Starbase Orion Game Reviews

We transfer money over €4 billion every month. We enable individual and business accounts to save 4 million Euros on bank transfer fees. Want to send free money abroad or transfer money abroad for free? Free international money transfer!

More than worth it.. This is one of the deepest mobile games I have ever played. I would rank it right up there with classic strategy games. I would be more than happy to pay another $8 for DLC, or even more.

Tedious and repetitive. The UI and UX only marginally resemble MOO and the gameplay is slow and tedious. After a while, all you want to do is hit ‘next turn’ repeatedly because the actions to manage your planets are so repetitive and boring. Save your money. I regret spending the $8 on this game as I definitely got much less value and enjoyment out of it.

Love this game until last update. Latest update makes the build queue render incorrectly, with overlapping text pushed half way off the right of the display area. Queue management is not completely functional now, making the game too frustrating to play. Would be great if this would be fixed…

Don’t do it.. This game spits on the memory of Master of Orion by claiming to be it. They’ve managed to make an uncanny valley recreation of MoO that comes close enough to remind you of the original while falling substantially short of it. The gameplay isn’t as good, the graphics aren’t as good, the AI is dumber in all respects (dumber than a game made in the mid-90’s mind you). Just go get the actual MoO II (or 1 if you prefer) on Steam.

Bugs in Latest OS. I’ve been playing for many years. Love this game. Wish there were more like it… But diplomacy has bugs with new OS15 patch: the game freezes if you try to create a pact. Still playable. Just not with that mechanic.

Top quality 4X/Empire Building strategy game. Still an incredible empire building/space strategy game! Easy to get started in the game with helpful tutorials, but plenty of advanced options and depth for advanced players and replay-ability. I’ve played this game almost since release, and I’m still a fan. AI needs update: it gets limited later in the game, especially in areas like like time management, resource acquisition, and diplomacy. I.e., sending a ton of single vessels spaced over several turns, against a large fleet: not smart. Regardless of race, spends all their money on ships, rather than investing in infrastructure to build wealth. Won’t surrender when overwhelmed. Update the AI, and this game would be very refreshed.

One of the Best Games on iOS!. This is my go to game, all or most of the new apps out there are marketing pay to play games it seems, which keeps me coming back to games like Starbase Orion where you can play as freely as if on a PC game and that’s what this is an awesome pc game for iOS! Can’t do much better, but I’d like to see them try, or at least do an updated version of this. Currently the game doesn’t fit to screen on iPhone X.

Such a great game!. Classic 4X galactic conquest game. The closest you can get to the old Master of Orion PC game on a mobile device. Best part of all: it isn’t some pay-to-play, micro transaction nightmare the way every other app out there is. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the developers. We need more games like this.

Master of Orion II minus the copyright infringement. This little gem is the best 4x game on the App Store. The reason is simple: It’s a faithful recreation of the classic PC game Master of Orion II. I consider this a good thing, and you should too! You’ll notice the similarities the most in the strategic game, which basically uses the exact same mechanics as MOO. There’s very little else to say about it. You move your citizens on each planet into research, industry, or farming, and construct buildings to boost their production in each category. The tactical game and warship creation feel a little simplified. Unlike it’s spiritual successor, you do not control your ships directly in combat. You can give the AI orders, and then check in at the beginning of the next turn to see how they fared. There are just a few classes of weapons which form a sort of rock/paper/scissors hierarchy. In practice, it’s best to use all of them. But hey. It’s space 4x, and it really is the best you’ll find for iOS.

More like this please. Great game! I have come back to play it multiple times which I never do.

Good game, but no update for resolution. I very much enjoy the game, but I am a little upset for how much I spent for a game that doesn’t even fit the full resolution of my iPhone X. If the devs were to optimize, my review would be 5 stars instantly.

Locks up now. I bought a new iPad and now the game locks up within the first few minutes of play. I hope that patches for the new iOS will be made since this has been my favorite game for years.

Excellent Community!. Review update for 1.2.9: The developer listened to user requests to make some final tweaks to the game, allowing this wonderful game to continue to be fun & viable, rather than forcing everyone to wait until the eventual release of the sequel. The game is still worth the full asking price. Unlike so many other games, there are no in-app purchases here! ---- The community of this game is excellent and very mature. The forums are full of very helpful people. Even if you are only interested in playing single player, I encourage you to check out the forums or the multiplayer "spacebar" chat room for any questions you may have. If you want to be involved in improving the game, you can even join the beta testing group-a fun experience in which you can see your suggestions implemented very quickly while interacting with the developer.

Spying currently broken. Like the reviewer from February, the spying UI doesn’t work for me. Can’t move spies off an empire once placed there. iPad Air 2020 and iOS 15.5

Perfect and still good!. Even after so many years it is big joy and pleasure to play Starbase Orion once again and again! Game with high quality and as 4x strategy with high replay ability

Classic. This is the one game that I always go back to. Everything else gets deleted at one point or another. Why does the agent facility always take precedence on auto industry?

Its like a mobile stellaris!. I don’t normally rate games, but ever since my gaming pc broke in late 2020 ive been looking for a game like Paradox’s Stellaris. People this is it. You can colonize planets like stellaris, make fleets and have tech like stellaris, its just great. I remeber playing an older game like this but idk what its called, but this is a must have for stellaris fans

Great game. This is the best, by far, of the sci fi strategy games. I do wish it was harder at the higher levels, with at least one Civ that is hostile in the multi Civ games. I like to build an empire, then fight it out with an AI empire.

Outstanding game that passes the test of time. This game is awesome! Highly customizable, great soundtrack, and so much replay value . I love it and hope support for it doesn’t end.

Timeless classic 4x. I started playing this game years ago when it had about half the features it has now. It was great at half, now it's probably the best 4x game on IOS. Unfortunately, the developers planned sequel died for reasons unexplained, so after playing this for many years, it's getting old but I'm still playing on long trips....

Awesome game. Turn based game like masters of Orion. The game is complex and for people who like strategy. It has an awesome multiplayer base and games happen regularly. It's not a pay to win game. You pay once. Games can be short in length such as 50 turns.

STILL A CLASSIC (July 2022). BUY IT RIGHT NOW… LOOK at the ratings. This 4x classic is heavily inspired by a 90’s classic “Master of Orion” In my mind though, this is our Stellaris! A shame… no upcoming publishers or game investors have not looked at this game, and reached out to the developer (Rocco) He is amazing with his community, always engaging - would he had… had the backing, this would have been a large platform bringing profits, easily could had fit in an esports type setting as well, focusing on the battles and various tech setups for each players - play style. Excellent multiplayer (main feature)

Best waste of time ever!. I highly recommend Starbase Orion to anyone who's ever enjoyed a 4X game. Certainly worth the price compared to the number of hours i've put in playing it - I'd say that it's cost me less than $.10 an hour to play at this time.

Faithful to MOO except for.... Space combat! Why can’t we control space combat?!?! What sadistic cruelty to take away that most satisfying aspects of MOO? Where you can use a stellar converter on a scout! Oh what a let down when you built a 60 ship fleet with mostly titans and battleships; to have a showdown with a similarly sized enemy fleet, but only to see the AI have fun with the battle.

Best 4X game on mobile. This game is amazing and worth every penny. I was hesitant when I friend suggested it, due to it being 8 years since original release and a 7.99 price tag, now I’m hooked and wish I’d have gotten it sooner!! In those 8 years, this has turned into a well polished game that’s complexity takes dozens of games to begin to appreciate, and hundreds to master. I’d be willing to pay doubler or triple for Starbase Orion 2 when it launches. The player base is amazing and it’s easy to find games. If you like turn base strategy, this is the best out there for iOS. I play SO more that Civ 6, its that good.

