Sid Meier's Starships

 PC
User Score
4.4

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 126 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 126
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 126
  3. Negative: 69 out of 126

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  1. hurleybird
    Mar 12, 2015
    3
    It's simple, repetitive, and boring. A bit fun at first, but after one play session you've seen it all and won't feel a need to return to Starships.

    The tactical combat would be fun, but there is not enough on the strategy layer so you end up spending 90% of your time with tactical battles and it quickly gets tiring. You (and your enemies) can't ever actually lose ships, so you just end    It's simple, repetitive, and boring. A bit fun at first, but after one play session you've seen it all and won't feel a need to return to Starships.

    The tactical combat would be fun, but there is not enough on the strategy layer so you end up spending 90% of your time with tactical battles and it quickly gets tiring. You (and your enemies) can't ever actually lose ships, so you just end up fighting the same battles with and against the same fleets over and over and over and over again.    … Expand
  2. DarthPadme
    Mar 12, 2015
    3
    Pretty space graphics can't save this game from its boring, repetitive, uninspired gameplay. This Civ: BE offshoot might share its roots with other Sid Meier games, but it's clear that very little work and inspiration was put into this title. The fact that it's out on both PC and mobile should be indicative of that. Don't get this game expecting a full game experience. I've paid lessPretty space graphics can't save this game from its boring, repetitive, uninspired gameplay. This Civ: BE offshoot might share its roots with other Sid Meier games, but it's clear that very little work and inspiration was put into this title. The fact that it's out on both PC and mobile should be indicative of that. Don't get this game expecting a full game experience. I've paid less than $15 and gotten far more for my money with other games than this one. $5 might be a fair price.… Expand
  3. Azure_Daisies
    Mar 14, 2015
    5
    I really wanted to like this game, but I just can't. I don't hate it either. The general impression my husband and I both had when we compared notes was "meh." There's just nothing attention grabbing, or amusing, or really very entertaining. The actual space combat is trivially simple and quickly tediously repetitive. The "improvements" for planets are ridiculously over complicated,I really wanted to like this game, but I just can't. I don't hate it either. The general impression my husband and I both had when we compared notes was "meh." There's just nothing attention grabbing, or amusing, or really very entertaining. The actual space combat is trivially simple and quickly tediously repetitive. The "improvements" for planets are ridiculously over complicated, not in a difficult way but in an annoying way, to the point where you say "heck I don't *need* it to win the game and you just ignore it. After about a day of messing about we both put Starships on our "blah" game shelf and went back to other more stimulating and gratifying games.… Expand
  4. JonnysBeard
    Apr 4, 2015
    4
    If you don't know anything about Sid Meier, look him up and what games he did. He and Civilization are probably the biggest names in the genre ... and then comes Starships.

    At first I thought I was missing something but it's really that simple. I'm not saying simplicity is a bad thing but for a Sid Meier title this is more than just bland. The core gameplay feels as interesting as the    If you don't know anything about Sid Meier, look him up and what games he did. He and Civilization are probably the biggest names in the genre ... and then comes Starships.

    At first I thought I was missing something but it's really that simple. I'm not saying simplicity is a bad thing but for a Sid Meier title this is more than just bland. The core gameplay feels as interesting as the space age in Spore. Instead of moving spices and terraforming you get missions on each planets. About 5 different. Considering that this is pretty much all you do the entire game it's fair to say that it gets old very quickly.
    Research, outfitting ships and managing planets is linear and just as uninteresting.

    The fact that this is also a mobile game really shines through. Graphics are really basic but at least the window can be rescaled freely.

    It doesn't pretend to be a full Civilisation game but still, for having Sid Meier in the name it just doesn't deliver enough.

