While there are plenty of games out there that we all enjoy, there are probably none that surpass Sci-Fi in terms of a good story based in space. Fantasy itself is a genre that captivates the world at large with its many elements, and sci-fi is no less captivating with its ships sailing into the stars with crews on board looking forward to meeting new civilizations. If players are familiar with the TV franchises of Star Trek and other such shows, they'll know that these types of stories have been with us through the generations.
Even in books like War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, it paints a picture of sci-fi in a most thrilling and dark light that fascinated readers, and in its brief reincarnation as a radio show that panicked listeners thinking that there was a real martian invasion, it came to life over the airwaves. Sci-fi has been around for decades, and since that 1897 novel, there have been numerous spin-offs, TV shows, games, and other franchises that have come to fruition based on writers and developer's imaginations. Even the Biden campaign held a Star Trek gathering for Trekkie fans.
9 Star Conflict
Ships are what make this game so fun; from nimble starfighters to huge frigates, there are several ways that players can engage with the universe that they're thrust into. This free dogfighting MMO is great for those that want a metagame full of accomplishments like getting all 100 ships under their belt. While playing the game, there are the goals of hunting down foes, fighting for the factions that players might want to be involved within, and making sure that they don't get tangled too far into the web of conspiracy while gaining and spreading influence throughout the galaxy.
8 Stellaris
In this 4X sim, players are thrust into a world that's besot with civilizations and are reminiscent of any Civilization game that they might have played in the past... but in space. Building up space-faring species that reach out into the stars and either turn into tyrants or philanthropists, players can create as many species as they can think of.
Not to mention there are multiple ways in which species can travel across the galaxy, by blinking with warp drive, to wormholes to hyperlanes, players have the opportunity to really make this game what they want it to be. It's to be noted that lately, they've had a string of patch notes so long that there was a picture posted of the notes with a programmer for scale next to them.
7 Mass Effect 2
More likely than not, players have heard of the Mass Effect franchise if they're into the games' sci-fi fantasy genre. Following Shepherd around with his or her merry band of travelers through their foibles, trials, and tribulations, this massive world is built on conflict with alien races, most famously the Reapers. In this world, players are given a fully functional starship to explore while zipping around the galaxy with its massively story-driven purpose in mind. The story is so intense, has so many hidden details, and is an absolute must-see for those in the sci-fi genre fandom zone, as it's one of the better ones out there in terms of RPG's.
6 Endless Space 2
This turn-based strategy game is a unique play on space that has everything stuffed into it. Players are given a fledgling empire with which they need to expand, and there are several ways that they can do it, along with all the quirks and eccentric aspects of the game that will have them immersed for hours. Research, diplomatic relations, and anything much like other turn-based strategy games is king when it comes to success, and the player base seems to agree since it's holding steady since coming out a little over 3 years ago.
5 EVE Online
EVE Online has been out for so long that it's probably one of the longest standing sci-fi fantasy-based MMO's out there today. With it's more than a dozen expansions, (the latest rounding up a year-long campaign) huge player base, and community, it's any wonder this isn't a game that everyone plays. However, it's well known that EVE is a game that's got a hard learning curve for new players who aren't used to the genre or gameplay, but they're working on making the new player experience more streamlined. The stories that come out of the EVE community with nearly half a million players all grouped onto one server are fascinating to hear and will draw new players into an equally fascinating world.
4 The Outer Wilds
As an astronaut anthropologist, you're tasked, in 20-minute time loops, to explore your galaxy within the wilds to find ruins that have been left behind. While doing this, the Namoi's mysterious race appears as something that pops up for players to learn more about as time ticks down, but it's pretty much up to the player how they want to unravel that part of the game.
Your goal is to learn as much about them as possible through these 20-minute time loops, and each time that time loop ends, you're partially reset to start again.
3 Kerbal Space Program
In this flight simulator sandbox game, the first rule of thumb for playing in space is to get there in the first place. Trying to get there is a road of trial and error that the player must master while sacrificing travelers who are more than happy to give up their lives for the sake of science before even being able to get to the point where they can launch a ship past the Moon is one thing, and being able to deliver anything beyond that is another. It helps that any frustrations that might be had are countered by the entire Kerbal race's cuteness while practicing rocket science.
2 No Man's Sky
No Man's Sky and it's huge fanbase (not to mention it's huge 18 quintillion worlds) is a game that's immersed in exploration, building, and meeting people. While this isn't a typical MMO, the ability to co-op with random players can be done, and hooking up with friends to build bases, find ships, and explore is an option. In the latest expansion, there was a huge overhaul done to improve some aspects of the game, such as multiplayer components, near-unlimited inventory space, and VR compatibility. With regular updates, the game promises to be around for a long time, enticing players with elusive S-Class ships, frigates, and worlds that are endless in possibility.
1 Star Trek Online
Speaking of Star Trek, players will probably recall an online version that's out and has been for a while and still going strong. Based on the world of Gene Roddenberry on the popular series, this game beams players up into the universe of the Federation, Romulans, Klingons, and all other civilizations that live within it. Fighting starship battles in a starship of your choice with officers that you choose to level up and customize and create bios for is well known. Star Trek Online is well known for its tactical one-on-one battles, open space battles with groups, and being one of the better MMORPG's out there when it comes to the genre, and it doesn't hurt that if you're a Trekkie, you know well the lore that goes into the game and will appreciate the details.