Games like StarDrive

If StarDrive scratched a replayable and tense itch for you, keep reading. These games are worth a look next.

Star Ruler
Take command of a vast interstellar empire and safeguard your species from total extinction in a procedurally generated 3D galaxy (with the option to flatten it) from 1 System to 10,000+! Prove your species' ingenuity through a deep and intricate combat system where anything (from individual components on ships to the stars themselves)...
Replayable
86% of 261 Steam reviews are positive$7.99
Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander
Design starships piece by piece, staff them with crews of individually simulated people, and send them into physics-driven battles where every module can be blown off the hull. Explore a procedurally generated galaxy alone or with friends, test your designs in online PvP, or build without limits in Creative Mode.
Replayable, Tense
94% of 12,130 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 588$19.99
Galactic Civilizations IV
Lead a young starfaring civilization from its first faster-than-light flight to galactic power. Explore procedurally generated galaxies, colonize worlds, design fleets, out-talk or out-fight rival empires, and win your way: by conquest, culture, diplomacy or prestige. Every run plays out differently, and no two empires feel the same.
Replayable
72% of 2,243 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 275$39.99
Space Empires V
A turn-based space 4X on a huge scale: explore a galaxy of 100 solar systems, research thousands of tech levels, design every ship from the hull up and test it in a combat simulator before it ever fires a shot. Deep, demanding, endlessly moddable, and the kind of empire builder that keeps pulling you back for one more turn.
Replayable
73% of 424 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 11$14.99
Sins of a Solar Empire II
A real-time 4X where tactics and empire-building happen in one mode with no turns. You zoom from missile-by-missile fleet fights to managing orbiting planets across a living galaxy, leading one of six factions from the TEC, Vasari, and Advent to victory by war, trade, culture, or diplomacy.
Replayable
82% of 7,259 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 848$49.99
Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection
A 4X space strategy from 2405, when humanity's first faster-than-light drive meets an alien attack on Earth. Six races with genuinely different ways to travel the stars, a randomized tech tree, hands-on ship design and real-time fleet battles. Turn-based empire building that plays differently every time, alone or with up to eight players.
Replayable
87% of 590 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 24$9.99
Polaris Sector
Can anyone build an empire in a place like this? Other factions are naturally suspicious of newcomers and may wage war at the first sign of unidentified craft. Here, a natural death is an uncommon luxury.
Replayable
70% of 420 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 8$39.99
Starpoint Gemini Warlords
Fly a gunship, end up ruling a star system. Starpoint Gemini Warlords puts you in the captain's chair of your own warship while you build fleets, conquer territory and grow an empire across Gemini. Lead the charge yourself or let your armada do the work, then do it all differently next time.
Replayable, Tense
72% of 3,078 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 11$34.99
Dust Fleet
Assume command of a battle fleet and deploy immediately to the Dust Zone, commander. Our main food supply station has gone dark and the United Earth Nations (UEN) needs to know why in this 4X RTS space sim. Manage your ships, control space stations, and watch your back.
Replayable, Tense
76% of 198 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 1$19.99
Dominus Galaxia: KS Edition
Dominus Galaxia is a 4X space strategy game with a focus on amplifying strategic decisions and minimising non-strategic busywork.
Replayable
83% of 251 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 6Free
Distant Worlds: Universe
A pausable real-time 4X space strategy on a huge scale: galaxies of up to 1400 star systems, private citizens running your economy, pirates to bribe or crush, and enough automation (or micromanagement) to play it exactly your way. Every galaxy is generated fresh, so no two empires unfold the same.
Replayable
71% of 1,422 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 5$29.99
X4: Foundations
You start with one ship and a whole galaxy that does not wait for you. Trade, fight, explore and build your way up to fleets, stations and production chains, in a simulated universe where factions keep trading and fighting with or without you.
Replayable
79% of 25,582 Steam reviews are positivePlayers online now: 2,122$9.99

Cheaper than StarDrive

Star Ruler

Take command of a vast interstellar empire and safeguard your species from total extinction in a procedurally generated 3D galaxy (with the option…

$7.99

Space Empires V

Explore a hundred-system galaxy, research new technology, design your own ships and grow a turn-based empire that plays out differently every time.

$14.99

Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander

Design every deck and turret of a starship, crew it with simulated people, and take it into battles where damage tears your work apart piece by piece.

$19.99

Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection

Build a space empire turn by turn, design your own fleets and fight real-time battles across a galaxy that never plays out the same way twice.

$9.99

Dust Fleet

Assume command of a battle fleet and deploy immediately to the Dust Zone, commander.

$19.99

Sid Meier's Starships

Build and command a fleet of starships and travel between planets as you explore, build, negotiate, and fight to preserve your vision for humanity.

$14.99

Star Ruler 2

Massive scale 4X-RTS set in space. Control hundreds of planets, manipulate galactic politics, research numerous advanced technologies, and command…

$19.99

Stars in Shadow

Claim star systems, grow a fleet from destroyers to Dread Stars, and take the galaxy by diplomacy or force.

$24.99

X4: Foundations

Trade, fight and build your way from a single cockpit to a space empire in a simulated economy that runs whether you join in or not.

$9.99

Stellar Warfare

Space RTS with base building and ship customization. Personal passion project.

$19.99

Starcom: Nexus

Explore hand-crafted star systems, upgrade your stranded shuttle into a warship and unravel the mystery of how to get home.

$19.99

StarShip Constructor

Galaxy is on fire! Only you can save it! More than 20 modules and even more weapons and equipment,you can design your own spaceship and defeat the…

$4.99

Hidden gems like StarDrive

Starcom: Unknown Space

An action RPG about drifting through a hundred star systems in a ship you built yourself.

$24.99

The Last Starship

Design a working starship from the reactor up, then take it into a fresh galaxy each run as a miner, pirate hunter or anything else you fancy.

$19.99

Starminer

Build a mining ship piece by piece, haul in asteroids and manage the heat your greed creates before something out there notices.

$29.99

Space Reign

An indie space-sim and strategy game featuring ship and fleet combat mixed with RTS elements.

$19.99

SpaceBourne 2

Fly, fight, mine and trade your way across a procedurally generated galaxy, then run the faction that rules it.

$19.99

Sins of a Solar Empire II

A real-time 4X where tactics and empire-building happen in one mode with no turns.

$49.99

Dominus Galaxia: KS Edition

Dominus Galaxia is a 4X space strategy game with a focus on amplifying strategic decisions and minimising non-strategic busywork.

Free

Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander

Design every deck and turret of a starship, crew it with simulated people, and take it into battles where damage tears your work apart piece by piece.

$19.99