SpaceCraft hits 200k wishlists — here are 12 ship-obsessed games to play in 2025

SpaceCraft’s wishlist surge says it all – ship nerds are eating well in 2025

Shiro Games’ SpaceCraft racking up 200,000 Steam wishlists grabbed my attention for two reasons: Shiro has a track record of systems-first bangers (Northgard, Wartales, Dune: Spice Wars), and the pitch hits a sweet spot the community’s been craving – ship design that matters, automation you can actually scale, and a living economy to stress-test your creations. While we wait for its Early Access liftoff on PC, here’s a curated list of spacecraft-centric games you can play now or keep on your radar through 2025 – with honest notes on where they shine, where they wobble, and who they’re really for.

Key Takeaways

• The ship-as-system trend is peaking: modular builds, physics-first handling, and logistics loops are the new baseline.
• Early Access dominates this scene — great for iteration, risky for stability. Play if you enjoy shaping a game; wait if you want polish.
• PC is king here for mod support, inputs, and communities that keep complex sims alive for years.
• Shiro’s SpaceCraft looks like the bridge between Factorio-style automation and X4’s living economy we’ve been waiting for.

Build and automate: for the engineers and logistics gremlins

SpaceCraft (PC, Early Access 2025) — The headliner. Think modular ship design where shape and mass distribution actually change flight behavior, layered over planetary resource chains and interstellar trade. If Shiro nails progression pacing (a common automation pitfall), this could be the rare builder where your “factory” is a fleet. Expect frequent updates; Shiro’s community cadence has been solid across their last three games.

Starbase (PC, Early Access) — A tinkerer’s paradise with fully destructible, voxel-built ships and stations. The physics-driven damage model is still unmatched, but Early Access has been a rollercoaster. Come for the shipbuilding, stay if you can stomach feature churn and PvP chaos. Best with a crew or a corp.

Starminer (PC, Early Access 2025) — Mining-first loop with outposts, upgrades, and procedural sectors. One to watch if you love optimizing extraction routes and tailoring ships for efficiency. If it leans into hazards and defense, it could scratch the “industrial survival” itch without becoming another generic sandbox.

Space Engineers 2 (PC, TBA/rumored 2025) — The community wants a true sequel, but temper expectations until official details lock. If/when it lands, expect heavier physics fidelity and sane multiplayer netcode to be the make-or-break. Until then, Space Engineers 1 with mods remains a monster.

Fleet command and tactical brains: for captains who think three moves ahead

Capital Command (PC, expected 2025) — Pilot a capital ship where momentum, firing arcs, and subsystem management matter. If you love the methodical dance of Nebulous: Fleet Command or Children of a Dead Earth, this is your lane. The fantasy of “bridge crew under pressure” is the hook; success depends on readable UI under stress.

Falling Frontier (PC, Early Access 2025) — A long-time wishlist darling for good reason: radar, logistics, and fog-of-war create cat-and-mouse engagements that reward intel and ambushes. If the campaign tools and ship customization deliver, this could be the thinking person’s space RTS of the year.

Era One (PC, Early Access August 2025) — Mothership-focused RTS with multiple modes (survival, scenarios, sandbox). The pitch is compelling — a tech-lab driven escalation while juggling collectors and fighters — but execution will hinge on AI behavior and encounter variety. Worth a watchlist if you miss classic macro RTS structure in space.

Exploration, combat, survival: for pilots chasing stories and set-pieces

X4: Foundations (PC, with 2025 DLC) — I’ve sunk an embarrassing number of hours here. It’s the modern standard for a living economy you can bend to your will: pilot anything, build stations, run fleets, mod it into oblivion. Steep learning cliff, but no other game lets your solo ship evolve into an empire so organically. If SpaceCraft is your automation playground, X4 is your sandbox rival.

Breathedge 2 (PC/Consoles, 2025) — Survival-in-space with sardonic humor layered over crafting and ship/base upgrades. If the sequel keeps the tone but tightens the grind and traversal, it’ll be the chill, story-light palate cleanser among these heavier sims.

Blackstar Ranger (PC, 2025) — Dogfights with RPG progression and ship tuning. Keep an eye on flight feel here — if it lands somewhere between Rebel Galaxy Outlaw’s swagger and House of the Dying Sun’s punch, this becomes a great “one more sortie” time sink.

Jump Ship (PC, Early Access 2025) — Crew management, damage control, and survival in a procedural universe. The promise is FTL-like triage with hands-on piloting and repairs. If the loop avoids busywork and keeps the crisis moments flowing, it could be a sleeper hit for co-op nights.

Squadron 42 (PC/Consoles, ongoing development) — The long-awaited, cinematic single-player from the Star Citizen universe. Expect top-tier ship interiors and production values; just keep your expectations in check on timelines. If the flight model carries the narrative set-pieces, it could finally give space combat fans a meaty campaign.

Why this matters now

Space games used to choose between “build cool ships” or “fly cool ships.” 2025 is increasingly offering both — systemic builders where ship design affects performance, and sims where economies and logistics give your combat a purpose. SpaceCraft hitting 200k wishlists isn’t just marketing; it’s proof players want friction between engineering, exploration, and trade. If Shiro threads that needle — pacing, UI clarity, and meaningful multiplayer roles — it won’t just be another Early Access science project. It’ll be the new yardstick for the genre.

TL;DR

SpaceCraft’s momentum shows ship-centric sandboxes are thriving. If you want building and automation, start with SpaceCraft, Starbase, or X4. If you crave command and tactics, watch Capital Command and Falling Frontier. Keep your Early Access expectations realistic — and your reactor output even more so.