    4 points for being a game (with almost no content) and working very well on PC (and not being a bad port)    … Expand
  5. Duloth
    Jan 26, 2016
    3
    Simple, basic, turn-based strategy game. Ships have levels in a variety of traits you can upgrade; by the end, all ships are identical, and the only time a difference exists is in the early game when you can't afford to upgrade everything yet. Ships cannot be destroyed, only temporarily disabled; you -will- fight the entire enemy fleet every time you take one of his worlds, and losingSimple, basic, turn-based strategy game. Ships have levels in a variety of traits you can upgrade; by the end, all ships are identical, and the only time a difference exists is in the early game when you can't afford to upgrade everything yet. Ships cannot be destroyed, only temporarily disabled; you -will- fight the entire enemy fleet every time you take one of his worlds, and losing every ship in your fleet is only a one-turn inconvenience.

    The level of complexity and depth is about what you'd expect out of your typical free flash game; it only looks so pathetic when you measure it against its genuine competition; actual PC strategy games that you pay for.    … Expand
  6. Silverzapper
    Nov 2, 2016
    3
    I see a lot of missed potential here. This could have actually been a really deep and interesting game but they just didn't spend the proper time on it. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they just took some code from Beyond Earth and slapped this together in a month. Remember the space stage in Spore? Picture that but you can only visit about 30 planets. Yes I am not joking here. I wasI see a lot of missed potential here. This could have actually been a really deep and interesting game but they just didn't spend the proper time on it. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they just took some code from Beyond Earth and slapped this together in a month. Remember the space stage in Spore? Picture that but you can only visit about 30 planets. Yes I am not joking here. I was playing on the largest map available and there were about 30 planets. You may be wondering why I'm giving it such a high score when the game is so clearly terrible. Well even though this game is a terrible excuse for an anything Sid Meier at least has the decency not to charge 60 dollars for this. I got it for 15 which makes it at least somewhat worth it. That still doesn't change the fact that I'm using Spore which was a huge disappointment as a comparison to this game. Spore is better in nearly every way. And I think it's only 5 dollars now. Go buy that if you are thinking about purchasing this.… Expand
  7. Stormcloud72
    Mar 15, 2015
    5
    This game is not 100% horrible but it being pitched as a PC game is laughable. The only options you have in the menu, volume control, no video settings, no sound settings, no actual fullscreen unless you hide the taskbar and then hit f11, f11 like you would with a internet browser. Strategy? What Strategy, you fly around with a single fleet of ships that you fly about and shoot at otherThis game is not 100% horrible but it being pitched as a PC game is laughable. The only options you have in the menu, volume control, no video settings, no sound settings, no actual fullscreen unless you hide the taskbar and then hit f11, f11 like you would with a internet browser. Strategy? What Strategy, you fly around with a single fleet of ships that you fly about and shoot at other ships. This is 100% a Tablet Game and should have been pitched as such on the PC instead of tacking Sid Meier's name to this game and pretending it was a full fledged game. This game is not worth $14.99 and should have been sold at mobile game prices.… Expand
  8. Jumpy
    Mar 13, 2015
    2
    This game should not have been released for PC. It's a game that looks, feels and runs like a mobile game.

    The UI is extremely simplistic, clearly made for touchscreens (mobile devices), lacking in anything more in-depth. Graphics wise it's okay, for mobile devices, for PC graphics it's a complete joke. There are no real options to speak of, you can switch from windowed mode to windowed    This game should not have been released for PC. It's a game that looks, feels and runs like a mobile game.

    The UI is extremely simplistic, clearly made for touchscreens (mobile devices), lacking in anything more in-depth. Graphics wise it's okay, for mobile devices, for PC graphics it's a complete joke. There are no real options to speak of, you can switch from windowed mode to windowed fullscreen and adjust audio options, that's it.

    You'll most likely find yourself bored and uninspired after 30-45 minutes of gameplay. It's repetitive, too easy and not interesting in any way, shape or form.

    I wouldn't recommend this game on PC to anyone, ever. Save your money for something else, anything, as long as it isn't this game.

