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If you want a single-player space combat game while waiting for Squadron 42, start with Star Wars: Squadrons for a directed military-style starfighter campaign. Choose EVERSPACE 2 instead if you want a solo space-combat RPG built around exploration, loot, mining, crafting and long-term ship progression.
Squadron 42 is not currently downloadable. Roberts Space Industries’ support page lists its current scheduled release as Q2 2027 (accessed October 18, 2026), but that is a schedule rather than a guarantee. Neither alternative reproduces every promised feature, so the useful question is which part of the Squadron 42 idea you want to play today.
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What “games like Squadron 42” really means
Squadron 42 is positioned as a cinematic, authored space adventure centered on piloting military spacecraft. That combination creates several different expectations: first-person cockpit combat, a chain-of-command story, named characters, mission briefings, large set pieces, and the feeling of serving in a squadron rather than merely owning a ship.
Those expectations do not all point to the same substitute. A tightly scripted campaign is different from an open-ended action RPG. A realistic cockpit routine is different from an arcade dogfight. Exploration and equipment upgrades can make a game feel like a space adventure, but they do not automatically provide a military narrative.
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The two released games below cover the strongest parts of that wish list in different ways:
- Star Wars: Squadrons is the closest match for a finite, first-person starfighter campaign and military squadron identity.
- EVERSPACE 2 is the stronger match for a solo space-combat RPG with exploration, loot, mining, crafting and persistent build progression.
Think of them as alternatives to specific elements of Squadron 42, not as one-to-one replacements for a future production.
At a glance: which alternative fits your priority?
| Game | Story structure | Combat feel | Exploration and travel | Progression | Multiplayer dependence | Availability | Best match for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars: Squadrons | Distinct, authored single-player campaign | First-person starfighter combat from a cockpit | Mission-based rather than open-ended | Mission-driven ship and loadout choices | Campaign is playable alone; multiplayer modes are also included | Released October 2, 2020; EA’s official page lists purchase storefronts | A linear military-style pilot campaign and first-person dogfights |
| EVERSPACE 2 | Story progression inside a broader action-RPG structure | Fast-paced spaceship shooting with RPG handling | Space and planetary locations with room to explore | Loot, mining, crafting, RPG elements and ship builds | Designed as a single-player game | Released; listed for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 by ROCKFISH Games | Solo exploration, equipment hunting and long-term progression |
| Squadron 42 | Planned authored campaign | Promised cinematic military space combat | Not available to play at present | Not established for a released product | Not established as a released product | Current scheduled release: Q2 2027, according to Roberts Space Industries (accessed October 18, 2026) | The specific future experience you are waiting for |
The table separates documented features from expectations. There are no authoritative current sales figures, review scores, player counts or performance benchmarks to use as a buying shortcut here.
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Star Wars: Squadrons is the closest campaign substitute
Why it matches the military-squadron fantasy
Electronic Arts describes Star Wars: Squadrons as an “authentic piloting experience” focused on mastering starfighter combat. The game launched on October 2, 2020, and its official product information identifies a single-player campaign alongside its purchase storefronts. StarWars.com describes the campaign as a unique single-player Star Wars story set near the end of the Galactic Civil War, while EA Motive’s gameplay overview says the missions move through both sides of the conflict.
That perspective shift matters. You are not simply flying one faction’s missions from beginning to end; the campaign uses both sides of the war to teach and contextualize its starfighter systems. It gives the experience a clear military frame: briefings, objectives, squadron roles and battles that unfold as a directed sequence rather than as a sandbox.
What the campaign feels like
Squadrons puts the cockpit at the center of play. Dogfights are fought from a first-person view, with attention on positioning, power management and the differences between starfighter roles. Missions are authored, so the campaign can control pacing, introduce mechanics and build set pieces in a way an open-world game usually cannot.
