Distant Worlds

 PC
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 58 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 48 out of 58
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 58
  3. Negative: 6 out of 58

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  1. MayhemMike83
    Apr 26, 2013
    8
    I got it for around 70€ (thx to the strong euro) including all expansions but still too expansive if you ask me.

    It is a solid 4x game with a strong focus on the big picture, means more macro.management and less micro. (for example you can't build on planets). You can also let the AI take over any task you want. The game features 11 races and a galaxy with up to 50.000 planets which    I got it for around 70€ (thx to the strong euro) including all expansions but still too expansive if you ask me.

    It is a solid 4x game with a strong focus on the big picture, means more macro.management and less micro. (for example you can't build on planets). You can also let the AI take over any task you want.

    The game features 11 races and a galaxy with up to 50.000 planets which is amazing. You can design your own ships (simpler than in Sots) and choose its look based on a list of all available ships.

    Another big plus is its exploration part. You can discover lots of hidden sites which give you bonuses and extras, like ancient capital ships that can be recovered. You can also gather bits and pieces which have an impact on your gameplay.

    About its complexity: Not as hard as Sword of the Stars but deeper than Endless Space or Sins of a Solar Empire.

    It is worth its price but only if you are a fan of the 4x genre.    … Expand
  2. 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.
  3. Zyz
    Jun 2, 2014
    7
    The scope and underlying detail in Distant Worlds: Universe is outstanding, but the game suffers from some basic (and correctable) AI flaws. A single ship within a fleet can become injured or run out of fuel and the rest of the fleet will basically sit paralyzed for a decade until your construction ships deal with the problem. Your advisors recommend missions that can be suicidal andThe scope and underlying detail in Distant Worlds: Universe is outstanding, but the game suffers from some basic (and correctable) AI flaws. A single ship within a fleet can become injured or run out of fuel and the rest of the fleet will basically sit paralyzed for a decade until your construction ships deal with the problem. Your advisors recommend missions that can be suicidal and colony defense (especially before bases are built) seems to be an afterthought. Fleet management is not straightforward (Google 'fleet posture' for a better description of how to manage them) unless you take their automation off.

    At some points gameplay is more like watching a movie of a game than 'playing'. There is a significant internal database and set of tutorials, but you'll go wanting for information on a few basic commands (i.e. how do you disband a fleet to cut costs? or how do I find out when requested items will complete their builds?).

    I intend to give the game more time to impress. Be prepared to give the game 20 hours of test play to learn its nuances before getting into any 'real' game.    … Expand
  4. franklymydear
    May 15, 2014
    9
    Put a grand strategy game in Space. Let the user decide exactly what micromanagement interests them--designing warcraft, planning espionage missions, and managing colonial growth for example--and let the AI handle the rest. Add a dollop of species differentiation and storyline, and a dash of modability, and you have a recipe for the best 4x available today.

    DW:U, now on Steam with    Put a grand strategy game in Space. Let the user decide exactly what micromanagement interests them--designing warcraft, planning espionage missions, and managing colonial growth for example--and let the AI handle the rest. Add a dollop of species differentiation and storyline, and a dash of modability, and you have a recipe for the best 4x available today.

    DW:U, now on Steam with reasonable pricing. Huzzah! The best 4x is now accessible*.

    (No, I don't mean vision-impaired accessible, the fonts are hard coded and hard to read on modern monitors).    … Expand
  5. nirvycn
    Aug 17, 2012
    9
    An enjoyable game, but dear me i had to think about buying this for weeks due to the cost. It currently sits at £90 for the game and 2 expansions, and all reviews state the exapansions make the game what it it.

    I hope my wife never finds out i spent that much on a game! This is one of the best 4X space games ever made, so much depth and detail, sadly i suspect most wont pay such    An enjoyable game, but dear me i had to think about buying this for weeks due to the cost. It currently sits at £90 for the game and 2 expansions, and all reviews state the exapansions make the game what it it.

    I hope my wife never finds out i spent that much on a game! This is one of the best 4X space games ever made, so much depth and detail, sadly i suspect most wont pay such a high price for this game, which is sad as the space genre has really taken off (no pun) in the last 6 months, this could be a massive hit seller if a tad cheaper, i just hope the company making dont be broke before making DW2 :)

    Awesome game! if you are rich BUY BUY BUY!    … Expand
  6. sweatygopher
    May 2, 2013
    0
    For a strategy game it is epic in scope as it is in cost. Probably the most costly game on the market if you buy all the expansions. For what, a single player experience? No thanks.
  7. Banhammer0
    Sep 1, 2014
    2
    What a joke. This game was clearly programmed by amateurs (college students on their first year maybe ?).
    The inventory is extremely cluttered and hard to read. It's like Sins of the Solar Empire, but worse in most aspects. Not creative and doesn't bring anything new to the genre. Better play classics like Glactic Civilizations or Endless Space. Not recommended !
  8. Mark701
    May 27, 2014
    5
    I never played any games from this franchise so was a little surprised when they described it as 4x game they meant a 4x real time game instead of a 4x turn based game like Civilization. Not so important I guess but RTS's aren't my preference. To start I've only played for about 2 hours. Based on that the game is somewhat entertaining. Having the AI carry out monotonous tasks isI never played any games from this franchise so was a little surprised when they described it as 4x game they meant a 4x real time game instead of a 4x turn based game like Civilization. Not so important I guess but RTS's aren't my preference. To start I've only played for about 2 hours. Based on that the game is somewhat entertaining. Having the AI carry out monotonous tasks is extremely useful. But even starting as a pre-warp civilization is challenging and I found myself quickly overwhelmed by numerous pirate factions. I hired some of these pirate factions to fight for me but found it difficult to distinguish who was on my side and who wasn't. Also, the graphics suck. In all fairness however, I get the feeling if I take the time to explore this game, it might actually be worth the $50 I shelled out to buy it.… Expand
  9. myndpyre
    Aug 25, 2013
    9
    Once you own all expansions, this game ceases being a simple 4x and becomes a full blown grand strategy galaxy simulation. With the latest expansion "Shadows", you can be anything from the leader of a race, the admiral of a ship, the pirates leeching off the empires, or a mercenary team working for the highest bidder. You will not find a better game in this genre.
  10. Raagun
    Oct 28, 2015
    9
    One of best 4x games made. It stands out with core game play complexity making room for strategic thinking and challenges.
    Ship designs while lack actual component placement on ship template it pays back with huge variety of them. Maybe you place fast charging hyper drive instead of fast moving one or maybe even efficient one for private sector.
    Everything is tracked, working marked and    One of best 4x games made. It stands out with core game play complexity making room for strategic thinking and challenges.
    Ship designs while lack actual component placement on ship template it pays back with huge variety of them. Maybe you place fast charging hyper drive instead of fast moving one or maybe even efficient one for private sector.
    Everything is tracked, working marked and no "magic" teleportation of goods. To build ships you need resources(16 kinds) you need to mine them or buy them, maybe even smuggle them. Seams complicated? Well it is not. Private sector of your empire takes care of that. You are left with strategic thinking. Plan resources and secure them. Also get additional luxury resources for your planets to develop. Or even fight with aliens for super luxury ones, which are super rare and profitable.
    You plan fleets, attacks and diplomacy. Intelligence may be vital in survival if you fall back in tech.
    If all of this seams like micromanagement to you - automation is an option. Automate if it seams too tedious. AI will take care of it pretty average(not bad).
    Great innovation is racial victory conditions. Instead of usual 4X victory each race may have its own adding extra flavor to races.

    Best part is - huge galaxy is not just empires and planets. It is full of exploration encounters, special events and stuff to do besides usual 4X action. You actually feel like exploring galaxy in this game (which can be huge up to 1400 stars). And huge riches are there to be found (*cough* planet killers *cough*).

    Why this game is not THE best 4x - UI. Without all expansions it is horrible, with them it is just bad. After 200+ hours of playing I would say it is not buggy but just bad. Actions are hidden or simple tasks are many clicks away. Personally it does not ruin great game.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. GamingXP
    Aug 15, 2011
    67
    Distant Worlds brings a breath of fresh air into the x4-genre, but only if you like micromanagement. Although newcomers can have fun also, thanks to the possibility of automation.
    Read full review
  2. Absolute Games
    77
    Code Force is a small company, but it succeeded where more experienced studios failed – it created a worthy rival for Galactic Civilizations 2. Distant Worlds has its share of technical and ideological kinks to iron out, but this is definitely a step forward for the 4X genre.
    Read full review
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    84
    Feels, in a good way, more like Master of Orion 3 than the real MOO3 ever did. It is very interesting, unique take to 4X-genre, very nice to play but needs more bloodthirsty AI opponents. War, not only skirmishes, please. [May 2010]
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