Elite is in a strange place in between casual PvE and 2 nd job hard core space sim . There are essentially 3 things to do in Elite , and depending on what you want to do will determine if it ' s right for you . Exploration this is by far the most inch deep , mile wide part of the game . If you like getting into deep space , seeing cool things , and leaving your mark on the galaxy if you find something previously undiscovered your commander name gets attached to it you ' ll really enjoy this . It ' s also the easiest to get into but lowest paying . Trade Do you like Euro Truck simulator but wish it was in space ? Do you want to be a miner and make your fortune harvesting space metals ? Do you like the idea of influence through commerce ? Elite does this really well . You can be a high risk , high reward smuggler or an honest trader . This game mode is middle of the road as far as how much of a time sink it can be . You ' re going to deal with pirates , and player pirates can be quite good . Combat This game mode can be incredibly fun , fast paced , and rewarding but it can also make you broke . PvE fighting is fun but only to a certain limit imo but doesn ' t require nearly the time sink or skill set to be PvP quality . If you want to be a PvP god among men , be prepared to invest some serious time into the game . As for where I ' m at I ' ve maxed out my trade rank , currently working my way to the farthest point of the galaxy to work on my exploration rank . I ' ve done my share of combat but I ' m not the greatest PvPer out there . Elite has a lot to offer , but it ' s also got a high learning curve . That said , it ' s rewarding when you get good at it .