Bridge Simulators try to create scenarios and environments where you need to work on a StarTrek like bridge with other crew members. Captain, Navigation, Weapons, Engineering, Science, etc.
Some of the ones below are designed for ‘over the internet play’ by design, and others are designed for those on the same local network to play together.
Issues:
It is not easy to get a crew together at the same time.
Unless your crew are all on the same local network, you ‘might’ have to set up port forwarding on the router of the person hosting the game. Basicinstructions are provided below.
The following games are free and quite interesting.
EmptyEpsilon
https://daid.github.io/EmptyEpsilon
This can be run on Windows, Linux, and some Android devices.
You can create your own scenarios.
The startup menu can be a little confusing.
You can install manually or install it from steam! https://store.steampowered.com/app/1907040/EmptyEpsilon
It is 2d, but it is still a very good bridge simulator.
Quintet
https://store.steampowered.com/app/340350/Quintet
This is no longer fully maintained, but it works and is pretty decent. It works on Windows and Linux. Mac might not work as Steam now insists that Mac games be 64 bit.
Note that internet play does work with steam, although it is a bit confusing on ‘how’ to do that.
Space Nerds In Space
https://smcameron.github.io/space-nerds-in-space
This is a fascinating linux project that is still being updated 13 years later. As part of the experience, it is suggested that you compile it yourself. This is the fun option. However, to simplify, I have assisted in creating both an Appimage and Flatpak package.
Ways to install:
- Fun: Build it yourself: https://smcameron.github.io/space-nerds-in-space/#buildinstructions
- Alternative: App Image: https://www.pling.com/p/2261862
- Easy: Flatpak: https://flathub.org/apps/io.github.smcameron.space-nerds-in-space
It has a full 3d environment, an option for speech recognition and natural language processing so you can give commands to the ship’s computer (See here), mining, missions, space gates, nebula to hide in, and many other ambitious, unique features. I highly recommend it.
For those without a linux PC you can try some of these ideas:
- Use Virtualbox or equivalent. Download, install and run linux image in a virtual PC.
- Create a live linux boot stick using tools like Rufus or Ventoy
- Install WSL Ubuntu on your Windows PC and run it from there. Find WSL Ubuntu in the Microsoft store. Sound can be flakey with this setup.
The creator recommends playing it together on a home network for the best possible experience. But you can still play it over the internet. The one hosting the game server will need to go to the options page, then:
- (Client PCs do not need to do these steps)
- Under ‘Multiverse Options’ check ‘Allow Remote Networks’
- Under ‘SNIS Server Options’ uncheck ‘Use default port settings’ and set 5000-5010 also check ‘Allow Remote Networks’
- Check ‘NAT ghetto mode’
- Set port forwarding on your home router/modem for 5000-5010 for the servers and 2914 for the lobby. Clients do not need to change any router settings.
- Start your Lobby Server, Multiverse server and SNIS Server in that order on the previous, main page. The server host can also play by then choosing ‘Connect Client to Lobby’. If your PC is not very fast, you may want to have a second PC to be the Client PC.
- Provide your Internet/WAN address to the crew members who will be joining your server. Also let them know the ship name and the password and which server they will need to connect to on the lobby screen.
- The crew members will need to first choose the ‘Connect Client to Lobby’ button then enter your servers IP address into the ‘Lobby Server Name or IP ADDRESS’ box, then connect. Then they can connect to the server and ship you have agreed upon.
Thorium-Nova
Downloads are here, but I had to build myself to get sound (it is still in alpha):
https://github.com/Thorium-Sim/thorium-nova/releases/tag/v1.0.0-alpha.16
This is another brilliant and ambitious project. There is a Thorium Classic https://classic.thoriumsim.com/ it was/is used as a commercial bridge simulator but can be used for personal use. The scenario builder looks quite intimidating.
Thorium-Nova is a rewrite and is coded in Node.js and is built on a server / client model. This is absolutely brilliant as all the clients are simply any PC, with any OS using their browsers to access the server. You can even have multiple browser windows on the same PC, accessing the different bridge stations.
It is still in alpha, but it works.
Setting up over the internet / Port Forwarding
If you and your friends are in the same house using the same local network, this is not required. This is only if you are HOSTING or SERVING a game over the internet.
To do this you need to know a few things.
- Your Modem’s login username and password. It ‘might’ be on a sticker on your modem. If not contact your internet service provider.
- Your network’s gateway IP address. This IP will be typed in your browser’s address bar so you can login and access your modems settings.
- Your computer’s local IP address. Hopefully this is static. If not, you may need to change your port forwarding settings often.
- What ‘ports’ your game is using. Needed for port forwarding settings.
- Your External or WAN IP address for your modem/internet. Find this in your Web interface for your modem.
Eg:
To find my PC IP address and my gate way IP address, I used the ‘cmd’ in my windows search box, then typed and ran: ipconfig
I typed my gateway IP of 192.168.0.1 in a browser address bar and then logged into my modem’s web interface. I then went to my port forwarding settings in my modem. The external service port should be whatever port the game uses. And the internal port settings will be the same. The IP address is the IP address of your computer (found with ipconfig). Protocol set to ALL.
To find your External WAN IP you need to find this in your modem, or find if from https://whatismyipaddress.com/
Note: This address might change over time.
When your friends run the bridge simulator and it asks them for the server address, this is the address they will use.
When they try to connect to your modem using the external IP address and the game port address, your port forwarding (that you set up) will forward the traffic to your internal IP and game port of your computer.
Linux Downloads
I have create Linux AppImages and Flatpak for some of these Space Bridge Simulators.
https://github.com/vpelss/snis_flatpak
https://github.com/vpelss/Space-Nerds-In-Space-Appimage
https://github.com/vpelss/EmptyEpsilon_AppImage
Not mine: https://flathub.org/apps/io.github.daid.EmptyEpsilon
Linux only sims running on windows
For those without linux, you have a few options. Create a live boot (persistent) linux usb stick and boot your pc from that, or run VirtualBox and install linux on that or run Linux for Windows (WSL).
Option 1. WSL is very simple now. Go to Microsoft store and search for Ubuntu. Once installed, run Ubuntu and you are at the linux terminal (command prompt).
Note: If you know nothing about linux, and are not willing to google the basics (how to open a terminal, change path locations, etc) this may not be for you.
Option2. For a usb boot option download a linux distro (Mint, Zorin, etc)
eg: Q4os https://www.q4os.org/downloads1.html
MiniOS: https://minios.dev/
Then install it to a usb stick with rufus:
Make sure you set some persistent disk space so your download remains after you reboot.
Then boot your linux usb and set it up.