Distant Worlds: Universe

 PC
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 104 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 104
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 104
  3. Negative: 15 out of 104

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  1. Pipewrench
    Jun 1, 2014
    10
    Truly one of the best games out there. Warning: playing this will make you lose sleep and ruin relationships. Build your empire and prepare for the unknown, which is not kind.
  2. telefoonboek
    Nov 19, 2014
    3
    I'll toss in a bad review. This doesn't mean the game is bad! It means I had a poor experience with this game. The game is priced on steam likea tripple AAA game. 54,95 euro.

    I am a casual player, I work and in my spare time I enjoy space games. This means I have little time to do it properly. When I played the game I had to start with the turtorials, they do a very poor job of    I'll toss in a bad review. This doesn't mean the game is bad! It means I had a poor experience with this game. The game is priced on steam likea tripple AAA game. 54,95 euro.

    I am a casual player, I work and in my spare time I enjoy space games. This means I have little time to do it properly. When I played the game I had to start with the turtorials, they do a very poor job of explaining the game to me. I was intimidated by the ammount of custimazation, menu's, options and so on. After a few turtorials, i knew the menu's but not how to play. For a 55 euro game I expect better. Sorry for me that isn't worth this price. Some may have more time then me, get through it and have a nice experience, I didn't.    … Expand
  3. Legimon
    Sep 7, 2014
    10
    One of the best 4X games I´ve ever played. Together with the very active modding community this game means endless fun for hours. Already played 240 hours since i bought it a couple of months ago.

    I was lucky to find it by accident. Would miss it badly now.
  4. Animorganimate
    May 23, 2014
    10
    Distant Worlds has ruined me for other space-based 4X-strategy games, which is a genre I love more than any other. I try to go back to GalCiv and MoO once in a while, but nothing matches the scale and minute level of control that Distant Worlds offers. I'll be playing this for years to come.
  5. Mosh_
    Jul 20, 2014
    10
    This game has an insane amount of depth behind it, and yet it does a very good job of handling the learning curve. There is a set of tutorials which explain the interface, a whole in-game encyclopedia, and the ability to choose which aspects of your empire you control and which are simulated.

    The amount of options are extremely impressive as well, and the size of the galaxy that you    This game has an insane amount of depth behind it, and yet it does a very good job of handling the learning curve. There is a set of tutorials which explain the interface, a whole in-game encyclopedia, and the ability to choose which aspects of your empire you control and which are simulated.

    The amount of options are extremely impressive as well, and the size of the galaxy that you live in can be absolutely mind-blowing.

    The only real downside to this game would probably be the graphics quality, which is very average. Regardless, it accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do [and to be honest, if the graphics were more cutting-edge, this game would probably only run on supercomputers]    … Expand
  6. Krotera
    Aug 11, 2014
    9
    I've used Metacritic a lot, but this is the first game that urged me to sign up and write a review. I've also played many sci-fi 4X games, and this has to be one of the best. It's not new and it looks a little dogeared compared to other titles (although I love the native Windows UI; you can even print out pages of the in-game manual, just like that!) and it's not as complex as AuroraI've used Metacritic a lot, but this is the first game that urged me to sign up and write a review. I've also played many sci-fi 4X games, and this has to be one of the best. It's not new and it looks a little dogeared compared to other titles (although I love the native Windows UI; you can even print out pages of the in-game manual, just like that!) and it's not as complex as Aurora (though, if you know what that is, you'll know why it doesn't count), but it's richly detailed AND features the optional (and pretty comprehensive) automation to not get overwhelmed by that if you're not into constant clerical work and micromanagement!

    This game misses a lot that I've seen in other games of the genre (the ability to create your own species, a more expansive research tree, better unit selection, like with the Control key), but it has so many great features that I HAVE seen in other games and thought, "Why doesn't THIS game have that too?!" and many more I haven't, from huge scale to attention to fuel mechanics, weapon firing arcs and projectiles that can miss, ship handling, and detailed and moving bodies around stars, that I dare call it a modern crowning achievement in sci-fi 4X. How it's this good and I've NEVER heard about it until it hit Steam, I have no idea, but it hurt.

