Underplayed Gems

Space Empires I (2020)

Space Empires I cover
Developer
Malfador Machinations
Publisher
Strategy First
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Strategy
Rating
2.7 of 5, 15 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 10 minutes
Where to get it
Steam

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The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A slow-paced, methodical turn-based space conquest game where you manage diplomacy, exploration, and fleet building across star systems.

turn-based strategyexplorationmanagementretromethodicaldiplomaticconquest-focused

What players say

Players describe Space Empires I as a bare-bones prototype for Space Empires II, not a complete game. It has no AI, no tutorial, and several report it crashes on modern Windows. Reviews split: some see it as historical curiosity, others call it unplayable without friends in hot-seat.

Screenshots

Space Empires I screenshot 1Space Empires I screenshot 2Space Empires I screenshot 3Space Empires I screenshot 4Space Empires I screenshot 5

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More by Malfador Machinations

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.