One of the best 4x. I love everything about this game. If you played Master of Orion you’ll love this game too. I really hope there is a sequel!

No sound. Yeah well it’s okay I guess. I say this because there is no sound whatsoever on my SE. Tried reinstalling and everything else with no results. Edit : also I’m not going to bother looking in the forum for a solution as most are generally full of gibberish and such.

My favorite. Been playing this game for years. Still my favorite.

Excellent turn based space strategy game. This is an excellent turn based strategy game in the mold of Masters of Orion and Galactic Civilizations PC games. It needs some more user customization options but other than that, it is well worth the money.

Star base Orion. Awesome game I play It every late night for the past few years. I wish one could make up their own aliens stead of the same ones but otherwise going random helps. It’s a lot of fun I also wish it was still supported with continued updates but I still beats any other 4x games out for the iPad.

Absolute Greatest Sim Game - NO ADS OR PURCHASES. Pick a race. Build a colony. Fight your neighbors. What’s better? Best part is no marketing whatsoever! Love the game and have played it countless hours over the last few years. Still my favorite game on iPad. Only suggestion would be to allow more than 1 human player. Smooth, no glitches, and always challenging.

Such a great multiplayer game. Very engaging and easy to get started. Even better, the learning curve is steady and you have tons to learn to reach the top of the leagues.

Classic! Great way to play with my father!. My father played Stars of Orion when I was a really little kid. Now that I’m grown up we have been playing distance turn based Starbase Orion games! It’s been great! No matter where I am in the world or what time zone I can still hang out with my dad.

It's 2018, and I'm still hooked. I love this game. Staying up too late playing it is my only problem hahaha. It's engrossing, and thankfully they're able to create a game with a lot of depth making you micromanage. The music's great - nice use of strings. Playing it over and over through the "4X" stages is engrossing. They've really polished this over the years.

Not masters of Orion or is it. Lol. Had this game since it came out.... never regretted buying it. If your bored make your own species and experiment. Thank you for creating this game.

Star base Orion is the best 4x game for iOS. Still the best after how many years? And yet still supported. Worth every penny

All locked up. Starbase Orion is a rewrite a reach for the stars I hope rewrite reach for the stars and to Pascal and Adelphi back in the 90s one of the assisting people on development with a friend of mine, vander, And all of that was fine I’m loaded the game on my phone I try to play it and every time I try to purchase a leader or I try I have any other interaction with in the game with diplomacy itlocked up I notified this as a problem with in the game got no response so I requested a refund and the game will not even give me a refund very poor

Great Game. Overall a great game. It deserves a 5 star rating but I'm giving it 4 because it lacks one thing: the ability to rename stars and planets. That's it. There are some other suggestions I have, but these wouldn't be enough to give SO less than 5 stars. You should be able to pick your field color. Would be nice if stars had more planets. Would be nice if you could do SOMETHING with gas giants. Also, would be great if build things like starbases and warp gates on one planet in a system would lock out other planets in the system if you tried to build the same on another planet.

Favorite game on IOS!!!. Starbase Orion is the best game on IOS in my opinion! It is a well crafted and enjoyable 4X conquer-the-universe, turn-based game. I run it on my iPhone 6 and an older iPad 2, and it plays flawlessly on both. The server-based turns allow me to play a turn on one device, and the next turn on the other with no hiccups. I used to play Master of Orion with my friends during LAN parties years ago, but now we can connect up from anywhere with Starbase Orion! We often use the in-game chat to keep up with each other. I just wish it were easier to find on the APP store, as it doesn't show up in most searches. My thanks to the developers for creating this awesome game! UPDATE: Nov 2020 - IOS 14.2 update resulted in the game crashing at launch. Can’t play on my iPhone XR now. Using my older iPad.

Almost. I guess this is the way things are now... its got almost everything master of orion 2 has except the space combat system is that “set tactics and hit play” automation that I guess is the new way. I don’t really get it. I really enjoyed being able to control the vessels and interact in the space combat in MOO2. So much so, that I just cant get into this game... or others of the same ilk for that matter. I’m not poopooing the rest of the game... seems legit, but I guess its really not really worth anymore of my time to me with this combat system.

Outstanding!. I picked up this game a few days ago, after putting off the purchase for nearly two years, and now I regret not picking it up sooner! This game surpassed my expectations about how in-depth the development of colonies and technology and how much strategy there is. As soon as I said "Hello" in the chat, I had different people eager to teach me the ins and outs of playing! The community is very mature and helpful! Multiplayer is the most fun because there are so many options you can customize like match options, racial traits, and auto build focuses. If you are on the edge, do yourself a favor and get this gem 💎! Well worth the 8 bucks, and I own 242 apps, so I know what I'm talking about ! :-)👍

Great 4x game. I'm new to 4x games and this one is fantastic. It's well-thought out, fun, and a great experience. I suggest playing a game against the ai first to get used to everything.

Very fun, but i wish it was harder.. This game is nostalgic for me, as i played Orion: Battle of Antares (i think that’s what it was called) often when i was a child. It’s very enjoyable to spread your civilization across the stars and improve it gradually, but i always end up fairly disappointed by the lack of challenge. For clarity, i only play the single player. The AI is very unaggressive. In fact, the word might be passive. They don’t colonize much, they never seem to terraform (leaving them at a massive disadvantage mid-late game) and their military forces are almost always outclassed by the most casual effort. They seem terrified of space monsters, allowing the high value planets that are feebly protected by said monsters to always be ripe for the picking by the player. I only play at the hardest difficulty with the AI bonuses on, and still it presents no challenge. I’ve played countless campaigns and only been attacked a handful of times, which were easily repulsed. Victory is inevitable, and completely effortless. I love terraforming worlds until my many colonies are all Gaia class industrial powerhouses, but there isn’t much satisfaction winning every time against completely inept opponents. As a call to the developers, is there any way you guys could make this more challenging? Thanks for the good work, it’s a great game in all other ways. Thanks, Wilson.

Moo is still better. First thanks for making a 4x game! Audio and planet background art is good. The blue wire frame structures you build on those planets is uninspiring. Also farm lvl I farm II farm III is boring. laser I II III is boring. It makes the effort of working on extra worlds and tech more of a dull grind than an accomplishment. No unique names or descriptions. The space battles are frustrating and boring. You either zoom too far out and see triangle icons with no feedback or can try and chase down and zoom in on 1 ship to see how it’s doing. I’d say either do a sins of a solar empire rts fight or a MOO coordinate turn base. The hybrid isn’t working in this case. Some kind of cool animation after colonizing a world or discovering something, a new tech..anything

Problems since last update. Since the latest update I cannot move my spies once placed on a player they can’t be moved, also the build screen while on planet doesn’t show properly it runs off the right side of the screen, please fix my game, it’s one game I’ve played for over 3 years. I’ll go back to a 5 star if fixed!

Still my favorite fall back game. I try playing other games but this is still my favorite game as it reminds of the masters of Orion game for the computer. Can’t go wrong with a classic.

Galaxy screen not sorting. Returned to the game and discovered that the Galaxy screen is not working. It’s sorted Alphabetically by default and can’t be changed. Please fix.

Great as Old. As someone who played Masters of Orion when it came out on PC, I LOVE this game. I wish it were more difficult though in single player, and multi-player never really seems to work out. This is such a fun game though and I’m glad to have it! Completely worth the money. When is the second version coming out?

So good. Just like Masters of Orion. I think the only difference is you can’t control each move within fleet battles, but otherwise so good. Worth every penny.

Fantastic Game!. More features than the last few desktop 4x games I have played! I especially like the battles. The standing orders are perfect for the genre. My only regret was waiting this long to get the app. Couple of things I do wish were in the game: 1. Ship leveling, or veteran levels. Or, if that’s too game breaking, a way to see how many battles a given ship has participated in. 2. More portrait options in the custom race creator - possibly just the commander portraits? 3. Really, that’s about it. Game is great.

