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Master of Orion 3

It wasn't the first 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) strategy game, but in 1992, the original Master of Orion was the most polished. The game featured an amazingly deep galaxy in which your empire competed with a dozen or so computer-controlled others for domination. The most recent update
Master of Orion 3 Game Cover
53%Game Brain Score
story, humor
gameplay, graphics
52% User Score Based on 143 reviews
Critic Score 55%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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Master of Orion 3 Game Cover

About

Master of Orion 3 is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Quicksilver Software and was released on August 25, 2016. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

"Master of Orion 3" is a strategy game that places you in charge of one of 16 alien races, each with unique abilities and traits. Your goal is to dominate the galaxy through diplomacy, war, exploration, and research. With dynamic galaxy generation, no two games are the same, ensuring a fresh challenge every time. Use espionage and sabotage to gain an edge over your opponents and secure your place in the annals of space history.

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Master of Orion 3 screenshot
Master of Orion 3 screenshot
Master of Orion 3 screenshot
Master of Orion 3 screenshot
Master of Orion 3 screenshot
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52%
Audience ScoreBased on 143 reviews
story3 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Master of Orion 3 offers a rich and complex gameplay experience, allowing players to manage a vast empire with deep mechanics that reflect science and sociology.
  • The game features a unique racial trait system and planet preferences, providing a diverse and engaging strategy experience that encourages different playstyles.
  • Despite its dated graphics, the game has a nostalgic charm and offers a sense of immersion in building and managing a galactic empire.
  • The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and management cumbersome, which can frustrate players unfamiliar with the game.
  • The AI is often criticized for being poor, leading to unchallenging gameplay where opponents do not pose a significant threat.
  • The steep learning curve and lack of modern options, such as keybindings and resolution adjustments, can deter new players from fully enjoying the game.
  • gameplay
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Masters of Orion 3 (MOO3) is characterized by rich and complex mechanics that appeal to players with a strong understanding of science and sociology, though many find them opaque and unintuitive, often requiring experimentation to grasp fully. While some players appreciate the depth and realism of the mechanics, others criticize the lack of engaging gameplay elements, such as diplomacy and combat, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its flaws, MOO3 retains a certain charm that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “The mechanics are rich and complex but understandable and largely intuitive if you have a good understanding of sciences, society, and how nations work.”
    • “For me, it has mechanics that I've longed for in other sci-fi 4X games but have yet to see again.”
    • “While Masters of Orion 3 (MOO3) is not a perfect game in terms of its mechanics, it has a certain charm and humor to it that is lacking from many games.”
    • “Opaque mechanics compared to other games is another criticism.”
    • “Some mechanics are just completely opaque and you have to figure them out by experimentation.”
    • “Completely unintuitive gameplay even after following the tutorials, no exciting diplomacy or combat.”
  • graphics
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game are widely criticized for being outdated, sparse, and lacking polish, often described as "awful" and reminiscent of early 4X titles. Despite some attempts at upgrades, many players feel the visuals are still subpar and do not meet modern standards, detracting from the overall experience. However, some users appreciate the depth of gameplay and narrative, suggesting that the content may compensate for the visual shortcomings.

    • “The graphics may be severely dated, and the UI will be a challenge, but the content makes the effort more than worthwhile.”
    • “Great graphics, fast turns, no lag, complex development of science; much of planet development is automated.”
    • “Very old school 4X game, don't pick it if you want pretty graphics, but do give it a go if you like a long game with lots of options.”
    • “Shame it's the graphics that are not upscaled and it looks just awful.”
    • “The graphics are sparse and old; they definitely don't measure up to modern games.”
    • “Aging graphics and UI: by today’s standards, it looks and feels dated.”
  • story
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a mixed bag; while it offers a comprehensive narrative for fans, it diverges from established lore in the series. However, many players find the story to be fantastic, providing a deep and immersive experience that enhances the gameplay, despite some clunky UI issues.

    • “The story, by the way, is fantastic.”
    • “Once you get past the UI that is clunky at times, there is a deep immersive experience as you slowly plot your way to galactic domination.”
    • “First and biggest of it is the full moo story in the manual; if you're a moo fan, this is your chance to learn the full story.”
    • “The story of this game doesn't even match up with the lore from the other games.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Replayability in Moo 3 is mixed; while some players found it disappointing at launch, the availability of mods significantly enhanced its replay value. The game offers a variety of playable races, contributing to its longevity, though opinions on its overall replayability remain divided.

    • “Replayability: no two games are the same.”
    • “More playable races than the reboot; few games have more to this day.”
    • “Moo 3 was a disappointment to some when it came out, but mods for this game raised the replay value.”
    • “Replayability: yeah, okay, sort of.”
    • “More playable races than the reboot... few games have more to this day.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs, inconsistent data displays, and a tendency to freeze, leading to a frustrating user experience. Many players feel that the game's unfinished features and outdated graphics further exacerbate these problems, making it difficult to justify its price.

    • “In truth, a bug-infested micromanagement nightmare with half-finished features, a buggy UI, revolting graphics, and a pathetically fuzzy font.”
    • “Buggy data displays where one screen will tell you a planet has characteristics X and a different screen will tell you the same planet has characteristics Q.”
    • “Freezes the computer.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive music and unique style, effectively drawing players into its world. Reviewers appreciate the distinct separation between the grand strategy and combat elements, each possessing its own unique look and feel, contributing to the overall atmospheric experience.

    • “Atmosphere and immersion: even now, the game’s music and style pull you in.”
    • “There is something about the atmosphere of the game that makes it unique.”
    • “I love how the realm of grand strategy and the realm of combat are totally alienated from each other; even though they are both very much part of the same game, they are completely separate entities in look, feel, and atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels disjointed, with the music and visuals not aligning to create a cohesive experience.”
    • “The game lacks a consistent atmosphere, making it hard to feel immersed in either the strategic or combat elements.”
    • “While the game has potential, the atmosphere fails to engage, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
  • music
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's music significantly enhances atmosphere and immersion, with varied battle tracks that contribute to the distinct character of each race. While there are no unique tech themes, the overall style effectively draws players into the experience.

    • “The game's music and style create an immersive atmosphere that pulls you in.”
    • “The varied battle music enhances the experience, making each race feel characteristically different.”
    • “The battle music is varied, but there are no unique themes for each character, making them feel less distinct.”
    • “While the game's music and style are immersive, it lacks a memorable soundtrack that stands out.”
    • “The music does not enhance the gameplay experience as much as it could, leaving it feeling somewhat flat.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow, characterized by repetitive actions such as bombarding planets without much engagement or variety. This leads to a sense of monotony and a lack of meaningful activities during gameplay.

    • “To make matters worse, wars feel sluggish and grindy, with you just bombarding one planet after another, moving down the lanes.”
    • “Grindy, sluggish, with not much to do really.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Masters of Orion 3 is noted for its unique charm and humor, which adds a distinctive appeal despite its mechanical shortcomings. This aspect of humor sets it apart from many other games in the genre.

    • “While Masters of Orion 3 (MOO3) is not a perfect game in terms of its mechanics, it has a certain charm and humor to it that is lacking from many games.”
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55%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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2h Median play time
2h Average play time
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Frequently Asked Questions

Master of Orion 3 is a turn-based strategy game with science fiction theme.

Master of Orion 3 is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Cloud.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Master of Orion 3.

Master of Orion 3 was released on August 25, 2016.

Master of Orion 3 was developed by Quicksilver Software.

Master of Orion 3 has received neutral reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Master of Orion 3 is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Distant Worlds: Universe, Master of Orion, Galactic Civilizations III, StarDrive 2, Horizon and others.