MoonBase Commander

About

MoonBase Commander is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game. It was developed by Humongous Entertainment and was released on February 6, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

In the far future, Mankind has nearly exhausted all of earth’s natural resources. Fragile alliances between nations are tested to their limits as fierce wars ignite across land and space. MoonBase Commander puts you in charge of your own lunar territory in a quest to build the most powerful empire in space. Find, exploit and utilize valuable energy pools to eliminate rival factions. Choose the be…

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 232 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The game retains its nostalgic charm and works well on modern hardware, including Windows 10 and 11.
It features a unique blend of strategy and skill-based mechanics, making it easy to learn but challenging to master.
The inclusion of a map editor and skirmish mode adds replayability, allowing players to create custom scenarios and enjoy multiplayer experiences.

The game suffers from technical issues such as screen tearing, resolution limitations, and problems with alt-tabbing, which can disrupt gameplay.
There is a lack of a tutorial or manual, making it difficult for new players to understand the mechanics without external help.
Multiplayer functionality is limited to LAN connections, and online play requires additional setup, which can be a barrier for many players.

gameplay
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
77%
5%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of strategic, turn-based mechanics and precise aiming, reminiscent of golf games, which adds depth and variety to tactics. While the mechanics are simple and accessible, they also introduce a layer of skill through a launching system that can be challenging to master. Despite some technical issues like screen tearing and a dated interface, the game offers engaging and creative gameplay that appeals to both casual players and those seeking a more strategic experience.
- “This gameplay is complemented by lush visuals and a lot of personality in each faction's design and narration.”
- “With its retro sci-fi vibe and simple (yet versatile) mechanics, this game is great for a quick round to blow off some steam or a longer campaign to test your strategic prowess.”
- “The way it blends strategic, turn-based mechanics with the action and precision of the aiming mechanics is really something very unique, and insanely addictive.”
- “Comes with too many issues for me to recommend; fixed (low) resolution, horrible interface, lack of any sort of instruction/tutorial, and gameplay is slow.”
- “Weird abstract sort of gameplay - can't even control where you build your base - you have to pick a direction and 'velocity' and launch new base modules and hope they land where you want - there is no feedback - so if you don't get the velocity right, you lost the cost of building and a 'turn' for nothing!”
- “Assuming you do build where you want - launching attacks is the same direction and velocity mechanic!”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reminiscent of the mid-90s, and may not appeal to those seeking modern visuals. While some players appreciate the unique art style and personality in faction designs, others note that the graphics have aged poorly and lack resolution options for current monitors. Despite these shortcomings, many reviewers emphasize that the gameplay remains enjoyable and engaging, overshadowing the visual limitations.
- “This gameplay is complemented by lush visuals and a lot of personality in each faction's design and narration.”
- “It's got great music, it's graphically pleasing, and most importantly, it's fun to play.”
- “Don't let the crayola graphics fool you--this is a deep game and a blast to play with friends.”
- “Its unique in regards to the genre and no other game in my recollection has tried something like this, although graphically it aged poorly and the resolution options for current monitors are not available in the game but it's still super fun.”
- “Yeah, the graphics are nothing special; they looked 10 years old when the game launched 10 years ago.”
- “Graphics: kind of middle of the 90s, not good, not bad.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
The game's music has received high praise for its catchy and diverse soundtrack, featuring around 118 sections that adapt to gameplay, making it engaging without becoming repetitive. Reviewers noted the nostalgic 80s-90s vibe, with some describing it as both enjoyable and humorously bad, contributing to the overall fun experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's appeal.
- “Even the game's 14-minute long OST is pretty catchy and won't get too annoying because it's divided into about 118 different sections that are played according to what's going on in the game.”
- “11/10 for me, the extra 1 is for the unique and amazing soundtrack!”
- “A sassy, robotic voice is hilarious and the funky music will always keep you grooving.”
- “The music is hilariously bad.”
- “Those who enjoy turn-based RPGs and strategy games are urged to investigate this, but with the caveat that a timer be kept on hand, as Moonbase Commander can alchemize a full day into a blur of confrontations, a chronically catchy soundtrack, and numerous instances of the word 'crawler' being employed as an expletive.”
- “Music: 80-90's game music, quite okay.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's story is marked by a tragic development history, which adds depth to the overall narrative. Players follow Team Alpha, a group of military heroes on a mission to save the galaxy, while the challenge mode offers engaging and varied missions that enhance the gameplay experience.
- “Team Alpha: military guys, the good guys, on a quest to save the galaxy.”
- “The story behind this game is one of the most tragic game development stories you will ever hear.”
- “In challenge, you will find missions of easy caliber and objectives.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its intentionally poor music and a sassy, robotic voice that adds a comedic flair, creating an entertaining and groovy atmosphere. Players find the combination of these elements to be consistently amusing.
- “The music is hilariously bad.”
- “A sassy, robotic voice is hilarious and the funky music will always keep you grooving.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Users report that optimizing graphics settings through AMD drivers, specifically by setting quality options to the highest and enabling features like "Radeon Chill" and "Radeon Enhanced Sync," effectively reduces screen tearing.
- “I noticed the tearing stops when you open the AMD drivers, then set all optimization quality options to the highest and enable 'Radeon Chill' with a minimum of 30 fps, maximum of 60 fps, and 'Radeon Enhanced Sync'.”
- “I noticed the tearing stops when you open the AMD drivers, then set all optimization quality options to the highest and enable 'Radeon Chill' with a minimum of 30 FPS, maximum of 60 FPS, and 'Radeon Enhanced Sync'.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant stability issues with the Steam version of the game, particularly when alt-tabbing, which causes glitches that render the game unplayable.
- “My only gripe with the Steam version is that each time I alt-tab out of the game and then alt-tab back in, it glitches, making the game unplayable.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly in mastering the launching mechanic; however, many appreciate that this challenge introduces an additional layer of skill to the gameplay.