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10 Best Star Trek Board Games Of All Time

Sci-fi board games can provide the thrill of space travel and planetary exploration, but these games will let Star Trek fans live out their fantasy of being Starfleet commanders. 

Some of these games put you in charge of battalions of ships, while others toss you into a ground conflict or simply test knowledge of the galactic markets. All of them will make for a fantastic game night. 

Star Trek Chrono-Trek

Based on the game Chrononauts , Star Trek Chrono-Trek is a great way for fans to nerd out about the series’s lore over a game. Each player picks a character from the Star Trek universe, and each character has a unique goal to pursue throughout the game. Then you’re tossed into a time-traveling adventure, reliving big moments from the series while crafting your own alternate universe. 

Star Trek Cryptic

Cryptic is an escape room in a box, and this version lets you chart your own course through Starfleet and the universe of Star Trek: The Next Generation . The game’s three missions each require a healthy amount of puzzle-solving and code-breaking. Star Trek Cryptic arguably works best with a group, but one of my favorite parts about it is that it’s also designed to work as a single-player experience. It makes for a nice backup option when game night falls through. 

Star Trek Fluxx

Star Trek Fluxx is a card game for two to six people where the rules are constantly in question. Players try to gather special cards called Keepers while playing cards that alter the game’s rules. You might adjust the maximum hand size for everyone at the table or give yourself the ability to swap hands entirely. It’s a blast, and every game feels fresh, but my only complaint with this one is that the Star Trek elements are really just theming and flavor.

Star Trek Star Realms

This game is essentially regular Star Realms with a Star Trek skin, but the theming fits naturally here. Star Realms is a card game for two to six players where you build up a deck full of starships and intergalactic bases. Different factions focus on dealing damage, gathering money, or boosting your overall health, and you have to pick a path on the fly while competing with your opponent over limited options. The Star Trek art really shines and makes this an especially enjoyable version of an already fantastic game. 

Star Trek Galactic Enterprises

Space travel isn’t all about exploration and discovery. Sometimes it’s just about making a profit. Galactic Enterprises casts three to six players as Ferengi traders trying to dominate the galactic economy. It’s a simple economic management and trading game that gives you the option to cooperate with your fellow merchants or to stab them in the back at a crucial moment. Whoever is the most adept at manipulating the markets and hoarding wealth takes the win. 

Star Trek: Away Missions

Star Trek: Away Missions is a two-player board game that puts you in charge of the Enterprise’s ground forces. The base game has you encountering the Borg after the Battle of Wolf 359. Your team needs to collect intel to defeat the Borg forces, or you might have a change of heart while on the mission and decide to help the Borg destroy the Federation forever. This game and its various expansions give you a chance to go right into the heart of an action-packed Star Trek episode. 

Star Trek Discovery: Black Alert

Star Trek Discovery: Black Alert drops you right into the middle of an interdimensional chase scene. The U.S.S. Discovery has accidentally fallen into a mirror universe and needs to return home, but now the crew of the I.S.S. Charon is trying to capture the Discovery for themselves. Two teams guide each ship across the board, gathering resources while players use cards and abilities to tackle different missions in order to escape the mirror universe or ensure that the Discovery remains there forever. 

Star Trek: Frontiers

Star Trek: Frontiers makes you feel like a main character in a Star Trek movie set in a distant part of space where the Federation and the Klingon Empire are vying for control over new territory. Through multiple cooperative and competitive scenarios, players control ships in the region, gathering resources and attacking enemy squadrons. Between the various scenarios and the randomness of the map, there’s a ton of replayability here. 

Star Trek: Alliance

Star Trek: Alliance is a fleet battle board game that kicks off with the Dominion War Campaign and carries on into other expansions. The game is designed for one to two players to take on an enemy army. Players create their own Starfleet captains and then work cooperatively to defeat Dominion fighters. The game also includes a progression system to let you level up between missions. I’m a sucker for games with miniatures , and this one includes some truly awesome ships to use for playing out your war. 

Star Trek: Ascendency

Star Trek: Ascendency brings together elements from multiple games on this list to create a 4X experience that has players controlling one of the primary factions in the Star Trek universe. Players lead their factions through multiple decades of expansion, trading, and war. If you love simulation games, have a solid group of gaming friends, and have several hours of free time, then this is going to be the best Star Trek game for you. 

Home » Board Games » Top 10 Best Star Trek Board Games (That You’ll Love to Play)

Top 10 Best Star Trek Board Games (That You’ll Love to Play)

Star Trek has been a beloved sci-fi franchise since 1966. It’s reached far and wide, securing millions of fans over the course of its existence.

Whether you consider yourself more of a Star Trek or Star Wars fan, the prevalence of the former is undeniable. If it’s been around for over 50 years, you can safely expect it to be culturally significant into the future.

Not only has it served as an inspiration to cosplayers and fans around the world, but it has spawned the existence of many board games. These games are the perfect way to bring your love of the franchise to your tabletop.

But where do you begin? Given the options that are out there, that’s a valid question to ask. That’s why we’ve gathered ten of the best Star Trek board games available here.

Best Star Trek Board Games

Star trek catan.

The greatest thing about Star Trek Catan is that it takes the best of two popular worlds, Star Trek and Settlers of Catan. If you’re a fan of both those things, you’ll love how this one board game combines both of them, allowing you to indulge in two fandoms at once.

Requiring three or four players, you won’t need to struggle to find enough people to play it, either. This is something you’ll be able to break out and play with just a small handful of people. And once it’s all set up, you’ll be able to admire the well-designed board and figurines.

• Does not require a lot of players.
• Includes aspects of two great IPs, Star Trek and Settlers of Catan.
• Beautiful pieces and board.
• The included character cards add a new element to the game.
• Duration of the game isn’t too long.
• A few players felt it was little confusing learning how to play initially.

Star Trek Ascendancy

In Star Trek Ascendancy, you can choose to play as one of three popular races from the series: the Federation, Klingon, or Romulans. This is perfect for those fans of the franchise who want to share their love of the lore with someone new.

One of the most interesting aspects of this game is its board. It expands as you play, which makes each game different from each other.

This isn’t the kind of game you’re going to get bored of, because it will be different every time. Plus, just like the spirit of the show, you’ll be given the opportunity to explore the universe and meet other cultures.

• Perfect for old fans and introducing new people to Star Trek lore.
• No two games will be exactly the same.
• Allows you to choose from three different beloved factions, each with their own specialties.
• The pieces and cards are gorgeously detailed.
• It can take a longer amount of time to learn and complete one game.

Star Trek Panic

Are you trying to find a game that will tone down the competition a bit? Star Trek Panic is a fantastic choice, especially if you’ve got a few people in your friend group that tend to take competition a little too seriously.

In Star Trek Panic, you and your friends play as crew members on the U.S.S. Enterprise. Rather than compete to win, you must work together to protect the ship from various obstacles. If one of you fails, all of you might fail – and the same goes for winning.

The players lose the game if the ship is destroyed. We know we’ve experienced a few people who like to flip tables when competition gets too intense, so a game like this could be perfect.

• Cooperative gameplay.
• Includes a miniature model of the U.S.S. Enterprise.
• You can play by yourself.
• Can support up to six players.
• Games take a modest hour and a half on average to complete.
• Some owners felt this game was a bit too simple.

Star Trek TNG FLuxx

Okay, so we might be cheating a little bit by adding a FLuxx game, because it’s more of a card game than it is a board game. However, we couldn’t resist adding it to the list because we think it deserved to be mentioned.

Star Trek TNG FLuxx is a game you’ll never be able to predict. The outcome and even the rules change with every single session.

Furthermore, since the pieces are cards, there’s no complicated setup here. You won’t need to spend hours setting it up beforehand and putting it away once the game is finished.

• Every game will be different from the last.
• Suitable for kids and adults alike.
• No lengthy setup or breakdown.
• Light and easy to store.
• Has an expansion pack if you love it and want to add to it.
• Not the game to pick if you’re looking for something to spend hours doing, as it can be completed in as little as ten minutes.

