Used to play this game long before it came to Steam.
As for a browser game (and it's a browser game after all) it's very solid and packed with stuff.
You have construction, research, combat.
Can't call it a budget 4x game, for there is no exploration element.
You have ship editor, which, to some extent, allows you to customize your fleet. Various equipment, both researched and acquired through blueprints will help with that.
And you have real fleet PvP, although only in 6vs6 max format. But it's very real and feeling cool. Seeing a couple of frigs destroy a full fleet of battleships for the first time would make you **** bricks.
Also base assaults are interesting. There is no impenetratable defence, but if you lack in skill, you'll have unpleasant moments assaulting clever enemies.
And couple of words about the community. It's nice if you don't behave like a **** in your own sector. Don't attack, don't steal cargo unless it's marked "free" in chat.

So, to summarise.
Pros:
1. Base construction and planning
2. Ship customization
3. Nice graphics and art
4. Cool PvP
5. Microtransactions are really not necessary to play
6. If you are nice to community it'll be nice to you.

Cons
1. All the features of a F2P browser strategy game are present (long building time, microtransactions make life easy etc)

The game is definitely worth trying.

Oh, and not to forget the possibility to play on Android and IOS.

Used to play this game long before it came to Steam. As for a browser game (and it's a browser game after all) it's very solid and packed with stuff. You have construction, research, combat. Can't call it a budget 4x game, for there is no exploration element. You have ship editor, which, to some extent, allows you to customize your fleet. Various equipment, both researched and acquired through blueprints will help with that. And you have real fleet PvP, although only in 6vs6 max format. But it's very real and feeling cool. Seeing a couple of frigs destroy a full fleet of battleships for the first time would make you **** bricks. Also base assaults are interesting. There is no impenetratable defence, but if you lack in skill, you'll have unpleasant moments assaulting clever enemies. And couple of words about the community. It's nice if you don't behave like a **** in your own sector. Don't attack, don't steal cargo unless it's marked "free" in chat. So, to summarise. Pros: 1. Base construction and planning 2. Ship customization 3. Nice graphics and art 4. Cool PvP 5. Microtransactions are really not necessary to play 6. If you are nice to community it'll be nice to you. Cons 1. All the features of a F2P browser strategy game are present (long building time, microtransactions make life easy etc) The game is definitely worth trying. Oh, and not to forget the possibility to play on Android and IOS.