Did you know that you can earn 25 USD from our site just by registering? Get $25 for free by joining Payoneer!

Best 4x Game. This is my favorite game, and I don't have many. It's deep, difficult and infinitely replayable.

Great adaption of a classic!. Master of Orion fans should pick this up as it's the best reimagination of the original 4x with optimisations for modern touch controls. The developers are constantly improving and adding features to make the game more enjoyable, particularly multiplayer. Sadly, the tactical combat has been replaced with a predictive one, much thanks to the multiplayer focus, but it's still fun to watch the replay of the battles in retrospect.

Best strategy game on iOS. This game is the deepest and best strategy game on the iOS

Great Game. An awesome game. One of the if not the best strat game available. Complex yet simple to pick up and play. Is always being updated. Well done.

Family Sharing?. No family sharing support? How stingy.

Awesome game but crashing with iphone6s. Awesome game. Only problem is I got new iPhone and now it crashes just as the game is about to get exciting. Can you make an orion2 with even more cool stuff?? I've had this game for a long time and always play it til now

Most u stable app I've ever seen. The game's alright, but this is the most unstable app I've ever seen. It crashes all the time

Currently unplayable. Works great for a while, but past a certain point, the game crashes and you can't use the last save point. Frustrating, especially with the price paid for it.

Not bad. This game is a great time sink, several problems : Ai appears to love unguarded troop transports. Tech tree is all over the place no real structure and is too quick to complete. Ship module choices are very limited No way to upgrade your troops No manual battles.. The automatic battles are a nice feature but don't break up the game... Rts or turn based manual battles would be great. Foreign relations are non existent Game may have a slight slow down during endgame.. Endgame feels more like a mop up then a fight the ai does not react as you take over their territory On the good side The Interface is near perfect. Good work on this, fix up the queues so you can see the specs as you touch things in the build queues Graphically the game is very nice it s a great way to kill 40min on the train. Add more modules and fix the tech tree!

Gravedigger. Really nice game ! You can lose yourself in this for hours. The reviews here are pretty accurate , I have encountered a few small bugs but nothing to get worked up over. Well worth buying ,especially if you are sick of in app money pits run by losers !

Simply the best. Best strategy game on any mobile device and the best 4x game in recent history.

Addictive and amazing. This game is everything I have ever wanted on iOS. It is difficult deep and strategic. There is no one strategy to win the game but a constantly evolving number of choices. I constantly lose this game to the Ai, but I love it even more every time as I learn more and more about this spectacular game. Just buy it get through the tutorial and you will thank me.

Great way to get through a boring commute. It really does have the look and feel of Master of Orion, although it's clear it was designed as a quick game to while away a few hours. The focus is on building ships and then using them kill the enemy's ships. There is a diplomacy/spying component, but that it fairly rudimentary which makes it lack the depth to make this a truly great game. That said, it is great fun to play. The other's destruction is the only way to win the game and that's where the fun is at. Graphics are good for the medium, space battles are automated once you've given your initial orders but can be replayed and analyzed. This is one of the better strategy games I've found for the iPad so far. Definitely do not regret buying it.

You are forgiven!. Great game, been on my iPad FOREVAR👽👽👽

Unstable, flaky. Bad menuing.. Naah. Takes too many touches to do basic things, such as changing production. On the change production screen, theres no scroll to the next planet - you have to exit out and then back in. You can reassign workers on the empire screen, where's the drop-down? Don't understand the combat screen. Why can't you just turn tail and run when your scout finds an amoeba? Worst of all, it crashes. Nice graphics, but that's it.

Excellent. Turn off the computers cheating 'production bonuses', and battle 3 hard computer opponents for a really great time.

No.1 must have app!. To put it simply, buy this game. It looks good and plays better! A real killer 4X strategy title in the mold of Master of Orion 2. Its worth many times the asking price and even comes with free updates being released regularly. You will end up sinking many an hour into this little gem! Enjoy :)

Great game!. Worth twice the price. Excellent example of iOS coding. Recommended to any sci fi fan.

Derp. Excellent game, great community, this game is tons of fun!

Fantastic. Great port of a genre normally reserved for PC. Game runs well, AI is good, and the mobile simplifications don’t detract from the game. Also no microtransactioms offering you an in game boost!

Brilliant. The best game on my iPhone. Amazingly deep strategy game that seems to always have something new to learn. Have been playing it for years now. Single player is good but as multiplayer it's simply the best. Great community. Many many enjoyable games had. Developer is very active. Simply couldn't recommend this game more highly.

So satisfying.. One of the few games that's always on my phone. It's been actively enhanced since it was released (although the cosmetics could do with an upgrade) and just gets more and more playable.

Awesome strategy game! The best!. Amazing support from the devs, and a fantastic single player and multiplayer experience. Don't miss this one!

Awesome game. One of my favourite..too addictive....

Great games, buuuttt .... Unfortunately I've gotten a decent way into the game and it's become unbelievably unstable. Crashing every couple of turns, that sort of thing. It's made the game unplayable. Sort it out and I'll give it 5 stars. But until then ...

Was great but not anymore. Avoid.. This game used to be great. Rocco, the author, was constantly making small changes to ensure the balance between factions was adequate. It had a vibrant enthusiastic community with active and helpful players. Unfortunately, Rocco let us down. No updates are made anymore, as it stands the game is not balanced, with spying being completely OP. As a consequence the player base is going down fast and it becomes hard to find games.Save your money and look for other 4x options.

Awesome. This is the best strategic game I have ever played

Great game. Hands down the best strategy game currently on iOS. Heaps of replayability. I always find myself coming back to play more.

Pretty good.. Just like master of Orion, only problem is multiplayer takes ages.

Awesome. Really enjoying this. Two small criticisms: a) The game saving seems clumsy. No way to save over another game, which means even if you give it the same name, you end up with 2. Maybe I'm just the weird picky guy who likes to have less saves around :) b) No easy way to move between planets when micro managing. Even if they are in the same solar system, you have to back out to the main galaxy map, and then choose the same solar system again. But as you can see, gameplay wise, I have no issues worth dropping it from a 5 star rating. Orion just graduated to my favorite iPad game.

Technology. This game is awesome, the developers actually listen to us. It is by far the best 4x strategy game. If possible could you add 1 more class of ship more leaders and more technology

Too addictive. I've taken to deleting this app when I need to get some work done. I enjoy it way too much.

Excellent strategy game. This is a really great 4X game, that not only replicates a complex experience but actually adds some interesting ideas to the formula. The UI flow is a bit mouse-centric in style and doesn't uses multi-touch as much as it could inside ways, but the game flow and features are top-notch.

Just Great!!!. Well worth the purchase. Great port of Orion to the Pad. Developers who care and great new multiplayer update. Easy to join, chat etc...Recommend to any and all :)

Greatest 4x game. Its wonderful. Almost every problem with the game, like no retreating, odd issues and automated combat has been solved with 1.1 Combat now allows you to pick a primary target, escort, and retreat. So while still automated, it feels much less random and more tactical. Game has great multiplayer, which also recieves constant updates and has enough players to make it work. Just make a custom game, and the next person to make a custom game with those settings will join you and you take turns whenever you want. You can also now pass and play with friends, as well as play with friends through gamecenter and the like. A basic team mode has also been added, a welcome edition to an already feature packed game. Survival co-op is also in, where other players and yourself take on the AI and try to win. I can imagine this with 2 other geeky friends working really well. What makes this game so brilliant is the devs who LISTEN to player feedback constantly, almost all the features I just mentioned were all requested by many players. The devs are open to suggestions, because they know that a happy customer base can very easily nag more customers and keep your payers around for a long time. Just buy it. If not for the wonderful game itself, maybe for the devs who deserve a measly 7 dollars from your wallet that would take most people one hour to earn.

