Highlights
- Star Trek video games have come in all shapes and sizes, from first-person shooters to VR experiences.
- Some of the best Star Trek games offer unique perspectives, such as playing as Klingons or exploring alien societies.
- Star Trek: Bridge Crew stands out as a VR game that allows players to coordinate and have fun together as a spaceship crew.
Gene Roddenberry’s science-fiction series, Star Trek, is one of the most influential and successful media IPs ever created. Starting with the original 1960s television series, the Star Trek series would go on to be featured in movies, books, comics, and, of course, video games.
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These are the best games to play if you’re a Star Trek fan.
Tons of Star Trek games have been developed over the years. From first-person shooters, point-and-click, VR experiences, and everything in between, Star Trek video games have come in all shapes and sizes. But which of Star Trek’s lengthy assortment of video games stands on the top of the cosmic peak of quality?
10 Star Trek: Invasion
Star Trek Dogfighting Done Right
While more recent Star Trek media has generally been very action-heavy, what fans consider the golden age of the series puts a heavy emphasis on character, political, and philosophical drama. However, video games offer the perfect playground for the Star Trek series to flex its combat muscles.
2000’s Star Trek: Invasion offers the quintessential Star Trek space battle experience. Developed by Warthog Games, Star Trek Invasions puts you in the cockpit of various space-worthy vessels and lets you blast away enemy fighters in entertaining gameplay.
9 Star Trek: Klingon Academy
See The Star Trek Galaxy Through Klingon Eyes
Most Star Trek stories, from TV shows to video games, are almost always from the POV of the Federation or Starfleet. As much as we love Star Trek’s human characters, it seems like a missed opportunity not to have more narratives set in alien societies.
Star Trek: Klingon Academy takes the concept of space combat and puts it through the lens of the imposing Klingon species. Developed by 14 Degrees East in 2000, Klingon Academy offers solid ship dogfighting and an engrossing story.
8 Star Trek: Starfleet Command 3
Control And Order Massive Spacefaring Vessels
While it may not have as many celebrated games as Star Wars has, Star Trek still managed to build up a few critically acclaimed series under its label. One of the most beloved Star Trek sets of games was the Starfleet Command titles.
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The consensus is that Star Trek: Starfleet Command 3 is the best entry in the series. It’s remembered fondly by fans for featuring a well-written storyline revolving around Klingon, Romulan, and Federation factions and boasting captivating RPG mechanics.
7 Star Trek: The Next Generation – Birth Of The Federation
Lead The Origins Of Starfleet
The Star Trek IP has been used as a cloak for games of various genres. From linear third-person co-op to RTS titles, the series has seen many different incarnations throughout its history in the gaming industry. One of the most unique Star Trek video games arrived in 1999.
Star Trek: Birth of the Federation gives you authority over one of five Star Trek civilizations. Utilizing 4X turn-based gameplay, Birth of the Federation is one of the most novel and complex Star Trek games ever produced.
6 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – The Fallen
Delve Into The World Of The Critically Acclaimed TV Series
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine holds a special place among fans. Not only is it potentially the best television series, but it’s easily the darkest. It frequently explores subject matter and themes that previous shows wouldn’t or couldn’t spotlight.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – The Fallen is loosely based on the Star Trek: Millennium book trilogy written by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. A third-person shooter, The Fallen offers you the choice of playing as one of three characters, each presenting unique gameplay experiences.
5 Star Trek: Bridge Crew
VR Fun For Friends And Family
The invention of virtual reality has opened the doors to limitless entertainment possibilities, especially for video games. VR might still be in its infancy in the games industry, but each passing year introduces a previously unexplored venture.
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Star Trek: Bridge Crew is a VR game set aboard the bridge of USS Aegis, and you take the role of the captain. While the other three positions, tactical officer, engineer, and helm officer, can be controlled by NPCs, the degree of enjoyment from four players coordinating a spaceship is tremendous.
4 Star Trek: Elite Force 2
Battle The Borg In Close Quarters Combat
Few developers are as synonymous with their genres as ID Software is with first-person shooters. The studio didn’t just create some of the most revolutionary titles in the genre, but supplied the tools and capabilities for other developers to thrive.
2003’s Star Trek: Elite Force 2 employed an altered version of Quake 3: Team Arena and ÜberTools GDK. Being a sequel to its critically acclaimed predecessor must’ve been imposing for Ritual Entertainment, but Elite Force 2 managed to stand tall as a superb FPS title.
3 Star Trek: Bridge Commander
Lead Your Ship To Cosmic Glory
Star Trek video games typically have two kinds of player characters: those from the established universe or putting you at the center of the narrative. Naturally, this was the formula the games followed, and for the most part, it helped create immersive stories.
As a new enemy emerges, Star Trek: Bridge Commander puts you in the shoes of a young captain in command of the USS Dauntless and USS Sovereign. With its mix of strategic and tactical simulation gameplay, Bridge Commander has immense replay value.
2 Star Trek: Judgment Rites
A Criminally Underrated Point-and-Click Adventure
During the ’80s and ’90s, the point-and-click genre was awash with great games. From original titles to those under established IPs, there was no shortage of great point-and-clicks. In 1993, Interplay Productions decided Star Trek deserved its own high-quality point-and-click entry.
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Star Trek: Judgment Rites brought back the cast from the original series and served as a sequel to Star Trek: 25th Anniversary. Judgment Rites improved upon its great predecessor in every way. Featuring sharper graphics and excellent writing, Judgment Rites does the series justice.
1 Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force
The Definitive Star Trek First-Person Shooter
Upon obtaining the publishing rights for the Star Trek license in the early 2000s, Activision greenlighted several projects to various up-and-coming game studios. One of the foremost games launched under this new deal was the first-person shooter Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force.
Developed by Raven Software, Elite Force utilized the game engine from ID Software’s Quake 3. Frequently acknowledged to be the first game to appeal to those outside the Star Trek fanbase, Elite Force is considered the gold standard for Star Trek video games.
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There are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in the Star Trek universe while gathered around a table. Here are some of the best.
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