When it comes to space adventure video games, only a few games surpass Starfield in terms of galaxy exploration, graphics, and sense of freedom. However, it has a close and strong opponent, Star Citizen, a title with more than ten years of development, promising a lot. Consequently, I am ready to compare these two titles to see the final space experience and the title that will take us to infinity and beyond!

• Release Date : September 6, 2023

• Developer : Bethesda Game Studios

• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

• Platforms : PC, Xbox Series X|S, Steam

• Metascore : 85

Starfield is the latest release from Bethesda, taking the best of space sci-fi and titles like Elite Dangerous and No Man's Sky to build an overwhelming experience in an immeasurable NASA punk universe.

Strictly speaking, Starfield is a science fiction role-playing game in which you can freely roam the universe while exploring thousands of planets and systems, obtaining resources, and developing the story. Although, at first glance, Starfield may seem like a lonely journey, you will be part of a group of space explorers who will help you find some artifacts that are scattered throughout the Milky Way.

Starfield has garnered mixed reviews, with some players hailing it as one of the best games in recent years, while others feel it falls short in delivering emotional depth and thrilling moments. If you've had the chance to play Starfield, you'll understand the debate. If not, you can grab your copy at RoyalCDKeys for a great deal by clicking the link below!

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• Release Date : In development - Alpha version available

• Developer : Cloud Imperium Games

• Publisher: Cloud Imperium Games

• Platforms : Microsoft Windows

• Metascore : N/A

Like Starfield, Star Citizen is a space opera journey through an expansive universe that you can explore at your own pace. However, unlike Starfield, which focuses on a single-player campaign, Star Citizen is a multiplayer experience that is closer to a space life simulation.

Star Citizen began development in 2011. However, at the time of writing, there is only an alpha version available. Star Citizen is so unfathomable that it has suffered considerable delays. Still, the features you can witness currently show an incredible game, perhaps the definitive space opera experience.

Like no other game based on space exploration, Star Citizen presents an ever-expanding universe, which will be fascinating to experience in the coming years. I can't wait to play this title in its final version!

Comparing these two amazing space titles will give us a better understanding of which game is right for us. Let's look at each feature separately and delve into these wonderfully expansive universes.

Both titles are impressive space experiences that bring together all the characteristics that make this type of genre one of the most beloved. They involve deep exploration of the universe – or a part of it – spaceships you can pilot, multiple activities like mining and crafting, and space battles. Moreover, both titles are played from a first-person perspective, although Starfield offers the option to play in third-person as well, and they both feature a strong shooter component.

So, what are the differences between Starfield and Star Citizen?

The main difference lies in the final quality of the product. Even though Star Citizen encompasses impressive visuals, outstanding mechanics, and seamless progression from space to planetary surfaces, Star Citizen is not yet a finished game. There are still many elements to incorporate to achieve a refined and complete title that satisfies the most reticent of the genre.

In this sense, Starfield works as a more integral video game from the very beginning to the end.

Verdict. Starfield is a well-achieved game with multiple features and options that nurture the gameplay as just a few games of the genre.

The two games have outstanding visuals, defined graphics, and a unique aesthetic. It is obvious the first time you experience both titles or watch them in videos on YouTube. The graphic quality of Starfield and Star Citizen is remarkable and stands out even above other games of the generation.

However, I must be diligent in determining which game is the best in terms of visuals and aesthetics. I tried both titles and although they may seem very similar at first glance, Star Citizen is a step above Starfield.

Why? You may wonder.

Starfield actually looks very realistic. Its modeling and details are majestic. You just need to see their characters to be surprised by their expressions. It is thanks to its game engine, Creation Engine 2, a powerful programming language, processor, and modeling platform whose possibilities are almost limitless. However, Star Citizen is on another level!

Everything in Star Citizen looks incredible, like it was lifted from a real-life space simulation. Every detail, from architecture, ship design, lighting, texture, technology, modeling, weapons, and more, is simply incredible. You just need to watch the game or try the game directly to realize it.

Verdict . One point for Star Citizen since it depicts the most beautiful graphics I’ve ever seen in a video game.

It is a tough one since both titles span thousands of worlds and systems! Still, I can strike a balance between how these planets feel and how they work together to propose an interconnected network that feels organic.

Starfield features an open world that represents a large portion of the Milky Way. This open space world includes over a thousand planets, countless moons, and space stations. Imagine this: a large section of our galaxy and yourself trying to explore all of these celestial bodies. That's Starfield!

Star Citizen today introduces four game modes, one of which allows you to navigate the surface of four available planets freely. You can also explore nine moons, a planetoid, and a gas giant very similar to Jupiter. It's called Persistent Universe mode, and you can experience it through a single-player campaign by creating your own male or female avatar.