Modern Master of Orion. Sooo goooood! Just like the old version of Master of Orion. Easy to play, cool races and interesting graphics. Would be great if there was a fun/varied ending when you win the game as opposed to nothing. Any chance of a campaign style game?

Awesome. Very good game highly recommended. Can't wait for another update

Addictive and in-depth. Put simply - if you liked master of Orion you will also like this game. The dev team are constantly updating, adding features and responding to user feedback. The only drawback is that it's really addictive!

Fantastic. Must buy for Strat game fans

Great version of moo!. If you like master of Orion you will love this :)

Proper 4x. A proper 4x game with in depth customisation and interesting combat. The turn compression for asynchronous multiplayer is a great idea.

Just like MOO. For all those old Master of Orion Players, this very enjoyble game plays well and continues to evolve. The developer has also proven very responsive to feedback. Love it!

Imagine you at your best. All the time. Picture yourself at your sharpest and most productive. Your most alert and focused. Your most lucid, creative and confident. At work. At play. In every area of your life. Add Mind Lab Pro® v4.0 to your daily routine and uncap your true potential. Buy Now!

Great game. Got this years ago and still love playing it every once and a while. Please don’t stop updating it!

Best civ type game on iOS. This game is top notch, better than any competitor. A big thanks to the creator of this game, I've been searching for something more in depth that the iOS version of civilization. This is it!!! 8.99 is totally worth it. Highly recommend. Can't express my appreciation for this game enough. Playing on a 6s on 9.2. No crashes, no glitches so far. It's ridiculous that fools play this on an outdated device or iOS update. Don't blame a game for your crappy machine. Normal is harder now, most of these old complaints have been fixed. Cry in your pillows, no one wants to hear your bs

Master of Orion2, but better!. I've been of fan of the Master of Orion and Galactic civilization serires. This one is a excellant port, maybe better then the original, perhaps not on par with galactic civilization 2 with all mods, but it's really great! Worth every penny!!!

Great game ruined by crashes. This seems like an awesome strategy game to have on the go. Unfortunately it crashes without warning every single game without fail. As is it is unplayable which is super frustrating, but until it's updated I can only advise people to stay away.

Epic 4x game. This gem has almost everything a 4x space empire game should. Highly strategic and very replayable, it's exactly what I was looking for.

Well done with crash issues. Once you get into the game it's quite deep and enjoyable. That being said my first non tutorial game got to a point where hitting turn hit a consistent crash I can't get past and that kind of ruins it. Hoping it will be fixed

Great and Continues to be. Keeps the legend of MOO2 alive. Continued updates keep the game fresh. Developers are awesome!

Super fun. This game is addicting if you buy at and you like RTSs you wii love

Very good. Not easy at first, but it get better and better and ritcher over time.

Well supported. I am amazed at the evolution of this game. The updates are all so good, full of improvements and fan requested tweaks. I love what has been done to improve the AI the most. I have spent dozens of hours playing, and recommend it to all my friends.

Best 4X on the App Store. And great support for years. Looking forward to Starbase Orion 2.

Best supported 4x game you can buy. Amazing level of dedication by the developer. Everyone who likes 4x games, and all of us should ... your money is best spent on this one. I can't think of any other game on the mobile platform or anywhere else that has this kind of service level. Boggles my mind. Good job, guys.

Goes far beyond a remake. Some call this a remake of Master of Orion, and this may have been the case years ago. But the creator has ran with the concept with very well thought out updates that don't serve to over complicate the game, but to offer a grander experience. This game does not go on sale (only during it's release was it discounted), but it's worth every penny to anyone looking for a deep, fulfilling 4X strategy game that rivals the masters of the genre on the PC, and surpassing those currently available on consoles.

Unlimited scenarios. Each game is different with endless fun and alternate strategies. Wish there were more games like it

Best 4X on iOS bar none. You won't find a better strategy game out there.

Galactic conquest at its best. If you are a fan of 4X games, you owe yourself this little gem !

Great 4X Game. They keep on giving, best 4X game I have found for iOS

Amazing. Starbase Orion is a great strategy game. It's a deep game, with a fun and easy interface that easily fits to any style of play, but rewards those who can balance Industry, Military, and Economy. The development team is lead by a guy who understands that gamers who fall in love with a game only want one thing, a developer who listens to us, and acts on it. This game is worth your money. For less than a movie ticket, you would be receiving a game that has brought me and a few of my friends together for some friendly galactic domination. If you are still not convinced, try the free version to see if its your cup of tea. I'm sure you won't be sorry for downloading it.

Great game. Best app ever. I play a lot with the online community. This is easily my most played app

Starbase Orion. Trying to be like Masters of Orion is not being like MOO.. What made that game great was the control over the space battles.. you built to fight and attack.. There is not combat control here.. another computer controled outcome.. game plays itself :(

Great game, developers work hard to create an awesome product!. This game is just so awesome. Big fan of Master of Orion series and this game is right up there. It has its issues but this latest version introduced new technologies that should resolve and if not, give the tools to the developers to do so. The biggest issue is that, when your are far into a big game (single or multiple players), it will just fail on you and you will not be able to complete it.

Masters of Orion for iOS! A real gem.. You’ll have hours of fun and the online community is active with people willing to help out new players. A very generous and friendly bunch. Feels like the classic Masters of Orion series.

Wow really. This game is good at the beginning but keeps crashing at a certain point very dissapointed with the game and the $7 I have lost out on you guys should try things out a bit more before releasing it to the public like that bug rip off guys

Great game, great dev. Not only is this a faithful recreation of the classic MoO series for iOS, the dev is very responsive to comments and suggestions. The improvements and expansions to play have been extensive since release. Probably the best money I’ve spent on an AppStore game.

Great game. Great game, still enjoy playing it once in a while, but stopped working with 14.2 update :(

Orion series highpoint. This game is my favourite. I play it everyday and since the original Moo in 93 I have been addicted. This version, although no perfect, is very enjoyable over and over again.

Dude, fit the screen size for iPhone 13. Or i will have to refund this. Please update…

Why does it not work anymore. I loved the game but all of a sudden it no longer works. I thought and update might be required, but it only allows me to open the app. When I open it, I am returned to the iPhone Home Screen.

Get it now if u love strategy games!. It is by far the best turn based multiplayer strategy game available on iOS... The developer is an active player, and making it better all the time! The league of players is active with a really supportive community of excellent competitors!

Replayability at 1000%. Somehow, this game is able to get you hooked on for a long time, even with mediocre graphs and horrible music/sounds. Not even a full port from the pc game, but still a must have gem. Very addictive !

Best iOS game. Will be a classic for the iOS. Involving and rewarding gameplay, easy to navigate interface and intuitive touch controls. Tons of replay lies within this game. Enjoy

Finally - 4X Built From The Ground Up For iOS. Simply awesome. If you love 4X games then why are you wasting time reading reviews and not your empire status reports?

Thank you. Thank you for continuing to add content and updates years after I've purchased this fantastic 4X game.

And crash!. I was really enjoying this game as its very similar to MoO 2 but crash, crash, crash! Until this is fixed its worthless.

It's the best game for mobile. This is the best game for mobile, period. Such a good 4x game, have been playing continuously for 2+ years and not bored. Multiplayer is awesome and many types of games configs/galaxies keeps it fresh. Fans of Civilization or Master of Orion should not miss this one.

Great game. Was looking for something similar to civilization. This is perfect. Best strategy game on the app store.