Star Trek Fleet Captains

This game focuses more on the ships from the series. So if you’re a spaceship fan, this is the game for you, as it puts you squarely in control of the Federation or Klingon fleet.

Once you choose your fleet, you’ll have 12 different ships to choose from during play. The game also supports a range of play styles. You can either take your opponent on directly or focus more on completing missions around the board in order to win the game.

• Focuses on ships from the show.
• Allows you to play confrontationally or non-confrontationally.
• Includes exquisitely detailed ship models.
• You don’t need a lot of people to play it, as it needs only two to four players.
• A few players felt the cards were a little thin and flimsy.
• It can take some time to read through the rules at first.

Star Trek: The Next Generation Chess Set

Here is a futuristic twist on an otherwise classic game! Just as you might have guessed from the name, this is a chess set in which the pieces are modeled to look like characters and ships from the series.

The detailed little pieces come stored in a durable package. In between games, you won’t need to worry about the pieces or board being damaged.

• Classic, strategic gameplay.
• The pieces are detailed.
• Convenient storage slots for each piece.
• The board is designed to look like outer space.
• It doesn’t bring anything new to the game – it’s just chess.
• Only allows for up to two players.

Star Trek Frontiers

Sometimes, you just want to sit down and play a board game without having to coordinate with a group of friends. When you’re looking for something you can play without getting a bunch of people to agree on it, Star Trek Frontiers is a fantastic choice.

Because 1-4 people can play it, you can easily run a session by yourself. If you’re bored by yourself or can’t get everyone to agree on it, then you can still play it.

Perhaps best of all, it comes with different scenarios. You can play it competitively or cooperatively depending on what mood your friends are in.

• You can play it by yourself or with a small group of people.
• It’s possible to play competitively or cooperatively.
• Lightweight for easy storage.
• Colorful and beautiful pieces.
• Has both deck-building and board game components.
• It can take some time to set up and learn.

WizKids Star Trek: Galactic Enterprise

This is the perfect game for anyone with a business sense. In WizKids Star Trek: Galactic Enterprise, you play as a Ferengi shopkeeper trying to peddle your wares on Deep Space 9.

Your goal is to purchase supplies to sell, then turn around and make a profit on those supplies. Other players will try to purchase the same supplies and undercut you.

• Allows for a wide range of players – 3-8 people.
• Interesting bargain and competition gameplay.
• A session can be completed in 45 minutes.
• Needs a minimum of three people.
• Some people felt a few of the pieces were hard to read.

Star Trek: Five-Year Mission

Need a game that can support a larger group of people? Star Trek: Five-Year Mission could be the game for you, as it can support up to seven players. That means you can bring it out for a medium-sized gathering without leaving anyone out.

Because the duration of each game lasts anywhere from 30-45 minutes, you’ll be able to fit more than one session in a night. Or, you can swap it up and play another game right after. You won’t need to stay up all night, falling asleep over the board after several hours of play with this one.

• The box is a compact size, making it easy to store in between games.
• Supports up to seven players.
• Has gorgeous full-color cards.
• Can be pretty affordable.
• Encourages cooperation between players.
• It relies on dice rolls and random shuffles, so a lot of it is left up to chance rather than skill.

Monopoly Klingon Collector’s Edition

Say you want to turn up the heat of your game night while giving it a sci-fi twist. The Klingon Collector’s Edition of Monopoly is exactly what you’re looking for.

We’re all familiar with the game. Monopoly is great for families and people of all age groups, and allows you to dominate the board as a businessman. The difference here is that the Klingon Collector’s Edition takes this classic game and turns it into an intergalactic adventure.

• Easy-to-understand rules.
• Colorful and detailed board.
• Intricate character pieces.
• Looking for a shorter game? You can play the hour-long speed-play version.
• The corner pieces of the board are not Star Trek-themed, which seems a little out of place.

What to Consider When Buying a Star Trek Board Game

Number of players.

Before you purchase any board game, you should think about how many people are needed to play it. If you’re planning to play it more than occasionally, you might want to look for something that doesn’t require as many players. After all, it’s surprisingly difficult to get a large group of people to agree to play one game.

On the other hand, there’s something really fun about playing with more than a few people. Games get more intriguing, because you have more types of players around the table.

One thing to keep in mind, too, is that some games allow you to play solo. These types of games are perfect for people who live alone or those who want to be able to play a board game at any time.

Complex games can be great…once you get the hang of them. However, beginning players might not have the patience to spend hours exasperatedly leafing through a rulebook the size of a dictionary.

For that reason, consider your and other players’ levels of expertise. Are you familiar with the game already, or is it new to you?

If it’s new to you, you can find gameplay reviews or videos online to give you an idea of what you’re in for in regards to the learning curve.

Game Duration

Sometimes, you get together with your family or friends for a whole night of gaming. Snacks, drinks, and fun are had over the course of an evening.

But at other times, you might want something you can set up, play, and put away quickly. You might not necessarily want something that will take the better part of an afternoon to sink into.

Make sure you take a look at the estimated game time for each option. Determine how long you’re willing to sit down and play a game at one time.

Pieces/Parts

Some board games have an exhausting setup. With hundreds (sometimes even thousands!) of pieces, you can spend the greater part of an hour just putting everything together.

For some people, this isn’t really a drawback. Some legitimately enjoy sophisticated boards with designs that can be changed or customized for each game.

However, other people might prefer something that can be set up quickly. This might be the case if you don’t have a lot of time or if you’re looking to purchase a game for children.

Most board games will have pictures of the setup. You can review this before purchasing to determine if it looks like it would take a lot of time or if it looks simple.

Clearly, one of the most crucial parts of any Star Trek board game is the theme. You’ll find many sci-fi board games out there, but not as many that are centered around the Star Trek universe specifically.

Even some purporting to be Star Trek games aren’t entirely consistent. Like with the Monopoly Klingon Collector’s Edition , a few of the pieces or components might not fit the theme.

Many players note that certain characters or pieces don’t behave like they would in the show, such as Federation pieces being aggressive. This may not be important to you if all you want is a board game with a shallow Star Trek makeover. If you’re really into the universe, though, it could make a huge difference.

If you’re looking to dive into the universe of Star Trek outside of the show, a board game can be the perfect way to do so. We hope you’ve shown you some intriguing options you can bring to your own tabletop sometime soon.

Our personal recommendation from the list is Star Trek Catan. This is because we’ve played Settlers of Catan ourselves before, and we know this strategic game is popular for a reason. We think the format is a good fit for the Star Trek universe.

Best Star Trek Board Games

By: Author Bryan Truong

Categories Board Games , Round-Ups

In a galaxy far, far away…

Just kidding, we’re boldly going where one franchise has gone before. We’re heading to the vastness of all things Star Trek, specifically we’re looking at the best Star Trek board games this side of the Milky Way. 

Engage warp drives and let’s jump in. Check out the 14 Best Star Trek board games below.

Our Top Picks for Best Star Trek Board Games

In a hurry? Check out our favorites below.

#1. Star Trek: Frontiers

Mage Knight was one of my favorite board games and probably the most fun I’ve ever had playing a solo-game . 

Star Trek: Frontiers takes the Mage Knight system and ruleset and transports it to the Star Trek universe. 

Star Trek: Frontiers uses a streamlined version of the ruleset so it’s easier to jump into the game. It includes solo, competitive, and cooperative scenarios as well as a host of fan-made content that will keep any Trekkie busy exploring the universe.  

Although Frontiers is a simpler version of Mage Knight, that’s not to say it’s not a massive world to explore. On top of that, there’s the Return of Khan expansion that adds Khan’s ship and a lot more content to the mix.

#2. Star Trek: Ascendancy

Star Trek: Ascendancy takes players out of the roles of their favorite captains and instead puts them at the helm of 3 iconic factions in Star Trek: the United Federation of Planets, the Klingons, and the Romulans.

Ascendancy is a strictly 3-player , 4X strategy game.

Players will need to eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate (4X) in order to win. It’s a much larger scale view of the Star Trek universe and gives the players a chance to run their own civilization. It captures a lot of the Star Trek lore by bringing in custom tech trees for each race and an incredible, explorable world to conquer. 

There’s an amazing amount of replay value but the only downside is that the game takes quite a while to finish… and it absolutely requires 3 players. If you have a consistent gaming group of 4, you can still play if you get the Borg expansion. It adds a semi-cooperative element to the game due to everyone having to fight off the Borg assimilation.

#3. Star Trek: Fleet Captains

Get ready for some ship-to-ship warfare. Fleet Captains is a nifty little miniatures game that uses a system similar to HeroClix, in which each model has a rotating base to determine stats and damage. 

Unlike a lot of other miniatures-based games, however, you won’t have to buy a ton of boosters to play a big ship battle. Everything you need comes in the box and you get a surprising amount of ships for the Federation and the Klingons. If you do want some other factions like the Romulans, you’ll have to get an expansion, though. 

The game is a little intimidating to set up but much easier after the first game or two. There’s a variable setup and ship-drafting mechanic so no two space battles will ever be the same, adding a ton of replay to your universe. 

#4. Star Trek: Attack Wing

Attack Wing… Now, where have I heard that name before? 

If you’re familiar with the Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game then you’ll be right at home. Attack Wing reimplements the same system that’s been altered for the Star Trek universe. 

Personally, I love the system that they use here and it makes for an awesome dogfighting, ship-to-ship combat experience. 

The miniature design is one of my favorites in the Trekkie universe and they look fantastic on the table. 

The only real downside is that the system is completely incompatible with any others, so you’ll never be able to see which fandom would win in a fight, Star Trek vs. Star Wars . 

#5. Star Trek: Panic

On the lighter end of the galaxy is Star Trek: Panic. It improves ( IMHO ) upon the original which is called Castle Panic . 

If you’re unfamiliar, the Panic series puts the players in a defensible position at the center of the board with a swarm of enemies constantly moving in from all sides. It’s your job to work together to stem the tides, repair your defenses, and survive the onslaught.

Star Tek: Panic improves upon the original system by having players defend the USS Enterprise. Players now can use character cards to gain roles and abilities from the original series and there’s even a mission-based system that adds more flavor to the game. 

Some of the other games in the Panic series were criticized for not staying true to the original ruleset but I think the new rules added to the Star Trek variant improve upon the original system. 

It’s a fun re-theme of a great game that’s great for families and the younger crowd. 

#6. Star Trek: Catan

Star Trek comes to Catan but instead of a cute little island with a handful of sheep, you’ll instead be sitting in space at an outpost that’ll never be upgraded because “KAREN”  won’t ever trade Oxygen!

Seriously though, it’s a very thematic Trek-themed version of Catan that includes a host of heroes from all across the series. Each one gives players a significant boost or ability in-game and it really changes up the gameplay. 

I’m a huge fan of Catan and the Star Trek version is another great way to get a quick Trek fix while playing a great game. 

To add more Easter Eggs to your Catan game, you can check the Federation Space Expansion that changes up the board by adding the map used in the show that displays all of the known federation space. There are also a few extra goodies and variants thrown in as a bonus.

#7. Star Trek: Chrono-Trek Card Game

A Star Trek-themed variant of Looney Labs’ Chrononauts . 

Franchises, especially Star Trek, like to revamp timelines and alter the very fabric of time to reboot a series. Chrono-Trek lets you sit in the writer/director’s seat and take charge of your own Trekkie timeline. 

Each player becomes a secret agent that needs to travel through the entire Star Trek timeline and create their own alternate realities to suit their own needs. It’s a very simple and quick game that lets you reminisce and relive a lot of the fun Star Trek moments that you know and love. Then you can change them all in a series of what-ifs.

It asks the important questions, like “What if the Federation was assimilated by the Borg?” 

Chaos, that’s what. 

#8. Star Trek: Deck-Building Game

Deck-builders have always been among my favorite games. They allow for a ton of customization and they’ve grown steadily in complexity and mechanics throughout the years while still staying true to the core game mechanics.

The Star Trek Deck-Building Game adds a bit more Trekkie flair to the genre by having players take on the role of captains on a salvaged ship. It’s the perfect platform for a deck-builder . You have an empty ship ready to be filled with iconic crew members and equipment from the Star Trek Universe.

There are 3 different stand-alone versions that can be combined with any others for a more mix-and-matched galaxy to explore. Each one represents a different Star Trek era from the Original Series or the Next Generation.

Each version comes with 3 thematic ways to play, free for all, teams, and cooperative. They’re all thematically linked to their respective eras, so you may be finding yourself fending off the Borg with Picard or picking up allies for your fight in a Klingon civil war.

#9. Star Trek: Fluxx 

Fluxx is a dumb game. It’s completely random, wacky and full of puns. So although it’s dumb it’s a ton of fun and easy to play.

Players start the game out with 2 simple rules: draw a card then play a card. That’s it. There’s literally no way to win yet. As the game goes on, new crazy rules will come into play along with goal cards that actually give the win condition.

It’s a super weird game but fun to play. If you enjoy it, there are also a ton of different thematic versions, like zombies , Cthulu, and even a generic Sci-Fi version that has even more Star Trek puns. 

#10. Star Trek: Conflick in the Neutral Zone

No that’s not a typo, the game is called “Conflick”.

Conflick is a dexterity game where players flick their pieces to into position on a board. Similar to shuffleboard, you can also knock away players’ pieces. 

I’m normally not a big fan of dexterity games because I’m as graceful as a moose trapped in a bedspread. Conflick, however, has some neat mechanics that go along with flicking prowess. Players need to manage resources, by positioning their ships near planets, while managing their number of actions. It makes for a rather exciting tabletop experience.

#11. Star Trek: Expeditions

Star Trek: Expeditions is based on the 2009 reboot of the series and thus uses all the fancy bells, whistles, and lense flairs you’ve come to expect from the new series. 

In Expeditions, the USS Enterprise is dispatched to a distant world that is under attack from Klingons, undergoing a civil war, and is about to say no to an alliance with the United Federation of Planets. Cue the “So you had a bad day” soundtrack.

Players have to work together to solve all three problems before things get out of hand and the Enterprise is forced to withdraw.

Expeditions is a very social game in which you’ll spend a lot of time talking with your friends and trying to solve this sad sack of a planet’s problems… and it’s really fun. 

The few downsides to this one are that there is a lot of randomness and luck involved and the name of the game should have been “Expedition”. There’s a bit of randomness to the sidequest but the overarching mission will always have the planet in a civil war, threatening to back out of the alliance and a Klingon war party on the horizon. It’s the same scenario every time you play. 

There is, however, an expansion that adds Scotty, Sulu, and Chekov into the mix along with a few new side missions to contend with, which does add more variety.

#12. Star Trek: Five Year Mission

Star Trek: Five Year Mission seems like a lightweight Pandemic / Party game . 

In Five Year Mission, players must choose whether to play as the cast of the Original Series or the Next Generation. Each player takes on the role of a crewmember from their respective ships and together they’ll need to solve casualties and alerts. 

How do you solve alerts?

Lots of dice . Five Year Mission relies heavily on dice to resolve alerts and therefore has a lot of randomness built into it. It can get very chaotic as crewmembers become injured while the Enterprise is burning down around you.

#13. Star Trek: Adventures

I always enjoy a good RPG system.

I’m one of the weirdos that spend their time reading the core rulebooks of various systems. It’s really fun to get lost in new worlds. 

The Star Trek: Adventures is a full-fledged pen and paper RPG that uses a 2d20 system. Players will be able to create their own stories as members of the Federation. 

The number of resources in the core rulebook is amazing. There’s a ton of information spanning the entire history of Starfleet. The artwork is pretty incredible too.

Being a traditional RPG, the stories and events are only limited by your imagination, but there are also several modules written by Star Trek veterans.

I personally can’t wait to play a game based on John Scalzi’s Redshirts.

#14. Star Trek: Road Trip

Star Trek: Road Trip is a very simple, family-friendly game. (Maybe even good for a family road trip too?)

