Elite Dangerous
Open-world space simulation with a full-scale Milky Way sandbox
Frontier Developments · Released Apr 2, 2015
ActionAdventureMassively MultiplayerRPGSimulationStrategy
- Reviews
- Mostly Positive
- 77% of 108K
- Recent reviews
- Mixed
- 65% of 429 in 30 days
- Playing now
- 2,444
- peak 24h 3,163
- Steam Deck
- Playable
- Last update
- 3 weeks ago
- Sep 2, 2026
Metacritic: 80/100 (critic reviews)
What is Elite Dangerous?
This first-person, open-world space simulation takes place across a connected recreation of the Milky Way. Players pilot and customize ships to explore, trade, mine, smuggle, and fight alone or with others while galactic powers wage interstellar war.
For you if...
- +you want detailed ship flight across a galaxy-scale sandbox
- +you enjoy exploration, trading, mining, and space combat
- +you accept a steep learning curve and long-term progression
Not for you if...
- −you want quick onboarding and intuitive controls
- −you prefer a tightly guided, story-led campaign
What players say
77% of 107,723 reviews are positive · 65% of 429 in the last 30 days
Players most often praise the galaxy's scale, ship handling and sound, and long-distance exploration. Common complaints describe repetitive gameplay loops, mandatory-feeling engineering grinds, and persistent bugs. Recent reviews also object to real-money access to stronger ships and an upgrade, describing the shift as pay-to-win.
Screenshots and trailer
Elite Dangerous system requirements
As published by the developer.
Minimum
- OS
- Windows 8/10 64-bit
- Processor
- Quad Core CPU (4 x 2Ghz)
- Graphics
- Nvidia GTX 470/AMD R7 240
- Memory
- 6 GB RAM
- Storage
- 25 GB available space
- DirectX
- Version 11
Recommended
- OS
- Windows 8/10 64-bit
- Processor
- Intel Core i7-3770K Quad Core CPU or better / AMD FX 4350 Quad Core CPU or better
- Graphics
- Nvidia GTX 770 / AMD Radeon R9 280X
- Memory
- 8 GB RAM
- Storage
- 25 GB available space
- DirectX
- Version 11
- Notes
- Supports SteamVR, Oculus Rift and TrackIR
PC version details
DRM, required accounts, controller support and Steam features.
- DRM
- None declared on Steam
- Third-party account
- Frontier Account (Supports Linking to Steam Account)
- Controller
- Keyboard and mouse
- Platforms
- Windows
- Steam features
- Family Sharing, In-app purchases, VR
Steam Deck: Playable
- The launcher or setup tool may need the touchscreen or virtual keyboard
- Some text entry requires manually opening the on-screen keyboard
- Some in-game text is small and may be hard to read
- All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
- Shows Steam Deck controller icons
- Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck
Multiplayer and co-op
Languages
Full audio: English. Text only: French, German, Russian, Spanish - Spain, Portuguese - Brazil.
Tags
- Space Sim
- Space
- Open World
- Exploration
- Sci-fi
- Simulation
- Massively Multiplayer
- Multiplayer
- VR
- First-Person
- Action
- Adventure
- Sandbox
- Online Co-Op
- Singleplayer
- Trading
Recent updates
- Sep 2, 2026 · Elite Dangerous | Rhino SRV Update
- Jul 9, 2026 · Elite Dangerous | Operations Update | Update 3
- Jul 1, 2026 · Elite Dangerous | Operations Update
- Apr 28, 2026 · Elite Dangerous | Lynx Highliner Update Notes
- Apr 22, 2026 · Elite Dangerous | An Update on Operations
2 DLC available.
Games like Elite Dangerous
