Star Trekis one of the best and longest-lasting sci-fi franchises, one that has spawned countless bits of merchandise (Quark would be proud). However, the video games have historically been weaker than many fans would like. It’s enough to make the average Trekkie ask the “logical” question: doesStar Trekhave any good games?
The answer is “yes,” though finding solid titles is harder than finding a Ferengi episode that doesn’t make you cringe. If you’ve got the latinum, though, here’s good news: I did a sensor scan of the internet and gathered a definitive list ofStar Trekvideo games worth beaming down for.
1Star Trek Online
Star Trek Onlineis showing its age a bit, but it’s still the best modern game in the franchise. In this MMORPG, you create a custom character and navigate missions set about 30 years afterStar Trek: Nemesis. It’s fun to explore this time period (especially if you were disappointed byPicard), and the game’s free-to-play design and crossplay compatibility with consoles make it very easily acceptable.
As in the franchise’s many shows, gameplay is split between ground missions and space missions. Both are engaging, but space combat is the standout feature, and it’s rewarding to change up ships and customize weapons until you find what fits best. Plus, while the tales are not canon, this game’s missions continue decades-old stories that the franchise never picked up on again. That makes it perfect for those who (like me) grew up mainliningStar Trekbooks.
2Star Trek: Bridge Commander
The problem with mostStar Trekgames is that they don’t exactly capture the feeling of the franchise, focusing primarily on combat.Bridge Commanderfixes this problem by literally putting you in the captain’s chair and allowing you to delegate various commands to the Enterprise-D crew. Sure, you can control things more directly in the inevitable fights (hey, even Picard had to kick butt now and then), but you’ll spend most of the time figuring out how to best utilize your crew and solve a mission involving Romulans, Cardassians, and so much more.
By itself,Bridge Commanderis easily one of the best and most immersiveStar Trekgames ever made. But the best got even better once it became easier to mod this game, and players wasted no time creating custom missions and even custom campaigns. That means you’re able to navigate strange new worlds long after you roll credits on this ambitious title.
3Star Trek: Armada II
Star Trekhas a surprisingly rich history of real-time strategy games. Arguably the best among them isArmada II, a game in which you gather dilithium and try to build up your own fleet. You’ll need to max out some tech trees, though, if you want to maximize your chance of defeating fearsome foes like the Klingons and even the Borg.
Speaking of which, one of the game’s greatest strengths is that there are campaigns for the Federation, Klingon, and Borg. The missions are pretty straightforward, but this variety gives you a reason to keep on playing. So does the multiplayer mode, which lets you take on your buddies online. Here’s hoping your battles can’t be summed up by Lily fromFirst Contact: “you broke your little ships.”
4Star Trek: Legacy
Star Trekis a very voice-driven franchise. Like, can you even read its name without hearing the stentorian tones of Captain Picard or the warm, commanding voice of Captain Kirk?Star Trek: Legacyis a real-time space combat game that leans into the franchise’s vocal appeal by bringing in William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, and Scott Bakula as voice actors.
As those big names imply, the story of this game spans multiple timelines and focuses on multiple captains. And it throws some fun surprises at players, including letting you pilot the Stargazer (Picard’s first command) into battle. Some of the missions get a little repetitive, but long-time fans will enjoy a game that brings in their favorite actors to create the kind of sweeping tale that would be impossible to create as a movie or show.
5Star Trek: 25th Anniversary
To this day,Star Trek: 25th Anniversaryis the most faithful recreation of the franchise. That’s because this point-and-click game is broken up into different episodes, allowing players to enjoy the episodic adventures that made Trek so famous in the first place. Best of all, the game features the voices ofThe Original Seriesactors, which is great for anyone who longed for more episodes of the show that started it all.
As always, there are doses of combat in this game, though you can track down an old patch to remove such fighting from the game altogether. Whether or not you enjoy the point-and-click nature of this title, however, may depend on how much you enjoy this genre. As for me, I can’t help but give props to aStar Trekgame that encourages exploration and diplomacy rather than simply setting your phasers to kill.
