20 Cool Spaceship Building Games

Building and sim games are much more fun and challenging when players have to build something that’s out of this world. Thanks to some of the most complex and fun video games set in space gamers can not only explore other universes but build all kinds of futuristic sci-fi and fantasy spaceships.

While these spaceship-building games tend to be more complex and complicated it doesn’t mean that beginners or casual gamers shouldn’t try them. Players can go on epic adventures while playing with some of the best sci-fi games in which they can not only pilot but build gorgeous and super fast spaceships to explore other planets, stars, and complete solar systems. Some of these fascinating games can even help players learn and improve their real-world knowledge regarding psychics, engineering, and of course space exploration and astronomy.

Updated October 6, 2024, by Hamza Haq: The fantasy of the building, customizing, and driving a spaceship through the vast emptiness of outer space has always had a pull for gamers that’s undeniable. It’s a core part of what the science fiction genre is based on and an aspect of what drives the popularity of major franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek. It’s no coincidence, then, that games that revolve around building new spaceships or customizing existing ones have always had a place in the gaming scene and a dedicated audience.

20 Stationeers

Stationeers is the ultimate cosmic crafting challenge that’s a great choice for players who love indie strategy games and galactic adventures. This stunning early-access space-building game is set in the vast void of space. During their adventures, players get to manage their very own space stations.

Users will get to utilize their strategic, management, and engineering skills as they grapple with atmospheric, electrical, and agricultural quandaries and more. Stationeers lets players explore a challenging but complex world filled with intricate systems and where players must master the art of science-based survival. Players will have to create the perfect space base to ensure survival and that their livestock don’t just float away, while also exploring exotic planets or asteroid belts to gather resources.

19 Space Engineers

Space Engineers is a fun sandbox space builder that lets players use their creativity while exploring a fascinating setting. They get to build intricate space vessels, as well as space stations, and planetary outposts for both civilian and military ventures.

However, Space Engineers isn’t just about construction, since players will have to pilot ships and scavenge planets for resources to ensure their survival while enjoying the game’s volumetric-based physics engine that gives every object tangible volume, weight, and interactive properties. It’s also one of the most realistic space-building games since it draws inspiration from current NASA tech, but takes a 60-year leap into the future. Players can also try a variety of game modes as well as a wide variety of customization options and can build behemoths and explore uncharted galaxies.

18 Starbase

• Release Date: July 29, 2021
• Developer: Frozenbyte
• Genres: Massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Simulation, Shooter, Adventure

Starbase is an early-access MMORPG with cool optimization options and epic battles. Players don’t simply get to explore a fascinating galaxy but also build, trade, and engage in challenging battles during their adventures.

Players will get to craft spaceships down to the tiniest bolt or even pioneer their very own massive space station. Starbase‘s universe isn’t just vast; it’s volatile with its voxel-vertex blend, that lets players shatter, construct, and strategize. The battles aren’t mere firefights either since players will have to rely on their strategic skills if they want to overcome the challenges.

17 Astrox Imperium

• Release date: March 22, 2019
• Developers: Jace Masula
• Genres: Indie, Simulation, Role-playing, Action, Adventure

Astrox Imperium is an early-access space sim with a retro vibe in which players have to min, trade, and fight against pirates. Gamers can also explore a wide selection of maps, enjoy delightful drone dynamics, as well as engage in riveting real-time combat.

Single players can embark on an epic journey throughout endless galaxies and learn how to master various crafts, navigate economies, go on fun missions, and get to know more than seventy beautiful spaceships and drones. Astrox Imperium is also a story-heavy game, so players will get to know an intricate story that immerses them even deeper into the game’s unique world.

16 The Last Starship

The Last Starship is one of the most exciting early-access options that’s a perfect choice for players who love grand strategy games. While players can choose from pre-packaged builds, they can also decide to build a ship before starting their galactic adventure. They will have to get everything before their trip, including new engines, sensors, and life support.

Players will have to do everything from laying down the ship’s pipework to managing all ship-wide systems, all to ensure they build a functioning spaceship that will keep their crew alive. Once done, players will also be able to explore a fun universe and complete missions while enjoying a colorful retro art style.

• Release date: May 7, 2022
• Developer: Wx3 Labs, LLC
• Genres: Role-playing, Adventure, Indie, Shooter

Starcom: Unknown Space is another retro-inspired action RPG space-building game that lets players step into the shoes of a fleet commander and go on an epic adventure while exploring and defending the galaxy. Players will get to build their very own starships as well as explore an epic space story filled with mysteries.

