X3: Albion Prelude

The whole X3 series is excellent. One of the great space trading games. It shows its age in some ways (time acceleration doesn't last through a jump gate and graphics are not modern) but this is still a HUGE universe to explore as a fighter, a trader, or any role you choose. You can stay solo or build a huge fleet, with carriers, fighter squadrons and factory complexes pumping out all the missiles and shields you can't easily get elsewhere. Become a billionaire through selling narcotics, if that takes your fancy!

Yet another satisfying installment in the X series. Probably about the closest we'll get to being able to play a game "inside" a universe where it feels like a 4X game is being played between AI factions.

The sheer flexibility and depth at which the player can engage in combat (1v1 up through fleet ops), trade, resource gathering and industry building is almost second to none.

Easily one of the best space sandbox simulators out there.

better than X4 way better!!

Good old game, it's not perfect but I enjoy it.
(I need to write a better review).

I first played this (before there was Steam) and enjoyed it. Quite a while ago I decided to revisit the old favorite, and actually rebought it through Steam. I have spent many months and over 1500 hours of playing and testing, trying to get the voices to work in the game, and have finally given up. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the game dozens of time, scoured the internet for answer (apparently this is a common enough problem) and many other "solutions", to no avail. I consider the game ultimately unplayable without the voice prompts from the NPCs and the ship computer. I give up - I can't get the voices to work, and I feel ripped off. I If I had the slightest hope that Steam would actually do it, I would demand my money back. Bottom line, if you pay for this game, you're a fool. Highly do NOT recommend.

The game is total garbage.

One of the best, period.

Still rewarding to play after 14 years!

a few years ago I played on steam os, bought aircraft carrier and tl from splits,
****
now the first minutes of the game - critical freezes, crashes,
thanks for a good game,,,,,
minus for turning off the game on non-windows os

So the X3 series came out in like 2005? And here we are toward the end of 2024 and I am still enjoying this game quite a bit.
I also have X Rebirth and X4 with Split expansion and so far a big "Meh" on both of those. Actually X3 itself would only be very average if it were not for two mods. Litcube universe and Mayhem mod 2.X (Didn't like 3.X as well).
If only Egosoft would have made X4 patterned after X3 with Mayhem and Litcube mods and updated the graphics to 2024 standards,,,add just a bit of content....That would have been the game I would have loved to see from X4 in 2024. I have been a gamer since 1980...winning albums at Space Invaders in the arcade. And if I could only keep 10 games from the past...this one with those two mods would be one of them.

This is an open space game with plenty of things to figure out and do. A complete and total black hole of time to sink into.

Lots of fun. And lots to learn first.