
For the products we couldn’t test ourselves, we performed intensive research, reviewing content from expert sources like Wirecutter, The Verge, CNET, Tom’s Guide, DigitalTrends, and others, as well as thousands of consumer reviews. Many of these recommendations come from hundreds of hours of in-house use. HOTAS systems are centered around a separate flight stick and throttle setup, while yoke systems have one central, realistic steering controller. The two most popular control systems are hands-on throttle-and-sticks, or HOTAS, and flight yokes. Whatever your needs, there’s a joystick or yoke to suit your needs and budget. If you're flying an arcade experience with more casual titles like Star Wars: Squadrons and Ace Combat 7, you might need a high-quality yoke and a streamlined setup. If you're looking to create an experience that mimics flying a Boeing 767, perhaps you need more customizable buttons and rudder controls as well as that quality gaming monitor. However, it’s best to start by considering your gaming needs. No matter what kind of space adventurer you may be, there's a space game out there for you, and here are some suggestions for those that allow you to explore the universe in a number of ways.To any rookie flier, diving into the PC joystick market might seem daunting. There's a lot of popularity surrounding space battles or fighting on weird alien planets, but there's also lots of value in simply exploring and discovering everything and anything that may be out there. With the release of Callisto Protocol, High On Life, and the announcement for STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor, space games are getting bigger and more impressive.

Updated December 15, 2022, by William Quick: No matter what the current trends in gaming are, the idea of exploring outer space will always be a popular topic to explore. Here are the best space games out there with a heavy emphasis on space exploration. But when these games hit just right, they're some of the most rewarding gaming experiences out there. They're (generally) chill, time-consuming journeys that require the right mindset and the right expectations.

RELATED: No Man's Sky: Things Players Didn't Know They Could Do It partly depends on the player as to which kind of experience they receive, too some people just aren't wired to enjoy these kinds of games. Exploring space in a video game is generally one of two things: the most mind-numbing experience ever or a jaw-dropping adventure.
