Master of Orion 1

Forge an empire in a universe where population growth is stripping away planetary resources. Colonize unknown planets and trade with other races for their knowledge.

Master of Orion 1 is a strategy, 4x and turn-based game developed by SimTex and published by Wargaming Labs.
Released on February 25th 2016 is available on Windows, MacOS and Linux in 3 languages: English, French and German.

It has received 378 reviews of which 340 were positive and 38 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. 😎

The game is currently priced at 5.99€ on Steam.

The Steam community has classified Master of Orion 1 into these genres:

Strategy 4X Turn-Based Space Classic Sci-fi Turn-Based Strategy Singleplayer 2D 1990's

Media & Screenshots

Get an in-depth look at Master of Orion 1 through various videos and screenshots.

screenshot_ss_e1c85315d608fc9ee27ed880ab941afbbaabd727.1920x1080.jpg

screenshot_ss_048b4073aa7f75078c8b1f6e2eb920599398ed6d.1920x1080.jpg

screenshot_ss_7d036a6e6a7fc8d45765ae1d340e229b3dd6ee49.1920x1080.jpg

screenshot_ss_474fedd1216d402c893e1d69df5b03f68ab97e57.1920x1080.jpg

screenshot_ss_a50b04b27ad755d937f969ec7b7b91b853cf9a9d.1920x1080.jpg

Requirements

These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.

Windows

OS *: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10
Processor: 1 GHz
Memory: 256 MB RAM
Graphics: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7
DirectX: Version 7.0
Storage: 161 MB available space
Sound Card: DirectX 7 Compatible

MacOS

OS: Mac: OS X 10.6.8 or later
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz+
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics: 64MB of video memory
Storage: 161 MB available space

Linux

OS: Ubuntu 14.04, Linux Mint 17
Processor: 2.0 GHz
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Graphics: 256 MB VRAM, OpenGL compatible
Storage: 161 MB available space

Reviews

Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.

Oct. 2024

OLD GAMES ARE FUN! - I've played this one many times and it's always been a "time eater" ... good way to pass the time...

Sept. 2024

Master Orion is amazing. It puts to shame most space games. Yeah i'm looking at you Stellaris, MO2, MO3 and whatever else you can come up with. It's great depth hidden from the easier levels. The designs, ships and tactics are wide whilst there is a simplicity and ease of use with the interface. If it feels slow using dos-box just do ctrl+F12 to increase CPU cycles. Well worth the price

Aug. 2024

Gameplay: 10/10 Story: 6/10 Graphics: 7/10 (for the time) Performance: 5/10 Overall: 7/10 Master of Orion is a name that should immediately command respect when it comes to the 4x genre. Released in 1993, this it laid the groundwork for the entire 4x space strategy genre, setting the stage for titles like Galactic Civilizations and Stellaris. But what makes this arguably fully pixelated piece of gaming history so remarkable? Master of Orion puts you in control of a fledgling spacefaring civilization, tasked with exploring the stars, expanding your empire, exploiting resources, and exterminating rival species, and thats precisely where the term, "4X" comes from. Most people would have heard of the Civilization series, which set the groundwork, for all 4x games. Master of Orion takes this further to a space setting and all the challenges that come with this. Diplomacy, technology research, and fleet management are key components, and the game gives you a remarkable level of freedom in how you approach each. For example, one distinct aspect that even modern 4x games can't emulate is that the CPU takes a "I'm in it for me" attitude, rather than simply ganging up on the player. CPU opponents will challenge and wage war against each other. It's very possible to complete a Master of Orion game having never gone to war with anyone. Unlikely, but possible! To that end, the game often feels more like a scaled down empire simulator than an actual game. You can very quickly become immersed in the addictive gameplay! The story in Master of Orion is not a strong point and can be summed up very easily. You take control of a single empire ranging from the simple, but balanced humans who excel at diplomacy to alien bears that would make Wookie's fur tremble or evil alien cats (because every space game has to have evil alien cats since Wing Commander established the trope). You can usually guess what a race's abilities will be based on their appearance. The focal point of the game is the Guardian who naturally guards the Orion system, which holds some of the most advanced technology in the game after being left by the stereotypical "precursors". Any civ that beats the Guardian and claims this mythical world ultimately has a much better chance of winning the game. Although, beating the Guardian is entirely optional. This is about the extent of the story. Definitely don't go into Master of Orion expecting a thrilling story. Like many 4x games, you must create your own story as you play and the story becomes its own from the choices you make. Visually, Master of Orion is definitely a product of its time. The graphics are simple, with a pixelated charm that evokes nostalgia for early '90s gaming. While the visuals may not hold up by today's standards, they were adequate for the era and serve the gameplay well. The game's interface is clean and functional, allowing you to focus on strategy rather than getting lost in flashy visuals. Performance-wise, is where I give the lowest marks to Master of Orion. Normally, I can tolerate old games, but there is just something about DOSBox emulation that I just can't stand. As a result, there are very few games I can tolerate. I'll take a Windows port any day of the week. So naturally, it was one of the first things I sought when I started playing Master of Orion. Thankfully, a sort of "port" exists in the form of 1OOM. Although, installing it was a pain. I'll save you the trouble of posting how to install it below: Go to : https://gitlab.com/KilgoreTroutMaskReplicant/1oom/-/tags Pick 1.0 and then on the right download as a zip. Unzip this and put it into your Master of Orion Steam directory (where you installed the game). Then Go To: https://github.com/1oom-fork/1oom/releases and download 1oom-v1.11-x64.zip (if you're on a 64 bit PC and why wouldn't you in 2024?). Copy all the .dll files and put them in your Master of Orion directory and then copy over the 1oom_classic_sdl2.exe file. Use this file to run the game. Congrats! You now have what is probably the best version of Master of Orion to play without all the hiccups, lag and otherwise unpleasantness of the DOSbox version. It even comes with mouse drag support! As a final tip, make sure you read the included manual and check out the strategy wiki.You'll be thankful you did!: https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Master_of_Orion Overall, Master of Orion is a must-play for anyone interested in the roots of strategy gaming. It may not have the flash of modern titles, but its gameplay depth and strategic complexity more than make up for it. Whether you're revisiting this classic or discovering it for the first time, Master of Orion offers a timeless experience that stands tall in the annals of gaming history. If not for its critically better sequel, it would be hailed as the greatest space 4x game of all time.

