My first blog post is also the first in a several part series of blog entries about the space-sim genre, it's peaks, it's lows, it's past, and it's future. This blog post is about the 10 best space-sims ever made.

A space-sim is a wide category of games, stretching from space trading simulations like Wing Commander: Privateer, arcade space-sims like X-wing, and even Hardcore SpaceCraft Simulations like Orbital. Basically, any game that involves twitch based cockpit controls, where you fly around in space, is probably a space-sim, with some exceptions, like rpgs set in space (EvE online).

It was pretty hard for me to pick this list, but in the end I decided to not list games from one franchise more than once, instead simply listing the best game from this franchise. That way half the list isn't wing commander or x-wing vs tie fighter games, and more games get recognition. There were alot of games I decided not to include, which are put at the bottom of the list.

Top Ten Best Space-Sim Games of All Time:

10) X: Beyond the Frontier

X: Beyond the Frontier was released on December 31st of 1999, thus being the last space-sim released last millenium, and effectively ending the age of the space-sim as a major genre. After this game things mostly went downhill in terms of sales. It is a hardcore trading and financing space-sim, with a little combat, like Elite or Privateer. Many did not like it's slow pace, but it was very deep and complex overall, though it could get boring for those not interested enough in controlling a financial empire.

9) Jumpgate: The Reconstruction Initiative

Jumpgate is a space MMOG that was released in September 2001. It has a small userbase and received very little coverage due to internal contract problems that severely hampered it's release. However, it managed to be the first Space-Sim MMO (not space MMORPG, like Eve, that's a different genre) to be really engaging and fun, allowing you to mine, fight, trade, and more. However, due to a steep learning curve and the botched release, it has never gained widespread popularity as an MMO, though it has a small but dedicated fan base.

8) Freelancer

Freelancer is a space-sim that was released in March 2003. Originally designed as a hugely ambitious project that would change space-sims forever, it was slowly scaled down. Eventually it turned into a project which tried to rectify many of the issues in space sims, mainly the steep learning curve, overly complex mechanics, and required joystick control. What resulted was a love-it or hate-it game, with some space-sim fans decrying it for it's simplicity and mouse control, while others loved it for the same reasons, or because of it's server based multiplayer.

7) Allegiance

A little known game, Allegiance was released in march of 2000. Focusing on team based online space-sim gameplay, it never quite broke out as a major space-sim hit, being released after the golden-age of space-sims was already over. Like many space-sims released too late in history to be successful, this one accumulated a small but dedicated fanbase.

6) Noctis

This one was a hard decision. Under some definitions of 'Space-Simulation' this game would not fit, but in the end I decided to include it. The game puts you in control of a stardrifter, a space-ship that can pretty much travel anywhere in the universe pretty quickly. The idea behind the game is that you explore planets and moons, taking photographs and naming and categorizing the planets. It's not for everyone, but travelling across alien landscapes and landing on cratered moons or photographing oceans can be a huge amount of fun for people with a little bit more patience. There is no violence or action, and the graphics are definatly old-school, but it is a free download that is also incredibly small, while still including tons of planets and systems to explore. Overall, it's one of the strangest and most unique space-sims out there.

5) Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos

Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos was a game released in 2001. It featured beautiful graphics, newtonian physics, and fun missions. Overall it was simply a completely well rounded game, with some really cool and unique combat that came about due to the physics system. It was not a commercial success unfortunately, like so many high-profile space-sim releases around that time, and faded into obscurity, but it is still one of the most polished and well-rounded space-sims out there today.

4) Wing Commander

Wing Commander was one of the early creators of the arcade mission-based space-sim formula that dominated the 90's. Along with X-wing, it blazed trails in cinematic story telling and fluid and fun control and missions. It spawned one of the largest space-sim series, a series that is still awaiting the possibillity of a sequel. Some other games from the series are Wing Commander: Privateer, and Wing Commander: Prophecy.

3) Tie Fighter

Tie fighter was the second game in the x-wing and tie-fighter series, released in 1994. While X-wing started off the franchise, it was tie fighter that really perfected the formula. With a great plot and fast action, and some of the best designed missions ever, tie fighter easily became one of the best space-sims ever. It was a toss up between this and the original X-wing over who should take the third spot, but tie fighter took it because while X-wing started the franchise, it was totally beat out in all categories by tie fighter. Plus, who doesn't wanna shoot down those pesky rebels once in awhile? This game was followed up by the somewhat disapointing X-wing vs Tie Fighter,  it's expansion Balance of Power, which fixed most of the problems, and finally, X-wing Alliance.

2) Freespace 2

Freespace 2 was the last of the golden-age mission based arcade space sims, released in september 1999. And, more than any game before it, it really got everything right. The missions, the graphics, the controls, the weapons, the ships, near everything was perfect, resulting in the best mission based space sim ever made. With epic capitol ship battles, intense dogfights, easily the coolest weapon in any space sim (the beam cannon), the gameplay of freespace 2 was fast, addictive, and challenging. Freespace 2 definitely ended the age of the space sim with a bang.

1) Elite

This was the hardest decision I had to make for this list. Any of the top four games, Wing Commander, Tie Fighter, Freespace 2, or Elite, could have taken this spot. In the end I chose Elite, because it was one of the first, and it set the standard for all space-sim trading games that would follow, and really has never quite been bested. It spawned tons of sequels and elite clones, and even to this day games still replicate the basic premise of Elite. From Darkstar One to Freelancer to the X Series to EvE online to Infinity: The Quest for Earth, it has been the single largest influence on the genre. Elite was released in 1984, and ported to many different computer systems of the day. It featured 8 procedurally generated galaxies, within which you could bounty hunt, mine, trade, fight, and do most anything else you wanted. The total freedom the player had was one of the greatest things about Elite, letting you focus on any of the tasks specifically or doing all of them at once. Elite is the greatest space-sim ever made because it still holds up today, and because elite clones are still being made to this day, and will to the future, because of how strong the core gameplay mechanics were.

Honorable Mentions: Privateer, Starlancer, Orbiter.

Coming up next: The top 5 things that could save the space-sim genre.