Summary
- Starsector offers detailed trading and combat, with capital ships being powerful but costly.
- Battlestar Galactica Deadlock features essential capital ships in seamless turn-based combat.
- Elite Dangerous rewards exploration and boasts enormous capital ships demanding attention.
When playing a game set in space, there's nothing more exciting than taking control of the biggest ship in the system and going head-to-head against an enemy fleet in an epic battle. Even outside of combat, capital ships are crucial for resource gathering, exploration, and maintaining dominance in the far reaches of space.
These massive vessels often serve as mobile bases, command centers, or carriers as players explore the vast, uncharted reaches of the galaxy. For players who love this kind of gameplay, these are some of the best space games that feature capital ships in all their glory.
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10 Starsector
An Open-World Space Exploration Game
Starsector
- Released
- April 26, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC
Starsector is a top-down, 2D open-world space game that features a detailed trading and combat system. The game has an in-depth economy with some interesting and unique features. For example, if players sell weapons and blueprints to other factions, those factions will incorporate what the player sold into their arsenal. So, players shouldn’t be selling good weapons to rival factions, or they may find those weapons being used against them.
Capital ships are the most powerful and durable vessels in the Starsector; however, they come with a high price tag and significant upkeep costs. There are numerous capital ships to choose from in the base game and, with the many available mods, this selection can be further expanded. The 2D combat and limited ship variety do slightly affect the overall capital ship experience, making it a great choice but not as immersive and engaging as others in this ranking.
9 Battlestar Galactica Deadlock
Turn-Based Battlestar Galactica Excitement
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock
- Released
- August 31, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
- Platform(s)
- PC
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock is a turn-based tactical strategy game set in the beloved sci-fi universe of Battlestar Galactica. The gameplay is seamless and effective, eliminating complex and unnecessary features found in similar titles. Players must think tactically to progress through the missions, especially in the later stages against more competent enemies.
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Capital ships play a crucial role in combat, both offensively and defensively, making them essential for an effective fleet composition. Utility-based capital ships like the Atlas are great and take the brunt of the damage from the enemy. Others, like the high-speed Manticore, are great for hit-and-run style attacks. Despite the strategic depth of capital ship battles, the slower-paced gameplay isn't for everyone.
8 X4: Foundations
An Immersive Space Simulator
X4: Foundations
- Released
- November 30, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
X4: Foundations is an immersive space simulator that enables players to explore the cosmos, build extensive empires, and pilot ships from a first-person perspective, including capital ships. The gameplay is intricate, featuring a comprehensive economy and a challenging learning curve that rewards players who invest time in mastering the game's mechanics.
With the fighters in X4: Foundations feeling slightly overpowered, having a strategically positioned capital ship taking the brunt of the damage can be crucial for success. There are more than 20 capital ships available for players to choose from, and that's not even including DLC or mods. The steep learning curve and slower pace make the capital ship gameplay in X4: Foundations less accessible compared to other titles. However, many players enjoy its great customization and vast universe.
7 Rebel Galaxy
A Space Adventure Game
Rebel Galaxy
- Released
- October 20, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Rebel Galaxy is a space adventure game filled with action, exploration, trade, and discovery. Although it is set in a 3D world, both the player and enemy capital ships can only maneuver in a 2D plane, resulting in interesting and unique gameplay.
As players progress through the story, they will be able to purchase larger and more advanced capital ships while equipping them with a wide range of deadly and unique weapons, allowing for different play styles. Rebel Galaxy also features detailed trading and negotiation mechanics for more peaceful players. While the 2D plane of movement for capital ships offers a unique experience, it may not appeal to everyone, particularly players familiar with similar titles. Still, the capital ship mechanics hold their own.
6 EVE Online
An MMORPG Set In A Vast Player-Run Universe
EVE Online
- Released
- May 6, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Violence
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
EVE Online is an MMORPG centered around ship-to-ship combat and trading within a vast, player-driven sci-fi universe. Capital ships are among the most powerful vessels in the game and are best used within a coordinated fleet, as they are often targeted by other gangs/fleets.
