18 Games with a sci-fi setting like Kerbal Space Program that you should try

If Kerbal Space Program worked for you because of a sandbox world, a space setting and single-player focus, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. The distance is in progression — its own ground is resource management.

It shares the essentials of what Kerbal Space Program does: open world exploration, a space setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in progression — its own ground is resource management.

Genre puts it alongside Kerbal Space Program, and so does open world exploration, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel and 3D presentation.

Same family as Kerbal Space Program: open world exploration, a space setting and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. They part company on tone and visuals: this one brings strong narrative focus and 3D presentation.

Genre puts it alongside Kerbal Space Program, and so does a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is loot and gear systems, and fantasy world.

Same family as Kerbal Space Program: a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. The common ground extends to skill tree progression and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: fantasy world.

The genre is the same as Kerbal Space Program’s, and with it a sandbox world, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings fantasy world and crafting mechanics.

Shelved next to Kerbal Space Program for good reason: open world exploration, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is a casual, approachable feel.

Genre puts it alongside Kerbal Space Program, and so does open world exploration, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: strong narrative focus and fantasy world.

Same family as Kerbal Space Program: open world exploration, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. The distance is in tone and setting — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and horror setting.

The genre is the same as Kerbal Space Program’s, and with it open world exploration, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is historical setting.

Shelved next to Kerbal Space Program for good reason: punishing difficulty, open world exploration and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is setting and world: strong narrative focus and procedural generation.

Shelved next to Kerbal Space Program for good reason: open world exploration, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. Where they diverge is setting and visuals.

On paper it is what Kerbal Space Program is — open world exploration, a sci-fi setting and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: strong narrative focus.

Shelved next to Kerbal Space Program for good reason: open world exploration, a sci-fi setting 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 fantasy world.