10 PS5, PS4 Space Games to Play After Artemis 2's Big Moon Mission

In case you weren't aware, NASA has sent a squad of astronauts on the first manned flight to the Moon in over 50 years, and it's cool as hell.

The Artemis II mission is approaching its conclusion; the crew launched on 1st April 2026, spent about four days flying to and around the Moon, and is now on its return trip, landing back on Earth on the 10th.

It's been a very inspiring thing to watch; we've not been keeping super close tabs on the progress, but we have tuned into the live broadcast from time to time and the photographs from the trip are absolutely stunning.

If you're like us, this whole thing will have put you in the mood to take to the stars yourself. That's a tricky thing to achieve in real life for most people, but luckily, there are plenty of games where that's more than possible.

Below, we've listed a batch of PS5 games that let you explore space, travel to distant planets, and more.

Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition

While the PS4 version was a shoddy port of the original, the PS5's Enhanced Edition is much more palatable.

It feels like the ideal place to go for anybody inspired by Artemis II. Based on realistic physics and aerodynamics, the game gives you the freedom to build your very own spacecraft and attempt to launch into space.

There's way more to do beyond just that, though; there are lots of missions to take on, from achieving orbit to establishing bases on other planets. If you're interested in the physics and science of space exploration, this gives you about as authentic an education as you'll find on PS5.

No Man's Sky

If you're not looking for a serious lesson in astrophysics, No Man's Sky gives you a simpler way to explore the cosmos.

Set in an absurdly huge universe filled with procedurally generated worlds, this is an idealised sci-fi dream of a game.

The default mode is all about survival as you gather resources to stay alive and eventually get your ship ready for interstellar travel. With a simulated economy, lots of missions to take on, and total freedom to explore how you see fit, there's so much you can do here it's almost intimidating.

It's also a game that's gotten bigger and better over time, introducing an impossibly long list of new features that have made it one of the best space games on PS5.

Star Trucker

This game does what it says on the tin, putting you behind the wheel of a space-faring truck.

Your job is to ferry all sorts of freight from one location to another, and that's easier said than done in this surprisingly challenging and technical simulation game.

Navigating a zero-gravity environment while adhering to the rules of the "road" and maintaining your vehicle is pretty tricky, and there are all kinds of ways your missions can go sideways.

There's a real learning curve here, but if you have the patience to get to grips with Star Trucker and how it operates, there's a satisfying sim here well worth exploring.

Heavenly Bodies

Few games really get across how difficult it is to manoeuvre with no gravity, but Heavenly Bodies is one example — and it's a great laugh with a friend.

Playing in co-op is the best way to experience this one. You play as astronauts tasked with completing seemingly simple missions aboard stations floating through space.

The thing is, you control your arms and hands individually, and just moving around the way you intend to proves extremely difficult.

There are some great challenges here, and you and a buddy will either have a great time laughing at each other's failures, or you'll never speak to each other again. It's one of those.

Dead Space

This game probably doesn't need much of an introduction, but it's among the best games set in space on PS5, so we had to include it.

This is a remake of the beloved PS3 survival horror game, in which you play an engineer aboard a doomed space ship filled with horrible necromorphs.

While the game isn't so much about travelling through the stars, its uniquely unsettling atmosphere is made even more oppressive when you remember it's all set on a ship drifting through nothingness. There are some great moments that remind you of the perils of space travel, too. If you have the nerve, this is definitely recommended.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Perhaps one of the most iconic sci-fi series in gaming, Mass Effect Legendary Edition bundles together the beloved original trilogy of BioWare RPGs.

Playing as Commander Shepard, you call the shots as you explore the galaxy, make impactful choices, and get to know your crew aboard the Normandy.

With dozens of hours worth of space-faring goodness and a gripping story to boot, this is a great pickup if you've yet to experience it for yourself.

Elite Dangerous

Elite Dangerous is no joke.

This is a straight-faced simulation game that, while set in a slightly heightened version of reality, aims to deliver the most realistic experience possible.

Elite Dangerous is a massively multiplayer space exploration game in which you can travel the length and breadth of the Milky Way, getting into all kinds of scrapes.

This is a serious game that asks a lot of its players, but there aren't many titles doing space exploration on this level.

Starfield

Recently released on PS5, Starfield is a sci-fi RPG from Bethesda, most famous for The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.

While it's not perfect, there's plenty to like here; there are lots of characters to meet across the game's various worlds, the combat is great, and you can deck out your ship pretty much however you want, which is pretty satisfying just by itself.

Starfield's aesthetic has a similar cool factor to NASA, as well; there's something grounded about the way it looks that may appeal if you're vibing with Artemis II right now.

Star Wars Outlaws

We could've put any number of Star Wars games into this list, but Outlaws is perhaps the best representative in terms of exploration.

Playing as a notorious rogue, you form alliances with some of the dirtiest crooks in the galaxy, taking on missions across an open world experience that takes you to various planets.

Flying from one world to another while evading the attention of the people you cross is a fun space-faring adventure, especially if you're a Star Wars fan.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

Perhaps the game on this list that's the most abstracted from actual space travel, but its vibes are so good we had to include it.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector might be a sequel, but you don't really have to have played the original, as it tells its own story — and we reckon it's the better game overall.

You play as an android with the mind of a human and a body that's failing you, and what's more, you're on the run.

Using a tabletop RPG-inspired system, your actions each day are determined by dice rolls, and you'll have to use them carefully to get ample food, supplies, and fuel for your ship if you're to survive.

It's a unique and tense adventure across space, and though it does lose a bit of steam towards the end, its melancholy atmosphere and well-written characters make it worth checking out.

That's it for our space-themed recommendations, then, but we know there are lots more. What are some of your favourite video game jaunts into the great unknown? Tell us in the comments section below.