    TL;DR - The only thing this game is good for, is to play a cruel joke on a friend, nothing else.    … Expand
  9. Fritzworth
    Mar 16, 2015
    4
    I'm pretty underwhelmed, especially for $15. This is clearly an uninspired direct port of a mobile game (which I didn't discover until after I bought the PC version), and even the mobile version is underwhelming & shallow as a game. All the 4X concepts are there -- exploration, resources, research, diplomacy, combat -- but most of them are shamefully underdeveloped. You have only limitedI'm pretty underwhelmed, especially for $15. This is clearly an uninspired direct port of a mobile game (which I didn't discover until after I bought the PC version), and even the mobile version is underwhelming & shallow as a game. All the 4X concepts are there -- exploration, resources, research, diplomacy, combat -- but most of them are shamefully underdeveloped. You have only limited control over the victory conditions -- either all them, or any one, but not subsets -- and the opening splash screen is actually miselading: it says you can win by controlloing 51% of the galaxy, but you actually need either 51% of the total population _or_ every single star system. Domination victory turns into a grind, yet a simple one (hint: focus on torpedoes). As a $3 mobile game, it might have been worth it, but it is vastly overpriced at $15. Avoid this. [Reposted: somehow my original score of 4 got changed to 2]… Expand
  10. nagi
    Mar 17, 2015
    0
    This game is nothing more than a $2-5 tablet game that was halfway finished, ported to PC, then sold for three times that much. It is missing basic logivety features like multiplayer, or even a varied single player mode. seriously, you are better off if you just forget this exists.
  11. bamboe
    Mar 17, 2015
    2
    Bad game, why you think, wel the first 3 times you play it the game is fun, then it gets boring, all the battles are the same and you have seen it all.

    Winning and loosing is to unpredictable, one second you are with 35% of winning condition and the next round you have lost, without even having a change to do something against it. What happens is that if you win a fight at a home world    Bad game, why you think, wel the first 3 times you play it the game is fun, then it gets boring, all the battles are the same and you have seen it all.

    Winning and loosing is to unpredictable, one second you are with 35% of winning condition and the next round you have lost, without even having a change to do something against it.
    What happens is that if you win a fight at a home world you get all the planets of that player, so in 2 battels you can get from 15% to 50+ and you have won the game, or if the AI does it you have lost and yes they do that a lot.

    Building up an empire is useless since you will loose the game suddenly or just win it by taken 2 home worlds.

    You might as well get your risk dice and if you roll a six you have won.

    Its to bad because if they just put some more time in it the game would have been fun.

    I realy would like to see somebody who gave it a score of 8 to do the review again after playing it 5 times at a harder difficulty, i bet you think differend about the game then.    … Expand
  12. blade01
    Apr 1, 2015
    3
    Oh boy i was soooo excited about that game when i first heard about it.The more i saw, the less excited i was.And now that i played that game i think i was right.I will not write a in-depth review cause that game isnt wort the effort.Why?Its out on IOS and when you see and play the game you know why it should only be available to mobile devices.This game is really simple.Fighting isOh boy i was soooo excited about that game when i first heard about it.The more i saw, the less excited i was.And now that i played that game i think i was right.I will not write a in-depth review cause that game isnt wort the effort.Why?Its out on IOS and when you see and play the game you know why it should only be available to mobile devices.This game is really simple.Fighting is simple, science is simpel.You cant research like you did in Masters of Orion for example.I never got excited because i invented something cause there is nothing to invent in the first place.Every faction plays the same, even the research is the same.No effort put into it, lazy as hell.The missions get boring really quickly.There are some different type of missions but they will pop up too often.After the 8th spacestation that is damaged or the 12th defenseplattform that goes rogue it gets dumb.