Starbase Orion. This is a very enjoyable turn based "eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate" game with a vibrant player community that supports a wide variety of players from casual gamers to competitive league players. The basic goal of the game is to eliminate all opponents in the galaxy. You should first explore the galaxy to find the best planets to occupy, then colonize them and build them up into industrial, research or farming colonies, while researching advanced technologies to make your empire more efficient and your fleet more powerful. What I like: * you can adjust your species' attributes to take advantage of features of the game map or to suit your personal playing style. * you can use "spies" to attack more powerful enemies without launching a ship against them, or to steal technologies from those who have better tech than you. * there's a good mix of technologies that provide benefits for production, research, farming, combat, exploration, and spying. * you can outfit your spaceships in any manner you choose (within the limits of your technology). * its turn-based play system allows me time think and to play when I have time to play. * no in-game purchases! * no advertisements! What could be better: * the automatic player matching system pairs me up with idle players who never seem to take a turn. I end up playing a multi-player game all by myself! The solution is to announce that you want to play a game on the "Space Bar" chat room where there is usually a live person available to respond to your request. * once I obtained enough experience with the game, I found the AI much too easy to defeat. Even against seven AI set at the "impossible" level, it is not much of a challenge to defeat them. The solution, of course, is to play with real people from the Space Bar who are always ready to give you a good game.

meilleur jeu sur App Store. Super jeu inspiré de MOO « master of Orion ». Peux modifier les équipements de vaisseaux. Peux spécifier stratégie de combat pour chaque vaisseau ou pour tous. Toutes les planètes peuvent être géré individuellement ou on peux utilisé des gestion automatique pré-conçus ou même modifier ces gestions automatiques. Beaucoup mais beaucoup de recherche a faire. Les galaxies peuvent être créé au goût. Oufff!!!! C’est vraiment complet comme jeux. Manque les Antarens (attaques extra-terrestre aléatoire qui augmente la difficulté) et une fin plus épique.

Great game!. Top civ game to play! Please make it second screen compatible so it can be played on TV

Worth every penny. A great 4x game. The best thing about this game is the person or group that made it. This game has been out for years and years and amazingly they are still actively updating the game. I have never seen a game like this in the App Store. Everyone else is out for there money the quick and easy way. This game keeps going and keeps you coming back. They have never resorted to pay to win. They love this game as much as their fan base does. Keep up the good work. I would give you 10/5 stars if I could.

Constant crashes. Fun game but keeps crashing for no reason. Lost many games to it. Very frustrating.

Good game. Pretty awesome but crashes almost every time I open it.

Good, but.... I'm having some trouble with AI. They seem to just build ships to the point that their GC goes far below 0, I always seem outnumbered even though I have more GC and production. I can't even win on easy. Fix this please.

Great game. If you are fan of 4x space game, this is a must.

Awesome. Great game, loved MOO2 and love this game, would like more default races but that's all I can fault it for, nuff said.

Great game!. I've had this game for 5 years and multiple iPhones/iPads, and it's still a classic.

Great game, worth a try if you like Civ. I lost track of time playing this game, and I'm only in the tutorial. Played 2.5 hours straight, very in depth, easy to learn, but lots to tweak and configure. Seems it have tons of re-playable aspects, and I haven't even loaded an "actual" game yet. I've been looking for a space based Civ game, and this certainly is it. Worth the 8$ that's for sure.

Even better then Master of Orion 2. Player feedback keeps making this game better and better - also not a battery hog like many other games!

Best 4x game in the store. If you're looking for a 4x game in the classic Masters of Orion style,look no further.This game is excellent and is always getting updates.

Great 4X game. I’ve been playing it for several years on an iPad and it still holds up. Such a great flashback to a classic game and genre.

Adsterra is the most preferred ad network for those looking for an alternative to AdSense. Adsterra is the ideal choice for new sites with low daily traffic. In order to advertise on the site in Adsterra, like other ad networks, a certain traffic limit, domain age, etc. is required. There are no strict rules. Sign up!

Fantastic game but the recent update broke it. Love this app but the recent update broke the game for me. I still play this frequently so im sad :(

Needs an update.. Please add support for iPhone Xs screen. That’s all this game really needs.

Well Executed Adaptation of Master's of Orion 2 to iPhone/iPad. Pleased to see a very close, slightly simplified approximation to Master's of Orion 2. Have been looking for this port to iPhone for years now. Nicely done. A few comments to enhance current experience: Allow for naming of custom races, beyond the 5 base. And naming of empire separate from Game Center account and race names. Add a few more races, with race artwork for custom ones. Esp considering a game can encompass up to 8 empires, a greater variety would be enjoyable. Introduce Renaming of systems. At a min the home system at game start and when one colonizes an unoccupied system. This allows for some customization and easier memory recall with expansion. Separate leader caps by category, ie limit to civic leaders is not associated with limit to military leaders. (3 civic/3 military leaders permitted at game start). Research renders too many items inaccessible too quickly. While the challenge is appreciated, it is preferable to be able to research all or most techs without missing out on key ones. Altogether glad to see this thorough import. Keep up the good work!

New player, it crashes a lot. I have iPad Pro 10.5 inch, my iOS is 10.3. I crash and lose progress all the time. Mostly when I've tried to make a new ship design. I have the latest released version of SO.

Desperately needs a new makeover. I would buy an updated version of this game today. It is very outdated in play, great in concept.

Best value. This is by far the best game I've played on my phone. Knowing what I know now, I'd honestly have no problem paying several times the price. I'm a huge Master of Orion fan and this game is perfect for scratching that old itch. I was looking for a 4x game and this is it. The best thing is the staying power; I bought this game a couple of months ago and still playing. Attentive developers are a huge plus given all the "release and ignore" games out there. It's great and the cost is much lower than other games given how quickly I get bored with the free and dollar games (I'll spare you how much I hate those free...but then pay to play games). Buy once and you're done. Great game and really appreciate it's existence. Thanks! One suggestion (since I buttered you up by indicating you pay attention): take a look at the industry to researcher value. After getting the first research lab, I hardly use any scientists for the rest of the game. Maybe just an easier top side game option introduction that DRASTICALLY increased (10x?) the research costs would be effective and easiest to implement as I'd love to have my population do something besides the farm the minimum required food then all industry.

Good, could be great. Starbase Orion is well designed and as compelling as any 4X game I have played. With some spit and polish it could be a five star title. So what needs fixing? The controls are often unresponsive. There are occasional bugs in the ship navigation interface. The flow between screens is awkward and inconsistent. On the colony building screen changes are lost unless confirmed while on the battle orders screen changes take effect immediately. I could not for the life of me figure out how to set up a 2v2 game with my friend. Letting users set up their own custom build orders is a nice touch, but again the implementation is flawed: I can redefine the built-in sequences but I can't see the originals or create brand new sequences while leaving the originals intact. Starbase Orion does a better job than most 4X titles of managing a lot of resources in the late game. Still, I'd love to see that taken farther. For example: Show me all the colonies which are capable of training a covert agent or show me those without a hydroponics building. I could go on, but you get the idea by now. That said, I agree with most of the things the five-star reviews say. Starbase Orion is a good game and greatness is definitely within reach.

Great game!. Brings me back to the days of Master of Orion. Love it!

I love this game. I have found very few Turn based strategy games as good as this. The goal of the game is to take over the galaxy. You accomplish this by building troop ships, colony ships , star bases and various classes of war ships. A cool thing that i like about this game is the ability to customize what armor or weapons that are equipped to you ships. the more things you equip the deadlier and more expensive the ship. Managing your colonies is not hard neither. You can micro manage each colony or you can set the colony to automatically develop based on what type of colony you would like (industrial, scientific, military , farming,). The developers have been updating this game consistently since it's release adding new content and patches. A few things I would like to see is: a marine attachment to war ships so you can board enemy ships. Random events like an advanced alien race enters the galaxy late in the game. Better looking colony screens More game modes like infection, capture the flag ship Great game a must get for strategy lovers.

