List of games in Star Trek
The fictional Star Trek universe includes a variety of sports, games, and other pastimes. Some of these fictional recreational activities are closely associated with one race, although they may have gained adherents from other backgrounds. Others thrive on the interaction of different species.
Some of the games below were central to the plot of a single episode, while others were recurring plot elements spanning multiple television series of the Star Trek franchise.
Holodeck games
The holodeck is a facility designed to simulate reality by replicating a wide range of environments. It is commonly found on starships and starbases in the Star Trek series set in the 24th century, i.e. Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. While the holodeck is often used for research and training, it is frequently depicted as a source of entertainment.Some programs depicted in the various Star Trek shows include a Klingon calisthenics program, used heavily by Lieutenant Commander Worf; a park-like setting where Riker first encounters Data in "Encounter at Farpoint"; various 'social' programs, such as a mud-bath and a pool hall; and Jean-Luc Picard's Dixon Hill holonovels.
Other settings have sometimes been shown, such as the Jupiter Station Diagnostic Program which was used to maintain the Emergency Medical Hologram on various Starfleet vessels, the Utopia Planitia Shipyards, several Sherlock Holmes programs created by Data for his exploration of humanity, and various Shakespeare programs enjoyed by Jean-Luc Picard.
In Voyager, an entire holographic village and its population were created. The "Fair Haven" program was originally designed for occasional enjoyment by the crew of Voyager, but the characters become sentient by the time of the follow-up episode "Spirit Folk", and the captain orders that the holodecks be modified so that the program could remain running continuously.
Additionally, in Voyager, Seven of Nine is often frustrated by Captain Janeway's superior skill at Velocity, a game played in a racquetball-like arena. In this game, players compete to be the first to capture and shoot a flying disc. Points are scored each time a player fails to capture the disc and is hit by it, with the game continuing until one player reaches ten points.
Sports
Ice hockey
Tom Paris and Harry Kim are seen walking out of the holodeck with hockey skates slung over their shoulders. Tom warns Harry, "Watch out for those Nausicaans—they're tough.Baseball
According to the history presented in Star Trek, the Earth game baseball suffered from a decline in popularity that culminated in the final World Series, which was played in 2042 before a crowd of 300 and won by legendary player Buck Bokai. By the 24th century, the now-obscure game was appreciated by a relatively small number of aficionados including Captain Sisko, Jake Sisko, Kasidy Yates and astrophysicist Dr. Paul Stubbs. The only organized baseball mentioned is a six-team league on the distant Cestus III. A Vulcan Starfleet crew formed a team under the leadership of their captain and challenged a team led by Captain Sisko in 2375.Parrises Squares
Parrises Squares is a vigorous athletic game, mentioned in several episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Voyager.It is often implied that the game involves a high risk of serious personal injury; nevertheless, much to the concern of parents, the game was quite popular with teenagers during the 24th century. The game involves the use of a piece of equipment called an ion mallet and a ramp, and players often wear special padded uniforms.
While healing a deep cut on William Riker's face, Dr. Beverly Crusher lectured him "to stop playing Parrises Squares as if you're 21", further advising him that "one day, you'll break your neck, and I won't be able to heal that as easily."
When The Doctor created a holographic family for himself in 2373, his 'daughter' Belle was on her school's Parrises Squares team. This worried her 'parents', because Parrises Squares can be a dangerous game for someone her age. It later turned out their worries were justified, as she later 'died' of complications from a Parrises Squares injury.
While in Starfleet Academy, Harry Kim played Parrises Squares, and was the Academy champion three times.
Parrises Squares is mainly mentioned as a game played by humans, but other species participate. M'Kota R'Cho was the first Klingon to play the game, when he participated in the controversial Championship Finals of 2342.