    In the end that game is clearly made für mobile devices.Right now they charge you with around 15€.Many people will tell you 15€ is not much and its ok.NO ITS NOT!There are so many games out there for less money that are better.Hell, pick up Masters of Orion, better battles, much more tactic needed and a real economy behind it.If you want just the fighting, buy FTL.Or buy other games, but not this ripoff that is just portet so that they can grab your cash because there is the name Sid Meier on it.Without the name Sid Meier no one would ever give a **** about this boring game.Its below average for me, deinstalled it after some hours.    … Expand
  13. Cailore
    Mar 13, 2015
    1
    If I paid a dollar for this on my phone, I would be amused by it—but is Sid Meier really in the business of competing with $1 game apps? At $15, I hope not, because really, you might have gotten us this time, but even app stores post reviews, I think it's time to hang the Sid Meier name out to pasture.

    The graphics would be OK at the resolution of my phone, but on my large PC monitor,    If I paid a dollar for this on my phone, I would be amused by it—but is Sid Meier really in the business of competing with $1 game apps? At $15, I hope not, because really, you might have gotten us this time, but even app stores post reviews, I think it's time to hang the Sid Meier name out to pasture.

    The graphics would be OK at the resolution of my phone, but on my large PC monitor, this game is as ugly and its game play is trite and uninteresting. The 2K link to "play your Beyond Earth world in Starships also doesn't work, so failures all around.

    I am sure some turd-hat at 2K is kicking himself for not charging $39.99 for this because even he knows after buying this one, you are going to have to give me a free game before I ever by another Firaxis title.    … Expand
  14. WingNutt
    Mar 15, 2015
    0
    This game is empty and void of any longevity... on PC...its what i call Disposable! Like a babies nappy its a one use item!

    Its an iPad game and in that environment it will fair OK... But it has no place in the PC market except to leverage some extra cash from the unsuspecting buys .... as it has Sids name on it!
  15. Xubaca
    Mar 18, 2015
    7
    - If you like turn-based combat, you must try this game.
    - A lot of missions (one or more missions per turn)
    - Very easy to play turn-based combat - Combat with good options (torpedoes, laser, plasma cannon). - Good graphics and sound - Quick to learn, easy to play - But, become to easy to play when you learn all - Good managament options. Easy turn-base management (build cities and    - If you like turn-based combat, you must try this game.
    - A lot of missions (one or more missions per turn)
    - Very easy to play turn-based combat
    - Combat with good options (torpedoes, laser, plasma cannon).
    - Good graphics and sound
    - Quick to learn, easy to play
    - But, become to easy to play when you learn all
    - Good managament options. Easy turn-base management (build cities and wonders, just like Sid Meiers Civilization series)
    - Is not a huge game, to spend hundreds of hours playing. Is a casual game, for fun and relaxing.    … Expand
  16. neutral22
    Mar 30, 2015
    9
    I would actually recommend it ,on the account of me having fun playing it.

    These days my patience for learning new and complex games are (perhaps unfortunately?) at an all time low. Starships was a surprise, in that it was -really- easy to get into. You don't have to read a manual 10 times the bible just to undock your ship, or learn how the economic's work. Sid Meier's Starships    I would actually recommend it ,on the account of me having fun playing it.

    These days my patience for learning new and complex games are (perhaps unfortunately?) at an all time low.
    Starships was a surprise, in that it was -really- easy to get into.

    You don't have to read a manual 10 times the bible just to undock your ship, or learn how the economic's work.

    Sid Meier's Starships pretty much puts you right in the middle of things, yet giving you some help along the way.
    There's only a few tech-trees if you compare it to the Civilization games, and as such things do feel quite a bit simplified.

    The good thing about this is that it makes the game easy to get into, and still as you learn by playing, you soon find that strategy and thinking helps a lot.
    I would love for Firaxis to add to this game, it's practically begging for a good Hot-seat mode (Like the Old Master of Orion games (MOO 1+2) more diplomacy options ,more ship / customization options, and actually, a little more of everything.

    It's the first space strategy game I've tried in the last 10 years I haven't needed to will myself into playing, but now that I like it? I want more, lots more.

