Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Kerbal Space Program VS Space Engine

Compare Kerbal Space Program VS Space Engine and see what are their differences

Kerbal Space Program logo Kerbal Space Program

Build spacecraft, fly them, and try to help the Kerbals to fulfill their ultimate mission of conquering space.

Space Engine logo Space Engine

Space Engine is a realistic virtual Universe you can explore on your computer.
  • Kerbal Space Program Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-30
  • Space Engine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-13

Kerbal Space Program features and specs

  • Educational Value
    Kerbal Space Program offers an in-depth understanding of aerospace engineering and astrophysics concepts, teaching players the basics of rocket science and orbit mechanics in an engaging way.
  • Realistic Physics
    The game features a realistic physics engine that allows players to experience lifelike space travel, making it a great tool for learning or conducting experiments with space flight dynamics.
  • Creative Freedom
    Players have the freedom to design and construct a wide variety of spacecraft, from simple rockets to complex, multi-stage vehicles, encouraging creativity and experimentation.
  • Modding Community
    There is an extensive modding community that provides countless mods and extensions, allowing players to customize their experience and expand the game's possibilities beyond its original scope.
  • Active Community
    Kerbal Space Program has a passionate and active community, providing support, tutorials, and shared experiences that enhance the overall gaming experience.

Possible disadvantages of Kerbal Space Program

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The game can be intimidating for beginners due to its complex mechanics and the need for an understanding of basic physics, which might deter some players.
  • Time-Intensive
    Missions and experiments can be quite time-consuming to plan and execute, which may not be suitable for players looking for quick or casual gameplay.
  • Technical Performance
    Some users might experience performance issues, especially when dealing with larger spacecraft or extensive mod collections, requiring a powerful PC for smooth operation.
  • Lack of Guided Progression
    Players may feel lost without a structured path or clear objectives since the game is highly sandbox-oriented and lacks a comprehensive tutorial system for all scenarios.
  • Repetitiveness
    Once the initial excitement of discovering space has worn off, some players may find the game becomes repetitive as the core mechanics remain largely unchanged.

Space Engine features and specs

  • Realistic Simulation
    Space Engine offers a highly realistic simulation of the universe, including accurate representations of planets, stars, moons, and other celestial bodies. Its detailed graphics and scientific accuracy make it a valuable tool for educational and exploratory purposes.
  • Exploration and Discovery
    The software allows users to freely explore an expansive, procedurally generated universe. Users can discover new exoplanets, star systems, galaxies, and more, making it an exciting tool for space enthusiasts.
  • VR Support
    Space Engine includes support for virtual reality devices, offering an immersive experience that lets users feel as though they are actually traveling through space.
  • Modding Community
    Space Engine has a strong and active modding community, which adds new features, textures, and content to the base software. This extends its functionality and keeps the experience fresh and engaging.
  • Educational Tool
    Thanks to its scientific accuracy, Space Engine is used as an educational tool to teach astronomy and cosmology. It allows educators to illustrate complex concepts in a visually intuitive way.

Possible disadvantages of Space Engine

  • High System Requirements
    Space Engine requires a powerful computer to run smoothly, especially when using high-resolution textures or enabling VR features. This can be a barrier for users with older or less powerful machines.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The software can be complex and may have a steep learning curve for new users. It requires some time and effort to master the controls and features effectively.
  • Limited Interactive Content
    While Space Engine excels in providing a vast and detailed universe to explore, it lacks interactive content or missions that some users might find engaging. There are no predefined goals or quests.
  • Ongoing Development
    Space Engine is still a work in progress, with many features and improvements in the pipeline. This means users might encounter bugs or incomplete features during their exploration.
  • Cost
    While there are free versions of Space Engine, access to the latest features and updates typically requires purchasing the software, which might not fit within everyone's budget.

Kerbal Space Program videos

Kerbal Space Program Video Review

More videos:

  • Review - Kerbal Space Program - Review

Space Engine videos

Why You Should Try Space Engine (The Best Damn Space Sim in the Galaxy)

More videos:

  • Review - Space Engine - Seamlessly Explore The Entire Universe
  • Review - Space Engine - What Can I Find In 10 Minutes?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Kerbal Space Program and Space Engine)
Space Simulator
29 29%
71% 71
Universe Simulator
28 28%
72% 72
Cloud Computing
100 100%
0% 0
Virtual Universe
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Kerbal Space Program and Space Engine. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Space Engine seems to be a lot more popular than Kerbal Space Program. While we know about 124 links to Space Engine, we've tracked only 7 mentions of Kerbal Space Program. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Kerbal Space Program mentions (7)

  • Intercept Games launched an "Official KSP Discord"
    Is see kerbalspaceprogram.com and discord.com. Usually I just paste the invite link directly into discord. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Visited the KSC!
    Kerbal Space Program is a VERY GOOD rocket science game, with very realistic physics. Source: about 3 years ago
  • A GOOD RETROFUTURISM VIDEOGAME??
    And of course… KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM, where you can recreate as much of the classic Space Race and beyond as you like while learning (mostly) realistic orbital physics! Source: about 3 years ago
  • What other games do you play?
    KSP, ONI, Total Annihilation (where I grew my love of automation), OpenTTD (where I learned how to trains), Portal (1&2), Witcher 3, Assassin's Creed (apparently). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Want to play KSP but can't download the software I bought
    I didn't migrate to Steam but I now can't access my account to download the latest version on kerbalspaceprogram.com. Source: about 4 years ago
View more

Space Engine mentions (124)

  • Show HN: The Atlas of Space
    I think https://spaceengine.org/ fills part of your request. I haven't played it but I've watched videos about it and it looks like you can jump anywhere around the observable universe and look at any object you want. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • ESASky
    Https://spaceengine.org/ , though it’s partially fictional if I recall correctly. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • I'm trying to make a basic political borders map of a galaxy that's not the milky way
    I mean, there are plenty of good deep sky images out there. Try looking at the New General Catalogue (NGC) objects for something that strikes your fancy. Alternatively, you could cruise around in Space Engine and bookmark an interesting galaxy to get screenshots from multiple angles, which is what I usually do. (SE is available on Steam for a reasonable price.). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Asteroid's Near Miss of Earth Undetected for 2 Days
    Computer says yes: https://gravitysimulator.org/ https://spaceengine.org/ Once the mass, velocity, heading of an object is known it becomes easier to track and fine tune parameters meaning time of intersect with earth can be calculated which gives orientation of planet and entry attitude. An exact street addres | sub metre grid reference is a big ask, but the "line of breakup" arcing across a narrow slice of the... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Infinite Photorealistic Worlds Using Procedural Generation
    Space Engine[1] is another popular one [1] https://spaceengine.org/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Kerbal Space Program and Space Engine, you can also consider the following products

EVE Online - Player-created empires, player-driven markets, and endless ways to embark on your personal sci-fi adventure.

Celestia - Real-time 3D visualization of space

Star Citizen - 1, 966, 341. Active citizen. Help us make Star Citizen a reality! Become a backer of the next-generation of Space-man. Reserve your ship.

Stellarium - Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer.

Star Conflict - Star Conflict is a free MMO action game and space simulator that was introduced in 2012.

OpenSpace - OpenSpace is open source interactive data visualization software designed to visualize the entire known universe and portray our ongoing efforts to investigate the cosmos.