    If, like me, you love these kinds of games and have been disappointed with new and sexy yet relatively shallow titles like Endless Space or neat but rather limited ones like Star Ruler (not that it's apples to apples with either of those), this is a surprisingly refreshing discovery [and you should get it (now)].    … Expand
  7. alienrenegade
    May 26, 2014
    10
    If You are a fan of MoO, Endless Space, Space Empires or any other great 4X sci-fi You should definitely buy Distant Worlds: Universe. This game is a true gem in this genre and with the modding capabilities added in the last expansion You can play this game in Mass Effect, Star Trek or other themes. Definitely the best 4X sci-fi game ever created.

    TL:DR Totally must have for any 4X    If You are a fan of MoO, Endless Space, Space Empires or any other great 4X sci-fi You should definitely buy Distant Worlds: Universe. This game is a true gem in this genre and with the modding capabilities added in the last expansion You can play this game in Mass Effect, Star Trek or other themes. Definitely the best 4X sci-fi game ever created.

    TL:DR
    Totally must have for any 4X sci-fi fan!    … Expand
  8. franklymydear
    May 27, 2014
    10
    Distant Worlds is the best 4x available today. It's combination of depth and accessibility is unmatched in this genre.

    How, you might ask, does it accomplish this feat? Variable micromanagement. If you want to nurture your colonies from day one, to design every strut and gravatic beam weapon on your ships, and ensure that the right espionage agent ends up on a mission to steal    Distant Worlds is the best 4x available today. It's combination of depth and accessibility is unmatched in this genre.

    How, you might ask, does it accomplish this feat? Variable micromanagement. If you want to nurture your colonies from day one, to design every strut and gravatic beam weapon on your ships, and ensure that the right espionage agent ends up on a mission to steal operations maps from your dreaded enemy, you can. On the other hand, if you want the AI to deal with all the micromanagement and to instead cruise around the galaxy in your prototype hyperdrive rocket, look at the ruins of ancient civilizations and run from giant space lobsters, you can do that instead. You can even combine the two -- more or less -- and tool around in the rocket while occasionally changing tax rates, build orders, and spy/diplomatic targets.

    Unlike most 4x games, DW is built on the back of a fairly intricate economic simulator. But wait - simulator - does that mean I can't control it??? Not directly. The civilian economy, all those little freightors, gas mining ships, and tourist vessels... that is almost entirely out of your hands. You can set up your military/industrial base to encourage good civilian use, but the civies decide for themselves whether they want to pick up a load of Cason gas and move it to where you need fuel for your next military campaign.

    DW:U brings better pathing, improved AI, and expanded mod capabilities to an already great game.

    Cons: The game resolution is set to your desktop resolution because it runs in a borderless window. Consequently, the font can be small and hard to read. If this is a problem for you, one solution is to lower your desktop resolution before launching the game.    … Expand
  9. Icemania
    Jun 20, 2014
    9
    A couple of years ago I found this game by pure chance. After many years of playing almost every Space 4X I was desperate to find something better and luckily I found it ... Distant Worlds is best in class and it's since become my most played game. It's a huge relief to see it on Steam because it's ready for Prime Time.

    A couple of key things to keep in mind before you purchase: 1.    A couple of years ago I found this game by pure chance. After many years of playing almost every Space 4X I was desperate to find something better and luckily I found it ... Distant Worlds is best in class and it's since become my most played game. It's a huge relief to see it on Steam because it's ready for Prime Time.

    A couple of key things to keep in mind before you purchase:

    1. This is a massive game and it will take some patience to get over the initial learning curve. You can choose what to automate and what to control, so start with manual control in one or two of your favourite areas only (e.g. for me it was research and fleets) and build from there.

    2. Once over the learning curve hump, if you like this type of game, you'll probably be hooked. In time you will find more layers of the onion to peel away. My game strategies were still evolving 100's of hours later.

    3. It's a real time game but you can pause to make it feel somewhat like a turn based game and to help keep your massive empires under control. As a result don't be put off by real time if you prefer turn based games.

