Star Trek Online: War Is Good for Business

This is the only thumbs-down on my Steam review list, and it's also the one more people found helpful than all the others combined. My headline was "Rule of Acquisition #34: War is good for business," and if you know your Ferengi, you know where this is going.

Star Trek Online is a free-to-play Trek that has boldly gone where too many MMOs have gone before.

What it is

You create a Starfleet officer (or Klingon, or Romulan) and captain your own ship through a long series of story episodes set in the Star Trek universe. The game is split between space combat, where you fly your ship, and ground combat, where you run around as your captain and away team.

What worked

It feels like Trek. Accurate ship models, familiar places, the right sound effects. The writing respects the lore and adds to it, and there's voice acting from actors from the shows.

Space combat. Easily the best part. Ship battles capture the tactical feel of Trek fights, and there's real room for build choices and strategy.

Story content. There's a lot of it, and it's well written, with regular new episodes and seasonal events.

Character creation. Deep and flexible, if you want to make your perfect officer.

What didn't

Monetization. This is where it gets complicated. It's technically free, but it pushes premium purchases hard. When I reviewed it, top-tier ships often cost $30 or more each, and some rare ones went for hundreds on the player market. Inventory space, character slots and quality-of-life features sit behind paywalls too. Free players can grind for premium currency, but the time it takes is huge.

Ground combat. It feels tacked on, with dated mechanics and poor AI.

Technical problems. It runs on an aging engine. Server lag, rubber-banding and disconnects are common, the UI can be overwhelming, and it doesn't run as smoothly as a game this old should.

The grind. Endgame is mostly repeating Task Force Operations and grinding reputation. PvP barely exists.

Tip

Treat it as a single-player Star Trek game with some multiplayer bolted on. Play the story, enjoy the events, and don't try to "catch up" on ships. That's where the game gets its hooks into your wallet.

Who it's for

Recommended for Star Trek fans who can look past the technical issues and the constant sales pitch. There are hundreds of hours of free story content if you just want to fly around and be in the universe.

Not recommended for anyone who wants a modern MMO or who's sensitive to microtransaction pressure.

Worth it?

As a free Star Trek game with MMO bits, it's worth trying if you love Trek. As an MMO to invest in, no. Trying to keep up at endgame means either spending real money or a grind that would make a Ferengi proud.

If you want space battles without a cash shop, Homeworld Remastered is the one I'd point you to.