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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteStart with STAR WARS: Squadrons if you want a modern cockpit-style fighter campaign with a defined story. Choose EVERSPACE 2 if you would rather spend longer exploring, fighting, and improving a ship through an action-RPG progression loop. For a more simulation-focused option, In The Black is worth considering only if you are comfortable playing an Early Access game. And if what you miss most is the older mission-and-squadron-command format, look into FreeSpace 2 and the classic X-Wing games—but verify that the version you want is currently available before planning to buy it.
No one option reproduces every part of Wing Commander 3. The closest match depends on whether you are after a scripted campaign, hands-on starfighter combat, a longer solo adventure, or the classic campaign structure.
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Star Wars: Squadrons (PS4) | $13.98 | Buy on Amazon |
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Star Wars: Squadrons - PlayStation 4 LATAM Spanish/English/French | $15.49 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Electronic Arts - Star Wars Squadrons Occasion [ PS4 ] - 5030947124021](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51N66XhEYPL._SL160_.jpg)
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Electronic Arts - Star Wars Squadrons Occasion [ PS4 ] - 5030947124021 | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series (PS4) | $43.85 | Buy on Amazon |
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Sony Star Wars Squadrons - PS4 | $19.97 | Buy on Amazon |
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Which game is the closest match for Wing Commander 3?
STAR WARS: Squadrons is the clearest starting point for someone who wants to get back into a fighter cockpit and follow a single-player space-war story. EA confirms both first-person starfighter combat and a campaign; StarWars.com describes a story set around the end of the Galactic Civil War, with ships and squadrons that players can customize. The setting is unmistakably Star Wars rather than the Wing Commander universe, but the combination of cockpit combat and a defined campaign makes it the most direct modern fit in this group.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The resemblance is about the kind of play, not a promise that the games handle or tell their stories in the same way. There is no single successor here that reproduces Wing Commander 3 in every respect. If your priority is a longer solo adventure with exploration and gear progression, EVERSPACE 2 may suit you better. If you want simulation rather than a campaign-first fighter game, consider In The Black, bearing in mind its Early Access status.
#1 Best Overall
- All Wings Report In – Plan skirmishes with your squadron in the briefing room before taking off to the evolving battlefields across the galaxy. Compete in intense 5 vs. 5 multiplayer dogfights or unite with your squadron to tip the scales in monumental fleet battles. Together, you’re the galaxy’s finest.
- Master Legendary Starfighters – Take control of different classes of starfighters from both the New Republic and Imperial fleets – including the agile A-wing and the devastating TIE bomber. Modify your ship, divert the power between its systems, and destroy your opponents in strategic space dogfights.
- Live Your Star Wars Pilot Fantasy – The cockpit is your home. Use its dashboards to your advantage and – with just a thin hull of metal and glass between you and the perils of space – feel the intensity of combat from a first-person perspective. Take off in thrilling multiplayer modes and a unique single-player Star Wars story, which covers a key campaign near the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War.
- The Mission is Clear – Star Wars: Squadrons is a fully self-contained experience from day one, where you earn rewards through play. Climb the ranks and unlock new components like weapons, hulls, engines, shields, and cosmetic items in a clear path for progression that keeps gameplay fresh and engaging.
It helps to separate four questions that can get bundled together when someone asks for a game “like Wing Commander 3.” Do you want a story with authored missions, or a broad space to explore at your own pace? Do you want immediate starfighter action, or a more simulation-minded experience? Should progress mostly come from completing the next mission, or from collecting equipment and improving a ship? And do you want a released game, or are you willing to try something still in Early Access? The answers point to different recommendations.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best fit | Structure and combat | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| STAR WARS: Squadrons | Cockpit-style dogfighting with a defined story | First-person starfighter combat and a single-player campaign | Its story and setting are part of Star Wars, not a continuation of Wing Commander. Store destinations are not proof of current stock or active sale. |
| EVERSPACE 2 | A longer solo adventure built around combat and progression | Dogfights, exploration, loot, RPG elements, mining, and crafting | It is an action RPG, not a tightly scripted fighter-mission campaign. The publisher describes its story as 30+ hours. |
| In The Black | Combat simulation and flexible controls | Single-player and multiplayer, with five flyable ship classes and customizable loadouts | Steam labels it Early Access; planned full-release additions and refinements are not completed features. |
| FreeSpace 2 and classic X-Wing games | Readers seeking the older campaign lineage | Recommended in a community discussion for single-player campaigns; that discussion also mentions classic X-Wing titles | The recommendation is reader opinion, and current availability for these older games has not been established here. |
| Elite Dangerous | Open-ended space simulation | Broad, open-ended play with a complicated flight model, as characterized by Space.com | That format can demand more learning and less campaign direction than a story-led fighter game; this is an inference from the cited description, not a hands-on assessment. |
STAR WARS: Squadrons: the campaign-first choice
Why it fits
Choose Squadrons if what you want is to sit in a starfighter cockpit and play through a single-player story rather than build your own objectives in a sandbox. Its campaign takes place around the end of the Galactic Civil War, according to StarWars.com. EA describes the game as a piloting experience and confirms a single-player campaign. Those are the central facts that make it the natural first recommendation for a Wing Commander 3 player looking for a modern game with a story and fighter combat.
