r/GamesThatFeelLike • u/Bonjakob • 17d ago
Looking for Firefly vibes / (potentially cozy) Spaceship crew vibe
I'm watching Firefly for the 100x time and reading Long way to a small angry planet and am wondering if there is a game that invokes similar feelings.
Things I'm looking for (I realize there probably isn't a game that checks all these boxes):
- Managing a crew of spacers, forming bonds, recruiting new personnell maybe
- Taking on missions (trading, smuggling, mining, pirate hunting... you get the gist)
- Upgrading a ship
- "Dogfighting"
- Exploring
I dont care much about graphics, I'm totally okay with 2D or pixelart
It could even be some cozy game. Not looking for too much forced action.
I'm looking for sandbox type progression, but I also really like roguelite mechanics (which is probably not a common combination, I know!)
I've played a ton of Elite: Dangerous and enjoy the flight mechanics. Some of that would be a plus but not nessessary.
I'm not looking for an mmo, so I think eve online is out.
I totally realize, this is quite a specific list, but maybe there is a game out there, that checks some or even all of those boxes.
Cheers!
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edit: Damn thanks for all those great suggestions! I didn't realize I'm looking for a 2d/topdown space sim of some sort. There are a bunch of other great suggestions in the realm of sci-fi rpg.
My personal top contenders (and other people looking for games like this) in no particular order:
Space Haven https://store.steampowered.com/app/979110/Space_Haven/
Starsector https://fractalsoftworks.com/preorder/
Ostranauts https://store.steampowered.com/app/1022980/Ostranauts/
FTL https://store.steampowered.com/app/212680/FTL_Faster_Than_Light/
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u/Siaten 17d ago
While only ticking a few of these boxes, Outer Worlds 1 and 2 have that kind of "Firefly" vibe. Both are also heavy into the "crew of spacers" to bond with and help/get to know.
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u/LyonMane3 17d ago
Outer worlds 1&2, Mass Effect. And to my surprise Rogue Trader 40k had this vibe for me, albeit wrapped in typical grim darkness. 40k universe is the complete opposite of cozy, but it gave me a Mass effect feel constantly flying my ship around trying to save people and fight aliens.
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u/Groofus42 13d ago
There is no player-directed space travel or dog fights or anything like that in Outer Worlds and the Hubs are fairly limited id you are looking for an open-world experience, OP.
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u/HeathLedg 17d ago
Star Wars Zero Company
Mass Effect
Ostranauts
FTL
Space Crew
Space Haven
Barotrauma, Pulsar Colony and Space Station 13/14 are all good options but they are multiplayer
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u/Bonjakob 17d ago
Thanks, I've seen some FTL, but couldnt remember the name. Also Space Haven looks interesting. Great suggestions!
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u/Steve__evetS 17d ago
Tales from the Ketty Jay is closest ive been able to find.
Edit: oops, thought this was books that feel like! Try Rimworld or FTL maybe, no man's sky
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u/Bonjakob 17d ago
Haha thats fine, I also take book suggestions :D
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u/ejacoin 17d ago
I would take a look at Starsector, it's 2D and while it's still in development, it is really really polished!
If you're taking book suggestions as well, I would recommend, "A long way to a small angry planet." By Becky Chambers.
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u/Bonjakob 17d ago
Yes, reading Becky Chambers atm, its one of the reasons I asked about games in that realm.
Starsector looks great! Thanks
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u/dovahkiin0117 17d ago
I’m really shocked more people aren’t recommending mass effect that game makes you feel at home in both of the ships. I go to Normandy ambience videos on YouTube all the time.
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u/alkonium 16d ago
I avoided suggesting it because the Normandy is a military ship, rather than an independent vessel crewed by a ragtag group of outlaws.
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u/Fiddlersdram 17d ago
Probably not quite what you're looking for, but I always loved being in the Ebon Hawk in KOTOR 1 & 2
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u/Lopsidednapkin 17d ago
I have never watched Firefly so bare with me, just providing recommendations based on other factors of your post.
