Star Citizen vs EVE Online and No Man's Sky: which space game?
An honest comparison to help you pick, and how to try Star Citizen free first.
Quick take: Star Citizen is the most immersive and ambitious but unfinished and demanding. EVE Online has the deepest player economy and politics but is abstract and top-down. No Man's Sky is the most relaxing, fully finished and cheapest, and runs on modest hardware. If Star Citizen's first-person scope is what appeals, try it free during a Free Fly before buying.
There is no single "best space game", only the right one for what you want. Here is an honest comparison of Star Citizen against the two most-asked alternatives, plus where to read the Elite Dangerous comparison.
Star Citizen vs EVE Online
Both are multiplayer space games with huge scope, but they feel completely different. EVE Online is a deep, long-running MMO built around a single-shard, player-driven economy, corporations and large-scale politics, but you command ships from a tactical, top-down view rather than piloting them in first person, and it has a free-to-play option. Star Citizen puts you inside the ship and on foot in first person with much higher visual fidelity, but it is an alpha in active development. Choose EVE for economic and political depth, Star Citizen for immersion and presence.
Star Citizen vs No Man's Sky
No Man's Sky is a finished, frequently-updated game about relaxed procedural exploration across billions of planets, it is inexpensive, and it runs on modest PCs and consoles, with light multiplayer. Star Citizen is a high-fidelity, always-online shared universe with deeper ship and crew systems, but it is far more demanding on hardware, costs more to get into comfortably, and is still in alpha. Choose No Man's Sky for a chill, finished, low-spec experience, Star Citizen for fidelity, multiplayer depth and scope.
So which should you play?
- Want the most immersive, ambitious experience and can tolerate an alpha? Star Citizen.
- Want an unmatched player economy and large-scale PvP politics? EVE Online.
- Want a finished, relaxing, affordable explorer that runs anywhere? No Man's Sky.
- Want a polished sim with a single-player option? See the Elite Dangerous comparison.
If Star Citizen is the one that appeals, the lowest-risk way to judge is to play it free during a Free Fly. Make your account with STAR-JTV7-FXLR first so 50,000 UEC is attached if you decide to buy a Citizen Starter Pack.
Frequently asked questions
Is Star Citizen better than EVE Online?
It depends what you want. Star Citizen offers first-person immersion and manual flight but is an unfinished alpha. EVE Online offers an unmatched player-driven economy and large-scale politics but is more abstract and top-down. Try Star Citizen free in a Free Fly to judge for yourself.
Is Star Citizen like No Man's Sky?
Not really. No Man's Sky is a finished, relaxing procedural exploration game that runs on modest hardware and consoles. Star Citizen is a high-fidelity, always-online multiplayer universe that is more demanding and still in alpha. Different scope and feel.
What is the best space game?
There is no single best, it depends on what you enjoy. For immersion and scope, Star Citizen; for economy and PvP depth, EVE Online; for relaxed exploration, No Man's Sky. Try Star Citizen free during a Free Fly and use STAR-JTV7-FXLR for 50,000 UEC if you buy.
Is Star Citizen worth it over the alternatives?
If you want first-person immersion and the biggest scope and can tolerate an alpha, yes. If you want a finished, cheaper, lighter game, No Man's Sky or Elite Dangerous may suit you better. Either way, try Star Citizen free first, and attach STAR-JTV7-FXLR for 50,000 UEC.
Ready to claim the 50,000 UEC?
One click pre-fills STAR-JTV7-FXLR into the RSI signup form. Finish the account, buy a $40 or larger Game Package, the bonus is yours.
Enlist with code STAR-JTV7-FXLR