The setting is its own flavor: expect Star Wars factions, ships, and context rather than a continuation of the Terran-Kilrathi conflict or Wing Commander‘s characters. StarWars.com also describes ship and squadron customization. The available material establishes that customization exists, but does not justify treating it as equivalent to any particular system in Wing Commander 3.
That makes Squadrons the best first stop when the cockpit and campaign are the non-negotiables, not necessarily the right choice for every player who remembers Wing Commander 3. Someone chiefly looking for a long progression loop, a huge open-ended setting, or a simulation that advertises specialist control support may have a different priority. The recommendation is about the confirmed combination of first-person starfighter combat and a story, not a claim that every mission, control detail, or narrative feature matches the older game.
Platforms and buying caveats
EA lists store destinations for PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, Epic Games Store, and its PC app. A destination link establishes a platform storefront, not that a copy is currently in stock, that a particular edition is still on sale, or that a physical console edition is available from a given retailer. Check the exact platform and edition on the store you intend to use. The available information does not verify multiplayer population, so this recommendation rests on the confirmed campaign and combat features rather than assumptions about how busy online modes are.
If you are shopping for a console copy, make sure the listing is for the console and edition you actually own; a general platform page does not establish that a retailer has a physical disc or that it is currently available. The cited EA destinations are useful starting points for checking platform options, but they should not be read as confirmation of current price, stock, or a retailer’s inventory. No particular joystick or HOTAS device is established as necessary for playing Squadrons.
EVERSPACE 2: a longer solo adventure with progression
What the game adds beyond dogfights
EVERSPACE 2 is the better fit if you want space combat to sit inside a larger solo adventure. Rockfish Games describes dogfights alongside exploration, loot, RPG elements, mining, and crafting. That combination changes the rhythm: rather than focusing only on a sequence of authored fighter missions, you also explore, collect equipment, and develop your ship and character as you go.
Rockfish’s current official product page describes an expansive single-player story of 30+ hours and 100+ handcrafted locations across six stellar systems. Those are publisher-provided product-description figures, not independent measurements of how long a particular player will take or how much content every player will complete. The same page lists PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox editions, as well as expansions. Check the platform store for the current edition and what it includes.
The figures give a useful sense of the intended scale: this is presented as a substantial solo journey, not a short campaign of just a handful of sorties. The locations, systems, and story length belong to the publisher’s description, though, and should not be mistaken for a guaranteed playtime or a promise that every player will visit every location. The progression activities also change what “more space combat” means here. Dogfights are part of a broader loop that includes finding loot and resources and using mining and crafting, rather than being the only reason to fly.
Who should choose it instead of Squadrons?
Pick EVERSPACE 2 if you value the longer solo loop—fighting, exploring, collecting gear, mining, and crafting—more than tightly defined fighter sorties. Prefer Squadrons or an older campaign simulator if the essential appeal for you is a directed sequence of missions in a fighter cockpit. The publisher’s cited page does not establish a preferred flight-control style, so it is not a sound basis for assuming the game will feel best with a particular controller or joystick setup.
Think of the choice as campaign structure versus adventure structure. A player who wants to ask “What happens in the next mission?” may find the campaign-first pitch of Squadrons or the older games more relevant. A player who wants to ask “What can I explore, collect, craft, or upgrade next?” is closer to EVERSPACE 2‘s stated mix. Both offer solo space combat, but the progression and exploration emphasis means they are not interchangeable recommendations.
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What Steam’s listing establishes
In The Black is described on Steam as a space-combat simulator with both single-player and multiplayer. The listing specifies five flyable ship classes, customizable ship loadouts, and support for HOTAS and HOSAS control setups. It also lists head- and eye-tracking support. Those control options make it a candidate for players interested in a more simulation-minded combat experience, rather than a simple substitute for a story-led campaign.
The five ship classes and customizable loadouts are concrete reasons to investigate it if varied craft and combat configuration interest you. The listing’s control support may also be relevant if you already use a HOTAS or HOSAS setup, or head- and eye-tracking equipment. But support listings are not proof that a particular device is required, that every model is supported, or that one control arrangement is better than another. The facts establish listed compatibility categories, not a recommended hardware shopping list.
What Early Access means for this recommendation
Steam labels the game Early Access. Its listing says that improvements and additional content are planned for the full version. Treat those as plans, not features already delivered or a guarantee of what the finished game will contain. If you want a complete, released campaign experience now, the current status is a material reason to choose another game; if you are comfortable with a work in progress and want to explore its combat and controls, it may be worth a look.
The available description confirms single-player but does not establish the scope or length of a finished story campaign. Do not buy it on the assumption that it already offers a complete Wing Commander-style narrative arc. Similarly, HOTAS/HOSAS support means those control configurations are listed as supported; it does not establish that you need such equipment, which specific devices work best, or that one setup is required to play.
That product state matters as much as genre fit. A simulation-minded player may be willing to accept an evolving game because the combat and control options are the draw. A player seeking a finished, neatly bounded war story should weigh the Early Access label first and check the Steam listing for its current status and description. Planned additions can help explain the developer’s direction, but they are not a substitute for confirming what the present version includes.
Classic campaign games: FreeSpace 2 and X-Wing
If you miss the structure of an older space-combat campaign more than you care about modern presentation, the classics may be the more appealing direction. In a Steam community discussion, a participant recommends FreeSpace and FreeSpace 2 for their single-player campaigns and squadron commands, and mentions the classic X-Wing series. That is useful as a lead from players, not official product documentation or an independent quality verdict.
The phrase “excellent single player campaigns” is one community participant’s praise, not a measured comparison. Still, the reason for raising these titles is clear: readers who value mission progression and squadron commands may want to explore this older campaign lineage rather than assume that a modern action RPG or an open-ended sim is a closer match. The community discussion also includes the question of arcade-style single-player space fighting with HOTAS support, which is a useful reminder that control preferences and campaign structure can be separate parts of the search.
Rank #4
- Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series is a cinematic, interactive adventure that lets you step inside a galaxy far, far away
- Experience this thrilling three-part series in virtual reality
- Descend into Darth Vader’s mysterious fortress alongside new allies and encounter fearsome enemies, including the Sith Lord himself
- Be at the center of a story in which you hold the key to the galaxy’s salvation… or destruction
- An authentic Star Wars story that takes place between Episode III and Episode IV, which gives a personal look at Darth Vader himself
Availability is the practical catch. Current listings for every older FreeSpace or X-Wing game are not established here, so check the store and edition you intend to use before deciding on a purchase or assuming that a particular title can be installed on your system. Older games may also involve different expectations around presentation and controls; the available material does not document exact compatibility or setup instructions for any particular current PC configuration.
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If your immediate goal is simply to revisit Wing Commander 3, GOG currently lists the game and says it can be installed offline without GOG Galaxy. That is a concrete route back to the original rather than a substitute recommendation. Check the current listing for details relevant to your platform and copy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When an open-ended space sim is the better choice
Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous is worth considering when the appeal is a broad space sim, not a campaign that follows Wing Commander 3‘s story-led pattern. Space.com characterizes it as open-ended and notes a complicated flight model. By inference from those descriptions, it may involve more learning and less campaign direction than a focused fighter story. That distinction is a matter of fit, not a claim about which game has the superior flight model.
That is a meaningful trade-off for someone choosing their next game. An open-ended structure can be appealing if the point is to set your own goals in a larger space-sim context. It is a less direct answer if you want a clear sequence of story missions to follow after Wing Commander 3. The flight-model description also suggests that players should expect a learning curve, although the cited characterization does not quantify it or establish how any particular player will respond.
