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A text-based space trading game that runs in Telegram

by yaronr·Mar 19, 2026·2 points·0 comments

AI Analysis

●●SolidNiche GemCozyBig Brain

BBS door game nostalgia meets Telegram—plays on airplane wifi.

Strengths
  • Zero-install gameplay through Telegram bot—no app or browser needed
  • Daily turn async model fits busy schedules without real-time pressure
  • Works on minimal bandwidth including spotty connections and airplane mode
Weaknesses
  • Text-only interface limits visual appeal and mainstream adoption
  • Economy unproven—author explicitly asks for stress-testing feedback
Category
Target Audience

Retro gaming fans, Telegram users, async multiplayer enthusiasts

Similar To

Trade Wars · Kingdom of Loathing · Discord RPG bots

Post Description

I spent a lot of time as a kid on BBS door games — Trade Wars in particular ate most of my evenings. I've been wanting to recreate that experience for a while, and finally did it. It's a multiplayer space trading game that runs as a Telegram bot. Players trade commodities between ports, upgrade ships, form corporations, and compete for territory across a shared galaxy. Turns refresh daily, so a session takes a few minutes of text commands. I chose Telegram because the entire game works over minimal bandwidth — you can play on airplane wifi, a spotty connection in the middle of nowhere, or anywhere you can send a text message. No app to install, no browser to open. Looking for players to stress-test the economy and give feedback. Join via the link https://t.me/spacetraderlobby or Telegram group @spacetraderlobby.

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petersonh
114mo ago