[WIP] Space Strategy Games

Bob McDob · Post by **Bob McDob** » 2003-12-31 12:58pm

Currently compiling a list of space strategy games. My definition of a space strategy game includes 4X types like MOO and Space Empires, as well as tactical games like Starfleet Command and adventure games with strategy elements (Starflight, Star Control) and, more recently, real-time efforts like Homeworld and Haegemonia.

As you can see, the list is far from complete and may include numerous factual errors (I'm not exactly the most experienced person for this task). While I have a large list of famous and not-so-famous games (with the exception of some of the earlier Star Control and Space Empire versions), most of them lack descriptions. If you've played any of these games and can submit a brief synopsis of them (or, alternatively, know of any that I've missed), please do so. All games are acceptable, including freeware and console titles - in fact, one of the primary purposes of this list is to raise awareness for obscure and unknown titles.

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The Warp Factor (1982): Based on the Star Fleet Battles series.

Star Fleet 1: The War Begins (1982) Possibly the first space strategy game. Based heavily on Star Trek game derivatives.

Imperial Space Command (1986):

Psi 5 Trading Company (1986):

StarFlight (1986): Galaxy-spanning freelancing in the tradition of Star Trek and Elite.

Reach for the Stars (1987) First space empire/colonization game. Originated the term 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate).

Anacreon: Reconstruction 4021 (1988):

Captain Blood (1988):

Stellar Crusade (1988):

Star Fleet 2: Krellian Commander (1989): Sequel to the groundbreaking original; even more complexity.

StarFlight 2: Trade Routes of the Cloud Nebula

Master of Orion [MOO] (1990) Defining space empire series, considered by most to be the benchmark for all "4X" type games..

Armada 2525 (1991):

Millenium: The Return to Earth (1991):

Armada 2525 Deluxe Edition (1992):

Star Legions (1992): Spin-off of Star Fleet series: added ability to command planetary strikes.

Protostar (1993): Unofficial sequel to Starflight II.

Alien Legacy (1993):

Supremacy: Overlord (1993):

Reunion (1994):

Command Adventures: STARSHIP (1994): Action game with strategic tactical elements.

Wing Commander Armada (1994): Strategy version of Wing Commander best described as "MOO Lite". One of the few games to combine space sim combat with strategy.

Iron Seed (1994):

Stellar Conquest III:

Ascendancy (1994): Space empires game notable mainly for its original alien designs and lack of humans. Unfortunately crippled by weak AI in initial versions.

Spaceward HO! For Windows (1995):

Stars! (1996):

Starlord (1996):

Space Bucks (1996) Space shipping game; more akin to Railroad Tycoon.

Star Control III (1996): Official sequel to Star Control II, developed without the series's creators. Considered by most to be the weakest Star Control game.

Master of Orion II: Battles at Antares (1996):

Star General (1997): Part of SSI's Five Star General series based on the Panzer General engine. Based on the Fleet novels of David Drake.

Warpath 97 (1997):

Emperor of the Fading Suns (1997): Based on the RPG by Holistic Design. Known mainly for its diplomatic intrigue and difficulty.

Delta Hydra (1997): Simplified space empires game based on a near-future space race between competing space agencies.

Star Command: Revolution (1997): 2D RTS, first space real-time game.

Imperium Galactica (1997) First game to combine real-time planetery strategy, space combat, and empire management.

Star Wars: Rebellion (1998) Massive real-time space empires game; suffered from clumsy interface.

Homeworld (1999): Considered by many the definitive real-time space combat game.

War Encounters (1999):

Starship Tactical Combat Simulator (1999):

Imperium Galactica II (1999) Added 3d graphics to the original Galactica formula.

Starfleet Command (1999): Tactical strategy based on Star Fleet Battles board games.

Star Trek: Birth of the Federation (2001)

Starfleet Command II (2000): The sequel to Starfleet Command added a dynamic campaign system and two new races.

Space Empires IV (2001):

Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates (2001) Stand-alone expansion pack focusing on pirate clans.

Conquest: Frontier Wars (2001): Starcraft derivative; first RTS to simulate supplies, multi-system battles.

Starships Unlimited (2001):

Far Gate (2002):

Star Trek: Bridge Commander (2002): An attempt to simulate as closely as possible the feel of command as shown in ST:TNG.

Haegemonia (2002): Space combat in vein of Homeworld with empire management mixed in; groundbreaking graphics

Galactic Civilizations (2002): Remake of the OS/2 classic with renewed graphics and play options; closest thing to "Civilization in Space".