Fantastic Reinterpretation. I've been playing some form of this game for almost 20 years. Generally, I've been limping along with virtualized installs of the originals. This game should be a welcome breath of fresh air to any older players, as the intuitive polish of gameplay and the GUI are spot on for the touch interface. Great attention has been paid to the tech tree, and app updates have allowed players to evolve their strategies with new possibilities. The multiplayer aspect of this app is the true gem, as it has never been easier to find contestants for galactic domination. Truly a fantastic reinterpretation, and I am unashamedly grateful for the time and focus the devs and community have poured into making this game so much fun!

My best purchase ever. No regrets

Five stars!. This is my favorite iOS game and the dev has done a great job to keep the game updated with new content and bug fixes. The only things I'd like to see changed are the current espionage insanity at Hard and Impossible difficulties (see other reviewers' comments-it's crazy) and the make or break combat mechanics. What I mean is that there comes a point in each match where the player swarm battles the computer swarm and either you (a) start the slow process of losing or (b) even worse start the slow process of winning by destroying every last remaining colony to win. Is genocide the answer? Joking aside, this takes forever and is a big let drag after the big nail-biter of a battle. Either have an auto exterminate button or have more skirmish type gameplay by limiting individual fleet size to reward the player for this end-game.

Great 4X game. If you're looking for a game that feels like MoO2, this is the closest you'll get on mobile. Very high replay value

Needs another update. A terrific little game for strategy minded gamers

This game is an enormous timesuck. It'd been a few years since I played MOO when I found this game on the App Store. Ah, those halcyon days. I fondly remember when I used to be able to "focus" on "the real world"; back before every waking moment was being occupied with the glory that is 4X. This game is stunning on the iPad. The interface is very good, conveying a lot of information on the (relatively) small screen, and using various gestures well. I find that turn-based games in general are well-suited to mobile gameplay. The only complaint I have is that it tends to crash after a couple of hours on my first-generation iPad, but, then again, so does every other app. The autosave is a bit of a lifesaver when this happens. If you're still reading this review, here's the bottom line: go without dinner for a night and play Starbase Orion instead.

Still a great game. The leaders system is very well done. I am thinking that the diplomacy could be so much more than it is. How about missions for the spies? How about being able to sabotage specific assets? Planetary combat could be hugely upgraded too. How about more than just marines, but ground units, planetary super guns, and special units? The ending really needs work. Just flashing "Victory" is very anti climactic. Timelines, a la Civ, would be a satisfying way to wrap up a several hour campaign. How about statistics for your military leaders? How about graphs that trend out military and technological might? Space combat is your biggest attraction, and it is awesome. It alone is worth the price of this game. I can't think of anything to improve upon! You have made it where it is not cumbersome, but at the same time your tactical decisions make all the difference in the world. It is possible to turn a battle in which you are the weaker power to your advantage by pouring over the orders options. Again, awesome way to waste countless hours. Thank you for a deep, hardcore, massive imperial scale, strategic conquest game. It stands out from all the cartoony crap that dominates the app store.

Best Strategy Game + Multiplayer. Starbase Orion is probably the best multiplayer 4X game ever. I have played hundreds of matches over the last several years, both single player against the AI and multiplayer, mostly with one of my best friends. The learning curve was a bit daunting at first, but once you get the hang of the UI it's really easy to work with and the replayability is great because there are so many ways to vary the game: size/shape/age of the galaxy, the pluses and minuses parameters for the race, etc. The game will take you through the familiar pattern of exploration, research, colonization, skirmishes, and eventually battles among massive star fleets. Gameplay is focused on strategy and economics, and because it's a turn-based game there is very minimal tactical control: you give your fleet some basic orders, and next turn you see how the battle was resolved (and you can watch an animated replay). Starbase Orion is a great investment given how many hours of play it provides and how good a job the developer does at adding in tweaking features over time. It's worth the purchase price, and it's worth the investment in time to get up the learning curve and really experience this tremendous strategy game.

Still rough. The ideas behind the game play seem interesting, but in its current form the application plays more like a beta than a finished product. I've now played through a full game and had the program crash on me about five times. Quite a bit of the text is truncated, so you can't read the full description. Navigation is a bit difficult and at times you have to make an adjustment, back out to see the effect, and go back in (such as choosing where and how much "economic funding" to set). Likewise, the space combat seems interesting in principal, but frustrating in practice. The value of the different improvements seems all over the place (armor plating can double the cost of a ship while only giving it about 10% more overall survivability). Finally, the overall pace is too slow. I played on "small" map and medium difficulty and it took about four hours to finish a play. I think the costs should be reduced to 2/3 of present value for just about everything. It has promise, so I hope the developers keep refining gameplay and include a help system that actually guides you through the game or gives more context sensitive responses.

Amazing. These guys are amazing. I wrote a review for an earlier version with five stars for my impression after a few matches, but I have to sum up every worthwhile review by saying that it is a requirement that you play Starbase Orion. The game itself is wildly fun and amazing, but the real key for me is that it is ALWAYS getting better. The devs are genuine gamers at heart. They're not concerned with pumping out a game and then leaving it on the shelf until people stop buying it; they are perpetually updating and improving it, usually with major changes, balances, and fixes. You're never left in the dark with these guys. And seriously, the game is amazing...

Where do the troop ships go?. I love the game. Some time during the game the planets that manufacture troop ships change to scouts, so, you cannot win the game. This feature is a constant in the last year.

Chess in Space. Version 1.2.6 is out and new strategies are being developed; new tactics explored. Starbase Orion has been actively developed for three years. I have tried dozens of games in the App Store and many are well done and entertaining for a few hours, but most wear thin in too short a time. Not SO. It doesn't get old; it gets better. If you like to strategize rather than twitch, if you like to think, plan, plot and scheme this is the game for you. Starbase Orion has over 100 technologies, 50 buildings and 40 racial characteristics to play with. For the price you get a great game that has excellent replay value, and no annoying in game purchases. The multiplayer portion of the game is superb. With a dedicated server, connections are smooth and reliable. The community that has grown around SO is friendly and generous in sharing its knowledge. Drop into the Space Bar, introduce yourself, play some games. Be prepared to lose more than you win at first. However, once you begin to master the intricacies of the game, you may want to play in tournaments, play with one other person or play with up to seven other people in teams or free-for-all contests. You can even create a character and join a role play game. SO represents the best of developing, community and and game play in the App Store.

Challenging, deep, +100 hours. First, see the update history. This team is dedicated. I've owned it 9 months and new features, fixes, and improvements continue to roll out. Now, S.O. has everything you need to keep you transfixed as you try to eek out just... one... more... turn... before hitting the rack or (not) getting there on time. I've read some recent complaints about crashes since the last update (I've had none), but this game is well supported and don't expect them to last. Complaints? Minor quibbles . I'd like to sort planets by what improvements they do have and not just by what they don't. It would be cool if combat could be paused allowing for new orders to be issued.

Best 4X Game continues to stand the test of time. And … ANOTHER update to improve the game (again!) So many options, so many ways to play. Quite simply, the best 4X game on iOS. The developer continually upgrades (27+ upgrades in 2+ years!) and tweaks the game to increase re-playability and add features. Combined with a first-class user forum and an in-game chat (with mature players who can actually use complete sentences), new users will feel welcome and able to learn from the existing players. Successful strategies include: industrial overpowering, research supremacy, cloak and dagger, growth/expansion dominance, or any hybrid you choose to outwit, then overpower your opponent(s). Single player, multi-player, and user run leagues and tournaments, truly the best investment I’ve made for ANY game. Finally, the game plays great on either iPhone or iPad, and you can continue your existing games on either device automatically. A unique notification sound will always alert you when it’s your turn on multi-player. Asynchronous multiplayer with a variety of timers, including no timer, moves the games along at your pace.

