Games like DarkOrbit in 2026
A lot of us spent years on DarkOrbit: a ship seen from above, pirates to farm, lasers to upgrade and clans fighting over maps. If you are looking for something similar today, here are the games we would point you to.
Astrylon is our own game, so take its spot on the list with that in mind. We tried to describe the others as fairly as we could.
1. Astrylon
A free top-down space MMO for Windows, made by a solo developer and currently in closed beta. Ten pirate sectors shared with other players, elites with bodyguards, guardians with telegraphed attacks to dodge in groups, and optional PvP. There are no classes: abilities drop as fragments and you slot the five you want. When you log off, your ship keeps farming on autopilot.
2. Nova Raider
A free space opera MMORPG that runs in the browser, with no download. You pick one of five ship classes and grow in a persistent universe of linked galaxies, with real-time combat, PvE, PvP, alliances and events. It is still updated by seasons and just celebrated its 15th anniversary.
3. Space Aces
A free-to-play space shooter released on Steam in January 2026, with shared servers, ship upgrades and team battles in PvP and PvE. It has an active competitive scene and many former DarkOrbit players.
4. Pirate Galaxy
An older free-to-play space MMO in full 3D, often mentioned as an alternative to DarkOrbit. You travel from planet to planet, mine, upgrade your ship and fight the Mantis.
5. EVE Online
Slower and more complex: one huge shared universe, a player-driven economy and corporations at war. It is free to start, with a paid tier. It plays very differently, but a lot of players end up there when they want more strategy.
Want to try Astrylon? The closed beta is free and access is given on Discord.
Join the beta on Discord