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What's the best Star Trek-like game? No Mass Effect

Watershed

Watershed

Member
Oct 26, 2017
7,829
Off the bat: I've already beaten the Mass Effect trilogy and I really enjoyed it. The Mass Effect games are the only games that come to mind for me when I think about games that capture some of the qualities of Star Trek. Now, I'm looking for some recommendations.

Any game, on any system that has some mix of space exploration, crew building/managing, resource management, dialogue driven gameplay, etc. What, if any, are some good Star Trek like games?

Edit: a few months ago I bought Infinite Space for the DS because of it's Scifi setting and ship management aspects. Unfortunately, while it does have some good qualities, the game isn't very good.
 
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falconhoof17

falconhoof17

Member
Jul 12, 2019
209
It's probably not exactly what you're after but I think FTL somewhat fits the bill in terms of managing a spacecraft
 
elenarie

elenarie

Game Developer
Verified
Jun 10, 2018
9,825
Go play Andromeda.

Maybe Starcraft? Not a lot of games come to mind.
 
Nikus

Nikus

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
10,373
Hm, if you liked Mass Effect, try KOTOR?
There's really not enough stuff like this
 
Bane

Bane

The Fallen
Oct 27, 2017
5,905
I've not played it in a while but Star Trek Online at least used to be pretty good. It's f2p and there is some annoying things due to that but if you're wanting to just play casually you shouldn't have to buy much.
 
Detail

Detail

Member
Dec 30, 2018
2,948
I can't tell you what the best Star Trek like game is.

But I can tell you what I believe is the best Star Trek game ever made and that's, imo, Star Trek The Next Generation : A final unity.
 
Rookhelm

Rookhelm

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,693
I've always wanted a Star Trek themed Mass Effect.

Go on away missions, walk around various areas of the enterprise and talk to crewmates
 
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Deleted member 29464

Account closed at user request
Banned
Nov 1, 2017
3,121
There isn't much so this one's a stretch but Stellaris can feel like a Star Trek strategy game, especially with the science ship exploration and seeing the events for the first time on your first game.
 

Muji

Banned
Jul 27, 2021
637
I think KOTOR will fit what you're looking for very good. Helps that they are some of the best rpgs out there and have some really good restoration mods for modern pcs and stuff.

If anyone knows of other games like OP's please do share
 
Secret Bambino

Secret Bambino

▲ Legend ▲
Member
Mar 21, 2021
2,930
Maaaaaaybe Guardians of the Galaxy?
It's more of a linear action game with dialogue choices, rather than something like Mass Effect, but perhaps it could satisfy that sci-fi itch. Naturally, the game has a lot of snarky dialogue, just like any Marvel property.

The game didn't really satisfy my Mass Effect craving, but I still really enjoyed it.

Rookhelm said:
I've always wanted a Star Wars themed Mass Effect.

Go on away missions, walk around various areas of the enterprise and talk to crewmates
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That's pretty much KOTOR 1 & 2 😛
 
Dolce

Dolce

Member
Oct 25, 2017
14,252
spore when you reach the space stage is a great star trek-like experience to me

literally all about exploring new planets, finding new alien lifeforms, etc.
 
Genesius

Genesius

Member
Nov 2, 2018
15,573
Star Trek Resurgence is coming out this year and looks more Star Trek than anything has since Abrams worked his magic on the franchise.
 
RiOrius

RiOrius

Member
Oct 27, 2017
6,084
FTL, kinda sorta. It's light, with more of an emphasis on the ship battles and upgrading than the occasional 1-page "there's a distress signal from a space station saying they've got giant alien spiders: render aid yes/no" sidequests. And the crew is all nameless roguelike characters.

But it's still fun, and especially your first few times through it can feel exciting and new. There's stuff to discover. Until you've played it enough that you just start skimming because you've read 'em all already.
 
TheDestructiveSquirrel

TheDestructiveSquirrel

Member
Oct 25, 2017
27,887
There are some good Star Trek games but they are kind of old and I don't remember which are good

Someone mentioned Final Unity, I think I remember that being good.

Star Trek Online was fun too.
 
Siggy-P

Siggy-P

Avenger
Mar 18, 2018
11,865
Honestly, the better the game, the less star trek qualities it has.

STO isn't bad if you take it for what it is. Dont hold me to that though.
 

TacoSupreme

Member
Jul 26, 2019
1,720
I'd give The Outer Worlds a look. It has some of the qualities you're looking for, I think. Although it's totally different in tone and scope.

I also second the suggestion of trying Andromeda.
 
Sirhc

Sirhc

Hasn't made a thread yet. Shame me.
Member
Oct 27, 2017
6,055
Zeliard said:
This actually hurt my feelings.
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Largely true though, games are more like Star Trek movies then actual decent Star Trek as it doesn't lend itself super well to a video game format.

