down view.
- Has fairly realistic physics simulation.

That's not exactly common combo.

I know, but it's an "or" more than it's an "and" :) Maybe I should edit the initial post, if it's not clear.

[FireWars763]

Maybe Starsector? Unfortunately its not on Steam, but it hits most of your prerequisites except for realistic physics. Its main selling point is a fully simulated economy where intercepting supply convoys or participating in trade actively effects the prosperity of planetary colonies.

-Space themed, a finite galaxy with a good chunk of exploration opportunities.

-Top down in both fleet battles and the galaxy map, the two different flight styles.

-No realistic physics simulation sadly.

-You pilot your fleet on the galaxy map using the mouse cursor, however you pilot your flagship with WASD and mouse in fleet battles. Your allied ships pilot themselves in fleet battles but can be given orders to attack specific targets.

-You don't really gather resources, though they still exist for mercantile reasons. Most of the time you complete missions for the in-game factions or go out doing whatever you really want (piracy, exploration, smuggling, salvaging, etc). The real progression is expanding and upgrading your fleet by purchasing/finding/stealing better ships and equipment.

-All ships have module and weapon slot customization, though they are all limited by the amount of weapon points they have. Generally civilian ships have less and special military variants have more.

-Developed by a small independent studio.

-No idea about any real references, the tone seems to be relatively serious throughout the game.

I have personally found it to be good fun and think its pretty in-line with the other titles mentioned in this thread already.

[superosh]

Top down ? Is DV not a sidescoller ?

However. for your top-down-needs:
"Endless Sky" ... it's open source and available at Steam for all platforms
Not much realistic, more combat/ship customisation oriented.
However, it's free...so worth a try.

When it comes to "independed developer" + " space sim":
"Evochron Legacy"
It's 3D cockpit-view. Menus are a bit old-school but ok.
This project is a one-man-show like DV.
The developer is acting very proffessional and helps out kindly in case of problems.
I have seen fixes below 10 hours....if giving him all the needed details + some testing.
So in short, the same high quality product-development like here in DV.

And then..off course..."Orbiter Space Simulator".
It was a one man-show, but went to open-source recently.
I would call this the "king of all serious space simulations".

For sidescrolling: "Starbound" ....lol

[Uriel]

Originally posted by superosh:

Top down ? Is DV not a sidescoller ?

Considering Saturn's rings are rather thin, I'm fairly certain our view is top-down, but hey, I suppose I should include side scrollers too :D

Also, thanks everyone for the suggestions. Much appreciated.

[MeanJim]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/258010/

[AtomHeartDragon]

If you just wanted hard sci-fi + spaceship customization, I'd say Children of a Dead Earth, but it's just a straight ship design/combat/orbital physics simulation game (think Kerbal, but with guns, radiators, n-body, armour physics, and lot of nukes):

https://store.steampowered.com/app/476530/Children_of_a_Dead_Earth/

[Uriel]

Originally posted by AtomHeartDragon:

If you just wanted hard sci-fi + spaceship customization, I'd say Children of a Dead Earth, but it's just a straight ship design/combat/orbital physics simulation game (think Kerbal, but with guns, radiators, n-body, armour physics, and lot of nukes)

So basically, Gratuitous Space Battles, but with actual physics ? Seems interesting !

https://store.steampowered.com/app/41800/Gratuitous_Space_Battles/

[Koder]

CoaDE is one of the reasons I made dV. I was like, "yes, this is great, but I want to pilot these ships."

[Don't you want a balloon?]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/574760/Starship_Theory/

Starship Theory is a mostly abandoned game from 2017. You start with an escape pod, and you have to build and mine to upgrade and survive.

Boxes Ticked: Space mining, building/upgrading ships. Trade, combat. A decent amount of ship pieces to use. Decent soundtrack.

Problems: This game is basically abandoned. It's in a playable state and quite stable, but is lacking things like a story or NPC interaction besides fight/trade. The game also has a steep learning curve, and there is very little documentation on what parts do and what the ship needs to be successful. New players will die many many times.

[Ponicus]

This :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/464360/3030_Deathwar_Redux__A_Space_Odyssey/