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There are eight main types of capital ships: Freighters, Jump Freighters, Dreadnoughts, Lancer Dreadnoughts, Carriers, Force Auxiliaries, Supercarriers and Titans. Each capital ship has a unique role. Supercarriers and Titans are the largest, most expensive ships in the game, and can only be built and docked in XL citadels and megastructures.
5 No Man's Sky
The Game With One Of The Best Comebacks In Gaming History
No Man's Sky
- Released
- August 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
No Man’s Sky is a vast open-world game that allows players to explore an almost infinite universe composed of over 18 quintillion procedurally generated planets. Although the game had a rocky start, it had one of the most impressive comeback stories in gaming history.
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No Man's Sky doesn't include capital ships in the traditional sense, but it does feature massive ships called freighters that players can command. With the Endurance Update, players can fully customize their freighters' interiors, transforming them into agricultural hubs, scientific vessels, industrial workhorses, or versatile ships. Freighters add customization and strategy, but their role is more of a base-building tool rather than traditional capital ships.
4 Star Wars: Empire At War
A Real-Time Strategy Game Set In The Star Wars Universe
Star Wars: Empire at War
- Released
- February 16, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Star Wars: Empire at War is a real-time strategy (RTS) game set in the expansive Star Wars universe. Players can control three main factions in the base game: the Galactic Empire, the Rebel Alliance, and the Zann Consortium, along with several others available through additional mods.
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Capital ships play a key role in the game, acting as the heavy hitters of the fleet while also protecting smaller vessels. Each faction possesses at least one capital ship, like the Imperial Star Destroyer. This limited ship variety is a bit of a drawback, but this can be expanded through mods, such as the popular Fall of the Republic mod.
3 Elite Dangerous
A Massive Open-World Space Exploration Game
Elite Dangerous
- Released
- December 16, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Drug Reference, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Flight Simulator
Elite Dangerous is a massive open-world space exploration game set in a 1:1 scale representation of the Milky Way galaxy, featuring 400 billion-star systems. Players explore a vast galaxy, engaging in trading, combat, bounty hunting, mining, and even piracy, with the primary goal of upgrading their ships and fleet.
The capital ships in Elite Dangerous are enormous and act as mobile space stations, allowing players to store smaller ships, hand in bounties, and host other players' ships. However, the capital ships are expensive to buy and run, and can only be docked at specialized space stations. Players will need to be strategic while navigating through the galaxy.
2 Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
One Of The Best Space Games For Modding
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
- Released
- June 12, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Stardock Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion is one of the most popular RTS games of all time. One of the reasons for its popularity is its vibrant modding community. There are mods available for nearly all major sci-fi franchises, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate, Halo, and more.
Unlike similar titles, capital ships in Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion should be used more cautiously. Bue to how expensive they are, they should only be built for specific situations and abilities. One of the most important abilities a capital ship can have is the Colonize ability, allowing the player to colonize a planet without the need for an expensive and fragile colonizing vessel. Sins of a Solar Empire excels in offering large-scale, meaningful capital ship battles, though its limited direct combat and the situational use of capital ships prevent it from claiming the top spot.
1 Stellaris
One Of The Best Space Exploration Games Of All Time
Stellaris
- Released
- May 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Violent References, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- 4X, Grand Strategy
Stellaris is a strategy game with a focus on exploration, discovery, and the expansion of the player's empire. Players must control their empire by sending out exploration ships to discover strange new worlds, construction ships to build new space stations, and, of course, military vessels to squash any rival empires.
With the extra content from expansions and mods, capital ships in Stellaris can become enormous. These ships are key to both building an empire and winning battles across the galaxy. With great customization options, players can optimize their capital ships to suit their own playstyle. With all these features and the overall gameplay, Stellaris is perhaps the best space game that allows the player to use capital ships to rule the galaxy.
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