A persistent universe
Your empire keeps growing while you are away, and every decision has long-term consequences.
Comparison
Space Rift is a free persistent space strategy game for your browser. Same appetite for empire building, without the chores that made you quit.
OGame has been the reference for browser space strategy for over twenty years, and for good reason. If you are looking for a game like it, you probably want the same things: an empire that grows over weeks, rivalries between players, and the satisfaction of a perfectly timed attack.
You probably also remember the downsides: setting an alarm to send your fleet away before bed, a fixed catalogue of ships, and a game that is hard to jump back into once you are behind. That is exactly what Space Rift was designed around.
A fair comparison starts here. These are strengths Space Rift aims to keep:
Your empire keeps growing while you are away, and every decision has long-term consequences.
Alliances, wars, betrayals and espionage create stories no scripted campaign could.
Economy, research and fleet management reward planning rather than reflexes.
Five changes, each answering a classic frustration of the genre.
By default, a fleet landed on your planet is invulnerable. You decide when your ships take risks, not your alarm clock. No fleetsave needed.
Build ships piece by piece from dozens of components instead of picking from a fixed list. Two players rarely field the same fleet.
Watch fleets cross the map in real time, with fog of war: what you cannot detect, you cannot see.
Computer-controlled warlords with their own personalities keep the galaxy alive and give peaceful players some PvE.
A starting boost and catch-up bonuses help newcomers reach a competitive footing instead of being farmed for weeks.
| Criterion | OGame | Space Rift |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet while you sleep | A fleet at rest can be attacked, so players usually send it on a mission before going offline. | Docked ships are invulnerable by default. |
| Ships | A fixed catalogue of ship types. | Modular designer: you assemble each ship from components. |
| Map | Galaxy and system views. | Real-time 3D map with fog of war. |
| Playing without fighting players | Limited. | AI warlords provide PvE content. |
| Vacation mode | Yes. | Yes. |
| Platform | Browser and official mobile app. | Browser, mobile-friendly and installable as an app. Nothing to download. |
| Price | Free to play with optional purchases. | Free to play with an optional shop. Credits can also be earned by voting, referring friends and completing objectives. |
Space Rift is young and made by a small team. If any of these matters most to you, OGame may be the better pick:
No. It belongs to the same family of persistent browser space strategy games, but its ship designer, 3D map, docked-fleet protection and AI warlords are its own.
No. The guide and the tutorial objectives walk you through your first hours. Players coming from OGame will feel at home quickly.
Yes. You can play entirely for free in your browser. An optional shop speeds up progress, and credits can also be earned in game.
Create a free account, pick your world and place your first construction in a couple of minutes.