I love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-1WofWLCQo Starcon 2!

Also I love Master of Magic spell and battle system.

Where can I find more power in spells, and discoveries

Are you looking more for set storyline, stats, freeroam, something else?

You mighty have already played it, but a good oldie but goldie would be Knights of the Old Republic.

X³
and Possibly the upcoming X rebirth
~

others being

EV Nova
Space Rangers
Space Rangers 2

~ they don't make games like starflight anymore

Though it was old, and comparatively tiny, there was this one obscure game called Hard Nova I really liked; it wasn't strictly space, as it really had more emphasis on on-the-ground squad-tactical gameplay than in-space, but it had plenty of that, too, along with all the important basics of the genre: between-hub buy/sell trading, mercenary missions, etc. the main complaint is that while rather detailed, it came up short on content: only 4 systems and 7 planets total, with maybe 20-30 surface locations between them, randomized "missions" that eventually got old, and a main storyline that only lasted perhaps 5-8 hours. It's a small game.

Also, what's with the mention of Master of Magic? Kind of a non sequitor compared to space RPGs.

Not sure about an overall "best" but the one I've enjoyed the most has been the Mass Effect series.

I would go with this. Haven't played much else. I don't know if you count KotOR or not because it's Jedi, but I guess it takes place in space so I will.

Story: Star Control 2
Freeroam/Sandbox: X3: TC
Stats/typical RPG stuff: Knights of the Old Republic series

Mass Effect series. Has a really realized universe, and fun gameplay. I recommend playing them in order since you can import your character into the next game.

The Mass Effect series followed by the Knights of the Old Republic games.

Mass Effect is definitely my favourite, but a really amazing one is Space Pirates and Zombies. It has a lot of RPG elements and is so far the best indie game I have ever played. It's entirely about space combat and finding different ships, weapons, engines, shields and other features that you can use to make your ship more powerful. It still amazes me that only two people made it.

I second (sixth?) Mass Effect.

Another one that I used to play years ago was Escape Velocity, as well as its later iterations. It's not quite and rpg but it's still good and worth a look.

I had lots of fun with Star Control 2.

Mass Effect is pretty good on current standard of games.

Off the top of my head:

1. Star Control 2 (<3)
2. System Shock 2 (<3)
3. Knights of the Old Republic
4. System Shock
5. Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday
6. Mass Effect
7. Mass Effect 2
8. Knights of the Old Republic 2

Buck Rodgers and the Doomsday Machine.Though you are controlling several characters and not one.

Star Control.I like the term Hot Mess and this is definitly one unless you can get your hands on a manual..more fun without one though.

Try HALO also,i know people will say it's not an RPG but an FPS,but you'll get svcked into your role as Master Chief if you give it a go.

The original Knights of the Old Republic is another game worth looking into.

this

Wait, KotOR is now considered an "oldie?" But yeah, my mistake for not thinking of it; I keep forgetting how many kids here who've only had a 360, and not an XBox.

The two Knights of the Old Republic games are easily some of the best space-RPGs, as well as Star Wars games ever made; the only thing that could match up from the franchise, really, are the old Dark Forces/Jedi Knight FPS titles. They rely primarily on 3rd edition D&D-type rules, and manage to adapt them startlingly well for the game. If you've not played them before, you should definitely give them a try; they're available both for the PC, and, as I understand, DO have emulation profiles available for the Xbox 360, so you should be able to play the Xbox version on a 360.

KOTOR is good, but I didn't really connect with the gameplay. To me, the Mass Effect series is what I liked about KOTOR minus what I didn't like - i.e. great.

As people before me have said, I am pretty sure that Bioware has that area locked down with both their Mass Effect and KOTOR series.

Almost forgot. System Shock 1+2.

I kinda felt the opposite way. I missed being able to give useful orders to my squad in Mass Effect. It took a lot of the tactical aspects out of combat, and I like tactical RPG combat. I wasn't a huge fan of the way the RPG system and in-game items worked in ME either. Other than that I thought it was pretty solid.


So much 'yes.'


As far as current series, yes. The only other recent space RPG I can remember was Space Siege, which I didn't play but I heard it wasn't very good.