Since 1993, I believe I’ve automatically evaluated nearly every video game by how well it can catch how Wing Commander: Privateer made me feel.

Steam and PlayStation (the 2 platforms I utilize the most) have actually been doing a year-in-review summary comparable to the extremely popular Spotify Wrapped for the previous couple of years. Based upon these, I can report that my most-played video games in 2025 were, from many hours down:

1. No Man’s Sky
2. Civilization VII
3. Assassin’s Creed Shadows
4. The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion Remastered
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
6. The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind
7. Wow
8. Meridian 59
9. Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon
10. Unreal Tournament

With the exceptions of Civilization VII and Unreal Tournamenteach of those video games is some sort of open-world experience that’s everything about immersing you in a distant land (or galaxy).

I like what I like, and my understanding that’s what I like started in the early 1990s with Wing Commander: Privateer

Privateer taught me that I like video games that are areas for living out whatever imaginary life I develop for myself a lot more than I enjoy video games that are directing me through an authored story and a series of thoroughly created difficulties.

Yes, it has a story and story objectives, however they’re barely the point, partially since they’re not truly that great. What’s amazing about this video game is checking out brand-new systems, seeing the gorgeous CG art work for their settlements, finding out about your ships’ abilities and updating them gradually gradually, and obtaining proficiency of the pseudo-simulated economy.

The story that matters in Privateer is the story I am informing myself in my head. To this day, the video games I most like deal a minimum of a taste of that experience.

Privateer‘s significant (and drama-laden) tradition

To state this video game was prominent on later titles would be an understatement, however we, naturally, need to acknowledge that this formula was initially promoted by 1984’s Elite. Privateer simply wed that formula with Wing Commander‘s universe and flight mechanics, with an even more handmade setting. That setting is essential. I like the initial Eliteand this definitely wasn’t the case back in the mid-’80s, however today, it plays like a tech demonstration for what’s to come.