    4. The graphics are average. If this is your primary driver this probably isn't your game. But if you want plenty of massive battles you'll get them.

    5. There is a massive array of setup options and as a result the game has significant longevity.

    6. The Universe release has greatly expanded mod capability. I don't play with many mods but Distant Worlds has some good ones.

    7. The Developer has a long track record of providing support and patches. This game will continue to improve ...

    If this sounds like your type of game then I recommend it highly.    … Expand
  10. LordStryker
    May 25, 2014
    9
    Phenomenal take at a 4x game. Hard to find a similar game that compares. This incarnation offers so much variation and, consequently, an enormous amount of unique gameplay. Eagerly awaiting DW 2.
  11. BufordTJustice
    Jun 13, 2014
    9
    Distant Worlds: Universe is an amazing "living galaxy" 4X strategy game. Thinking of it as Europa Universalis in Space comes maybe closest to describe it in one sentence. It is in real time, but can be paused ant any time. You can also freely set teh pace of the game. Its options for customization are unique: there is a vast amount of options to customize the game to your liking: size ofDistant Worlds: Universe is an amazing "living galaxy" 4X strategy game. Thinking of it as Europa Universalis in Space comes maybe closest to describe it in one sentence. It is in real time, but can be paused ant any time. You can also freely set teh pace of the game. Its options for customization are unique: there is a vast amount of options to customize the game to your liking: size of the galaxy, aggressiveness of the enemies and pirates (which can be turned off completely), colonisation range limits ("sphere of influence"), tech progression, "age" of the galaxy and so on. I am not aware of any other game that allows for so many options.
    Basically, your goal is to expand, to colonize other planets and to rule the galaxy. But this game is so huge in scope... Simply set yourself any goal you want. You can also turn off victory conditions.
    If you want, you can control any tiny little bit of your empire: diplomacy, fleet formation, ship design, space station building, colonisation activities etc. But what makes this game so valuable and is that you can also decide to fully automate one section of your empire. You don't want to deal with ship design? Then let the AI do it for you. This freedom of choice between manual control and automatisation let's you even configure a game mode, where you automate your whole empire and just control a single fleet - play as an Admiral!) or a single ship (play as a captain!). The possibilities are endless.
    With Universe, DW has een four expansions an has reached a high level of perfection. However, it is not for everybody. You need to have time and the willingness to undergo the learning curve. I recommend to check out some Let's Plays on Youtube, to see if the game is for you. he atmosphere it creates is simply amazing.
    it is also noteworthy that the whole game is made by one guy, who gives an amazing support and is stilll patching this game with a high frequency. The community on the Matrix forums is very pleasant.    … Expand
  12. Fader
    Jun 25, 2014
    10
    Quite possibly the best 4x strategy game i have ever played only brought it last week and at almost 80 hours already, the depth and feeling of controlling a galaxy wide empire is unparalleled. The game does take some time and effort from the player too learn all its nuances and hidden rules but it is well worth it. If you like this genre this is a must
  13. Muzze
    Aug 13, 2014
    2
    As a newcomer to the Distant Worlds series I found myself baffled at how poorly the tutorial teaches you to play the game. It is extremely unfriendly and makes this overcomplicated game an annoyance to get started with.

    Being a lifelong fan of strategy, both real time and turn based, I must say that I find this game to be very overrated and poorly executed. The concept of the game is    As a newcomer to the Distant Worlds series I found myself baffled at how poorly the tutorial teaches you to play the game. It is extremely unfriendly and makes this overcomplicated game an annoyance to get started with.

    Being a lifelong fan of strategy, both real time and turn based, I must say that I find this game to be very overrated and poorly executed. The concept of the game is good - I am all for space exploration, diplomacy, colonization, war and everything good that should be included in a good Sci-Fi strategy game. That being said, I find that the gameplay of Distant Worlds: Universe is simply too understimulating and the real time elements, such as combat, are a joke. I am not even going to mention the graphics.

