StarLancer

StarLancer (2000)

by Digital Anvil, Warthog PLC, Microsoft Game Studios
Genres:Simulator
Themes:Action, Science fiction
Game modes:Single player
Story:Starlancer is a space-based science fiction flight simulator computer game, created by Erin Roberts, Chris Roberts, and Warthog PLC under the auspices of Digital Anvil. It is the year 2160. Mankind has colonized the solar system and two political entities have emerged: the Alliance consisting of American, Australian, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, British and German forces, and The Coalition of Russian, Chinese and Middle-Eastern interests. The game begins with a surprise attack on Fort Kennedy, where a peace treaty turns into a bloodbath: all of the inner four planets are overrun, including Terra herself, and the Italian and French fleets are utterly lost. The Alliance fleet regroups at Triton, Neptune's moon, and attempts to regain lost territory. The player takes the role of a rookie pilot in the international 45th Volunteers squadron, under the command of Captain Robert Foster and Wing Commander Maria Enriquez, aboard the re-commissioned British carrier ANS Reliant. As with Wing Commander: Prophecy, the pilot's flying ability is the only meter by which success and failure is measured, though Starlancer does not feature as many branching mission paths. As in Wing Commander I the pilot may be promoted throughout the course of the campaign; unlike WCI, their rank determines which fighters and missiles they may choose to employ during each mission. The game provides a "virtual carrier" through which to navigate, including nearby crewmembers whose reaction to you depends on your current rank and standing. However, the true gem of the game lies in its textual and video news broadcasts, which keep the player informed as to the status of the rest of the war, which seems to be progressing just over the horizon. Players frequently find themselves flying alongside squadrons and pilots they have heard about on the news just recently, providing a dose of 'celebrity exposure' and also increasing the sensation that they are just one part of a much larger war effort. Starlancer's story is continued in Chris Roberts' Freelancer project, though the two belong to different subgenres (the first is purely focused on action, the latter also features trading and the player can freely move through the game's universe when they are not on a mission.)Show more
user avatarAdded by @simonfry
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.
8 979
Trailers and screenshots
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Stories about this game (38)
What’s your memory of StarLancer?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
user avatar@placeholder

Make sure to follow our Guidelines when adding new Stories.

