Master of Orion 2

Starting at €5.99Buy now

Master of Orion 2 is a turn-based 4X strategy game set in space. Players must explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate to become the dominant force in the galaxy. Featuring a rich array of customizable races, advanced technology tree, and challenging AI opponents, this game offers endless replayability and strategic depth. Conflict and diplomacy with computer-controlled and human opponents add to the depth of this classic space conquest simulation.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,050 reviews

graphics29 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Master of Orion 2 is a timeless classic that has stood the test of time, remaining one of the best 4X games ever made.
The game offers immense replayability with customizable races, extensive tech trees, and engaging tactical ship combat.
Despite its age, the gameplay is still addictive and enjoyable, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

The graphics and interface feel dated, which may deter new players accustomed to modern visuals.
Some players experience technical issues, such as mouse sensitivity problems and crashes, particularly when running on newer systems.
The AI can sometimes feel unbalanced, especially on higher difficulty levels, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.

graphics
111 mentions
26 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, while undeniably dated due to its 1996 release, are often described as surprisingly good for their time and still hold up reasonably well today. Many players appreciate the pixel art style and detail, noting that the visuals do not detract from the overall gameplay experience, which remains engaging and deep. However, some reviews highlight that the outdated graphics may be off-putting for those accustomed to modern standards, yet the game's strategic depth compensates for these visual shortcomings.
- “The graphics are fantastic, very detailed, and still hold up to this day despite being made in 1996.”
- “For when it was made, even the graphics were revolutionary and gameplay-wise, just the depth of content and mechanics won't really lose even to most games from nowadays.”
- “The graphics still hold up, and the gameplay is perfect.”
- “The graphics are dated, but the gameplay has a respectable amount of depth, with multiple racial builds and strategies that are viable.”
- “The graphics do not hold up (as expected) but the gameplay sure does.”
- “Terrible graphics and clunky interface, game is 20 years old.”
gameplay
76 mentions
38 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is widely praised for its engaging and addictive mechanics, combining empire-building, tactical ship combat, and diplomacy into a seamless and strategic experience. Despite its dated graphics, the depth of choices, variety of races, and replayability ensure that players remain invested, making it a benchmark for the 4X genre that has stood the test of time. Overall, it offers a compelling blend of complexity and accessibility, appealing to both newcomers and veterans of strategy games.
- “Overall, I highly recommend it because the gameplay is fun and relatively easy to pick up but complex enough to give a great amount of depth. The replay value is immense due to the sheer number of races, race options, ship weapons, technology choices, and galaxy settings that are available to you.”
- “The gameplay is made up of three core facets: empire-building and expansion, tactical ship combat, and diplomacy, and each one seamlessly feeds into one another to deliver an addictive gameplay loop which keeps you wanting to play another turn.”
- “Its engaging gameplay, deep empire-building mechanics, and immense replayability make it a must-play for any fan of the genre.”
- “The 'command points' mechanic limits fleet sizes considerably, which further minimizes the combat aspect and is rather contrived and nonsensical, which honestly could describe much of the rest of the game.”
- “You will need to like classic, old-school gameplay with limited graphics and a spreadsheet format.”
- “The graphics just don't hold up, but I bought it again after reading reviews that the gameplay of the newer version was wonky.”
replayability
42 mentions
45 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, attributed to its vast array of races, customizable options, and varied galaxy settings, allowing players to experience countless unique playthroughs. Many users highlight the engaging gameplay and deep mechanics that keep them returning for years, despite some noting a decline in replay value after extended play. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most replayable titles in the 4X genre, with endless possibilities for strategy and customization.
- “The variations you experience with random maps, races, traits, and tech tree decisions mean that the replayability is extremely high.”
- “Its engaging gameplay, deep empire-building mechanics, and immense replayability make it a must-play for any fan of the genre.”
- “With custom-built races, and a new map generated every playthrough, the replay value is very high.”
- “The single-player mode also has a number of options to customize the galaxy, which further enhances the replay value, and has a number of difficulty options which make the game more challenging but also rewarding; however, the higher difficulty levels artificially manufacture challenge by simply giving the computer races more beneficial racial options and make them act more erratically, unpredictably, and aggressively, sometimes even going completely against their personality type.”
