(08-11-2017, 05:48 PM)Ikarus_Hagen Wrote: Don't forget the "Freelancer #1" Starlancer.
Yep, Starlancer, the sort-of-prequel to Freelancer, should definitely be on the list. It's not really in the same subgenre as Freelancer—being purely a combat sim and lacking any of the trading and exploration of its better-known brother—but it's definitely "related", being set in the same universe. Never played it myself (doesn't have Freelancer's great mouse controls so requires a joystick iirc) but there's some gameplay footage around online. It actually looks more reminiscent of modern space sims than Freelancer, weirdly, with its holographic displays and proper first-person HUD.
If you like mission-based fighter/bomber combat and/or MODing, Freespace is definitely an awesome option. Freespace Open (the modern game engine based on the original source code) is fairly easy to install, has an active MODing and code developing community, and looks and plays like a modern game. I literally can't recommend this game enough. There's a Battlestar Galactica total conversion that looks just as good as the show, too.