The recent landing of NASA’s Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter on the surface of Mars has reminded many of us of how exciting space is. Even before the early space missions and the moon landings of the 1960s and 1970s, the concept of humans reaching out beyond the boundaries of Earth has been tantalizing.
This fascination with everything extra-terrestrial has helped to inspire countless creators, leading to space-themed books, movies, television shows, and art. In more recent years, space-themed games have also become popular, especially thanks to blockbuster franchises like Star Wars and Star Trek. Over the last few decades, gamers have been treated to some spectacular games that have been set in, or themed around, space. Here are some of the best.
Space Invaders
Space Invaders was the original space game and was one of the first titles that many people played. It’s up there with Pong and Pac-Man as one of the pioneers for the medium and has inspired many copycats in the 40 years since its release.
Compared to modern games, it has a very simple mechanic. You control a laser cannon that can move horizontally along the bottom of the screen. An armada of aliens appears at the top and you must shoot your laser at each invader before they reach the bottom or shoot your cannon.
Despite its simplicity, it’s incredibly fun to play, even today.
Starburst
Starburst is a NetEnt video slot game found in many online casinos. It’s been around for nearly 10 years, making it a veteran in a very crowded market. Its name comes from its star-themed symbols and the bonus feature that results in stars bursting when the player lands on the Starburst Wilds.
Compared to some other modern video slots, Starburst is quite simple, with just 10 fixed pay lines, three rows, and five reels. This hasn’t discouraged players though, many appreciate its simplicity, bright and sparkly aesthetic, and space theme.
You don’t even need to wager money to play this iconic slot game, as there are around 100 different free spins starburst bonuses available to take advantage of.
Mass Effect 2
Available for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Xbox One (via backwards compatibility), Mass Effect 2 is the first sequel to the incredibly popular Mass Effect game.
It’s set in the Milky Way sometime in the 22nd century. Players are tasked with protecting humanity from a race of aliens ominously called the Collectors. Although the premise of a selfless hero defending Earth from space creatures is in no way original, Mass Effect 2 does it in such a way that it doesn’t feel tired or recycled.
For players of the original Mass Effect, having a completed save game can also unlock extra features, so it’s worth playing that too.
Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2
Available for the Nintendo Gamecube at launch, Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron 2 was one of the best titles for the console in its early years.
You take control of several ships from the Star Wars franchise, allowing you to recreate some of the most iconic battles from the movies, including the trench run through the Death Star.
Few console games have come close to recreating this fun experience and it’s worth finding a way to play today, even if it means buying a secondhand console.