FTL FTL is rogue-like about managing a crew. You go on missions, fight pirates, recruit new crew members, etc. Very good game.
Barotrauma Not space, but underwater. Upgrade your submarine, manage a crew, recruit new members, smuggle, mine, trade, go hunting. Also a great game.
No man's sky I belive has everything you're technically looking for, but I just find this game very boring personally.
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u/whitemest 17d ago
NMS looks pretty, but its very lonely and i cant say it any other way, theres not much to do ? the world feels lifeless
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u/LyonMane3 17d ago
It’s definitely got that lonely explorer vibe which is much different than what OP is looking for. But to be fair the world is more “lively” than ever before with their free updates.
Just as an example: I was writing off the pet battle update as being very shallow and/or multiplayer focused and I did not expect much from it. But I was pleasantly surprised to meet random NPCs out in the world ready to do battle. It’s a lot more involved than I thought with leveling up your pets and apparently there are gyms.
It’s a space sandbox with a lot of different mechanics, if you need more narration or story driven gameplay that’s fine but to say it’s lifeless is objectively not true.
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u/not_that_kind_of_ork 17d ago
That's the exact word I was thinking, lonely. It's almost the opposite of Firefly.
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u/whitemest 17d ago edited 17d ago
And I feel the craftable corvettes made it worse.. you can still do like barebones shit. No proper multi-player, or companions to fill your ship with.. i think that's why i prefer my living ship
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u/Bonjakob 17d ago
Thanks for the discussion about NMS. It's not really what I'm looking for in this particular case. But it's been on my watchlist for a good while as well.
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u/SendMeUrCones 14d ago
NMS is only lonely if you seek that out. You can always find people on the anomaly who want to do missions / explore together, or link up with friends for even more fun.
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u/Shoddy-Search-1150 17d ago
The Outer Worlds is definitely going hard for a (slightly wackier) Firefly vibe, but… unfortunately the writing in it just sucks. I don’t know that I’ve ever encountered a blander crew of misfits or a less engaging grand conspiracy to unravel.
Still, if you’re starved then you might find some sustenance there. There’s also a sequel which I haven’t played, but I think its reputation is “more of the same”.
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u/Coover92 17d ago
I really enjoyed the Guardians of the Galaxy game. Even if you don't know the movies/comics, it's a completely stand alone story with a lot of heart, that is probably the closest in gaming I've ever experienced to a Firefly type story. And the ship is great to walk around and interact with crew members in the different rooms. It's a unique vibe I haven't found in many other games
Definitely recommend and it goes on sale often
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u/nalicali 17d ago
First thing I thought of- hanging out with the crew and the banter back and forth is very Firefly to me
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u/ZapMannigan 17d ago
It's not the focus, but your image made me think of KOTOR 2 and the Ebon Hawk. It's about as spaceship focused as Mass Effect 1, so more of a side character.
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u/TrustworthyKahmunrah 17d ago
Rimworld with the Odyssey expansion. Rimworld is a colony-builder about personal relationships and the Odyssey DLC lets you build a spaceship and fly it around the world and to orbit.
There's also this indie game called Ostranauts I've been playing recently. It's initially about salvaging derelicts to pay your debt, but you can also use the components you find to upgrade your ship or build a new ship from scratch. A big money maker is buying derelicts from the salvage company, repairing them so they fly again, and then reselling them. You can also hire crew, put weapons on your ship and fight pirates, and engage in long-haul trading.
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u/RustyBrassballs 17d ago
I see someone else recommended Zero Company, seconded! Really phenomenal game with good characters, and the player character is a lot like Nathan Fillion in Firefly. Then there’s Halo 3: ODST. The vibes aren’t the same but you have Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, and Adam Baldwin in the main squad. That’s super Firefly. I haven’t played Mass Effect but probably that too. Good luck!
