Descent 3 is a good space game.........interesting game with an awful story
Descent II in 3-D FTW!
('Hardly a "space game," tho....)
So, um, I don't get the question in the initial post.
Are you asking whether the "space THEME" is gone, or if "combat action games with role-playing aspects" are dying?
Do "near-planet" games like flight simulators qualify?
Anyway, since I like RTSs, the "space game" (CB)MMORTS that I LOVE (it's SOOOoo adictive!) I'd have to say
Time of Defiance [
(lame) Wiki page ] is my FAVORITE, ... but I can only play it once every few YEARS, since it keeps me up for DAYS at a time. (I went five days playing it once only taking naps of ~20 minutes every several hours or so....
)
One of the main reasons that I LOVE the game in that the "playing field" is HUGE(!), and the AI is excellent!
(ROFL! THERE IS NO AI!! Player's systems/ships/machines continue to operate on your pre-set instructions while you're away!)It's a pay-to-play game, but there's a free short-duration (like 7 days) trial download, but don't say that I didn't warn you if you try it! (Hint: If you DO try it, BE SURE to read their
Quick Start Guide AND the entire
FAQ!)