Master of Orion

About

"Master of Orion is a Science Fiction Turn Based Strategy game, offering both single-player and multi-player options. As an immortal emperor, guide your race's conquest of the galaxy, managing resources, technology, diplomacy, and combat. Initial decisions focus on colony development and technology, but the true challenge lies in navigating complex relationships with alien races."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 298 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

graphics8 negative mentions

Master of Orion is a classic that laid the groundwork for the 4X genre, offering deep strategic gameplay with a variety of races and tactics.
The game features a simple and intuitive interface, allowing players to focus on strategy rather than getting bogged down in micromanagement.
Despite its age, the game remains addictive and replayable, providing hours of fun with its unique tech tree and engaging combat mechanics.

The game's performance on modern systems can be sluggish, requiring adjustments to DOSBox settings to improve speed and responsiveness.
Graphics and sound are dated, which may deter new players who are accustomed to modern visuals and audio quality.
The copy protection system can be frustrating for players without access to the original manual, as it requires identifying ships from the manual during gameplay.

graphics
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
70%
17%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated and simplistic, reflecting the early '90s aesthetic with a pixelated charm that may evoke nostalgia for some players. While they do not meet modern standards, the visuals were adequate for their time and do not detract significantly from the solid gameplay experience. An open-source remake, "Remnants of the Precursors," has been developed to update the graphics while preserving the original gameplay, appealing to those who seek a more contemporary visual experience.
- “The graphics are simple, with a pixelated charm that evokes nostalgia for early '90s gaming.”
- “While the visuals may not hold up by today's standards, they were adequate for the era and serve the gameplay well.”
- “Despite the graphics and simplification, limited number of potential opponents and no multiplayer, this game from 1993 definitely stands up to the test of time, would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys 4X games.”
- “While the graphics are hugely dated, and the diplomatic AI is barely extant, the gameplay is still solid 30 years later.”
- “By today's standards, the graphics and interface are dated.”
- “The graphics are crap, though.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
9%
The gameplay of this classic title is highly praised for its depth and strategic complexity, despite its outdated graphics and clunky mechanics. Players find it addictive and engaging, with a nostalgic charm that keeps them coming back for more, offering significant replay value. While some may struggle with the aging systems, the core gameplay remains solid and influential within the 4X genre, showcasing a richness akin to timeless games like chess.
- “You can very quickly become immersed in the addictive gameplay!”
- “Some people may not be able to handle older graphics, but if you don't care about graphics and you care about gameplay, then this game stands the test of time and remains a brilliant game.”
- “While the original game offers a glimpse into the past, its aging mechanics and compatibility issues on modern computers make it unplayable for most.”
- “While the game is clunky and the graphics are outdated to today's standards, the mechanics and gameplay are still one of the tightest I've ever seen in 4X games.”
- “Though the gameplay systems are rough around the edges, I'm often drawn to the simplicity of it; MOO is still a great game and it's 4X in its pure form.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The game is praised for its high replayability, offering a variety of races and difficulty levels that encourage players to return. Many users highlight the balance of accessibility and depth, allowing for both quick playthroughs and extensive gameplay, making it a classic with near infinite replay value. Despite outdated graphics, the strategic elements keep players engaged for hours.
- “Yes, the graphics are woefully outdated by today's standards, but the subtle strategies for each race make this game infinitely replayable.”
- “Enjoyable for its ease of use, yet very replayable for its subtle complexities.”
- “With a variety of races and difficulty levels to choose from, this game has near infinite replay value.”
- “Classic with endless replay value.”
- “Hours of gameplay and huge replay value.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The music in "Master of Orion" has a nostalgic charm, featuring familiar tunes that evoke classic gaming vibes, but it is often described as repetitive and less polished compared to iconic soundtracks from the era, such as "Dune." While the high-resolution graphics and modern packaging enhance the experience, players are encouraged to supplement the in-game music with their own playlists to maintain engagement during long play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for its retro appeal, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking a more dynamic audio experience.
