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Master of Orion

A fun, serviceable update to the 4X legend that brings little memorable to the genre aside from its personality.
Master of Orion Game Cover
87%Game Brain Score
gameplay, replayability
graphics, story
90% User Score Based on 341 reviews
Critic Score 73%Based on 1 reviews

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Master of Orion Game Cover

About

Master of Orion is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by SimTex and was released on February 25, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Master of Orion" is a 4X strategy game where players must expand their empire in a universe with depleting resources. Featuring advanced diplomacy, tactical ship combat, and 60 technology fields, players must conquer alien star systems and defeat the Antarans to secure their supremacy. This game is part of the Master of Orion: Collectors Edition and will be available for stand-alone purchase in the future.

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Master of Orion screenshot
Master of Orion screenshot
Master of Orion screenshot
Master of Orion screenshot
Master of Orion screenshot
Master of Orion screenshot
Master of Orion screenshot
Master of Orion screenshot
Master of Orion screenshot
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90%
Audience ScoreBased on 341 reviews
gameplay11 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Master of Orion is a classic 4X game that remains addictive and enjoyable even decades after its release.
  • The game features a unique tech tree and minimal micromanagement, allowing players to focus on strategic decisions rather than tedious details.
  • Its simple yet deep gameplay mechanics, along with the charm of its retro graphics, make it a nostalgic experience for many players.
  • The graphics and interface are dated, which may deter new players accustomed to modern visuals and user experiences.
  • The AI can be frustratingly difficult, often feeling unfair due to its cheating mechanics, especially at higher difficulty levels.
  • The game suffers from performance issues on modern systems, requiring adjustments to DOSBox settings to run smoothly.
  • graphics
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated and primitive by modern standards, often described as simple and pixelated, evoking nostalgia for early '90s gaming. While many reviewers acknowledge the visuals are inadequate compared to contemporary titles, they emphasize that the gameplay remains engaging and enjoyable, compensating for the lack of graphical sophistication. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose within the context of the game's mechanics, making it a classic despite its visual shortcomings.

    • “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.”
    • “Although the graphics are dated, the premise and gameplay are still lots of fun.”
    • “The graphics are primitive by modern standards, and it has a few bugs.”
    • “Yes, the graphics are woefully outdated by today's standards, but the subtle strategies for each race make this game infinitely replayable.”
    • “Be warned that the graphics and the play are not sophisticated by today's standards.”
  • gameplay
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this classic title is praised for its depth and strategic complexity, despite its outdated graphics and clunky mechanics. Players find it easy to learn yet challenging to master, offering a rich experience that remains engaging over time. The game is recognized as a foundational 4X experience, with high replay value and a nostalgic charm that continues to resonate with fans.

    • “It takes 30 minutes to learn the game mechanics, and a lifetime to master.”
    • “You can very quickly become immersed in the addictive gameplay!”
    • “The gameplay is where it's at.”
    • “While the original game offers a glimpse into the past, its aging mechanics and compatibility issues on modern computers make it unplayable for most.”
    • “But right now, I'm leaning toward Moo1, where the AI isn't quite as easy to outsmart due to the less complicated mechanics.”
    • “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
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its high replayability, with players noting that varying research paths, diverse races, and adjustable difficulty levels contribute to an engaging experience that feels fresh with each playthrough. Many reviewers highlight the game's depth and strategic elements, which enhance its replay value despite its outdated graphics. Overall, it is considered a classic with near-infinite replayability, allowing for quick sessions or extended gameplay.

    • “Yes, the graphics are woefully outdated by today's standards, but the subtle strategies for each race make this game infinitely replayable.”
    • “With a variety of races and difficulty levels to choose from, this game has near infinite replay value.”
    • “Classic with endless replay value.”
    • “It's not very complicated, but it has lots of depth and enormous replay value.”
  • music
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally appreciated for its nostalgic charm, complementing the characters and gameplay, though it can become repetitive over extended play sessions. While some players enjoy the original tunes, they note that the audio quality doesn't match the slickness of contemporary classics. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as fitting but may benefit from players adding their own background music to enhance the experience.

    • “Most characters are really cute and personable, and the music complements their scenes well.”
    • “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

    The story in Master of Orion is considered weak, with a simplistic narrative that does not provide a thrilling experience. Players are encouraged to create their own stories through gameplay choices, typical of many 4X games, where interactions and conflicts with other factions shape the narrative.

    • “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

    The optimization of "Master of Orion" has received significant criticism, with users reporting frustrating lag even on high-performance systems and excessive turn delays in DOSBox. Many players find the game poorly optimized for modern hardware, leading to notably slower gameplay compared to older systems. Despite the game's appeal, these performance issues detract from the overall experience.

    • “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.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its nostalgic charm and comedic combat mechanics, where ships of the same type amusingly stack like a deck of cards while engaging in laser battles. Players appreciate how these elements contribute to the overall enjoyment and memorable experience of the game.

    • “It's funny: time and memories make this game great again.”
    • “The game's combat is also 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.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the game's approach to grinding, noting it avoids excessive micromanagement typical of the 4X genre, making for a more enjoyable experience. However, some find the loading times tedious and express frustration with the overpowered hit-and-run missile ships, which can complicate management.

    • “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

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report smooth performance even at increased speeds, others highlight significant bugs and glitches, suggesting that its age may contribute to these issues.

    • “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 is so old that is why it has so many glitches.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Master of Orion is praised for its inspired touches and the distinct character of its various factions, which continue to resonate despite the game's outdated graphics and sound. Players are encouraged to look beyond the visuals and engage with the game's manual to fully appreciate its atmospheric depth.

    • “Oh sure, the graphics and sound are dated - insert standard whine here - but some of the atmospheric touches are 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 complaint here - but some of the atmospheric touches were inspired.”
    • “The various factions ooze with atmosphere despite the retro graphics.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of "Master of Orion" intriguing, as it juxtaposes the wholesome elements of gameplay with the darker theme of embodying a bloodthirsty despot. This contrast creates a unique emotional experience that engages players in a complex narrative.

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73%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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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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Frequently Asked Questions

Master of Orion is a turn-based strategy game with science fiction theme.

Master of Orion is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Master of Orion.

Master of Orion was released on February 25, 2016.

Master of Orion was developed by SimTex.

Master of Orion has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

Master of Orion is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Master of Orion 2, Sword of the Stars Complete Collection, Endless Space, Stars in Shadow, Sid Meier's Civilization® III Complete and others.