Star Trek Online Reviews

great game to kill time

When this game was released it was good. Now it's too woke to enjoy.

While I appreciate that someone did develop and maintain a Star Trek based MMORPG, I have to say, revisiting this in 2025 was shocking to witness. The graphics engine needs serious updates to bring this title into a more modern era of gaming, everything from the ships themselves, to the characters need a serious overhaul. Personally, I'm not a big fan of micro transactions as well, I believe that if you buy the game, you've done enough. If you do put more hard earned cash towards it, it should be for DLCs, and that's it. It was fun goofin' around, getting a new starter ship and doing a few missions, but I really think this game has fallen into obscurity for the most part. If it wasn't for the fact that it IS Star Trek Online, I don't think it would have much going for it. Newer games, No Man's Sky, Empyrion, Star Citizen, Elite Dangerous, all have a serious leg up on it and offer a much more immersive experience. Fun to play, it is Star Trek Online, but I wouldn't dump any money into it in 2025.

I have played this on and off for over a decade. I enjoy getting some Star Trek content, looking at the cool ships and managing my crew.

[h1]"Rule of Acquisition #34: War is good for business"[/h1] [h2]A Free-to-Play Trek that's boldly gone where too many MMOs have gone before[/h2] [b]Rating:[/b] ★★★☆☆ [b]Genre:[/b] MMO, Space Combat • F2P with MTX [table] [tr] [th]🟩 Pros[/th] [th]🟥 Cons[/th] [/tr] [tr] [td]• [b]Star Trek Fantasy:[/b] Excellent recreation of Trek universe with authentic ships, locations, and stories[/td] [td]• [b]Aggressive Monetization:[/b] Premium ships, items, and features locked behind significant paywalls[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]• [b]Space Combat:[/b] Engaging ship-to-ship combat with tactical depth[/td] [td]• [b]Ground Combat:[/b] Clunky, dated mechanics that feel tacked on[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]• [b]Story Content:[/b] Well-written missions with voice acting from Trek actors[/td] [td]• [b]Technical Issues:[/b] Persistent bugs, lag, and server problems[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]• [b]Regular Updates:[/b] Consistent new content and story episodes[/td] [td]• [b]Grind Heavy:[/b] Significant time investment needed for meaningful progression[/td] [/tr] [/table] [table] [tr] [th]🟨 Bugs & Issues[/th] [th]🔧 Technical Specs[/th] [/tr] [tr] [td]• Performance Issues: Server lag and rubber-banding common[/td] [td]• CPU: Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz or better[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]• Technical Glitches: Regular disconnections[/td] [td]• GPU: DirectX 11 compatible[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]• Compatibility: Some UI scaling issues[/td] [td]• RAM: 4GB[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]• Workarounds: Community patches available[/td] [td]• Storage: 21GB[/td] [/tr] [/table] [table] [tr] [th]🎮 Content & Replay Value[/th] [th][/th] [/tr] [tr] [td]Story Length:[/td] [td]250+ hours main story, 900+ completionist[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Endgame:[/td] [td]Reputation systems, Task Force Operations[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]PvP Content:[/td] [td]Limited competitive modes, low population[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Free Content:[/td] [td]Regular story updates, seasonal events[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Premium Content:[/td] [td]Ships, cosmetics, inventory upgrades[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Updates:[/td] [td]Regular but quality varies significantly[/td] [/tr] [/table] [h2]📝 Sum-Up[/h2] [i]Star Trek Online offers an authentic Trek experience wrapped in an aging MMO framework. While the core space combat and story content shine, aggressive monetization and technical issues hold it back. Best approached as a casual single-player Trek game with optional multiplayer elements, rather than a full-fledged MMO investment.[/i] [h2]📖 In-Depth Analysis[/h2] [h3]🌍 Core Gameplay[/h3] The game splits between space and ground combat, with space being the clear highlight. Ship-to-ship battles capture the tactical feel of Trek combat, allowing for meaningful build customization and strategy. Ground combat, unfortunately, feels like an afterthought with dated mechanics and poor AI. The story missions effectively blend both elements but clearly favor space encounters. [h3]👥 Monetization & Progression[/h3] Here's where things get complicated. While technically playable for free, the game aggressively pushes premium purchases. Top-tier ships often cost $30+ each, with some rare variants reaching hundreds of dollars on the player market. Free players can eventually earn premium currency through grinding, but the time investment is substantial. Inventory space, character slots, and quality-of-life features are also paywalled. [h3]⚔️ Content & Longevity[/h3] The story content is extensive and well-written, featuring authentic Trek storylines and voice acting from series actors. Regular updates add new episodes and seasonal events. However, endgame content largely revolves around repeating Task Force Operations and grinding reputation systems. The PvP scene is minimal, with most players focusing on PvE content. [h3]🔩 Technical Performance[/h3] Running on an aging engine, STO shows its technical limitations. Server performance is inconsistent, with frequent lag and rubber-banding issues. The UI feels dated and can be overwhelming for new players. While the game runs on modest hardware, it doesn't perform as smoothly as its age would suggest. [h3]🎵 Atmosphere & Authenticity[/h3] When it comes to capturing the Star Trek universe, STO excels. From accurate ship models to familiar locations and sound effects, the game nails the franchise's atmosphere. The writing respects Trek lore while adding its own contributions to the universe. Character customization is extensive, allowing players to create their perfect Starfleet officer. [h2]⭐ Final Verdict[/h2] Star Trek Online is best viewed as a free Star Trek game with MMO elements rather than a traditional MMO. For Trek fans, the authentic universe representation and story content make it worth trying. However, players should approach with caution regarding monetization - the game constantly tempts you to spend, with some premium ships costing more than several AAA games combined. The ideal way to play is treating it as a casual single-player game, enjoying the story content and occasional events without getting caught up in the endgame grind or ship collection aspects. The free content provides hundreds of hours of entertainment, but trying to "catch up" or compete at endgame will either require significant financial investment or grinding that would make the Ferengi proud. Recommended for: Star Trek fans willing to overlook technical issues and aggressive monetization Not Recommended for: Players seeking a modern MMO experience or those sensitive to microtransaction pressure