MoonBase Commander
A turn-based strategy game with cord-linked hubs and artillery-style launching.
MoonBase Commander is a turn-based strategy game from 2002, developed by Humongous Entertainment. Players control a central hub that can launch additional hubs, defensive structures, and attacks against enemies. All buildings are connected to their parent hub by a cord, and these cords cannot cross each other or touch water. Energy points are spent each turn to expand or attack, and launching units requires holding down a button to set power—longer holds send units farther, though wind can affect accuracy. The game map wraps around at the edges, so no player is trapped in a corner. Four factions (NiceCo, DeWulf, System7, and Team Alpha) are available, but they differ only in appearance.
Single-player includes Skirmish mode, where the player fights up to three AI opponents of varying difficulty, with the goal of destroying all enemies. Challenge Mode offers sixteen preset missions, four per faction, each with unique objectives, enemies, and settings. Completion earns a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal based on time, and challenges unlock linearly; finishing all plays the credits. Multiplayer supports LAN natively, but internet play requires third-party tools. Initially, GameSpy was used, but the Moonbase Commander Console soon became the standard online method. Its source code was released under the MIT License in 2013. Other utilities like MoonbaseIP and MBCImport bypass GameSpy and allow custom maps.
The game was built on the SCUMM engine, famous for LucasArts adventure games. In 2024, it became compatible with ScummVM, ending its Windows-only restriction. A complete re-release arrived on Steam in early 2014, including both single-player campaigns and LAN multiplayer.
MoonBase Commander received mostly positive reviews on GameRankings and Metacritic, and was praised by Tycho of Penny Arcade at E3 2002. Despite this, sales were low; in 2006, Atari Interactive valued its intellectual property at between $0 and $100,000. After Atari’s bankruptcy, the rights were auctioned to Rebellion Developments. The game won Computer Games Magazine’s “Best Budget Game” award for 2002 and GameSpot’s “Best Game No One Played on PC” award that same year.
Quick Facts
- Title
- MoonBase Commander
- Developer
- Humongous Entertainment
- Publisher
- InfogramesThe Steam re-release was published by Rebellion Developments.
- Engine
- SCUMM
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
- Released
- NA · August 13, 2002
- Genre
- Turn-based strategy
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Designer
- Rhett Mathis
- Composer
- Stuart Ellison
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
MoonBase Commander is a turn-based strategy game where the player controls a main hub that can send out other hubs, attack enemy structures, create defensive buildings, and collect energy for expansion. All buildings and weapons are launched from a hub, with the power of the shot determined by how long the player holds the launch button; wind can affect accuracy. Cords connecting buildings to their parent hub cannot overlap or land in water. Maps wrap around at the edges, preventing corner positions. The game features four factions—NiceCo, DeWulf, System7, and Team Alpha—which are functionally identical with only cosmetic differences. Skirmish mode allows up to three computer opponents, while Challenge Mode offers sixteen premade missions, four per faction, with medals awarded based on completion time. The game was developed on the SCUMM engine, best known for LucasArts adventure games, and in 2024 was made compatible with ScummVM, removing its Windows-only limitation.
Reader's Guide
MoonBase Commander received mostly positive reviews on GameRankings and Metacritic, and was praised by Tycho of Penny Arcade at the 2002 E3. Despite this, sales were low; in 2006, Atari Interactive valued the intellectual property at between $0 and $100,000. The rights were sold at auction to Rebellion Developments following Atari's bankruptcy. The game won Computer Games Magazine's 2002 'Best Budget Game' award and GameSpot's annual 'Best Game No One Played on PC' award. Its multiplayer initially relied on GameSpy, but the Moonbase Commander Console, created shortly after release, became the most common online method; its source code was released under the MIT License in 2013. A Steam re-release in early 2014 included the full original gameplay and LAN multiplayer. The game's unique cord-based mechanics and artillery-style launching set it apart, though its niche appeal limited commercial success.
Did You Know?
- The game's source code for the Moonbase Commander Console was released under the MIT License in 2013.
- In 2006, Atari Interactive valued the MoonBase Commander intellectual property at between $0 and $100,000.
- The game was re-released on Steam in early 2014 in its complete and unabridged form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MoonBase Commander?
It is a 2002 turn-based strategy title from Humongous Entertainment in which you manage a network of tethered hubs to expand territory and bombard rival factions. Each turn you spend energy points to build new structures, launch units, or strike enemy positions.
How does the cord system work in MoonBase Commander?
Every structure you deploy must be linked to its parent hub by a visible tether, and those tethers have strict placement rules—they cannot intersect one another or pass over water tiles. This turns map layout into a spatial puzzle, since you have to plan your expansion path before committing energy.
What are the four playable factions?
The game features NiceCo, DeWulf, System7, and Team Alpha as the selectable sides. You can choose any of them in Skirmish or across the sixteen missions of Challenge Mode.
How do you launch units and structures?
You hold down a button to charge power, and the longer the hold the farther the projectile travels, though prevailing wind can shift your aim off target. It plays like a slingshot mechanic, so reading wind direction and timing your release are key to landing structures where you want them.
What multiplayer options does MoonBase Commander offer?
Local play is supported over a LAN, while online matches require third-party services such as GameSpy or the Moonbase Commander Console. There is no built-in internet matchmaking, so remote play depends entirely on one of those external platforms.
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