Rank #2
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This is the best option when “story-driven space game” means a campaign that tells you where to go next and why the operation matters. It is also the clearest fit for the phrase “single-player starfighter campaign.” You can concentrate on flying and mission execution without needing a persistent online group.
Where it differs from Squadron 42
Squadrons is a complete released game with a finite campaign. It is not a replacement for the larger, future-facing scope associated with Squadron 42. Its story is set in the Star Wars universe, so its characters, factions and technology serve that setting rather than an original military science-fiction world.
The game also includes multiplayer modes. That is useful if you want to continue flying after the campaign, but it does not turn the single-player story into an endlessly expanding service. Buy it for the authored campaign and cockpit combat first; treat the multiplayer component as an additional mode rather than a requirement.
Who should choose Squadrons?
- Choose it if your priority is a directed campaign with military objectives.
- Choose it if first-person cockpit perspective matters more than open-world travel.
- Choose it if you want to learn starfighter systems through missions rather than through a loot treadmill.
- Choose it if “squadron” identity, faction conflict and briefed operations are central to your interest.
It is a weaker fit if your main goal is landing on planets, mining resources, collecting equipment or repeatedly rebuilding a ship over a long open-ended campaign.
EVERSPACE 2 is the best solo space-combat RPG alternative
What the game delivers
ROCKFISH Games calls EVERSPACE 2 “a fast-paced single-player spaceship shooter with exploration in space and on planets, tons of loot, RPG elements, mining, and crafting.” The official description also frames it as an action RPG in which you explore space and fight outlaws. The listed platforms are PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.
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That feature mix makes it the better answer to “I want a space-combat RPG.” Instead of ending when a finite campaign is complete, its structure gives you reasons to keep moving through locations, fighting enemies, gathering materials and improving your ship. Exploration is not merely scenery: planetary areas, resources and equipment are part of the play loop.
How its progression differs from a squadron campaign
In Squadrons, mission context and combat execution are the main rewards. In EVERSPACE 2, progression itself is a major reason to play. Loot gives you new equipment, mining supplies crafting, and RPG systems let you shape a build over time. The resulting rhythm is closer to an action RPG than to a military simulator: travel, fight, collect, craft, upgrade and take on the next problem.
This makes EVERSPACE 2 useful for readers who like the idea of living in a larger space setting but do not need every mission to be a tightly staged cinematic operation. You have more freedom to decide which activities to pursue and how aggressively to optimize your ship.
Where it differs from Squadron 42
EVERSPACE 2 does not center its identity on a military chain of command. Its emphasis is exploration, combat and build progression, not the specific fantasy of being a pilot inside a formal squadron. Its action-RPG handling and loot systems also produce a different texture from a focused first-person starfighter campaign.
Choose it when “story-driven” can include an RPG journey with ongoing progression. Choose something else when you specifically want mission briefings, factional military procedure and a finite campaign that steadily directs your next sortie.
Who should choose EVERSPACE 2?
- Choose it if you want a solo game available now with substantial exploration.
- Choose it if collecting loot and improving a ship are as important as the narrative.
- Choose it if planetary locations, mining and crafting sound more appealing than a sequence of set-piece missions.
- Choose it if you want to keep developing a build after completing individual story objectives.
It is a weaker fit if you want an explicitly military campaign or a cockpit-first simulation of squadron operations.
Choose by the exact experience you want
“I want a linear military campaign.”
Pick Star Wars: Squadrons. Its released campaign is the closest documented match for a directed pilot story, and its two-sided war structure gives missions a clear military context.
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“I want first-person space dogfights.”
Pick Star Wars: Squadrons. The game is built around first-person starfighter combat, while EVERSPACE 2 prioritizes fast action-RPG shooting and broader ship progression.
“I want exploration and places to visit.”
Pick EVERSPACE 2. Its official description specifically includes exploration in space and on planets, whereas Squadrons is organized around campaign missions.
“I want loot, mining and crafting.”
Pick EVERSPACE 2. Those systems are explicit parts of its design. Squadrons is not presented as a mining-and-crafting RPG.
