Larva Mortus
Larva Mortus
Game
Game2008
Space Trader: Merchant Marine
Space Trader is a video game by the Canadian developer HermitWorks Entertainment, for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X released on July 25, 2007. After the game was open-sourced in 2008, an iOS version followed in 2009. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
202 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Oct 14, 2026 · last updated Oct 15, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
51
Mixed
90 positive · 85 negative
95% range 44–59%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 90 | 85 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 3 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mixed
241 of 459 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
52% recommend · 93 yes, 87 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 180 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mixed (323 of 642 positive).
Players describe it as a simple trading game with clunky FPS elements. [1][2][3] Some find it charming and fun for a low price, despite its flaws. [4][5][6] Others criticize it as shallow, buggy, and not worth the time. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [7]
If you were alive during the noughts and are looking to fill an itch of nostalgia, it's a great game that'll do exactly that. Perhaps too well, as people seem prone to a bit of "remember the few fun parts because of the memories they created, forget the god-awful dreck that was most of the market" bias here. That said, if you AREN'T in this for that very specific nostalgia, you're going to hate this game, as it's …
- [3]
A poor resource trading game with awful FPS missions. Pros: + You pick and choose which way to do some missions + some of the characters are quite interesting. Negatives: - everything else - the FPS sections are absolutely awful, non-skippable and punishingly hard. - 90% of sidequests are fetch quests, I continued playing after the first level as it felt as if it was building into something quite enjoyable, but it …
- [4]
Meh it seems a little mediocre at times and could really use a sandbox mode but I still had fun with it. Mixing some shooting stages in with all the trading was a nice change of pace. There are some odd bugs but I was still able to play the game. It's cheap and entertaining for a bit!
- [6]
It was more fun than it should be. Altogether, it seems more like a concept demo that the publishers decided to just put out as a game so that they can focus on other projects. “It’s done enough” emanates throughout every part of the game. A little bit of basic trading (buy when prices are down, sell when up) and a bit of Shooter thrown in. The FPS bits are really about collecting loot during the shootouts, which …
- [18]
Space Trader: Merchant Marine is my guilty pleasure. This game isn't good at all: it's hard to get into, have kinda annoying quest system, looks like pre 2000 game, FPS elements are weird and there isn't much challenge when it comes to trading. And yet here I am, with more than 10 hours, around half of achievements unlocked, and I still can't get enough of this game! While playing this game, I truly feel like a …
Summarised from 34 of the 206 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 11, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
The crowd is split on Space Trader: Merchant Marine: 93 recommend it, 87 don't. Which camp are you in?
Critics, per Wikipedia
An IGN review found the game difficult to praise and insufficiently modern despite being an important continuation of its genre.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 202 · most liked firstMeh it seems a little mediocre at times and could really use a sandbox mode but I still had fun with it. Mixing some shooting stages in with all the trading was a nice change of pace. There are some odd bugs but I was still able to play the game. It's cheap and entertaining for a bit!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →That's a really wide question. I'll give you my list of answers. Here are my top three: - [Shattered Pixel Dungeon](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.shatteredpixel.shatteredpixeldungeon), a roguelike descended from Pixel Dungeon. It's strayed quite far afield from the original PD, but I think most of the changes are good. - [Mindustry](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/io.anuke.mindustry), a hybrid tower defense and systems-building game. I've heard it compared to a game called…
neutral · AI labelView post →Remember that game Drug Wars that you'd play on your TI-83? This is it. Okay, so its not exactly the same. But all the basics are there. You buy stuff and then go somewhere else to sell it in hopes of making a profit. There isn't a whole lot else to this game worth mentioning. There is a shooter element tossed in that just feels clunky and out of place, that I personally just avoided as much as possible. If you want to hone your trading skills before stepping into the TF2 Trading…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You ever wonder what its like to be in a coma you cant wake up from? There ya go. 10/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I do recommend this game for it's retro charm, not for it's actual gameplay. If you never thought about buying this, you'll be very fine without owning the game :) Short sum-up at the end, please refer to that to decide if this is a game for you at all. The game is a really nice trading game - buy cheap, travel, sell expensive. Alternative money income is picking up the scattered boxes and selling it's contents (Value scales with time) or doing bounty hunter missions. The trading itself is…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Review Addendum 8 years later: I see reviews taking dumps on this because they've somehow been led to believe this is trying to be something that it wasn't...back in the year 2007. Not 2011. Not 2023. No: This game -- which is apparently the ONLY one YET to convert Drug Wars (that insanely simplistic buy low/sell high economy game) into a semi-open world exploration FPS -- came out in 2000 + a mf-ing 7. I bought it in 2008 and fell in love with the immensely quirky charm that I couldn't --…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My Top 5 #ttrpgs I want to run in 2025: -Warrenguard (not out yet, so no cover right now) -Intergalactic Space Trader -Zenobia or something else set in the Late Bronze/Iron Age -Eclipse Phase -Fealty There's a 6th game but I need finish binding my gift for the authors before I'll let myself play.
