Parents' Guide to Sid Meier's Starships

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.