“I want to play entirely alone.”
Both games provide a solo route, but they satisfy it differently. Squadrons has a distinct single-player campaign and also offers multiplayer modes. EVERSPACE 2 is described as a single-player spaceship shooter, making solo play its defining format.
“I want something that feels like serving in a squadron.”
Pick Star Wars: Squadrons. Its title, factional campaign and mission structure align directly with that fantasy. EVERSPACE 2 gives you a ship and a progression path, but not the same institutional military identity.
Controls and cockpit setup
A keyboard, mouse or standard game controller is sufficient to begin either game. A HOTAS or flight-stick controller is an optional accessory for players who want a more cockpit-focused setup, especially in Squadrons. The available evidence does not establish a particular accessory model, retailer, affiliate program or performance advantage, so treat hardware as a comfort and immersion choice rather than a requirement.
Start with the default layout
- Complete the opening tutorial or introductory missions before changing bindings.
- Identify the controls you use constantly: steering, throttle, weapons, target selection and defensive actions.
- Move only the most frequent actions to locations you can reach without releasing your primary controls.
- Fly several missions before making another revision; changing every binding at once makes it difficult to identify the real problem.
The right setup depends on your hands, display and controller. A more complicated controller cannot compensate for unclear bindings or unfamiliar game systems.
How to set expectations before buying
Do not treat Q2 2027 as a guarantee
Roberts Space Industries’ support page currently states, “The current scheduled release date is Q2 2027.” That statement was current on October 18, 2026. A scheduled quarter can change, so check the support page again before making a purchase decision based on waiting for Squadron 42. The game is not currently downloadable, and this article does not claim a launch-day platform list or final feature set.
Do not expect one substitute to cover every promise
Squadrons covers the authored military campaign and first-person starfighter portion of the wish list. EVERSPACE 2 covers the solo exploration and RPG-progression portion. Their differences are useful rather than confusing: decide whether your priority is the next mission or the next upgrade.
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Squadrons’ official EA information identifies the game as released on October 2, 2020 and lists purchase storefronts. EVERSPACE 2 is a released title listed by ROCKFISH Games for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. Store listings, editions and regional availability can change, so verify the storefront shown for your region before checkout.
A practical decision checklist
- Campaign first: Star Wars: Squadrons.
- Open exploration first: EVERSPACE 2.
- First-person cockpit first: Star Wars: Squadrons.
- Loot and crafting first: EVERSPACE 2.
- Military squadron fantasy first: Star Wars: Squadrons.
- Long-term solo build progression first: EVERSPACE 2.
- Waiting for the specific future game: monitor the Q2 2027 schedule rather than assuming either alternative is equivalent.
Frequently misunderstood differences
Is EVERSPACE 2 a replacement for a starfighter campaign?
Only partially. It provides solo spaceship combat and story progression, but its defining systems are exploration, loot, mining, crafting and RPG development. If you want a campaign organized around squadron operations, Squadrons is closer.
Is Star Wars: Squadrons an open-world space RPG?
No. It is a released starfighter game with a distinct single-player campaign and multiplayer modes. Its strongest match is a directed military-style campaign, not open-ended exploration or crafting.
Can either game confirm what Squadron 42 will finally include?
No. They are available comparisons for particular design goals, not evidence of Squadron 42’s final content, performance or platform support. Squadron 42 remains scheduled for Q2 2027 as of October 18, 2026.
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Start with Star Wars: Squadrons if the words “story-driven space game” make you picture a pilot in a cockpit receiving orders, flying a first-person sortie and progressing through a finite military narrative. It is the closest released match to that specific fantasy.
Start with EVERSPACE 2 if “single-player space combat” means a larger solo journey in which exploration, planetary locations, loot, mining, crafting and ship builds keep the game moving beyond individual missions. It is the stronger space-combat RPG and the more flexible alternative for players who value progression over strict military structure.
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