neutral · AI labelView post →Have really enjoyed this game, bought on a whim during a sale. A mix of a space-trading game, NPC quests, and a basic FPS, this game has a unique quirky feel to it. The campaigns are well structured and self-explanatory for the most part. I would recommend for a casual game to buy during a sale.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It was more fun than it should be. Altogether, it seems more like a concept demo that the publishers decided to just put out as a game so that they can focus on other projects. “It’s done enough” emanates throughout every part of the game. A little bit of basic trading (buy when prices are down, sell when up) and a bit of Shooter thrown in. The FPS bits are really about collecting loot during the shootouts, which you then sell. Buy this game, but on deep discount. If there’s ever a sequel…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of my favorite games from Palm OS is Space Trader, by Pieter Spronck. Inspired by similar trading games (mainly Dope Wars), Space Trader became a full-featured strategy game for the platform, and was often cited as among the best games. It was open source and available at no charge.
neutral · AI labelView post →If you were alive during the noughts and are looking to fill an itch of nostalgia, it's a great game that'll do exactly that. Perhaps too well, as people seem prone to a bit of "remember the few fun parts because of the memories they created, forget the god-awful dreck that was most of the market" bias here. That said, if you AREN'T in this for that very specific nostalgia, you're going to hate this game, as it's entirely awful. Just awful in that very, hyper-specific "noughts game that was…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have played some incredible, awe-inspiring games which had stuck with me throughout my life, inspiring me to be and do better; however, this game is not that. Simple enough to pick up, but arguably too simple for extended play throughs.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game's release was one of the many tragedies of 2008. Boring buy low, sell high mechanics with a good bit of randomness just to be a good trader. There's also a poorly-implemented FPS component with four guns and terrible hit registration. Not worth the buck.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I think the main problem with this game is that it's a series of levels and that no progress is kept between them. You'd expect a trading game to be a bit more open.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very old-school trading, bounty hunting, economy simulator - first person shooter mix. Enjoyable for the first hours, but a chore to finish in the later. Didn't really stand up to the gaming quality I expect from 2008, but rather 2000. Still well enough executed.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →There are shooters, there are mercantile games, and then there's this, which tries to be both but is ultimately neither. If you were about to die of boredom, I'm not sure if this game would save your life.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game prepped a whole buncha kids to grow up and blow a hole in the stock market.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun short game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun at first, but the mini-games become tiring. Your ship is not upgradable. There are only three destinations. A fun by at a low price, but don't expect a lot of replayability and logevity.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →8/10 - A perfect marriage between Trading and FPS Some great and unique elements to this game! Overall, the goal is to earn cash through intergalactic trades. Throw in some first person action, and tough battles and you have a pretty solid game! I really enjoyed the unique approach to this game. Worth $5 Accidently Reviewed Was this review helpful or maybe even not helpful? Either way join this group for more. Free Keys and Reviews weekly! [url=http://steamcommunity.com/groups/Accidently]…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[Simon's Puzzles](https://f-droid.org/packages/name.boyle.chris.sgtpuzzles) is what i use when I'm trying to reduce my own doom scrolling. [Luanti (a very nice free Minecraft clone)](https://f-droid.org/packages/net.minetest.minetest) is also great for a few minutes (...or hours) here and there. Edit: What the hey, here's a few more! [Burger Party - Like that pizza game, but burgers](https://f-droid.org/packages/com.agateau.burgerparty) [Breakout 71 - Breakout as a…
neutral · AI labelView post →I was actually having fun with this game, but when I quit and tried to start it up again, it just freezes and crashes. I came across a few other non-crucial bugs that stopped side missions. Lots of potential and kind of fun, but just too unpolished to recommend.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →the voice acting is god-tier 12/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I can trade stuff in space. Doesn't get better. 10 Space/25 Lightyear g8 game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Want to know the best part about this game? The name.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's surprisingly fun and entertaining
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Space Trader: Merchant Marine is my guilty pleasure. This game isn't good at all: it's hard to get into, have kinda annoying quest system, looks like pre 2000 game, FPS elements are weird and there isn't much challenge when it comes to trading. And yet here I am, with more than 10 hours, around half of achievements unlocked, and I still can't get enough of this game! While playing this game, I truly feel like a trader! Everybody sometime finds a game which isn't likeable by pretty much…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You can't save.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very simple game from the past, but my love for SciFi do a favour to this game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Do not get this game. Everything about it is terrible, from plot, to graphics, to gameplay. While the premise sounds interesting, it is so completely linear and shallow it provides zero entertainment.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A poor resource trading game with awful FPS missions. Pros: + You pick and choose which way to do some missions + some of the characters are quite interesting. Negatives: - everything else - the FPS sections are absolutely awful, non-skippable and punishingly hard. - 90% of sidequests are fetch quests, I continued playing after the first level as it felt as if it was building into something quite enjoyable, but it didn't...
