Choosing among sci fi rpg games is easier once you know what you want from the story: a choice-heavy epic like Mass Effect, satire like The Outer Worlds, or a co-op shooter for friends. Check the platform before you buy.
Imagine opening a store page and facing a long list of space games, with no way to tell which ones are role-playing games at all. The quickest filter is to ask whether you play a character whose decisions shape the story. This guide sorts the picks that way, and the wider roundup of the best sci-fi video games covers more ground.
Sci-fi RPG picks at a glance
A sci-fi RPG puts you in the role of a specific character, usually with a crew or squad and choices that change the story. The table below compares the named picks on what each is built around and who it suits. It includes one co-op title that is not an RPG, because it often appears on the same lists.
| Title | What it is built around | Planning use |
|---|---|---|
| Mass Effect Legendary Edition | You play Commander Shepard, assigned to rally the galaxy against the ancient alien Reapers. Player choices determine the galaxy’s fate. | Suits players who want a protagonist-led story where decisions carry weight. |
| Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic | You align with the light or succumb to the dark, and you assemble your squad. | Suits players who enjoy picking a moral path and living with it. |
| The Outer Worlds | You captain a ragtag crew on a madcap journey through a galaxy ruled by corporations. | Suits players who want a lighter, satirical tone with a ship-and-crew fantasy. |
| Starfield | Scheduled for release on September 6, 2023, or September 1, 2023 for the premium edition. It was reported as exclusive to Xbox as of August 17, 2023. | Check the current platform listing before buying, because the exclusivity detail dates from that report. |
| Aliens Fireteam Elite | An intense cooperative shooter to play with friends. | Choose it for group sessions, but do not expect an RPG. |
Descriptions of the games come from AllKeyShop’s roundup of space games like Starfield, and the Starfield dates and platform detail come from CultureSlate’s Starfield report.
Common misunderstandings about sci-fi RPGs
Several assumptions make shopping for these games harder than it needs to be. Correcting them narrows the field quickly.
- “Sci-fi RPG means lasers and starships.” The descriptions of the best-known picks centre on role and decision, not hardware. Shepard rallies a galaxy, a Knights of the Old Republic player picks light or dark, and an Outer Worlds player captains a crew. Who you are and what you choose is the common thread.
- “Everything on a space-games list is an RPG.” Aliens Fireteam Elite appears alongside the RPGs but is a cooperative shooter. It is a good pick for a group, but it will not give you the character-driven choices the RPGs do.
- “A franchise name means one kind of game.” Fallout is the clearest case, because a tabletop Fallout rulebook is sold separately from the video game series. The Fallout section below covers it.
- “A platform detail stays true forever.” Starfield’s Xbox exclusivity was reported as of a particular date. Treat any such detail as a snapshot and check the current store page.
Choice-driven stories: Mass Effect and Knights of the Old Republic
If your priority is consequence, these are the two picks to start with. Both are framed around a lead role and a team you build, and both put a defining decision at the centre of the story.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Mass Effect Legendary Edition casts you as Commander Shepard, the hero assigned to rally the galaxy against the ancient alien Reapers, according to AllKeyShop’s roundup. Player choices determine the galaxy’s fate, so the game suits players who want their decisions to matter on a large scale. If you would rather skim a story than steer it, a choice-heavy game like this may feel like work.
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic is listed as a sci-fi RPG where choices shape the story. You align with the light or succumb to the dark, and you assemble your squad. It suits players who like role-playing a moral stance and building a team around it. Choosing a side is the main decision, so it works best if you enjoy committing to a character rather than keeping every option open.
Tone and crew: The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is a wacky sci-fi RPG where you captain a ragtag crew on a madcap journey through a galaxy ruled by corporations. That description signals a different mood from the epic, high-stakes framing of Mass Effect. It suits players who want humour and satire alongside their role-playing.
The ship-and-crew setup is also a good bridge into exploration-focused games. If the idea of roaming the galaxy appeals more than the dialogue does, Beyond The Stars: The Best Space Exploration Games To Play In 2026 (Guide + What To Expect) – Spacemisfits covers games built around that.
Starfield and the platform question
Starfield was scheduled to release on September 6, with an early date of September 1 for the premium edition. As of an August 17, 2023 report it was exclusive to Xbox, according to CultureSlate. For a buyer, that makes platform the first filter: if you play on Xbox, Starfield belongs on your shortlist, and if you do not, confirm its current availability before planning around it.
The premium edition’s earlier date matters only if you want to start before the standard release. Otherwise, the standard edition’s date is the one to plan around.
Fallout: video game series or tabletop book?
A search for Fallout can return a tabletop product instead of a video game. A UK retailer lists the Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook at £42.50, reduced from £50.00, and marks it available to backorder, according to its sci-fi RPG collection. It is a tabletop rulebook, separate from the video game series.
That is a good choice if you want to run or play Fallout around a table with friends, and the wrong one if you wanted a game to install. Check the format on the product page before you add anything to a basket.
Co-op sci-fi games
Aliens Fireteam Elite is the co-op title here: an intense cooperative shooter to dive into with friends. It is a shooter rather than an RPG, so it fits groups who want shared action more than branching dialogue.
The RPG picks above are described in terms of a lead character, a squad or crew, and story choices, not shared sessions. For a group that wants role-playing together, the tabletop Fallout rulebook is the supported alternative. For a group that just wants to play something in the same universe-style setting on a screen, the Aliens shooter is the straightforward answer. If your group leans toward fear over firefights, Space Horror Games: The 2026 Guide To Cosmic Fear, Best Picks, And Survival Tips – Spacemisfits is the better next read.
Matching a pick to your playstyle and platform
Decide on playstyle first and platform second, since a platform check can rule a game out quickly.
- You want consequences and a big story. Start with Mass Effect Legendary Edition, where player choices determine the galaxy’s fate.
- You want to pick a side. Knights of the Old Republic puts the light-or-dark decision at the centre and has you assemble a squad.
- You want humour and a crew to command. The Outer Worlds is the lighter option, with a corporate-ruled galaxy as its setting.
- You play on Xbox. Starfield belongs on your shortlist, based on its reported Xbox exclusivity as of August 17, 2023.
- You play with friends. Choose Aliens Fireteam Elite for screen co-op, or the Fallout tabletop rulebook for a table-based game.
Before buying, read recent store pages for the edition and platform you actually own, since editions and availability can differ.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the best sci-fi RPG games? | It depends on the playstyle. Mass Effect Legendary Edition suits story-driven players, Knights of the Old Republic suits light-or-dark role-players, The Outer Worlds suits those who want satire, and Starfield suits Xbox players. |
| Which sci-fi RPGs have co-op? | Of the games covered here, only Aliens Fireteam Elite is described as co-op, and it is a cooperative shooter rather than an RPG. The tabletop Fallout rulebook is a group option in another format. |
| Is Starfield only on Xbox? | It was reported as exclusive to Xbox as of August 17, 2023. Check the current store listing, because platform details can change. |
| Is Fallout a video game or a tabletop game? | Both exist. The Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook is a tabletop product sold separately from the video game series. |