    There positives are :

    Easy to get into
    Smooth gameplay
    Interesting setting / technologies
    The many different kinds of missions , in addition to thrilling space battles
    A sheer joy to play (when you're winning difficult fights)

    The negatives (for me)

    NO FULLSCREEN?!!! ...... That's uber-annoying, what are Firaxis thinking?
    Alt+F4 to quit!?? Where's the QUIT TO WINDOWS (or DOS) button????
    No multiplayer? ..b....but why???? It's a turned based game that practically begs for a Hot-seat mode
    GUI , this -really-really-really- needs work ......I thought they knew how to do this after Civ and X-com
    Lack of gameplay depth, options like setting up diplomatic treaties, alliances ++
    Though the game can quickly pull you in, it soon leaves you wanting more

    I certainly hope the game gets better With patches / fixes and addons    … Expand
  17. Bl4ckSh33p
    Mar 14, 2015
    6
    It could use some more tweaking to AI and difficulty. I won 4 games in a row in different difficulties with wonders but I tried to conquer all planets. Diplomacy is very simple but I like the battles in general.
    It's a nice entry to 4X games but don't expect too much. If you play and like games like Civilizations or Endless Legend/Space it will be fun for a while but can get boring after    It could use some more tweaking to AI and difficulty. I won 4 games in a row in different difficulties with wonders but I tried to conquer all planets. Diplomacy is very simple but I like the battles in general.
    It's a nice entry to 4X games but don't expect too much. If you play and like games like Civilizations or Endless Legend/Space it will be fun for a while but can get boring after a few games because of its limitations.    … Expand
  18. TheDancingJesus
    Mar 13, 2015
    8
    I'm really enjoying this. There are tweaks to make, but it's engaging, very well crafted, and has a solid degree of customization. It's not an epic, Civ-style experience, but I imagine I'll play it as a way to get my strategy fix when I'm crunched for time.

    Three things I would change (or at least want to hear why they didn't take this approach): * Add multiplayer. That's so strange to    I'm really enjoying this. There are tweaks to make, but it's engaging, very well crafted, and has a solid degree of customization. It's not an epic, Civ-style experience, but I imagine I'll play it as a way to get my strategy fix when I'm crunched for time.

    Three things I would change (or at least want to hear why they didn't take this approach):
    * Add multiplayer. That's so strange to be missing from a game today.
    * Let you actively lose ships -- other than spending energy to repair damage, the consequences of losing are just really marginal.
    * Have multiple fleets, instead of just one flying around. This would go a long way toward adding the strategic depth that I think is missing -- maybe cap it at 3 so the map doesn't turn into a mess that you have to micromanage (think old Total War games where by the end, you'd have dozens of one-unit armies trying to get to the front).

