Offworld Trading Company

 PC
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 90 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 90
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 90
  3. Negative: 13 out of 90

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  1. gordonbays
    Jan 8, 2017
    6
    Its a solid game, remember me about Sierras' Outpost. The game works pretty well, solid FPS and no crashes but i feel that with the same money you could buy way better strategy games like Crusader Kings 2 and Civilization VI. This game can hardly deliver about 50 hours of fun because after you finish the first match you already seem all. If you can grab this game for $15,00 bucks or lessIts a solid game, remember me about Sierras' Outpost. The game works pretty well, solid FPS and no crashes but i feel that with the same money you could buy way better strategy games like Crusader Kings 2 and Civilization VI. This game can hardly deliver about 50 hours of fun because after you finish the first match you already seem all. If you can grab this game for $15,00 bucks or less its ok, anything that costs more than $15 you are wasting your money.… Expand
  2. pezzant
    Aug 26, 2016
    10
    A fantastic multiplayer strategy game, where wits not twitches are rewarded. I think it's best played against humans, and I've sunk nearly 200 hours into it so far and anticipate many more hours. I think people with a background in strategy board games are really going to love this one. I haven't enjoyed a game this much since Colonization and MOO2 back in the days of Windows 95!
  3. Cieciu
    May 1, 2016
    7
    For a game coming from the designer of Civilization IV and the publisher of the Galactic Civilization series I was expecting... dunno, something more rich in *experience* and not only content. You can see the hard work, but not everything works towards being either interesting or fun...
  4. TemplarGR
    Sep 9, 2016
    6
    I really like economy strategy games. I really wanted to like this. But i can't. I think it is overrated and quite simplistic. Once you win 2-3 matches, you have seen it all. It gets boring fast. Overrated.
  5. PParker
    Apr 29, 2016
    10
    Offworld Trading Company game is unlike anything else out there. Its a building, strategy, competition game with a lot of depth, quick decision making, maneuvering involved and has lots of replay ability. I've been playing since early access and its come together very nicely with the polish added at the end. Great game, highly recommend.
  6. Obiwanshenobi
    Apr 29, 2016
    9
    I bought this in early access but didn't play much as I wanted to wait until release. Wow, the amount of work they have put in during that time is amazing. This game is challenging, yet extremely fun. I recommend playing through the tutorials first just to get a feel for the game, and I've really been enjoying both singleplayer and multiplayer games.
  7. jeraldjunkmail
    May 10, 2016
    9
    Is thi what economics would have looked like in some alternate reality where communism and socialism had never come to pass, labour laws to protect workers had never been considerted, and unions were never invented? Probably. And it is darned good that this is the case.

    This is what capitalism would be if it was completely unbridled. Corporate war with all against all, and it is    Is thi what economics would have looked like in some alternate reality where communism and socialism had never come to pass, labour laws to protect workers had never been considerted, and unions were never invented? Probably. And it is darned good that this is the case.

    This is what capitalism would be if it was completely unbridled. Corporate war with all against all, and it is brutish, narsty, and short. It gives you the opportunity to be an absolute robber baron of Mars, do incredibly devious and evil things, and feel good about doing it. "Those other guys are borked!"

    Plus's: Short, fluid gameplay that can change in an instant. You have to be able to change your economy if it isn't working. If you do it right, you will be rewarded by the market. All hail the Market!

    Minuses: Multiplayer can be hard to get a handle on. Many seasoned players due to the lengthy beta. I hope you don't mind learning by losing! There is no way to get better but to play and learn and that ride will be very bumpy and rough!

    But what a ride! 9/10. Recommended!    … Expand
  8. Braggi
    May 19, 2016
    8
    Just when you think you've seen them all, here comes a fresh new idea!
    After playing the tutorial you get the impression this is base building with a trading twist - far off the mark!
    Players found coporations on Mars - chosing a location, trying to make a fortune supplying the central colony, and buy out the competition. These corporations produce and consume 13 resources; a handful    Just when you think you've seen them all, here comes a fresh new idea!
    After playing the tutorial you get the impression this is base building with a trading twist - far off the mark!

    Players found coporations on Mars - chosing a location, trying to make a fortune supplying the central colony, and buy out the competition. These corporations produce and consume 13 resources; a handful tutorials explain the basics. There are 4 different corporation types with specific advantages and resource needs. Robots are a solid, simple start for new players. Nearby material deposits, hopefully rich (or surface ice) determine the quality of a founding location.

