The summer of 2025 features exciting space games including the RTS Era 1, the space pirate FPS Wildgate, the narrative-driven survival game The Alters, and major updates to Starship Simulator and Elite Dangerous. Additionally, the cooperative spaceship simulator Jump Space is highly anticipated, promising a realistic and immersive multiplayer experience.
The summer of 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting period for space game enthusiasts, with a mix of new releases and significant updates. One of the standout titles is Era 1, a grand-scale space opera RTS available in early access. Inspired by Homeworld but with unique twists, players command the massive mothership Na’vi Mondo, customizing it extensively with modules like turrets, refineries, and mining grapples. The game combines strategic real-time gameplay with ship-building, set against a rich star map featuring locations from Jupiter’s moons to Mercury, promising a fresh take on space RTS games.
Another notable release is Wildgate, a space pirate FPS and starship combat game launched in July 2025. Set in the chaotic Reach sector, Wildgate offers a blend of first-person shooter action and cooperative multiplayer gameplay. Players crew customizable ships, engage in ship-to-ship battles, and can board enemy vessels for intense FPS skirmishes. The goal is to either secure a mysterious alien artifact or be the last crew standing, blending competitive multiplayer with a lighthearted, chaotic space pirate theme developed by Moonshot Games, a studio with Blizzard veterans.
The Alters, likely a favorite for 2025, offers a deeply introspective sci-fi experience focused on survival and narrative depth. Set on an alien planet, players manage a base and interact with clones of the protagonist, each representing alternate life choices. Developed by 11bit studios, known for This War of Mine, the game explores themes of identity, regret, and human nature through memory sequences and dialogues, combining survival gameplay with philosophical storytelling and beautifully varied environments.
Several major updates are also making waves. Starship Simulator released its massive Tech Demo 3 after an 18-month wait, featuring a redesigned exploration starship, improved galaxy generation, and the introduction of alien civilizations. Elite Dangerous added two new ships—the Panther Clipper, a high-capacity cargo hauler, and the Type 11 Prospector, a mining-focused vessel with unique capabilities. Additionally, the upcoming Vanguard update will overhaul the game’s Squadron system, turning player groups into more robust, guild-like organizations with shared resources, ranks, and a communal capital ship.
Lastly, the upcoming game Jump Space (formerly Jump Ship) is generating buzz as a first-person cooperative spaceship simulator for up to four players. It emphasizes seamless transitions between ship management and on-foot action, offering a more realistic take on space crew gameplay compared to similar titles like Wildgate. Although it has no confirmed release date yet, the popular demo and large Steam wishlist suggest it will be a major release. Overall, the summer of 2025 promises a rich variety of space-themed gaming experiences, from strategic RTS and narrative-driven survival to multiplayer space combat and cooperative ship simulators.