In The Black vs Star Citizen / Elite Dangerous / Squadrons / EVE
A pilot-focused comparison of the major space combat games of 2026 — flight model, scope, price and who each game is for.
| Game | Flight model | Scope | PvP | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In The Black | True Newtonian, sim | Tight: 5 ships, 4 modes | 5v5 BloodSport ranked | $28.95 | Hardcore sim pilots |
| Star Citizen | Hybrid arcade-sim | MMO sandbox | Open-world PvP | $45+ (varies) | Sandbox MMO fans |
| Elite Dangerous | Flight-assist sim | 1:1 Milky Way MMO | Open-world PvP | $30 | Explorers, traders |
| Star Wars Squadrons | Arcade | 5v5 PvP focused | Yes — Fleet Battles | $20 | Star Wars fans, VR |
| EVE Online | Tactical (top-down) | MMO economy | Massive PvP fleets | Free / sub | Strategy + politics |
| House of the Dying Sun | Newtonian arcade | Single-player only | None | $20 | Quick session pilots |
| Everspace 2 | Arcade | Single-player RPG | None | $50 | Story + loot fans |
| DCS World | Atmospheric (jet) sim | Modular | Yes | Free + modules | Atmospheric jet sim, not space |
| X-Wing (classic) | Arcade-sim hybrid | Single-player campaigns | No | $10 | Nostalgia & campaign play |
In The Black vs Star Citizen
Star Citizen is an open-world MMO with hybrid arcade-sim flight. In The Black is a tight, focused 5v5 PvP sim with a real Newtonian model. If you want trading, exploration or RP, choose Star Citizen. If you want pure dogfighting that rewards skill, choose In The Black.
In The Black vs Elite Dangerous
Elite has flight-assist sim physics and a 1:1 Milky Way sandbox; PvP is incidental. In The Black has no exploration — every minute is combat or training for combat. They are companion games, not direct competitors.
In The Black vs Star Wars Squadrons
Squadrons is the closest in scope (5v5 PvP focus) but uses arcade flight, has no Newtonian physics, and has been in maintenance mode since 2021. In The Black is the spiritual successor for sim pilots.
In The Black vs House of the Dying Sun
Dying Sun pioneered Newtonian arcade combat for sim fans. In The Black extends that vision with PvP, modular ships and an actual progression loop. If you loved Dying Sun, you will love In The Black.
In The Black vs Starfighter Inc
They are the same game. Starfighter Inc. was the original 2015 Kickstarter project from Impeller Studios. After years of redevelopment, the team renamed and relaunched it as In The Black in May 2026. Existing Kickstarter backers received Steam keys at EA launch.