Brings back memories. Great game! The only quibbles I have is that one cannot rename star systems, nor choose your empire's color. Otherwise, this game reminds me a lot of MOO II.

The Only Game You Need. I played Master of Orion when I was younger, so when I saw this game about a year ago in the App Store I thought, "great!" Since then, after playing quite a bit against the AI, I ventured into multiplayer. This game has incredible gameplay against the computer, but once you go multiplayer you can't go back. The multiplayer setup in this game is simply the pinnacle of what a multiplayer game should be. Each match is a unique experience, with its own strategies and tactics evolving as the game plays out (much like high level chess). This means that you can play the game endlessly (and unfortunately I'm not exaggerating much when I use the word endlessly, much to my wife's dissatisfaction). The bottom line, if you like strategy games and an incredibly rich multiplayer experience and a devoted and fanatical (in the best sense of that word) online community, complete with various 1v1 or 2v2 player organized league tournaments, along with a developer who apparently doesn't sleep because he is working on updating and enriching this already perfect game 24 hours a day, then buy this game (it's a crime that it's priced so low, I would've paid $30 easy for this game). Postscript: please don't let my ridiculously gushing review cause you to think I'm the game developer's grandmother or something like that, my love for this game (despite the fact that I spend far too much time playing it) is the sole factor in this review. Krininaleni

The best Sci-Fi 4X game for iOS. I currently have 3 Scifi 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) games. Ascendancy, Vincere Totus Astrum, and this game. By far this is the best. It's hard and complex, but not too hard or complex. It's fairly easy to get the hang of after some experimenting, but well worth it. I'm a HUGE fan of the Master of Orion series, and the Galactic Civilizations series, and this is pretty much getting one of them on iOS. That said, I perfer this greatly on my iPad than my iPod Touch, due to the screen size. These type of games are really better suited to big screens. It still plays well in the small screen though. I love this game, and HIGHLY recommend this game. I rarely write reviews but really want this game t become more popular. I want to support these guys!

I love this game. It has a glitch. You assign a planet to build ships. It is all misaligned. You can’t make changes. The game in not playable like this.

Awesome game!. I would like to see a system where you have different types of governments that gives you bonuses to things with the ability to change gov in mid game. In addition a diplomacy/trading system with computer and players (techs, money, planets, ships) would be nice. No problems with the game, so much has been added already. I just think it would add a new level to having friends play with you like that. This game only becomes better and better with each update! It's like Galactic Civilization. Just needs a few tweaks. The iCloud save function is nice, It works on iPhone and iPad.

Solid. Was a huge Masters of Orion 1 & 2 fan. This game shares many similarities. If you are a fan of the 4x genre I definitely recommend this. There are a few gripes I have though. Combat is essentially automatic as you program what your ships do in advance from about four different engagement options (close combat, medium range, long range, evasion, etc), then in the next turn you can watch what happened. In its current form if you are looking for depthy tactical combat this may not scratch the itch. There didn't appear to be a ton of diplomacy involved in the game. I couldn't find any options to trade, ally, etc. Also, I have had numerous random game closures. Luckily the game has a pretty decent auto save feature, so if it does close you usually end up one turn back. Outside of the few cons, this game is pretty solid if you are into the genre and is about the only iApp game that has held my interest for more then 5 or so minutes at a time.

Could have been great, could still be.. There's not really much strategy to the single player game. No diplomacy, no real creativity from the enemy AI. Build up planets, research the right tech, steamroll the enemy. Higher difficulty levels resort to just giving the AI more resources which just feels cheap. Multiplayer seems much more promising, but I had a bit to many games where people abandoned them to care about playing it anymore. It is a straight up master of Orion clone which is not a bad thing at all except they remove a lot of what I like about that game. Ship designs are more limited and there's pretty much only a few designs that feel useful. Space battles are automated I wish I could control the ships in single player at least. The game does have its charm but I payed 8 bucks for this and I kinda feel ripped off, considering a far superior game (master of Orion 2) is available for of for only 5 dollars. There is hope as the developers are actively updating the game, always a good sign. Still I just don't love this game as much as I could have.

Ruined with unbalanced update. Used to love this game. Now, with the changes made in the update, it's ruined. If you play on the harder difficulty levels, the changes to espionage system mean the computer gets every tech you get, the turn you get it, regardless of how many defensive units you have. And god help you if you play with more than a couple computer opponents, as there will *always* be someone with enough money to outbid you for the new Leaders feature added in this version -- making it just a way to empower computer opponents without adding any value or enjoyment for the human player. If you play online against other people, I'm sure this update is great. If you prefer to play on challenging difficulty by yourself against AI's, forget it. This update absolutely ruins that mode of play. Really a shame, used to love this game. Now I've just deleted it and don't plan to reinstall.

good, still needs work. I'm not going to be as over the top as some reviewers- I'm going to try to be as objective as possible to help interested buyers. Its main strength is simply this: if you miss Master of Orion, this is the iOS game for you. It's a pretty above-average recreation of the game, and once you get into it a little, you'll probably not regret the app purchase. Still a few bugs to work out or weaknesses: it's not an absolute re-creation, so be prepared to accept a few new ways of doing things (and the occasionally silly names for things). Planetary expansion bug- if you choose it and there's no planet to expand in the system, you'll get an annoying "opportunity" message for the rest of the game but will never be able to expand. Also- if you negotiate nonaggression pacts with neighbors and then start to build really big empires with lots of ships, money, etc., at some point the game just locks up and cant go forward. Thats the most annoying bug to date. One other thing- there are many games in which the AI is so aggressive you can't enjoy empire-building because you're pretty much at war from Turn 2. This makes some games boringly one-dimensional, and those are the ones I just quit. How about adjustable AI so that you can still have your scraps, but at least enjoy other parts of planet development first?

The game of my dreams. I've been looking for so long for a game like this and I am completely satisfied! Defense, offense, micromanage, a way around that, combat, exploration, the whole shabang! Things I would like to see added the game but aren't necessary: - more random events (worm holes being opened/closed, space storms ect) -more customization for AI (choose different difficulties for different opponents, choose their race, allow them to use your customized races, ect) That's all that I can get off my head. Regardless of that, I am happy to say that this game is by far the best game I've came across.

Great Concept, Good Execution, but feels like I'm beta testing. The game clearly has a lot of work put into it. The graphics are fine, and the gameplay is what I would expect of the genera. There is a very large room for improvement. However, stability is a major issue. I spend 20% of my time recovering from or dealing with crashes, half of which I eventually have to restart my device. Another major issue is lack of a strong explanation of game variables such as planet type, size, grav, etc... That make precise strategy an empirical challenge. There are also a couple things in the combat that don't make too much sense. So my ships don't die as long as 1 ship is left at the end of the combat sim? Replay Value: High. There are enough race and tech variables to keep things interesting. Conclusion: Learning curve: Unnecessarily high Replay value: High Graphics: (iPad 1) 9/10 - I like them Music: 8/10 - fits genera, but not exceptional Gameplay: 9/10 - great representation of genera Polish: 2/10 (the gameplay is great. Common crashes absolutely unacceptable) Overall 6.5/10: if you love the genera, buy now. If you hate 5-10 crashes per hour, wait until a better version.

Great game, great developer. This is the essential 4x space conquest experience, right in your pocket. Expect a bit of a learning curve with a highly rewarding payout. The developer is one of the most responsive and active on the marketplace. This game has already been improved twofold since initial release, with no additional cost or IAP. If you're a fan of Civ-type gameplay (this game has online team play, free for all, optional AI players, and even pass-the-phone hotseat play) or if you like ruling space empires and designing your own fleet of custom warships (and spying, blockading, exploring, terraforming, and on and on), then grab this. Now.

