The enduring popularity of the Star Trek science fiction franchise has led to numerous games in many different formats, beginning in 1967 with a board game based on The Original Series and continuing through the present with online and DVD games.

Board games

Tabletop wargames

Card games

Role-playing games

Official game titles include the following:

Starship simulator games

Starship simulator games create the experience of commanding and operating a starship, and usually allow the player to handle a variety of functions, and to allocate resources such as ship power and systems. Some early Star Trek games in this category have had a huge effect on subsequent games in their genre, often leading to new level of depth and complexity in programming and/or gameplay.

This game category includes both computer games and non-computer board games, since the Star Fleet Battles game series provides a starship simulation, and is wholly a tabletop board wargame. As well as the Star Trek RPG by FASA which allowed players to take charge of specific areas of a ship's functions (such as the engineer allocating power) during combat.

Star Fleet Battles is different from most other wargames, which usually indicate unit strengths with simple numerical ratings. SFB players are able to deploy and manage power for a variety of ship weapons and resources. This is done via an elaborate Energy Allocation mechanism where even partial points of energy can be allocated to a number of different systems. Federation Commander is the continued development of this system in a more fast-paced version. Instead of the Energy Allocation system, it uses an innovative tick sheet system, which manages power use for each ship, and also tracks which weapons and systems are in use. The Star Trek: Starfleet Command computer game is based upon Star Fleet Battles.

In Star Trek: The Role Playing Game, produced by FASA, players actually had individual bridge functions during combat. This at one point became a separate game known as Starship Tactical Combat Simulator. The Captain determined the strategy, the Engineer was responsible for power management and allocation to different systems such as weapons and shields, the Helmsman for firing weapons, the Navigator for managing deflector shields, the Communications Officer for damage control and so on.

Starship simulator computer games which are set in the Star Trek universe occupy a large role in the history of computer games. Some of the earliest and more influential space simulator video games were Star Trek simulations designed to run on mainframes.

David H. Ahl played such games in the late 1960s at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of California, Berkeley. He stated that they were much less sophisticated than Mike Mayfield's Star Trek text game,[3] which originated as a BASIC program on an SDS Sigma 7 mainframe system in 1971 and ported to many different systems. Ahl published source code for this game in his best selling BASIC Computer Games, and variants of the game spread widely to personal computer systems.

Decwar in 1978 was also a groundbreaking game. Another is Super Star Trek, an early text-based, MS-DOS-based game. This game created an impressive starship experience using only text-based commands and graphics. The game Begin is considered notable for having a convincing model of game dynamics, as it has very few random elements, and is highly mathematical. In 1986, the game Multi-Trek (MTrek) was brought online at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Written in C for a PDP mainframe, and also available via dialup and later TELNET, MTrek was arguably the first ever game to combine a persistent world, online multiplayer environment with a real-time, true 3-dimensional game engine and versions of the game still have an active player base.

Netrek was released in 1988, and was probably the first game to use both the TCP and UDP protocols, the first Internet-aware team game, the first Internet game to use metaservers to locate open game servers, and the first to have persistent user information.

In later years, fewer games were produced within this genre, and more games were produced in the adventure games genre. The first new recent game was Starfleet Academy, which incorporated many Star Trek elements, but was criticized for depicting starship operation as more akin to fighter planes than capital ships. A sequel, Klingon Academy, was actually quite different, and was one of the first games to depict starship operation with an appropriate amount of complexity.

The Starfleet Command game series released by Interplay was based largely on the tabletop game Star Fleet Battles, and comprised Starfleet Command, Starfleet Command II: Empires at War, and Starfleet Command III. It constitutes one of the most definitive current games, depicting a wide array of ship systems and Star Trek storylines. This series had a more naval flavor, and depicted a number of ship systems. This series spawned a very large multiplayer ladder competition first with the "Starlance" system, and later on the "GamerZone" ladder. The main multiplayer setting is the "Dynaverse," which began as an official server hosted by Taldren, and has continued as a private effort (an earlier, unauthorized adaptation of Star Fleet Battles as a computer game was SSI's The Warp Factor in 1982).

