Gaming: Master of Orion

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Game/Publisher/Developer

Master of Orion, MicroProse, SimTex Software

My Reaction

This one was outside my scope back in 1993-1994; I came to it later. It’s a turn-based game through and through, and the race you pick changes everything about how a campaign plays out. Psilon was my nemesis every single time; their research lead snowballs so fast that by the midgame they’re fielding technology nobody else can touch.

Overview

Master of Orion is a turn-based 4X strategy game released in 1993, developed by SimTex Software and published by MicroProse. Players lead one of ten playable races; Humans, Alkari, Bulrathi, Darloks, Klackons, Meklar, Mrrshan, Psilon, Sakkra and Silicoids; through exploring, expanding, exploiting and exterminating across the galaxy. Each race has its own specialty: Humans lean into trade and diplomacy, the Bulrathi dominate ground combat, the Silicoids ignore pollution and can colonize even the most hostile planets but grow slowly, and so on. Races are also predisposed to like or dislike each other, and each carries its own research strengths and weaknesses.

About

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A website about the things I cherish, games and music.

Gaming

I’ve been playing games for as long as I can remember. From the pixelated chaos of Doom and the endlessly satisfying loop of Tetris. Furthermore, the grand strategy and multiplayer of Warcraft II and the brutal competitiveness of Counter-Strike.

Some favorites that have stuck with me over the years:

Classics & Strategy Doom · Tetris · NHL 1995 · Master of Orion · Heroes of Might and Magic · Warcraft II · Age of Empires II · Starcraft