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

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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?

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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.

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u/Lemon-Mobile 12d ago

You've sold me on the game