Star Trek: Bridge Commander was another addition to this genre, reflecting the more deliberative, command aspects of this experience.

In late 2006, Bethesda Softworks released several console games which carry on the tradition of classic Star Trek ship simulator/combat games, Star Trek: Legacy for the PC and Xbox 360, Star Trek: Encounters for the PlayStation 2, Star Trek: Tactical Assault for the Nintendo DS and the PlayStation Portable and Star Trek: Conquest for the Wii and PlayStation 2.

Several online games have appeared on the Internet. Vega Trek is a game mod which is planned to eventually become active as a multiplayer game.[4] Flashtrek: Broken Mirror, first created by Vex Xiang, is one of the online Star Trek games, and is entirely browser-based. It has spawned several sequels. One sequel was created by Vex Xiang, and multiple others were created by fans. A newer game titled Star Trek: Broken Mirror was being developed by a man named Darkwing for several years, but was apparently abandoned in 2014.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew is one of the newest additions to this genre, and continues the historical pattern of Star Trek-themed simulator breaking new ground. This cross platform game is in a virtual reality environment in which four players actually occupy the bridge of the USS Aegis, Enterprise-D (Through Downloadable Content) or the Original Enterprise. Players get to see each other in real-time, and interact during the game to operate the ship and work together to handle various game scenarios.[5][6]

Pinball games

Four pinball games have been based on the Star Trek series:

Video games

Arcade

YearTitle
1983Star Trek - Strategic Operations Simulator
2002Star Trek: Voyager – The Arcade Game

Computer

The history of the Star Trek personal computer game franchise began as early as 1971, with a Star Trek text-only computer game written in BASIC. Many PC titles have since been published, and the franchise was one of the first based on a TV program to break into the young PC gamer market in the 1990s. Activision and Viacom signed an agreement to develop games based on the Star Trek property in September 1998[7]

Interplay, Simon & Schuster, MicroProse and Activision released most of the best-known Star Trek games between 2000 and 2003. Titles like Star Trek: Armada, Star Trek: Elite Force and Star Trek: Bridge Commander were all published during this period, as were over half of all the other major Star Trek PC games. The absence of new titles after 2003 was due in large measure to a split and subsequent lawsuit between Activision and Viacom which ended in 2004.

With the departure of Activision in 2003, the franchise under the tenure of Paramount effectively came to a close. Since the end of 2005, CBS has assumed most franchise management, including games and other products. Even with no new licensed titles released during 2003-2006, the older games like Armada and Elite Force still have an avid fan base which keeps the small community going. Development of the new Star Trek: Online title is complete and the game was made available for sale on February 2, 2010.[8]

Star Trek: Alien Domain is a 2015 flash-based Star Trek multiplayer strategy game developed by GameSamba in conjunction with CBS Interactive.[9]