Amazingly conceived, fatally flawed.. Crashes and lag are not reasons why this review is 2 stars. Bugs- -text for iPhone (almost everywhere text is) is truncated -all AI difficulties do not present challenge (logically flawed, only parameters change) -unable to scroll through planet list while moving population (if list is longer than screen) -by changing hull after bombardment package is equipped, a small ship can use it -if all ships survive (in the replay) but a lot of damage is taken, you will lose ships in the aftermath (proportional to damage taken) -event log doesn't get out of your way when playing directly into galaxy overhead after starting your turn (until you select something in the remaining parts of screen) -when ending your turn without selecting a tech focus, the resulting tech focus screen does not have a cancel button -All build times and tech times are +1 due to the inclusion of 0 in those times. 0 turns should mean its done, this is not the case - Design: There are so many little things wrong with the game mechanics it makes me wonder if this developer has ever made a game before (or played one). It is also horribly apparent that it was not play tested by people who know how to play test a game. I would love to get into details but this is only a user review.

Missing the fourth X.. This is really a 3X game. Expand, Explore, Exterminate. The fourth X, Exploit, does not apply to this game, because there is currently no diplomacy, treaties, alliances, etc., and thus, no capability for betrayal. The fact that you begin the game irrevocably at war with every other player is a major detractor from me considering it a "deep" or true "4X" game. I would love to see diplomacy added to the game, as well as an option to turn on tactical turn-based combat. MOO-style colony governors would also be a very cool feature to have added. Lastly, I would like other ways to win, besides a plain-Jane military victory. I took a chance spending eight bucks on this game based on the assurances from the developer on the app description page, that they will continually refine the game and add requested features. I have high expectations that these issues will be addressed. (The game looks great so far; keep that momentum going!) As-is, this game is a 4-star effort. It is a very decent TBS game, reminiscent of MOO, but lacking some of the intricate features that made MOO a deep game with many paths to victory.

A little too easy. I really love these types of games ... This last update seems to have fixed the issue of the AI being incredibly easy. Now they actually seem to think strategically. However ... they think for a LONG time now. The amount of time it takes to process a turn now almost makes the game unplayable. Before I could play a game in about 2 hours. Now it take a 1/2 hour to just get through 19 turns to research hydroponics center I ... This game WAS amazing (minus the bad AI) ... but right now the single player is broken due to the really long lag between turns. If the Dev's can figure out how to keep the AI smart and challenging AND make the game run quick enough to not waste hours of time looking at the "auto continuing screen" then it'll be a good game again.

Fully developed and No in-app purchases!. The App Store is awash with cheaply made cash grab games. It takes a bit of research to find a fully developed game that isn't trying to continuously take your money. This a fully developed PC quality game. If you like 4x games or are a civilization veteran than this game is for you. I paid full price for this and it's definitely worth it. It's not watered down by any means. The game shines as you discover new layers to the game play. You will pay more up front, but you get what you pay for. The developer is constantly updating it. Also there is multiplayer. I haven't tried it but others seem to like it.

Very Good Space Empire Game. Satisfying complexity but actually pretty quick to pick up. You manage (or auto manage) your colonies, research, ship design and spying and diplomacy. You give orders (to the fleet and/ or specific ships) before a battle and then the battle plays out without your direct control, which was disappointing at first but feels realistic and ensures you really pay attention to fleet building. Each component can be a little thin but overall it adds up to a satisfying empire building exerience. Very similar to (but a bit better than) Master of Orion. Early on your're excited to see what each new star system has to offer, and later you're anxiously managing alliances and building for inevitable conflict. Space monsters and leaders add fun wrinkles. Race customization actually offers interesting tradeoffs. Lots of well thought out details. Really an applaudable app overall, sure to be a classic. Some requests/suggestions more involvement (and graphics) for bombardment and ground battles. The Race and Leader portraits are a bit cartoony which feels off with the otherwise realistic graphical elements. There's often a tipping point, either in conflict with a given race or overall. It would be nice to have the choice of some kind of gameplay option that had a balancing effect - eg your standard corruption, races ganging up on you, barbarians / monsters appear en force. if this already happens at harder levels of difficulty i apologize.

Simple but fun. Great tablet game that feels like Masters of Orion or Stellaris. Simple. Maybe too simple, but easily replayable many times

Fun game, with some annoyances. This is a worthy space empire game. It's enjoyable to play, and feels a little smaller than desktop games, which is appropriate for mobile devices. That said, there are a few things that irk me. For one, there are "spell check"-style errors scattered about: "hospital" instead of hospitable, "teaming with life" instead of teeming, etc. I find these to detract from the otherwise well-polished game. Another: colonies set for auto-build default to "economic hoarding" once they're out of infrastructure options, and there's no way to toggle the default to "economic funding". This often forces me to babysit well-established colonies, just because I can't influence the AI in that way. Space combat also has some irritating quirks. Say you're fighting a ship with powerful short-range weapons, so you order "keep long range". What does your ship do? Charge straight in, turn around, fly away, and *then* hold long range -- ending up in short range for no reason, possibly getting destroyed in the process.

Wow! Fun!. I was pleasently surprised that this old favorite of mine has been adapted for iOS. I eagerly downloaded it and started to play on my Ipad. Had to leave the house and was even more pleasantly surprised to be able to pick up and continue the game on my iphone smoothly. Did not experience any of the lag, crashes or bugs mentioned by other reviewers except for a phantom planet on my empire listing. Looking forward to a lot of fun with this game. Follow-up a week later: I cannot believe how much I am enjoying this game. I actually like the interface and the feel of the game better on the IPAD than I remember on the PC. The only problem is that once I am in a game it is very hard to fight the compulsion to press the turn key and see how things develop the following turn - in other words it is getting me late to stuff. I've noticed a couple of little glitches like a sort error in the saved games list but, so far, no crashes. Am running on a second gen ipad w/64g. One word of advise, if you are about to start a major battle (had a mother of a battle with 40some ships per side) or some other questionable strategy remember to save.

Excellent!. Everything I'm looking for in a 4X game!

The Best iOS Game To Date. This game is amazing. The best iOS game ever seen. It's both deep and tactical with amazing gameplay and graphics. The replay value is endless and the multiplayer support is incredible. It's easy to find yourself saying up until 4am telling yourself, "Just one more turn. Just one more turn." You can play a very quick, very aggressive game or let the game consume your week as you build out an empire across the truly massive map. It's incredible the size and scope of the game that can be played on an iOS device—like nothing you've ever seen in another game. This game is a steal at $7.99. You might think that's a lot for a game when there's a slew of 99¢ games out there, but you'll get at least 20x more out of this game than anything else. It's fun today, it was fun a month ago when I bought it, and I'll revisit this game years from now for sure. The screenshots barely do the game justice. If you like strategy games, you'll love this game. If you like turn-based strategy games, you'll instantly find yourself saying, "That guy from the reviews was right. This *IS* the best game on iOS."

Still the best 4X on the App Store. 6 years strong! Still one of the best 4X, premium games on the App Store!

AI broken. Don't know why but every game I set up no matter the difficulty AI is always friendly to me. Think last update messed up.

Best game of 4x. This is a good game. Plenty of replay. Good fighting.

So Underrated!. This game is one of the best on the App Store. No micro transactions at all. So much fun to play.

Not as good as THE Master. Update: I find myself playing it more often than I expected. In the end, I really like the structure limitations, but a good feature on the research disappearing would be a counter so you can plan better. Right now it can go from no reds to a few reds in one round and they all disappear the next round. That's annoying. ------------- Pretty good. Has some thing I don't like, like the combat is most automated and you can't watch it while in progress, the concept of structural limitations, that you lose key technologies if you don't research them fast enough, etc. But not bad. I find myself playing it often, but I do wish there was a true Master of Orion 2 for the iPod.