Players are cadets of Starfleet completing the Enterprise Challenge. They’ll need to move around the board to collect tokens to move towards the center of the board. The player to return with all 4 tokens is the winner.

It’s not the most exciting game in the world, but it’s extremely simple and has a nice retro vibe from the Original Series.

After exploring the far reaches of the galaxy with us we hope you had fun exploring a universe and fandom that has inspired millions of people throughout the world. 

Did your favorite Star Trek game not make the list? Leave a comment below.  We’d love to hear about your favorite Star Trek board games!

Before starting GameCows with his wife Kendra, he used to teach English Language Arts in the US. He combined his love of gaming with education to create fun game-based learning lessons until he eventually decided to run GameCows with Kendra full-time. He’s known for pouring over rulebooks in his spare time, being the rule master during game night, and as the perma DM in his DnD group. Bryan loves board games, writing, traveling, and above all his wife and partner in crime, Kendra.

David Albin

Tuesday 7th of December 2021

There was a solo game called “Star Trek III” that had you either re-enact Robin Hood and his Merry Men, pick up and deliver trade goods, or try out the Kobyashi Maru challenge. Three separate games, hence the title. Check it out!

Tuesday 9th of June 2020

“The best diplomat that I know is a fully-loaded phaser bank.” —Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott

Star Fleet Battles (made in 1979) was one of our favorites! Take the helm of a Star Fleet vessel and engage the enemy at warp speed! Players command one or more ships from the Federation, Klingon, Gorn, Romulan, or Kzinti fleets, using weapons like phasers, disruptor bolts, photon and plasma torpedoes.

Bryan Truong

Friday 19th of June 2020

HEY CARKLY!

I'm glad you liked the article. I was trying to dig up some of the older editions of Star Fleet when I was writing this one. I just ended up getting lost in years and years of lore though. Do you still have the sheets of your Bruning Battlecruiser hidden away?

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Published Dec 13, 2022

The 10 Best Star Trek Table Top Games

From Risk to Panic, we're diving into Star Trek's storied board game history.

StarTrek.com / Rob DeHart

Table top games are a great way of gathering together as a family or group of friends, and enjoying a communal experience away from screens. Thanks to their reliance on strategy and thinking over fast, impulse reactions, they're particularly great when you need something that appeals to a wide range of age groups.

If you all happen to be massive Star Trek fans, what could be better than getting involved in some Star Trek table top gaming? There are some great Star Trek themed board games out there that are sure to make you feel part of the Star Trek universe, while also giving you all a great challenge.

Here's a look at ten of the best table top games for capturing the Star Trek spirit.

Risk: Star Trek

StarTrek.com

There are plenty of Star Trek themed tie-ins of popular games but they don't always do a fantastic job of making you feel part of Star Trek . Risk: Star Trek bucks that trend. Released for the 50th anniversary, it brings together Captain Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, and Archer with each player getting to choose their favorite era.

The rules are similar to regular Risk with some key tweaks that it's borrowed from other Risk games. It's a shrewd strategy meaning that it's far from imposing for those not used to table top gaming, but it's also reasonably complex too. You assemble a crew before taking them on away missions with each character providing a specific skillset. There are quests to complete too as you aim to control all the territories.

It's a good bet for a challenging family gaming experience, but it also works well as a two-player title.

Star Trek : Fleet Captains

Designed for two or four players, Star Trek: Fleet Captains is a more adversarial table top game than most. You choose to take the role of either Klingons or the Federation before competing for dominance. While that sounds aggressive, success can also be gained through completing various missions and the decisions you choose to make.

Various decks of cards play an important role here, with each deck offering unique bonuses such as the Klingons' ability to have larger ships while the Federation is more shrewd. Each ship also has strengths and weaknesses which tie into their ability to complete missions and become stronger over time.

Some of the Fleet Captains can be quite complex but it's consistently entertaining because every session is different from the last. That's helped massively by random encounters which typically correspond to a single episode of the show, such as one encounter centered on Tribbles. It's been described as a game that's like playing out an entire season of Star Trek due to its story arc and varied missions. Who could resist that kind of experience?

Star Trek : Five-Year Mission

Star Trek: Five-Year Mission is a co-operative dice game for three to seven players. You take on the role of crew members on either the U.S.S. Enterprise or U.S.S. Enterprise-D . Together you have to solve a series of alerts in order to score points before the Enterprise is eventually destroyed.

Each crew member has a different ability so you have to work together in order to complete the tasks. It's important to adhere to the prime directive, avoid injuries as well as ship damage, and (of course) fix the alerts.

It's the kind of game that takes minutes to learn so it's ideal if you're not experienced in tabletop gaming. Being able to work together as a team feels perfectly in keeping with the Star Trek ethos too, so it's a lot of fun with family or friends.

Star Trek Panic

Based on the family game Castle Panic , Star Trek Panic is a light cooperative tower defense board game. While the original game had you working together to defend a castle, this time round, you must defend the U.S.S. Enterprise from enemy attacks.

It's a fairly simple game to learn and ideal for all the family to gather around, no matter what the age range. Based in The Original Series , games can take between 45 and 90 minutes depending on what you choose but it's a fun ride throughout.

Star Trek Panic includes some exclusive mission cards and unique challenges based on the original series, as well as character cards so you can assume the role of all your favorites from TOS. Best of all, it won't take too long to learn so it's a good introduction to table top gaming.

Star Trek Frontiers

If you're keen for a highly involved and complex Star Trek table top experience, then Star Trek Frontiers is the game for you. The average playing time is a couple of hours with that easily extending to three or four hours depending on how things unfold. It's pretty complex stuff too but highly rewarding.

Like many table top games, you command your own ship, recruit new crew members, and use your skills and experience to confront a series of challenges. The space map is randomly built using a tile system so each session is different from the last.

Designed for one to four players, there are numerous different competitive, cooperative, as well as solo scenarios to work through. Also in keeping with the Star Trek nature, not all require aggression. Expanding your knowledge and using leadership skills is often just as crucial to your success. Star Trek Frontiers isn't a great option for newbies or young players, but for those who know what they're doing, it's a rich universe out there.

Star Trek Adventures

A roleplaying adventure, Star Trek Adventures is a lot like Dungeons and Dragons - Star Trek style. It's hard to resist anything that's packaged up in a Borg type cube. Inside that cube is a wealth of dice, figurines, maps, and other things that are sure to excite you the moment you unpack it.

And it's a pretty great experience. It feels like you're living through scenes from actual episodes, while crossing the generations so you can be part of whichever Star Trek lore you prefer. It's a really enjoyable way to work together to seek out new worlds, while being exactly what you want to be courtesy of the extensive character creation made available to you.

Don't expect this to be a brief experience as there's so much going on, but do expect to enjoy many fun evenings gathered around seeing where you can go next. A fine way to share winter night in particular.

Star Trek Ascendancy

Another weighty game, Star Trek Ascendancy works best with four players. Capturing the spirit well, it's all about exploration as well as expansion and some conflict. That conflict is varied given that Star Trek Ascendancy involves the Federation, Klingon Empire, and Romulan Empire. The game comes with more than 200 miniatures so you get the idea of just how far reaching expansion can be.

There's the option for peace and exploration but few will be able to resist challenging opposing players too. After all, there are 30 different star systems to check out, and each represents some of Star Trek 's most memorable locations.

With a chunky rule book, and a plethora of decisions to make, Star Trek Ascendancy is a bit intimidating at first but it feels suitably in key with the theme. You'll enjoy mastering it.

Federation Commander: Klingon Border

Combat is everything in Federation Commander: Klingon Border which explains why it's a fast-paced game that typically takes under an hour to complete. Loosely based on Starfleet Battles, a much longer experience, Federation Commander: Klingon Border is a more welcoming time.

Via a mixture of using cards well and rolling dice just so, destroying competing starships is all you're aiming for here. Planning out your power distribution well, however, is where strategy becomes a crucial part of the game. Your ship needs to be moving fast while still steadily producing energy and, of course, firing at enemies effectively. If you've ever wanted to feel a key part of Starfleet's tactical wing, this is the game for you.

It can be a little tricky to juggle all the different elements of ship management at first, but you'll soon find yourself embroiled in massive fights that feel like the climatic scene in a war. If you're keen on war-gaming, this is a good route to pursue.

Star Fleet Battles

One of the older Star Trek- themed board games out there, Star Fleet Battles is a little unruly for newbies. Expect for it to take a few hours to play through, and much longer still if you're figuring out the rulebook.

At its heart though, it's a ship-to-ship warfare simulation game and a lot of fun. A hexagonal map guides you around with cardboard counters to place where you are, as you choose to work as a fleet or work against each other. Ships represented include the Federation, Romulan Empire, Klingon Empire, as well as a few Star Fleet Battles exclusives such as the Hydran Kingdom.

Interestingly, while its focus is squarely on The Original Series, it also includes some elements from The Animated Series , which is a great coup for anyone who loved that much underrated show. Just don't be surprised if it takes a long time for Star Fleet Battles to truly gel. It's not for the casual board game player.

Star Trek : Expeditions

Star Trek : Expeditions is based in the Kelvin Universe that we've seen in the 2009 movie and onwards. It's a cooperative four player game where you work together to beat the game effectively.

Players take the role of Kirk, Spock, Bones, and Uhura, as they attempt to defuse the threat of civil war, deal with a Klingon threat, as well as help a planet join the Federation. It's peak Star Trek with a suitable mixture of diplomacy and strategy.

It's also a fairly speedy game as all of this has to be achieved in roughly 30 turns, meaning you won't be stuck for hours on end. A scoresheet tracks your progress with the decisions you make vastly affecting how well you're doing. The only downside is that replay-ability is a little limited but it's great to see a game based on the Kelvin Universe.

This article was originally published on September 24, 2019.

Jennifer Allen (she/her) is a freelance journalist who has written for Playboy, Mashable, and Eurogamer amongst others. She lives in South Wales with her three guinea pigs and cat. Find her on Twitter @jenjeahaly.

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

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Star Trek has been around for over five decades and while there have been years-long breaks, the series has stuck around ever since Kirk met Spock. Over the years, fans have enjoyed dozens of Star Trek games, from first-person shooters to strategy games and, more recently, mobile games.

Some Star Trek games fall within the storyline of a show, featuring voices from the actual cast, whereas others are entirely new stories that expand the narrative universe. While not every gaming voyage into the stars is a successful one, there are some that offer fans a genuine Star Trek experience.

Updated on April 30 & September 12, 2023, by Ajay Aravind & James Lynch: The Star Trek franchise is arguably one of the most influential sci-fi media empires of all time. There are countless video games for multiple platforms, each of which is radically different from the next. As such, we've updated this list of the greatest Star Trek games out there, at least according to Metacritic ratings.

RELATED: Star Trek's 10 Greatest One-off Characters

15 Star Trek Away Team

Metacritic rating: 64.

With similar games proving so popular, it's little wonder developer Reflexive Entertainment saw the potential in a real-time tactical game tied to a franchise as big as Star Trek . In Star Trek Away Team , the player leads their squad of Starfleet Officers through various missions, taking on some of the most iconic enemies in the universe in the process.

The main criticism for Star Trek Away Team was that it didn't have anything particularly new. All of its features worked to an acceptable level, but it didn't have anything approaching fresh or exciting. For big fans of the franchise, it could be a nice way to spend a few hours, but many preferred to leave it on the virtual shelf.

14 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Dominion Wars

This time taking the real-time tactics to outer space and ship-based encounters Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Dominion Wars suffers from many of the same issues as Away Team . Players could select their crew, ship type and various upgrades to customize the experience and prepare for different encounters, but the game remained overwhelmingly bland.

An entirely linear experience, there is very little that would want to make players keep coming back for more after an initial playthrough. The narrative for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Dominion Wars proved forgettable, and the release was marred by several spectacular bugs that led to it being near unplayable for many.

13 Star Trek Armada 2

Metacritic rating: 65.

With the popularity of games like Starcraft still ringing in everyone's ears, developer Mad Doc Software did everything in their power to replicate its many successes. Unfortunately, this wouldn't prove to be enough. Instead, Star Trek Armada 2 became one of the many forgettable Star Trek games.

Set in the Next Generation era of the show, Star Trek Armada 2 isn't an objectively poor game, but there is no reason to recommend it above amazing genre entries like Alpha Centauri and Sins of a Solar Empire . With some iconic appearances from the Borg and Klingon, it remains one for the purists.

RELATED: Every Star Trek Series, Ranked By IMDb

12 Star Trek Online

Metacritic rating: 68.

It was only a matter of time before Star Trek turned its attention to the perpetually popular MMORPG genre, but, like many titanic franchises that attempted to do the same, it could have been a lot better. Star Trek Online had some cool features like a crew-based crafting system and the ability to beam down and operate as a player character in certain settings.

The ship elements in Star Trek Online were also fun, at first, but lacking in the depth necessary to offer the immersion people were looking for. After the developer couldn't maintain the numbers needed to keep the MMO functional, they switched to a free-to-play model. This wasn't enough to cover the glaring issues with the voice acting and roleplaying elements and it remains a deeply divisive game among the community.

11 Star Trek: Resurgence

Metacritic rating: 71.

Star Trek: Resurgence had all the right ingredients and could've permanently raised the standards for Star Trek tie-ins. Unfortunately, it couldn't fully capitalize on the potential it displayed early in development, though it remains a solid effort for dedicated fans to enjoy. A down-the-line action-adventure game, its greatest strength is its narrative direction and choice-based consequence system.

For a world that relies so much on diplomacy, implementing those features in Star Trek: Resurgence feels like a fitting decision on the developers' part. On the other side of the coin, the minigames leave a lot to be desired and some of the narrative threads don't feel as though they were properly resolved. Despite some poor gameplay mechanics, those who enjoy visual novels will appreciate the game's style.

10 Star Trek: Klingon Academy

Metacritic rating: 74.

While other Star Trek games focus on the Federation, Star Trek: Klingon Academy assigns players the role of a student in the Elite Command Academy of the Klingon Empire, headed by the fierce warrior General Chang. Klingon Academy is a space combat simulator that follows a story set between the two original series movies, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

Klingon Academy was designed as a successor to Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, mirroring the perspective shift of the Star Wars X-wing and Tie Fighter games. Star Trek: Klingon Academy' s gameplay is more strategic than many other space combat sims, making the battle experience much more tactical.

RELATED: Star Trek: The Next Generation and the Roddenberry Box, Explained

9 Star Trek: Invasion

Metacritic rating: 76.

In Star Trek: Invasion , players control an ace starship pilot in the Red Squad tactical strike force led by Lt. Commander Worf, voiced by the actual actor Michael Dorn. Players fight through a multitude of space combat missions while they try to uncover the mystery of a surprise Romulan attack, a Borg invasion, and a renegade Starfleet Captain.

Star Trek: Invasion looks and plays similar to the Colony Wars PlayStation games, featuring combat that's challenging but fun. While returning to this game from the 2000s may not be the best trip, it is still one of the best Star Trek experiences on consoles.

8 Star Trek: Bridge Crew

Metacritic rating: 78.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew puts players into the seats of the iconic starship Enterprise . The game was originally VR only, but Ubisoft updated it to allow standard gameplay as well. While gamers can play Bridge Crew on their own, the real fun comes when players enter a lobby with their friends.

Each player must operate a single position on the starship's bridge, from the Captain's chair to Navigation, Tactical, and Ops, barking orders at each other through in-game voice communication. Teamwork is key in completing missions. Bridge Crew features the original Enterprise bridge from Star Trek as well as the Kelvin Timeline bridge. Creatives later added DLC that lets players command Picard's Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation .

7 Star Trek: Elite Force II

Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force put players on the elite Hazard Team on the starship Voyager . In the sequel, Star Trek Elite Force II , players return to controlling Alexander Munro, a member of the Hazard Team, but on the Enterprise-E.