Computer games

YearTitlePlatformDeveloper, publisher
1971Star Trek (text game)MultipleMike Mayfield
1971Star Trek (script game)PDP-10Don Daglow
1973Super Star TrekMultiple (BASIC)Bob Leedom, David H. Ahl
1973Trek73HP Time-Shared BASICWilliam K. Char, Perry Lee, Dan Gee
1976Galaxy8008, 8080, SCELBIBob Findley, SCELBI Computer Consulting
1977Star TrekApple 1Bob Bishop, Interface Age
1979Apple TrekApple IIDr. Wendell Sander, Apple Computer
1979Star Trek IIITRS-80, Apple II, Atari 8-bitAdventure International
19803-D Star TrekAtari 8-bitColor Software
1980Battle TrekTRS-80Gilman Louie, Voyager Software
1981Tari TrekAtari 8-bitQuality Software
1982Video Trek 88MS-DOSWindmill Software
1983Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator (ports)Apple II, Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision, C64, VIC-20Sega
1984Begin: A Tactical Starship SimulationMS-DOSClockwork Software
1985Star Trek Evolution[10]Commodore 64Load'n'Go / One Step / Green Valley Publishing
1985Star Trek: The Kobayashi AlternativeApple II, C64, MS-DOSSimon & Schuster
1986Star Trek: The Promethean ProphecyApple II, C64, MS-DOSSimon & Schuster
1987Star Trek: The Rebel UniverseAtari ST, C64, MS-DOSSimon & Schuster
1988Star Trek: First ContactMS-DOSMicromosaics, Simon & Schuster Interactive
1989Star Trek V: The Final FrontierMS-DOSLevel Systems, Mindscape
1991Begin 2MS-DOSClockwork Software
1992Star Trek: 25th AnniversaryMS-DOS, Macintosh, AmigaInterplay Entertainment
1993Star Trek: Judgment RitesMS-DOS, MacintoshInterplay Entertainment
1995Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Final UnityMS-DOS, MacintoshSpectrum HoloByte, MicroProse
1996Star Trek: KlingonWindows, MacintoshSimon & Schuster
1996Star Trek: BorgWindows, MacintoshSimon & Schuster
1996Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: HarbingerMS-DOS, MacintoshStormfront Studios, Viacom New Media
1997Star Trek: Starfleet AcademyWindows, MacintoshHigh Voltage Software, Interplay Entertainment
1997Star Trek GenerationsWindowsMicroProse
1998Star Trek PinballMS-DOSInterplay Entertainment
1998Star Trek: The Next Generation: Klingon Honor GuardWindows, MacintoshMicroProse
1998Star Trek: The Game ShowWindows, MacintoshSound Source Interactive
1998Star Trek: Starship CreatorWindows, MacintoshImergy, Simon & Schuster
1999Star Trek: The Next Generation: Birth of the FederationWindowsMicroProse, Hasbro
1999Star Trek: Secret of Vulcan FuryCancelledInterplay Entertainment
1999Star Trek: Starfleet CommandWindowsQuicksilver Software, Interplay Entertainment
1999Star Trek: Hidden EvilWindowsPresto Studios, Activision
2000Star Trek: Starfleet Command - Gold EditionWindowsQuicksilver Software, Interplay Entertainment
2000Star Trek: ArmadaWindowsMad Doc Software, Activision
2000Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The FallenWindows, MacintoshThe Collective, Simon & Schuster
2000Star Trek: ConQuest OnlineWindowsGenetic Anomalies, Activision
2000Star Trek: Klingon AcademyWindows14 Degrees East, Interplay Entertainment
2000Star Trek: New WorldsWindows14 Degrees East, Interplay Entertainment
2000Star Trek: Starfleet Command II: Empires at WarWindowsTaldren, Interplay Entertainment
2000Star Trek: Starship Creator Warp IIWindowsImergy, Simon & Schuster Interactive
2000Star Trek: Voyager – Elite ForceWindows, MacintoshRaven Software, Activision
2001Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force Expansion PackWindowsRaven Software, Activision
2001Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Dominion WarsWindowsGizmo Games, Simon & Schuster
2001Star Trek: Armada IIWindowsMad Doc Software, Activision
2001Star Trek: Away TeamWindowsReflexive Entertainment, Activision
2001Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Orion PiratesWindowsTaldren, Interplay Entertainment
2002Star Trek: Starfleet Command IIIWindowsTaldren, Activision
2002Star Trek: Bridge CommanderWindowsTotally Games, Activision
2003Star Trek: Elite Force IIWindows, MacintoshRitual Entertainment, Activision
2005Star Trek: The Next Generation: StrandedSky Gamestar (ceased 2015)Denki
2006Star Trek: LegacyWindows, Xbox 360Mad Doc Software, Bethesda Softworks
2009Star Trek: DACWindows, Xbox 360, Macintosh, PlayStation 3Naked Sky Entertainment, Paramount Digital Entertainment
2010Star Trek OnlineWindows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4Atari, Cryptic Studios, Perfect World Entertainment
2013Star TrekWindows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3Digital Extremes
2015Star Trek: Alien DomainBrowserGameSamba
2016Star Trek TimelinesBrowser, iOS, AndroidDisruptor Beam
2017Star Trek: Bridge CrewWindows, PlayStation 4Ubisoft
2022 Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Windows Outright Games
2023Star Trek: ResurgenceXbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, WindowsDramatic Labs
2023 Star Trek: Infinite Windows Paradox Interactive