    TLDR:

    Distant Worlds: Universe is not worth the full price of 54,99 euros. The game is overrated and the good reviews it has received are a sign of a starving gaming community rather than a good game.    … Expand
  14. JaysWay
    Dec 17, 2014
    0
    I was a new player for Distant Worlds and i gave up after watching more than 6 hours of crappy tutorials & gameplay.
    I didn't even managed to folow 1 of those from the start, because the development progresses differently during gameplay.
    The game is over documented like a 30 yo text base game, and doesn't show new players what it's all about. To me it seems like some programmer is    I was a new player for Distant Worlds and i gave up after watching more than 6 hours of crappy tutorials & gameplay.
    I didn't even managed to folow 1 of those from the start, because the development progresses differently during gameplay.
    The game is over documented like a 30 yo text base game, and doesn't show new players what it's all about. To me it seems like some programmer is trying to create a game that cannnot be understand by normal people who love space games, he's just trying to annoy us ! Well, SCREW THIS WANNABEE SPACE GAME, it has lost me ( and i'm sure a lot more people )    … Expand
  15. Silaith
    Jun 19, 2014
    9
    DW is instantly marvelous. The micro-management is incredible, you really feel the power in your hands, and you lead the fate of a galaxy. Background is correct. Hard to play it is very FUN (in a Dwarf Fortress means ahah). You could design your own ships!

    BUT : Graphisms are in 2D (however it is certainly better for your computer). And some gameplay features are not perfect (the    DW is instantly marvelous. The micro-management is incredible, you really feel the power in your hands, and you lead the fate of a galaxy. Background is correct. Hard to play it is very FUN (in a Dwarf Fortress means ahah). You could design your own ships!

    BUT : Graphisms are in 2D (however it is certainly better for your computer). And some gameplay features are not perfect (the beginning in dark ages is too fast, space creatures too weaks).

    THE 4X, until DW 2 is coming! ;)    … Expand
  16. Hylus
    Sep 20, 2014
    10
    There is most definitely a learning curve here, but this game is fantastic once you get over it! Look up some guides on how to start as pre warp and play manually. After that you will understand enough of about the game to set whatever you want to auto.
  17. entar256
    Dec 2, 2018
    1
    This game is utterly horrible. How this game garners so high a score from critics and users is a complete mystery for me.

    It may have some depth, somewhere. The interface is feels like it is lifted from a Win98 game project by a grammarschool student. Diplomacy is just bad. Moving ships is eyegaugingly tedious. The economy is hidden behind so obscure mechanics you might as well study    This game is utterly horrible. How this game garners so high a score from critics and users is a complete mystery for me.

    It may have some depth, somewhere. The interface is feels like it is lifted from a Win98 game project by a grammarschool student. Diplomacy is just bad. Moving ships is eyegaugingly tedious. The economy is hidden behind so obscure mechanics you might as well study for cryptology instead.
    Graphicswise it is servicable, and is one of the only two pluspoints I can give it, however dont mistake this for "good" graphics.
    The game runs... well... it runs. It hasnt crashed, which is the other pluspoint I give. However, the gameplay is as fun as trying to trek through a swamp covered in honey and mosquitobait while swinging a waspnest over your head. It is dreary, extremely boring and filled with unlimited "Why the **** did this happen?"

    You can totally mess your empire up if you do not consider the strategic resources you NEED to expand. If you have none of them in the proximity of your colony, you can restart because you will stall your entire economy and spend hours looking at tiny ships trudging through what must be molasses.
    If you somehow get through the first part of the game, you get into the "Pop-up" hell that is the mid to lategame. You can "automate" most, if not all, of the game. However the AI is dumber than a sack of potatoes. I had gone negative according to the "cashflow", which coincidently didnt lower my cash(?), by tens of thousands of credits and the cashflow wasnt changing. I checked the maintainence and I had hundreds of troops sitting on my planets, covering the availibe continents and spilling into the oceans taking up about 100k of cash per... something. The AI decided, as I wasnt in a war, that I needed to fortify my planets by fielding an army that was double that of ALL my other opponents COMBINED.
    The logisticsystem is as enjoyable as having your teeth removed by a jackhammer, as you cannot influence the freighters being built, as this is handled by the ArtificalStupidity controlling the private sector. Neat idea, but outright moronic in its implementation. I had piles upon piles of resources sitting on miningstations, planets and such, but my private sector had foreclosed and had a small number of freighters, all busy trying to refuel on the other side of the galaxy, because... reasons. I couldnt build anything efficiently because the freighters was gallowanting around the whole empire looking for... I have no idea what.