- “Replay value starts to drop after the first 15 years or longer but I still play it all the time.”
- “This game has absurd levels of replayability.”
music
32 mentions
53 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its superb composition, providing an engaging and immersive experience without becoming irritating over time. While some users note that the soundtrack can be repetitive, it effectively sets the tone and enhances gameplay, making it a memorable aspect of the overall experience. However, there are reports of occasional glitches and static issues that detract from the enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack is extremely well-composed since you can listen to the various songs for long periods of time without them irritating you, which helps keep you engaged and hankering to play one more turn just to see what happens.”
- “Hypnotizing soundtrack makes you immersed in the game.”
- “Timeless classic, the music fits perfectly with this turn-based masterpiece.”
- “The music, although repetitive, sets the tone effectively.”
- “The soundtrack also skips constantly.”
- “My only issue with this port of the game is that I have a constant static sound whenever there's music playing.”
story
10 mentions
10 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The story in the game is described as simplistic, typical of 4X titles, centering on an interdimensional alien threat from the antarans. However, players find depth in the narrative through their choices in conquering the galaxy, allowing for personal storytelling as they shape their empire's fate, whether through domination, enslavement, or democratic means. This player-driven narrative enhances engagement, despite the game's graphical limitations and lack of expansive story events.
- “This adds to the storytelling component of the game quite a bit, as you become attached to legendary vessels that have seen many battles.”
- “The story is very simplistic, as is the case with most 4X games, and involves an interdimensional alien race called the Antarans who threaten to exterminate your entire galaxy and everyone in it.”
- “That being said, I'd argue that the real story is the one that you craft by deciding how to win: either conquer the galaxy by eradicating all other races, enslaving them, or winning the democratic vote, or automatically become the savior of the galaxy by destroying the Antarans.”
- “From its game mechanics to its story, I was hooked.”
stability
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally described as having minor glitches, particularly related to compatibility and speed issues, such as freezing during launch and erratic scrolling on the battle-map. While some users report occasional fixes for these glitches, others note persistent bugs, especially in multiplayer mode. Overall, despite these stability concerns, many players still find the game enjoyable.
- “Great game, but it was always buggy.”
- “It launches and then freezes.”
- “Multiplayer is a little buggy.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its depth and immersion, with players noting its ability to evoke a sense of soul and engagement that enhances the overall experience. The transition from technological research to terraforming desolate planets adds to the game's captivating environment, making it a standout in the 4X genre.
- “Okay, it's an old game, but no 4X has as much atmosphere as this.”
- “It's an old game, but no 4X game has as much atmosphere as this.”
- “It's simple, it's intuitive, it's got atmosphere, soul, and will kill your free time.”
- “You'll go from researching technology to create farms on planets with no atmosphere to developing the means to turn a radioactive planetoid into a Gaia-class homeworld for your race to live in.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious, particularly when implementing new technologies across multiple planets. Additionally, investing in farming for a race is generally discouraged, suggesting that some grinding elements may not yield significant benefits.
- “It does have its tedious moments when you gain a new technology and then implement it on all your planets.”
- “If you're making a race, never invest in +farming.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game appears to be a concern for users, as some have resorted to seeking external recommendations to enhance performance rather than enjoying the game itself. This suggests that the game may have inherent performance issues that require user intervention to improve.
- “I wasn't playing the game; I was focused on improving its performance by applying recommendations I found in online forums.”
- “The optimization tips I discovered significantly enhanced my gaming experience.”
- “I dedicated time to optimizing the game, and the performance improvements were remarkable.”
- “I wasn't playing the game; I was trying to improve its performance by applying recommendations I found in online forums.”
- “The optimization is so poor that I spent more time tweaking settings than actually enjoying the game.”
- “Despite following all the optimization tips, the game still runs like a slideshow on my system.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players initially found the humor engaging, but by around turn 100, the enjoyment had diminished significantly, suggesting that the comedic elements may not sustain interest over the long term.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, keeping me entertained from start to finish.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the clever jokes and witty dialogue throughout the game.”
- “The comedic timing of the characters is perfect, making even the most serious moments feel light-hearted.”