Console

YearTitlePlatform
1979Star Trek: Phaser StrikeMicrovision
1983Star Trek: Strategic Operations SimulatorAtari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision, VIC-20, Commodore 64, TI-99/4A
1992Star Trek: 25th AnniversaryNintendo Entertainment System
Star Trek: 25th AnniversaryGame Boy
1993Star Trek: The Next Generation: Future's PastSuper Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, Game Gear
Star Trek: The Next GenerationGame Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System
1994Star Trek: The Next Generation: Echoes from the PastGame Gear, Sega Genesis (Mega Drive), Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Star Trek Generations: Beyond the NexusGame Boy, Game Gear
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Starship Bridge SimulatorSega 32X, Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Crossroads of TimeSega Genesis (Mega Drive), Super Nintendo Entertainment System
2000Star Trek: InvasionPlayStation
Star Trek: Voyager – Elite ForceWindows, Mac OS 9, PlayStation 2
2004Star Trek: Shattered UniversePlayStation 2, Xbox
2006Star Trek: Tactical AssaultPlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS
Star Trek: LegacyXbox 360, Windows
Star Trek: EncountersPlayStation 2
2007Star Trek: ConquestWii, PlayStation 2
2009Star Trek: DACXbox 360, PlayStation 3
2013Star TrekXbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
2016Star Trek OnlineXbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows, Macintosh
2017Star Trek: Bridge CrewPlayStation 4, Windows
2022 Star Trek: Prodigy: Supernova Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Windows

Mobile

YearTitlePlatformDeveloper, Publisher
2009Star Trek: The Mobile GameiOS (iPhone, iPod Touch)Electronic Arts
2014Star Trek TrexelsDiscontinued, iOS, AndroidXcube Games, YesGnome, LLC
2016Star Trek TimelinesiOS, AndroidDisruptor Beam
2018Star Trek Trexels IIDiscontinued, AndroidKongregate
2018Star Trek Fleet CommandiOS, AndroidScopely
2021Star Trek: LegendsiOSTilting Point

Electronic and casino games

  • Star Trek is a casino slot machine game designed and marketed by WMS Industries since 2008[11]
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Red Alert, video game gambling machine.[12][13]

Handheld electronic games

Numerous stand-alone electronic handheld and tabletop games have been produced by manufacturers like Bandai, Coleco, Konami, and others. Pair Match, manufactured by Bandai in 1984, appeared in several Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes.

See also

References

  1. "Star Trek: The Game". BoardGameGeek. Archived from the original on 2009-05-14. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  2. "Star Trek Database". www.startrek.com. Archived from the original on 2006-03-19. Retrieved 2006-04-20.
  3. Ahl, David H., ed. (1976). "Super Star Trek". The Best of Creative Computing. Creative Computing Press. pp. 275–281. ISBN 0-916688-01-1. Archived from the original on 2016-11-28. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  4. Posting on official website for Vega Trek. Archived July 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. STAR TREK: BRIDGE CREW REVIEW Archived 2017-06-06 at the Wayback Machine By Andy Hartup, gamesradar.com
  6. Star Trek: Bridge Crew is the right kind of Virtual Reality disaster Archived 2017-06-01 at the Wayback Machine, By GamesRadar Staff April 24, 2017News
  7. "Activision and Viacom Consumer Products Sign Exclusive 10-Year Pact For Interactive Games Based on Star Trek Property". PR Newswire. Cision. September 28, 1998. Archived from the original on December 2, 1998. Retrieved June 15, 2019 via Yahoo.com.
  8. Star Trek Online website Archived 2021-06-20 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Fahey, Mike (September 17, 2015). "Boldly Build Bases In Star Trek: Alien Domain". kotaku.com.au. Archived from the original on August 5, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  10. "Space Trek: Star Trek games". Space Trek. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  11. Green, Marian "A matter of persistence…" Archived 2021-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, Casino Journal.com, June 1, 2012
  12. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine:Red Alert Video Game Preview – TrekToday". 29 July 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  13. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Red Alert Video Game Gambling Machine Revealed". Star Trek. Archived from the original on 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
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