During their adventures, players will not only have to build and manage their starships but also manage all other resources, research technology, and use their strategic skills when commanding their fleet in battles. Thanks to the detailed story players can feel fully immersed in this unique sci-fi gaming world.

14 Sunshine Heavy Industries

Sunshine Heavy Industries is a fun and colorful puzzle game with cute pixel graphics. This relaxing title transports players into a charming sci-fi world where they have to build spaceships from over a hundred different parts, solve tricky design puzzles, as well as learn unique subsystems to be able to build more complex vessels.

Players will also get to meet a wide range of quirky characters who will be their clients and have to learn how to manage their expectations while juggling budgets and ship performance. Sunshine Heavy Industries also has 50+ story levels and is a good choice for players of all levels.

13 Space Scavenger

Space Scavenger is a vibrant roguelike that takes its players on a fun adventure during which they’ll have to fight fun battles and craft their ships. In this sci-fi shooter, players can build and command their own spaceships as well as explore planets.

Players will have to battle enemies and learn how to customize and upgrade their ships by improving their fighting capabilities and their layout if they want to stay alive. Space Scavenger is an entertaining spaceship-building game that’ll be challenging for players of all levels.

12 Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander

Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander is one of the most exciting and addictive early-access spaceship sim games that lets its players build creative and colorful starships. Players can not only build unique starships but then join epic space battles and explore a dangerous and vibrant galaxy.

Cosmoteer is a great choice for beginners and more experienced gamers alike since it’s an easy-to-learn game and players can go on their adventures with their friends too and help each other during their journey. Gamers will also have to use their strategic and management skills since they’ll be also responsible for managing their crew and commanding their fleet.

11 Forever Skies

• Release date: June 22, 2023
• Developers: Far From Home
• Genres: Adventure, Simulation, Indie

Forever Skies is a post-apocalyptic survival game where players return to a ravaged Earth with futuristic technologies in hopes of harvesting something of value from it and uncovering the secrets that led to the widespread toxic mist that now envelopes everything on the planet.

The game shares a lot of similarities with Subnautica, mainly in the form of its fabrication, first-person perspective, and scanning system. However, there are some key differences as well. Instead of creating multiple bases across the sea, Forever Skies asks players to develop their airship, a sort of blimp that can soar through the sky. This also doubles as a base of operations and a HUB area for all survival activities. Having a moveable base is a twist of the survival genre formula that, while rare, isn’t unheard of. But one that flies? That’s something new. Players can add modules to this airship as they unlock and develop new technologies, which increase the ship’s effectiveness in multiple ways.

10 Spacelines From The Far Out

• Release date: May 2, 2022
• Developer: Coffeenauts
• Genres: Indie, Action, Simulation, Casual, Strategy, Adventure

Spacelines from the Far Out is a great choice for those who love cozy games with charming designs and are looking for fun roguelike games. Thanks to this 60s-inspired lovely family-friendly sim game about airlines in space players of all ages can build spaceships.

Players can go on a hilarious adventure solo or with others in multiplayer mode and learn how to run a space-age alien airline. Gamers will be able to explore some of the most colorful and weird spaceships including unlockable spaceships while trying to create the perfect space ride and dealing with and managing their spaceship’s systems as well as their needy but cute alien customers.

9 Nimbatus – The Space Drone Constructor

• Release date: October 3, 2018
• Genres: Simulation, Indie, Strategy, Shooter
• Developer: Stray Fawn

Nimbatus – The Space Drone Constructor lets its players become space commanders and build powerful space drones out of hundreds of different parts. Players can explore a colorful open world while battling against other players in this fun survival space sim game.

Nimbatus – The Space Drone Constructor has an adventures-filled and physics-based universe in which players will have to use their drones to destruct planets and defeat their enemies if they want to stay alive. It’s a great game for experienced gamers and beginners as well since Nimbatus also has a sandbox mode where players have complete freedom and can explore and build without worrying about anything else.

8 Ostranauts

• Release date: June 16, 2020
• Developer: Blue Bottle Games
• Genres: Simulation, Role-playing, Indie, Strategy

Ostranauts is one of the most immersive early access spaceship-building games in which players can become one of the coolest astronauts in games. In this realistic space sim, players can build their own spaceships from the ground up and learn how to fly them under the laws of Newtonian flight.

