The 13 Best Video Game Spaceships, Ranked - The first knowledge sharing application in Vietnam

Space is the final frontier and a huge mystery that just needs solving in the eyes of people. It is as dangerous as it is fascinating. Thankfully, many video games have allowed you to traverse their version of space, which is a lot safer than the real thing. Or at least it’s safe for you, the characters within the games aren’t as safe.

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So, it’s fortunate that they often traverse deep space inside a sturdy spaceship. Not all of these vessels are created equal, though. From the sleekish-looking ships to the memories players have made aboard these space-faring vessels, these are the best of the best when it comes to video game spaceships.

Updated January 9, 2023 By Ben Jessey: Flying around space or between planets is very common in video games. And it’s rarely accomplished with a simple jetpack or jet boots. Usually, you get a spaceship to use on your travels.

As such, there have been many of these types of vessels in video game history. For this list, we included a selection of the most notable ones. But we couldn’t fit every iconic ship onto a single list. So, we’ve now updated the piece to add a few more.

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Stinger Mantis – Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

In the Star Wars universe, there is a litany of iconic vessels, from the Millennium Falcon to TIE-Fighters. Various Star Wars games have also added to the long line of spaceships. One of the most notable additions is the Stinger Mantis.

This is the ship that the main characters of Fallen Order travel on throughout the game. While it does contain weapons, it’s more of a transport vehicle than a fighter. The gruff Greez uses it to take his Jedi companions to different planets. And the ship manages to withstand the different habitats and look good while doing it.

Milano – Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy

The Milano is one of the most iconic ships in all of pop culture. Named after actress Alyssa Milano, the ship is owned and operated by Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, from The Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise. As such, it finds its way into Square Enix’s game about the dysfunctional heroes.

Throughout the adventure, the ship serves as the home base of the titular crew. In fact, it serves as their actual home, as they all live on the ship. Therefore, they each have their own room containing their gear. They also use the vessel to fly to different places, and they even get into some space battles. So, it’s a multi-purpose vehicle that is vital to the Guardians’ lives.

Collector Ship – Mass Effect 2

Most of the best ships in video games are the ones that the protagonists use. But the Collector Ship from Mass Effect 2 is different. As the name suggests, it’s used by the evil species known as The Collectors.

It’s visually striking because of its incredible size. The vessel dwarfs the average spaceship. So much so that it’s probably pretty intimidating to fly beside it. Things get more intimidating, though, when it starts to fire its main weapon. The said weapon is a large laser that comes out of the front and demolishes anything in its path. Commander Shepard’s Normandy found this out when the Collector Ship destroyed it minutes into Mass Effect 2.

The Unreliable – The Outer Worlds

Don’t let the name fool you, this ship is absolutely the best way to get around in The Outer Worlds. While it may not be the best-looking spaceship in a game, it does provide a good respite from all the action and tough decisions you will have to make.

The Unreliable is also a good place to know the companions traveling with you and will ultimately feel like a home before too long in this great satirical RPG.

The Saucer – Destroy All Humans

Opting for a more traditional look, the Saucer in Destroy All Humans is an absolute tool of destruction. It is with the player the whole way through Crypto’s quest to conquer Earth for his race and is there for you should things go south.

With a death ray that will vaporize just about anything in Crypto’s path, this ship will help you do exactly what the game tells you to do – that being to destroy all humans.

Arwing – Star Fox Series

The ship that is almost synonymous with the series itself, the Arwing is the ship of choice for the Star Fox team as they try to save the Lylat System from the mad scientist known as Andross.

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It is fast and in the right hands, can decimate an entire enemy fleet in a manner of seconds. The Arwing has even made its way into other games such as Super Smash Bros. and more recently, Starlink, where it manages to steal the show from that game’s ships as well.

Ebon Hawk – Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Original to both Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel, the Ebon Hawk bears a lot of similarities to the Millennium Falcon and though the Ebon Hawk is not as well known, it is just as great as the Falcon is in the movies.

It is the ship of choice for the protagonists of each game as it is both fast and great in a fight. Plus you can explore the inside of the ship and talk to the game’s companions to learn more about them. But most importantly, it gives the player the chance to explore a galaxy far, far away.

USG Ishimura – Dead Space

Now for a ship that will make you want to stay as far away as possible. The Ishimura was a ship featured in the first and second Dead Space games built for deep space exploration and nothing is scary about it at first glance – until you realize the ship is infested with alien abominations known as necromorphs and has infected a majority of the crew.

Now the ship is basically hell outside of Earth as you never truly know what’s around the corner. Even without the necromorphs, the very ship itself is both the most foreboding and frightening place in the entire series.

Protoss Carrier – StarCraft Series

A ship with a shiny gold exterior that brings hope to its allies and fear to its enemies, Protoss carriers are arguably the most powerful ships in the StarCraft universe.

Created by the Khalai, the ship is large and is usually the tip of the spear in aerial battles. With their large size, heavy armor, and plasma shields, these ships could change the tide of battle in seconds and are a huge asset to any who have a capable commander at their helm.

Pillar Of Autumn – Halo

Arguably the most important ship in the Halo series, the Pillar of Autumn also has the honor of being the first ship introduced to players in the Halo series. The ship holds both Cortana and the Master Chief, the best hopes for humanity who narrowly escape Reach in Halo: Reach.

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It is the ship that discovers the Halo rings, which is what eventually helps humanity both win the war against the Covenant and the Flood. It also helps that the ship itself isn’t too shabby to look at either.

The X-Wing – Star Wars Games

A ship flown by the likes of Luke Skywalker and Poe Dameron, the X-wing is a truly iconic ship not only in the Star Wars movies but the games as well.

The ship has appeared in multiple Star Wars games, from the original Battlefront to the space dog fights of Squadrons. Each game the most iconic ship of the Rebel Alliance appears in does manage to do one thing well – they manage to capture the joy of what piloting an X-wing is like almost perfectly each time it shows up.

Samus’s Ship – Metroid Series

Though Metroid has never really been known for its ships, there is one that stands out and is truly iconic. That being the ship of the series heroine, Samus Aran and it is truly a marvel of great design.

It features a green front window that resembles the green visor of Samus’s helmet and an orange colorway that matches her power suit to a tee. Plus it has also helped her get out of exploding planets and space stations on more than a few occasions. The ship has even helped her battle the roster of Super Smash Bros. whenever she gets her hands on that smash ball when out of her armor.

The Normandy – Mass Effect Trilogy

Just one look at the Normandy will bring a monsoon of memories down on anyone who has played through the Mass Effect trilogy. There are two versions of the Normandy, the SR1 featured in the first game and the SR2 featured in the second and third games. The ship is capable of carrying out stealth missions and getting out just as quickly as it came in. It is not bad in a firefight either, but the best part of the Normandy are the people aboard.

All the companions that players have come to know and love had their friendships formed on this ship. The ship is also where players launched many a mission to help deepen those bonds in some cases. It is because of these bonds with characters that feel just like real people happening aboard the Normandy that make it the best ship in any video game, period.

Next: To Boldy Go: The Best Space Exploration Games