Emrich in a September 1993 "Computer Gaming World" preview described "Master of Orion" as "the best that galactic conquest can offer", and summarized its type of gameplay as "4X", meaning "e"X"plore, e"X"pand, e"X"ploit, e"X"terminate". He and later commentators noted earlier examples of this genre, including "Civilization" (1991) and "Reach for the Stars" (1983). The magazine's full December 1993 review stated that ""Master of Orion" is one of those games where one must actually put effort into finding something inadequate about the game design, and that in itself is probably the highest praise this reviewer can give a product." The magazine concluded that it was "a definite Game of the Year candidate as well as Exhibit A in many divorce cases". A February 1994 survey of space war games gave "Master of Orion" a grade of A-, stating that "It's still conquest, but it's conquest that begins to have an interesting point to it". The reviewer wished that the game supported multiple players, but predicted that "I think "MOO" will safely reign supreme well into the new year". A 1994 survey of strategic space games set in the year 2000 and later gave the game four-plus stars out of five, stating that it was "a richly-textured product. Graphics coupled with high play yield a high recommendation".