- “The music has all the tunes you remember, but those OPL3 vibes aren't quite as slick in MOO as they were in musical classics of the era like Dune.”
- “Remnants of the Precursors takes all the original Master of Orion awesomeness and wraps it up in a modern package with high-res graphics, high-quality music, and a price tag of zero.”
- “The music is repetitive over the long playtime.”
- “The music has all the tunes you remember, but those OPL3 vibes aren't quite as slick in Moo as they were in musical classics of the era like Dune.”
- “The old school soundtrack is charming, if dated.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The story in Master of Orion is considered weak, with a simplistic narrative that lacks depth. Players are encouraged to create their own stories through gameplay choices, typical of many 4X games, where interactions and decisions shape the experience rather than a predefined plot.
- “Like many 4X games, you must create your own story as you play, and the narrative evolves from the choices you make.”
- “Like many 4X games, you must create your own story as you play, and the narrative evolves from the choices you make.”
- “They steal from you and plot against you.”
- “The story in Master of Orion is not a strong point and can be summed up very easily.”
- “Definitely don't go into Master of Orion expecting a thrilling story.”
- “Like many 4X games, you must create your own story as you play, and the story becomes its own from the choices you make.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The optimization of "Master of Orion" has received significant criticism, with users reporting frustrating lag and performance issues even on modern systems. The game's reliance on DOSBox has exacerbated these problems, leading to increased turn delays and prolonged actions like colonization. Overall, the poor optimization detracts from the gaming experience, despite players' affection for the title.
- “The biggest drawback is DOSBox performance - they increased the turn delay a bit too much, so you'll find yourself waiting for ships to move or planets to colonize.”
- “Remember that DOSBox can be tweaked in several ways regarding graphics and performance.”
- “This Steam release falters in optimization, resulting in frustrating lag even on faster computers.”
- “Although my affection for the game persists, this performance issue raises concerns and dampens the overall experience.”
- “This game is so badly optimized for modern systems that it takes about 5 times as long to build a colony on a modern laptop than on a 4.86 DX2.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's approach to grinding, noting it avoids excessive micromanagement typical of 4X games, though some find the loading times tedious. However, the strength and management of hit-and-run missile ships can add to the overall grind.
- “It's very tedious waiting for 5-10 seconds for the screen to load.”
- “Hit-and-run missile ships are way stronger than they should be, and tedious to manage.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report smooth performance even at high speeds, others note significant bugs and glitches, particularly in comparison to the original version.
- “It runs great for me and is very stable even when I speed up play via Ctrl + F12, not higher than 30x on my computer though.”
- “The game is very buggy compared to the original.”
- “I'm guessing the game's age is why it has so many glitches.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Despite its outdated graphics and sound, "Master of Orion" maintains a compelling atmosphere, enriched by inspired design elements and the distinct characteristics of its various factions. Players who embrace the game's retro aesthetic and consult the manual can still appreciate the immersive experience it offers.
- “Oh sure, the graphics and sound are dated, but some of the atmospheric touches are truly inspired.”
- “If you can get past the old graphics and are willing to consult an actual game manual, the atmosphere of Master of Orion still holds up.”
- “Oh sure, the graphics and sound are dated - insert standard whine here - but some of the atmospheric touches were inspired.”
- “The various factions ooze with atmosphere despite the retro graphics.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is highlighted by its quirky combat mechanics, where ships of the same type hilariously stack on top of each other like a deck of cards while engaging in laser battles. This amusing visual adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
- “The game's combat is handled in a way that's funny, as ships of a single type stack on top of each other like a deck of cards, all shooting lasers at each other.”
- “The funny thing is: I still own my old copy.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of "Master of Orion" to be a juxtaposition of wholesome gameplay against the backdrop of a bloodthirsty despot's quest for universal domination, creating a unique and often humorous contrast that adds depth to the experience.

73%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

Buy Master of Orion

Master of Orion 1
$5.99
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6h Median play time

6h Average play time

6-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Master of Orion review

Master of Orion review

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Master of Orion 1

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