What you do in Persistent Universe mode is up to you! You can continue your walk and pursue the goal you consider most suitable for you. You can focus on trading, mining, bounty hunting, etc. Still, the fact that there are only a few planets in Star Citizen doesn't provide the "world-building" feeling yet.

Verdict . No doubt that Starfield, just like other games of Bethesda, such as Skyrim or Fallout: New Vegas, has an extraordinary world-building that invites you to explore it.

Exploration of the universe is directly linked to the previous section, as the quality of observation and investigation depends directly on world-building quality.

As I mentioned earlier, Starfield guarantees over a thousand planets, moons, and space stations that you can reach as you improve your navigation capabilities. However, as soon as you touch the surface of those planets, you will notice that some of them do not provide the best possible exploration experience. As you progress through the plains of those planets, you will experience a lack of content and even a lot of desolate space that gives you no reward.

Star Citizen, even though it has only a few planets and moons to explore, features more lively exploration that feels really organic and fresh. The whole process of approaching the planet, landing on the ground, and investigating the environment really flows, which is nice in a game of this nature where the coming and going is continuous.

In this sense, compared to Star Citizen, the Starfield exploration feels more limited regardless of the huge number of planets it offers.

Verdict . The option to explore planets alongside a squadron and the extensive maps to explore give this point to Star Citizen.

Now, in early 2024, Star Citizen only has four modes available: Hangar Module, Arena Commander, Star Marine, and Persistent Universe. The first includes a hangar where you can check out your ships. Arena Commander is a flight simulator, and Star Marine is a fictional ground combat simulator, whereas the Persistent Universe is described in the Worldbuilding section. However, Star Citizen integrates Squadron 42, a story-based single-player campaign that has not yet been released.

Squadron 42 focuses on the plot of an elite military unit that enlists in the Navy of the United Empire of Earth. This way, you participate in a campaign that involves space battles, achieving citizenship in the UEE (United Empire of Earth), and developing relationships with NPCs. The truth is that Squadron 42 promises a lot.

Starfield, on the other hand, outlines a truly organic plot that will take you throughout the Milky Way, providing you with different paths to follow. You control a space miner who gets involved in an unexpected adventure. As it moves forward, you will have the opportunity to join different factions that will give you a diverse perspective on events. You can also visit different cities, visit incredible planets, and discover secrets in all the corners of the galaxy.

Verdict . Starfield will lead you through an amazing and perfect adventure on a giant scale.

There isn't much information about Star Citizen's characters as the main single-player campaign is still in development. However, according to data provided by Robert Spaces Industries, Squadron 42 will give us an organic adventure with significant characters and NPCs.

Starfield, on the other hand, is a well-rounded title with a deep story and dozens of interesting characters. Although you control a silent main character that you can customize from scratch, the characters of Sarah Morgan or Sam Coe stand out for their personality, charm, and relevance to the plot.

Verdict . Starfield is a plethora of good characters with unique personalities and charisma.

The immersion and realistic controls of Star Citizen spaceship flight and combat make this title beat Starfield from start to finish. If you maneuvered a spaceship, you'd probably feel the same way you feel when you pilot a ship in Star Citizen. Its flight and space battle system is excellent, requiring you to develop the fundamentals of ship battle and hone your skills to destroy enemy spaceships that are commonly faster than yours. That's why you need to turn your ship into a fine-tuned instrument that other players can't have.

As for the flying combat in Starfield, it's a lot like what you find in Star Citizen. You control the spaceship while inside the transport, paying attention to your movements, spaceship conditions, aiming, and the battlefield. Additionally, you can also control the spaceship from a third-person perspective, giving you an overview of what is happening with other ships and what enemies are doing.

Regarding gunplay in combat, Star Citizen is also a level above Starfield due to clear-sighted dynamics and teamwork.

Verdict . I really like the realistic flying and combat style of Star Citizen. It provides a satisfying experience in every order of things.

The economy in both Starfield and Star Citizen shines with its wealth and alternatives. In Bethesda's game, there are four main legitimate sources of income: mining, planetary surveying, cargo shipping, and selling dungeon loot. There are also other extralegal ways to earn income: smuggling, piracy, and theft.

On the other hand, in Star Citizen, the economy is directly related to immersive careers that you can immerse yourself in or fully embrace. It is called the Stanton System, a monetary structure that will help you to develop a prosperous economy that will allow you to improve your performance during the game. Careers include hauling cargo, salvaging shipwrecks, mining for minerals, hunting criminal bounties, and more. Additionally, the Stanton System lets you check out deals on the black market if the odds of survival are against you.

Verdict . Star System presents a more exciting and varied economy whose priorities focus on surviving.

It's a tie, player! Both Starfield and Star Citizen have their strengths and weaknesses. Still, both titles are worth playing, even though the second is still in development. If you want my advice, choose the one you think is right for you and enjoy it like a child would. Then you can move on to the other one!