Parents' Guide to Star Trek Fleet Command

Featuring characters from the most recent film series, this game should keep players busy with different tasks, as long as you're not looking for a faster paced experience. While players have to wait out a clock before performing some actions in Star Trek Fleet Command, the countdowns are reasonably short, and there are typically other things to do in the meantime -- such as attacking a hostile ship while some generator construction finishes. You can also use in-game currency to speed things up.

The app doesn't require players to spend a ton of real-world money to keep playing, unless they find the wait times too frustrating. Even if they do spring for a package of items, the cost is relatively low compared to some apps -- generally around $5. The ongoing narrative and clear initial instructions also set the app apart from others with a similar structure. That said, there's a lot going on at any given time. Other players' ships move around, and a variety of screens display information, such as your officer upgrade and ship construction status, which can feel a bit overwhelming at times. The graphics also aren't overly impressive -- small-scale ships move somewhat slowly through space, and the main motion gamers make involves pressing buttons to initiate tasks. Battles would be more thrilling if the action differed significantly in each one, or if it could be viewed up close. Instead, players see a small ship shooting lines at another ship until it explodes. The option to help other players sends a nice message, and you'll get to utilize some positive skills, such as time management and multitasking. Hardcore Star Trek fans may enjoy being able to add popular characters to their roster and face off against Klingons and other familiar enemies, but gamers looking for a highly interactive, fast-paced experience might not feel Star Trek Fleet Command is out of this world.