    Fleet handling is... at best boring, and at worst just hairippingly frustrating. For example: if you have a fleet, in which one (1) ship is out of fuel. Regardless where this ship is located, the WHOLE fleet will move at a snails pace. It was easier to build a completely NEW FLEET instead of waiting for the old fleet to refuel. And beware, if you have not placed energy collectors on your fleet, and your fleet is refueling, you might be looking at a infinite refuel-loop, as the first ship is out of fuel when the last ship has refueled. No distribution of ships to other refuel points, all just go for the one THEY feel like going to and queue up there happily using up fuel waiting for the rest of the fleet.
    If you produce ships at a shipyard, they will be set automatically to be "automated" (yea... sure... automated), and will as soon as they complete head off to... somewhere, and while they do that they will run out of fuel and run at a snails pace... AGAIN. I found no way to easily multiselect ships and remove the automation, without either: placing them into a fleet and issuing an order, or individually selecting each and every ship and clicking "Select ship" and "Turn off automation".

    The diplomacy is a horrid wreck, and do not be tempted to enable the AI to handle it either. The AI will act as it sees fit. I was attacking the last planet in an empire, when suddenly my ships stopped attacking. In the middle of the last battle, in a bloody war, the AI decided to accept a peace treaty with the other faction. In a war that was WON. AND, as the enemy AI cant see reality, as I had parked a fleet above his only planet, destroyed his whole fleet, pulverized every station he owned, and was blasting his every attempt to start constructing any ship, the enemy AI offered me... ME! a peace treaty where I gave away two (2!) colonies and a couple of stations. I gave away two colonies for the privilege of a peace treaty... with an empire that was beaten into a bloody pulp... and the AI was gracious to let me live and offered me a peace treaty. I was... just staring into the screen. This didnt just happen one time but several.

    I cannot, in any conscience, recommend this game in any form. It is a really bad game. The interface is ghastly, the mechanics are so obscure you will rip your hair out, and the economics is rageinducing.
    I played for about 30-50h. Had to stop due to mental illness induced.    … Expand
  18. anggadaz
    Oct 27, 2015
    8
    This game is strategy game about war, claim solar system, and make relationship with other other planet/solar system. The game graphic is good. The game constraint and rule is good.
  19. mbelizec
    Nov 3, 2014
    10
    Distant Worlds Universe is a gem. It is so vast and in the same time so simple to get into. I never played a game that can adjust to player in so many ways. If you have time and will you can micromanage everything, or you could let capable AI to do it for you. Sometime I play slowly and take care of my empire on every detail. Other times I just let AI to do most of it and play it likeDistant Worlds Universe is a gem. It is so vast and in the same time so simple to get into. I never played a game that can adjust to player in so many ways. If you have time and will you can micromanage everything, or you could let capable AI to do it for you. Sometime I play slowly and take care of my empire on every detail. Other times I just let AI to do most of it and play it like geopolitical strategy game. This game is certainly a gem.… Expand
  20. Dasmike
    Jan 11, 2015
    9
    This is one of the few games that I have ever paid full price for, and I must say, it should be regarded as one of the best additions to the 4x genre ever produced. Considering the size of the development team (basically one guy), the wealth of features, and its sheer replay value, there is literally no reason that a 4x fan shouldn't pick it up. As other reviewers have noted, it hasThis is one of the few games that I have ever paid full price for, and I must say, it should be regarded as one of the best additions to the 4x genre ever produced. Considering the size of the development team (basically one guy), the wealth of features, and its sheer replay value, there is literally no reason that a 4x fan shouldn't pick it up. As other reviewers have noted, it has Windows UI support, which turns out to be surprisingly convenient as you can easily import/export designs and saved games. It's highly moddable, and the community takes full advantage of this, with almost every major Sci-Fi franchise represented on the official forums.

