Space Trader: Merchant Marine

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Space Trader: Merchant Marine is a single player and multiplayer strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Meridian4 and was released on October 23, 2008. It received neutral reviews from players.

Space Trader: Merchant Marine is a single-player space trading game set in a futuristic society ruled by a bureaucratic authority. As a Space Trader, you'll buy and sell commodities, complete bounty missions, and engage in combat to earn your way to the rank of Master Trader. The game features a challenging 5-level campaign with varied objectives and the freedom to approach challenges in your own way.

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Space Trader: Merchant Marine screenshot

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52%

Audience ScoreBased on 912 reviews

replayability8 positive mentions

story30 negative mentions

The game is surprisingly fun and entertaining, especially for those who enjoy retro-style gameplay.
It offers a unique blend of trading simulation and FPS elements, providing a casual gaming experience.
For its low price, it can be an enjoyable diversion for a few hours.

The graphics and overall presentation feel dated and lack polish, making it hard to engage with the game.
The trading mechanics are overly simplistic and repetitive, leading to a lack of depth and challenge.
The FPS combat is poorly executed, with clunky controls and uninspired enemy AI, detracting from the overall experience.

story
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
78%
12%
The game's story is primarily structured around a series of missions that involve trading and combat, but it suffers from a lack of depth and variety, leading to a repetitive experience. Many players find the narrative forgettable, with missions often feeling like simple fetch quests or combat challenges rather than engaging storytelling. While there are some creative elements and references, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a linear and uninspired plot that fails to captivate players.
- “The creators have put a lot of effort into the dialogs and storyline, and thanks to the creative trading-and-exploring system in this game, the player really gets a feeling of making an impact on the bigger happenings of the solar system.”
- “Completed with many easter eggs, novel references, and other secrets (like shipdriver Jamal) that can only be discovered by true fans of the ST:MM saga, this truly is a worthy game of the great storyline.”
- “Them feelings are real; this game will make you cry your eyes out... I know I did... I filled a whole soup pot with tears from the heartwarming story.”
- “While this adds some structure to the gameplay, the missions may not offer enough variety or complexity to keep players fully engaged.”
- “The story basically isn't there.”
- “The story is so bad it seems like it was written on the back of a 6th grader's trapper keeper.”
graphics
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
54%
27%
The graphics of the game have received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many reviewers describing them as outdated and reminiscent of titles from the late '90s or early 2000s, despite its 2008 release. While some players found the visuals to be immersive after extended play, the general consensus is that the graphics are subpar, often compared unfavorably to other games of its time. Overall, the game's aesthetic quality detracts significantly from the experience, with many players expressing disappointment in the lack of modern graphical fidelity.
- “The graphics are cutting edge for its time (even if the audio is cripplingly glitchy), the market mechanics are easy to understand and make sense, and the FPS element of the game is comparable to several others of its time, like Quake III: Arena.”
- “It rivals more prestigious games like Skyrim with its detailed graphics and addictive mechanics while lacking the hefty price tag.”
- “The gameplay is timeless, the voice acting flawless, and the graphics represent the state of the art.”
- “Graphics feel like an early PS2 game, to be honest, but the idea and mechanics of the game are interesting if only it was modernized and less buggy.”
- “The graphics come straight from the '90s, but if you expected an open-ended game with a huge space map and deep mechanics - well, they all stayed in the '90s.”
- “This game is fucking horrible; even though it came out a while ago, the graphics aren't up to par with other games that came out at the same time. They're ugly, and the FPS sections of the game are utter shit.”
gameplay
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
56%
24%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the shallow trading mechanics and repetitive combat, which detracts from overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the retro charm and straightforward mechanics of buying and selling goods, others find the lack of depth and variety in missions disappointing. Overall, the game struggles with outdated graphics and clunky controls, leading to a perception of it being a chore rather than an engaging experience.
- “The gameplay in Space Trader is pretty straightforward: you start on a planet and you have to buy commodities that will bring a profit and travel to another planet to sell them at a higher price, keeping a constant watch on the time limit that each mission has, calculating the profit per shipment and the travel time in order to choose the best option.”
- “The shooting mechanic feels old, but that's probably why it feels so addictive at the same time, as you will most likely instantly connect the dots between those shooting sequences and games like Doom. Even though all those bounty missions will get boring pretty soon as each map looks and feels the same, it is a good distraction from the boring buy and sell mechanic that the game generally delivers.”
- “It has a simple core mechanic: buy goods at your current location, pick another location to travel to and sell your goods there, then buy new ones - repeat.”
- “The trading mechanics lack depth, and the combat may feel repetitive and disconnected from the trading aspect.”
- “It's the repetitive gameplay, the thin narrative, and the dated shooter mechanics that make the game not worth it at all.”
- “The trading aspect is boring, the ship mechanics are nonexistent, 'upgrades' are bought and sold like normal trade goods, and the first-person movement and gameplay are rubbish that you'd have found 10-15 years ago in a $5 bin at a Walmart.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
52%
24%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric quality and suitability for the space theme, while others find it repetitive, mediocre, or even obnoxious. Despite a few standout tracks, many users note a limited selection of songs, leading to a lack of memorability. Overall, the sound design is considered satisfactory, but it fails to elevate the gaming experience for a significant number of players.
- “The sound design is satisfactory, featuring space-themed music and appropriate sound effects.”
- “Fps play is fun, functional, and rewarding; the drug wars-style is my favorite kind of fast-paced, strategic trading; and to top it off, it all takes place in space with a kickass atmospheric soundtrack.”
- “Music is solid, narrative is cheeky yet not over-complex and the overall feel is one of a new-age space trader sim.”
