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Sci-fi turn-based MMO strategy

Trade Wars

Trade Wars (commonly known by its long-lived version, Trade Wars 2002) is a text-based space-trading MMO originally created by Chris Sherrick in 1984 for BBS systems, later adapted to run over telnet/SSH on the open internet. Players build a trading and military empire, attacking rival colonizers and space stations for profit and territory. Decades after its BBS-era heyday, it remains genuinely playable today through multiple community-run public servers (such as tradewars.sonic.net and tw2002.wyesoft.com), making it one of the oldest continuously playable MMOs in existence.

Full profileMMO StrategyTurn BasedSci-fiMMOCatalog
Recorded activeCatalog signalOnline 20+ years1980 releaseClassic-era MMO1980 releaseHow signals work
Play anywhere

Platform availability

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WindowsRecorded
macOS
Linux
BrowserRecorded
Android
iOS
PlayStation
Xbox

Highlighted platforms are confirmed in MMOFinder’s current profile. Dimmed platforms have no confirmed listing.

Status
Active — a classic BBS door game still run today on multiple community-hosted telnet/SSH servers
Business model
Free to play
Genre
Text-based BBS space-trading MMO
Release
1984
Platforms
Windows, Browser
Developer
Chris Sherrick (original, 1984); many community forks and maintainers since
Publisher
Various BBS/telnet operators (self-hosted, community-run)
Profile
Full
Visual playstyle profile

MMO DNA

A visual fingerprint built from MMOFinder’s current verified catalog fields—not a review score.

PvECombat focusPvP

PvE and PvP are roughly balanced

SoloPlay styleGroup

Leans solo, with some group content

StructuredWorld structureSandbox

Leans sandbox over structured

TargetedCombat feelAction

Targeted, tactical combat is the dominant signal

HousingNot confirmedCraftingNot confirmedTradingConfirmedControllerNot confirmedPvEConfirmedPvPConfirmed
Player fit

Why you might like it

  • Players interested in the true prehistory of MMOs, predating the graphical MMORPG genre by over a decade.
  • Fans of pure text-based space-trading strategy who enjoy classic BBS door-game culture.
  • Anyone curious to try one of the oldest continuously-playable multiplayer games via a free public telnet/SSH server.
Before you play

Things to consider

  • Trade Wars requires a telnet or SSH client rather than a modern game client or browser page, which may be unfamiliar to newer players.
  • Community-run servers vary in population and uptime since there is no single official service.
Transparency

Research record

Last checked
2026-09-08
Profile depth
Full
Source note
Batch 466 web research — developer, publisher, platform, business model and lifecycle status independently cross-checked
No direct official link verified in the current record.
Profile verification

What MMOFinder has checked

6/6documented areas
  • Gameplay featuresStructured gameplay fields were source-checked for this profile.Verified
  • Gameplay mediaNo reliable locally hosted gameplay screenshot is currently available.Unavailable
  • Source trail1 linked source is recorded for review.Verified
  • Last reviewedCatalog fields reviewed Aug 16, 2026.Verified

Coverage measures documentation completeness—not game quality, popularity or an endorsement.

How verification works

Game details can change. MMOFinder separates verified catalog fields from information that has not yet been confirmed.

Explore connections

Trade Wars relationship map

Follow verified catalog signals to another world.

Current profileTrade WarsStart here
Combat matchYankee TraderBoth cataloged with Turn-based / tick-based strategyGenre & settingTradeWars 2002Both cataloged as Sci-fi turn-based MMO strategyShared featuresSpace Empire EliteCatalog features have since divergedBusiness modelSpace DynastyBoth recorded as Not yet verified

Connections use current MMOFinder catalog fields—not review scores or paid placement.

Game history

Trade Wars timeline

A concise timeline built only from dates and lifecycle fields recorded in MMOFinder.

  1. 1980
    Released

    MMOFinder records Trade Wars as released in 1980.

  2. Current
    Catalog status

    Current service status not independently verified

  3. 2026-08-16
    Research checked

    Core catalog fields were reviewed for this profile.

Terms on this profile
Media

Trade Wars screenshots & gameplay

Gameplay screenshots are attached to this profile but have not been individually re-verified against the title — treat them as unconfirmed pending manual review.

Gameplay, availability and research notes

Within MMOFinder's catalog, Trade Wars is classified as a Text-based BBS space-trading MMO. Trade Wars (commonly known by its long-lived version, Trade Wars 2002) is a text-based space-trading MMO originally created by Chris Sherrick in 1984 for BBS systems, later adapted to run over telnet/SSH on the open internet. Players build a trading and military empire, attacking rival colonizers and space stations for profit and territory. Decades after its BBS-era heyday, it remains genuinely playable today through multiple community-run public servers (such as tradewars.sonic.net and tw2002.wyesoft.com), making it one of the oldest continuously playable MMOs in existence.

The current lifecycle record is Active — a classic BBS door game still run today on multiple community-hosted telnet/SSH servers. MMOFinder lists Chris Sherrick (original, 1984); many community forks and maintainers since as developer and Various BBS/telnet operators (self-hosted, community-run) as publisher. These researched fields feed profile discovery, filters and comparison tools.

This profile was checked against current sources on September 8, 2026. Continue through Similar Games, filter the MMO database, or compare profiles side by side.

Continue discovering

If you like Trade Wars…

These alternatives share verified genre, platform, access-model or gameplay signals with Trade Wars. Connections describe catalog overlap rather than a quality ranking.

Why it connectsBarren Realms EliteBoth are part of MMOFinder's catalog, though genre classifications differ (Text-based BBS space-trading MMO vs. Post-apocalyptic multiplayer BBS strategy game).Post-apocalyptic multiplayer BBS strategy game · Commercial/shareware BBS door softwareWhy it connectsSolar Realms EliteShared mmo strategy, turn based, sci-fi classification signals, though genre labels differ (Text-based BBS space-trading MMO vs. Sci-fi turn-based MMO strategy).Sci-fi turn-based MMO strategy · SharewareWhy it connectsSpace DynastyShared mmo strategy, turn based, sci-fi classification signals, though genre labels differ (Text-based BBS space-trading MMO vs. Sci-fi turn-based MMO strategy).Sci-fi turn-based MMO strategy · SharewareWhy it connectsSpace Empire EliteShared mmo strategy, turn based, sci-fi classification signals, though genre labels differ (Text-based BBS space-trading MMO vs. Sci-fi turn-based MMO strategy).Sci-fi turn-based MMO strategy · SharewareWhy it connectsSTellar ChaosShared mmo strategy, turn based, sci-fi classification signals, though genre labels differ (Text-based BBS space-trading MMO vs. Sci-fi turn-based MMO strategy).Sci-fi turn-based MMO strategy · SharewareWhy it connectsStarport: Galactic EmpiresShared trading, space classification signals, though genre labels differ (Text-based BBS space-trading MMO vs. Space trading and combat MMO).Space trading and combat MMO · Free to play
Community

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