Space HoRSE Demo

Simple strategy games with no violence involved can be the perfect distraction for you and your friends, as it was clearly demonstrated by M.U.L.E. on consoles a few decades ago. Not many modern titles provide you with the same experience, however, although there are a few that try to emulate the classics and reinvent some of the same gameplay mechanics.

Space HoRSE is actually a heavily improved M.U.L.E. clone, which means that it features many of the same concepts and it targets the same audience, more or less. The simple turn-based mechanics are intuitive enough for anyone to grasp in a matter of minutes, while the overall gameplay is addictive and fun, with plenty of variety to allow for multiple replays.

HoRSE is actually an acronym for Holistic Robotic Slave Engineer and it is basically one of the avatars you can choose for your characters at the start of the game. A bird and a space dog are also available, as well as a few other weird choices to make the experience a tad more amusing. However, the main purpose of the players is to score points and make money, which is achieved by producing a variety of commodities.

Because the action takes place in turns, there are multiple phases for each turn as well. At first, you get to claim a piece of land, by selecting a free one from the available ones. It is also possible to auction for the same land with the other players, in case more than one player desires the same patch of ground. Once you have land, you can start building various facilities and produce goods, which can then be sold on the stock market.

However, it is also possible to buy commodities here, depending on what you need and how much you are willing to pay for them. The other players can set the price and you must match it, although you can also force them to sell short if you know they need the money. Power, food, and various other goods are available, all of which come in handy on the alien colony.

In the end, Space HoRSE can only be appreciated to the fullest if you experience it together with three other friends, because it supports up to four controllers at the same time. However, you can also play against the A.I., which is pretty well programmed to provide you with a challenge as well.