AstroNest - The Beginning is a prequel to the original browser game from 2000

It's safe to say that you won't have played a game quite like AstroNest before - at least on mobile. It's a complex sci-fi strategy MMO set in space in which you have to build a fleet of spaceships, colonise planets, and raid alien fleets.

And you'll be doing so alongside (and against) your friends as part of a faction, as well as taking part in weekly tournaments.

The draw of AstroNest is mostly in its fleet customisation. Here you'll be trying to figure out the absolute bet combination of heroes, weapons, and ships - as well as trying to synergise well with other players you work with.

We wanted to learn more about this massive game so reached out to AN Games and asked which games most influenced it, how the fleets work, and what the developer would change if it could start over.

Which games influenced AstroNest: the Beginning the most and how is this represented in the game?

"AstroNest - The Beginning is actually a prequel to the original AstroNest which launched back in 2000 as a web game. The series in general is inspired by Master of Orion though, which was published by Micropose back in 1993."

How do the fleets work in AstroNest?

"You use fleets to battle other players. They’re groups of one type of ship that a hero commands.

"You can upgrade fleets through research and outfit them with different types of weapons, armor, and engines, and how you combine those dictates how much damage the ship will deal, when it will fire in combat, and how much damage it can evade or resist."

And what are the roles of heroes?

"Heroes command fleets. They have abilities that generally boost a particular fleet’s capabilities like adding a damage multiplier to beam weapons, or providing a one-time defense shield to every ship in the armada.

"Not only that, but you can add items to heroes called “trons” - an AI supercomputer that boosts a hero’s capabilities. Think of them as the equivalent to a “trinket” in an RPG.

"The boosts that they provide seem small, but can take a great hero and make them amazing."

Which is your favourite hero and why?

"Most players love a hero called Clara. She’s part of an early starter pack, and if you get her first-thing, you can easily take her all the way to the end of the game. She has an ability called Spread Fire which hits every ship in an opponent’s armada - so she kind of subverts the normal aspects of combat in the game.

"Usually there’s a ship or two in every armada that “soaks up” damage. Clara gets past that by just hitting everyone. She’s really devastating early in the game."

If you could start over, what would you change?

"There are a few weaknesses in the game system that I'd like to change. For example, it’s a game that’s focused on two factions, so a guild system doesn't fit.

"If I could go back I would implement a guild system from the start."

Head on over to the App Store or Google Play to check out AstroNest - The Beginning right now.

This feature is sponsored as part of Steel Media Preferred Partners.