Sci-fi is one of the most popular genres of fiction around, and has had a swathe of fans for decades. From Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy to Battlestar Galactica, the wonderment of technology and space provoke some of the most iconic characters and stories ever made. In video games, there have been plenty of great science fiction properties, many of which rival the ones created long before. Mass Effect is as beloved as it gets in the gaming sphere, and while Star Wars has made the jump to the virtual space with grace, boasting a handful of truly brilliant experiences, Star Trek hasn't had as much success of late.

This is puzzling, as Star Trek has always been considered among fans as one of the most influential and important names in the genre. Ever since in the 1960s, it has been reimagined and rebooted more times than most, but the games that wear the Star Trek banner all seem to be lost in time. Be they surprisingly good VR titles or forgettable movie tie-ins, Star Trek hasn't had a strong enough foothold in games to make any real impact. This is curious, as its one of the fictional properties that is the most suited for the medium, and its high time it was given some real attention.

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Star Trek is a Gaming Goldmine

Star Trek Kirk and Spock hold hands

Though there have been plenty of iterations on the winning formula, the fundamental expectation of a Star Trek series is to have a cast of well-developed and diverse characters, a spaceship that both looks cool and functions in interesting ways, and an adventure fitting of the crew and their personalities. "To boldly go where no man has gone before" is one of the handful of taglines for Star Trek, and while this format is vague, it opens itself up to a whole host of possibilities in the narrative department.

Mass Effect is loved in large part because of the memorable character interactions aboard the Normandy, one of the best vessels in gaming. BioWare clearly drew inspiration from the Paramount-owned IP, and wouldn't be where it is today without it. Like Mass Effect, Star Trek draws its magic from its characters, so what comes next in the story, no matter where in the universe it goes, is made all the more compelling by the personalities that venture into the unknown.

Star Trek Could be Genre Defining

Star Wars: Squadrons VR

The scope of Star Wars is huge, and has rapidly expanded since it was purchased by Disney in 2012. What started on the screen as a trilogy in the late-70s into the 1980s has since become a global brand with countless spin-offs and side stories that flesh out the world in which it resides. As such it can find a place in so many gaming genres, from immersive and complex flight simulators to twitchy first-person shooters. However, it covers such a wide berth that it hasn't had the chance to truly excel at anything, despite some great options releasing in recent years.

Star Trek would have to stick to a more rigid philosophy in gaming, as it has always been far more focused on its characters and crew. Kirk, Spock, and Sulu are cornerstones of the property as fans know it, but the expansive and structural nature of Starfleet would be perfect for an RPG. Deep character interactions, situational storytelling, and engaging space exploration could be essential pillars, not just for a good Star Trek tale, but for a truly memorable and genre-defining game. Star Trek has more potential than most other sci-fi names to succeed greatly in the gaming space, so it's curious that it has yet to really do so.

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