    If you saw Sid Meier's name and thought you were getting a Civ-scale experience for $15, I don't think that warrants some of the negative reviews that are here. They were really up front about what this was going to be, and the price point still feels very reasonable to me for how much I see myself playing it.    … Expand
  19. Tb87670
    Mar 12, 2015
    8
    Simplified 4x Space game but not to the point of too simply like SpaceCom did. Mostly a focus on tactical ship/fleet battles, everything you do in the galaxy map is to fuel your capabilities in tactical battles. This is a change from older 4x's like MOO and Space Empires, instead of using most of your time managing the empire you spend most of it in engagements against the enemy.Simplified 4x Space game but not to the point of too simply like SpaceCom did. Mostly a focus on tactical ship/fleet battles, everything you do in the galaxy map is to fuel your capabilities in tactical battles. This is a change from older 4x's like MOO and Space Empires, instead of using most of your time managing the empire you spend most of it in engagements against the enemy. Management is streamlined to be very smooth. This is much like the XCom release from Firaxis, that was not quite as harsh as the original but a smoother still fun experience. Same goes for this 4x game. I knew exactly what this game was when I paid the full $15 for it. That's not much, that's a DLC pack for COD with only a few maps. Most people are expecting a Civ or Beyond Earth type of game at $15 release date price and never researched what this was, that is where most of the negative reviews are coming from. You are simply getting a streamlined space 4x with emphasis on fleet battles and games are meant to last a few hours maybe, not take dozens of hours to finish.… Expand
  20. Gmfeier
    Mar 12, 2015
    9
    The game is actually fun. It's not deep and doesn't pretend to be. I have only been playing it for a few hours, But I can see that I will continue to play it in the future. It is sort of a modernized version of MoO II and players like me who still play MoO II should enjoy it.
  21. Jyykson
    Mar 12, 2015
    9
    Turn-based tactical space combat, upgradable spaceships, and light territory control and empire building aspects. A great $15 package for some quick strategy fun. Negative reviewers should take note that it does not say "Civilization 6" on the title...this is a tightly focused, streamlined tactics game with some light overall strategy to give it structure. Go in knowing that, and you'llTurn-based tactical space combat, upgradable spaceships, and light territory control and empire building aspects. A great $15 package for some quick strategy fun. Negative reviewers should take note that it does not say "Civilization 6" on the title...this is a tightly focused, streamlined tactics game with some light overall strategy to give it structure. Go in knowing that, and you'll have plenty of fun. It's like a sped-up version of a Civ game stripped down and focused on.....Starships.… Expand
  22. RandomLetters27
    Mar 19, 2015
    9
    Mobile game released for PC, just so we're clear. Streamlined, light-strategy experience focused on tactical starship battles, big on unit positioning and angle of attack. It's not meant to take two weeks to finish a game. Where it succeeds is distilling classic Civ features into their basic fundamentals for a Civ-light (very light!) feel. I'll tell you how I feel about this:Mobile game released for PC, just so we're clear. Streamlined, light-strategy experience focused on tactical starship battles, big on unit positioning and angle of attack. It's not meant to take two weeks to finish a game. Where it succeeds is distilling classic Civ features into their basic fundamentals for a Civ-light (very light!) feel. I'll tell you how I feel about this: personally, I'm a Total War game kind of guy, and ideally would spend days on careful worldwide strategy and minute positioning in battle. But now I'm also a parent with a full time job, and I don't have that kind of time. So to me, getting the same general strategy fix in a fraction of the time by shaving away some of the complexity is not a bad thing. I still wrestle with optimizing territory control, determining research tree path, ship loadout and overall playstyle strategy, preventing AI moves that could cost me the game, etc. It just happens a lot faster. For $15 that's kind of a selling point now. As long as this doesn't become the future of Civ games (and it's clearly NOT Civ-6, so I don't think we have to worry), there's a place for this as a light-strategy companion piece.… Expand
  23. Hansilsblood
    Mar 13, 2015
    9
    It's fun intuitive gameplay, but simple. It's worth the 15$ and will be even more worth it when firaxis ties it in with beyond earth creating another layer of game mechanics to and that unique feel that we've been looking for from Sid. I would totally get it. Its repetition doesn't really deduct from the gameplay and its oddly satisfying.
  24. runeb80
    Mar 13, 2015
    7
    People need to stop rating and reviewing this as if it were a $60 PC game. I paid 12 bucks and am enjoying it quite a bit on both PC and tab. It is what it is. No more, no less. As far as mobile games go, it's one of the best out there. As far as PC games go, it's actually not too bad either. This has more gameplay and replayability than a lot of full-price games. I only wish they HAD madePeople need to stop rating and reviewing this as if it were a $60 PC game. I paid 12 bucks and am enjoying it quite a bit on both PC and tab. It is what it is. No more, no less. As far as mobile games go, it's one of the best out there. As far as PC games go, it's actually not too bad either. This has more gameplay and replayability than a lot of full-price games. I only wish they HAD made a full AAA PC version of it!… Expand
  25. xchaotic
    Mar 15, 2015
    8
    As long as you understand what this game is and set the expectations right, it's actually quite a fun, casual game where you take control of a small fleet of ships.
    It is good for me, as I don't have a lot of time to invest in a game nowadays, but in the end it is a rather simplistic port of an iOS game.
    If you enjoyed Faster Than Light, you will enjoy this game and I'd say this is a    As long as you understand what this game is and set the expectations right, it's actually quite a fun, casual game where you take control of a small fleet of ships.
    It is good for me, as I don't have a lot of time to invest in a game nowadays, but in the end it is a rather simplistic port of an iOS game.
    If you enjoyed Faster Than Light, you will enjoy this game and I'd say this is a similar level of complexity.
    On the other hand FTL is more replayable, at least from the initial impression.
    On the graphics side, it looks very pretty.
    It isn't too demanding on the hardware side - making it a perfect game on the go - I play on a ultraportable laptop that can't handle most AAA games, this one is fine, so a big plus from me.
    Overall a strong 7 but a big plus from me for modest HW requirements so 8 from me.    … Expand
  26. weregamer
    Mar 20, 2015
    5
    (Argh, metacritic ignores paragraphs. For a more readable version I've posted pretty much the same text to my blog.)