Strange Adventures in Infinite Space (2002):

Starfleet Command III (2003): Brought Starfleet Command series into TNG era.

Homeworld 2 (2003): Brought more mod-friendly engine, streamlined gameplay to Homeworld franchise.

Galaxy Andromeda (2003) (cancelled): Formerly IG3; would have dropped empire management and planetary combat in favor of large-scale tactical fleet battles.

Star Boundary (2003): Tactical strategy based on the Japanese Battle Flag of the Stars books and anime.

Starshatter (2004?) Independently developed small-scale tactical strategy/space sim hybrid.

Fading Suns: Noble Armada (2004):

lukexcom · Post by **lukexcom** » 2003-12-31 02:45pm

Master Of Orion III (2003) - The third game of the MOO series, an attempt at allowing highly detailed macro- and micromanagement of your empire but with available automatization, self-guiding development plans, and economic AIs. Not as successfull as the first two games. Many cuts were made before release.

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2003-12-31 04:41pm

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (199?): The continuing saga of that famous game - Civilization. An interesting story, with good AI, and some novel variations on Civ-type games.

StarshipTitanic · Post by **StarshipTitanic** » 2003-12-31 06:37pm

I'm guessing 1998, but I may be wrong.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2003-12-31 09:12pm

Battlecruiser 3000AD was a good space trading/strategy game.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2003-12-31 09:21pm

hrrm. . . .what about the Starcraft series?

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2003-12-31 10:52pm

Alpha Centauri is 1999 (according to the copywrite on my box), and Alien Crossfire Expansion Pack came later that year, IIRC. Excellent series, at any rate.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2003-12-31 11:08pm

You covered just about anything I could think of.

Oh, Rules Of Engagement and Breach.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2004-01-01 12:17am

Why the compilation? Moo2 is mentioned, but some people think it's better than the original (like me) while others think its added to much complexity (crybabies). It has a better tactical engine than the original, at any rate - though you can't get the same size of fleets as you could in Moo1.

Tolya · Post by **Tolya** » 2004-01-02 05:38pm

Battlecruiser 3000AD is so far the worst game of this kind. It has bugs, inefficent control & information systems, it gets boring after a while. And bugs & errors...geez, its almost impossible to do anything without a crash/lock up coming once in a while.

Good idea, thrashed by 'inept handling'. And the technical support for it is one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen?
"It doesnt work!"
"Really? Weeelll...it works on my computer, so get the fuck outta here".

I give BC series 2/10

LordShaithis · Post by **LordShaithis** » 2004-01-03 07:22am

Birth of the Federation: Trek. Borrows a LOT from Civilization. Fun though, I've played it on and off for years.

Reach for the Stars: Apparently a remake of an earlier game. Boring combat, boring diplomacy, very shallow. Only redeeming value is an editor so deep that you could literally rewrite the entire game with it.

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2004-01-03 11:20pm

BOB! How could you forget Wing Commander Armada!?

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2004-01-04 01:11pm

GrandAdmiralPrawn wrote:Birth of the Federation: Trek. Borrows a LOT from Civilization. Fun though, I've played it on and off for years.

....

Actually, it borrowed from MOO.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2004-01-04 07:24pm

Bob McDob wrote:Galaxy Andromeda (2003) (cancelled): Formerly IG3; would have dropped empire management and planetary combat in favor of large-scale tactical fleet battles.

Fortunately, you're wrong. It has been revived yet again, under yet another new name, Nexus. Reference: This article concerning the joyous event.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2004-01-04 11:38pm

EmperorMing wrote:
GrandAdmiralPrawn wrote:Birth of the Federation: Trek. Borrows a LOT from Civilization. Fun though, I've played it on and off for years.
Actually, it borrowed from MOO.

Well, if we're going to be pedantic, then it really borrowed from both. Although I personally got bored of it real quick, like Rebellion, it had it's moments.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2004-01-05 12:33am

Stofsk wrote:
EmperorMing wrote:
GrandAdmiralPrawn wrote:Birth of the Federation: Trek. Borrows a LOT from Civilization. Fun though, I've played it on and off for years.
Actually, it borrowed from MOO.
Well, if we're going to be pedantic, then it really borrowed from both. Although I personally got bored of it real quick, like Rebellion, it had it's moments.

Now *that* I agree with 200%

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2004-01-05 01:40am

Allegiance, an MS game that was scrapped and is now basically freeware because of faithful betatesters, has a strategy portion.

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[WIP] Space Strategy Games

[WIP] Space Strategy Games

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