Starflight 1986

Released: August 15, 1986
Anniversary: Turned 40 on August 15
Genres: Role-playing (RPG) · Simulator · Adventure
Platforms: Commodore C64/128/MAX · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Atari ST/STE · Mac · DOS · Amiga
Developer: Binary Systems
More info: Wikipedia IGDB

Where to buy

Digital: GOG
Physical: Search on Amazon

Affiliate links: GOG, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, ININ Games and Amazon

Is it still worth playing?

Binary Systems' 1986 space exploration, combat and trading role playing game, in which you captain a starship exploring the galaxy in the year 4620. You begin at the space station Starport, where you buy and sell, hire and train a crew from five species for six posts, and upgrade the ship. A crewman's skill decides how much he can do: a science officer with a high skill reads more of a planet's properties and detects aliens from farther away. There is no set path, so you can move freely between mining, ship to ship combat and alien diplomacy. Income comes from selling minerals, artifacts and lifeforms and from recommending planets for colonization. You still pick your own route through the galaxy, so every captain's journey differs.