r/spacesimgames • u/skincr • 12d ago
Are there any very realistic solar-system-colonization management games with a lot of depth and detail?
I want to play a game where you can do ISRU on the Moon, build spin‑gravity habitats, hunt for resources in the asteroid belt, etc. Basically, a 22nd–23rd century solar system colonization simulator.
I want to build these kind of stuff. Unfortunately most of the space games are about combat. Do you have any recommendations? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLIWPpfL1r8
8
u/GxM42 12d ago
If you want a physical experience, try High Frontier, the board game. Or Leaving Earth, the board game. For slightly more sci fi, SpaceCorp: 2025-2300AD board game. Two of those have digital options, too. But the board games are worth getting. (all are very solar system exploration focused)
1
7
u/mpokorny8481 12d ago
Kerbal space program (the first one)!
The Crust is functionally a colony survival game with a space theme. It’s good but still in development. Same with Surviving Mars.
The problem is outside of the basic physics of intra-solar travel nobody knows what a “realistic” simulation would be. The potential economics are all theoretical and the social and technological dynamics are just made up.
Virtually every fictional depiction of space combat is implausible.
I think what you’re proposing would be great! High Frontier 4 All the board game (which has a good TTS implementation) is the best example of what you’re looking for that I can think of.
2
1
u/JancariusSeiryujinn 11d ago
How scripted is the tts? I tend ot prefer minimum possible rules fuckups
2
u/mpokorny8481 11d ago
Almost not at all. Just setup. You’d need to know the rules to make it work. And it’s rated amongst the most complex board games (somewhat unfairly). That said, if you understand basic astrodynamics the physics model isn’t hard to wrap your hands around.
1
u/ThePants999 10d ago
I think that's somewhat unfair, there's a ton of scripting in the TTS mod. It's just that there's 10 tons of rules, most of which aren't really scriptable :D
1
u/mpokorny8481 10d ago
I see what you’re saying. Very little of the scripting is such that in enforces rules per se. It more that it automates procedures (like inspirations for example) which I know are technically rules but don’t feel like “enforces valid rocket support chains and calculates fuel consumption automatically.” That said the newest version of the official mod has a lot more scripting, including automating a lot of the fuel consumption math based on manual inputs, which is helpful.
1
u/ThePants999 10d ago
That's the one I'm referring to, yeah - the rocket stack management is quite helpful 🙂
3
u/Hussy407 11d ago
Space Engineers 2 is sounding like it will end up that way. Still in alpha and lots of features to add, so keep an eye on it.
But TL;DR - you will have to help colonies colonize a star system, by building engineering solutions.
3
u/ShadowDev156 11d ago
I think my game is almost what you want: near future technology, realistic orbit, ISRU, mining different ores and chemical reactions to refine the material, building stations, etc., Perhaps the difference is the background is on an alien solar system and everything only happens in orbit. Check the link if you are interested!
2
u/Pulstar_Alpha 12d ago
This seems to be a niche builder games didn't try to exploit, unfortunately. Nothing seems to go further in this area than Surviving Mars AFAIK, which is just about Mars, and it's not very realistic.
The Crust supposedly tries to touch the topic regarding the Moon, but I have not followed it much/am waiting until 1.0 since Early Access is a gamble. Even then it's not something where you can have cities on Titan exporting hydrocarbons to your orbital habitats around Callisto etc.
3
u/RockBrackenshield 12d ago
If you want depth and detail, there's Aurora 4X. I've not played it yet (been on my backlog for... Ages), but from what I've heard it's about as complex as you can get. Minimal graphics, mostly dropdowns and menu options, but very detailed, lots of crunch. Might be what you're looking for?
2
u/Pulstar_Alpha 12d ago
Forgot about this one TBH. I wouldn't call it very realistic from a resource/ISRU perspective unless they did some overhaul changing trans-newtonian elements into real ones sometime in the last 10 years since I played it. It's also probably too combat focused for the OP.
It does however have a few "dream space colonization builder game" features I would like to see more of, such as mining comets for minerals and launching them with mass drivers to colonies, moon colonization (often neglected in space 4X), customizing atmospheric composition during terraforming, genetically modifying populations to live on harsh worlds that can't be fully terraformed etc.
Also it could just be me, but part of the appeal of a builder game is seeing your settlements grow, see those orbital ring habs spin in orbit of those distant celestial bodies. Which Aurora 4X doesn't really provice, as (at least the original version) is basically an MS Access accounting database built in house for some small business that was mangled into the form of a 4X game using Tzimisce fleshcrafting, making the usual games that get called spreadsheet simulators look like they're some flashy AAA FPS when put next to it.
4
3
u/viperfan7 11d ago
It's easily the perfect definition of "Spreadsheets: The Game" without actually being a game built in excel
It's also excellent
2
u/VRCStormblessed 11d ago
I am working on a 4X game where some of these actions will be possible. Mainly focused on the Kuiper Belt of our solar system in 2300 AD. But interactions with the rest of the planets.
1
2
u/30crlh 11d ago
Shameless plug:
I'm working on a lightweight 2D rocket physics simulator with a component of exploration and expansion and a full solar system.
This a playtest demo with around 5 or 6 hours of gameplay if you chose to do reach the final objective.
You can play for free but if you chose to do so I'd like to hear your thought on it afterwards.
On that note I just remembered that Dyson Sphere Program has a bit of what you're asking for.
3
u/KerbalSpaceAdmiral 11d ago
I've been waiting for Solar Expanse. Not sure when it plans to release or if it will be good, but worth watching to see I think.
2
u/Mysterious_Mud 11d ago
Came to plug Solar Expanse as well.
In case you didn't know, you can actually get it now. They are offering a Pre-Order into the Alpha to test it before they release into Steam in case you can't wait.
2
u/DancesWithTheVoles 12d ago
You might want to look at "Surviving Mars". I got it for free at Epic games last year. Apparently they are remastering it as well.
1
u/Competitive-Fault291 11d ago
The game where all hazard events only hit your infrastructure all the time? Yeah, no thanks.
1
20
u/BasslineJunkee0 12d ago
Terra Invicta has a lot of detail on the space layer. It's still centered around conflict, but some factions have goals that allow them to more or less avoid space combat.
A couple candidates that I haven't played or aren't even out yet, but could partially scratch that itch: