If you want a first-person starfighter cockpit and a military-style single-player story, start with STAR WARS: Squadrons. For solo combat with open-world exploration and RPG progression, choose EVERSPACE 2. Elite Dangerous is a more qualified fit: it offers a large, connected space sandbox, not the clearest match for a self-contained authored campaign. As of October 13, 2026, Squadron 42 itself remains in development and is not yet available, according to RSI’s support checklist.
Which Squadron 42 alternative best fits your kind of space combat?
The best choice depends on what you mean by “like Squadron 42.” Its appeal may be the cockpit view and flying, the promise of a directed cinematic story, or simply the chance to fight in space on your own. The three games below serve different parts of that wish rather than offering interchangeable versions of the same experience.
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Think of the choice as a question of structure, not just setting. A cockpit and starfighter battles do not automatically make a game a campaign-focused substitute. Likewise, a game can be playable solo without centering on a self-contained solo story. The clearest match for a first-person starfighter campaign is STAR WARS: Squadrons; the solo exploration-and-progression choice is EVERSPACE 2; and Elite Dangerous suits a reader who values an expansive connected sandbox more than a directed campaign.
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| Game | Best fit | What changes from a squadron-style story | Platforms established by the cited sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| STAR WARS: Squadrons | First-person starfighter combat paired with a single-player military-style story | It is set in the Star Wars universe and also has multiplayer framing; check the chosen edition for current availability and online requirements. | PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, according to EA’s product page; verify the specific platform and edition before buying. |
| EVERSPACE 2 | Solo space combat, exploration, and RPG-style ship and gear progression | It is an open-world action RPG, not a linear squadron-centered military flight story. | The official site lists PC storefronts, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. |
| Elite Dangerous | A broad, open-ended galaxy and connected sandbox activities | Steam describes it as massively multiplayer; the cited listing does not establish a close match for a self-contained authored solo campaign. | Not specified in the cited Steam listing summary. |
Why Squadron 42 players may want an alternative
RSI’s support checklist, updated April 16, 2026, says Squadron 42 is still in development and not yet available. That page does not confirm a release date, so treat any claimed timing as unconfirmed unless RSI provides an updated official statement. The availability status is time-sensitive; it reflects the checklist as of the date cited, not a guarantee about future release timing.
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For a substitute, separate the experience into three questions: do you want to pilot from a first-person cockpit, follow a directed single-player narrative, or spend time in a large space world with progression and open-ended activities? STAR WARS: Squadrons most directly combines the first two. EVERSPACE 2 prioritizes solo exploration and action-RPG progression. Elite Dangerous is aimed more at the connected sandbox end of the spectrum.
This distinction matters if you are choosing a game to play while waiting. A game can share the setting of space combat without sharing the same campaign structure, and “single-player” does not mean the same thing as “an authored story that can be played alone.” EA explicitly describes a single-player campaign for STAR WARS: Squadrons. Rockfish describes EVERSPACE 2 as a narrative-driven single-player open-world RPG, a different kind of solo experience. Steam presents Elite Dangerous as a massively multiplayer, open-ended galaxy, so the available description points toward a connected world rather than a direct campaign replacement.
STAR WARS: Squadrons: closest fit for a cockpit campaign
STAR WARS: Squadrons is the strongest cited choice if you want to sit in a starfighter cockpit and work through a story campaign. EA describes first-person space dogfights alongside a single-player campaign, and its product page lists PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. EA’s wording is a publisher description, not an independent assessment of the campaign’s quality or how closely its structure resembles Squadron 42.
StarWars.com places the single-player story near the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War. That gives the campaign a recognizable space-opera setting and a defined historical context within Star Wars. If a familiar franchise setting is a positive for you, this is the most direct fit among the three games covered here.
EA’s product description says, “Buckle up, feel the adrenaline of first-person multiplayer space dogfights alongside your squadron, and learn what it means to be a pilot in a thrilling STAR WARS™ single-player campaign.” That sentence usefully captures the combination on offer, but it is marketing language from the publisher. Use the factual parts of the product description—first-person dogfights, multiplayer framing, and a single-player campaign—to assess fit, rather than treating its enthusiasm as a guarantee about the story or its quality.
What it matches
- First-person starfighter piloting and combat.
- A single-player story campaign with a military-style framing.
- A space-opera setting rather than a more abstract or open-ended galaxy.
- A campaign that StarWars.com situates near the end of the Galactic Civil War.
What to check before choosing it
The game is also presented with multiplayer dogfights, so it is not framed solely as a single-player release. The cited sources do not establish current online requirements, edition-specific differences, regional availability, or current store stock. Confirm those details on the official store for your platform before purchase, especially if you only want solo play or are selecting a particular console generation.
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EA lists PC, PlayStation, and Xbox at the product-page level, but that broad platform list is not enough to confirm that every current store, console generation, or edition is available where you live. Check the exact version shown in your regional storefront, then confirm whether its listing matches your platform and whether any online components matter to your intended use. If you want only the story, distinguish the existence of a single-player campaign from the separate multiplayer framing; the official description confirms both, but does not settle every question about access conditions.
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EVERSPACE 2: best for solo exploration and RPG progression
EVERSPACE 2 is the better match if “single-player space combat” means fighting, exploring, and developing a ship over time rather than following a squadron’s military campaign. Rockfish describes it as a narrative-driven single-player open-world RPG with looter-shooter elements. Its official game page emphasizes combat, exploration, ship collection, weapons, and equipment.
That combination makes its main trade-off clear: progression and gear are central to the experience, while the structure is an open-world action RPG rather than a linear squadron-centered flight story. Pick it for a solo space adventure with a continuing combat-and-equipment loop, not because it reproduces the format of a cinematic military campaign.
The “narrative-driven” description means it should not be reduced to a gear menu or combat-only option; Rockfish positions it as a story-bearing single-player game. At the same time, its open-world RPG and looter-shooter framing tells you what kind of structure to expect. If you want a campaign organized around a squadron-style military through-line, that is not what the official descriptions emphasize. If you would rather spend your solo time exploring, fighting, collecting ships, and building around weapons and equipment, those are exactly the elements highlighted by the developer.
Platforms and controls
Rockfish’s official site lists PC storefronts, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. Store listings and availability can change, so check the developer’s current platform information and the relevant storefront for the edition available in your region.
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The developer’s FAQ confirms HOTAS and HOSAS support. These terms refer to flight-control setups using a hands-on-throttle-and-stick or hands-on-stick-and-stick arrangement. Support does not mean a flight-control setup is required, nor does it confirm that every controller model works on every platform. Check compatibility for both your platform and the particular hardware before buying accessories.
A flight stick or throttle is therefore an optional way to approach the game, not an established purchase requirement. The official FAQ confirms support for HOTAS and HOSAS setups, but does not provide a complete compatibility list for particular models. Confirm that the device works with your chosen platform and the edition you intend to play. The official sources reviewed do not establish a required accessory, a specific recommended model, or a current accessory price.
Platform checking is similarly important. The developer lists PC storefronts, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, but the existence of a platform listing does not verify a particular region’s current stock, edition, or physical format. If you are buying for a specific console, match the store page to that exact platform instead of relying on a general platform roundup.
Elite Dangerous: choose it for a connected space sandbox
Elite Dangerous is worth considering if your priority is a large, open-ended galaxy and a connected space experience. Steam describes the game as a vast, open-ended galaxy and labels it massively multiplayer. That supports treating it as a sandbox alternative, but not as the closest substitute for a self-contained authored solo campaign.
The available listing evidence does not establish the extent or structure of a solo story campaign, so do not choose it on the assumption that it offers the same kind of directed narrative as a squadron game. Compare it on the question of whether you want an open-ended connected world or a campaign with a clear authored through-line. The cited listing does not specify platforms here; consult the current store page for platform availability and requirements.
This is a qualified recommendation, not a rejection. Someone who wants a broad galaxy and connected sandbox activities may find that description more attractive than a fixed story campaign. Someone looking specifically for a solo, authored flight narrative should treat the available Steam description as insufficient evidence that Elite Dangerous will meet that need. The difference is the core of the decision: an open-ended connected-world pitch answers a different question from a publisher-confirmed single-player campaign.
Rank #4
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Check the current Steam or other official store information for the platform and requirements that apply to you. The listing summary used here does not establish platform availability, exact solo-mode details, or the structure of any narrative content. Do not infer those details from the “open-ended galaxy” description alone.
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- Start with the story. If you want a directed single-player campaign in a military-style starfighter setting, choose STAR WARS: Squadrons. Its publisher describes a single-player story campaign, and StarWars.com places the story near the end of the Galactic Civil War.
- Choose your preferred kind of flying. For first-person starfighter combat, STAR WARS: Squadrons is the direct fit in the cited options. For combat embedded in exploration and ship-and-gear progression, choose EVERSPACE 2.
- Decide whether you want progression or a campaign structure. EVERSPACE 2 emphasizes open-world RPG and looter-shooter elements; STAR WARS: Squadrons is the clearer pick for a campaign-first experience.
- Ask whether a connected world is a plus. If you want a broad connected sandbox, consider Elite Dangerous. If you want a clearly established self-contained authored campaign, the cited listing does not make it the strongest choice.