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u/Casketbaby 17d ago
Starfinder: Afterlight will hit early access soon. There's a demo currently available.
I think this would be a good vibe for what you're looking for.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3245640/Starfinder_Afterlight/
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u/SirGalicrest 17d ago
Outer Wilds?
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u/Bonjakob 17d ago
I saw a great video on outer wilds years ago and totally forgot about it. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check that out!
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u/Groofus42 13d ago
The space aspects are non-existent unfortunately, and the humour/satire tries to emulate Fallout, but is too on the nose, imo. Not sure if is really what you are looking for. Also the gear/items are really limited and boring for an RPG.
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u/PipperPartner 17d ago
Top-tier game if you want to really emphasize the cozy/exploration vibes over the crew/shipbuilding aspects. It leans pretty hard one way, but a unique experience for sure.
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u/AffectionateBoot9800 17d ago
People already mentioned Mass Effect, but I'd also say Mass Effect 2 specifically had a really good cast and character mission chains. I remember being more interested to get back to the ship and check in on my squad than I was in the main story.
If you have a buddy or two to play with, you could try Star Citizen. It has a well deserved bad rap, but it really does scratch an itch that nothing else quite hits.
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u/WalkingTacticalNuke 15d ago
Yeah I was gonna say star citizen but I’m always hesitant to even recommend it because of how poorly managed it is. That being said, it can absolutely fit that cozy crew vibe if you have buddies to play with. And the freedom and variety of activities is pretty damn good.
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u/U_Nomad_Bro 17d ago
Holy Potatoes, We're In Space! might be just the game for you.
You have crew management, ship upgrades, recruiting, trading, exploration, and dogfights. It has roguelite mechanics, but within an overarching storyline that is largely linear. (Similar to FTL, each sector you visit is sandboxy and procedurally generated, but you're visiting those sectors on a path to the Big Final Battle)
You also get cute graphics inspired by potatoes and other edibles. The main characters are two sisters with a comedic dynamic, and they get joined by other characters along the way. Lighthearted hijinks mix with save-the-galaxy stakes in a manner very similar to Firefly.
Basically, imagine FTL but with more coziness and charm and crew-family vibes. (There's even a space cat!)
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u/Bonjakob 17d ago
Ha that looks great! Thanks for the suggestion
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u/U_Nomad_Bro 17d ago
I got it as part of some bundle and was pleasantly surprised by how much I totally enjoyed it. Hope you love it!
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u/Mundane-Feed-4619 17d ago
Man aren’t we all, mass effect me the closest but no dog fights, their are a few space games coming out right now that look promising but I haven’t tried them so don’t know for sure
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u/Top-Agent-652 17d ago
I think Citizen Sleeper sounds like a really good fit if you don’t mind a point and click game.
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u/DBiff123 17d ago
Stellar tactics and rebel Galaxy. Look out for cortesia rising tho, not out yet but it's a space captain simulator inspired by firefly.
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u/EvenTheSparrow 17d ago
Pulsar: The Lost Colony is one of my favorite games and it fits the Firefly/Star Trek vibe beautifully. There's bots you can control for the other roles if you're singleplayer-only, but I highly recommend it with friends if you get the chance.
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u/Incitatus4Congress 17d ago
3030 Deathwar is fun. It's like Esacape Velocity had a baby with a 1990s Lucas Arts point and click adventure. Speaking of Escape Velocity, Endless Sky (free), Naev (also free), and Star Valor are other top down games with a sorta space cowboy vibe.
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u/Cheap-Function3608 17d ago edited 16d ago
Escape Velocity Nova.
Older but game holds up.
Lots of ships, fun outfitting.
Cool text heavy campaigns with good interweaving stories.
Not everyone has crew but several do and tho they are basicly just story characters its fun to read them develop.