    A Black Market is offering different rogue services each game. Recurring auctions have a set of unique offers. Five advanced buildings branch into mid- and endgame, and last there are company stock to trade...

    Central shortage are land claims, to build production sites on. Fastest road to get more claims is upgrade headquarters, up to level 5. (Lower difficulty also adds claims, and some funds.)
    Sometimes only a few resource and building claims are auctioned, in some matches there's a glut of free claims by Black Market and auctions.

    Initial demand stems from corporation upgrade needs and existing types of colony buildings. If there's e.g. 50% robots, there will be price pressure on electronics and energy, while life support is less in demand.
    Adjacent factories of a type get a huge production bonus, so it makes sense to start with one or two products and buy the rest, especially processed goods at first.
    Basic factories are free or cheap, while advanced production sites may cost dearly.

    Around level 3 mid game starts. Players select promising goods to maximise cash flow, and keep growing.
    Cash is needed for covert actions and production materials. Auctions, lifesupport, energy and fuel can be bought on credit, preserving cash keeps a company operational.
    Attack opponents to damage them and boost your earnings; try to take them over (especially in 1:1) or just keep growing and secure your shares.
    Players constantly watch prices and competitors actions, markets they are about to enter or leave. Even if it's expensive, production plants are constantly rebuilt to adjust.

    Black market offers different sets of actions each game; from spying, attacks on competition to defence and boosts. Like the random maps, composition differs each game and makes for very different courses of game play.
    There's an option to switch off direct attacks for the more peaceful when creating matches. Which is good, because some setups can simply destroy a weaker player.

    If the match reaches late game, advanced buildings gain importance: from affordable Hacker Arrays to manipulate prices, exclusive tech, production optimisation or selling on Offworld Markets for huge profits.
    The ultimate target is to buy out competitors. Earn more faster, and don't drown in debt that will destroy your share prices.

    A match takes 10-20 minutes 1:1 to around 30 min for 4 players. Playing single, time can be slowed down or even stopped at will, leaving enough time for contemplation and decisions.
    Besides a few tutorial scenarios and the skirmishes is also a campaign mode, working slightly different and linking 7 matches. Optional matches end after a fixed time to prevent tedious buyout battles.
    Difficulty is per player, determining upgrade cost, debt thresholds and starting money. So it can be used to even skill levels in MP matches.

    The UI is very polished, allowing control over fluid, rapidly changing situations. Market price system and its representation is especially impressive; you see price trends, actual price and spikes.
    Corporations and events can be reached by a click; an auction halts game progression. Even when the game is stopped, players can still give orders.

    Founding has special mechanics, rewarding the lagging founders with less debt, more claims or earlier access to BM in exchange for the "less desirable" spot.
    Still founding is one of the most complex decisions of the game, not only deciding where to found, but also which type of corporation. It overwhelms a beginner and can ruin his complete match from start.

    Plus:
    very cool, innovative mechanics
    clever, functional UI
    good looking graphics
    short crisp gameplay

    Minus
    Steep learning curve, especially game start
    New concepts not intuitive (but official videos, e.g. youtube: Zultar)
    Some balance issues with BM
    One mistake can decisively lose a game
    random generation of matches and campaigns sometimes feels arbitrary    … Expand
  9. feralprowler
    May 2, 2016
    10
    A very interesting economy-based strategy game. It takes a unique approach to the genre, with combat options non existant which allows you to focus entirely on base-building and economic growth. Multiple difficulties and daily challenges as well as a tiered multiplayer system allows plenty of continual growth.
  10. TimW001
    May 3, 2016
    8
    This game is incomparable to other strategies games. It is not as slow as Civ or as long as Cities. It is a fast paced game where the player must be active and paying attention. Each game has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The player typically won't sit on their empire for hours. Most games skirmishes are a quick 20-30 minutes. No military conflict, only black market manipulation andThis game is incomparable to other strategies games. It is not as slow as Civ or as long as Cities. It is a fast paced game where the player must be active and paying attention. Each game has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The player typically won't sit on their empire for hours. Most games skirmishes are a quick 20-30 minutes. No military conflict, only black market manipulation and economics.
    It's very addicting and fun. I do recommend it if you are a fan of strategy games.    … Expand
  11. Saikron
    Jun 20, 2016
    9
    I bought this early and had a ton of fun before development was completed, but I was a little disappointed to see that not much else was added since early access.
  12. Koblihozrout
    May 31, 2016
    9
    It's a tycoonish RTS, you can pause anytime, so don't worry about your lack actions per minute micro¯o skills, you don't need those.

