When it comes to space-themed sci-fi licenses, there are no bigger properties thanStar WarsandStar Trek. While the former started as a trilogy of movies and the latter began life as a ’60s TV series, both spawned vast brands that seeped into other mediums like novels, comics, merchandising, and – crucially – video games. Despite typically sharing little in common in terms of tone, ideologies, and plotlines,Star WarsandStar Trekare forever linked.
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Naturally, both licenses have been adapted into their fair share of games, althoughStar Warshas received far more blockbuster titles due to its more mainstream status and preference for adventures heavy on action. Here are the bestStar WarsandStar Trekgames, in no specific order.
10Star Wars: TIE Fighter
Even if more recent space flight simulators likeElite DangerousandKerbal Space Programhave set a new standard for the niche sub-genre, 1994’sStar Wars: TIE Fighterwas the best in the business for quite a number of years. The second entry in the consistently greatX-Wingseries,TIE Fighterfulfills every fan’s dream of joining the Empire as an Imperial pilot who takes their job of destroying Rebel Alliance dogs very seriously.
Revolving around Admiral Thrawn’s quest to locate a traitor,TIE Fighternot only tells a solid story but presents the Empire in a unique and almost sympathetic light. When it comes to space combat, the gameplay is deep but not overwhelming, visually impressive, and challenging without ever really becoming frustrating.
9Star Trek Online
Star Trek Onlineis an MMORPG that has been running since 2010 on PC, although it was ported to the PS4 and Xbox One in 2016. Right out of the gate, players are assigned their own starship, with the majority of the gameplay revolving around the ship’s management. It is also possible to explore planets and engage in ground combat; that said,STOshines the brightest when it comes to its space combat and crew management.
Once it got passed a poor launch and transitioned to afree-to-playmodel,STOsteadily blossomed into an entertaining celebration of everythingStar Trek.
8Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Covering the originalStar Warstrilogy,Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leaderwas one of the best titles on the GameCube and holds up well despite coming out almost two decades ago. The visuals are nothing short of mesmerizing, asRogue Leadersuccessfully captures the majesty, epicness, and wonder of theStar Warstitles.
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UnlikeTIE Fighter,Rogue Leaderprioritizes frantic arcade-type space combat over flight simulation. The end result is a gripping action game that lets fans live through some ofStar Wars' most iconic sequences.
7Star Trek: Bridge Commander
ComparingStar Trek: Bridge CommanderandStar Wars: TIE Fighterillustrates the differences between the sci-fi series. Both revolve around space combat and are simulation games; however,TIE Fighterpredominantly presents the player as a solitary figure despite being part of the Empire. As a starship’s captain,Bridge Commander’s space combat involves giving orders to the crew, which are then executed automatically by the game.
AlthoughBridge Commander’s gameplay is not quite as immediate and hands-on asTIE Fighter, the player arguably has more control in the former than the latter. Either way, both are great games.
6Star Wars: The Old Republic
Developed by BioWare Austin,Star Wars: The Old Republicis a long-running MMORPG that bears similarities to theKnights of the Old Republicgames. Debuting in 2011,The Old Republicfeatures eight classes with their own unique storylines and gameplay styles. Users can pick between the Republic and the Sith, who are trying to co-exist.
The Old Republic’s customization options are arguably its greatest feature. Not only are there various gameplay styles that can be adapted to suit the player’s needs, butThe Old Republicalso comes with a deep morality system that impacts the evolution of storylines. While quite a lot of quests are not all that interesting, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
5Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force
Like the source material, manyStar Trekgames emphasize diplomacy and exploration. While that is all great, occasionally it can be cathartic to just pick up a type-2 phaser and go to town on a Borg squadron. Inspired by theVoyagerTV series,Elite Forcefollows the Hazard Team as they try to protect the grounded and vulnerable titular starship while completing a series of missions.
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Elite Forceand its sequel might be more action-oriented than the typicalStar Trekproperty, but they do it so well that it barely even matters. Please note, this entry is specifically referring to the PC version ofElite Force, as the PS2 port is nowhere near as good.
4Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005)
EA’s recentStar WarsBattlefronttitles might not have been so polarizing if they did not share their names with two of the license’s best games. Although 2004’sBattlefrontwas also a great title for its time,Battlefront IIupped the quality with a more engaging campaign told from the perspective of a retired Stormtrooper, a couple of new modes, the introduction of space battles, and a handful of gameplay and AI tweaks that enhanced an already solid experience.
In many ways,Battlefront IIis the most complete single-playerStar Warspackage, as it covers nearly every area a fan could want; that said, it is not the deepest game out there.
3Star Trek: Birth Of The Federation
Archaic as it might seem in this day and age,Star Trek: Birth of the Federationwas an impressive strategy game when it was released in 1999. With five playable races and a common aim to create the ultimate empire,Birth of the Federationdoes a decent job of portraying the different routes civilizations can take to achieve this goal. Diplomacy and direct combat are both valid means to grow an empire.
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One areaBirth of the Federationfalls short in is its presentation, as the visuals lack much in the way of flare. Combined with the incredibly slow-paced gameplay, and this is one title best left for die-hardStar Trekfans.
2Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Naturally, a “best of"Star Warsgames list would not be complete withoutKnights of the Old Republic. BioWare’s RPG takes place long before the creation of the Empire, as the Republic and Jedi are brought to their knees by Darth Malak. While players start out as Republic soldiers, the mortality system means the choices made throughout the campaign affect the protagonist’s light/dark alignment.
The gameplay is just okay, butKOTOR’s writing ranks among BioWare’s greatest work. The characters are all well-realized and feel real, while the narrative is second to none.
1Star Trek: New Horizons (Stellaris Mod)
A mod ofStellaris, an ambitious RTS that places players in charge of a species that is just about to embark on space exploration,New Horizonsis a mod that adds aStar Trekcoat to the title. With eight playable factions, some of which have their own storylines, and a ton of content taken from the TV shows and movies,New Horizonsis the ultimate tribute to theStar Treklicense.
The mod oozes passion and, while the RTS gameplay might not be for everyone, any fan of the franchise should consider giving this a try.
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