Springball
Springball is a sport played by Bajorans and is somewhat similar to the human sport of handball. A game is shown during the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "For the Cause."Racquetball
is a game played inside a room where the players use racquets to hit a small ball. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Miles O'Brien and Julian Bashir enjoy the sport. Bashir was captain of the Starfleet Medical Academy racquetball team in 2368, when he led the team to victory in the sector championships.Tennis
is clearly known and played in the Star Trek universe. In the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Suspicions, Guinan comes to Dr. Beverly Crusher complaining of tennis elbow. Later in the episode, the doctor gifts Guinan with a new, state-of-the-art tennis racket, which she is sure will alleviate her elbow problems. As it turns out, Guinan was lying about playing tennis, but nonetheless the game is clearly known by the both of them, and the racket is real.In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Julian Bashir, during his childhood, briefly considered becoming a professional tennis player. It is revealed that he was good enough to play at professional level; however, he chose medicine as his profession.
Water polo
Captain Jonathan Archer from Star Trek: Enterprise had a passion for water polo, a sport he enjoyed playing during his time on Earth. In the episode "Catwalk," he is shown watching a water polo match on a portable viewing device as he tries to fall asleep. On several occasions, he is also seen bouncing a water polo ball off the wall in his quarters.Basketball
In the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "The Forge", the bridge crew is briefly seen playing basketball. Doctor Phlox has amazing shot accuracy.Soccer/Football
In the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Minefield", Captain Archer mentions to Lieutenant Reed that England has made the World Cup Final.Darts
O'Brien and Bashir are frequently seen playing darts at Quark's bar in Deep Space Nine.Volleyball
Harry Kim and Tom Paris are never seen playing, but in the episode "Warlord", Kim adds to an existing holodeck program three holographic characters he says he practices with—a championship team of three beautiful women. Paris remarks that now he knows why Kim has been playing better.Martial arts
Gladiatorial combat
In the memorable Original Series episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion", Captain Kirk and some of his crew are forced to participate as gladiators in combat against other humanoids, for the entertainment of unseen masters who wager Quatloos among themselves on the outcome in the arena.Anbo-jitsu
Anbo-Jitsu is a fictitious Japanese sport shown in Star Trek: The Next Generation. In it, two armored opponents facing each other wear a solid visor, rendering them blind, and fight with a large staff. One end of the staff contains a proximity sensor, alerting each contender to their opponent's location with an audio signal. The other end of the staff is rounded and padded and used for direct blows. The staff itself can be used for sweeping attacks. The opponents dress in armor and helmets to protect them from injury. Ceremonial Japanese chants are used to greet the opponent, initiate combat and yield if necessary. It is called "the ultimate evolution in the martial arts" in the context of the show.William Riker and his father settled a long-standing grudge with this game in the episode "The Icarus Factor".
Tsunkatse
Tsunkatse is a form of martial arts, similar to kickboxing and some Japanese sports. Each opponent wears a round device on both the front and back of their harness which sends the wearer a shock when it is touched by an opponent's counterpart, worn on the feet and hands. Each match is designated by a color code, red meaning to the death, blue meaning until one opponent is defeated.The sport is practiced by various species in the Delta Quadrant. In the Voyager episode of the same name, Seven of Nine was kidnapped and forced to compete in the sport.
Fencing
Captain Jean-Luc Picard engages in fencing matches on at least two occasions. First, in the episode "We'll Always Have Paris", Picard is in a match against an unnamed crew member. Picard scores a touch, and then the match is cut short because of a strange time loop. Second, he matches against Guinan in the episode "I, Borg". Guinan feigns injury and Picard lowers his guard to help, at which time she strikes for an easy point. She does this to warn Picard against feeling sorry for the injured Borg that the crew has saved.In a flashback scene in Star Trek: Picard, Admiral Picard is shown reading part of The Three Musketeers to a young Romulan boy, Elnor. He then teaches Elnor the basics of fencing, as depicted in the book. In the present time of the show, Elnor has grown to become an excellent swordsman.
Hikaru Sulu in the original series is known to be a fencer, as demonstrated in the episode "The Naked Time". In the 2009 movie, Sulu mentions he has combat training, which he later tells Kirk is "fencing." He carries a retractable sword during the space jump to the mining probe over Vulcan, and proves to be a formidable swordsman against his Romulan opponents.