| Starships Unlimited | |
| Developer: | Apezone |
| Publisher: | Matrix Games |
| Platforms: | PC |
| Released: | 23 May 2001 |
| Genre: | 4X Real-Time Strategy |
| Modes: | Single-player |
Starships Unlimited is a 4X real-time strategy game series. Unlike other 4X games, Starships Unlimited puts greater emphasis on starships than on colonies. The series was developed by Andrew Ewanchyna of ApeZone. The game allows players to take control of a civilization and compete against other civilizations in the galaxy.
The series consists of three main versions: Starships Unlimited 1.x, Starships Unlimited: Divided Galaxies (read:2.x), and Starships Unlimited v3.5 (Read:3.0x). The first game, released in late 1999, was met with little praise, but a cult-like following. The second game, Starships Unlimited: Divided Galaxies, was published by Matrix Games and released on Nov 01, 2002. It featured improved graphics and gameplay mechanics. In this game, players use combat, diplomacy, intelligence, and trade to be the leader of their race, while dealing with events & other AI players. The main tools of the players are the starships they design, build, upgrade, and command.
Starships Unlimited v3.5 is the latest version of the game series. It was released on Nov 09, 2005 and features further improvements over its predecessor. The game includes various subtle changes to gameplay, but overall, it is a more polished version, with more balancing, graphical updates, as well as new sound track.
Reception of the series has been generally positive, with critics praising the depth and complexity of the gameplay mechanics. The series has a dedicated fan base and has been praised for its replayability.
The following can be found on the website, describing the game: