Fractal Softworks Forum

Other => Discussions => Topic started by: Upgradecap on April 17, 2012, 07:18:28 AM

Title: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Upgradecap on April 17, 2012, 07:18:28 AM
Am currently on the hunt for some INDIE games that are pretty much similar to starfarer.

I don't really care if it's 4x or RTS, just something that is well-done and looking good, with all those elements that made starfarer good.

AND i am not taking mainstream games as a game, just want indie games now ;)

Anyone got some good ones out there? (And i'd prefer it if it where not too old, but rather from 2009-onwards :))
Title: Re: Any games similar to starfarer?
Post by: craftomega on April 17, 2012, 08:22:45 AM
Gratuitous space battles

steam
Title: Re: Any games similar to starfarer?
Post by: Catra on April 17, 2012, 08:27:01 AM
might want to change your thread title =P IME people usually don't read the OP with a title like that, so something more along the lines of "game recommendations?" would be more suitable.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Upgradecap on April 17, 2012, 08:35:51 AM
Changed title.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Iscariot on April 17, 2012, 08:51:13 AM
Play Sword of the Stars and its expansion packs. It is a 4x game, but it has pretty in depth starship customization, randomized research paths, and a procedurally generated galaxy.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Upgradecap on April 17, 2012, 08:52:04 AM
Play Sword of the Stars and its expansion packs. It is a 4x game, but it has pretty in depth starship customization, randomized research paths, and a procedurally generated galaxy.

Way ahead of you 8)

Though i have to say that SOTS2 sucks really hard :(
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: K-64 on April 17, 2012, 08:58:08 AM
When did you last play it?
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Upgradecap on April 17, 2012, 09:13:09 AM
When did you last play it?

SOTS1, A few days ago, can't play much of it because of this gane.
SOTS2, A month ago, Maybe less. It's bugged as **** and they are really far away from fixing them all.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: K-64 on April 17, 2012, 09:16:51 AM
I found it rather playable a couple of months ago
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Upgradecap on April 17, 2012, 09:19:19 AM
I found it rather playable a couple of months ago

SOTS2? Okx then i need to try it again through steam. Been actully waiting for a good space empires game, and it seems now that SOTS2 is playable. Does it have a intro scene? And how do you mod it ;D?
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: K-64 on April 17, 2012, 09:22:39 AM
Not sure on the modding, I kept it and the first vanilla.

You may also like Sins of a Solar Empire. The new expansion is currently in beta for it, and rather enjoyable
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Iscariot on April 17, 2012, 09:28:56 AM
Ew Sins. Suuuuuper simplistic compared to what I'm used to, and it's got that silly 'three faction' thing going on.

Try Galactic Civilizations II-- it's got even more customization than Sword of the Stars. However, it's kind of goofy, and the combat is not nearly as interactive. Very much like Civilizations IV in space with a goofy aesthetic.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Thaago on April 17, 2012, 10:00:11 AM
Master of Orion II is a very good game :P
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Upgradecap on April 17, 2012, 10:01:39 AM
Master of Orion II is a very good game :P

Yeah.... Too bad there's no later game, other than that, it's really a good game. But i was looking for a little later games than that :)
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: SwipertheFox on April 17, 2012, 11:52:18 AM
Ew Sins. Suuuuuper simplistic compared to what I'm used to, and it's got that silly 'three faction' thing going on.

Try Galactic Civilizations II-- it's got even more customization than Sword of the Stars. However, it's kind of goofy, and the combat is not nearly as interactive. Very much like Civilizations IV in space with a goofy aesthetic.

I agree Sins was ok up until the first space battle then I was done with it.  Galactic Civ II " SMELLS OF AWESOMENESS "
But honestly right now NONE of those games would get a cycle of cpu time because of this game...   ;D
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: cp252 on April 17, 2012, 11:50:45 PM
There's only one thing I dislike about Starfarer, and it's that it's set my bar for games really high. I haven't enjoyed a game of any genre since I found Starfarer. (apart from a certain arcade music game but that's not a particulary intellectual game.)
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Zapier on April 18, 2012, 12:22:53 AM
I always fall back to Space Empires IV for my space 4x game. It's got some great mods out for it (considering it's quite old now) and is simple to mod yourself as well. It's got great depth and has room for a lot of custom ships, races, even planets and such. Space Empires V I wouldn't recommend as its memory issue never seemed to get fixed.

The X series of games are a good choice if you're interested in more cockpit flying... X2, X3: Terran Conflict (I don't recommend X3:Reunion and I've yet to play the third X3 expansion).

Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Vaster on April 18, 2012, 12:29:34 AM
Yup. X3: Terran Conflict is excellent. I don't recommend X3: Reunion either though.

X3: Terran Conflict is a bit difficult to understand at first, but pretty awesome when you get the hang of it. Lots to do in it as well.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Okim on April 18, 2012, 04:44:21 AM
Well, if we are talking about games SIMILAR to Starfarer than i`d like to mention Weird Worlds: Return for Infinite Space. And there was a free project based on StarCon universe some time ago. I believe it was called Time Warp.

Both games have a top view combats. TW has a direct control, but no fleet control, WW has the opposite. Both games have smal campaigns where you can buy/barter things and/or salvage new ones from defeated foes and explored planets (WW only).

There is another exploration game with order-watch like battles. But i can`t recall its name. People who played it may recognise it by very simple graphics with red/blue ship models of unusual looks and awesome bonus damage when hitting ships on its belly.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Vandala on April 18, 2012, 05:29:58 AM
Warpath!!

This game is probably more alike then any other the others already named. Look it up, but make sure to put "game" with it in your google search bar or you'll find other things.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Typhoon_555 on April 18, 2012, 02:25:38 PM
Infinity Quest for Earth. Still under heavy development so isn't a game, YET!
Imagine Starfarer, but 3D and everything is to scale. An entire galaxy with millions of unique solar systems to explore. You can actually enter a planets atmosphere with no loading time. And Multiplayer! Trying to be as breif as possible. Been in development since I think 2004 and might be out within 2014, hopefully.  :D
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: cp252 on April 18, 2012, 04:50:50 PM
No, Typhoon. Stop. It looks cool in its own way, but how is it similar to Starfarer?
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Catra on April 18, 2012, 05:09:07 PM
read the OP dude. hes looking for games that look good and are well done, obviously cant comment on infinity quest, since its not even done yet :P

@ upgradecap

when i said "change the title" i really meant change the title. =P not add to it.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: TJJ on April 20, 2012, 02:10:04 PM
Nobody has suggested Transcendence  (http://neurohack.com/transcendence/)yet.

Not played it in a while, so don't know how much it's changed.
However it was a good experience last time I played it.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: JWNoctis on April 20, 2012, 11:49:45 PM
Can't believe no one has mentioned Battleship Forever, which was a major inspiration for Starfarer itself, and its predecessor Warning Forever, an Asian top-down shooter with lots, or rather, only boss fights against procedually generated battleships in space.

And, Flatspace I & II. Sort of Elite-esque with 2D gameplay in 3D graphic with view point similar with Sf.

Also...control-wise, NavyField can be configured like that with some in-game customization including fire control with mouse pointer, but that's a big-title MMO.

And lastly, you can't mention Transcendence without mentioning EV Nova, and there's also the turn-based Space Ranger I & II with simultaneous movement, mixed-in text adventures and delicious language localization, and another 2D turn-based spaceship fighting sim with similar movement style and no leading for its missiles whatsoever...Oh well.

All of the games mentioned, except that MMO and possibly Space Ranger, are indie.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Aleskander on April 21, 2012, 07:31:04 PM
Mount and Blade has the similar campaign idea
Including the freaking hard start
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: Dohon on April 24, 2012, 07:52:38 AM
...

There is another exploration game with order-watch like battles. But i can`t recall its name. People who played it may recognise it by very simple graphics with red/blue ship models of unusual looks and awesome bonus damage when hitting ships on its belly.

Flotilla? (http://blendogames.com/flotilla/)

Also, SPAZ aka Space Pirates And Zombies (http://spacepiratesandzombies.com/). A bit like the smaller / arcade-ish brother of Starfarer. I loved it.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: TJJ on April 24, 2012, 03:46:50 PM
Critical Mass (http://www.windowsgames.co.uk/critical.html) is a little like Starfarer.

Came across it ages ago; not graphically impressive, but there's an interesting amount of strategy to the game mechanics.
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: factotum on April 24, 2012, 11:53:41 PM
Let's see, so you're looking for a space-set game with RTS and RPG elements? Easy--Star Wolves 3. You don't get the same variety of ships as Starfarer (you basically have one mothership, which you only change as part of plot missions, and then a fighter wing aboard with individual pilots), but it's a pretty fun little game! (I've got the first two games as well but haven't got round to playing them yet, so I can't say if they're as good or not).
Title: Re: game recommendations similar to starfarer?
Post by: harperrb on April 25, 2012, 08:08:34 AM
Space Rangers is the hidden gem.

Open ended space RPG, multiple factions to *** off and trade with while dealing with an invading force, really difficult, but completely awesome.