Sid Meier's Starships
Kids say
Based on 1 review
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Sid Meier's Starships
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Sid Meier's Starships is a tactical turn-based space-combat game. The gameplay is simpler and more accessible than in many games in this genre, so younger players are less likely to grow frustrated. Its speculative fiction shows humans at war to gain territory and enforce their ideologies but likely will excite the imaginations of kids interested in the idea of space travel and visiting other planets. Depictions of violence are limited to ships exploding and breaking apart, but the complete destruction of ships is accompanied by brief, loud screams of crew members dying, without blood or gore.
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What’s It About?
Set in the same universe as Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth (a strategic civilization simulation that has players helping humanity settle an alien world), SID MEIER'S STARSHIPS skips forward a few centuries to a galaxy filled with planets occupied by human colonists. Your aim is to visit these planets and assist them in combat missions, earning their support to encourage them to join your empire instead of one of your rivals. Half the game takes place on a large galactic map, where players can travel to and develop worlds, purchase new technologies, talk to other leaders, and grow and upgrade their fleets. The other half is played on randomly generated planetary system maps, where players skirt around asteroids and jump through small wormholes while engaging in turn-based combat against computer-controlled fleets. Goals differ from one mission to the next -- for example, you may have to protect a colonist ship or fend off marauding pirates. Successful completion may result in a planet's endorsement, along with valuable credits and resources used to repair damages and develop your fleet and empire.
Is It Any Good?
Sid Meier's Starships is a great alternative for anyone who enjoys Civilization games -- especially its turn-based combat -- but has difficulty finding the time to complete one of those games' epic campaigns, which can take weeks to play out. By contrast, a campaign in Starships can take less than a couple of hours (or as long as six or seven, depending on modifiers), making it possible to start and finish a game in a single sitting (or day).
The trade-off, of course, is the lack of complexity and nuance offered in a game such as Civilization. Combat is still pretty robust -- you'll engage in flanking maneuvers with fighters and cruisers, launch torpedoes several turns before you intend to detonate them, and make use of cloaking devices and long-range sensors. Unfortunately, other game systems, such as diplomacy and technology development, are stripped to the bone. Consequently, you'll spend a lot more time engaged in battles than negotiating with rivals and working out how to quietly expand your empire without drawing the attention of neighboring leaders. Still, there's a lot to be said about Sid Meier's Starships' accessibility and quick campaigns. It's much less intimidating than other games of its ilk and could be a good starting point for younger players interested in strategy games.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about space travel. Do you think humanity will eventually fly to other planets and star systems to colonize new worlds? If so, do you think we'll bring our petty squabbles with us and continue to make war with each other?
Families also can discuss appropriate screen time for games. What do you think is an appropriate amount of time to spend with a game in one sitting? What about strategy games such as Sid Meier's Starships, which is designed for single sessions but can last for several hours from start to finish?
Game Details
- Platforms: Mac, Windows
- Subjects: Social Studies: power structures
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, decision-making, strategy, Creativity: imagination
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: 2K Games
- Release date: March 12, 2015
- Genre: Strategy
- Topics: Science and Nature, Space and Aliens
- ESRB rating: NR
- Last updated: August 25, 2016
Our Editors Recommend
-
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
Great strategy game builds alien worlds; some safety issues.
-
The Banner Saga
Great strategy game with rich fantasy mythology.
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XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Thrilling sci-fi strategy game with violence and gore.
For kids who love strategy
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