Star Trek Online review

Star Trek Online is the top pick because it gives fans the most Star Trek for the lowest price: nothing. Cryptic Studios sets the game more than a century after Strange New Worlds and thirty years after Nemesis, with the Romulan Empire fractured and the Federation and Klingons at war again. The Steam page lists more than 160 episodes across several story arcs, four playable factions including the Dominion, hundreds of ships and over 40 Star Trek characters played by their original actors, such as Spock, Janeway, Worf and Tilly. You fight in space and lead away teams on the ground, and you can go from Ensign to Fleet Admiral without paying. The trade-offs are typical for an online game: it needs a constant broadband connection, it sells optional in-game items, and Steam lists Windows only. 79% of 17,006 English Steam reviews are positive, and 85% of recent reviews were positive when we checked.

Who it is for

fans who want the biggest Star Trek game for free

Price

Free to play on Steam; optional in-game purchases.

Go from Ensign to Fleet Admiral entirely free-to-play!
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• More than 160 story episodes across multiple story arcs
• Four factions: Federation, Romulan Republic, Klingon Empire and Dominion
• Over 40 Star Trek characters voiced by their original actors, including Spock, Janeway and Worf
• Hundreds of ships plus a captain creator for any species
• Space combat and ground away missions in one game

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free to play from Ensign to Fleet Admiral, according to the Steam page
• Strength: 79% of 17,006 English Steam reviews are positive
• Strength: Minimum spec is a Core 2 Duo, 4 GB of RAM and 21 GB of storage
• Weakness: Needs a broadband connection at all times
• Weakness: In-app purchases sit alongside the free content
• Weakness: Steam lists Windows only

Key facts

• Developer: Cryptic Studios
• Publisher: Arc Games
• On Steam since: January 31, 2012
• Minimum RAM: 4 GB
• English Steam reviews: 79% positive of 17,006

Where it ranks

Star Trek Online is No. 1 in our Best Star Trek Games verdict.