For the creative builder:
* Star Wars: Squadrons: While not strictly a "design your own" game, you can heavily customize the appearance of your starfighter with a wide array of cosmetic options. This allows you to create a unique-looking ship that fits your style.
* Kerbal Space Program: This game focuses on building and launching rockets and spacecraft, offering incredible freedom in designing your own starships. You can control every aspect of your ship, from the engines to the fuel tanks to the landing gear.
* Space Engineers: This game offers a sandbox experience where you can build and design your own starships, spaceships, and even entire space stations using a variety of blocks and components. It's a complex but rewarding game for those who enjoy a high level of freedom in their design.
For the strategic commander:
* StarCraft II: While you can't fully design your own ships, you can select and upgrade them, including their weapons, abilities, and armor. This gives you a strategic advantage in designing your fleet for different combat scenarios.
* Stellaris: This grand strategy game allows you to design custom ships with a variety of components, including engines, weapons, armor, and special modules. This gives you a lot of control over the capabilities of your fleet and allows you to tailor them to your specific needs.
For the casual player:
* Star Trek Online: This MMORPG allows you to customize your starship with various cosmetic options, including hull designs, paint jobs, and decals. While you can't design the ship's internal systems, you can choose from a variety of pre-designed ships that suit your playstyle.
* Elite Dangerous: While you can't build your own ships from scratch, you can customize your existing ship with a variety of upgrades, including weapons, shields, engines, and modules. This allows you to tailor your ship's performance to suit your needs, whether you're a trader, a fighter pilot, or an explorer.
Other notable mentions:
* SpaceEngine: While primarily a space simulator, SpaceEngine allows you to create custom spacecraft for exploring the vast universe.
* No Man's Sky: While not specifically focused on ship design, this game offers a wide variety of ship customization options, allowing you to create unique-looking vessels.
This is just a small sample of the many games available that offer the opportunity to design your own starship. The best game for you will depend on your personal preferences, whether you're looking for a creative sandbox experience, a strategic command challenge, or something in between.