    The game is hard to describe. It has symmetrical (everyone starts at the same time, with same resources) matches which last for an hour or two. Players and AI's compete for resources, patents and markets. Learning the game is simple, mastering very    It's a tycoonish RTS, you can pause anytime, so don't worry about your lack actions per minute micro¯o skills, you don't need those.

    The game is hard to describe. It has symmetrical (everyone starts at the same time, with same resources) matches which last for an hour or two. Players and AI's compete for resources, patents and markets. Learning the game is simple, mastering very difficult.

    I lost my first 10 games to AI on normal difficulty. It has truly wonderful AI, the game design of prices markets of course makes it easier for AI to make efficient decisions. But i can't stress it enough AI is really really good, and it's an accomplishment in itself in today gaming industry, well done devs !

    The core mechanics of the game are quite trivial (acquire cheap, sell high) but nevertheless the mix works, and it's even little bit addictive. Replay-ability is not endless, it's basically an indie title, so you don't get that much of content, but what you get is really cleverly designed (even campaigns are randomly generated matches that last 7 turns (7 different consecutive maps) and you can get and keep some advantages from previous missions so you develop and specialize your company for a campaign.

    Graphics are OK, game runs smoothly, didn't encounter ANY bugs, or disbalances. Game does well what it sets to accomplish. It's quite an original innovative game concept. A job well done.    … Expand
  13. AgentCoyle
    May 7, 2016
    10
    Without doubt the most: polished, elegant, ever-changing and challenging strategy game I've played in a very long time. If you want a game that won't take forever but will demand everything your real time strategic brain can handle, get this game.
  14. ShiArch
    May 4, 2016
    8
    One of the rare strategy gems with nice sense of humour. The little touches in everything make it a very fun experience. The AI is pretty nice and though they could have made it more unpredictable it works fine. The base mechanism is not overly convoluted. Its all about predicting what your opponents willl do. However and this makes it so intriguing is the fact that it is an RTS but theOne of the rare strategy gems with nice sense of humour. The little touches in everything make it a very fun experience. The AI is pretty nice and though they could have made it more unpredictable it works fine. The base mechanism is not overly convoluted. Its all about predicting what your opponents willl do. However and this makes it so intriguing is the fact that it is an RTS but the buildings need claims to build so its not all about speed but deep thinking. 10/10.… Expand
  15. WebKeg
    Apr 18, 2017
    9
    A simple mechanic built with flair and passion. I'm hooked on how fun and easy this one is to play. It's perfect for those wanting a casual challenge after dinner.
  16. Bloodnes
    Nov 5, 2020
    5
    Посредственная игра, графика не понравилась, может механика игры и интересная, но после полу часа игры желания играть дальше не было. В целом проходняк, 5/10
  17. JustinForgueims
    Feb 7, 2022
    3
    The game was not able to catch me from the beginning.
    Mainly because of the tutorial, because when I faced the campaign I found a really different game, with mechanincs not explained, construcion limit and a kind of rush to win that I was never able to beat with the concepts explained in the tutorial.
    Maybe it's a good game... if you invest enough time in external resources to learn how    The game was not able to catch me from the beginning.
    Mainly because of the tutorial, because when I faced the campaign I found a really different game, with mechanincs not explained, construcion limit and a kind of rush to win that I was never able to beat with the concepts explained in the tutorial.
    Maybe it's a good game... if you invest enough time in external resources to learn how to play it.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Cubed3
    Apr 10, 2020
    70
    For a RTS where you do not attack the other player with units, there is a lot going on here. The raw amount of things to keep track of and options available, are in some ways overwhelming. The core of it all is great fun, and it is completely novel for a RTS to avoid just massing units and rolling out. The amount of stuff happening takes away some of the enjoyment, as playthroughs quickly get away from players if they are not using every option available to them. Finally, the pace is so fast that there is no enjoyment about surviving on these hostile planets.
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  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 6, 2017
    60
    Interesting economic strategy bending the RTS genre in a proper way. Great ideas lack the elegance in design unfortunately, and authors completely overshot the price. [Issue #271]
  3. Games.cz
    Feb 6, 2017
    70
    In the Offworld Trading Company business strategy you do not fight using strength, you use a money instead. You will be attracted by complex economic mechanics and exotic environment of planet Mars. The game, however, in its basic version does not entertain long enough. You can get a satisfactory game time if you choose to get not-so-cheap set of DLC packages.
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