Science fiction has more to it than sleek and futuristic spacecraft journeying through the universe. Nonetheless, few sci-fi fans would deny the appeal or sheer cool factor of such an image. Science fiction video games often lean into this. The brave cast of space-going protagonists get to travel in style or at least comfort.
Spacecrafts are part and parcel of many sci-fi video games, especially those where players are expected to hop from planet to planet. However, some ships have stood out in players' memories long after the game's ending. It might be their design, their unusual capabilities, or simply their role in the game's story that makes ships from games like Mass Effect or Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic so beloved.
10 Stinger Mantis
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order & Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The Star Wars universe is no stranger to cool spaceships, and most video games in the franchise include at least one. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order's Stinger Mantis is one of the more memorable from recent years. It's a luxury yacht pressed into service as Cere Junda and Cal Kestis' base of operations as they rebuild the Jedi Order.
Stinger Mantis isn't a tricked-out frigate or a capable warship like many other Star Wars vessels. However, its surprising capabilities in avoiding the Empire and its many feats throughout both Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor have more than earned it a fond place in fans' hearts.
9 UNSC Infinity
Halo
Halo emphasizes the military side of science fiction. Every game in the franchise boasts at least one cool warship on both the USNC's end and that of their antagonists. However, few have become as iconic and franchise-defining as UNSC Infinity, making its debut in Halo 4 and appearing in every subsequent game.
USNC Infinity shows the vast technological leap humanity makes after the events of Halo 3. It's much larger and more capable than other craft seen in the franchise, able to carry underslung frigates into battle and damage the Forerunner Mantle's Approach. Many Halo fans regard UNSC Infinity as the high point of Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians' contentious narratives.
8 Colossus
Stellaris
Stellaris is a love letter to every brand of science fiction. Consequently, it's no surprise that the game features enormous doomsday weapon spaceships. Colossi are available in Stellaris' Apocalypse expansion as the game's ultimate form of firepower. They require immense scientific research, engineering capacity, and even social change to build, but they are more than worth it.
A Colossus gives a Stellaris player an almost unstoppable superweapon. Its most basic form, the Planet Cracker, destroys a planet utterly with no hope of recovery, being equivalent to Star Wars' Death Star. More exotic versions are even more impressive. Stellaris Colossi can wipe a planet clean of life, turn the populace into cyborgs, or trap the planet in an unbreakable shield.
7 Rebel Flagship
FTL: Faster Than Light
Most cool spaceships in sci-fi video games belong to the player. FTL: Faster Than Light gives the player plenty of impressive options for their craft. However, the coolest belongs to the enemy. The final confrontation in any FTL: Faster Than Light game takes place against the Rebel Flagship, the strongest vessel in the antagonistic rebel fleet.
The Rebel Flagship is FTL: Faster Than Light's coolest ship for just how capable it is. Even a well-prepared player has their work cut out for them in even damaging it. It has lethal weaponry, a well-trained crew, immense defenses, and an AI that can take over the ship should all else fail. It's an intimidating and worthy challenge for the endgame's final struggle.
6 Normandy SR-2
Mass Effect
Normandy is Mass Effect's iconic ship and symbol. It's Commander Shepard's personal craft and a collaboration between the rival Systems Alliance and Turian Hierarchy to make an unmatched stealth frigate. Mass Effect 2 ups the ante with Normandy SR-2, a bigger and more luxurious vessel to replace the destroyed SSV Normandy.
Normandy's sleek design and stealth capabilities already highlight it as an excellent ship. However, it goes the extra mile to stand out from the other craft of the Mass Effect universe. Its central role in Shepard's adventures, such as the Suicide Mission in Mass Effect 2 or Mass Effect 3's Battle for Earth, ensures players can never forget it.
5 Ebon Hawk
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Both Star Wars: Knights of the Republic games have the player character and their party aboard the Ebon Hawk throughout. It's a smuggling freighter with a design clearly meant to evoke the Millennium Falcon, Star Wars' most iconic and beloved ship. It more than succeeds in this, being ideal as both a base of operations and an iconic ship for the franchise.
The Ebon Hawk is more than just a tool for Revan and the Jedi Exile to get from planet to planet. It's home to some of the Star Wars universe's most interesting characters, a surprisingly capable combat craft, and full of surprises like an assassin droid in a hidden compartment.
4 Milano
Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy is already one of Marvel's most overtly science-fiction properties. As a result, it's no surprise that the player's ship in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy holds its own alongside other genre greats. Milano serves as the Guardians' base of operations, transport, and sometimes dogfighting craft throughout the game.
Milano isn't the most impressive ship seen in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, with several characters commenting on minor defects throughout. However, this simply matches the Guardians themselves, who are far from an ideal group of heroes yet still manage to save the day. It also survives crash-landing on almost every single planet the Guardians come to.
3 USG Ishimura
Dead Space
USG Ishimura is the setting for almost all of Dead Space and its remake. It's a gargantuan ship that is kilometers long and crewed by well over a thousand people. It's almost the opposite of the small, scrappy ships seen in most science fiction games. USG Ishimura is closer to a flying village that is more at home grabbing and destroying parts of planets than dogfighting enemy vessels.
Despite its contrast with most video game spaceships, there is no denying USG Ishimura's sheer cool factor. Its grim and utilitarian design contributes to Dead Space's iconic sci-fi horror aesthetic. Its immense capabilities dwarf the ships seen in most other video games. Its unpleasant dealings with the Marker and its Necromorph infestation give it an undeniable edge for horror fans.
2 Samus Aran's Gunship
Metroid
Samus Aran doesn't fly one single ship throughout the Metroid franchise. Instead, she operates from a variety of similar ships that change from game to game, with several identified as being Hunter-class gunships. Even though they are several different ships, they have a consistent enough style and aesthetic for fans to grow very accustomed to them.
Samus Aran's gunship suits her well in Metroid. It's a small craft that proves itself unexpectedly capable in a variety of impossible situations, much like Samus being one person who saves the galaxy by herself time and time again.
1 Millennium Falcon
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Of Star Wars' many impressive spaceships throughout its many video games, there is no denying the single coolest. The Millennium Falcon is one of the most iconic spaceships across all media, and Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader lets the player unlock and fly it through its missions.
The Millennium Falcon lives up to its iconic reputation in Star Wars Rogue Squadron II. It's one of the game's fastest ships alongside being one of its most durable. Despite some challenges with its size, it's one of the game's best and most entertaining ships. The selling point is that it's Star Wars' most beloved vessel in the player's hands, with most considering its unlock requirements to be more than worth the cost.