Elite Dangerous Review [2025]: What I Learned As A New Player
Elite Dangerous is a solo Space Sim/Space MMO, and it can be incredibly complicated to get into.
Playing it for the first time can feel like you’re trying to learn to program in C.
It’s frustrating!
Even after the tutorial, I found myself bringing up the Menu to find out what key I needed to press to do something. AND THEN there’s the in-game jargon, creating yet another barrier to entry.
I purchased Elite Dangerous three years ago(!) on the suggestion of a friend, but never managed to get into it. I never managed to make it beyond a few days.
I’d pick it up and then drop it like an unsolved Rubik’s cube.
Until now!
I’ve finally navigated my way through the information barrage, so it’s time for a review!
Was it all worth it?
This post may contain speculation, personal opinion, and comedy. It is not advice and is solely for entertainment and informational purposes.
How To Play Elite Dangerous: Review
Elite Dangerous is a space game where you fly around the galaxy, engaging in a range of activities, from mining asteroid belts to bounty hunting criminals, from exploring planets to trading or piracy.
It doesn’t feel like a typical MMO (massively multiplayer online game) due to the vastness of space. You don’t tend to come into contact with many other players.
The goal in Elite Dangerous is to find an activity you enjoy and pursue it.
Learning the basics is best done via repetition. However, you need to find something to pique your interest, such as the current Community Goals [Reddit] Event, where the task is to deliver one piece of cargo to a specific space station.
The reward is 50 million CR, which is enough in-game credit to buy some great-looking ships.
I completed the goal and soon discovered that I could continue trading and earn at an accelerated rate, as the Community Goal offered increased rewards for this particular trade.
Before I knew it, days had passed, and I was sitting on a Cobra Mk V and a Krait Mk II.
I also had over 100 million CR in the bank, with the promise of another 140 million CR to come from rewards earned through the Community Event.
But more than all of those things, the repetition involved in completing the Event taught me how to play the game.
Elite Dangerous: Screenshots of the Space Sim/MMO in 2025
I would like to share a few screenshots of my adventures. I figure that this is the best way to give you a sense of the game.
Here I am in my Cobra Mk V, arriving at a star following a jump. Some ships allow you to view the outside from both below your control panel and above your head.
If you have a Fuel Scoop with you, you can refuel your ship from stars like these.
According to the internet, this is a Neutron Star. The remains of a supernova explosion. Looks stunning.
You’ll notice that I am always in this cockpit view; that’s because it’s the only option available in Elite Dangerous. While you can view your ship from the outside, to control it, you need that cockpit interface.
Once you land on a planet, you are able to walk about in a spacesuit or explore in an SRV (Surface Recon Vehicle).
This is Fuca Dock, the target location of the current Community Goals mission.
At a Dock, you can refuel, make repairs, and upgrade your ship. You can also trade commodities and sign up for missions.
This is my Mandalay Stellar. I paid real cash credits (ARX) to get it a while ago, before I really knew what to do with it.
Is Elite Dangerous Worth It? PROS & CONS:
Elite Dangerous Pros and Cons.
PROS:
✓ Fantastic space simulation game
✓ Plenty to do: Space-Trucker, Combat Pilot, Space Bus Driver, Explorer, Smuggler, and so on…
✓ Looks beautiful
✓ In-game economy is generous, and it’s easy to grind money to purchase your next dream ship
✓ A lot for a small price, with no real pressure to spend more. However, you can pay to access new ships earlier or purchase a new look/aesthetic for your current ship
CONS:
✗ Getting into Elite Dangerous is like learning a new language or musical instrument. There is a lot to take in just to become functional
✗ Some AI/Bot characters feel lifeless
✗ It can be grindy and challenging
✗ For as much as there is to do, at times it can feel pointless. The onus is on the player to add context
✗ There is no practical way to engage with other players in a meaningful way
Do I recommend Elite Dangerous?
YES!
Elite Dangerous was initially released in 2014. Since its release, it appears that the developers have been building and layering the game, creating the universe we have today.
It seems to me that Elite Dangerous has so much potential. It wouldn’t take much from here to improve on the game’s weaknesses and fulfil its promise.
And with the addition of new ships, new storylines, and new features, they may well be on their way.
I’m bouncing between 3 ½ and 4 Stars on this one, so I will optimistically award it 4.
Old Cynic’s Grade:
I have 111 hours of play at the time of this review. I purchased Elite Dangerous on Steam (with the DLC, Odyssey) for £21.48.
You can find all my other game reviews here.
Copyright (words, graphic design, screenshots): oldcynic.com
Images used for review/tutorial
Elite Dangerous is owned by Frontier Developments
Thanks for this review. As an old skool Elite player from the BBC Computer days this game piqued my interest and I was an original investor in the game. Sadly I could never get into it either as I was engrossed in another space sim at the time of release. I had all but forgotten it until now.
I shall get it installed this weekend and dive into it again.
As an original investor you owe it to yourself! It does have a steep learning curve but my advice would be to start with something simple and keep doing it.
I’d love to know what you make of it, given your history. Also, what was the other space sim?
Thanks for stopping by, Jay.