The first-person shooter gives players an array of weapons as they take on dangerous away missions. Star Trek Elite Force II also featured more open environments, rather than just the confined hallways and cargo bays of the first game. The voice cast features actual Star Trek voice actors, including Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard and Tim Russ as Tuvok.

6 Star Trek: Starfleet Command III

Star Trek: Starfleet Command III follows its predecessors in allowing players to control their very own ship. Players can customize their starship to perform different strategies in combat, such as hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, or direct assaults.

This version of Star Trek: Starfleet Command improved the user experience, adding a new interface that allows players to focus more on combat than ship management. It also added RPG elements so players could upgrade their ships and officers. Players control Federation, Klingon, or Romulan ships across a variety of missions through the Deep Space 9 , TNG, and Voyager eras of Star Trek .

RELATED: 10 Star Trek Phasers, Ranked

5 Star Trek: Starfleet Command - Orion Pirates

The standalone expansion Star Trek: Starfleet Command - Orion Pirates builds upon the universe set up by the base game Star Trek Starfleet Command II: Empires At War. Players take control of one of the eight factions from the original game, such as the Federation, Klingons, or Romulans.

Players can either challenge the Orion Pirates and attempt to defeat them, or join up with them and move toward a goal of dominating the entire sector. The combat in Starfleet Command - Orion Pirates is very strategic and tactical as players control many starships that are both new and familiar to fans.

4 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Fallen

Metacritic rating: 81.

Fans often consider Star Trek: Deep Space Nine one of the best Star Trek series . Its popularity led the show to receive a third-person shooter game adaptation in 2000. The gameplay is fairly generic for a third-person shooter, but the intriguing story and overall Trek atmosphere work well.

The story of The Fallen , which is loosely based on a series of extended universe novels, follows Captain Sisko, Major Kira, and Lt. Commander Worf as they try to secure powerful red orbs to prevent the resurrection of the Pah-wraiths, an evil race from Bajoran legend. Players can play as any of the three characters, but the game only reveals the full story when players complete each character's campaign.

3 Star Trek Fleet Command

Metacritic rating: 82.

Star Trek Fleet Command is a mobile strategy game that puts players in charge of a space station set in the Kelvin timeline. Players can explore systems and interact with NPCs and other online players while building up their fleet of starships helmed by iconic characters like Kirk, Spock, and Nero.

Star Trek Fleet Command gives players control of Federation, Klingon, and Romulan factions in their attempt to seize control of the Alpha and Beta quadrants. In true Star Trek fashion, players have the option of forging alliances or striking out on their own for pure domination.

RELATED: 15 Times Star Trek Changed Its Uniforms and Why

2 Star Trek: Bridge Commander

Star Trek: Bridge Commander lets players live out their Star Trek command fantasies. Gamers control a character who must take over captain duties when a sun erupts, causing heavy damage to the ship and killing the previous captain.

In Star Trek: Bridge Commander , players will fight against the Cardassians and join up with Klingons, all while investigating the conniving Romulans to solve the mystery of what happened in this remote part of space. This 2002 space sim offers great tactical space combat and an intriguing story that honors the Star Trek franchise.

1 Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force

Metacritic rating: 86.

In 2000, Star Trek fans received a great FPS adaptation of Star Trek: Voyager . On the starship Voyager , players control a member of the Hazard Team, a group who must go on especially dangerous away missions . Voyager is trapped in a hostile starship graveyard and the player must discover how they got there and who is responsible.

Players take on several familiar factions like the Borg and Klingons, as well as brand-new enemies. The gameplay in Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force is fast and fun and includes the actual voices of Voyager' s characters. Elite Force plays a lot like Quake and Doom , and that is a compliment.

Celebrate 50 Years of Star Trek With This Amazing Board Game

“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise…”

If hearing the first sentence of that iconic quote gets your loins all tingly, then this is the game for you. If instead you’re running for the closest X-Wing or Viper, or whatever preferred mode of transportation system you’d flee in, pump the brakes because this game is likely for you as well. Star Trek:   Ascendancy is not just a great Trek board game; it’s simply one of the best 4X designs ever birthed.

Players will spread across the boundless realm of space controlling the Federation, Klingon, or Romulan empires. You start from a humble beginning with a few ships and a single colony. The goal is to achieve Ascendancy by amassing culture, or smash the worlds of your opponents and guzzle their blood to gain Supremacy. Both are valid, achievable, and oh so satisfying.

You’ll start by exploring. Ships will be sent to warp and emerge into new prospering locales. Or you’ll hit an ion storm and have your fleet crushed. Maybe you’ll survive and study the phenomenon to gain precious Science that will be funneled back into research.

This exploration mechanism is the most unique element of the design. Discovered planets have a loose position on the map as they can be swiveled and pivoted around the celestial body you explored from. Any player can move a planet on their turn so it allows for a dynamic and vibrant galaxy that will take interesting shape from player advocacy. It’s thrilling and feels alive in a way most other games would kill for.

Additionally, each planet is given context via random encounter card. Sometimes you’ll run into killer robots wanting to repel you from their home. Other times you’ll run into massive culturally rich and economically powerful civilizations. The gamut is wide and there’s a definite sense of mystery and subsequent excitement when you draw that card and see what treasures–or horrors–await.

These encounters are the primary way in which the television series pops its head into the game. While each of the three civilizations is wonderfully asymmetric, most of this game is from a zoomed out epic scope. Additionally, the game takes place over decades so you never get a sense of Picard or the Enterprise specifically, except for these wonderful encounters that will have you perking up and reminiscing about moments of TNG or Voyager.

This also means that if you’re not a huge Trek fan, it doesn’t really matter. As long as you know that Klingons mean death, Romulans are cloaky mofos, and Federation wants to gives out blankets and food; you’re golden. Each civilization has a special rule such as the Fed gaining Culture for discovering developed planets and phenomena. They also have a flaw which means the Enterprise can’t bombard a planet and wipe it out. Diplomacy is the name of their game.

Much of that faction flavor is found in the Advancement deck. Instead of an unwieldy tech tree, you have this slick collection of 15 cards that you draw from during play. You will have active projects that you are building toward which will diversify your faction and offer benefits. This is vastly preferred to a rigid tech structure because no two games will play out the same. Sometimes the Romulans will get cloaking very early, others they will develop mines or technologies that improve their warp movement.

Oh yes, let’s talk about warp. Ships can enter warp by spending one of your limited actions. They are considered off the board and will build up additional warp tokens over time. When they eventually come out, you can fly across the map uninhibited. For each token accumulated you can jump one planet as long as you’re not moving through an enemy ship. This can be devastating if you have several connections to a neighboring empire as you can reach their home-world quickly if they’re not prepared. It’s clever and gives way to a strong sense of dynamic play that feels extraordinarily thematic.

Warping single ships all about the galaxy can quickly get action costly. The solution is to form fleets. Each civilization has three fleet cards that allow you to group spacecraft into a single cluster. This saves you actions as you pay to move the fleet, not each individual ship. However, the main draw is the inclusion of a special ability.

Each fleet card is double-sided which means six total options. You can build battle groups, science fleets, raiding parties, and many more. These fleet abilities are faction specific in many cases and add another touch of flavor with minimal rules overhead.

There are so many satisfying clever twists that I could spin yarn endlessly on this beauty. It is necessary to point out that Ascendancy’s Match.com profile isn’t all roses and butterflies. The space elephant in the room is the fact that this game only supports three players out of the gate. Not two, not four, just three.

You can jump to four players with the oncoming Cardassian or Ferengi expansions, but that’s not entirely desirable given the playtime of an hour per player. Three hours is a tough sell, but it’s do-able on a regular game night. Heading to four plus is very difficult for most.

Additionally, downtime can be rough as players acclimate to their options. The lack of threading together turns and instead dumping the entirety of a player’s actions on them in one big chunk is slightly disappointing. It works in the context of the game but it can certainly make for extended bouts of waiting. Luckily for Ascendancy , the wait is worth it.