- “The music is obnoxious and not memorable in any way (read: elevator music). It features abysmal graphics, the little mechanics the game has are horribly unrefined, the economic system is non-functioning, trading is next to useless unless you get some very rare, expensive commodities from missions, and the entire game feels like a chore.”
- “The graphics are shitty, the music sucks, and the gameplay is just run around, buy stuff, sell stuff, shoot stuff when you're out of money, repeat.”
- “The music throughout the game is a high-speed techno beat that, while I am sure some of you will love it, made me play with the sound off after a few sessions.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
The game's replayability is generally considered limited, with a score of 2.5/5, as many players find it difficult to engage with after the main campaign. While there are some enjoyable elements like bounty missions and a challenge mode that can extend playtime, the overall experience lacks depth and longevity. However, for those interested in achievements and challenges, there is some potential for extended gameplay.
- “But the most jaw-dropping of all the content was when I realized that it was a first-person trader shooter with amazing, totally replayable bounty missions in which you capture your targets in action-filled battles.”
- “After completing the main campaign, you can also try the challenge mode that offers three extra missions that are pretty easy to complete. The only real challenge comes when you try to get the achievements, and if you're into that, the game can get interesting. It has some decent replay value as you can spend up to 18 hours struggling to complete everything.”
- “So in conclusion, if you want a game with endless replayability, insane customization, RPG-style progression, an advanced AI that will have you cursing your screen, and the best damn campaign probably ever, then give STMM a try.”
- “The game offers a limited level of replayability.”
- “A fun buy at a low price, but don't expect a lot of replayability and longevity.”
- “It's bad on so many levels, probably all of them :) 10 years ago this could be more playable and less ridiculous but today it's not easy to force yourself to play it for any reason.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of freezing, crashing, and mini-freezes that hinder gameplay. While the mechanics and graphics show potential, they are marred by significant bugs and performance issues, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many users feel the game is unplayable in its current state, comparing it unfavorably to low-quality flash games.
- “I was actually having fun with this game, but when I quit and tried to start it up again, it just freezes and crashes.”
- “The game sounds and looks awesome but when I try to play it, it constantly mini-freezes like a laggy streaming movie.”
- “What I got was a buggy, low quality game that I can honestly say does not stand up to most free flash games.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, leading to a quick sense of boredom. Players find the lack of a buy/sell commission unrealistic and frustrating, as it encourages mindless trading without strategic depth. Overall, the gameplay is described as bland and forgettable, contributing to a negative experience.
- “It's fairly tedious, and there is no buy/sell commission/overhead so you just sell off your entire inventory whether it is a profit or loss, then buy up whatever is the best deal on the current planet even if it is one of the things you just sold them, fairly unrealistic compared to any other trading games I've played as there is no buy-ask spread whatsoever.”
- “I found this tedious within less than 10 minutes of starting up the game.”
- “It's very tedious and gets boring quick.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players finding the FPS segments and quirky references genuinely funny. Despite its shortcomings and small scale, many reviewers appreciate the comedic voice acting and amusing plot elements, making it a worthwhile, albeit inexpensive, way to pass the time. Overall, the game is described as "hilariously bad" yet entertaining enough to justify its low price.
- “This game is hilarious, and while incredibly tiny, does what it does fairly well.”
- “It's a nice way to kill time if you like to travel from one planet to another meeting demand with supply and occasionally finding a funny internet reference or fighting some mean guys with guns.”
- “They even have a plot and side missions voiced by a hilariously small cast of actors obviously altering their voice to be different people.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players describe the game as an incredibly emotional experience, highlighting its visceral and heartwarming storytelling that evokes genuine feelings and tears. Many have expressed that the narrative is so impactful it can lead to profound emotional reactions, including crying.
- “Wow, never have I played a game so visceral, benevolent, and heartwarming.”
- “The feelings are real; this game will make you cry your eyes out... I know I did... I filled a whole soup pot with tears from the heartwarming story.”
- “I cried a little.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its engaging audio elements, which effectively evoke the themes of space exploration and combat. Players appreciate the fun and rewarding FPS gameplay, alongside a fast-paced trading system reminiscent of drug wars, all set against a captivating soundtrack that enriches the overall experience.
- “The audio elements contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere of space exploration and combat.”
- “FPS gameplay is fun, functional, and rewarding; the drug wars-style is my favorite kind of fast-paced, strategic trading; and to top it off, it all takes place in space with a fantastic atmospheric soundtrack.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and is complemented by stunning voice acting and intricate game mechanics. However, some players feel it falls short compared to classics like Privateer, citing a lack of engaging story and freedom in gameplay. Overall, opinions are mixed, highlighting both strong character elements and notable deficiencies.
- “With stunning voice acting, fascinating character development, in-depth game mechanics, and a turn-based economy that mirrors the complexity of America's, this game is truly stunning.”
- “Not a bad attempt to recapture the awesomeness that was Privateer, but the game lacks character development, engaging story, and the ability to just do what you want, when you want like Privateer did.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is generally considered passable, though some players report experiencing bugs and performance issues that can affect gameplay.
- “The technical aspects of the game are passable, but some players may encounter bugs or performance issues.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Space Trader: Merchant Marine is a strategy game with science fiction theme.

Space Trader: Merchant Marine is available on PC and Windows.

Space Trader: Merchant Marine was released on October 23, 2008.

Space Trader: Merchant Marine was developed by Meridian4.

Space Trader: Merchant Marine has received neutral reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its replayability but disliked it for its story.

Space Trader: Merchant Marine is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Omerta City of Gangsters, How to Survive, Cosmonautica, Bounty Train, Galaxy on Fire 2™ Full HD and others.

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