One of Sci‑Fi’s Best Franchises Still Needs a Game That Lives Up to Expectations

by

Despite being one of the most popular science fiction franchises ever, Stargate has never had a truly great video game. The story began with the 1994 film, but instead of continuing with movies, it became the Stargate SG-1 TV series in 1997, picking up where the film left off. That show ran for a decade and led to two spin-offs, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe. Beyond the main shows, there have also been direct-to-video movies, an animated series, and a web series, meaning there’s plenty of Stargate content available.

While the franchise has inspired many games, some haven’t quite met fans’ hopes. Currently, there are only a few finished games, and almost as many that were never completed. Surprisingly, one of the most well-received titles is actually the Stargate pinball machine from 1995. Beyond that, the options are limited to tabletop role-playing games and a board game. When it comes to traditional video games, truly promising concepts often ended up being cancelled.

There’s Perhaps Only One Stargate Game That Lives up to Expectations

Looking back at video games based on the Stargate franchise, you’ll find a mixed bag. The earliest example, from 1994 for Game Boy and Game Gear, was loosely based on the movie and played much like Tetris. It wasn’t a bad game, but it wasn’t exactly what fans hoped for. Another game followed soon after for Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, putting players in the role of Col. Jack O’Neill, but it wasn’t well-received. Later, Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, intended to be based on the popular TV series, was unfortunately cancelled during development.

Several attempts were made to create a Stargate video game, but none succeeded. A promising massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Stargate Worlds, seemed perfect for the franchise with its focus on exploration, but it was cancelled after development stalled. Stargate SG-1: Unleashed, a mobile game for Android and iOS, released in two parts, but the studio behind it went bankrupt, ending further development. Ultimately, issues like staff reductions and legal problems regarding initial rights hindered these projects.

As a huge Stargate fan, I was so excited when Stargate: Timekeepers finally came out in 2024! It’s a real-time tactics game developed by Slitherine Poland, and it lets you control the SG-1 team. The gameplay feels like it pulls a lot from the seventh season of the show, and it’s really cool because you can use stealth to get through missions and fight off some seriously dangerous enemies. The game is split into two seasons, each with seven chapters, and honestly, it’s a really solid game – the mechanics are well thought out and the story really pulled me in. In fact, it’s the only Stargate game currently out there that I’d actually recommend, and I think it’s easily the best one the franchise has ever seen in its 30+ year history.

Stargate: Timekeepers Should Propel the Franchise Into New Directions

The new release, Stargate: Timekeepers, has a lot to live up to given the vastness of the Stargate universe. Despite many successful shows and a good movie, it’s surprising that after over three decades, there’s only been one worthwhile game. Stargate is perfect for a variety of game genres – think massive online role-playing games, RPGs, or adventure games – and its rich history and diverse groups offer endless possibilities. Currently, if you don’t enjoy top-down strategy games, Timekeepers isn’t for you, though there’s a glimmer of hope. With Amazon MGM now owning the franchise and developing new content, we might finally see a new Stargate game, potentially through Amazon Game Studios.

It’s surprising there aren’t more great Stargate video games, isn’t it? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/list/how-to-watch-every-stargate-movie-show-in-timeline-order-ahead-of-its-revival/embed/#

Read More

2026-02-02 21:11