Gamers will have to choose their own character and their unique traits that’ll influence what they’re capable of doing in the game. Once the spaceship is built players will also have to manage all aspects and hire their crew, put food on the table, and fight off enemies while also exploring this fun spaceship builder’s open world.

7 Empyrion – Galactic Survival

Empyrion – Galactic Survival is one of the most popular and greatest survival games in which players can explore a beautiful open world. It’s one of the most fun sci-fi games in which players can build stunning spaceships and explore gorgeous planets and meet all kinds of alien life forms including robots and biological creatures.

Gamers will not only get a chance to build their own spaceships but during their adventures, they’ll also have to craft, hunt, farm, and collect resources to improve their ship and even to build safe places for themselves on hostile planets. Players can go on their epic adventures alone or team up with friends and family members to build and warp between planets together.

6 Avorion

• Release date: January 23, 2017
• Developers: Boxelware
• Genres: Simulation, Indie, Adventure, Shooter

Avorion is one of the most creative space sims in which players can fight epic battles and explore and thrilling but dangerous open world. This co-op sandbox space game lets its players use their creativity and build a powerful battle spaceship with all kinds of deadly weapons including lasers and chain guns.

However, this action space RPG offers much more than battles since players will also have to manage their own fleet, and learn how to trade while making their way through a dark universe to get to the central regions of a galaxy that was torn apart by a cataclysmic catastrophe. It’s a more complex and challenging game but one that’s worth the effort.

5 Terra Invicta

Terra Invicta is an early access space strategy game in which players will get a chance to design their own spaceships and show off their tactical combat skills as they try to save humanity from a hostile alien race. Players will start their dangerous and challenging adventure on Earth but will eventually have to learn how to colonize the Solar System.

This military space sim is perfect for gamers who love great strategy games for their difficulty and complexity. Players will have to choose and control one of humanity’s factions and make their vision for the future come to life. Gamers will have to battle, expand, and constantly plan and work together with intelligence agencies, scientists, politicians, and corporations while battling not only hostile entities but Earth’s other factions too.

4 Kerbal Space Program

Kerbal Space Program is one of the most fun space flight sims that’ll actually teach its players about real-world science. This cute and challenging space sim lets its players build spaceships and take charge of an entire space program to help the cute Kerbal alien race explore the Kerbol solar system and all its exciting planets.

Thanks to this educational open-world sci-fi game players get to build and fly spaceships and rockets that are based on realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics. However, players will also have other things to do since they’ll have to hire and train their crew, create communications systems, and even develop new technologies.

3 Starship EVO

• Release Date: 19 June 2020
• Developers: Moonfire Entertainment
• Genres: Simulation, Indie, Action, Adventure

Starship EVO is perfect for gamers who love classic sci-fi games and vibrant graphics. This fascinating early access space sim game lets its players create unique starships while exploring a beautifully designed and colorful open world. Players will have to use their creativity to build powerful spaceships to explore and win their epic space battles.

Gamers will also have to show off their strategic skills as they go on bounty missions and use their own custom weapons, hovercrafts, and starships. As players explore other planets and stars they can also harvest fuel, collect, craft, and even mine asteroids during their adventures.

2 Space Haven

Space Haven is another thrilling and gorgeous early access colony space sim game with retro pixel graphics. This complex and challenging game takes its players on an unforgettable space voyage during which they’ll have to build spaceships, customize their characters, mine, and go to war while exploring the game’s thrilling open world.

Players will also have to use their tactical and trading skills to be able to build their spaceships tile by tile and create livable conditions for their crew. It’s one of the most creativity-boosting spaceship builders since players will be able to use their creativity when creating every piece of their functional spaceships.

1 Starfield

While Starfield doesn’t quite live up to the standard of previous Bethesda games like Skyrim or Fallout 4, for example, it has its own merits that allow it to stand out as an excellent title in its own right. Chief among these is the incredibly in-depth spaceship crafting system that lets players either build their own space-faring vehicles from scratch, modify existing vessels to suit their needs, or simply stick with a wide variety of pre-built spaceships to get the job done.

Not only that, but once players build their dream ship, they can take it out to the vast open space and drive it themselves. From exploring ravaged space ruins to exchanging laser beams with hordes of enemy ships, Starfield lets players live out their sci-fi fantasy in style.