Master of Orion 2

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,100 reviews

graphics58 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Master of Orion 2 is considered the gold standard for 4X games, offering deep gameplay, extensive customization options, and high replayability.
The game features engaging turn-based tactical combat, allowing players to design their own ships and manage their empires effectively.
Despite its age, the graphics and sound still hold up well, and the game remains enjoyable and addictive, making it a timeless classic.

The game can be difficult for new players due to its lack of tutorials and a steep learning curve, which may lead to frustration.
Some players experience technical issues, such as bugs and compatibility problems with modern systems, particularly when using DOSBox.
The AI can feel unbalanced at higher difficulty levels, often leading to situations where the computer opponents seem to cheat or have unfair advantages.

graphics
222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
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 the need for a modern remaster to enhance the graphics for contemporary audiences, as the visuals can feel simplistic compared to newer titles.
- “The graphics are fantastic, very detailed, and still hold up to this day despite being made in 1996.”
- “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, and the graphics look surprisingly good even by today's standards.”
- “The graphics may be old, but the actual gameplay is amazing and has stood the test of time.”
- “The graphics are dated, but the gameplay has a respectable amount of depth, with multiple racial builds and strategies that are viable.”
- “Terrible graphics and clunky interface, game is 20 years old.”
- “The graphics just don't hold up, but I bought it again after reading reviews that the gameplay of the newer version was wonky.”
gameplay
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
60%
2%
The gameplay of Master of Orion 2 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 game offers immense depth and replayability through diverse races, technologies, and galaxy settings, making it a benchmark for the 4X genre that has stood the test of time. Players appreciate the balance and intricacy of the mechanics, which allow for varied strategies and a compelling gameplay loop that keeps them coming back for more.
- “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
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting the vast array of races, customization options, and galaxy settings that allow for diverse gameplay experiences. Many reviewers note that the ability to create custom races and the randomization of maps contribute to an endless variety of play styles, making it a classic in the 4X genre. While some mention a slight decline in replay value over extended play, the overall consensus is that the game remains engaging and enjoyable for years.
- “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.”
- “The replayability value is crazy high - I was playing this game for years.”
music
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
41%
6%
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, with many finding it relaxing and catchy. However, there are reports of occasional glitches and static sounds that detract from the overall audio experience.
- “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.”
- “Art style is amazing and holds up, music is absolutely classic and extremely catchy, and the gameplay is simple enough that, even if you go all out with micromanagement, it doesn't feel repetitive.”
- “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.”
- “Also, the music is bugged, like some analogue distortion effect.”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
75%
15%
The story in the game is described as simplistic, typical of many 4X titles, centering on an interdimensional alien threat from the antarans. However, players find that the true narrative emerges from their choices in conquering the galaxy, whether through domination, enslavement, or democratic means, allowing for a personalized storytelling experience that enhances engagement with the game. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and depth compared to other titles, the ability to craft one's own story remains a compelling aspect.
- “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.”
- “The story is simplistic, and I'd argue that the overarching narrative revolves around how you decide to conquer the galaxy and win the game.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits a range of stability issues, including occasional glitches in the DOSBox emulator, sound problems, and freezing upon launch. While some users report that many bugs have been addressed, others still experience significant issues, particularly with speed during gameplay and multiplayer functionality. Overall, while the game remains enjoyable, its stability is marred by these persistent glitches.
- “Great game, but it was always buggy.”
- “It launches and then freezes.”
- “There are some minor glitches with speed - in that when you're trying to scroll around the battle-map you tend to find that scrolling is painfully fast, and when ships are moving (turn-based), they do so at ridiculous speeds, making the whole thing a bit confusing.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The game is praised for its rich atmosphere, described as having "soul" and an engaging quality that captivates players. Users appreciate its intuitive design, which enhances the experience of transitioning from basic planetary research to advanced terraforming, making it a standout in the 4X genre despite its age.
- “It's an old game, but no 4X has as much atmosphere as this.”
- “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.”
- “Ok, it's an old game, but no 4X has as much atmosphere as this.”
- “It's simple, it's intuitive, it's got atmosphere, soul, and will kill your free time.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious, particularly when implementing new technologies across multiple planets. Additionally, there is a consensus that investing in farming for certain races may not be worthwhile.
- “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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The optimization of the game has been a concern for users, with many resorting to online recommendations to enhance performance rather than enjoying the gameplay itself. This indicates that the game may require significant adjustments to run smoothly for players.
- “I wasn't playing the game; I was focused on improving its performance by applying recommendations found in internet postings.”
- “I dedicated my time to optimizing the game rather than just playing it, following various tips and tricks I found online.”
- “My experience was more about enhancing the game's performance through optimization techniques I discovered in community forums.”
- “I wasn't playing the game; I was trying to improve its performance by applying recommendations found in internet postings.”
- “I wasn't playing the game; I was trying to improve its performance by applying recommendations found in internet postings.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game initially engages players, but by around turn 100, it seems to lose its charm, leaving players less amused and more fatigued.