Netrek
Browser-based multiplayer space combat. Two teams, 40 planets, capture-the-flag with armies.
What is Netrek?
Netrek is one of the oldest surviving multiplayer online games, first developed in 1988. It is a team-based space combat game where two teams of up to 8 players each fight for control of 40 planets. Each team must conquer enemy planets by bombing armies and beaming down their own, ultimately triggering T-Mode (tournament mode) and racing to capture the enemy home worlds.
This is a faithful browser-based clone of Bronco Netrek (Vanilla), preserving the original game mechanics, feel, and spirit while making it accessible from any modern browser.
How to Play
Movement
- 0–9 — Set warp 0–9
- ) ! @ — Warp 10 / 11 / 12
- % # — Max warp / Half warp
- < > — Speed -1 / +1
- Right click / k — Set course
- o — Orbit planet or dock at starbase
- l — Lock onto nearest entity
- ; — Lock planet/starbase only
- * — Transwarp to starbase
Combat
- Left click — Fire torpedoes
- Shift+Left / Middle — Fire phasers
- f — Fire plasma torpedo
- s — Toggle shields
- c — Toggle cloak
- d — Detonate enemy torps
- T / y — Tractor / Pressor beam
- R — Repair mode
Planets
- b — Bomb planet
- z — Beam up armies
- x — Beam down armies
- Capture 3+ enemy planets to trigger T-Mode and win.
Special
- r — Refit ship (orbit homeworld)
- L — Toggle player list
- i — Info on nearest entity
- h — Toggle help window
- m — Send message
Ship Classes
Fast and agile. Low armor, best for reconnaissance and quick raids.
Balanced speed and firepower. The workhorse of fleet combat.
Heavy firepower with good shields. Excellent for sustained combat.
Maximum firepower and armor. Slow but devastating in battle.
Specialized for carrying armies and planet capture operations.
Enormous stationary fortress. Repairs allies and dominates sectors.