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Elite Dangerous

5 Simulation games like Elite Dangerous that you should try

Games like Elite Dangerous · Find similar →

We filtered the 50 games similar to Elite Dangerous down to the 5 that fit the “Simulation” category. Starfield, Once Human and Chernobylite top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Elite Dangerous.

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreFirst-Person ARPG
Tags
HardcoreSoloMultiplayer
Year 2015Dev Frontier Developments

Quick answer

Within the “Simulation” category, the closest game to Elite Dangerous is Starfield — scoring 76/100 on our similarity scale. Once Human and Chernobylite follow close behind.

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The best simulation games like Elite Dangerous

5 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Elite Dangerous. Each one has been evaluated across 19 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

Starfield

76
NGL71
Starfield
Closest overall match
RPGAction RPGFirst-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceSci-FiExplorationFirst PersonThird Person
Year 2023Dev Bethesda Game Studios · Bethesda SoftworksOn Xbox · PC · PS5

If Elite Dangerous worked for you because of open world exploration, melee combat and a space setting, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in tone and game mode — its own ground is strong narrative focus.

Released 8 years after Elite Dangerous.

Genre100Combat100Setting100World100Visuals100Progression70
2

Once Human

74
NGL79
Once Human
Closest on progression
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOnlineSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2024Dev Starry StudioOn Xbox · Android · PC

What it holds in common with Elite Dangerous is shape: deep RPG systems, a sandbox world and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on visuals: this one brings third-person shooting and PvP competition.

Released 9 years after Elite Dangerous.

World100Progression100Game mode92Genre75Visuals60
3

Chernobylite

69
NGL79
Chernobylite
RPGAction RPGFirst-Person ARPG
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeOpen WorldSci-FiExplorationFirst Person
Year 2021Dev The Farm 51 · All In! GamesOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

Same family as Elite Dangerous: open world exploration, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is strong narrative focus and stealth mechanics.

Released 6 years after Elite Dangerous.

Genre100Game mode75Visuals74World64Combat43Progression39
4

Niffelheim

66
NGL62
Niffelheim
RPGAction RPG
Co-opSoloMultiplayerOnlineMeleeSandbox WorldOpen WorldExploration
Year 2018Dev Ellada GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Its point of contact with Elite Dangerous is deep RPG systems, a sandbox world and melee combat. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and co-op play. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: a mythological setting and crafting mechanics.

Released 3 years after Elite Dangerous.

Combat100World100Game mode86Genre75Progression29Setting0
5

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

51
NGL91
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
RPGAction RPGFirst-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeOpen WorldExplorationFirst Person
Year 2025Dev Warhorse Studios · Deep SilverPlaytime ~28hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Shelved next to Elite Dangerous for good reason: open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on tone and setting: this one brings strong narrative focus and a medieval setting.

Released 10 years after Elite Dangerous.

Genre100Combat100Progression100World69Visuals60Game mode22

Explore games similar to Elite Dangerous by category

If Elite Dangerous left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the simulation or the adventure that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on Nintendo Switch, PS5, PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Elite Dangerous look-alike but simply the best First-Person Action RPGs there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the RPG Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.