I love Descent: FreeSpace and it's expansion Slinet Threat.
I also love FreeSpace 2 the sequel .
I feel that they are great games with good story.
I still enjoy the Intro for Descent: FreeSpace. Link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNzB2KPgENs
Check it out. tell me what you think. also please list some of your favorite space games love to hear from you .
Endless Space - fantastic game.
Freespace 2 is probably a nearly unanimous agreement. Though this isn't a space combat sim per se, Evochron Mercenary is a current favorite of mine; it's quite sand boxy.
Freelancer was also good. Check out Star Citizen, it's coming out at the end of next year:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cig/star-citizen
^The PewPew in this game looks gorgeous..
independence war 2
5.99 at GOG
My personal favorite. REAL FUCKING PHYSICS! I love when one of my friends starts blasting forward at near 300 km/s an hour and surpised when they can't go reverse almost instantly. Well dude you are already traveling near light speed forward, you didn't expect you needed some time to slow down?
Also pulling some sweet manuvers in the engine is very satisifying, like going forwad, spinning around 180 degree's while still maintaining current trajectory so you can blast the asshole on your tail.
It takes mad skill to play.
Since I haven't played Reunion or Albion Prelude, I'd say X3: Terran Conflict. Amazing visuals, detailed ships, a crap load of ships to choose from, pretty good dog fighting, can create massive trade empires, or tear shit up with a massive fleet, or both. But damn all that micro-management! This is one of those games that you pretty much have to play with mods. The stock game is just too slow and too peaceful for me.