Freespace 2

Simply the best, nothing more needs be said

even 15 years after its release is still the BEST game of the genre. A great story, a great engine, graphics that are still acceptable even by today's standards. (for those that want better graphics there are enhancements made to the game that you can install, ever since the source code was made public; Open Freespace Project is one option). This game has it all. Ship system management in-flight, fully customisable controls, and believe me, almost every key on the keyboard is used for something, not that you need every one of them, but the level of control offered is amazing. The implementation of capital ships and capital ship combat is truly innovative. The campaign itself will keep you busy for quite some time. It has secret missions which you can access only if you're good enough and your very own medal case if you feel up to the challenge of filling it up. I am one of the really lucky ones that were also able to (briefly) play this game while the original multiplayer servers were still online. The multiplayer is even more engaging than the single player campaign. The varied choice of ships and weapons really comes into play in MP and the battlegrounds ranging from empty space to massive shipyards hosting capital ships will keep your skills challenged and yourself entertained for hours and hours. For those interested, there are still active communities out there that organize MP games. No other game ever made can match up to this level of immersion. there is one candidate that might, coming soon from Chris Roberts, but I still have doubts it will outclass this masterpiece.

The subject says it all. Nothing gets you amped up like hearing those bad boys start blasting stuff to bits all around you. I love this game. I am a huge fan of the Wing Commander series and I hate to say it, but this one trumps them all in my opinion. It is easily the best space sim out there to date period.

One of the best Space Pilot Sim Games. Travel through space, meet aliens, do missions, smuggle cargo, take part in epic space battles, get lost in wormholes, become a pirate, it's up to you. Freespace 2 lives up to it's name.

Even now, some 16 years later, this is truly an astonishing piece of gaming history. Beautiful graphics, amazing gameplay and a difficulty setting that is challenging without being impossible. I remember playing the hatful of sci-fi space warring games which were common back "in the day", The X-wing series, Wing commander et al, all brilliant, but this is the true standout genius, standing at the pinnacle of joystick battering glory. Buy it, you're a fool if you don't!