In search of a Sci-Fi system

[Eyes of Nine]

Ashen Stars is a sci-fi game built on the Gumshoe system

You may also take a look at the new Alternity. Alternity Core Rulebook - Sasquatch Game Studio | Alternity | DriveThruRPG.com

Ghost Planets is based on FATE Core Ghost Planets • A World of Adventure for Fate Core - Evil Hat Productions, LLC | Fate Worlds (Slim) | DriveThruRPG.com

Tachyon Squadron is also a FATE-based game Tachyon Squadron

Savage Worlds has its Science Fiction Companion, as well as several settings/game variations Science Fiction Companion | Pinnacle Entertainment Group

PbtA games:
Impulse Drive
Uncharted Worlds

 

[Eyes of Nine]

Oh yeah, second Stars without Number, Ashen Stars, and Traveller (I hew more towards Classic Traveller, but have heard good things about Mongoose 2nd ed Traveller).

Also:
Firefly RPG

 

[FrogReaver]

Stars Without Number comes highly recommended. It is, however, D&D (OSR) derived albeit with Traveller influence, particularly in the skills.

EDIT: Link to the FREE Version as well.

Stars without number is great.

 

[Mark Sabalauskas]

In the "not dark" catagory, the current Star Trek licence is well regarded. And there is a free quickstart.

My own optimistic Return to the Stars is up for a 2020 Indie Groundbreaker award for Best Setting (awards ceremony Wednesday). Fate based, so easy to play, unlike many other Fate games, there are a number of published adventures, so you it would be easy to kick the tires with a one shot.

If you want "hard" science fiction (that doesn't wave away realism for the sake of space opera adventure) I've heard good things about Diaspora, but haven't had a chance to dive deep.

 

[dragoner]

Lancer seems to be really popular: Massif Press - itch.io

Coriolis is also had very good reviews: Coriolis

BRP derived M-Space is a personal favorite: http://www.frostbytebooks.com/m-space

Classic Traveller's starter set is free, fairly low crunch compared to later versions: CT-ST-Starter Traveller - Game Designers' Workshop (GDW) | Classic Traveller | DriveThruRPG.com

 

[RangerWickett]

The owner of this website wrote WOIN (What's OLD is NEW). What's O.L.D. is N.E.W.

I wrote an adventure for it, which has the premise that the PCs wake up from cryosleep with temporary amnesia, and they basically create characters as their memories return, while running in terror from aliens that are boarding their sleeper ship. Waking Nightmares

 

[Parmandur]

Traveller (I liked the mongoose edition).
Very flexible rules (2d6 + skill, roll over 8). Not especially combat heavy unless you want to.
Its more on the harder side of SciFi compared to many current products.

Combat is very deadly without armor (no hp, damage goes to attributes) and the official setting is a bit outdated (70s-80s). The way FTL works takes a bit to get used to, but I think the book has variant rules for "normal" warp drives.
Biggest turnoff for many is that there is not much of character progression besides gear and that you don't exactly have much control over what character you play.

Traveller character generation is straight up the best in any RPG, hands down. It's also what Firefly/Serenity was based on, fun fact.

There's a bit of crunch on the back end, but the n game it's pretty slick.

 

[Nytmare]

It's also what Firefly/Serenity was based on, fun fact.

Whoa! How did that bit of trivia pass me by all these years?

 

[payn]

Traveller character generation is straight up the best in any RPG, hands down. It's also what Firefly/Serenity was based on, fun fact.

There's a bit of crunch on the back end, but the n game it's pretty slick.

It sure is. It was mentioned up thread some folks dont like it because you dont have total control over chargen. However, Traveller is a skill based game and not really a class one. If you understand that its not a big deal to wash out of the Navy, you can still be a pilot, gunner, astrologer in any number of new careers. The chances of life/career events makes for a very story driven character creation experience. Top notch and my favorite Sci-Fi RPG to date.

 

[practicalm]

I've always preferred GURPS for modern and science fiction games.
Though FATE is good too.
Traveller is good for space as well but I only ever played in the black books time or GURPS Traveller.