1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
Base-BuildingSpaceColony Sim
$24.99 ~47.1 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 85.8% of 11k
The Squirrel's verdictLife support, crew needs, and resource scarcity are the survival levers Space Haven builds around, with a full campaign and an actual endgame that Last Starship lacks. Ship design is central to both, but Space Haven layers in crew-management depth and inter-ship combat. Median playtime is 47.1 hours. Reviewers consistently flag a clunky UI and a tutorial that demands real attention to work at all.
Not for you if you want a clean interface and gentle onboarding — reviewers describe the UI as a persistent obstacle even after the tutorial.
2
Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
CyberpunkOpen WorldOpen World Survival Craft
Jank Tolerant Jank TolerantRough edges and bugs — rewarding if you don't mind them.
$19.99 ~59.2 hr median no co-op complexity: heavy 80.6% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictSolo scavenging and inventory-based repairs on derelict ships are Ostranauts' core loop, swapping Last Starship's crew management and combat for a freeform, single-character simulation. The granular systems focus is comparable, but the experience is less guided and more reliant on player-driven interpretation. Median playtime is 59.2 hours. Reviews describe the game as rewarding in concept but mechanically rough in practice.
Not for you if you want crew management, combat, or mechanics that are consistently explained rather than left for you to piece together.
3
AutomationSpaceBase-Building
$19.99 ~34.6 hr median no co-op complexity: heavy 76.9% of 458
The Squirrel's verdictBoth are single-player logistics-and-building games about optimizing systems inside a growing structure, though Final Upgrade trades starship survival for factory-style resource chains with defined goals rather than an open-ended endgame. Reviews cite a confusing tutorial and cluttered UI early on, with an economy-focused update later reworking systems. Median playtime sits at 34.6 hours.
Not for you if you need a clear tutorial from the start or you want spaceship combat and crew management rather than factory-logistics puzzles.
4
Space SimEconomySci-fi
$29.99 ~23.6 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 74.7% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictBoth put you in a ship-building sandbox with modular part placement, flight, and combat layered on top. Starminer adds Newtonian physics and mining/drone systems the anchor lacks, but reviews describe combat as weak and the tech tree as underwhelming, with mixed opinions on whether mining delivers depth or just extra flying.
Not for you if you want deep, dedicated mining mechanics rather than flight and construction with mining as a minor add-on.
5
Sci-fiSpace SimOpen World
Moral Weight Moral WeightHard choices with real consequences are central here.
$14.99 ~17.9 hr median no co-op complexity: light 75.8% of 264
The Squirrel's verdictGaia Beyond is a space sandbox built around direct piloting, mining, and combat progression rather than managing ship interiors or internal systems. Released in 2020 with a 75.8% positive Steam rating, it sits closer to Freelancer-style space opera than a construction sim. Reviewers flag a rigid quest line, repetitive NPC dialogue, easy combat, and side quests that break if approached out of order.
Not for you if you want internal ship construction and systems management rather than third-person piloting and quest-driven combat.
6
Interstellaria
PCMacLinux
SpaceExplorationDiplomacy
$9.99 ~9.1 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 55.9% of 410
The Squirrel's verdictBoth put you in charge of a crew-run ship: assigning stations, managing systems, fighting other vessels. Interstellaria adds direct flight control during combat, planetary exploration with ground combat, and a full story campaign instead of Starship's ship-building focus. It released complete in 2015, so the campaign has an actual ending, unlike Starship's endgame gap.
Not for you if you want deep ship construction over piloting, or care about polished UX rather than an older, rougher interface.
7
TradingSpaceEconomy
$9.99 ~12.8 hr median no co-op complexity: light 48% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictTrade-route logistics and crew leveling across a galaxy of star systems are Cosmonautica's focus, where Last Starship's ship-construction depth gives way to a Sims-meets-space-trader loop. Reviews describe a broken economy with static markets, easy progression that maxes out within hours, and confirmed developer abandonment with no further patches planned. Median playtime is 12.8 hours.
Not for you if you want detailed ship design or ongoing development — the developer has publicly stated no further patches are coming.
8
SpaceSci-fi
$19.99 ~17.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 41.7% of 557
The Squirrel's verdictDesigning ship interiors room-by-room against cost and function is the shared core, but Starship Corporation adds a business layer of contracts, procurement trade-offs, and manufacturing decisions that Last Starship doesn't attempt. It released out of early access in 2018 and carries a Mixed Steam rating at 41.7% positive, with reviews citing persistent bugs, a shallow contract economy, and incomplete polish at launch.
Not for you if you want a polished, actively updated game — reviews and its Mixed rating suggest longstanding rough edges.