Captain Jean-Luc Picard: A history in PC games

(Image credit: Spectrum HoloByte)

Today we've been blessed with a new Star Trek series based on The Next Generation. Called simply Picard, the show brings one of the greatest TV characters of all time back to the small screen, and it's actually really good—nostalgic and familiar, but also fresh and exciting.

Jean-Luc Picard has also appeared in a bunch of Star Trek spin-off games, including a few you've probably forgotten all about...

Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Final Unity

Year 1995
Developer Spectrum HoloByte

This adventure game mixes classic point-and-click puzzling with space exploration, tactical combat, and a bit of Trek-style diplomacy. You can explore the Enterprise-D, go on away missions, and talk to the crew—many of whom are voiced by the cast from the TV show, including Patrick Stewart.

Star Trek Generations

Year 1997
Developer MicroProse

Released alongside the movie of the same name, Generations is a curious blend of 3D first-person shooting and tactical ship combat. There are even some adventure game-style puzzles in there. Unfortunately, it's fairly boring—but the concept of Picard chasing bad guy Soran across the galaxy is kinda interesting.

Star Trek: Hidden Evil

Year 1999
Developer Presto Studios

Taking place immediately after Star Trek: Insurrection, this game is heavily influenced by the Resident Evil series. That means fixed camera angles, pre-rendered backgrounds, clunky phaser combat, and a lot of obscure puzzles. Picard and Data play supporting roles, voiced by Stewart and Brent Spiner.

Star Trek: Armada

Year 2000
Developer Activision

This is one of many Star Trek-based real-time strategy games released in the 2000s. It incorporates plot elements from Deep Space Nine, The Next Generation, and Insurrection, and fits the standard RTS mould: pick a faction, harvest resources, build a base, construct a fleet, then wipe out the enemy.

Star Trek: Armada II

Year 2001
Developer Mad Doc Software

Yes, it's another tactical space combat game. Set six months after the events of the first Armada, this sequel sees the return of the Borg, and Picard using a transwarp gate to take the fight to their staging grounds in the Delta Quadrant. A solid sci-fi RTS, but overshadowed by games like Homeworld.

Star Trek: Starfleet Command III

Year 2002
Developer Taldren

This is one of three Starfleet Command games, which are loosely based on the tabletop game Star Fleet Battles. However, this was the only one to star Picard. In it you play as various characters including a Klingon captain, a newly-minted Romulan captain, and a Federation captain working under Picard.

Star Trek: Bridge Commander

Year 2002
Developer Totally Games

Now we're talking. This remains one of the best Star Trek games on PC, letting you sit in the captain's chair and command your own Federation starship. You can give orders to your crew, or control the ship yourself, and a Stewart-voiced Picard teaches you the basics of the job. I can't think of a better teacher.

Star Trek: Elite Force II

Year 2003
Developer Ritual Entertainment

This first-person shooter is a kinda sequel to Star Trek: Nemesis—a film the new Picard series has close ties to. You play as a member of the Hazard Team, an elite Starfleet unit trained to handle high-risk away missions. Impressed by your skills, Picard invites you to serve aboard the Enterprise-E.

Star Trek: Legacy

Year 2006
Developer Mad Doc Software

This space RTS (yes, another one) is notable for featuring every Star Trek captain—including Jonathan Archer from Enterprise. It's a shame the game itself isn't any good, with unresponsive controls, drawn-out space battles, and the mystifying absence of any collision detection.

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If it’s set in space, Andy will probably write about it. He loves sci-fi, adventure games, taking screenshots, Twin Peaks, weird sims, Alien: Isolation, and anything with a good story.