Free takeoff – Sci-Fi simulation with MMO elements free to play for a limited time

Star Citizen is a realistic space sim with MMO elements that’s been in Early Access since 2017. Players take on the role of spaceship pilots in an open universe, where there’s more to do than just fly. You can trade, engage in combat and explore distant planets. The game features a dynamic economy and combines intense dogfights in space with ground battles and social encounters on space stations.

The sci-fi sim is online-only and supported through crowdfunding. The developers also rely heavily on in-game monetization, including the sale of ships, some of which can be very expensive. While development continues through regular alpha updates, a full release remains far off. Because Star Citizen hasn’t officially launched, there are no professional reviews. On Metacritic, however, around 110 users have rated the game, giving it a low score of 2.9. This harsh rating mainly reflects frustration over the lengthy development and criticism of its monetization strategy.

The latest alpha patch 4.1 went live at the end of March, introducing fresh gameplay content with the new "Align and Mine" mission. It also added the Juvenile Valakkar, a burrowing worm and the game’s first fauna-based enemy. Another newcomer is NPC merchant Wikelo, who sells rare items. On the technical side, the update improved collision physics, NPC animations and facial generation. More than 130 bug fixes and enhanced Vulkan-Nvidia compatibility aim to deliver a smoother and more stable gaming experience.