Online Strategy Game with Colonies

Colonies: The Key to Galactic Empire

OGame begins with a single home planet. What follows is one of the most satisfying building journeys in the world of browser strategy games: step by step, a lonely world transforms into a sprawling empire of up to nine colonies, connected through trade routes, troop deployments and strategic fleet operations.

Colonies aren't mere resource sources. They are fully-fledged planets, each with their own potential, their own strategy and their own value in the galactic big picture.

How Colonisation Works in OGame

Prerequisite: Astrophysics Research

Before the first colony can be established, Astrophysics research must be brought to level 1. Each additional colony requires higher Astrophysics levels: Colony 2 requires Astrophysics 3, Colony 3 requires Astrophysics 5, and so forth. The research is time-intensive — strategically clever players prioritise Astrophysics early.

The Colony Ship

The colony ship is the only vessel that can colonise new planets. It's not a combat ship — it's a settler vehicle. Upon arrival at a free slot, the crew is left behind as the first settlers and a new planet is born. The colony ship itself is lost in the process, but remains as part of the planet.

Choosing Planet Position

A planet's position in the solar system (1–15) determines the maximum field count. The optimal strategy:

• Position 4–6: Fewer fields, but highest deuterium production (cold)
• Position 8–10: Maximum fields (160–200+), ideal for main miner planets
• Position 12–14: Medium fields, highest metal production (warm)

For an economy-focused empire, positions 8–10 with many fields are the gold standard. For deuterium production (important for active fleeters), planets at colder positions are preferred.

Building Colonies Strategically

Specialisation over Uniformity

Experienced OGame players specialise their colonies. Instead of building every planet identically, each world receives a role:

• Miner Planet: Maximum mine levels, high field count, Nanite Factory for fast build times
• Shipyard Planet: High shipyard level, Robotics Factory, Nanites — fleets are born here
• Deuterium Planet: Cold position, high Deuterium Synthesizer, energy supply prioritised
• Research Hub: Intergalactic Research Network connects all laboratories for faster research

The Intergalactic Research Network

One of the most powerful synergies in the multi-colony empire: The Intergalactic Research Network connects all research laboratories of the empire. The sum of all laboratory levels determines research speed. Ten planets with level-10 laboratories each effectively research at level-100 speed.

Moons: The Crown of Every Colony

Every colony can develop a moon — which forms randomly after combat actions with large debris fields. Moons are priceless: they have no fields for mines, but instead offer Sensor Phalanx (espionage across systems), Jumpgate (instant transfer) and Lunar Base. An empire with moons on key planets is strategically untouchable.

Discoverer Class: Bonus for Colonisers

The Discoverer class in OGame is designed specifically for players who want to maximally expand their empire. It receives an additional planet slot beyond the normal Astrophysics limit, extended phalanx range and expedition bonuses. Players who want to push their empire to the peak choose the Discoverer.

Empire Growth: Timeline