Star Citizen
Space.com describes Star Citizen as an ambitious project still in progress. That makes it more appropriate for a reader interested in an evolving project than for someone specifically seeking a completed, story-led replacement. The available information does not establish a current official status or a particular finished campaign to recommend, so do not treat it as a confirmed equivalent to Wing Commander 3.
How to choose based on what you miss
- You want a defined story and first-person fighter combat: start with STAR WARS: Squadrons.
- You want a longer solo run with exploration, gear, and crafting: choose EVERSPACE 2, understanding that its action-RPG loop is not the same as a mission-only campaign.
- You want a simulation-focused combat game and accept an unfinished product: investigate In The Black with its Early Access status in mind.
- You want the older campaign-and-squadron-command tradition: look into FreeSpace 2 or the classic X-Wing games, then verify current store availability.
- You want a sandbox rather than a directed war story: consider Elite Dangerous; it is a different kind of commitment.
- You want to play the original again: GOG lists Wing Commander 3 as installable offline without GOG Galaxy.
What to check before you choose
Start with the kind of structure you want, then check the practical details. For a defined single-player story and first-person starfighter combat, Squadrons is the clearest fit; its setting is Star Wars, and the confirmed campaign is the reason to choose it rather than an assumption about online activity. For a longer solo adventure, compare EVERSPACE 2‘s exploration, loot, mining, and crafting with the mission-led experience you remember. If control hardware is a deciding factor, Steam specifically lists HOTAS/HOSAS and head- and eye-tracking support for In The Black, but no particular accessory is shown to be necessary for any of these recommendations.
Best Value
Then verify platform, edition, and current product state at the storefront. EA’s links point to PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, Epic Games Store, and its PC app for Squadrons; Rockfish lists PC, PS5, and Xbox editions for EVERSPACE 2. Those are platform destinations, not guarantees about a current sale or retailer stock. For In The Black, check the Early Access listing and read what it says the current version contains rather than assuming planned full-release changes are already present. For older titles, confirm that the specific game and edition you want can be obtained and will suit your system.
Sources and qualifications
Product features and platform details above are based on EA and StarWars.com descriptions for STAR WARS: Squadrons, Rockfish Games’ current EVERSPACE 2 page, Steam’s In The Black listing, and GOG’s Wing Commander 3 listing. The older-game suggestions come from a Steam community discussion, and the brief framing of Elite Dangerous and Star Citizen comes from a 2026 Space.com article. Store availability, editions, product status, and stock can change; confirm those details with the relevant store before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest modern game to Wing Commander 3?
STAR WARS: Squadrons is the clearest modern starting point if you want first-person starfighter combat and a defined single-player story. Its setting and characters are Star Wars, not a continuation of Wing Commander.
Is EVERSPACE 2 a story-driven space combat game?
It has a single-player story that Rockfish Games describes as 30+ hours, alongside dogfights, exploration, loot, RPG elements, mining, and crafting. It is better understood as a broader action-RPG adventure than as a tightly scripted sequence of fighter sorties.
Does In The Black have HOTAS support, and is it a finished game?
Steam lists HOTAS and HOSAS support, along with head- and eye-tracking support, and identifies the game as Early Access. The listing describes future improvements and added content as plans for the full version, so check its current state rather than assuming those plans are already complete.
Which older games are worth checking after Wing Commander 3?
A Steam community discussion recommends FreeSpace and FreeSpace 2 for their single-player campaigns and squadron commands, and also mentions classic X-Wing games. These are reader suggestions, and current availability for each title should be checked with the store you plan to use.
Can I still play Wing Commander 3 without GOG Galaxy?
GOG currently lists Wing Commander 3 and says it can be installed offline without GOG Galaxy. Check the listing for current details about the copy and platform you want.
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Is Elite Dangerous a direct Wing Commander 3 replacement?
Not if you are specifically looking for a directed story campaign. Space.com characterizes Elite Dangerous as open-ended and notes a complicated flight model, so it is a better fit for readers who want a broader space sim and accept more self-directed play.
The Bottom Line
For a defined modern fighter campaign, start with STAR WARS: Squadrons. Choose EVERSPACE 2 for a longer solo adventure built around exploration and progression, and consider In The Black only with its Early Access status in view. If the classic mission-and-squadron format is what you miss, investigate FreeSpace 2 and the older X-Wing games, checking current availability first.
Quick Recap
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