6Star Trek: The Next Generation: A Final Unity
It’s fair to say thatA Final Unityis theTNGversion ofStar Trek: 25th Anniversary. This is another point-and-click game, and it brings in the entire main cast (minus Wil Wheaton) ofThe Next Generationto voice their characters. But instead of focusing on episodic adventures, this game provides a singular adventure focusing on a new alien race and a device that could change the balance of power in the universe.
The game is split into two sections: the Enterprise (where you can delegate tasks to the crew or micromanage to your heart’s content) and Away Team missions, where you explore strange new worlds. While this game is now difficult to find and play, and its point-and-click interface is old-fashioned, this is a killer title that was released shortly after the end ofThe Next Generation, giving superfans like me a much-needed fix of new adventures.
7Star Trek: Birth of the Federation
Like Neelix’s leola root stew, Birth of the Federation is an acquired taste. It’s a 4X strategy game in which you take control of either the Federation, the Klingon Empire, the Romulan Star Empire, the Cardassian Union, or the Ferengi Alliance. You then attempt to build up the strongest empire through a combination of diplomacy and outright conquest.
Speaking of conquest, thisspace simulatorfeatures turn-based combat in which you give commands to your ship and then watch the action unfold. This can be frustrating, but it arguably serves as a great simulation of chaotic and unpredictable interstellar combat. For better or for worse, the AI is also very unpredictable: it doesn’t always act “in character” for its empire, but that’s just further incentive to play this quirky title with a friend.
8Star Trek: Elite Force II
Elite Force IIis the sequel to the earlier game, which brought FPS combat to theStar Trekuniverse. Sure, it’s weird to be running and gunning in this peace-loving universe, but the plot (which offers a non-canonical coda to bothNemesisandVoyager) is worth it. Plus, you get to fight throughout the halls of the Enterprise-E, something I’ve wanted to do since watchingFirst Contact.
If nothing else, this FPS is worth playing for theStar Trekactors who returned to voice their famous characters. You’ll hear Patrick Stewart, Tim Russ, and Dwight Schultz reprise their roles while other franchise mainstays like Jeffrey Combs and J. G. Hertzler voice entirely new characters. Because of that,Elite Force IIoften feels like you’re hanging with some of your best friends from the 24th century. What else could you want from a sci-fi shooter?
9Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Bridge Simulator
As an ‘80s kid, I was all in when the Super Nintendo came out. And as a hugeStar Treknerd, I fell in love with the immersive world ofStarfleet Academy Bridge Simulator. While the PC got a different version of the game and the 32x got a prettier version of the earlier console release, I would argue the SNES is still the definitive way to virtually attend Starfleet Academy.
In the game, you lead a group of fellow cadets through over 20 missions that will challenge your command of everything from diplomatic protocol to high-speed reflexes. The latter are necessary for the game’s combat sequences, which pit polygonal ships against each other in a duel to the death. You can fight fellow players or even try your hand at the Kobyashi Maru, and the opportunity to experience this infamous incident firsthand makes this game worth the price of admission.
10Star Trek: Resurgence
If you’ve ever wanted a Telltale-styleStar Trekgame,Resurgenceis exactly what you’re looking for. The game centers around two Starfleet officers who recently began to serve on the Resolute. They have a mission to escort Ambassador Spock to a diplomatic mission, but it doesn’t take long for everything to go off the rails, causing major drama throughout the ship.
Created by a developer filled with previous Telltale staff, Resurgence has the kind of gameplay you’d expect. It mixes dialogue choices, puzzles, fight sequences, and quick-time events. There’s a bit of something here for everyone, and the fact that your choices can dramatically alter the story encourages repeated playthroughs.
MostStar Trekgames aren’t fit to be served to Gowron’s pet targ. But this list will help you focus on the titles that bring honor to Gene Roddenberry’s house, one mission at a time!
