Play Star Traders Online

Star Traders came out in 1983 as part of the MS-DOS Classic Games series, developed by Pete Tytler. It was one of those early space trading sims that felt right at home on a computer, a text-heavy adventure where you managed resources and made decisions that actually mattered. There was no flashy graphics to lean on, just lists, menus, and your own ability to plan ahead.

You control a lone trader piloting a ship between star systems, buying low and selling high to build your fortune. The main goal is simply to survive and get rich, though piracy, debt, and random encounters make that harder than it sounds. Key mechanics include navigating sector by sector, engaging in turn-based ship combat, and managing your hull integrity and credit balance. The pacing is deliberate, almost methodical, and the difficulty can be brutal if you take too many chances. It feels like a very personal test of your judgment and nerve.

Each game uses different controls, most DOS games use the keyboard arrows. Some will use the mouse , "Alt" ,"Enter" and "Space bar".