This is a hell of a game. Hours will fly by and your podunk little-planet-that-could will explode into a swarming juggernaut of an empire. You will make deals, colonize planets, and lay waste. We play games to have fun and Ascendancy will mainline the fun into your bloodstream and have you swooning from the get-go.

Are you a Star Trek fan? Do you plan on trying Ascendancy? Let us know in the comments below!

In addition to Geek & Sundry, Charlie Theel writes for Miniature Market’s The Review Corner and co-hosts the gaming podcast Ding & Dent. You can find him on twitter @CharlieTheel

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The Star Trek franchise is one of the media's biggest and oldest entertainment juggernauts. It covers movies, television, card games, role-playing modules, action figures, and a whole slew of every niche in between. Video games might have been one of the earliest branches from the original television series, appearing even before the movies.

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Considering the brand's popularity, it has a poor reputation when it comes to video games . That might have started in the days of console gaming when the Star Trek name was attached to some hilarious failures. The fact is there are plenty of good Star Trek games out there no matter what computer hardware or gaming console is available, and one way to find them is by using Metacritic.

10 Star Trek: Invasion - 76

There's nothing that beats a classic, and this PS game has all the basic elements of a vintage Star Trek episode. The player is a pilot taking commands from none other than Commander Worf, and together they take on the Borg, a rogue Starfleet captain, and the Romulans. The focus of the game is the elite, cutting-edge ship that takes the player through this adventure-space shooter hybrid.

9 Star Trek: Bridge Crew - 78

One of the more recent games in the franchise,  Bridge Crew isn't the first one designed with Virtual Reality in mind, but it was intended specifically to be an immersive VR experience. The game recreates the environments from the show with impressive accuracy as the protagonist leads their ship and crew, and players and critics are heralding this as the future of virtual gaming.

8 Star Trek: Elite Force II - 78

The player is part of a clandestine security unit assigned to the Enterprise in Star Trek: Elite Force II.  This PC game has some nice fanservice for Trekkers and enough detail and expertise in the design department for everyone else.

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The game includes a prologue in which the protagonist also gets some time on the USS Voyager along with a variety of other environments. This adventure leads to vast alien landscapes, other starships, and the void of deep space .

7 Star Trek: Starfleet Command III - 78

This PC game is a favorite because of the strategic gameplay and immersive plot, a common feature of most Star Trek games. What sets  Starfleet Command III  apart from others, either as part of the larger brand or in the Starfleet Command series, is the level of customization involved. Players can modify their ships with more weapons, better defense, and other features depending on their chosen strategy.

6 Star Trek Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates - 78

The Star Trek Starfleet Command game series for the PC tends to rank highly with both gamers and critics, and this is another entry on that list.  Orion Pirates  is an immersive PC game that mixes real-time strategy with the command of a starship. The player can choose to be one of the pirates or fight against them in their ultimate goal of conquering the universe.

5 Star Trek: Bridge Crew The Next Generation - 79

This game has a VR experience that has received rave reviews from both fans and critics, but that's not all that players like about it. The gameplay is intuitive, the graphics are sleek and detailed, and the storyline is compelling and immersive.

RELATED:  30 Crazy Star Trek Fan Theories (We Can't Believe Are True)

This game might be more popular if it was on more than one platform. Star Trek: Bridge Crew The Next Generation is only available on the PS4, and uses the graphics capabilities to the full extent of their powers.

4 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Fallen - 81

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , The Fallen is a PC game that features a compelling storyline and the opportunity to play as three famous characters, either as Commander Worf, Captain Sisko, or Major Kira, each of which were high ranking officers on the show. The main storyline consists of a search for three orbs, powerful artifacts that will give the federation an edge for controlling the galaxy.

3 Star Trek Fleet Command - 82

One of the first attempts at a mobile game for the franchise, in this case for the iPhone,  Star Trek Fleet Command  delivers on the complex and interesting gameplay as well as serving up some nice hot fanservice. The game includes references and characters from virtually every Star Trek show and timeline and includes plenty of strategic adventures along with quests to explore, build, and recruit your favorite Star Trek heroes.

2 Star Trek Bridge Commander - 82

It's the drama of the storyline that initially hooks players on this highly immersive PC game. In Star Trek Bridge Commander,  the plot begins when the player takes command after the Captain is killed in a mysterious explosion.

RELATED:  Star Trek: 25 Things About Captain Kirk That Make No Sense

The protagonist's mission is to find out what caused the initial blast and prevent a recurrence. This leads into an intricate game that consists of completing missions, forming alliances, and uncovering a dark political secret.

1 Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force - 86

One of the things about Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force  that explains the high rating is that players for this PC game take the helm as fan-favorite , Tuvok. It also helps that Raven Software didn't spare any expense when it comes to funding the graphics department, and the FPS design is fun to play and easy to learn.

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Ranking the best versions of the catan board game.

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Settlers of Catan  is a popular board game under Asmodee that appeals to both hardcore strategy fans and people who don't know a lot about board games. It has simple mechanics of taking over territories via roads and towns as well as collecting resources to continuously build. There are multiple strategies to become the victor,  which is what makes the game so exciting . It's not on the same level as some RPG tabletop games, but it has the same light role-playing angle and dice rolls to move the game along.

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Because of its popularity, there are many different versions of Catan on the market. If you're interested in this line of board games, you may be interested to know our ranked picks for the 10 best versions of  Settlers of Catan .

Updated on January 17th, 2021 by Kristy Ambrose:  The ultimate board game continues to expand and evolve to accommodate an ever-growing fanbase. Whether you're just playing once in a while for game night, you're a dedicated Catan strategist, or you want a version of the game in your favorite pop culture reference, there's a version of Catan for you. That includes electronic versions that you can put on your phone or tablet along with custom creations that are meant to impress your fellow fanatics or distract troublesome houseguests. We've updated our list to add a few more options when you want a personalized version of Settlers of Catan.

Catan: Chocolate Edition

In  Catan: Chocolate Edition , players will be working for resources just the same as they normally would, trying to expand their cities. The big difference is suggested by the name.

Instead of roads and cities, players will put down actual pieces of Belgian chocolate on the board to keep track of their points. There are a limited number of chocolate pieces available,  so it's important to get more on the board  than your opponents. Victory conditions are the same, but every player gets to eat their chocolate that was on the board at the end of each game. That's a worthy incentive if we've ever heard it.

Catan Dice Game

It's surprising that  Settlers of Catan  was simplified enough for a dice game, yet here we are.  The Catan Dice Game  takes the act of building and making new settlements and turns it into a compact, portable package that works for  one to two players .

Players will roll dice to get the resources they want, and they have to work with whatever rolls they acquire. There are scoring sheets included  to keep track of everything on paper . The game even comes with a double-sided board for two games of varying degrees of complexity. It all comes together to make for a surprisingly excellent game.

Catan Universe

It took a while for an electronic version of  Catan  to come out, but we're glad it did.  Catan Universe   is the MMO version that's free to download and play, either on your own against AI opponents or against other players with the same app and an internet connection.

The game has a free version for Apple and Andriod, which also includes the card game  Rivals for Catan  and rewards you with certain extra features as your character levels up. There's also a store available with extras,  like access to other expansions  and more daily games against the computer.

Catan Junior

Settlers of Catan is a fun game, but it might be a bit difficult to explain  to younger people . That's where  Catan Junior   comes in. This simplified version of the game was made with children in mind as a way to introduce them to the series. In it, players take the role of pirates around a set of tropical islands.

They must get resources and build pirate lairs to win the game. However, there is a Ghost Pirate at the center of the board who can try and sabotage other players at any moment. It keeps the basics and makes it much easier to understand.

Catan 3D Collector's Edition

A worthy addition to your collection if you can afford the price tag. This version of  Catan   is one of the most expensive board games  in existence because of the realistic, textured landscape that decorates each tile, so they're more like figurines than simple gaming pieces.

The game also comes in what looks like a wooden treasure chest that's been specifically fitted to hold all of the game's special hexes and other pieces.  It's intended for serious fans of  Catan  and dedicated board game enthusiasts who curate their acquisitions as opposed to collecting them. This version also includes the  Cities and Knights  expansion.

