The highly anticipated space adventure, Starfield, is nearly upon us. With Bethesda’s renowned expertise in crafting expansive action role-playing games and the alluring promises of Starfield, such as the prospect of exploring 1000 planets, many fans are eagerly counting down to immerse themselves in this new universe. An open-world space game of this magnitude is a lifelong dream for many, causing excitement to mount as the release date draws nearer. Thankfully, several games of similar nature are available to satiate our anticipation before Starfield’s launch on September 6 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.
5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Often dubbed “Skyrim in space,” Starfield’s concept has drawn comparisons to the 2011 game, making it a perfect choice to whet your appetite. Skyrim enjoys great reach, even among those not entrenched in gaming culture, owing to its cultural impact and numerous re-releases. For most, revisiting the world of Skyrim is as simple as plugging in an old system or leveraging backward compatibility. The game’s vastness enables you to explore without necessarily initiating a new playthrough.
Whether you tinker with an existing save or engage in various activities like marriage or poultry-slaying, delving back into Skyrim can be a rewarding experience. Furthermore, revisiting one of Bethesda’s earlier creations just before Starfield’s debut lets you juxtapose improvements and consistencies. You can observe advancements in the game engine, changes in the dialogue system, or the persistence of certain elements. In any case, Skyrim provides an enjoyable realm for exploration before venturing into the cosmos.
4. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
In a time replete with disappointing re-releases and remakes, Mass Effect Legendary Edition shines as an exemplary effort. It amalgamates all three games from the trilogy along with 40 diverse DLC packs, all benefiting from graphical and performance enhancements. Notably, the first game has undergone substantial improvements, rendering it the most refined iteration. The Mass Effect trilogy stands as one of the finest space-based RPGs ever conceived, making it intriguing to revisit just before Starfield’s launch.
While Starfield emphasizes exploration, Mass Effect thrives on narrative choices, seamlessly weaving a narrative across three games that dynamically evolves based on your decisions and relationships. Anticipating that Starfield may not delve as deep into narrative intricacies (prioritizing exploration freedom), it still features dialogue trees and branching storylines. Likewise, romance options, a staple of Mass Effect, will feature in Starfield. For those yearning for a spacefaring before Starfield, Mass Effect offers an appealing option.
3. No Man’s Sky
Alongside Skyrim, Starfield has frequently drawn comparisons to No Man’s Sky due to its shared use of procedurally generated technology. While Starfield is anticipated to offer approximately five meticulously crafted human-designed planets, the remaining 995 will be procedurally generated. No Man’s Sky operates similarly, employing procedural generation for every planet, star, and galaxy, resulting in an endlessly expansive universe.
Immersing oneself in No Man’s Sky provides an opportunity to familiarize yourself with this technology before embarking on Starfield. Importantly, No Man’s Sky need not be completed before Starfield’s release; you can engage in exploration, crafting, and resource extraction, finding satisfaction without finishing the game. Its design prioritizes boundless exploration over campaign completion, making it an ideal precursor for space adventures before delving into Starfield’s more focused gameplay.
2. The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds closely resembles a scaled-down version of Starfield. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, this space-based RPG follows a colonist from The Hope, a ship suspended in time, awakening in the Halycon galaxy, rife with corrupt corporations. Throughout the game, you assemble a crew, align with factions, and decide whether to aid or overthrow the corporations. The beauty of The Outer Worlds lies in its more compact scale, rendering it less daunting and more feasible to complete.
Unlike the potential overwhelm of extensive planet exploration or an excessively intricate storyline, The Outer Worlds offers a tight and manageable experience. This attribute positions it as a game that can be finished before Starfield’s release, making it a fitting appetizer to the forthcoming main course. This sentiment is not intended to belittle The Outer Worlds; on the contrary, a more compact experience can provide a valuable counterpoint to the grandiosity of Starfield.
1. Fallout 76
Set in post-apocalyptic Appalachia, Fallout 76 is an open-world multiplayer game with vast open-world exploration. Despite facing a barrage of criticism upon its initial launch for lacking a traditional Bethesda-style storyline and suffering from numerous bugs, Fallout 76 has since undergone substantial improvement. Updates have introduced new content, NPCs, factions, and enhanced stability. Fallout 76 merits longevity primarily due to its base-building mechanic, a feature Starfield aims to expand upon. The base building constitutes a cornerstone of Fallout 76’s enduring appeal, as players create elaborate structures and share their designs with others.
Engaging with Fallout 76 serves as a primer for a prominent mechanic in Starfield. The crafting and building aspects present a learning curve, making it an opportune arena for practice before embarking on a space-faring odyssey. Furthermore, revisiting Fallout 76 offers a chance to witness firsthand the extent of its post-launch improvements. As Starfield’s release date draws closer, exploring Fallout 76 can serve as a productive and engaging prelude.
The aforementioned list merely scratches the surface of potential pre-Starfield gaming experiences. Please feel free to share your recommendations in the comments.
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