Aug. 2024

It's a simple game with simple mechanics like Tetris, but with the game style of Civilization (in space). The end goal is always the same, but the path to it changes with each game. Takes a few hours to play if you're looking to use up some time, but it won't take days to play unless you play it on it's most expansive setting

June 2024

What can I say that hasn't already been said over the past 30 years? This game is the gold standard for Space 4X games. Everyone has been chasing this tail since, trying to recapture the spark of simplicity of UI and depth of fun. Do yourself a favor and take this game for a ride, and see what a 4X without tons of tedious micromanagement is like.

Similar games

View all

Master of Orion 2

Similarity 95%

Price 5.99€

Rating 9.2

Release 25 Feb 2016

View

Master of Orion

Similarity 95%

Price 20.99€

Rating 7.5

Release 25 Aug 2016

View

The Last Federation

Similarity 87%

Price -75% 4.87€

Rating 7.1

Release 18 Apr 2014

View

Bingle Bingle

Similarity 84%

Price -10% 9.71€

Rating 7.9

Release 18 Mar 2024

View

Slipways

Similarity 84%

Price -50% 7.49€

Rating 8.8

Release 03 Jun 2021

View

Shadow Empire

Similarity 84%

Price -79% 8.23€

Rating 8.3

Release 03 Dec 2020

View

Interstellar Space: Genesis

Similarity 84%

Price -95% 1.27€

Rating 7.9

Release 25 Jul 2019

View

Final Theory

Similarity 84%

Price -70% 4.49€

Rating 7.5

Release 21 Sep 2018

View

Age of Wonders: Planetfall

Similarity 84%

Price -77% 6.87€

Rating 7.8

Release 06 Aug 2019

View

Battlestar Galactica Deadlock

Similarity 84%

Price -92% 2.96€

Rating 8.1

Release 31 Aug 2017

View

ENDLESS™ Space 2

Similarity 84%

Price -75% 9.99€

Rating 8.2

Release 18 May 2017

View

Pandora: First Contact

Similarity 84%

Price -65% 10.14€

Rating 6.1

Release 30 May 2014

View

More games like Master of Orion 1

Data sources

The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.

Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.

Last Updates

Steam data	19 November 2024 14:19
SteamSpy data	19 December 2024 10:25
Steam price	23 December 2024 20:46
Steam reviews	23 December 2024 06:05

5.99€

8.3

340

Online players

Developer

SimTex

Publisher

Wargaming Labs

Release 25 Feb 2016

Platforms