"Shoots For The Moon, But Falls Short" - Star Trek: Infinite Review

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wants to be the strategy game to beat the band. It was developed by Nimble Giant Studios and published by Paradox Interactive, a publishing house with a reputation for wonderfully deep, complicated strategy games. Among its flagship properties, Paradox counts,, and, which ’s systems are based and built upon. And of course, it has the benefit of its branding. It's set in one of the most fascinating and popular eras of the series’ continuity, beginning in ’s 24th century and stretching far beyond.

is a 4X strategy game: explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. As one of four major factions, and in conjunction with or opposition to a smattering of minor powers, players must race to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and incorporate them into their empires by death or diplomacy before anyone else can. As a strategy game, is intriguing, engaging, and memorable. As a adaptation, it shoots for the moon, but falls short of the mark.

Related: Should You Play Star Trek: Infinite?

Unsurprisingly to fans of or Paradox games more generally, is incredibly complicated. But Paradox’s pedigree is really on display here: its core mechanics are deeply fascinating. Players are directed to pick one of four factions at the beginning: the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire, the Romulan Star Empire, or the Cardassian Union. Each one is geared toward a specific playstyle, with its own strengths, weaknesses, and long-term goals.

The Federation is the default faction for a first playthrough; players must select it in order to play through ’s tutorials.

Specializing in science, construction, and diplomacy, the Federation primarily expands its territory by building infrastructure on uninhabited