At Ars Orbiting HQ, our passion for games extends from ancient classics to modern masterpieces. In partnership with GOG.com, we’ve curated a special store page highlighting our favorite selections from their extensive catalog. Monthly updates ensure a fresh rotation of about 50 games, with personal retrospectives shared twice a month. These retrospectives feature a blend of retro gems and overlooked modern titles, all available in DRM-free versions from GOG. While today’s entry is our sole installment for December, expect our usual schedule to resume in January. Happy holidays!
Since 1993, I have subconsciously measured every game against the experience that Wing Commander: Privateer offered me.
Platforms like Steam and PlayStation have embraced "year-in-review" summaries, similar to Spotify Wrapped, allowing users to recap their gaming habits. In 2025, my most-played games included:
- No Man’s Sky
- Civilization VII
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
- The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
- The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- World of Warcraft
- Meridian 59
- Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon
- Unreal Tournament
Apart from Civilization VII and Unreal Tournament, all these titles immerse players in expansive worlds or galaxies.
My preference for games offering vast exploratory experiences solidified with Wing Commander: Privateer in the early 1990s.
Privateer taught me to appreciate games where I create my own fictional narratives over games that deliver a predetermined story. Although it includes a storyline and missions, they aren't its main appeal—as they’re not particularly strong. Instead, the thrill lies in discovering new systems, appreciating beautiful CG artwork, optimizing ship capabilities, and mastering the simulation-driven economy.
Credit: GOG These CG-rendered planet backgrounds once captured my imagination and continue to do so, albeit nostalgia plays its part.
The true narrative in Privateer is one crafted in my mind, a quality I still seek in games I cherish today.
Privateer’s Lasting Impact:
Calling Privateer influential is an understatement. While the formula it uses was initially popularized by 1984’s Elite, Privateer blended that with the Wing Commander universe and its flight dynamics within a meticulously designed world. This world-building is crucial. Though I admire the original Elite, it now feels like a precursor to the immersive experiences we've grown to love.