    Apparently a surprisingly large number of fans were expecting to get a deep game like a Civ or a spacegoing Pirates! for $16 on a short development cycle; they also apparently did not even look at the gameplay footage that's been available for weeks. Going in with my    (Argh, metacritic ignores paragraphs. For a more readable version I've posted pretty much the same text to my blog.)

    Apparently a surprisingly large number of fans were expecting to get a deep game like a Civ or a spacegoing Pirates! for $16 on a short development cycle; they also apparently did not even look at the gameplay footage that's been available for weeks.

    Going in with my eyes open, though, I have little to complain about in the gameplay itself. It's pretty much what the video promised. The tie-in with Beyond Earth, modulo the bugs I'm about to mention, is no clumsier than I expected. The requirement to set up a 2K account to get the tie-in is not yet onerous - we'll see where that goes, and hope that it's not like EA's player abuse system.

    Where the game totally fails, though is that despite being developed in parallel, and despite Firaxis' experience with PC games, it comes across as a crappy iPad port. Most of these things are inexcusable, showing either or both of a lack of testing on the PC or a lack of caring about PC quality:

    * It only plays in "full-screen windowed" mode. No true fullscreen, no choice of resolution. 2K's claimed "fix" for this is an ugly workaround telling you to change your desktop settings to hide the taskbar. Ugh for Firaxis and FY2 to 2K.

    * It crashes on exit, every time. Most of the time it crashes when you hit "exit" from the main menu, but last night I had it crash when I clicked "return to main menu" from the victory screen. Did they even test the PC version?

    * It has about a minute of unskppable video at game end. This doesn't feel like a victory celebration, it feels like punishment for winning. Ugh.

    * Right-click is treated exactly the same as left-click, even though a hover brings up a radial menu. Totally lazy.

    * Probably related to the crashes, the unlocks for Beyond Earth for playing Starships don't work. The unlocks in the other direction do, at least.

    Despite all of these issues, it is a fun little game, especially if you have Beyond Earth and either you're not tired of it yet or you use the in-game-editor mod to fast-path you to the unlocks.    … Expand
  27. solfireuk
    Sep 24, 2017
    8
    It isn't deep and it isn't worth paying lots of money for but it is fun and well designed in my opinion. Yes it does feel more like a mobile game but at least unlike a mobile game app it doesn't want you to spend more money through micro payments. Just treat it as a fun distraction and no more.

Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 58 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 40 out of 58
  3. Negative: 7 out of 58
  1. PCWorld
    Jan 21, 2016
    80
    Starships condenses Sid Meier's knack for turn-based strategy into a short, two-to-five hour burst of board game-esque tactics that's as satisfying as it is approachable.
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  2. Riot Pixels
    Jul 16, 2015
    25
    This awful strategy game is not worthy of even a single playthrough neither on PC, nor on tablets.
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  3. Games Master UK
    May 24, 2015
    73
    More short-term play-friendly beast. [June 2015, p.78]
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