- Check the control setup only if it matters to you. Rockfish confirms HOTAS and HOSAS support for EVERSPACE 2. That is useful if you already have flight controls or want to investigate them, but support is not a requirement and does not guarantee compatibility with every model or platform.
- Verify edition details. Before purchase, confirm the current platform, edition, price, availability, and any online requirements on the official product or store page. These details can vary by platform, region, and date, and the sources cited here do not establish every storefront condition.
Practical buying checks: platform, price, and accessories
There is no verified current price for any of these games in the available official product details, and regional storefront prices can change. Compare the exact listing for your platform at the time you plan to buy. Do not assume that a title’s broad platform support means every edition is currently sold in your region, or that a console listing applies to every generation of that console.
For STAR WARS: Squadrons, confirm your precise PC, PlayStation, or Xbox storefront listing and check the relevant edition information, including any online requirements if you plan to use its multiplayer modes. The official EA description establishes a single-player campaign alongside multiplayer dogfights; it does not establish current store stock or requirements for every edition.
For EVERSPACE 2, match the developer’s platform list to your device: PC storefronts, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or Nintendo Switch 2. If flight controls are part of your decision, treat HOTAS/HOSAS support as a starting point for compatibility checking, not proof that a specific stick, throttle, or configuration works on your chosen system. Buy an accessory only after checking both the manufacturer’s compatibility information and the game/platform details.
For Elite Dangerous, use the current listing for your chosen store to determine supported platforms and requirements; the Steam description cited here does not provide those specifics. In every case, compare the exact edition rather than relying on a title-level summary. No current price, discount, physical release format, regional stock, or model-by-model accessory compatibility is confirmed here.
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The official sources cited for these recommendations do not establish campaign lengths, current prices, performance benchmarks, hardware requirements, regional stock, or a complete list of compatible flight-control models. No campaign-length estimate or review score is needed to make the main decision: the meaningful distinction is between a cockpit-centered story, an open-world solo action RPG, and a connected sandbox.
Best Value
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There is also no basis here for promising that one game will reproduce Squadron 42’s precise tone, mission design, pacing, or production approach. The sources establish genres, modes, settings, and broad gameplay emphasis, which is enough to choose among these alternatives by preference. They do not establish a one-to-one replacement. For the most time-sensitive points—whether Squadron 42 has become available, or whether a specific game edition is currently sold—check the developer or storefront page again when making your decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest alternative to Squadron 42 for a single-player campaign?
STAR WARS: Squadrons is the closest match among these options for first-person starfighter combat paired with a single-player story. EA describes a campaign alongside multiplayer dogfights, and StarWars.com places the story near the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War. That overlap does not mean the games have identical stories or structure.
Is Squadron 42 available now?
RSI’s support checklist, updated April 16, 2026, says Squadron 42 remains in development and is not yet available. The checklist does not confirm a release date. Availability can change, so check RSI’s current official status for the latest information.
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Which alternative is best for solo exploration and ship progression?
EVERSPACE 2 is the clearest fit. Rockfish describes it as a narrative-driven single-player open-world RPG with looter-shooter elements, and highlights combat, exploration, ship collection, weapons, and equipment. It is an action RPG rather than a squadron-centered military flight campaign.
Is Elite Dangerous a single-player story alternative?
The Steam listing describes Elite Dangerous as an open-ended galaxy and labels it massively multiplayer. That makes it a better fit for someone seeking a connected sandbox than for someone specifically seeking a self-contained authored solo campaign. The listing cited here does not establish the structure or extent of a solo story.
Do I need a flight stick to play EVERSPACE 2?
No requirement is established by the developer’s FAQ. It confirms HOTAS and HOSAS support, but support is optional and does not confirm that every model works on every platform. Check compatibility for your specific device and system before buying hardware.
What platforms are these games on?
EA’s product page lists STAR WARS: Squadrons for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Rockfish lists EVERSPACE 2 for PC storefronts, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The cited Steam summary for Elite Dangerous does not specify platforms. Verify the exact current edition and storefront listing for your region.
How much do these alternatives cost, and are physical editions available?
No current prices, regional stock, or physical formats are established here. Check the official store or your platform’s storefront for the price and format currently available for the exact edition you want.
The Bottom Line
For a first-person cockpit and a defined solo starfighter story, start with STAR WARS: Squadrons. Choose EVERSPACE 2 for a solo open-world action RPG built around combat, exploration, ships, and gear. Consider Elite Dangerous if an open-ended connected galaxy matters more than a clearly established authored campaign. RSI’s April 16, 2026 checklist still listed Squadron 42 as in development and unavailable; verify that status and each game’s current edition details before buying.
Quick Recap
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