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As I live and breathe, This is by far the best FPT-game I've ever played. The graphics aren't great but if you can see past that you'll realize that this is actually a game better than most. The creators have put a lot of effort in the dialogs and storyline and thanks to the creative trading-and-exploring-system in this game, the player realy get a feeling of making an impact on the bigger happenings of the solar system. Completed with many easter eggs, novel references and other secrets (like…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have no idea why I bought this game 8 years ago and then never played it till the other day. Some people may find some charm in it but I struggle to find it, and I grew up playing games like this, its like they copied the early 2k's video game design language but picked all the 30% positive review scored ones from PCGamer reviews.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Terrible. Stay far away.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is the first review i've ever written. All i can say is i bought it for under a dollar and I still paid too much.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Space Trader: Merchant Marine is an unusual hybrid of business simulator and a minor bit of FPS. You can buy and sell commodities, and engage in short FPS contracts (which aren't much fun). Importantly, this must not be confused with a space sim, even though it's dressed as one. The gameplay is a lot like Elite: Dangerous without the exploration and space sim mechanics (eg, the bulk of the game). What's left is a well dressed buy-low-sell-high simulator (which is every bit as dry as it…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a boring FPS with primitive trading system slapped on. The graphics come straight from '90s but if you expected an open-ended game with huge space map and deep mechanics - well they all stayed in '90s. All you get in this game is poor grapfics, linear story and shallow gameplay. Don't even expect to have an ability to hire some thugs to do the shooting work for you, this would be too deep for this game.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A combination trading game and first person shooter, and not a really great example of either.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a trading game where you're inexplicably asked to kill a guy to get your ship, then tells you afterwards you can take bounty missions. Bounty missions have infinitely respawning enemies that do lots of damage to you. Trading appears to simply be buying something with a red arrow on one planet, then selling it someplace with a green arrow on the other planet. There does not appear to be any space travel, just a quick cutscene warp. If this game becomes amazing a couple hours in, I'll never…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a cool little game You have to make a set amount trading over a few days Trading arround the Solar system. While doing so you can accept bounty hunting missions and enter the FPS mode. featturing Kitch homor
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the worst games of all time. Graphics are appalling lack of logic and mathematics that gives a whole new dimension of stupidity. The game works on chance. Of the challenges you will have nightmares. It is here that chance determines whether to complete the challenge or not. I do not recommend the game even if it was free.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →When you look at this game, it looks like literal crap. But you will be disappointed cause it's not as bad as you think, although the game isn't for me, it is a pretty good game and can easily be worth it if you're into trading games
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Smoked too much bananabis and ended up enjoying this game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →make phat stacks of dollar bills and occasionally shoot down criminals wanted for illegally owning a pet hamster without a government license
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Space Trader: Merchant Marine is an ambitious but uneven space-faring hybrid that reflects both the creativity and the limitations of mid-2000s indie design. Developed and published by Meridian4, the game sets out to combine interstellar trading, light role-playing progression, and first-person combat into a single experience where players can choose how to make their fortune. You begin as a relatively insignificant trader navigating a bureaucratic, tightly regulated universe, and the long-term…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fun, short and cheap game. It's clearly unfinished, but what's there works well and is enjoyable for a few hours. It's a fairly simple trading sim with some FPS combat and exploration. Find quests, complete them for money, take advantage of the market, deliberately manipulate the market, etc. Parts 2 and 3 are the meat of the game and are quite enjoyable.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →At full price I wouldn't recommend it. At a steep sale I might, but just to try out. Eclectic, a sort of experimental game. Interesting visuals.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this was like the first game i bought on steam and i hated it as an 8 year old 10 years ago. 10/10.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →only have thirty mins into this game but its fun. kinda confusing and kinda hard though
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It is a fun game. I like how immersive it can be after playing a while, despite the graphics. Also, the voices are pretty great too lol
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Criminally underrated.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Buy low, sell high and shoot enemies in a terrible Quake style combat. Or don't. Better don't.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is not a particularly good game, I'll admit, but I enjoy it. The base price of 4.99 is probably a stretch, but it's frequently only a dollar. That's how much I'll pay for it. Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wish i made money in real life as easy as in this game 10/10 Depression.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Interesting concept for a game, but was unplayable on a mid-to-high level machine which has specs way above the recommended. Graphics were choppy even for an older title. Not worth the price, even on sale.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If this was remade on a newer engine, the concept of the game is kind of genious, and i would be very VERY interested in giving it a shot. But this game has simply aged like the olsen twins (commence your google image searching for 2 very tired looking twins in their 20's). The FPS segments are hilarious. The other reviews rave about them for some reason, but they remind me of halo 2 maybe? Unfortunately, this game just visually is a dinosaur. At the time of this writing it's about to hit 7…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →that's the idea! still early days but it's getting there. the goal is a daemon that simulates a galactic economy with LLM-powered NPCs; players can connect with a client to play their own character. inspired by the old palm os Space Trader game
neutral · AI labelView post →> Space Trader Uuuh, space trader, that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. I played it on my Palm Zire back in the day.
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm still working on stuff, but Space Trader is looking great so far. The racing game is complete, simple stuff with a little F-Zero thrown in, as you can see here. #pygame #python #game
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a vibe-porting experiment where I used Claude AI to almost automatically convert an old Palm OS game named Space Trader to run on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive haroldo-ok.itch.io/space-trader...
neutral · AI labelView post →
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