Space Empires

Last updated
Space Empires
Genre(s) Turn-based strategy
Developer(s) Malfador Machinations
Platform(s) DOS, Windows
First releaseSpace Empires
1993 (1993)
Latest release Space Empires V
2006

Space Empires is a series of 4X turn-based strategy games by Malfador Machinations that allow the player to assume the role of the leader of a space-faring civilization.

Contents

Gameplay

In Space Empires, the player assumes the role of the single leader of a race of intelligent beings that has recently acquired the technology required to build large fully space-based ships for interplanetary and interstellar travel.

Starting out with only a few possible hull sizes for their ships, on which they can place any number of components to essentially create a unique ship, the player can research new hull sizes and components to use with them, eventually being able to build ships ten times the size of his original hull size.

The components available to the player can vary greatly, from ship bridges, long-range scanners and shield generators to emergency supply components that, when used, will be destroyed but will allow a ship to continue moving for a longer time, and of course, weapons of various kinds, boarding parties, cloaking devices right up to Dyson sphere construction material and star-destroying devices.

The player can meet extraterrestrial races (which will inevitably happen as the player expands their realm) and conduct diplomacy with them. Treaties can be signed between two empires, varying from the basic trade agreement to full-blown partnerships and even protectorates. The player can also conduct intelligence operations, from simple information gathering missions, to ship bombs, to inciting rebellion on a planet.

Interstellar travel in Space Empires is not faster-than-light drive based, but instead relies on anomalies called "warp points", essentially wormholes between two star systems. Warp points are naturally occurring but a player can open and close these warp points if she or he has the appropriate technologies.

Games

Release and development

Space Empires II and Space Empires III were released as shareware. [2] [3] Space Empires III was later released as freeware. [4] MikroBitti called Space Empires III one of the best shareware space strategy games, rivaling the quality of commercial products. [5]

In 2006, Strategy First acquired Malfador Machinations and the Space Empires intellectual property prior to publishing Space Empires V. [6] Strategy First still owns the Space Empires intellectual property and has not developed another PC game.

In 2011, Strategy First released a RPG board game named Space Empires: 4X, based on the digital model of the Space Empires computer games, utilizing sprites and mechanics from Space Empires IV. [7]

References

  1. "World Supremacy". GamesIndustry.biz . Gamer Network. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2025. Space Empires I was never publicly released
  2. "Shareware - Space Empires 2". OK PC (in Spanish). Vol. 5, no. 50. Larpress S.A. 1996. p. 111.
  3. "Software Library - Space Empires III 1.13 (DOS)". Personal Computer World . VNU Business Publications. June 1998. p. 17. (Shareware.)
  4. "Bulletin - Space Empires Strikes Back". PC Zone . No. 90. Future plc. June 2000. p. 38.
  5. "Kultaa, kunniaa ja mainetta - Windows-pelit - Space Empires III v1.02". MikroBitti (in Finnish). No. 2/98. February 1998. p. 85.
  6. "Strategy First Acquires Malfador Machinations". GameZone. April 5, 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  7. "Space Empires: 4X". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved March 4, 2020.