Best Single Player Space "War" Game?

[bbmike]

Polaris Sector is a 4x, albeit it's far more heavily weighted towards ship design and combat than the other space 4x games you mentioned owning.

Wasn't there a Star Fleet Battles PC game released about 10-12 years ago?  Starfleet Command or some such name?  I never played it, but I know it's on GOG.

[pulls out broken record] If only they would release a proper TURN BASED Star Fleet Battles PC game. [/broken record]

[spelk]

Star Hammer?

[Trooperc7]

You might consider Stars in Shadow......Exploration and fleshing out your planets is on the minor side and you can even have governors take care of the colonies automatically.....Ship building and fleet fighting is pretty good....http://store.steampowered.com/app/464880/

[Nefaro]

Wasn't there a Star Fleet Battles PC game released about 10-12 years ago?  Starfleet Command or some such name?  I never played it, but I know it's on GOG.

Yes. 

But GOG currently only has the first version.  While the second and third (SFC2 Empires At War and SFC2 Orion Pirates) are vastly improved and expanded versions of same.  I recommend the Orion Pirates version as it was the latest SFC2, had some DirectX updates which make it still run fine on modern OSes without artifacting straight outta the digital box.

The latest is currently sold here at Dynaverse.net for $6.




I would also reiterate the original Gratuitous Space Battles focuses on pure space fleet construction and battles.  Unlike SFC and some of the others, you program your fleet tactics before they go in (along with custom building each ship in it) and watch it play out against other varied fleets.  Also has a campaign expansion which is basically just doing the same while taking over planets with each battle, not really 4X.   

Not twitchy as it's all about the building & planning.  I always wished GSB was more 4X-like when I played it, so that's probably a positive in your case.  I'd recommend the fancy version, with all the DLCs, as they add quite a few more factions for more variety.





Haven't yet picked up Battlefleet: Gothic Armada yet.  It's a boardgame WH40K ship combat derivative game in real-time, with a campaign system.  Certainly want to get it next time I feel like playing a space combat game.  Currently on a 40% Off sale at Bundle Stars!  Plus a 10% off code on top:

USE CODE WINTERSALE10 TO SAVE MORE

It seems like it might be one of the few pure spaceship combat strategy games out there.  May be kinda "twitchy" however.






I'm guessing the OP wants something in the strategy genre as opposed to some kind of in-cockpit sim.  So I won't list the latter without say-so.  There are also single-ship "space pirate" games around which aren't cockpit sims, but likewise will hold recommendations if those don't fit the bill.

[Grim.Reaper]

You might consider Stars in Shadow......Exploration and fleshing out your planets is on the minor side and you can even have governors take care of the colonies automatically.....Ship building and fleet fighting is pretty good....http://store.steampowered.com/app/464880/

Although not specifically what I was looking for, have to admit looks interesting....

[bbmike]

Stars in Shadow is good fun. I think it will only get better. Also, look at Falling Stars: War of Empires. I bought it but haven't played it yet. It does sound like what you are looking for.

[mikeck]

SOTS 2 would fit. As stated, it's light on colony stuff and heavy on ship and fleet design. I just  wish there was a mod to dilute the colors so it doesn't look so cartoonish

This is a stretch, but if you're willing to entertain first person games then I would recommend "elite dangerous".  There is a large galactic war on going and you can simply join one side or even work for specific people as a mercenary. You can have multiple shifts though only you can fly them and if you play in open world your actions and the actions of other players have a direct impact on the war itself

It's not cartoonish, it's just outright offensive! Civ VI is cartoonish and easy on the eyes and playable.. SOTS 2 is overbearingly bright colors that are painful to look at!

So like "day-glo" cartoonish

[Pinetree]

If you want hard-core hard-SF space combat, then Children of a Dead Earth is a good bet. The campaign is a story-based one that is basically a bunch of linked missions. It's set entirely in the Solar System after a cataclysmic war makes Earth uninhabitable. You do get to build your own ships and sub-systems later on though. A very recent patch has made the real-time combat pause-able.

[Surtur]

Just curious if anyone has recommendations for the best single-player space "war" game.....what I mean by this is a game where the focus is on war, diplomacy, and weapons versus exploration/colonization, mining resources, etc.  Thinking my definition rules out games like Stellaris (own), Distant Worlds (own), GalCiv III (own), Master of Orion (own), Polaris Sector, etc. unless I am missing something in those games.  I know each of those have war components, but don't necessarily enjoy the grind of exploring and such.  Would basically like there to be defined factions who are at odds with each other, fighting for supremacy of the galaxies!

Any thoughts?

Have you considered Sins of a Solar Empire? It is not a wargame, but a 4X/RTS hybrid, with heavy focus on combat (great looking and great fun). In addition, you might also want to look at Dawn of Andromeda*, which is a bit less of an RTS, but with more focus on diplomacy than SoaSE. Though this one is still in Early Access.

*full disclosure, I am producer on the game

[Anguille]

Just curious if anyone has recommendations for the best single-player space "war" game.....what I mean by this is a game where the focus is on war, diplomacy, and weapons versus exploration/colonization, mining resources, etc.  Thinking my definition rules out games like Stellaris (own), Distant Worlds (own), GalCiv III (own), Master of Orion (own), Polaris Sector, etc. unless I am missing something in those games.  I know each of those have war components, but don't necessarily enjoy the grind of exploring and such.  Would basically like there to be defined factions who are at odds with each other, fighting for supremacy of the galaxies!

Any thoughts?

Have you considered Sins of a Solar Empire? It is not a wargame, but a 4X/RTS hybrid, with heavy focus on combat (great looking and great fun). In addition, you might also want to look at Dawn of Andromeda*, which is a bit less of an RTS, but with more focus on diplomacy than SoaSE. Though this one is still in Early Access.

*full disclosure, I am producer on the game

I own Dawn of Andromeda but couldn't play it yet because my graphic card isn't good enough. I know however that the game has a nice feature that allows you to start the game much later on. This option will make the AI start the game for all factions and run many years before you actually start playing. You then start with an empire and already existing relations. See minute 36 and on.

[Anguille]

Thanks guys....I do own SOTS and Armada as well...just don't recall these scratching the itch, but maybe I'll install and try again.  Or possibly what I am looking for just doesn't exist.

There are a lots of good recommandations in this thread. Maybe you could be a little more specific?

- What kind of war do you want?
- What kind of diplomacy do you want?
- Real-time vs turn-based?
- Research, yes - no?

I am going to come back to Imperium Galactica (noone else played that gem?). It has excellent cut-scenes with real actors. You start as a lieutenant and control 3 planets and one small sector you have to rebuild after an attack by an allien race. As you reach targets/missions, you go up in rank until you control the entire empire and deal in diplomacy with other races while at war with others. The second sector you will get has something like 5-6 planets and you will be at was with one specific race. I really recommend to anyone who's been reading this thread...it's a truly fantastic game. You have also complete control on how your cities are build on the planet surface and you will fight in space as well as on planets (tanks).

[Grim.Reaper]

There are a lots of good recommendations in this thread. Maybe you could be a little more specific?


Yes there has been a lot of good feedback, which has greatly been appreciated.  Still in the process of reviewing each one, but not sure if exactly what I am seeking, which doesn't mean the suggestions are bad, just might not be what I am looking for at the moment (assuming it even exists).

Maybe the best way to describe it is something like World War II in space (or any other major war).  The sides for the most part are known, with some variability.  I don't need to explore for years to discover new worlds and species, the combatants are already defined for the most part.  The resources are known, I don't have to discover them.  No need to manage a huge tech tree, although having one is likely since the war would last over some small period of time.  There would be both ground and space battles to gain territory and ultimately win the game.  More looking for a strategy game, versus actually piloting ships and such.  What I can say as mentioned in the original post, I don't believe the typical 4x game is what I am after (i.e. DW, Stellaris, etc.), something that is much more focused.  I guess in space this might be akin to the Star Wars universe where the two sides are largely known battling for control of the universe (although I don't believe any actual Star Wars games is it either....Empire at War I remember being close, but don't necessarily want to control the forces in the fight).

Based on JH's description of Emperor of the Fading Suns, that may be the type of game that closely resembles......looking into it.

- What kind of war do you want?

Not sure what is meant by this question as to the "kind" of war.  Hopefully my description above provides some context.

- What kind of diplomacy do you want?

Diplomacy should be included to the degree that makes sense for the duration of the war itself (maybe some leading up to it in the early days).  It would be more about alliances, providing safe passage, etc.....options that make most sense during war time and the short period of time leading up to it.

- Real-time vs turn-based?

Prefer turn based, but not a hard requirement.

- Research, yes - no?

To the degree that makes sense in the short period leading up to and during the war itself.  Not looking at performing massive research for a ton of time, but to the extent that mostly makes sense during the war.

[Grim.Reaper]

Just curious if anyone has recommendations for the best single-player space "war" game.....what I mean by this is a game where the focus is on war, diplomacy, and weapons versus exploration/colonization, mining resources, etc.  Thinking my definition rules out games like Stellaris (own), Distant Worlds (own), GalCiv III (own), Master of Orion (own), Polaris Sector, etc. unless I am missing something in those games.  I know each of those have war components, but don't necessarily enjoy the grind of exploring and such.  Would basically like there to be defined factions who are at odds with each other, fighting for supremacy of the galaxies!

Any thoughts?

Have you considered Sins of a Solar Empire? It is not a wargame, but a 4X/RTS hybrid, with heavy focus on combat (great looking and great fun). In addition, you might also want to look at Dawn of Andromeda*, which is a bit less of an RTS, but with more focus on diplomacy than SoaSE. Though this one is still in Early Access.

*full disclosure, I am producer on the game

I do own various versions of Sins, might be something for me to load again to see if it does meet my goals....will also looking into DOA.

[bbmike]

How about this - ditch the digital! Go buy Federation and Empire and play a proper board game.  :P

[Grim.Reaper]

How about this - ditch the digital! Go buy Federation and Empire and play a proper board game.  :P

You missed the statement where it must be single player....this board game suggests 2-8 players:)