Deal | Remastered space strategy: RTS classic now 90% off on Steam for $3.50
Released around the turn of the millennium, Homeworld and Homeworld 2 remain among the most influential real-time strategy games of their time. In 2015, Gearbox Software gave both classics a full overhaul and bundled them into the Homeworld Remastered Collection. The remaster features enhanced graphics with 4K support, reimagined cutscenes and an updated sound design. Both titles now share a unified user interface, improving control precision and overall ease of use.
As in the 1999 original, Homeworld tells the story of the people of Kharak – a desert planet whose destruction sends them on a journey through deep space in search of their ancestral home: the titular Homeworld. Homeworld 2 continues the narrative with a new threat that plunges the galaxy into turmoil. Both games unfold their stories through a mix of radio transmissions and cinematic cutscenes, all backed by an atmospheric soundtrack.
The Homeworld series centers on tactical space combat, where players command fleets in battles against enemy forces. With more than 100 ship types – from nimble fighters to massive capital ships – the game offers a broad range of strategic possibilities. What sets it apart is its fully three-dimensional battlefield. Units can move not just across the map but also vertically, allowing attacks from any direction and making fleet positioning significantly more complex. Another key element is resource management: players must collect resources directly during combat to build new ships and repair their fleet, adding an extra layer of strategy to every encounter.
Reviews: Successful remaster, but not without weaknesses
The German gaming magazine GameStar reviewed the Homeworld Remastered Collection at launch and praised its impressive visual overhaul. With updated textures and effects, the space battles look far more striking than they did back in 1999. That said, the remaster itself is now over a decade old, so players shouldn't expect cutting-edge visuals. The reviewers also highlighted the improved controls and the clear respect shown for the original games. Most of the new gameplay features integrate smoothly and the series' signature tactical depth remains fully intact.
Despite the overall praise, GameStar's review also pointed out several shortcomings. One key issue was the dynamic difficulty, which scales enemy strength based on the size of your fleet – often making progress feel less rewarding. Technical flaws were especially noticeable in Homeworld 2, including occasional blurry textures and inconsistent AI behavior. Additionally, the remaster doesn’t include the spin-off Homeworld: Cataclysm, as the original source code was reportedly lost, making a remastered version impossible to create at the time.
Despite a few flaws, GameStar awarded the Homeworld Remastered Collection a strong rating of 84 out of 100. The Steam community has also responded positively – over 11,000 user reviews have been posted since release, 88% of which are favorable. On Metacritic, the collection holds a Metascore of 86 and a User Score of 8.0, reinforcing its strong reputation among both critics and players.
By the way: The Homeworld Remastered Collection also includes the original versions of Homeworld and Homeworld 2 alongside the updated editions – a nice touch for nostalgic players.
90% discount on Steam
The Homeworld Remastered Collection usually sells for around $35 on Steam, but it's currently available for just $3.50 thanks to a 90% discount running until May 26. According to SteamDB, this deal appears regularly during sales – most recently at the end of March. However, a steeper discount has never been offered.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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