Catan: Family Edition

Catan: Family Edition  is a version of the classic board game that doesn't have a lot of variations. The goal was to make this version a bit easier to understand than the classic Settlers of Catan. This is done by making the board consist of six double-sided pieces that click together like a puzzle rather than a series of tiles that people must place down.

It also comes with convenient cards that make it easier to keep track of which resources are needed for what items. These adjustments make the game easier to learn for young minds and a great way to introduce people to this board game. This version isn't compatible with  expansions , though.

Catan – 15th Anniversary Edition

A charming vintage edition not only for people who love classic board games but also folks who would prefer to buy as little plastic as possible. The  15th-Anniversary Edition  of the game is designed and intended to recall the Golden Age of board games when almost everything was made of wood and carefully crafted to last decades. Even the hexes and the notorious thief are wooden pieces.

It's not just coveted by collectors but for anyone who appreciates durability and reducing their carbon footprint. That's one of the things that make it hard to find, but there are used and resale copies available.

Star Trek Catan

While Catan doesn't lend itself well to get adaptations from other franchises, that didn't stop  Star Trek Catan  from being produced. This version has all the fundamental elements of Settlers of Catan, but with a few unique changes.

RELATED:  The 10 Best Star Trek Movies (According To Metacritic)

The most noteworthy is that the imagery, resources, and pieces are all re-designed to reflect things from the  Star Trek  franchise. Secondly, there are helper cards that feature popular characters from the franchise that have special abilities. These abilities can change a few elements on the board to give players an advantage before being discarded. This board game is a great way of merging two fanbases.

Catan: Rise of the Incas

The Inca civilization was one of the most diverse and fascinating groups in history. Catan has now brought that civilization to a modern board game with  Catan: Rise of the Incas . The gameplay is mostly the same in this version, but all of the resources, pieces, and artwork are based on imagery from the Inkas.

Furthermore, there is a mechanic where civilizations reach their peak and decline, leading to roads that are covered in vines and can no longer be used. It's a game that continues through multiple generations, which leads to new and exciting mechanics that fans are sure to enjoy.

A Game of Thrones Catan

Winter is coming in  A Game of Thrones Catan . Based on the  Song of Ice and Fire  series in the  Game of Thrones  saga, there is plenty to enjoy for fans of the franchise. Players are working to become the commander of the land, and that is accomplished by accumulating victory points through territory placement and resource accumulation.

RELATED:  Board Games That Are Over $50 That Are Worth Every Penny

A few new mechanics to this version of the game include Wildling raiders that make their way to the Wall. Players must also keep track of the Wall to try and fortify it or keep their own resources in check. It adds a lot of thematic elements to the game.

Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe

While the gameplay of  Catan  can attract some hardcore board game fans, the standard game isn't the most complex in the series. That title might be awarded to  Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe . This bigger version of Catan throws players on a map of Europe with numerous territories.

Each player is a merchant that must become the greatest traders in Europe. With more resources to manage, a new gold mechanic, and more complex progression routes, there is a lot more strategy involved with Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe. More experienced players should be more than up to the challenge, though.

Catan Histories : Settlers of America

The Catan Histories line is all about taking the standard gameplay of Catan and dialing it up a bit. The result is a more complicated yet rewarding version of the games. In  Catan Histories: Settlers of America , players will take control of people heading to North America for the first time.

The board is based on the United States and is separated in the hexagonal tile format, with each territory offering a resource. This version adds the railway system and money to help spice up the gameplay. With its more rounded map than Europe's, Settlers of America edges out over its brother.

Catan Geographies – Germany

This version of  Catan  is part of the "Geographies" series, which includes a variety of regions such as American states, famous metropolitan cities, and historic European regions like Bavaria. Depending on your personal tastes, that's a whole lot of tough choices, but we're giving it to  Catan: Germany  as a nod to the country that gave tile games to the world, a style that inspired the original.

The game includes a game board based on Germany's actual geography and history and comes with figurines of famous national landmarks. The same rules for other  Catan  games also apply to this one.

Catan Traveler

Catan Traveler  is a downright impressive game. It doesn't add anything new to the game- rather it's just the standard  Settlers of Catan . What makes it so unique is that it was designed with portability in mind without sacrificing gameplay.

The board is raised and has a series of holes around each landmark. Pieces have pegs so they can fit in snugly. Pieces are held in drawers that slide out from underneath the board. Even the cards have holders that make them secure. The dice are also held in a hexagonal piece that prevents them from getting lost. It's not only easy to take Catan Traveler anywhere. It's easy to play anywhere.

NEXT:  The 10 Best Solo Board Games

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The Star Trek Movie Franchise Is Finally Available to Stream For Free

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 To Feature A Famous Friendship

Star trek: worst things done by the federation, ranked, scream 7 should bring back this unpopular plot point from scream 3 and make it great.

• Star Trek franchise has a rich history on the big and small screen, making it easier for fans to access classic films and shows.
• Paramount-owned Pluto TV now offers all 13 Star Trek films for free streaming, along with entire series like TOS and TNG.
• With future projects and movies on the horizon, now is a great time to dive into the franchise's iconic films and shows for free.

While Star Trek is one of the most prominent science fiction franchises in history, the franchise has also shown a lot of life on the big screen with feature-length projects, and these gems just got a lot easier for fans to access.

Star Trek has been a mainstay of the small screen for decades, with the franchise starting off on the retroactively named Star Trek: The Original Series and carried on with more success through series like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space 9, and many more. The franchise would also be intermittently graced with feature films that told new, exciting stories with the iconic casts and crews of established series up until the franchise was rebooted by Paramount. Many people believe that Paramount needs to get a move on with their Star Trek movies , but the franchise already has more than a dozen films for fans to be interested in, including a few released after Paramount’s reboot franchise started.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 will reportedly focus on the special friendship between two characters

The rebooted IP started off with a lot more emphasis on the film aspect of the franchise, with mixed results for the long-term direction of the franchise. While even Star Trek leading man Chris Pine admitted the films might have dropped the ball , they’re still an important part of the franchise that did a lot of things right. Fortunately, these treasures have become more accessible than ever for new fans of the franchise. As noted in a report by Inverse , in addition to the Star Trek franchise living on Paramount’s Paramount+ streaming service, the streaming platform Pluto TV has also recently started to offer fans the chance to stream all 13 currently released Star Trek films for free. Pluto TV is a free ad-supported streaming television platform, also owned by Paramount Global, giving it access to the Star Trek franchise. The platform also has the entirety of Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation available for new fans to check out.

While the shows are available on the on-demand side of things, the Star Trek films are being given their own channel on Pluto TV’s live TV selection, seemingly scheduled to run for all of August. This is a great get for Pluto TV, as the films are a pretty interesting way to get into the franchise and could attract a lot of new users to the platform. With the increase in price across the board from streaming services, bolstering content on an ad-supported free platform like Pluto TV could actually be a Paramount play to shore up lost subscribers. If that were in the cards, using the company’s most well-loved IP as a test certainly seems to make sense. While the future Star Trek movies need to make some big changes from the existing ones, they’re still awesome movies that can get casuals interested in the franchise. Better yet, the critically acclaimed Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation are simultaneously putting the franchise’s best foot forward on the same platform.

Getting the films to a wider audience is certainly a great idea, and it comes at a good time. The franchise is still growing, with Star Trek recently announcing its most unique project that could appeal to fans even outside of the science fiction genre and more movies (hopefully) on the way. For now, fans should make the most of the opportunity while it lasts and enjoy the films while they’re on for free.

The Star Trek franchise is available for streaming in full on Paramount+.

Star Trek is a space exploration franchise originally created by Gene Roddenberry. The series has spanned shows like The Original Series, The Next Generation, and Voyager. More recently, developer Scopely came out with Star Trek Fleet Command, a mobile title where you get to be captain of your own ship.

The Federation certainly doesn't have clean hands in the Star Trek franchise. These examples demonstrate them at their worst.

Source: Inverse

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