There are some older click adventure style ST games though that were interesting but not sure they would hold up well.
 
OneTrueJack

OneTrueJack

Member
Aug 30, 2020
4,650
There's nothing quite like Mass Effect. There's nothing quite like Bioware. The game studio Spiders seems to be making an attempt for the throne...but they're not in the same league. Not even close.

So, IDK, play Andromeda maybe? Or wait a few years for Mass Effect 5.

Sorry :/
 

Deleted member 23475

User-requested account closure
Banned
Oct 28, 2017
662
Outside of Mass Effect 1 (because I see 2 or 3 being more inspired by Star Wars than Trek) there isn't much.

Old Star Trek games will be your best choices here like:
-25th anniversary + Judgment rites
-A final Unity TNG
-Bridge Commander
-Elite force is excellent even if it's an FPS
-Star Trek Bridge crew from Ubisoft is excellent as well specially in VR.
-Armada 1 (2 is okay but 1 is better) is a great RTS in the Trek Universe with a decent story arc.
-Star Trek Invasion on PS1 if you like more the small fighter combat style in space (Made by people that did colony wars)
-Away Team is similar to Xcom in Star Trek, it's not perfect but it's decent.
-StarFleet command for ships and Starfleet academy or Klingon Academy ( with mods) for a great story and some fun ship battles.
-Star Trek Online is honestly very good, specially the ship part.
-Birth of the federation if you want economy management and stuff, it's not my cup of tea but it's still a fan favorite (similar to Star Wars rebellion back in the day)
 
Zeliard

Zeliard

Member
Jun 21, 2019
10,952
Sirhc said:
Largely true though, games are more like Star Trek movies then actual decent Star Trek as it doesn't lend itself super well to a video game format.

There are some older click adventure style ST games though that were interesting but not sure they would hold up well.
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Does Trek lend itself to action games? No, not generally. But to dialogue-heavy adventure games, absolutely.

Also I know OP banned Mass Effect discussion from this thread but really that's a franchise that at least attempted to marry the two - shooty shoot action (of which there is plenty in Trek) with an examination of various ethical and moral quandaries which is what most people associate Trek with.

I don't think it's impossible at all to combine action and sci-fi philosophizing because hell, Mass Effect got really damn close.
 
Distantmantra

Distantmantra

Member
Oct 26, 2017
11,181
Seattle
I loved the TNG game on the Genesis called Echoes from the Past as a kid. There's a also a version for the SNES called Future's Past that got better reviews.
 
Siggy-P

Siggy-P

Avenger
Mar 18, 2018
11,865
Zeliard said:
This actually hurt my feelings.
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If we ever get a good sci fi game were the only way to win is to litteraly invite all the bad guys to a conference room and talk it out, I'll eat my words.

Sadly as it is though, theyre all shooters/space combat. STO you can at least walk around and do some light crew stuff.
 
Zeliard

Zeliard

Member
Jun 21, 2019
10,952
Siggy-P said:
If we ever get a good sci fi game were the only way to win is to litteraly invite all the bad guys to a conference room and talk it out, I'll eat my words.
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It's not impossible! A hallmark of a couple of the best RPGs ever made is that you basically talk the main villain to death.
 
Mr X

Mr X

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
1,231
Virginia / US
jotun? said:
FTL Faster Than Light
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FTL mentioned? Mandatory posting:

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Tater

Tater

Member
Oct 30, 2017
2,594
DS9: The Fallen was pretty good as well. Action oriented,, but i remembered enjoying it.

If you have like 8 people who also want a Trek experience, Artemis Bridge Simulator is pretty fun. Each person has their own station, and you work together to keep the ship running.

The only thing is that Artemis doesn't really have diplomacy or away missions. There aren't any weird "stuck in an anomaly" scenarios, it's really all combat.
 
disparate

disparate

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
7,904
tbh Mass Effect never really felt like Star Trek to me, like the series opens with an elite space marine becoming galactic black-ops.
 
Sliver

Sliver

Member
Oct 27, 2017
273
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Commodore64

Commodore64

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,264
There's a star trek mod for stellaris that's pretty spectacular. It's called ST:New horizons and it's available on the steam workshop. You can play as starfleet and have an entire event chain based on all the shows or play just about any species you've ever seen in a star trek show. You don't need DLC but it has proper integration so if you play as the ferengi it'll have megacorp dlc support.
 
Mechaplum

Mechaplum

Enlightened
Member
Oct 26, 2017
18,839
JP
Mass Effect and Guardians don't feel like Trek to me at all. They're more like the Expanse + Star Wars.

I want to be a small piece of a massive universe, not John Wayne in space.

...

Someone make a Lower Decks TRPG please.
 
Slayven

Slayven

Never read a comic in his life
Moderator
Oct 25, 2017
93,205
Yeah I don't get the mass effect trek comparisons.
 
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