    The learning curve is steep, as the game has many mechanics that are not fully elaborated upon by the manual or the tutorials. Speaking of which, the tutorial is one of the reasons I decided to knock off one point, as it really does not prepare a new player for even a very easy game. In the same vein as the venerable but tragically obscure Space Empires series, users have the option to tweak their designs down to individual components on the ship. However, unlike Space Empires, you are unable to define where a component will go, only that the ship is equipped with it. But that is alright, as there are a host of other variables to take into consideration when designing.

    Another outstanding feature is the presence of a private sector. Rather than being forced to micromanage every tiny aspect of your Empire's economy, your spaceports will automatically build commercial vessels that do not cost anything, and yet the tax revenue generated by the trade routes they establish with other colonies, both owned by you and by the AI Empires, can be truly enormous. There is one potentially game breaking exploit though, that has yet to be resolved. You can redesign commercial vessels for the private sector, so if you equip them without any armor or weapons, your profit margins from tax revenue will predictably rise. If those vulnerable ships are destroyed? It costs you nothing, and as a bonus, those ships are "insured," meaning the AI will pump out a replacement without so much as a fuss. There are lots of other little tricks like this that can be applied to government funded ships that will send your economy through the roof and make you a galactic superpower in short order.

    Much has been made of the automation capabilities of the AI, and this is generally great for new players, but the AI design templates are suboptimal, so you may find yourself redesigning literally everything. Also, never allow the AI to decide how many military vessels or ground troops to build, as you will go bankrupt in short order.

    One other minor niggle that I have is that the tech tree, while extensive, does not favor a wide variety of play styles. There is one type of late-game beam weapon, one type of late-game missile weapon, and one type of late-game propulsion, etc, that is superior to all of the race-specific unique types. This means that your ships will be mostly identical between games, and I find this unfortunate because the mid-game tech tree is actually more diverse than late-game.

    Either way though, I still heartily recommend this game, because even though it may look graphically outdated, and doesn't have multiplayer, it stands well above its AAA rivals and mostly rewards a cerebral, rather than formulaic approach that is so unfortunately common amongst its more graphically pleasing peers. If the caveats I listed above don't seem like a deal breaker to you, then I guarantee you that this game will be on your hard drive for years to come.    … Expand
  21. xSpire
    Feb 27, 2015
    10
    Coming to this game as a longgggg time Civ4 player looking for the perfect strategy game experience, something I could play for years and never get tired of. Learning curve is steep, you will be frustrated at first, like most 4X games. But if you pound your head through this one, and you're a fan of the genre, you will be rewarded with an extremely exceptional experience. I signed up toComing to this game as a longgggg time Civ4 player looking for the perfect strategy game experience, something I could play for years and never get tired of. Learning curve is steep, you will be frustrated at first, like most 4X games. But if you pound your head through this one, and you're a fan of the genre, you will be rewarded with an extremely exceptional experience. I signed up to Metacritic just to review this game.… Expand
  22. Jenner380
    Sep 17, 2015
    9
    Nice tutorial. Nice gameplay. Got destroyed by hamster aliens. 9/10 would be killed by race of sentient pets again.
    The only bad part about the game is it's price.
  23. Jorgen_CAB
    Oct 10, 2020
    10
    Distant worlds is a complex and very deep game that probably is not for casual gameplay. But anyone who can step over the steep learning curve will easily find the best 4x game on the market to date. For a game that are over 10 years old it still hold up to any similar title out there.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Eurogamer
    Jun 30, 2014
    70
    While Distant Worlds may be a paragon of its style, I can only recommend it to a select few: those with beefy computers and plenty of time to really dig into the meat of this stunningly elegant and impressively wide-ranging bit of software.
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  2. PCGamesN
    Jun 27, 2014
    90
    An exceedingly complex, infinitely rewarding space strategy game. It’s made me more excited about the genre than any other game of its kind since Galactic Civilizations II.
    Read full review
  3. Gamer.no
    Jun 18, 2014
    90
    An already great game returns as one of the best space strategy games ever made.
    Read full review
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