Space, the Final (Free) Frontier: A Newbie’s Guide to Star Trek Online: From Reading Rainbow to the Final Frontier: How LeVar Burton Led Me to My New Favorite Game

First off to begin, this game was an very ambitious by Paramount which is behind anything and everything Star Trek. I'm patiently waiting for season 2 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and season 4 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (the prequel series of Captain Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise)...I remember my younger brother played this game for a little while but with so many different free-to-play games on Playstation, it peaked my interest as Star Trek has always had a special place in my heart as my father and myself saw a lot of the major Star Trek motion pictures from Star Trek 2: Wrath of Khan to Star Trek: First Contact. I can say during one movie viewing that I even won in a giveaway a giant card board starship Enterprise which I took home to the apartment that I lived in with my parents lol.

I am currently at Commander's rank in Star Trek Online as Captain Wayne Berry of the USS Spartan 4. I am a Norfolk State graduate so all my Starfleet commissioned ships have green and gold highlights. I have so far battled the Klingons, Romulans, the Borg, the Mirror Universe Terran Empire and so many other alien races and factions. I have only one shuttle craft and I'm trying to figure out how to get other shuttles like the DS9 Runabout, Captain's Yacht and other types of shuttles. I recently saved the Universe from a Mirror Universe, V'Ger from the first Star Trek the Motion picture movie. Hopefully, I am on my way to being promoted to Captain.

Growing up in a house where the remote was always a battleground between Star Wars blasters and Star Trek phasers, I learned early on that Sci-Fi isn’t just about space—it’s about the stories that happen within it. While I’ve watched every single movie and series, I recently found a way to stop watching the screen and actually step through it: Star Trek Online.

For those who aren't into Sci-Fi, Star Trek is essentially about the best of us. Think of it as "sugar-coated" adventure—it’s hopeful, it’s bright, and it’s about solving big problems together. If you remember LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow, you already know the heart of this series. He’s spent decades playing the iconic Geordi La Forge, and seeing him reprise that role in the game makes the whole experience feel incredibly authentic. And the gameplay is addictive, I feel excitement of the different space Starship battles whether it's fighting the Borg, the Klingons, Romulans and any other threats to galactic peace and to the Federation.



The "Addiction" Factor: What It’s Actually Like to Play



What really hooked me isn't just the nostalgia; it's the variety of the gameplay:

Why I’m Hooked (The STO Experience):It’s Literally Episodic: Each mission feels like a new "lost episode" of the TV shows. Beaming Down: There is nothing like leading an Away Team onto a strange planet. It’s about the mystery as much as the action. The Big Battles: Commanding your own starship against the Klingons, Romulans, or the Borg feels like directing a blockbuster movie. (Imagine on how I could defend Starfleet against the invasion of the Borg).

Choose Your Own Destiny- TO BOLDY GO WHERE NO ONE HAS NEVER WENT BEFORE! LONG LIVE! AND PROSPER!

When you start, you’ll be asked to pick a faction. My advice? Follow your fancy (Do you want to be a Federation Starfleet officer, do you want to be an honorable Klingon Warrior because Today is a Good Day to Die, or do you wanna be a Romulan, or do you wanna be a Jem'Hadar Warrior or part of the Borg Collective!)

Whether you want to uphold the ideals of the Federation, seek honor with the Klingon Empire, or rebuild a legacy with the Romulans, there is no "wrong" choice. Pick the side that fits your personal bias and just lean into the experience. The most important part is simply jumping in and seeing where the galaxy takes you.

The Final Frontier is Yours

Taking the center chair in STO brings back that massive rush of excitement from the climax of The Undiscovered Country, when Captain Kirk and Captain Sulu coordinate to "Target that explosion and fire!" on General Chang’s cloaked Bird-of-Prey. Now, I'm the one giving the orders on the USS Spartan, my ship in the Star Trek Discovery era (And I went beyond after the Klingon War eventually, I time traveled to the after the Dominion War era where I'm working with Captain Ezri Dax and Admiral Quinn and also fighting the Mirror Universe Terran Empire).



I've shared my journey from a fan of the screen to a Captain in the game, but now I want to hear from you. Whether you're a veteran of the Dominion War or a newcomer just learning to calibrate your shields, what are your favorite Star Trek memories? Do you have a favorite ship or a moment from the shows that still sticks with you? Drop a comment below and let's keep the conversation going!