Best Space Strategy Game?

ascendancy sucked do not even bother with it, the AI is terrible.
If you want a decent sim game and to go back further get masters of orion I or II. both on GOG, and if you want to get really old school look at Stellar Conquest the board game from the 70s that Masters of orion used for game mechanics.

Thats a rogue-like, its too dependent on luck rather then micro-management or skill.
You can play through it find the best weapons/best +scrap events, or you can play through it and be out of fuel every few jumps/get spit roasted by an EMP happy ship & meteors.

Though I applaud the suggestion of FTL, an amazing game.

not really, OP is clearly seeking strategy games on Space. There are several sub genres for strategy like RTS, grand strategy and turn-based.

Amazing game, probably my absolute favorite Space game.

Not sure this helps OP much since its not strategy.

Space combat simulator?

Probably because SC isn't one of the best space strategy games? A good game, yes, but not one of the best.

Because Starcraft is RTS not Strategy. Same general name but different play style.

(I'm being super nitpicky about the word strategy... oh jeez.)

Not sure about it being the best, but it was surprisingly fun.

I loaded it up and was like "Wait is this sid meier's in space?"

I love Endless Space

+1

i had never heard of this game before. can anyone tell me afew things about it? and is there any digital store that sells this game at an affordable price?

this

Classic

Iron Sky: Invasion ?

this

I miss Homeworld. Maybe now, with THQ going under, someone will let Relic make a sequel.

This! Masters of Orion 1, 2 or 3. I tried Endless Space the other day and it reminded me a lot of MoO. So maybe try out Endless Space sometime, if you cant get a hold of any Masters of Orion.