Star Control 2 is without a doubt my most cherished game of all time, even beating out enduring greats like Civilization. It provided exciting, dynamic combat, memorable characters and alien civilizations, vast swathes of space to explore, a genre-savvy space-operatic storyline with 20,000 years of backstory, resource collection and starship upgrades, some memorable community-sourced music and plenty more. It speaks to the game's longevity and charm that a fan community endures to this day, two decades on from the game's original release. You owe it to yourself to give this piece of gaming history a try. Star Control 1 was a much simpler game - small maps offering competitive strategic play - but the same underlying combat engine is in place, and it's every bit as solid. You can also enjoy the combat mode with friends - the balance is excellent, with even the weakest ships having unique tactical advantages.