If not sure what to write:
  • What made this game unforgettable?
  • Who did you play this game with?
  • What made it fun or challenging?
  • Why do you want this game on GOG?
user avatar@Privatauser avatar@Privata
January 29, 2025
A game that is forever lodged in my memory Somewhere between Top Gun and Star Wars, Starlancer just hit differently when compared to Wing Commander and Freelancer Not all aspects of the game have aged very well, the gameplay, mission design and ambiance have only gotten better with age.
user avatar@Maxobiwanuser avatar@Maxobiwan
January 29, 2025
Prequel of Freelancer Also the best space-sim played with a joystick. You can give orders to wingmen during battles when needed. And for a military game, each mission is unique and follow a story
user avatar@Firekuser avatar@Firek
December 19, 2024
I was a huge fan of space sims as a kid, with the Wing Commander and Freespace series being one of my favorite series of all time, and StarLancer has a special place in my heart as well. I think it's the mechanical design that stole my heart, seeing as my hobby as a kid (other than games, duh) was reading about military equipment. The in-game factions' ships all had a distinct vibe to them, and I loved how they recycled some real-life fighter names like Mirage or Tempest. It was also refreshing to play a space sim which emulated a real-life East vs West human vs human conflict. Overall, for 17-year-old me it struck me as a mature game, and quite unlke any other of the genre, and I can't wait to play it again sometime.
user avatar@skybolt226user avatar@skybolt226
January 29, 2025
This was the first game I ever played, sitting on my dads lap as a very young child. Forever lodged firmly in my heart, I've wanted to go back to it year after year but find myself discouraged by the technical issues of getting it running properly. It's a gem from its era, and deserves to be experienced by more people!
user avatar@Truthansuser avatar@Truthans
January 29, 2025
I've played through this game a hundred times. I even flew through the wormhole once and tried to kill everything I could. The beginning is depressing and you grow fond of your first carrier ship. You indirectly rise in rank and can "compete" with the AI ​​based on kills. Go Flying Tigers Go
user avatar@Nero299user avatar@Nero299
February 02, 2025
I love Freespace 1 and 2, but this game has a special place in my memories of the space sim genre that nothing else quite fits into. I would not call it better than Freespace, but that's also not an apples to apples comparison. Freelancer occupied a unique niche among the space sims that was incredibly fun and absolutely deserves preservation.
user avatar@Srauuser avatar@Srau
January 30, 2025
The first post wing commander and post Origin era simulator by Roberts, prequel to Freelancer. Damn good game with hell of a chilling intro. It is really a WC look alike, with story driven missions, i highly recommand it.
user avatar@killerwayuser avatar@killerway
January 30, 2025
Real fan of this game, love the missions and dogfighting. I actually prefer this over freelancer because of the more narrative based missions. I always found it hilarious when you manage to kill the Badie while they were monologuing.
This was the first Space Sim that I ever played on our first PC that we ever bought called an Acer Aspire 5120LK. It then got me play other games like Wing Commander 1-4 and Prophecy, Decent Freespace, and Freespace 2, and then Freelancer.
user avatar@Glerannuser avatar@Glerann
January 31, 2025
One of the very first PC games I've ever play. Trying to connect to Gamespy and PVP and getting destroy because I freaking suck. Man, I miss it. The story is freaking cool too! Going from some random volunteers with no chance of getting anywhere to being top dogs is an awesome story play. I hope GOG picks this one up.
Those games also need your vote!
Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection
Zoo Tycoon: Complete CollectionAn insidiously addictive simulation game, Zoo Tycoon allows players to create their own zoo, but not just any zoo. It's completely free-form: Start with fences for your exhibits, then pick animals and give them toys, foliage, and anything else you want. For your customers, you can lay down paths to lead them around, then add food stands, amusement rides, even maps and trash cans. Not sure what you need? The zoo advisors will tell you how to make the animals happy, and the customers themselves will tell you what they're looking for, be it snacks, more animals, or anything else. There's also a vast amount of background information on each critter--its diet, its habitat, etc.--which can be useful when you're adding a macrauchenia or a Loch Ness Monster. In all, you can choose over 100 animals, plus countless habitat and park embellishments.
12 713
34
Intellivision Rocks
Intellivision RocksThe sequel to Intellivision Lives!, this compilation includes over 30 more emulated Intellivision games, primarily those originally published by Activision and Imagic. It also has the complete library of Intellivoice games (minus Tron Solar Sailer, due to licensing restrictions) and a complete library of Entertainment Computer System (ECS) games (again, minus a few licensed titles), and some unreleased games. The complete list of games follows: Atlantis B-17 Bomber (Intellivoice) Beamrider Beauty and the Beast Bomb Squad (Intellivoice) Deep Pockets Demon Attack Dracula Dragonfire Fathom Game Factory (ECS; previously unreleased) Happy Trails Ice Trek League of Light (previously unreleased) Magic Carousel (Intellivoice; previously unreleased) Melody Blaster (ECS) Microsurgeon Mind Strike (ECS) Minotaur (debugged version) Mr. BASIC Meets Bits N' Bytes (ECS) Nova Blast Number Jumble (ECS) Pitfall River Raid Robot Rubble (previously unreleased) Safecracker Space Spartans (Intellivoice) Stampede Swords & Serpents The Dreadnaught Factor Thin Ice (release version) Tropical Trouble Truckin' White Water! World Series Baseball (ECS; Intellivoice) Worm Whomper Each of these games is played via a very accurate emulator. In fact, there are three emulators included on the disc: DOS, Windows, and Macintosh. But there's more to the package than just emulated games. Each game is complete with a box scan, overlay scan (if applicable), instructions, and credits. There's also a museum of Intellivision oddities, including the complete video of several Intellivision commercials.
Action
Action
13
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 / Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 / Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2
Action
Warfare
Action
Warfare
54
1
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2Ubisoft's award-winning shooter that was founded on the PC returns with Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter® 2, designed specifically for the PC gamer by GRIN. Building on the foundation of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, the sequel is a near-future warfare masterpiece. Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for the PC screams tactics, and you'll need to bring your best to bear if you are going to get the Ghosts past their latest challenge... It's 2014, and the soldier of the future returns to encounter a new and more imminent threat along the recently completed wall on the U.S./Mexico border. The Ghosts are more powerful with an upgraded Integrated Warfighter System (IWS), but will have only 72 hours to assess the threat and stop the rebels from reaching U.S. soil. With a border that's 1,900 miles long and an enemy that doesn't play by the rules, this is a job for the U.S. military's most elite fighting unit. This is a job for the Ghosts.
Action
Warfare
Action
Warfare
571
1
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced WarfighterThe year is 2013 and you play as Captain Mitchell, commander of a Ghost Recon team, on a mission in Mexico City where rebels are attempting a coup, putting Mexico and the USA in danger. To deal with the different situations you have to face, taking out AA-guns or defending injured personnel until the rescue team arrives, you do not only have access to top-notch weapons like the different versions of the MR-C, but also to futuristic equipment like a drone that flies over the battlefield to spot enemy units.
Action
Warfare
Action
Warfare
607
1
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island ThunderGhost Recon takes the next step in battlefield realism with Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder.
Action
Warfare
Action
Warfare
1 817
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Predator
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon PredatorTom Clancy's Ghost Recon Predator is a tactical shooter video game developed by Virtuos, published by Ubisoft for the PlayStation Portable, and released in 2010.
Warfare
Stealth
Warfare
Stealth
163
The Sims: Complete Collection
The Sims: Complete CollectionThe Sims is a life-building simulation with emphasis on intimate details of individual characters rather than expansion of an entire society or civilization. You are in control of nearly every aspect of the lives of the individuals who make up your chosen population in the neighborhood. Characters are developed from the ground up and you infuse and mold them with personalities, looks, desires, moods, urges, living arrangements, career and personal choices, life styles, and reactions. The Sims: Complete Collection includes a copy of The Sims and all seven of its expansion packs (Livin' Large, House Party, Hot Date, Vacation, Unleashed, Superstar, and Makin' Magic).
Top
Fantasy
Comedy
Sandbox
Romance
Top
Fantasy
Comedy
Sandbox
Romance
39 238
54
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2: 2011 - Final Assault
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2: 2011 - Final AssaultPart two of the Ghost Recon 2 trilogy. Takes place four years after the Gamecube/PS2 Ghost Recon 2.
Action
Action
141
Fallout Shelter
Fallout ShelterFallout Shelter puts you in control of a state-of-the-art underground Vault from Vault-Tec. Build the perfect Vault, keep your Dwellers happy, and protect them from the dangers of the Wasteland. Vault-Tec has provided the tools, but the rest is up to you. What are you waiting for? Get started building your Vault today for free.
Science fiction
Survival
Science fiction
Survival
141