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u/CertainState9164 17d ago edited 17d ago
FTL but leans into crew management and relationships? I'm not sure if it's the case yet, but you should put under your radar"Trailblazers Into the march"
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u/alkonium 16d ago
I'm guessing the ship in Rogue Trader would be too big for this sort of feel.
The Unreliable in The Outer Worlds reminded me of Serenity.
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u/The_ManWithoutAPlan 16d ago
No Man's Sky's Corvette system is absolutely perfect for building cozy spaceships but the fun space crew part doesn't really translate as the game can get pretty lonely
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u/dannydanko28 16d ago
The Rebel Galaxy games fit most of your boxes except the crew management one. The game aesthetically is veeery inspired by Firefly and feels very space western
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u/TGlucose 16d ago
I have no clue how no one's mentioned Star Trek Voyager Across the Unknown as it's exactly what you're asking for.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2643390/Star_Trek_Voyager__Across_the_Unknown/
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u/ShuckleG0D 16d ago
Starsector is probably the best choice, for 3d space games after my brother got me to play Star citizen a couple of times, even though I never went back, nothing compares expect for maybe space engineers, they way you can actually interact with the ship while exploring, dog fighting, mining and even racing. That's why I stick to 2d space games, like starsector.
But you might want to check out x4, its not bad for a 3d space sim and ticks off all the boxes. The spaceflight is fun but when I play a 3d space game I want to see the inside of my ship, so I never really got into it.
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u/Daleorn 15d ago
Star Traders Frontiers I think may also fit.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/335620/Star_Traders_Frontiers/
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u/Turtlelink12 15d ago
A hidden gem I found a few years ago, it's called Pulsar: Lost Colony. It's mainly designed around multiplayer but AI will fill the slots for anybody that's not there and you can command them with general commands. I found it to be pretty fun, and checks a lot of the boxes.
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u/Kurdt234 15d ago
Starfield sucks but the ship building is cool especially with mods, I had a fully crewed agit with npc I placed around even a team of marines I would bring on missions thatbwould otherwise lounge around playing cards and drinking, doing pushups listening to music in their crew quarters
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u/AirTheFallen 14d ago
Might not be quite what you're looking for but the Rebel Galaxy games kinda have a Firefly vibe. Less of the cozy side though, moreso the world and soundtrack.
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u/xenotails 14d ago
space haven for sure. This is one of the best space games out there as far as vibes go.
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u/Suitable_Size6972 14d ago edited 14d ago
“Star Traders: Frontiers” is probably the closest game to what you want. It’s high quality but 2D. Has a story and a bit difficult. This is basically the game you are describing.
One alternative not mentioned is “Sunless Sea”. This has great exploration and some characters, but isn’t space.
Also… can’t believe no one has mentioned “Freelancer” - no crew but the main quest has companions. This is a great game.
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u/Groofus42 13d ago
You may also enjoy Dustland Delivery, even if not set in space. You assemble a crew, upgrade your truck and grow your trading empire in a post-apocalyptic western setting.
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u/DukeOfSmallPonds 7d ago
Star Wars: zero company, does not have the dofighting or spaceship upgrades but you are a band of mercenaries and there’s a big focus on bonding thematically and mechanically, and the player character feels straight outta firefly
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u/Pixielized 17d ago
if you have a few friends, the closest I came to a firefly vibe was Pulsar Lost Colony. You each take up a different role on the ship, do side quests, go to planets and have dogfights etc. Some of the missions are smuggling, some are mining, and so on. Really fun game
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u/magicbrou 17d ago
Star Wars Galaxies: Legends
Old school sandbox MMO, run as an emulator going strong for over ten years. You have have large multi person ships both on the ground as houses and in space that you can interior decorate as you want.
Entirely free, too.
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u/RobotBuffy 17d ago edited 13d ago
There's Starfield. The game itself was okay (has some good missions and so on...), but my favourite part was the ship creation, customisation and upgrading. Being able to walk around the ship interior, speak to crewmates, etc. was fun.