Space shooters and space sims you can play right now!

Rebel Galaxy

Release Date: October 2015

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS

Official Description: Rebel Galaxy takes place in a massive, randomly generated universe filled with nebulae, junkyards, asteroid belts, and ice fields. Rebel Galaxy has been designed from the outset for spaceship combat action. It’s not about clicking and issuing orders. It’s about feeling the concussion of a broadside blast, and the impact on your deflectors as they absorb a particle beam meant for your shield generator.

Gameplay: Some might say Rebel Galaxy is a dumbed-down space sim, but I think there's room in the genre for an accessible game. The important bits are there - an interesting galaxy to explore, resources to mine or trade and various factions to ally with or to battle. The broadside-based combat works well and it's all set to a twangy soundtrack that gives this game a unique space-western feel.

http://rebel-galaxy.com/

Kerbal Space Program

Release Date: April 2015

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Wii U, Mac OS

Official Description: KSP is a game where the players create and manage their own space program. Build spacecraft, fly them, and try to help the Kerbals to fulfill their ultimate mission of conquering space.

Gameplay: This is a slightly goofy game with a focus on realistic space flight simulation. You are given various components and adhering to realistic modelling of physics you need to complete your assigned missions for the Kerbal's space program. This is a challenging game but very rewarding when you achieve each space flight milestone.

https://kerbalspaceprogram.com/

Elite: Dangerous

Release Date: December 2014

Platform: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS

Official Description: Your actions shape the galaxy. The galaxy shapes your experience. As you play, your actions, experience and story influence a unique connected gaming experience and an evolving narrative that provides ever-changing multiplayer gameplay opportunities.

Gameplay: Everyone on my previous post was shouting about this game (even though it's been out a while) but opinions are apparently mixed. The game is still in heavy development, but is going the paid expansion route rather than Early Access. You take control of a single ship and engage in combat, trade, smuggling and interactions with other players and factions across a galaxy of 400 billion solar systems.

https://www.elitedangerous.com/

Starpoint Gemini 2

Release Date: September 2014

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One

Official Description: Starpoint Gemini II is an action space-sim combined with diverse RPG elements. Control various space ships, ranging from small and agile gunships to lumbering, but deadly carriers. Explore, trade, research and fight in a star system no longer hindered by loading points.

Gameplay: Starpoint Gemini 2 is very close to a traditional single-player space sim. There isn't much in terms of a campaign, the focus in on exploring and utilizing the sandbox you've been given. The next game in the series, Starpoint Gemini Warlords, will be entering early access soon and will have a greater focus on base construction and larger strategy.

http://starpointgemini.com/

Star Conflict

Release Date: February 2013

Platform: Microsoft Windows

Official Description: Star Conflict is a dynamic MMO action game that puts you at the helm of a space ship to fight in the star fleet’s massive battles! The whole world for PVP and PVE!

Gameplay: Star Conflict is more of MMO (with all that goes along with it like loot drops and grinding) than it is a space sim. Still, the lure of massive fleet battles is strong and its free to play so there's no risk in checking it out.

http://star-conflict.com/

Drox Operative

Release Date: November 2012

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux

Official Description: Drox Operative is a starship action RPG with warring alien races, fierce space battles, a dynamic, evolving galaxy.

Gameplay: Drox operative is a top-down action RPG set in space. Think of some of those massive space strategy games you might have played, then imagine just being a single mercenary within that universe. You jump from sector to sector completing objectives for the Drox while hunting space monsters and completing quests for different alien civilizations.

http://www.soldak.com/Drox-Operative/Overview.html

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Honorable Mentions

These are older games, but still good and very much worth the look:

Freespace 2 - Released in 1999, a space combat simulation game with tons of mods that keep it still relevant.

Freelancer - Released in 2003, an open world space simulation game, Star Citizen is said to be it's spiritual successor.

Descent 3 - Released in 2000, the last in the Descent series of claustrophobic space shooters. A modern re-imagining is in the works, early access for Descent: Underground is open now.

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Thanks for checking these space-themed games out!

This is related to my previous post of upcoming space sims: http://imgur.com/gallery/Sibt0

EDIT: @playingwithmyself helped me remember Evochron Legacy, the latest in the Evochron series... a free roam space sim with realistic flight that's made all the more impressive that it's the work of a single person.