Space games are great time wasters, allowing you to tap into your imagination as to what the future may hold (minus the body-snatching alien hordes). The Windows Store has a huge selection of games where space is the backdrop. From mobile installments of the Halo series to Angry Birds Space, these games can be an addictive way to lose track of time.
We've searched the depths of the Windows Store to find the best space games for Windows 10. Keep in mind that this collection does not include Xbox One console titles such as Gears of War, Titanfall or COD Infinite Warfare. Instead, we are concentrating on Windows 10 PC and Mobile titles.
Star Wars Commander
You cannot talk about space games without having a Star Wars title in the mix. While Angry Birds Star Wars is a fun game, we went with the more traditional approach with Star Wars Commander. You can choose to fight for the Rebellion or the Empire, where you build your base and strike out against the enemy.
Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile, Star Wars Commander includes iconic characters such as Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. You command units to deploy AT-ATs, Speeder Bikes, legions of Stormtroopers and more into battle.
The Windows 10 game's backdrop includes the likes of Hoth, Yavin 4 and Dandoran to give it a classic Star Wars feel. Troops, heroes and gear can be upgraded as you progress through the game to enhance their skills and abilities. You can also team up with friends and allies to form the ultimate force.
Star Wars Commander is a free game with the customary in-app purchase opportunities. While I would love to see Star Wars Battlefront come to Windows 10 Mobile, Star Wars Commander offers a challenging strategy game to spend a little down time with.
Download Star Wars Commander from the Windows Store
Radiant
Space shooters are fantastic time waster games and Radiant ranks among the best of the best. You cut through hundreds of space creatures to face off against powerful bosses. Special weapons and power-ups can be collected during battle to upgrade your ship, giving you a fighting chance at surviving the alien onslaught.
Radiant features over 100 levels of play, over 10 boss battles, 6 upgradeable weapons and 12 power-ups. The Windows 10 game also has three difficulty levels to allow you to better match gameplay to your skill set.
The game has classic 8-bit graphics, easy touch controls, elements from classic arcade games such as Galaga, Space Invaders, Asteroids and more. Gameplay is challenging, requiring a sharp aim and a little patience to time your shots just right.
Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile, all in all, this free Windows 10 game is an enjoyable time waster of a game.
Download Radiant from the Windows Store
Los Aliens
Los Aliens is an addictive space-based puzzle game that is available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile. The game is from the creative souls over at Game Troopers and has you exploring new worlds, encountering new life forms and discovering civilizations.
This Windows 10 game has 170 handcrafted levels, 18 different gamepads and creatures to add challenges to the game and two types of game modes.
Gameplay has you bouncing your alien around a game board to create connections that span the board, capture alien creatures and more. Each level has defined goals that need to be met within a limited number of moves or against a game timer.
Los Aliens is a free game with colorful graphics and challenging gameplay. While it may lack the action and adventure of other space games in the Windows Store, it provides a boatload of strategic outer space puzzles to lose track of time with.
Download Los Aliens from the Windows Store
Smashing Planets
Smashing Planets is a Windows 10 Mobile game where you face off against hordes of aliens determined to destroy Earth.
You control planetary defenses in this arcade-style game, sending missiles into deep space to destroy a variety of enemy ships before they blow Earth to smithereens. Smashing Planets features two game modes that includes a campaign mode with sixteen levels of play and a survival mode to see how long you can last before the aliens destroy Earth.
Smashing Planets has detailed graphics, easy-to-use touchscreen controls and a fast pace. Gameplay starts out slow and quickly builds up in difficulty. The Windows 10 Mobile game is somewhat reminiscent of Missile Command. Smashing Planets is currently priced at $.99 and is a fun game to pass the time with.
Download Smashing Planets from the Windows Store
Halo: Spartan Assault
It may be a little dated, but the Halo series of games have stood the test of time and Halo: Spartan Assault delivers an entertaining version of the Halo universe to your Windows 10 PC or Mobile device. You battle through 30 action-packed missions against the Covenant in this Xbox Live Windows 10 game.
Halo: Spartan Assault includes weekly challenges, new customizations to unlock and Xbox achievements to earn. You also have the ability to earn emblems that carry over to the Halo 4 console game.
The strategy game is played from overhead view with simple, touchscreen controls and detailed graphics. If you are playing from a non-touchscreen device Halo: Spartan Assault also supports keyboard/mouse controllers, as well as Xbox controller support.
Logging in with your Microsoft account allows you to synchronize gameplay between devices. While the game plays out nicely from the mobility of your Windows Phone, a larger screen does pull out more detail with the game.
Halo: Spartan Assault is currently running $2.99 and if you are on the fence about taking the leap with the game, there is a Lite Version available for free. This Lite Version offers you the first of the 30 missions, more than enough to let you decide if the full game is for you.
Download Halo: Spartan Assault from the Windows Store
These Windows 10 titles merely scratch the surface of the quality space games available in the Store. From Rabbids Big Bang to Crimsonland to Dawn of Steel, there are plenty of space games to choose from.
If you have tried any of the games listed in today's roundup, let us know what you think of things in the comments below. In the event, we overlooked your favorite Windows 10 space game, feel free to toss out your recommendation as well in the comments.